Compare and contrast the GS500 to the Kawisaki EX500...

[Toad Rider]

I looked at both before I bought my GS500E.  All the used EX500s I saw were overpriced.  Other than the obvious like the fairing and the liquid cooled motor, is the EX500 better?  It is generally better regarded than the GS500, but I don't know why.

[MinnesotaCafe]

Here's a link I found last night when wondering the same question, it's really biased towards the EX, but there's stats and whatnot, and I'm too lazy to put them all here. I laughed, cause I'd leave an EX chokin' on my fumes ...

http://www.sportbikez.net/phorum/read.php?11,75497

It also depends on whether you're considering the GS E or F models, and then also, whether or not you like the naked look.

-me

[debtman7]

I looked at both too and ended up with a GS... Seems the reason the ninja is more frequently recommended is that it has more power and is faster. For my first bike, that wasn't a concern. They both probably handle equally well. If power is your thing, the ninja is the better bet. I pretty much decided that I would snap up the first gs500 or ninja 500 that came up in my price range and was in good shape. In my looking it seemed that the GS' could be picked up cheaper used, so that's what I ended up with. The ninja 500's seem to be in higher demand so they sell for more and aren't as many around to find used.

I also tend to think the naked gs looks a lot better than the ninja, it has a rather dated design. For my first bike, no fairings to break is also a plus

[gsJack]

Here's all the published performance figures from the moto mags I've found and where the data came from a comparo I included the EX500 data:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v443/jcp8832/GS500tests.jpg

Cycle World did a comparo on ten budget bikes in their Buyer's Guide a few years ago and I saved it:

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v443/jcp8832/CWDealsOnWheels/

I like that CW comparo because they like us.   

To sum it up; GS for riders, EX for squids.

[Unnamed]

In my experience, motorcycle mags, when considering very similar bikes, tend to recommend the one that produces more power. I don't see how an extra 5 hp on the ex500 makes much difference, since both are largely beginner bikes anyway. Try sitting on both, and get the one that fits better and is more aesthetically pleasing. Both will handle comparably (especially for a beginner) and will feel very similar.

[debtman7]

Here's all the published performance figures from the moto mags I've found and where the data came from a comparo I included the EX500 data:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v443/jcp8832/GS500tests.jpg

Huh, I find it interesting that the 2002+ models seem to be significantly slower, quarter mile times go up by almost 1 second. What happened in 2002? The carbs were changed in 2001 but presumably the test bike in oct 2001 would have been an 01 model..

[alerbaugh]

ive had both the ex and gs.  the naked gs looks better but the added power of the ex, mine has over 60 now, is nice.  ive never had a problem with eitherexcept the speedo on the ex continually comes off because since i took it off i have never gotten it back on past hand tightening.  check out ex-500.com for a list of mods and other different thing u can do to them.  i had a harder time finding aftermarket parts for the gs.  although i wish i still had my gs, im glad i got the ex because i think it looks alot better than the gs-f models and the engine can be modded for over 100hp although it would be unreliable at that power.

[spc]

HAHA  the buell is last!!!!!   So i went to my local Suz Dealer today and the guy was selling a GSXR600 and one of his ploys was that it would dust a vette ( no shaZam!!! )  So I couldn't help it I asked if he had a vette.......He said yes, and he offers to demonstrate with every one sold and offers money back if the 600 doesn't.  I told him my GS would dust his f%$king vette.  He laughed   He wasn't laughing after I tore his fuckin vette up   he caught me at about 110 mph.  Afterwards he said he'd never seen a GS run like that or wheelie.  He's the Dealer!!!   I guess I changed his mind about those ol' GS's he has hidden in a corner

[The Buddha]

The pre Ninja EX (pre 96) had 16 inch tires. Wholly better for high mileage tire choices.
After that, they all had lousy fast wearing intake valves, were a beeatch to work on and overall do not handle anywhere near a GS.
Yea the fairing looks like it would be at home on a bus ... Not the swoopy 04+ GS like ...
Cool.
Srinath.

[Toad Rider]

I like how the cycle world has a few of the cruiser thrown in as "econobikes".  Finding a nice, used V-Star for under $2800 is almost impossible.

[spc]

I like the lines on that Royal Enfeild!!

[Shadow]

Hey GsJack I saw that article somewhere else but it had an extra page kind of a round-up of all the stats.Don't have that one by any chance do you?

Thanx,
Greg

[Wrecent_Wryder]

I8

[gsJack]

Hey GsJack I saw that article somewhere else but it had an extra page kind of a round-up of all the stats.Don't have that one by any chance do you?
Thanx,
Greg

I took the data from that comparo and typed up a chart showing it seperately, easier to compare that way, perhaps that's what you saw:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v443/jcp8832/CW03GuideComparo.jpg

[gsJack]

Here's all the published performance figures from the moto mags I've found and where the data came from a comparo I included the EX500 data:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v443/jcp8832/GS500tests.jpg

Huh, I find it interesting that the 2002+ models seem to be significantly slower, quarter mile times go up by almost 1 second. What happened in 2002? The carbs were changed in 2001 but presumably the test bike in oct 2001 would have been an 01 model..

I've been wondering about that too for a couple of years now and have no definitive reply, just some thoughts on the matter.  My 02 GS500 replaced my 97 GS500E in Sept 03 and I kept them both running, licensed, and insured thru the 04 season and rode them both off and on for direct comparison.

The 02 was much more flexible than the 97, would pull from 3k rpm like the 97 pulled from 4k rpm, and just generally felt more powerfull all around in everyday riding in the 4-8k rpm range; but the old 97 felt stronger above that range.  No doubt the new 3 circuit carbs starting in 01 had a lot to do with the increased flexibility.  I wondered about the cams and checked camshaft numbers thru the years.  Seem the camshafts were the same from 89 thru 2000.  The intake cam changed in 01 and the exhaust cam changed in 04.  Could be the 04 exhaust cam change was related to the change to electric tach not requiring the cable drive.   

So whose the culprit, the Motorcyclist 01 GS turns the faster quarters of the earlier GSs and the Cycle World 02 GS has the new approx 1 sec slower quarters when both should be about the same.  Could be MC just used some old data or could be Suzuki supplied a 01 with the earlier cams to produce better quarter times.  Or maybe Suzuki just used up the stock of older cams on the 01 models.   

Anyway, I'm just happy the 02 runs so much better in everyday riding than the 97 did.  Everyday riding performance is more important than the published performance figures to me, unless your headed to the drag strip, but that would only matter if everyone was taking a GS to the strip.   

[Shadow]

I took the data from that comparo and typed up a chart showing it seperately, easier to compare that way, perhaps that's what you saw:


Yep thats the other page I saw.Couldn't remember where I saw it.Thought it was on the savage board.

Kinda like to rub those #s in...I have a '93 GS my girlfriend has a new S-40/savage.

[FearedGS500]

if your looking for a good 1/4 mile bike this is not the bike for you . the papers i'v seen say they run 14.6 in a 1/4 i'v had mine down to 14.4 and was getting better each run ( and lower to running out of gas ) . but this bike is not made for a 1/4 mile . wanna smoke some 600 + bikes in the twiste .. when alot (and i mean alot ) of practice it will do this i do it all the them they go from this    to this  then i go like this 
***edit*** oh yea  . once you add that fairing it adds weight .. when you add weight what happens ?