EX500 - 12 years and still going strong
Written: Sep 15 '00
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Great beginner bike, good ergos, good handling and acceleration, a marvelous all-arounder
Cons: Slightly aging design, Kawasaki SuperFlex(tm) frame, horrible stock tires (But easy to fix)
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| kysh's Full Review: 2000 Kawasaki Ninja 500R |
Whether you're looking for a beginner bike, a racebike,
a commuter, a canyon-carver, or even a tourer, the
EX500 won't let you down. (Note: The EX500 was originally
brought into production circa 1988. In 1994, they redesignated
it the 'Ninja 500R', and upgraded the wheels and other things.
Mostly, however, it's the same bike with the same character.
Its official model is still the 'EX500', and that I will call
it)
The EX500 has been around, fundamentally unchanged, for the
better part of 12 years. It was an exceedingly impressive
motorcycle when it came out. Now, in the days of 120hp 600cc
inline-four monsters, it seems to come up a little short..
Until you realize that it still does exactly the same thing
as it did when it was first made, and still does it just as well.
Furthermore, it won't buck a ham-fisted beginner off the first
time she (or he) does something stupid in a corner. It's forgiving,
gets good gas mileage, is very reliable, with only a few problems
through its entire run. I have an EX500 as a racebike, but my first
two streetbikes were also EX500s. I've ridden them down dirt roads,
through city streets, forest trails, mud and grass. I've taken them
on long trips, and used them for commuters. They haven't gotten
worse because everything has gotten better.
The EX500 is one of those bikes that often causes an emotional attachment
between the rider and motorcycle.
For canyon carving, and racing, the bike is far from ideal, but.. it also
does better than you might think, and it builds skill while doing so. My
current ride is a CBR600F4. Anyone could just get on one of those and go
fast, with a few basic techniques. The frame is so stiff, the traction so
good, the handling so precise that you can get in far over your head and
not learn anything. And then when you crash, it's a spectacular crash,
not a 35mph lowside with minimal damage, like the typical EX crash. For a
beginner, or an experienced rider who understands why smaller bikes are so
nice, or your average commuter, the EX500 is a marvelous piece of machinery. Comes in a nice purple and grey for 2001.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
kysh
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Member: Kysh Dragon
Location: San Jose, CA
Reviews written: 2
Trusted by: 1 member
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