Okay, so what is the best bike out of the two? I went to look at the gs500 and they want 5200 for the gs500 and I can get both of these bikes for under 6K out the door..


ER6N Specs
Model: Kawasaki ER-6n
Year: 2009
Category: Naked bike
Displacement: 649.00 ccm (39.60 cubic inches)
Engine type: Twin, four-stroke
Torque: 65.76 Nm (6.7 kgf-m or 48.5 ft.lbs) @ 7000 RPM

Valves per cylinder: 4
Fuel system: Injection
Fuel control: DOHC
Ignition: Digital CDI
Cooling system: Liquid
Gearbox: 6-speed
Transmission type,
final drive: Chain
Chassis, suspension, brakes and wheels
Frame type: Semi-double cradle, high-tensile steel
Rake (fork angle): 24.5°
Trail: 102 mm (4.0 inches)
Front suspension: 41mm hydraulic telescopic fork
Front suspension travel: 119 mm (4.7 inches)
Rear suspension: Single offset laydown shock with adjustable spring preload
Rear suspension travel: 124 mm (4.9 inches)
Front tyre dimensions: 120/70-17 
Rear tyre dimensions: 160/60-17 
Front brakes: Double disc
Front brakes diameter: 300 mm (11.8 inches)
Rear brakes: Single disc
Rear brakes diameter: 220 mm (8.7 inches)
Physical measures and capacities
Dry weight: 200.5 kg (442.0 pounds)
Seat height: 785 mm (30.9 inches) If adjustable, lowest setting.
Overall height: 1,100 mm (43.3 inches)
Overall length: 2,101 mm (82.7 inches)
Overall width: 759 mm (29.9 inches)
Wheelbase: 1,405 mm (55.3 inches)
Fuel capacity: 15.51 litres (4.10 gallons)
Other specifications
Starter: Electric

2009 Versys
Model: Kawasaki Versys
Year: 2009
Category: Naked bike
Rating: 79.3 out of 100. Show full rating and compare with other bikes
Price as new (MSRP): US$ 7099. Prices depend on country, taxes, accessories, etc.
Engine and transmission
Displacement: 649.00 ccm (39.60 cubic inches)
Engine type: Twin, four-stroke
Torque: 60.88 Nm (6.2 kgf-m or 44.9 ft.lbs) @ 6800 RPM
Compression: 10.6:1
Bore x stroke: 83.0 x 60.0 mm (3.3 x 2.4 inches)
Valves per cylinder: 4
Fuel system: Injection
Fuel control: DOHC
Cooling system: Liquid
Gearbox: 6-speed
Transmission type,
final drive: Chain
Chassis, suspension, brakes and wheels
Frame type: Semi-double cradle, high-tensile steel
Rake (fork angle): 25.0°
Trail: 109 mm (4.3 inches)
Front suspension: 41mm hydraulic telescopic fork with adjustable rebound and preload / 5.9 in.
Rear suspension: Single offset laydown shock with adjustable rebound and spring preload / 5.7 in.
Front tyre dimensions: 120/70-17 
Rear tyre dimensions: 160/60-17 
Front brakes: Double disc
Front brakes diameter: 300 mm (11.8 inches)
Rear brakes: Single disc
Rear brakes diameter: 220 mm (8.7 inches)
Physical measures and capacities
Dry weight: 206.0 kg (454.1 pounds)
Seat height: 841 mm (33.1 inches) If adjustable, lowest setting.
Overall height: 1,316 mm (51.8 inches)
Overall length: 2,126 mm (83.7 inches)
Overall width: 841 mm (33.1 inches)
Wheelbase: 1,415 mm (55.7 inches)
Fuel capacity: 18.92 litres (5.00 gallons)

Whichever floats your boat.
AFAIK the engines are almost the same, the chassis specs are very similar, the Versys being slightly dual sport oriented with torque developed at slightly lower rpm, slightly more suspension travel, more fuel capacity. You'll probably get more useful help on a Kawa forum I'd guess.
http://blogs.nst.com.my/man-on-wheels/kawasaki-650cc-shootout-versys-vs-er-6n-vs-er-6f
http://motorcycles.about.com/od/kawasaki/a/2010_kawasaki_er6n_versys_ninja650r_review.htm

Probably should be moved to the odds and ends as it is not really gs500 related. 

i just got to demo ride a ER6N today, and man it was sweet. i liked the gearing, and the engine is quite torquey ! they are practically the same tho. i preferred the ER6 tho

Just my humble opinion

FYI...the ER-6n is the naked Ninja 650R (ER-6f in Europe)...the Versys has the same engine, but it has been tuned for more torque with less peak Hp as a result...

As for which one to pick, depends on what you want...the Versys will be more comfortable and easier to ride (if you are tall enough for the seat height), but the ER-6n will be more sporty...to be honest I think the Versys is quicker until you get into the higher revs...it produces more power through the rev range until you get to the peak where the Ninja engine just breathes better at higher RPM...personnaly I like the looks of the ER-6n better, but I would buy the Versys for the comfort and softer suspension (not all roads are smooth)...

My two cents...

Later.

Man, I like both of them. Cannot decide, I have looked at all the specs. I like the versys since it's a little taller and clears the ground a little better. But on the other hand the er-6n is sportier and I do love riding the bike through the twisites.. I wish I could test drive them for a day and get a good idea. I like the er6n cause it has more the naked streetfighter look, but the versys has that to just diffrent. I wish I could find a new gs500 for under 5200.00. I am getting 150cc more, bigger bike for less money. I have an OTD price of 5749.19 for the er6n and 5968.19 for the versys. The OTD on the gs500 was 6499.00. I have to make the decission by tomorrow morning.

I'd take the Versys for the better midrange, comfort and versatility.

Quote from: the mole on March 18, 2011, 12:38:11 AM
I'd take the Versys for the better midrange, comfort and versatility.

+1

Quote from: dsgs500f on March 17, 2011, 10:54:17 PM
Man, I like both of them. Cannot decide,

Haha so you were hoping we'd make the decision for you? That's a tough call. They're both gonna be pretty much the same bike aside from the suspension and stuff like that so it'll be all about what you want to do with it.

That price sounds really high for a GS. Someone on here just posted that a lot of Suzukis are $1000 off, and they found some for about $3300 new. Might to well to call around to some other dealerships and ask if they've got any better deals. If you've got the cash to spend, the ER6's will be a better bike over all, but you can definitely get a gs500 for cheaper.

Quote from: tt_four on March 18, 2011, 07:13:45 AM
That price sounds really high for a GS. Someone on here just posted that a lot of Suzukis are $1000 off, and they found some for about $3300 new. Might to well to call around to some other dealerships and ask if they've got any better deals. If you've got the cash to spend, the ER6's will be a better bike over all, but you can definitely get a gs500 for cheaper.

He must be Canadian...or just not American...MSRP in Canada for a GS500F...$7199...and the discount is "upto $1000 off on selected models"...some get not discount, some get $250 off...it's not just across the board...

If that's not the case, then I would shop at a different bike shop...you should definately be able to do better than $6499 OTD, even in Canada...the GS500 isn't listed on the 2011 roster...it may have bit the dust due to pending emissions laws...??

Later.

We have two dealers where I live, ridenow powersports and preformance cycle. Now ridenow has an 09 gs500 listed price is 5200.99, minus 1000.00 for suzuki rebate brings the price down to 4200.99 add sales tax, registration and dealer prep fee's and that adds almost 2 grand to the final price. The dealer said they won't budge on the price since supply and demand has increased on 500cc and less due to gas prices. And, yes I am American. I cannot see spending more money on a bike that has 150cc. Anyways thanks for everyones help, I am taking off to go get my new bike today.

Wouldnt it be cheaper for you Canada boys to just come down here and get a bike, then ride back?

Quote from: Twism86 on March 18, 2011, 09:35:47 AM
Wouldnt it be cheaper for you Canada boys to just come down here and get a bike, then ride back?

Probably, but I know the car dealers won't let you purchase a new vehicle if you don't have an American address to bill...used, depends on the price of the bike...older used, buy the time you fly down, stay in a hotel and ride home...you may not save anything not to mention loosing a couple of days doing it...I live 6-7hrs north of the border...

A buddy of mine did it with a Corvette Z06 and after all was said and done he made a few hundred dollars and there was thousands difference in the price (yes, he bought it to flip)...if he had just looked at it as a weekend trip to do some shopping, he would have been more positive...

I guess I could look at it as a road trip to do some shopping as well...never really considered it to be honest...??

Later.

So, I went with the versys.. And, for anyones information if you care the dealer has the 2009 gs500 list price for 5,800.00 as of this morning. Only rebate they will give on the bike is $1,000.00 off. I bought the versys OTD price $5,7249.00 all said and done. The gs would have cost $5900.00 with the taxes and all the dealer fees. I even got a 4yr warranty with the bike. So if anyone is wondering about buying a versys I would do it again. Only issue I see so far is the rear brake is soft and does not lock up as easy as the gs..Even on a hill the rear brake does not feel like it will hold the bike unless you are pressing down really hard on the read brake, I guess this has been an issue. The bike handles well, you can see above traffic, and has some good low end tq . But since I will be in the break in period for a few weeks, I will know more. Thanks for everyones help.

I checked with a couple of dealers this morning to see what's shaking. The Suzuki dealer has all the discounts off a new 2009 GS500F and it's still $5,999 plus taxes and setup. Over at the Kawasaki dealer they have a 2010 ER6n that the discounts just came out for. It's $7,700 plus taxes. Setup is waved.

Another dealer located two and a half hours north of here has the 2009 GS500F marked down to $4,999 plus taxes, etc. He has the 2010 ER6n for $6,799 plus taxes, etc. Better, but still not cheap. And a full day trip (lots of gas) to get the bike.

The problem here in Canada is the dealers bought these bikes back when the Canadian loony was a lot lower than the American greenback. So it took more Canadian loonies to buy them. Unfortunately they are on the dealers' books at the Canadian dollar prices so that's what they have to work from. And the volumes up here are way lower than they are south of the 49th.

...ken...