suzuki gs 500 or kawasaki ninja 500

[jserio]

has anyone actually riden these two bikes and can give
me an honest opinion and comparrison? i read a
comparisson from 2004 but i'm guessing things may have
changed a little since then. both bikes on paper seem
to be very similar. i've sat on both and they seem
fairly equal. the suzuki lets me sit a little more
upright. of course this is only a simulated riding
position. it may be a little different actually riding
the bike. both bikes are in the same price range as
well. any tips? hints? ideas? i've noticed a lot of
people seem biased towards whatever bike they own or
what they started on when they give advice to newbies
for first purchases. i have also heard that the gs has
fuel delivery problems in stock form and that the
front springs aren't very good in stock form on the gs
as well. i don't want it to cost me more to maintain the
bike than the bike itself costs. if you could give me
some maintence costs ideas too that would really be
helpful. thanks for your time. 

[The Buddha]

GS 500 please, the kawi is a POS.
Cool.
Srinath.

[natedawg120]

The ninja, or EX500, has a little more power and is water cooled with 4 valves / cylinder and a little bigger in displacement.  The GS is air cooled and has 2 valves / cylinder - simpler.  I went with the GS because it was simpler design, less to break, and looked more recent than the ninja.  It really comes down to your preference.

Do some searching and you will find that this topic has come up a lot.  Some are worthless because a person wanted an opinion just to tell us all we are retarded for choosing GSs because the EXs were more powerful.  In the end it is going to come down to your preference, mine was easier maintainance is a good thing.

[blue05twin]

Either way you cant really go wrong.  Both bikes are great starter bikes.  and the comparison you  read in 04 is actually still valid as the designs for these bikes have not changed much over time.

The GS would be easier to work on just because it's air cooled and you don't have to worry about a radiator.  Prior to the GS I never worked on a bike before but working on the GS was very easy.   Did a rejet, swaped rear shocks, installed progressive, oil changes and little things here and  actually enjoyed working on the bike.

The suspension on the GS should be changed to at least progressive springs in the front about $80.00 and a katana rear shock off of ebay $30 or $50ish.  The factory jetting is lean if your not going to be changing the exhaust or air filter you can leave it as it is.

If you do change the exhaust and air filter you will have to rejet but that's either bike you buy.  As far as fuel delivery problems I have never had a problem, just do the regualr maintance like your supposed to and the bike will run forever.

I would say get the bike that you feel the most comfortable on.  If it's your first bike I would say get a used bike instead of a new one.

[debtman7]

Take a survey here and almost everyone will tell you the GS is better. Take a survey on a ninja board and they'll almost all tell you the ninja is better. You're call.

The only things I can think of offhand...

- The GS is more modern looking, the ninja looks somewhat dated
- The GS is cheaper used, especially those even better looking naked models which is what you really should buy
- The ninja has a lower seat height, may or may not be desireable
- The GS is air cooled, the ninja is liquid cooled. I don't really think this makes a huge difference other than the GS is a beast to warm up, but has one less fluid to change and one less thing to break
- The ninja has more power, but both bikes are considered 'slow'. Either is fine for a beginner.
- A lot of people seem to actually prefer the ninja 250 over the ninja 500...

That's all I got. I'd buy either one, for a learning bike I honestly can't see one major reason to choose one over the other. I like my GS but the main reason I got it was because they were a lot cheaper on the used market. $1700 for my GS vs $2500 for an equivalent ninja 500. Of course I've never ridden a ninja 500 so I can't really say what the actual riding experience is like compared to the GS. Both bikes are pretty much 20 year old technology, proven and reliable, and I would expect both to pretty much have the same maintenance requirements, with the exception that the GS doesn't need any radiator coolant or maintenance.

[jserio]

thanks for the posts guys. i'm  a new rider and this will be my first bike. i've taken a safety course allready and have my endorsement. now for the bike. i'm just trying to do as much research as i can and make the best decision possible.  i figured the best way to find out about the bikes was to ask people who own them right?

[RVertigo]

I don't think much, if anything at all, has changed on either bike since 2004.

GS:  Looks cooler, easy to work on, built like a tank, tech from 1978
EX:  More power, watercooled, more complicated, tech from 1989


IMO, the BEST thing you can do is to look for both models USED...  Get the one you can afford that's in good shape... If you end up with a GS, then you can ask questions here...  If you end up with an EX, then you can ask questions on the EX forum.  

[Bulwark]

I bought an 06' GSF for, as many have mentioned, it looks WAY more modern.  Im also 6' so the higher seat was nice too.

I havent done any upgrades besides a touring windshield (with custom decal) and getting saddle bags and a tank bag.

I think next summer I may do the muffler etc..

So IMO the GSF.  Im not a GS nut by any means but the Ninja does look old.

[jserio]

i'm a shorter guy, only 5'5 maybe 5'6 with my work boots on. when i sat on the GS i was comfy.....but my toes barely touched on both sides at once. i have heard that lowering a bike messes with the handling. i have no intentions of going to the track anytime soon however. i just want it to ride back and forth to work and the occassional 5 hour trip to my buddy's house up north. could i lower the GS, say an inch or so, without having serious reprocussions?

[NiceGuysFinishLast]

dude, just ride the GS as it is. You don't need both feet on the ground. I'm 5'3, with a 28" inseam, and I ride it just fine. You put your left foot down at stops, and keep your right foot on the peg, covering the rear brake.

[darb85]

dude, just ride the GS as it is. You don't need both feet on the ground. I'm 5'3, with a 28" inseam, and I ride it just fine. You put your left foot down at stops, and keep your right foot on the peg, covering the rear brake.

Listen to nick, hes the Resident midget. 

Ive got a buddy whos got a Ninja 500, and he said he regrets not going for the GS.

The GS is my first bike, and I love it, really easy to learn on and really forgiving.

[jserio]

thanks for the input. my wife gave me good input too. she said i looked better sitting on the GS. our wives are always right aren't they?    anyways. i may go with the GS. what about maintenence costs? i've heard that first maintenence can be expensive. i really want to buy a new bike but i will keep my eyes open for good used ones at the dealer as well.

[groff22]

 ... Here's something you probably didn't know... Real ninjas ride GS500s... Keep that a secret....

[LPC2104]

i've heard that first maintenence can be expensive. i really want to buy a new bike but i will keep my eyes open for good used ones at the dealer as well.

To echo RVertigo, just go with a used one whichever bike you decide on.  I spent about 1K on a 1990 with 8,000 miles on it and then bought about $1000 in gear and I still have plenty leftover for other stuff, compared to the 5K for a new one.  Not much has changed on the bike since 1990, FWIW.

You'll lose your butt on a new one and at the end of the day we'll both be riding the same bike.  That said, it's your money.  If you have your heart set on a new 500 go for it. 

[blue05twin]

Hmmm first time service can get expensive. . .doest matter  if it's the ninja or gs.  When you buy your bike asked the service manager how much the first service is going to cost.  Also you can do it yourself it's not very hard, oil change, adjust the chain and makeing sure all the bolts are nice and tight.

Oh different dealers will charge diffently for the 1st service too.  I'm almost sure I paid less than $200 for my first service. . .and my nephew paid $250ish for his first service. 

[RVertigo]

As long as we're echoing... I'm gonna echo LPC2104 echoing me...


GET A USED ONE!  You won't feel nearly as bad when you drop your used bike...  Plus, if you decide you want a different bike, it's MUCH easier to sell a used bike for close to what you paid.

Then you don't have to worry about first maintenance...  Only fixing/replacing the things that need to be attended to...  Usually tires, chain/sprocket, oil change, valve adjustment.

Changing the chain is pretty easy and changing the sprockets isn't much harder...  And, while you're messing with the sprockets you can pull the wheels off and get new tires...  Oil change is easy too (as long as you know not to over-tighten the oil-filter-cover-nuts).


Who knows, you might luck out and find a used bike that doesn't need any fixing.   

[jserio]

thanks. i'll keep my eyes peeled.

[facepants]

Ninjas are just really... really ugly.

[jserio]

the more i think about the two bikes the more i'm leaning towards the GS. true, the ninja has more power but i'm a new rider so i wouldn't use the xtra power anyways. i like the more modern looks on the GS. and i'm glad i posted that question here. i had previously thought that since the GS was air cooled that it would have a shorter engine life.  i never realized that having an air cooled engine also meant one less thing to maintain or have break etc. call me dumb.  i really appreciate the info i've gotten here. it has really changed my perspective of the bike.

[groff22]

Oh yeah, and with the GS500 you get something free, that no other bike offers...


... This forum!

Happy hunting.

Cheers,
J