ninja 250 or GS500

[scotilac]

I have a friend who is looking for his first bike and is considering a 2006 ninja 250, im trying to talk him in too the GS500 but the 250 is cheaper. A guy at the bike shop here was telling my friend that there is no difference in power between the ninja and the GS, i am new to this as the GS i have is my second bike but since the ninja is only a 250 and the GS is a 500 wouldn't the GS have a little more power?

[daliumong]

theres definitely a power difference between the two, and it is felt mostly in the lower end. Honestly, though, bot bikes are great learner bikes and you can't go wrong with either, the 250 is a blast to ride, its just i hate seeing a faired bike getting dropped, which is usually what happens with learner bikes. your buddy probably wont notice the power difference too much since they are a new rider.

[GeeP]

A Ninja 250 gets around 28HP to the ground.  

The GS will put down around 45-50HP.

Either one makes a great first bike, I think.  

The Ninja is great for shorter rides and beginning track days.  The GS works better for longer rides and also makes a decent first track bike.

In the end, it depends on what he likes, I suppose.  I wouldn't knock his decision either way.  However, I would be glad he's looking in the right direction for a first bike.  So many people choose totally unsuitable motorcycles for the task of learning how to ride.  :thumbsup:

[GI_JO_NATHAN]

Looks like 36(Edit: or 28 depending on where you look) on the Ninja vs 47 on the GS.

[GeeP]

36HP at the crankshaft on the Ninja 250.  28HP at the wheel due to driveline losses.

[bill14224]

The GS 500 has considerably more torque than the 250 Ninja, and almost 10 more HP, giving it better street performance and the ability to carry a passenger.  The little Ninja needs to be revved like crazy to get it to go, but the GS pulls good throughout its rev range.  The Ninja will struggle mightily with a passenger aboard.  The GS is also more comfortable to ride.  They both handle like a dream!  You can get a good GS 500 for less than a 250 Ninja.  I paid $1200 U.S. for a '94 with 13000 miles that needed nothing.  250 Ninjas in that price range have many more miles and usually need work.  Don't get me wrong.  The 250 Ninja is a terrific little bike, but that's what it is, a little bike.  The GS is more motorcycle than the little Ninja.  The GS is small enough for beginners but big enough not to get sick of.  That's why I love it!  Anyone would get sick of a 250 before long.  The 500 Ninja compares better to the GS 500.  In fact, it's better than the GS in every way except simplicity.  The GS 500 is simpler so it's easier to work on, parts are cheap and plentiful, and it is ultimately reliable.  In that respect it's a better choice than any Ninja, or almost any other modern bike for that matter.

[scotilac]

Thanks for the help. This should give him the help he needs to pick the GS

[ineedanap]

I sold my ninja 250 last year to my brother to buy the GS.  I put 8,000 miles on it in 9 months.  I put 100 miles on my truck in that same time!  Both are track day bikes/daily drivers.  Honestly the ninja was more fun.  It feels like a toy, you feel like a racer because you're revving the crap out of it everywhere.  There is just as much aftermarket support and cheap ebay parts as there is for the the GS500, maybe more.  Don't get me wrong, the GS is the better bike for me and fits my 6'1" body much better.   I do miss the ninja though and if your friend is under 160 and 5'10" he or she will probably have more fun on it too.  I'm not saying it's better or more appropriate, just more fun.  OK, now please don't flame me for this. 

And everyone else's comments were spot on too.  Hope that gives you some help. 

[galahs]

If your going to do any highway riding, the GS500 is the better choice. The Ninjas have to rev too high to make the trip comfortable.

[ineedanap]

come on, it was only 10,000 rpm to do 75mph.   

[gsJack]

Ninja 250R data from Cycle World July 08 Frugal Fuelers comparo tesr:       

        Price $3499
        Dry weight 352 lb.
        Wheelbase 54.9 in.
        Seat height 31.0 in.
        Fuel mileage 60 mpg
        0-60 mph 7.6 sec.
        1/4-mile 15.54 sec. @ 82.70 mph
        Horsepower 27.2 hp @ 10,770 rpm
        Torque 14.3 ft.-lb. @ 9650 rpm
        Top speed 96 mph

All published GS500 test data with some EX500 test data from comparos:

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

Last GS500F CW tested:

14.5 @ 90.2 quarter, 105 mph top, 40.5 hp @ 8600, 26.7 torque @ 6950, 49 mpg.

[TonyKZ1]

As others have said, either one would be fine for him. I've got over 40k miles on mine, it runs fine and I do ride it on the highway. I have a 30 mile commute to work, mostly rural highways 55-60 mph, hilly & curvy. Works out just fine here on the local highways and on the interstate. Oh and I'm 5'11" @ 250lbs.

However with all that being said - the 500 is a little bigger, a little more power, will carry a little more weight, will go a little faster, will get a little less gas mileage, will cost a little more on insurance, etc. So really it's up to what he wants to do I'd guess. I'm still thinking about buying a newer GS500 when I wear out my little Ninja 250 or pass it on to my kids. You do know you're on a GS500 site right? Go ask the same question on the Ninja 250 site and see your responses.

[Danny500]

GS500... Depending on his size, GS500.

I am 6' 220 and I am NOT COMFORTABLE AT ALL on the Ninja 250. It's cramped, squishy, and simply a learner bike. Sure, it looks nice, but that's all it is... It's a Honda Rebel on steroids... which still doesn't say much.

It's comparing Apples to Oranges. He'd be better off debating the Kawi Ninja 500 vs, the GS500... In which case I'd STILL recommend the GS due to it's looks.

[bobthebiker]

I recommend the GS500 over the Ninja 500 any day simply based on how much I dislike the ninja 500's really crappy frame.   Plus the GS just looks wicked sweet and to me felt like it handled better.

[ohgood]

I have a friend who is looking for his first bike and is considering a 2006 ninja 250, im trying to talk him in too the GS500 but the 250 is cheaper. A guy at the bike shop here was telling my friend that there is no difference in power between the ninja and the GS, i am new to this as the GS i have is my second bike but since the ninja is only a 250 and the GS is a 500 wouldn't the GS have a little more power?

between the two of ninja 250 vs gs500  - i'd recommend the gs.

between the ninja 500 and the gs500, it's a toss up. please have him take a look at the ex500 (500R ninja) also. these bikes are very similar, very good to tour/commute/play on, and if maintained proper, last a nice long time.

have him hop over to ex-500.com and take a look at the posts by FOG and a few of the other regulars. there is a wealth of information here, and there.

between the ninja250, ninja500, and gs500, the ninja250 is the loser. sorry, it's just not going to be as usable a machine as the other two.

*******

tell him to buy the gear, wear the gear, and ride like his life depends on it. we want him around next spring.

[TonyKZ1]

tell him to buy the gear, wear the gear, and ride like his life depends on it. we want him around next spring.

Exactly, regardless of what bike(s) he buys he needs to get the gear and wear it, ATGATT (all the gear all the time). Also if he hasn't taken the MSF safety course or something like that, then that is recommended before he buys a bike.
Tony

[VSG]

Is the Ninja 250 really that much worse than the GS500?  Almost every review that I've read of it has been raving.  I think I remember a review (possibly posted on this site) from a guy who rode a hayabusa or some other crazy fast bike, that said the ninja 250 was a great bike and a lot of fun.

I think any of those bikes (Ninja 250, Ninja 500 & GS 500) will be equal amounts of fun.  None of them will be great on the highway (maybe the guy doesn't care about riding on the highway) and all are light and handle well in the twisties.

I'd say it boils down more to how well he fits on the bike and other preferences like looks.

Is the Ninja 250 smaller than the GS?  I'm 6'2" and am a little bit cramped on the GS.  It's comfortable enough for an hour or two, but I don't think I'd want a bike physically smaller than that.

[tripleb]

I have to disagree.  I think all of those bikes would be good on the highway.  They might not be able to go 120 mph, like a lot of the 600+s can, but their MPGs more than make up for that IMO.

[Roadstergal]

I have to disagree.  I think all of those bikes would be good on the highway.

Depends on the highway.  On a road like 280 out here, where the speed of traffic is often 70-80mph or more, a 250 is definitely sketchy; a 250 is screaming near the top of the rev range just to keep up with traffic.  There are a number of ways to stay safe on a freeway, and when you're maxing out the power just to keep up with traffic, you're giving up the ability to proactively motor out of trouble.  While not the only option, it's one I'm loth to give up.

If the speed of traffic isn't going to be higher than 50mph, either will do.

[daliumong]

i only had the 250 for about 3 months before i had to sell it, but in that time, i'd say i had a crazy amount of fun on it. The 250 is plenty capable, it just takes some getting used to when you're shifting 3-4k higher than on other bikes, its like driving a V8 all your life, and then driving the honda S2000. I came from the bay, and riding on 280 with traffic moving about 70-80 was not that bad, i was at maybe 9500 at 80, but then again, i did have the 15T front sprocket. The thing is, the 250 loves to be revved up there, and apparently, from forum members on ninja250.net, there really isn't any long term damage to be cruising about at 9k all the time. A forum member named Duke and several others i can remember do the iron butt rally on the 250, with no more modifications than a larger gas tank.

i'm not downplaying the gs500 at all, but simply mentioning that for a first bike, its a real tossup between the two, there is no clear winner or loser here. Either bike is clearly a better choice than a crotch rocket 600 or 1000. So tell your buddy to pick whatever bike they like better