Kawasaki Ninja 500 Review

Check out ex-500.com for lots of info and support on the Ninja 500, the little Ninja that could.

Perfect bike for beginners and experienced alike. Nothing better for the money.

Replace the fork springs with a set of Sonic or Works Performance springs, first thing. 45 minute job and brings the bike up another level.

I know these are great beginner bikes, but do they HAVE to be so freakin' ugly?

I'm thinking the Ninja 250 simply because this thing is ugly. If it had the same fairings around the instruments and neck as the 250, or even the ZX6/etc, it'd be a shoe-in.

Well after a lot of research, time and effort. I went to the dealer today, sat on the bike and just love it!

I looked at the 250 first off and decided that it is just to small for me and for what I want to do.

The ex500 fits me for the following reasons.
-Larger frame fits my body shape very well.
-Larger CC's ticking in at 499 gives me more adjust-ability on the highway then that of the 250.
-The foot pegs put me right where I want to be on the bike.
-The back seat is a bit larger which allows me to put a slightly larger saddle on it. Which is what I need considering I do not have a car.
-The seat puts me in more of comfort zone, I have a big ass and I am a big ass... hmmm...
-Liquid cooled. This doesn't reflect a difference between the 250/500 however in Texas we have colder winters and hotter summers.

As said before I went to the dealer. But before heading out I researched everything I could and wanted to know. I asked the dealer stuff I already knew, why? I had to find out how much he knew about the bike and bikes in general.

The next step is to figure out things such as.
-Cost of gear. (Now and in a year)
-Cost of insurance on a new bike.
-Cost of monthly payments.
-Cost of gas.
-Cost of maintenance. (Per month, Per Three month, Per Six month and One year)
-Cost of upkeep (slightly differed from maintenance)
-Cost of OTD* monthly payments.

and compare it to my monthly income/yearly income.

Questions Asked:
Whats the average gas mileage per tank not including the reserve?
Because i'm a more heavy set why should I consider the ex500 over the 250?
What will the ex500 give me over the 250?
Do you apply discounts for riders who take the MSF Course?
Do you apply discounts for riders who buy full gear in store?

and alot more.

Although it will be another week before I return. I can extablish whether or not I want to return.

Anyways, back to the research,

Kick

So what are the chances that Kawasaki upgrades the butt-ugly (at least imo) Ninja 500 for 2009 just as they did for the 250 for 2008?

Anyone hear anything out there?

I'll probably be buying my first bike next year, and want something in the 500 range. Unfortunately, here in the US, there's really only two options: the Ninja 500 and the GS 500.

I personally own both the 250, and the 500, and you cant go wrong with either of them. The 250 is a bit slow (tops out to quick) on the interstate unless you change the sprockets. I went up 1 in the front, down 6 in the back, made it run out great on the big road.
I believe (purely my own bs) that the 500 is on its way out. My reasons behind it are:
The 250 always looked like its bigger brother, it now is EXACT copy of the new 650r
The 650r can do everything the 500 can do, plus has more horse power
The 500 is running on 20 year old tech, the 650 is new from the ground up
I believe there will be a price reduction for the 650r to make it more closely in line with the 500
With the proper gearing, the 250 rides as well as the 500 already.
Put a 500 in a group of 250's and it will get eat up on a curvy road, 250 will win every time (you can just about drag the 250's mirrors on the pavement!)
The NEW 250 now sports a tire the same size as the 500, making it even MORE curve hungry!!

Again, I own both, 250 (2006) and a 500 (2005), and my 250 will eat my 500 alive on a curvy road. I dressed my 500 out for touring, geared it up for better mpg and lower interstate rpm, I've happy with it, just dont think it will be around much longer as a model. I see they have reworked the trans on the 250 as well, and gave it more "power band," but there is no mention of actual horse power and what the improvements actually did. I cant wait to find some one around here that has one, I want to ride one, I may have just talked myself into get trading my 06 in on 08 ninja 250!!

OH yes, the suzuki gs500 is even older tech than the ninja, its air cooled, and will not last as long. I've personally seen a few friends go down just from being wore out. Around 65K miles mind you, but I've seen ninja 500's exceed 100K and are still on the road. The highest 250 I've seen is around 55k thus far, but it's still rolling!! He rides with us every time we go! I'd go with the ninja's, water cooled!!

Q3DG

I have a black ninja 500 for sale if anyone is interested. Light cosmetic damages. Mileage is under 3000 and I have the clean title to the bike. I can include my helmet and jacket. I live in los angeles california. I want a bigger ninja ( GREEN would be nice) !! =). Firm price is 3000. THANKS! My email is edward_lee1234@yahoo.com

3000K for a ninja whit damage?????? CAN GET A NEW ONE FOR 3900

i'm 5'10" and roughly 190ish lbs in weight would a 250 or 500 suit me better?
i'm curious because i'm not your average sized southern lady lol

I had all but made up my mind on the Ninja 250, but after spending a little time on one, I realized it was really just a bit more cramped than I like (I have a 34" inseam). I sat on the 500 and the difference was immediately noticeable. I found a used one for next to nothing and now I am the proud owner of a 2004 500R.

Coming from riding light bikes (TW200, scooters) the 500 feels much more stable and substantial without a hint of topheavy-ness I have felt on some bigger bikes. With the 6 speed transmission laid out closely, the bike has more than enough power to feel confident in city driving.

I'd love a taller windshield and some hard luggage, but that'll have to wait.

The bike is a bargain all around. Insurance costs almost the same as on the 250, gas mileage is reasonable, and they're on the market for even less than you might think -- I paid less than most folks want for the 250.

Hi I am a football player and a big guy. I'm 6'3" and weigh 320 pounds. Will the ninja 500 ride ok with my weight or will i Need to go bigger? I have a 40 mile commute one way daily and i want somethin that will handle that distance easily. Thanks

Well I found a Ninja 500 on craigslist and after the test ride, I LOVED it. I was originally looking at the ex250 since the dealers are sold out of the 2008 250r's until at least July here so the next best was looking at the 500's.

Needless to say, I'm leaving early to give the guy the $1900 for the bike and ride down to get insurance... State Farm is awesome, $74.12 a month for insurance for the bike.. I'm paying $216 a month for my car =(

What are the major differences between the Kawasaki Ninja 500 and the Suzuki GS500

I am a 53 yo male new rider. I am a good athlete, bicycle rider and long time skier. I have also driven stick shift cars for 30 years. I am interested in a bike that provides excellent balance between power, handling, comfort especially for 7-10ths riding speed on the back roads. As a skier I totally understand speed, space and control.
I am 5 ft 9 in and 180lbs. Which Ninja would you recommend...the 250 or the 500?
PS I don't expect to do much crowded highway riding, mostly back two lane roads.

Thanks,
Jeff

I need some advice, I have my Motorcycle permit, waiting to take the motorcycle dmv course, its free in jersey - 3 days they teach you alot. I can't decide which is better for me the 07 ninja 500 or the 07 gs500f. I am 20yrs old, 5'9, 150 lbs - the price is relatively close for both bikes and insurance for the year in nj will be $763. I really like the body style of the gs500f compared to the ninja500 which is so outdated. This is my first bike, which is easier to learn on / handle? I am leaning towards the gs500f right now, but I see people saying its hard to start - don't want to deal with that all the time lol. Any advice is appreciated!. Thanks.

Wow, bike insurance is cheap for you guys. it costs me $2400 every 6 months where I live. jerks :)

$4800/year??

I'm a first time rider and I was quoted by 3 different agencies $400 a year!

I am looking at a 2003 500 with 8K on it and he wants 2900. been told that is a little high but wondering what you guys think. i plan on trying to get him down to 2500 or under - sound right?

there is also a 92 for 1000 but i am a little afraid of getting something older and putting a grand into it anyways.

thanks a lot.

Yeah I would go for the 2003, if you can get him to $2500 thats a pretty good price. Just show up with cash, and most likely he'll sell.

Ben
~Best Beginner Motorcycles Admin

Hi All:
I am a new rider and I have had a 2007 EX500R for about 2 months now. It is agonizing deciding on a new bike and, being both and older rider (45-ish) and a shorter rider (5'5-ish), even more of a challenge to pick a good fit on a bike. That said, having chosen this Ninja, I thought I'd chime in and say how happy I am with this bike. I fit on it pretty well stock, but being a bit paranoid about having both feet flat, I had a link kit put on that lowered it a couple of inches, just to be sure. I'll probably take it back up to its standard height now that I am used to it.
This bike is comfortable and nimble and feels both easy to handle and yet it has enough power and weight to maneuver through about any traffic and come up to speed with traffic ( I am mainly a commuter on it). I haven't yet taken it on any longer trips and have also not taken it on the freeway, but it is already feeling like an extension of me. I highly recommend it as both a beginner bike and, if you happen to be a shorter rider, a great geometry. BTW, I have taller friends, 6ft, that feel comfortable on it as well. I don't know how that works, but it is just a great -feeling bike. To all of you who think the 500R is ugly, well, when you get to know this bike, personally, it's a thing of beauty ;-}

My wife just bought one today. initially, i didn't like it, but after staring at her, and then the bike, i realized that i'd be much happier if she was on something that she'd be comfortable on and easy for her to learn on, rather than the R6 she was supposed to get.

I'm real new here but I find it funny that people complain so much about how a bike looks when the business end of the bike is out of sight when you're doing what it's meant to do. I guess people need that little something extra to affirm something in their minds just like car people, and I understand that. Like I said I'm new and all I seem to care about is fit and feel and since I'm smurfy at 5'4" it will be interesting. I related to the Subaru versus Corvette comment well. My wife and I just fought that argument because I said what good is a corvette if I cant throw my bicycle on it, my tent, some fishing poles and what-not?

So what's the Subaru of bikes?

Anyway - great site.

my comments will surely echo many on the page, but thought i'd add my recent 'beginner rider' story:

notes about the bike:
after a lot of research, i bought a used 2005 Ninja 500R in October. i found the bike on eBay; it had 950 miles, been in a garage all it's life, only had a broken front brake lever and a bent rear brake lever and i paid $3000 - and i still think it was a good deal! kelley blue book will put a 2005 Ninja with 10,000 miles at $3700... after $380 in the shop to get it back to riding form, fix the levers and to get it lowered 2" (I'm a 5'3" rider, 120 lb small guy), it fits like a glove and purrs like a kitten (not quite; my opinion of the 500r is that its extremely practical but lacks any sort of polish. aka - engine power/reliability is excellent; engine noise/refinement is not to be expected). the look does leave something to be desired, but for me the black model with silver highlights and none of the enticing faux-excitement flames on the side, make me feel as sophisticated as i can.

notes about riding:
it's quick, agile, and i feel safe with it's composure. i had never ridden a bike before this past fall. i took the MSF course, passed, and bought the Ninja with my only experience being on the Eliminator 125 they gave me to take the course. again, being a small guy, i was really nervous about the whole venture (respect the road; i'm still a beginner and city traffic tenses me up quick!). i own the bike in nyc, and have had about 300 city/rural miles on the bike and 400 highway miles. the weight of the bike is perfect. i feel a little jostled on the highway, but highway riding on a 250 (which i also considered) was a fear of mine, so i think i made a great choice. the bike's acceleration is excellent; i keep it high revved in 2nd or 3rd in the city lanes of traffic and get the necessary control and also the punch i need to maneuver those pesky yellow cabs that aren't looking for you.

notes about gear/other expenses:
the previous owner gave me her helmet, an HJC (FREE). it was big for me, but was fine in the beginning. i did some shopping and purchased Shoei's bottom-of-the-line helmet, the TZ-R ($280). immediate difference! it's quieter, the fit gives more mobility, it's lighter, i can feel more venting on my head (somehow achieved with less vents than the HJC), it has a seal where the visor closes that feels solid and allows no annoying whistles - overall solid. i bought a tourmaster intake jacket ($120) with three liners (helpful), comfort is fine, nothing great but it gets the job done. i bought a cortech duffle type bag ($80) to fit over the seat behind me - great purchase - love it for my commutes and travels. covermax cover ($40); cheap, many better options for more money, but it keeps the dust off when it sits on the street.... bar bones insurance in the city with the Ninja 500r - ($45 a month with All State). fill up the gas tank ($15).

overall, i'm very pleased with the bike. it truly is perfect for a beginner and has enough power and capable handling for almost every riding situation. i think a 650 will be the absolute perfect bike, but i can wait until i get another couple thousand miles under my belt for that. weather permitting, i'll be taking it on it's first long tour with mixed riding this coming week (nyc to obx); perhaps i'll report back... hopes this helps and if your thinking about a bike, just get one!

I am thinking about buying a bike and a friend of mine has an aunt that is selling a 500r. bike only has 5,000 miles on it never been laid down and has not been rode for approx 1 year due to his aunt moving to arkansas (bike is in his grandmothers garage). bike looks like in almost new condition except for dust that was on it. my friend thinks his aunt will take $1,800 for the bike... bike was purchased new in 1998 and has only been rode by a 40y.o. female..... is this bike worth the money she wants for it...... thanks for any input

Im about 6'5 ,closing in on 6'6 and only about 195. Would i be better off on the 250 or 500, the 250 sounds like i might be just a bit cramped, which might suck on the long drives.

Hey everyone,

I am brand new to the motorcycle world and am looking to get my first bike. I am 20 years old, 5'11 and 210-220 pounds. I have good upper body mass and am pretty athletic. I've been looking at different forums and have been going back and forth between a 250 and a 500...I agree totally that a 250 would be a great beginner's bike but I also have to weigh in the fact that I may "outgrow" it too quickly. Is a 500 still too much bike for a beginner with my specs or do you think I should be alright? I also know that it is inevitable that I will most likely drop the bike so going towards a cheap, naked, lighter bike would be good for me. I'd be using the bike for commuting which includes back roads as well as 65mph highways. I'm not looking to race and get my neck broken or see some blue lights in my mirrors but do want to have at least a little bit of fun with it. I am also going for a sort of "bad-ass" look and wanted to know if I'd get that with the 250. Plus, my friend, (a complete beginner as well) just took out a loan for a 2006 GSX R600...I'm pretty much just waiting on him to drop it and just hope he doesn't kill himself...he is 20 as well and is basically the exact same build as me. He doesn't have his learners yet but is getting it soon. What do you all think? It too much for him? He's not going to be able to learn to maneuver it correctly, right? So if him in his 600 and me in "my" 250 go up and I can handle the 250 better, I'll still "win", if we go through turns and inclines/declines? So what I'm saying is will the 250 stay with a 600 in the mountains? How about the interstate?

I live in Virginia, close to Charlottesville but in the Blue Ridge Mountains to give you a general idea on the terrain that I will be driving on.

Thank you all so much in advance for your input...

my buddy josh just got a gsxr 600 and is paying 239 a month for insurance but his isn't paid off and he is only 19 in texas so that is probably why it is so high but who do y'all think has the lowest insurance for a young rider cause im shopping around and made my mind up on the ninja 500 but am looking for cheaper insurance than him.

My boyfriend just bought the Ninja 500 today (4 hours ago) from a bike shop in Falls Church, VA. He spent all weekend at the MSF course, and barely passed it. It's funny that when we went to the bike shop before he took the MSF course, he said NO WAY to the Ninja because it was too heavy and intimidating. He was planning on getting a 250 cruiser. Then, after the MSF course, he sat on a bunch of different sportsbikes and when he sat on the Ninja, he loved it the most. Immediately after we bought it, he drove it from Falls Church to Fairfax, all streets had a speed limit max of 40. He was nervous the whole time, stalled a lot, drove pretty slow, but when he hit over 40 mph, he said it was really fun. If he can do it, who was a nervous wreck about riding a motorcycle, you should be fine. Don't let the 500/250 difference scare you, you probably could not tell the difference.

I'm looking for a gently used 500R, I'm in the dayton, ohio area, let me know if anyone knows of anything close.
sgunlock@indiana.edu is my e-mail

I am looking at a Kawasaki Ninja 500R, it's a 2006 with only 800 miles, and they are asking $3500...does this sound like a good price or should I try to back them down a little bit??