suzuki gs 500 or kawasaki ninja 500

[furiosomatador]

I read your tread (or skimmed it anyway)
What i smell from you is that you dont want to be a power ranger on a bike, so nakid bike is perfect for you.

Now, ive never ridden a ninja (nor do i want to) so I'll give you my thoughts on what i ride.

You say you're simple and just want to ride and have fun (with your swinging chain and all) definately get the GS 500 USED!  It an aswome bike, and built like a brick - you cant go wrong. I bought mine at $1,800 cash.

My first ever bike is a fuel injected 2006 Ducati monster 620 ($5,800) and i love it. - its my daily commuter (just because it warms up faster) & Short freeway ride. Butt hurts in about 1hr.
My second bike (yes second) i bought is the carburated 1999 GS 500 ($1,800) and i love it....  its my long freeway ride & fun bike. There is just something about that i so much fun & gives me a nice humble grin. i think the price has something to do with it.

With that said, the GS give me a BiG-O grin as i ride in the highway feeling like im in a chair racing im my living room and feeling like im James Dean. It just so damn cofortable and fun. It handles extremely well and you never have to fear it with over-powering you, even if you slam the trottle to the max. Its a perfect starter bike that i hardly think you will grow out of unless you travel in the freeway alot and need to cut in front of crazy speeding cars vs chilling and letting them pass you (recommeded on any bike).

Now if you really really WANT to spend $6,000 then buy yourself  a USED Ducati monster - Bought mine at $5,800 with only  728 miles. With the ducati monster I feel like an street fighter, an evil/modern version of James Dean, speeding everywhere i go waiting for my ticket and that curve on route 46. maitenece is more for this one if you wimp out and pay for it, but I learn  to do my own, (I get the cool mechanic smell as a bonus - chicks love it) Same type of bike, you just have to point your nose up a bit.


Both get plenty of attention.
to sum it up.  I've had my best experiences on the Suzuki and my worst on the Ducati and i plan to ride both to the ground.

[Canuck]

I considered the Nimja 500. I had ridden the ninja but not the GS. I chose the GS for 2 reasons.

#1 - I knew it had a long reliable history and was simple.
#2 - It looked modern.

I do like the Ninja 500 engine a lot, however the styling is stale. The Ex 500 needs to be refreshed but I doubt it will be any time soon because they are still selling and I don't think Kawi wants it to take sales from their new 650R.

500 cc is all I need and if im gonna do it in style and comfort in 2007 Suzuki gets the sale.