ER5 v GS500

[Doddmaster]

Hey ppl

I hope to book some time off work soon, get my arse in gear and do some training for my test.

So now I really need to think about my next bike.

I like both of these bikes quite a bit. They are around £3k new, so secondhand ones are dead cheap. Which one's the best for me??

I dont mind that they have shit reputations, but it would be my first big bike, and I need to be sensible

BTW, I have also seen a GSXR250 that needs some work, are they any good?

Cheers muchly,
Dodd

PS. Before Wild Goose cries "they have drum brakes at the rear!" I really dont mind that...

PPS. Yes before you all say "get a VFR!", I would if I could, its my dream bike! there doesnt seem too many of em round here though... not cheap ones anyway!

[Keen]

I heard that Prince William might be getting an ER5............

[Keen]

....... so I'd go for the GS500

[G]

I'm not a great fan of the parrellel twin 'town bikes'... maybe one as a seconed bike, but it defiantley wouldn't be anywhere near the top of my list.... But then I wouldn't have bought a 125 cruiser so our tastes in bikes are obviosuly different.

>> but it would be my first big bike, and I need to be sensible <<
Hopefully if you can be sensible enough to choose a 'sensible' bike you will also be able to ride a not so sensible bike sensibly (confused yet )

Personally I'd reccomend something liek an sv650 or bandit600... both should do everything the 500s do, but if you feel like pushing them further they'll oblige. They've also both got farily low insurance groups and will probably be better 'first big bikes' than sports 400s.


As far as a GSXR250 that needs work goes... I'm not that great a mechanic, but I'd defiantley avoid an engine that revs to near 20,000rpm, that needs work!

[WildGoose]

OMG THEY HAVE A DRUM BRAKE AT THE REAR

erm....

oh.....

damn it

gs500 looks better, but has bad finish

ive heard only good things about the ER5, and apparently both are good at weekends

but they dont look particularly exciting, but its probly a far more sensible move, than what ive reverted to

wildgoose: plan A, reverts to, NSR!!! 8o)

[Kickstart]

Hi

Both are fair bikes, neither have great build quality. Both are really just sporting commuters. Also worth thinking about a GPZ500 or a CB500.

As to looking at them, have a wander up to D&K and have a look round and sit on all the possibilities

All the best

Keith

[Doddmaster]

I dont like the look of the GPZ at all. The CB holds it value too well so they dont often go cheap

[Demonic69]

Record 21 of 43

Stock No
128142
Make
KAWASAKI
Model
EX-4
Year
94 L
Mileage
8548
Colour
RED
Capacity CC
398
Description

Price
700

https://www.batmotorcycles.co.uk/pics1/28142.jpg

Nice bike for commuting and at £700!!!!!!!!
____________________
Back on a Blade. Just feels so right.

[WildGoose]

yeah doesnt look bad

but i sat on a few and it felt soooo big, i wouldnt feel in control if it

[G]

ONce you'd riddent it for an hour or two it'd feel natural... whn I first sat on the KLR650 after riding a NS125, I thought 'Oh my god, it's massive'... but once I got going it felt allright and I soon got used to it at slow speeds as well.

[Demonic69]

That's what my GF said.
"Oh my god it's massive"
I said "it's only a 125............
____________________
Back on a Blade. Just feels so right.

[Phil.S]

i have sat on a gs500 and thought it was smallish and ime only 5'4.
the er5 looks a lot better and rides ok but i personally would try to find a
CB500 as they are and i quote bike magazine "The best of the commuters"
i saw one done up on a track day last month and it really went well,came 5th against r1's, fireblades etc.
I passed my test on a CB500 aswell, its handling was a lot better than the er5 in my opinion.
____________________
Opinions are like assholes,
Everyone has got one.
(Dirty Harry)

[craigT19]

i do like the cb 500 but i hate the black end can that jus reckes it for me

my best mate has an er-5 (you may of seen him at bh with me) and it absolutely flies!!!! i love it, it looks nice handels amazingly and sound gorgeous er-5 vs gs500 NO CONTEST the gs is heavier and is down on bhp,
ive ridden the er-5 on a few occasions (cos my mates adicted to the sound of an nsr reving high lol, he says "my god that nsr is the closest your get to sounding like a gp bike without bying 1"lol) and it handeled very well, it took me a while to get used to the short bars but got there in the end, hes just come back from a riding holliday with some of our buds in south of france and evan though its restricted to 33bhp he still got 120mph down the monico tunnel and was more than a match for the guys on ninja 9's and r1's (on corners obviously)
____________________
Bikes owned :- 2001 nsr125, 1999 zx6r, 2006 yzf-r1, 2009 xmax 250, 2012 yzf-r1, 2015 MT-07
Current bike : - 2016 MT-10
BCF member pops. sadly missed 1945-2003

[Bendy]

[Doddmaster]

I do like the CB more than both the GS and the ER, but I could get a bandit for the same money!

At the mo I'm thinking about a GS500 around the 3 year old mark, then adding some flat bars, streetfighter lights and maybe a wicked paintjob

[Stevo]

As every one has already said, the ER5 is a much better and newer design than the old fashioned GS500, although it still rides ok, but like f3 one says the finish is so crap. Only 500 twin better than the ER5 is the CB500, but get a faired one, as they look better. I ride one quite alot, and they are a great all rounder, and sensible first bike to boot. It will be far cheaper than any 400 or 600 sportster to run, and insure, and its still great fun to ride.