suzuki gs 500 or kawasaki ninja 500

[Jay_wolf]

I Wouldnt call the Ninja 500 a Ninja , the Gs *the Naked One

Is much meaner, just streetlooking appeal , Handles Really well ,

Handling Outweights Brute Power , and it does accarate very quick , ive neva had a Problem smoking Cages,

Get The Gs !!

[alerbaugh]

it sounds like non of you have even ridden both much less owned both.  i had a '02 gs for 2 years and an '03 ex for 3.  this is some comparisons ive made.

naked gs looks best followed by ex then '04+ gs.
maintenance wise, is it really that hard to drain a radiator??? NO!
if seat height is a problem, get longer links and a strap till you gain confidence.
if you wreck do you really wanna pay for new fairings.  i took my ex lower fairing off on day 1.
my ex top speed is 137. gs was 118.  more power will get you out of sticky situations easier.
ive found more aftermarket parts for the ex if you like to mod but they are out there for the gs.

BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY!!!!
get what you think you'd like most.  if you can test drive both.  just dont have any regrets

[Jay_wolf]

it sounds like non of you have even ridden both much less owned both.  i had a '02 gs for 2 years and an '03 ex for 3.  this is some comparisons ive made.

naked gs looks best followed by ex then '04+ gs.
maintenance wise, is it really that hard to drain a radiator??? NO!
if seat height is a problem, get longer links and a strap till you gain confidence.
if you wreck do you really wanna pay for new fairings.  i took my ex lower fairing off on day 1.
my ex top speed is 137. gs was 118.  more power will get you out of sticky situations easier.
ive found more aftermarket parts for the ex if you like to mod but they are out there for the gs.

BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY!!!!

More Power , Im Sure The Gs is quicker being lighter, and more torquer , and how does going 20 mph faster , get you out of sticky situations ? I like lookin good on my gs

Edit: i mean off the line , thats where it counts

[RVertigo]

EX == Faster
GS == Cooler Looking


That's about as simple as it gets.


Both bikes are a good choice and very forgiving...  The 10 extra HP isn't gonna make you flip over or poop your pants...  They're both very mild, very light, very flickable, very good beginner bikes... 

But, get a used one. 

[ohgood]

Befor we get to the bikes themselves, let's touch on who you're going to get on with. Those EX folks are a really good bunch, just as the gals/guys here are. They'll go out of their way to send you a part, FIXED, by their own hands, just like here. They'll meet you for their favorite weekend ride, and show you the sites. They'll answer emails, help out, and give you motivation for your next 'project' on your bike(s).

Now then, the bikes aren't that different.
Riding the ninja means you have a little more power.
Riding a naked GS means it looks better, with less wind protection.

They handle about the same, get close to the same MPG, and maintenance is easy-cheeze on both. Parts are a plenty and cheap. I've seen guys with EX's in California upwards of 50,000 miles and still loving it. I've seen GS's with the same.

If you're really torn, find a way to rent each ?

They both rock IMHO. 

[LMT]

I did not have experience with the Ninja 500 but did own (new) an 04 Ninja 250.  Sold it last May and bought a GS500F in Oct 05 (new).  Biggest difference I noticed was in the 17" wheels vs 16" wheels (on the Ninja).  I was a little disappointed in that there was not much power difference and had I known would have gone with the GS500F to start with.  Sold it last Sat. as I purchased a Katana GSX600F (03) off Ebay.  I really like the Katana even though it is somewhat maligned...I think it's great and can't beat 4 carbs and cyl. vs 2.  It is HEAVY though and 06 was the last yr of active production.  You may someday move up to a 600 or 750 and really notice a difference.

[LMT]

2nd post.  This is the current yellow rocket ship; the GS served me well and it's already at the dealership in Cuyahoga Falls, OH (State .  BTW sold it for $3500 and the kid there said they'll sell it for $3900-4100.

[cybrgeek]

My ex had a 500 ninja and i have a gs both were 01's i found that the ninja handled alot better. I don't know how her ninja is running but my gs is still kicking. One big thing is i have the 01 so i have let a few people learn on mine. If then drop it with the case gaurds no real damage. The ninja has alot of plastic to scratch or break. So really go with which ever you like the looks of. the ninja has the old GS beat on looks. But the gs is a tank.

[jserio]

well, i just couldn't help myself guys. last night when i got done chattin here i went to a local suzuki dealer's website and did an on-line finance application for the a GS500.  i haven't heard back from them yet though but i got my fingers crossed. i want one so bad i can hear it in the garage now, feel the wind on my way to work or wherever. i even dreamed about it last night. ahhh....guess we'll see what happens. i'll keep you guys posted.

[RVertigo]

No used one then?     Did you look on Craigslist in your area?

[jserio]

i just searched all craigslist listings in ohio. one bike. 2004 model. $4000. i can get a new one for 5k...so why spend 4k on a 3yr old bike???

[Bulwark]

Thats why I bought new.  The used ones were only about a grand less than a new one and the new one comes with a warranty.

If I was on a used bike Id never be planning a 13 hr iron butt ride for June.

[debtman7]

The used one's are only slightly cheaper if you look at one's a year or two old. I paid $1700 for my 96 with 3,500 miles on it. Needed nothing except new tires (although I did a lot of preventative maintenance just to be safe). That's a steal compared to $5,200 for a new one which is pretty much an identical bike, only it has all that extra plastic everywhere

[jserio]

i just want to ride. you have no idea how hard it was to get off the bike at the dealership when i sat on one.  i should have done the finance app that day but the kids and wife were with me and the kids couldn't keep their hands to themselves. you know how it is.....at least the other fathers of young children out there do. so i am at home, waiting....somewhat patiently to hear back. if they say no finance for me it's okay to cry right?? lol. i will let you guys know as soon as i know.

[debtman7]

i just want to ride. you have no idea how hard it was to get off the bike at the dealership when i sat on one.  i should have done the finance app that day but the kids and wife were with me and the kids couldn't keep their hands to themselves. you know how it is.....at least the other fathers of young children out there do. so i am at home, waiting....somewhat patiently to hear back. if they say no finance for me it's okay to cry right?? lol. i will let you guys know as soon as i know.

I know the feeling, it's hard to wait but it makes a lot more sense. I just can't justify the cost of the new 500's. $5200 for a new GS? When a new SV650 is $5,999? Doesn't make any sense. $1700 for a used GS, now we're talking

[RVertigo]

I dunno about your market, but I've seen GS500s and EX500s come and go on Craigslist for under $2K...   


Well, just be happy with what you get and don't be too upset when you drop it.

[Johnny5]

I bought a '98 GS500e a few months ago.  Great bike, I really like it.  I test rode a couple, as well as a couple of Ninja 500's.  Both felt pretty good, I'm short of inseam and heights seemed pretty similar to me, I was slightly more on the balls of my feet on the GS.  The Ninja didn't really feel all that much more powerful to me(maybe SLIGHTLY, but I wasn't like HOLY COW), so I wouldn't buy one over the other based on power. 

I agree with the suggestions to buy used, you can get a much better more powerful bike than either of these 2 new for only slightly more money... where these bikes shine is bang fer buck used.  Buy a good used one, ride/enjoy the snot out of it, and then sell and upgrade.

I bought the GS because it was naked, and I got a good deal.  I don't like either with plastics, though I would give the faired GS the nod in the looks depatment.  Both are good choices as beginner and getting back into riding,  I'm having a blast on mine.

[scratch]

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

Correction: EX tech is based on half of a 1984 900 Ninja motor, and the GS is from the '77 GS400.

Check insurance on both bikes for ya.  Progressive.com does online quotes that can at least give ya an idea of how much it's going to cost.

[SeqArtMark]

Wow, it amazes me that so many people prefer the old GS!  I mean, the look is growing on me but the whole reason I'm getting a GS in the first place is because I want a sport bike that won't kill me to learn on.  I can sorta empathize with jserio in that I'll probably end up buying from a dealership (hopefully used) just because it seems easier to finance that way.

On that note I have to leave for work but good luck with the financing jserio and keep us posted.

[debtman7]

Wow, it amazes me that so many people prefer the old GS!  I mean, the look is growing on me but the whole reason I'm getting a GS in the first place is because I want a sport bike that won't kill me to learn on.  I can sorta empathize with jserio in that I'll probably end up buying from a dealership (hopefully used) just because it seems easier to finance that way.

On that note I have to leave for work but good luck with the financing jserio and keep us posted.

The look doesn't make it a sport bike They may look a lot different but the difference between a 1990 GS and a 2007 GS is basically nothing other than the extra plastic. Neither one is a sport bike, which is why it's a good learner.

I'm not a fan of all the plastic myself, but it was probably a wise move on suzuki's part. Here they've got this 20 year old technology that no one is really buying (in significant numbers) and it's cheap enough that they can't really justify retooling it and making it a more modern starter bike. What can they do to boost sales? Simple, just leave everything the same but throw some plstic on there to make it kinda look like a Gixxer. Now they can attract the 18 year old kids who want a sportbike but can't afford the insurance. Really a pretty good idea from a marketing standpoint, I just wish they still offered them naked.