well i still cant find almost any specifics about the gs
from what i can tell, the ninja500 is a better bike, however me, not being a big fan of 1/2 fairings..
i think the gs looks better, looks like a really nice seat(looks like the katana 600, my friend has one of those)
the kawasaki has like 10 more hp or something and you can get a lower fairing to make it look alot less lame..
so why did you choose to buy the gs is its more expensive, less powerfull, and air cooled??
The GS is less powerfull.
The Ninja has better suspension and wind protection. Comfort is a personal thing.
The GS is a lot cheaper. Also, you said yourself, it looks better. Which is all that really matters.
I have a GS, friend of mine bought an EX500 soon afterwards and we're both happy. The EX has a nice little motor, more pull and a little freer feeling than the GS. The GS handles sharper despite being undersprung and is definitely better feeling if you put about $100 into the suspension (progressive springs, heavier oil, used shock). The EX has much better wind protection (i.e. more than none), but the GS isn't too bad with a flyscreen. The GS is easier to work on, more durable, and you don't have to worry about breaking plastic.
We're both enjoying them and I think they were good for our respective normal riding (me - mostly city and twisties, him - mostly highway commuting). Both can be had in good used condition for under $2K if you are patient. Neither bike is about power, they both have enough oomph to ride fast highways safely while being easier for inexperienced throttle hands. GS is cheaper from most of the used prices I've seen, not sure why you say more expensive. While its colder blooded being air cooled, the simplicity makes it more reliable and easier to work on. Haven't had problems when stuck in 90+ degree traffic, but I lane split when things get slow.
For some more reviews check out beginnerbikes.com, epinions, or the recent cycle world comparos (which put the GS on top). Overall I think they are both good choices, its a matter of where your priorities lie.
I have a link to a comparison of the two at home. I'll post later about it. In every comparison I've read the two are neck and neck for most of the tests but the GS consistently comes out on top for various reasons, usually value.
basic specs:
http://www.gstwin.com/gs500_specs.htm
Yeah, I agree with Pablo, in almost all "book" comparos, the GS and the Ninja are a whisper apart, with the Ninja usually coming out for engine/horses, top end pull, and the GS fir overall performance/value...BUT...like the head mechanic said to me when I ran all this by him as I picked up my '01 a couple years ago..."we never repair these GS's." Basically, the GS is bullet-proof reliable. Nuff said, you'll love either bike, and I'd grab the best deal for a bike in the best condition. Good luck, bud.
The GS is way cooler. In my opinion, you can easily make a GS look reasonably tough, and not like a 500. Where as The Ninja will always look dorky, and wimpy in my opinion. I think GS's like Pablos http://www.gstwin.com/gallery/view_photo.php?set_albumName=member_bikes&id=aal , Piper5177 http://www.gstwin.com/gallery/view_photo.php?set_albumName=member_bikes&id=aek , and even mine to a lesser extent http://www.gstwin.com/gallery/view_photo.php?set_albumName=member_bikes&id=ajl all look more robust than a stock GS, more like a bad ass naked should. Thats just what I think, and maybe Im on crack.
Check outt he links,a nd tell me what you guys think. Mine is a far cry from the other 2, but oh well.
Oh yah, we are about the same age racer x, and trust me, a few mods to a GS and you can have the ladies in our age group all about ridin, if yah know what I mean... :cheers:
very true dmp221.
here's a"book" example.
http://www.formatc.org/ex500vsgs500.htm
Quotehere's a"book" example.
http://www.formatc.org/ex500vsgs500.htm
BOO for there performance #'s!!! BOO!!!
"The GS has a slight edge on smooth pavement thanks to its 20-pound weight advantage and more exact steering, which makes it even more nimble than the EX. "
Another plus to the GS is that it's cheaper to drop. It's not a pleasant topic, but all too common for new riders. I dropped mine the first day I had it :( but the damage was negligible. I don't know what fairing costs on an EX to replace but I'd assume it's fairly expensive.
ARE YOU CRAZY!!! GS500 GS500 GS500. sorry but i love my gs and the fact that it can keep up with my dads honda shadow spirit 1100 is pretty cool. yea yea the ex500 has a little more power but i think the gs is a funner bike as far as handling goes. so i pick the gs
You can't go wrong with either bike. The GS's seat can get a bit thin if you are constantly on the brake while following a guy going 20mph downhill in a 45mph zone (my town is full of these idiots) :x . The EX's stays broad even up against the tank. But when your crotch is a bit farther away from the tank I find the GS more comfortable.
If this is your first bike, then the GS will be a lot easier to figure out (less plastic) also in my opinion it is better balanced and easier to take turns on (especially at the beginner kind of speed). My buddy has an EX and when we swap for the day at the end I just want my baby back.
Like the other's say you can't go wrong with either one. Welcome to the 500cc class.
-Denis
QuoteIt's not the cages it's their drivers (and 1% of bikers)
Couple things not mentioned:
Some insurance companies put anything with "Ninja" in the name into their "sport bike" category, which can carry a hefty price tag to insure. If you're stuck with your existing insurance company and can't shop around, then this might be a big factor.
I think that the bars are a tad lower on the EX500, and also the typical riding position is a bit less upright on the EX. Not much, and if you like a more-upright posture, then certainly you could get that with a bar-riser.
if this is a first bike, beginnerbikes.com rates GS500 as easier to learn on than EX500 (though they like the EX250 quite a bit too); in fact, I think the GS500 is the only 500cc they recommend as a first bike. I think that's because there is a bit less power, and because what power there is, is delevered a little more predictably.
I've read that the EX500 likes to be "wound-out" a bit more: the power curve picks-up quite a bit towards the top, and the clutch has an On/Off feel. On the GS, the power curve is flatter,more like a line, and the clutch travel is wide and even. This lets you do more friction-zone work, and lets you ride in different RPM ranges effectively. For example, I tool around residential neighborhoods at 3-4k rpm to keep the noise level down; 4-5k is good for city street riding; 5-6k is good for 55mph cruising when you want max. MPG. If you see a potential problem ahead, downshift and raise the RPMs up 1 or 2k, for possible acceleration and maneuvering. My preconception is that the Ninja doesn't let you play around in different RPM ranges as much.
Others have already discussed the lack of damage if you tip over.
There are social aspects too: if you leave the GS "stock" naked, then you get waves from the sportbikers and the cruisers alike. ( But I find that with a 1/4 fairing, I get less waves from cruisers.)
So my impression is that the GS makes for a more-forgiving learner's bike, and a better "workhorse".
Hey racer X, where are you from anyway?