1999 GS500R & 2003 Ninja 250R comparision

[Isotech]

Just joined the board due to a recent change in bikes. I posted this message earlier today to the www.ninja250.com messageboard. Though people would be interested in how the GS, and Ninja bikes differ.

COMPARISION:
After spending 1 year, and 6000 miles on the Ninja, I traded it to a friend for his 1999 Suzuki gs 500E with 22 miles on the odometer. Since many people look at these 2 bikes when looking for a first bike, I though I would give my first impressions on the differences.

(Initial Impressions)
The first thing you notice is that the Suzuki is a bit heavier. The 250 carries it weight down low, and you can flick the bike back and forth under your legs while sitting at a standstill. The Suzuki carries it's weight a little higher in the chassis, and it take more effort the tip the bike back and forth. The seating position is roughly the same on both bikes, a sit standard position, with a slight lean forward. The Suzuki has wider bars though. The Suzuki's seat is also much firmer, and smaller then the Ninja's.

(Engine)
Ive grown to love the little 250's high revving inline twin. The exhuast note is addicting, the power delivery is very smooth and linear. The Suzuki is a 498cc, 2 valve per cylinder OHC design. While both bike are inline twins, the difference stops there. You feel the individual power pulses on the Suzuki. The engine is very torquey in comparision to the Ninja, lots of bottom end grunt, and nice tractibility. The bike never feels *rushed* and busy riding around town. Gentle and distinct power pulses push you around, with a satisfying baritone exhuast note. The Ninja250 motor on the other hand is much busier, and the power pulses blend together to the point where its feel more like a very small inline 4, rather then a inline twin. Above 7K the Suzuki motor pulls with more intesity. Vibration gets coarser, and power come on rather abrubtly. On the Ninja250 there is a smooth linear increase in power straight to redline. While the Suzuki seem to work harder as the revs climb, the Ninja feels nicer as the revs climb. In essence the Suzuki gets trashier as the revs increase, and the Ninja while trashy down low, frees up, and comes into its own at higher revs. The Suzuki reminds me of my old 74 Honda CL450 in engine character.

(Handling)
Both bike handle very well, but in diffrent ways. at low speed manuevers (walking speed) the Suzuki it easier to wrench around thanks to it wider bars, and longer distance between steering stops. Its also not as stable since alot of the weight is carried higher. The end result is that its easier the move around, but also a little wobbly. This theme carries on as the speeds increase.
At 20-45 mph The Suzuki it quick to response with very little pressure on the bars. The downside is that initial steering inputs translate rather abruptly, so the bike tends to *fall* into corners. Once leaned over the Suzuki is fairly stable bike, but the initial turn in definitely take some getting used to. The Ninja by comparision has a very smooth progressive turn in, and as such doesnt feel nearly as fidgety at speed.
The suspension on the Suzuki feels a tad under-damped, and over-sprung compared to the ninja. The rider is more bouncy/trounchy at speed, while the ninja feels slightly over-damped, and under-sprung. Ultimately the Ninja is more confidence inspiring, and stable in the corners.

(Ergonomic differences)
The Suzuki gauges are *much* easier to read. The have a large clear font, that is backlight well, Unfortunately there is no temp gauge, which make me more nervous with an air cooled engine. As previously noted the seating positions are very similiar, the biggest difference with the Suzuki having wider bars. The Suzuki seat is also firmer, and thinner. Once I get the Suzuki out on a 400 mile+ ride, I can comment on its long-term ridability.
The Suzuki is a naked bike, and as such much of you upper body is directly in the airsteam. At 70mph it wasnt that bad, just a constant even pressure, you will get colder though. The ninja air flow hits me at the tips of my shoulders, and I experience a little more helmet buffeting.


(Conclusions)
I feel that both are great bikes. The Ninja is smooth, and linear in both handling, and power delivery. The Suzuki has a bit more character, is torquey, and slightly twitchy (in a good way). For beginning riders I would recommend the Ninja 250, it never does anything unsettling, and allow the rider the progressively increase there lean angles, and throttle application. The bike behaves consistently, and reliably.
The Suzuki is a little more schizophrenic, and consequently a little more difficult to ride smoothly. While the Ninja inspires confidence, the Suzuki requires more of it.

Keep in mind that both are very rideable, well mannered bikes. When it comes to fun-for-the-buck you can't go wrong with either of them.

-Nathan  

[mwdbruno]

"The Suzuki is a little more schizophrenic..."
-Nathan  

Just the way I like it... :lol:

[JLKasper]

Nice reviews--  have you considered working for a magazine?

[GRU]

before i bought my GS i was thinking of buying a ninja 250 but after i decided that i needed more torque    (even though i live reving to 13000 rpm )...i'm sure the ninja is a fun bike, smaller, lighter and revs higher the the GS but i wouldn't trade my gs for a ninja 250    :mrgreen:

[Rema1000]

I agree, that's a great review, sticking to the plusses and minuses of each: there's no such thing as better, so all you can do is present the differences and let people consider what it is that they themselves like.  That was actually better than most motorcycle mag comparisons (although those have been mostly EX500 vs GS500).

...speaking of which, have you noticed that there is a pretty active community of GS owners, and an active community of EX250 owners, but there seems (to me) to be less of an EX500 community?  A cynic might wonder whether we bond together out of defence .  But I wonder if these two bikes, the GS and the EX250, aren't just the most-fun pair of bikes you can learn your moves on.

[ashman]

a buddy of mine and i took our bikes camping recently me GS him EX250. We switched for a lil while on the way back and man my GS is a lot more comfy on interstate. I like my seat a lot better, more comfortable. MUCH better for anything interstate. I'd not recommend a EX250 to a real motorcycle/car/ speed enthusiest. My friend regrets buying it, while he does like it but wishes he'd just held out for a 500 or 600 like I did. If yur lookin for cheap point a to b transportation and not concerned w/ feeling that rush of speed. the ex is a better bet in my opinion.

-ash

[Juanfer]

Very nice review  !!  

[paui]

having both of these bikes, i prefer the gs.  living in nyc, ive come to appreciate the torque of the gs alot more than high rpm power in the 250

[mrslush50]

I've ridden the 250 Ninja recently.  I had to test ride one that I had just set up for a customer who was buying it.  One word came to mind... underpowered.  If anyone here thought the GS was down on power, just try riding the 250Ninja.  But after thinking about it for a little while, I realized that the 250 deffinatly has it's appeal.  I weigh a little over 200 pounds, plus my riding gear, and am just under six feet tall, with a fairly long inseam.  Which means that while the GS feels small (even with my bikes 1.5 inch backend lift) the Ninja feels tiny, but would be great for shorter, and lighter people.  Also, it has about the same power as my first bike, an '82 Honda FT500 Ascot, which got me around just fine.  And it weighed more than the Ninja.  So while I might have been initially dissapointed with the power of the Ninja (even in comparison to the underpowered GS) I'm very glad that Kawasaki still makes it, as it is a great starting point for many people.  It's unintimidating, while still managing to be fun which helps bring newcomers into the motercycling community.  Great bike, even if I'd never want to ride one.

[Laura]

Nice review. Wow. I'd love a 99 with 22 miles on it!

[powrful1]

very nice review......I do love my little GS......damn if it wasn't for this cold Kansas wind....snow packed roads.....and snow in the forecast!