Motorcycle Consumer News: GS500F vs EX500

[shep_bannister]

The gs500 gets pretty badly beaten up by the Ninja 500 in this months MC Consumer News.  The worst part about it is that the seemingly biggest redeeming factor of the GS500 is the fact that it ships with Bridgestone Radial tires.  Now, perhaps I've not been paying attention, but aren't the GS500Fs shipping with BT45 battleaxe Bias Plies?

Main points of the article:
Engine - advantage Kawasaki:  Can't argue this one at all, except for the fact that they claim top speed to be 99mph.  My speedo must be pretty far off, because I've personally done 105 and was still accelerating (albeit slowly) when I let off the gas.

Transmission - advantage Kawasaki: Can't argue here as well.  My Suzuki's not bad, but I do get false neutrals on it from time to time.  Never actually used the Kwak though.

Suspension - advantage Kawasaki:  Yeah, the suzuki's suspension is only fit for kittens, but then again, I replaced front & back for less than $125 total, and it only took me about 3 hours with zero experience performing maintenance on my bike.  I have no idea how difficult it is to upgrade the Kwak suspension.

Brakes - advantage Suzuki: Cool.  I always liked my brakes up until I rode my buddies '03 CBR600RR.  Now I realize what real brakes feel like.  The Ninja's brakes must suck.

Handling - advantage Kawasaki:  Even though the suzuki has radials (wtf?), the ninjas better front axle, stiffer chassis, and probably better suspension win.  Interesting - maybe I should have looked harder at the ninja.

Styling - advantage Suzuki:  Absolutely.  

Riding Impression - advantage Kawasaki:  Well, if they upgraded both suspensions, I have a feeling this might go the other way.  They give the suzuki better ergonomics, but say the kwak is just better for aggressive riding.  One tester did like the gs better for commuting.

Instruments & Controls - advantage Kawasaki:  If you really need a low fuel warning, you're a bonehead.  My trip odo hasn't worked since day 1, but I've never run out of gas.  Part of learning to ride a bike is learning to plan fuel stops when you need them.  And engine temperature?  Perhaps it would prove useful.  I doubt if there have been many instances where someone on their ninja has actually made use of their precious engine temp guage though.

Attention to Detail - advantage Kawasaki:  Basically they said the suzuki felt cheap.  I get that feeling too.

Value - advantage Kawasaki:  $200 cheaper list price, better overall bike, nearly 1/2 the required maintenance.  This bike does require a lot of maintenance, no question about that.

Bottom Line - advantage Kawasaki:  8 points to 2.  Even if the suspension is upgradable easier for the suzuk, that only makes it 7 to 3.  Ouch!

Now if only I could find someone willing to sell me their 2000 YZF600R.  It seems those things don't stay for sale for longer than 2 hours at a time up here in the NW.

[pizzleboy]

Going to www.suzuki.ca and www.kawasaki.ca I find this:

MSRP - $6799 for gs - http://suzuki.ca/en/bike/pricing.cfm?modelcode=gs5f&subcategory=street/sport

MSRP - $6899 for kawi http://kawasaki.ca/sportbike/500R/

I know the candian dollar is weak, but..

[Kerry]

See gsJack's comments on the same MCN article in the thread 04 GS500F - BT45 or Radial OEM tires?.

[pizzleboy]

The american sites list as follows:

MSRP:

GS:      $4999
KAWI:  $4799

WTF?  It costs less to buy the GS in Canada??  Whatever.  Glad I live here  :nana:

[Lee from Toronto]

The Canadian Market is screwed up. Have you compared the price of the Ninja 250 in the US and Canada:

Canadian 250: $6299 CDN
US 250: $2999 USD!

Compare this to the 500R:

Canadian 500R: $6899 CDN
US 500R: $4799 USD

My dealer told me that since there is little to no competition for the Ninja 250 in Canada, they can afford to jack up the price and people will still pay for it. Makes no sense, for an additional $600 you can get a 500R.

[pizzleboy]

That makes about as much sense as a kick in the nuts.

...and speaking from personal experience...that don't make much sense.

[JLKasper]

Perhaps Kawasaki is making their North American profit margin for Ninja 250s in Canada, and selling them here in the states at cost.

The US 250 Ninja retails for less than the Honda Nighthawk 250, yet still provides the following advantages:

--higher performance (+10-15 hp) from its liquid cooled, counterbalanced dual carbureted DOHC, 8 valve engine with a real oil filter.  (The Honda gets by with an air-cooled, 4 valve SOHC with a single carburetor and the component that "filters" the oil is the pump strainer.  This engine was obsolete 25 years ago).

--Cast wheels & tubeless tires

--Disc brakes Front and rear

--Single shock

--full fairing

--tachometer

--six speed gearbox

--much better handling

Aside from the performance penalty of the smaller engine, the 250 compares pretty closely to the 500 and should be priced accordingly (like it is in Canada).  The only reason the 250 is so cheap over here is that's the only way Kaw can sell them.  

[Lee from Toronto]

The US 250 Ninja retails for less than the Honda Nighthawk 250

That explains it then - they don't sell the Nighthawk 250 in Canada anymore.

[mrslush50]

frankly this suprises me.

I work in a Kawi dealership and I would still pick the gs over the ninja.  yes the Kawasaki's motor is better, but this is actually a bad thing.  the Ninja's brakes and handling are so bad (especially the brakes) compared to the gs that the motor gets you into situations that can be difficult to get out of.  I have ridden both bikes, and an un-upgraded gs is neck and neck with the Kawi.  $60 progressive fork springs and a $10 sv650 rear shock, and the gs far outshines the Kawi.  Plus the ex's clip on bars are just awfull!  I feel like my wrists could be handcuffed together and I'd still be able to reach both bars.

[Jeff P]

Hmm the suspension and handling comments/comparison directly contradicts what Cycle World said in their <$5k shootout from a couple years ago.  They said the GS' frame and suspension mopped up every other bike in the test, including the Ninja.  I doubt anything has changed on either bike so I wonder how two different mags came away with such different opinions?  :dunno:

jeff

[tdan553527]

My buddy bought a kawa 1 week before i bought my gs500f, i've ridden both, the kawa has more power and maybe better supspension (sp), but the gs is definetly a better bike, handles better, looks better, and i can stay right with him, and sometimes feel that i could probably pull past him.

GS all the way!!

[MarkB]

The Canadian Market is screwed up. Have you compared the price of the Ninja 250 in the US and Canada:

Canadian 250: $6299 CDN
US 250: $2999 USD!

Compare this to the 500R:

Canadian 500R: $6899 CDN
US 500R: $4799 USD

My dealer told me that since there is little to no competition for the Ninja 250 in Canada, they can afford to jack up the price and people will still pay for it. Makes no sense, for an additional $600 you can get a 500R.

Since the 2000 model year or so, the Canadian Ninja 250 has been the "H" model (EX250-H aka ZZR250) while the US model Ninja 250 is the "F" model (EX250-F aka GPX250).  They share essentially the same engine, but otherwise are different bikes.  The H has an aluminum frame, 17" (vs 16") wheels, better stock tires, more current styling, and some other minor features.  Kawasaki US persists in selling the older model, presumably to make a price point.  This has some validity because, as you point out, the H model costs nearly as much as the 500, at least in the Canadian market.