GStwin.com GS500 Message Forum

I was just curious if there was anyone who could give me an unbaised comparison of the EX500 and the GS500.

nope can't do it. the gs rocks the socks off the ex.

And that is un biased...
Cool.
Srinath.

If you do a search on the forums you should find quite a few comparisons. There was one a couple of months ago, IIRC...

ex has a stronger motor while the gs will rip it a new arse hole in  the twisties

GS may be cheaper to insure (this is a big one!  Check insurance before you buy!).

The 2004 GS looks hot.  The older GSs look cool.  The Ninja just looks 80's.

Ninja has more power (on paper, at least).  But this is a minor thing for a first bike.  Either bike will far exceed the power you can use legally, or even safely on the street.  You really shouldn't care about how hard it pulls above 100mph.  In my opinion, this is a non-issue for street riding.

GS has an early-80's design motor, all steel and air-cooled (low-tech).  Ninja has aluminum motor, late-80's design, water-cooled.   This makes the GS a bit easier to work on, but it warms up slower.

click -->here<-- (http://www.formatc.org/ex500vsgs500.htm) for a comparison from Motorcyclist magazine- April 1994.

They seem to be pretty well matched with the ex edging out the gs in outright performance. But the gs handles better, possibly cheaper to insure because no bodywork and is cheaper to buy. EX is water cooled I think, where GS is air cooled-that goes a long way...

 Click here (http://www.formatc.org/ex500vsgs500.htm) for the April 1994 comparison from Motorcyclist
(edit: dangit Pantablo you beat me to it as I was typing this out :x   :guns: :lol:  8)   :P :) )

Click here (http://www.mcnews.com/mcn/model_eval/NinjaGScomparo07a.pdf) for an Adobe Acrobat file of the July 2004 comparison from Motorcycle Consumer News.

Essentially, both say the EX500 was/is the clear winner, but in my (biased) opinion here is a short list of why the GS500 is better:
1) can be tricked out or personalized rather easily, whereas the EX500 is kinda stuck with that cheezy plastic fairing
2) fools alot of people on how small the GS really is, whereas the EX500 is just a wannabe for a real "rice rocket"
4) modern look (with or w/o the fairing), whereas the EX500 looks rather 1980ish
5) a whole website dedicated to the GS500 :cheers:  :thumb:

Need I say more :dunno:

I've got a Cycle World downstairs somewhere which compared the two.  I think they were among the two highest-rated starter/cheapie bikes of the group (go figure, many of the others were cruisers, a dual sport, a royal enfield repro, etc....

I believe they gave the GS the edge because of it's slightly better handling.  The Ninja's frame and suspension design are a bit more primitive.

If you want, I can dig up the issue information and maybe type out the bottom line comment or something.

But if I were to offer my totally unbiased opinion :lol:  and try to convince you, the GS is really nice in that there's no fairing to break/replace when you drop it, it's fantastic to ride, it's easy to work on, etc.  This site alone was a major factor in my decision, and it's helped tremenously.

And I do prefer the look, because it looks like it is exacly what it's trying to be.  The little ninjars look like they're trying to be faster than they really are.  Heck, I parked next to a Ducati Monster 600 the other day, and I thought the GS held it's own pretty well.  It just looks solid.  Uncomplicated, honest, hella-fun.

I guess it's all a matter of preference, but the gs500 is just one classy lady to me... all these years later and she still looks young and beautiful. If she were a lady... she would have the young and beautiful looking mom (following the old addage "want to see what your wife will look like in 20 years.. look at the mother")

http://www.bikepics.com/pictures/038206/

http://www.bikepics.com/pictures/033046/

GS have a much smoother engine and gearbox...

the EX just feels like a cruiser sometimes...but it has more topend power...
it can easily go over 200kph...which the GS will be hard to even maintain 190kph...

i was blown by by a EX at topspeed... :nono:

but i UPGRADED from an EX to a GS this year...and i'm extremely about it :cheers:

There was an article by a U.K. motorcycle-safety instructor (sort of like MSF).  He basically said that they were awfully similar when new, but that the GS had no duct tape after a couple of years of student abuse, while the EX was looking like a rat-bike.

It may not be as sturdy as a KLR, but the naked GS is probably the most crashable road bike sold in the US (least damage, cheapest to repair).  You may not intend to crash, but you'll probably at-least tip it over in your driveway once.

Quote from: wasabi_peasI've got a Cycle World downstairs somewhere which compared the two.  I think they were among the two highest-rated starter/cheapie bikes ...

I believe they gave the GS the edge because of it's slightly better handling.  ...

Cycle World, December 02 issue.
Both EX and GS were neck and neck with the nod going to the gs based on value (cheaper to buy). I have it too somewhere but I remember it was that issue because I bought mine in November 02 and I also went to the motorcycle show in December 02 (getting free copies of that issue there).

I would say if you are looking more for speed and acceleration, the Kaw is the one. I think the reliability of the Suz is probably better. But then I have always felt that the simpler a machine is the more reliable it tends to be. Air-cooled engines are simpler than water-cooled. And the Suz has fewer valves to go bad. But should I speak since I think the greatest bike motor in the world was the Shovel-head. JMO, I am biased :roll: . But I know I love the little White Owl and the GStwin forum.

C.......

I did ALOT of reading on the two before I bought, but what really swayed me was:
a) This site. The enthusiasm that people have for these bikes is amazing. I cound find nothing like it on the ER5 (whatever they call it)
b) It looked kinda tough on the suzuki Australia web site.
c) No fairings.
d) gs500e.co.uk. Again another bunch of GS enthusiasts.
e) Pantablo's page.
And lastly, they dont rot or rust as fast as others in their class according to the mags. Sure if you read performance bikes, bike magazaine etc,they bag the hell out of it, but these guys ride new sportsbikes for a living and seem to lose perspective on real motorcycling with your own real money.
Oh, and kerry was going to put photos of his dogs on the site for me.....
:thumb:

Quote from: MuldoonOh, and kerry was going to put photos of his dogs on the site for me.....

Yow!  (Smacks forehead.)  My wife just took a couple more last night that I haven't seen yet.

I'll do my best this weekend, K?

(Wouldn't you know ... I've got a rear rotor and pads to swap out, oil & filter to change, fork seals to install - naw, maybe NEXT weekend - and I have to FILM it all.  I'm swamped!   :roll: )

Kerry!
Stress less! I just saw this beautiful labrador pup and it reminded me of yours.  :thumb:

Quote from: pantablo

Quote from: wasabi_peasI've got a Cycle World downstairs somewhere which compared the two.  I think they were among the two highest-rated starter/cheapie bikes ...

I believe they gave the GS the edge because of it's slightly better handling.  ...

Cycle World, December 02 issue.
Both EX and GS were neck and neck with the nod going to the gs based on value (cheaper to buy). I have it too somewhere but I remember it was that issue because I bought mine in November 02 and I also went to the motorcycle show in December 02 (getting free copies of that issue there).

Thanks guys :thumb:. I spent over 30 minutes looking through all my archives for that very same article, but to no avail (was it Motorcyclist, Cycle World, Sport Rider? Argh :x  :x ). I vividly remember b/c the article is what initially got me interested/hooked on buying a GS500 as my first bike. The article was very nicely done. PM me if you want a copy or something. I can probably scan it for you and e-mail.

i hate kawasaki

Quote from: johncam4i hate kawasaki

Yeah, who wants to ride a "Green Machine" anyways! U-G-L-Y Ugly (well, maybe if you gave me one for free  :P )

Although, Kawasaki is taking a step in the right direction with new, vibrant color schemes (Suzuki, you really need to pay attention to this):
RED

ORANGE

BLUE

SILVER

BLACK


Kawasaki's Ninja ZX-6R/10R each has four nice color schemes, while Suzuki's SV-650/1000 only has two boring colors. What's up with that?:dunno:
I wanna see black & red and,  while I'm at it, bring back the 2003 copper color (way cool  8) )

just so you kawasaki haters know - suzuki and kawasaki is one company now :)  :cheers:

OK new point...
The ontake valves in the kawi's... the ZX 900/ZX1000 series motors... the ZL - eliminator too, and the ZG - concours too and basically the EX 500  which is 1/2 of these motors... have intake valves that are shaZam!... I have seen over 10 of those... and all of the intakes are worn to crap in under 10K... Yea exhausts are great, intakes are shaZam!... how you ask... ha...
Kawasaki knows that intakes run at a cooler temperature than exhausts... and they made valves out of cheaper material... yea cooler does not mean cold... idiots... I am yet to see a kawi head off the ZX series motors that didn't have intake wear. POS... hope kawasaki doesn't make suzuki's valves go to shaZam!...
Cool.
Srinath.

Quote from: alexeijust so you kawasaki haters know - suzuki and kawasaki is one company now :)  :cheers:

That's news to me. When did that happen?

I found some old news on the net about them forming an alliance, but did they actually merge?

Nope its not... these is a simple reason that wont ever happen.... the japanese govt has the habit of supporting all the manufacturers... so instead of getting say 25% a piece... the joint company will only get 33% ... The 2 agreed to cross sell, and rebadge and sell each others crap... so the big Marauder is actually a kawasaki, and some ATV's and others are re badged...
Cool.
Srinath.

Quote from: seshadri_srinathThe 2 agreed to cross sell, and rebadge and sell each others crap... so the big Marauder is actually a kawasaki, and some ATV's and others are re badged...
Cool.
Srinath.

..kinda like how the DRZ400 & the KLX400 are the same bikes & the DR650 & KLR650 are the same bikes.... ? :?  

NOW I understand!!!  :)

OK are those the same... OK then.. I thought the 400's were theose bleeding edge new race displacement for 4 stroke dirt bikes and so they wont swap... maybe not.
Cool.
Srinath.

From what I have read and heard the "merger" was not a merger but was instead an "alliance". It looks similar (to me at least) to the sharing of resources and development that went on in the eighty's and nineties between Ford NAAO and Ford Euro, especially during development of the "world concept vehicle...which essentially became the Contour/Mystique". This was the first time two countries had actually worked on simultaneous and concurrent engineering to develop one vehicle utilizing the resources of both countries. As anyone who has owned or owns one of these vehicles may realize, the concept was egregiously consumated. I was Resident Engineer for liaison between production design and manufacturing of accelerator, speed control and hood release systems. The whole process was a nightmare of compromises and the end result was far from perfect. It did however help to bring about the increase in automation and establish Europe as a true world player in terms of competition in the manufacturing sector. In other words, we dragged them kicking and screaming into the twentieth century. I would assume the Japanese will be a bit more successful in this endeavor as they don't have anywhere near the egotistical thinking and back-stabbing inclinations as is common in the more westernized countries. I even remember having similar problems when working with the Aussies during development of the "new" Protege'/Escort platform of the nineties. I am so glad I do not work in the industry anymore...waaay too much stress. But now I'm free to scoot around on the beloved GS and read the twin forum.

C.......