ER5 or GS500 (choice)

[Nick_Giles]

As a 1st 'big-bike' I have the option for not a lot of coins either a Kawasaki ER5 or a Suzuki GS500

Advice please.


Regards, Nick

[lycan_barry]

i would say er5, just like them great to driver and relativly trouble free

[kawakid]

It depends on the condition of the bikes. We would need to see pics and details of both bikes to make a judgement

Personally I loved my er5. However I have never owned or ridden a gs500 to make a coment.
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I've a twin and a 4.

[Ericck]

IMHO both very good commuter bikes. I had an ER5 for over 5 years and cannot fault it.

If I were you I would try and get enough for a 600. A Hornet, Fazer or Bandit etc, will prove a much better long term purchase.
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Current Bike: 2004 Suzuki Bandit 600S
Previous Bikes: Yamaha FS1E, Mobylette Moped Thingy, Suzuki GS125, Kawasaki Zephyr 550, Kawasaki Zephyr 750, Kawasaki ER500, Suzuki Bandit 600, Honda CBR600F, Triumph Street Triple 675, Suzuki V Strom 650, Suzuki Bandit 1200, Suzuki SV650N, Honda CB500F.

[stinkwheel]

ER5 is better built. GS500 is cheaper and less complex (eg, it's aircooled, not liquid cooled).

So, depends how much you're looking at spending. Down to a point, you're probably better off with an ER5. Below that point, the fact that you'll be getting a newer/lower mileage/better condition/less complex bike for your money means you'd probably be better off with the suzuki.

I'd probably put that crossover point at around £1000 but individual variation plays a big part too. If you're looking for a very cheap-end bike, look at mileage and condition, not age and model. Be flexible, be prepared to walk away and don't focus too much on which model you want, beggars can't be choosers and you might see an utter bargain in something you hadn't previously considered so be open about what you look at.

I remember going and looking at a GS500, a 750 Zephyr, a CD250U, a Virago 555 and a GPZ500s all in the same day. They were all similarly priced, The GS was a lemon, the zephyr was bent (and well patched up), the CD250 was ratty as hell and the virago had been highly polished, ridden through a leather tassle stall before crashing into the blue anodised alloy section at the local fastners shop. The GPZ was clean, garaged, unmolested, low mileage, fully dealer service from new and was pretty much perfect in every respect.

At the absolute bottom end, condition of wearable parts (brakes, discs, chain, tyres) plays a huge part too. I've seen people on here get an apparent bargain only to find it's doubled in price by the time they've put two new tyres, two new discs, pads and a chain and sprocket kit on it.

So. In answer to your original question... Depends.
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[sidewinder]

Has it got to be a 500? What sort of budget do you have.?..Overwise er5 all the way...........

[Polarbear]

[mysterious_rider]

You need to put up pics really.

I love my gs500 personally, but then it hasnt come without it's problems.

I got it for an absolute bargain though...

So far I've fitted new clutch plates, new engine seal (my fault), overall though, I've done 3k miles in about 3 months worth of ownership and it's let me down once. (throttle cable broke).

I like the sound of deep twin engines (straight through pipe without baffle. yes yes yes. )

also turned her into a cafe racer.


Good thing about the gs500 is it's so damn simple! It's an AIR cooled twin. So engine stripdowns are pretty piss easy. Also bits are easy to fit. Tis also a very forgiving bike. And restrictors for it are cheap as chips (if you need them)


Personally though I wish'd I had saved up for a gsxr600. But this bike is perfect for bridging the gap between a 125 and a proper bike. Plus she only set me back £300.

[mad4it028]

bought this for my nephew today he dosnt like it , runs perfect tyres are new its done 16000 miles you can have it £450 as it stands or £600 taxed and tested
https://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/423243_10150734156055350_535040349_12108410_1215671004_n.jpg
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always looking to buy bikes crashed ,unfinished projects,none runners pm me
currently riding kawasaki z1000 only bike ive ever loved

[Nick__C]

I have a GS, had it for almost a year now after passing my test and has done me fine, even at 33bhp.
Brother bought an ER last week after passing a couple of months ago.

Tbh I don't think there will be THAT much difference, bar the whole liquid/air cooled & simplicity of the GS. What you're probably better off doing is getting the best example of either bike that you can for your budget.
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'02 GS 500.

[UnspeedySam]

I agree with the condition and mileage over model. However I'd also look around for a Honda Bros. Mine was £330 and about £500 by the time I'd got it on the road. Now it's got the Yoshi can, it both sounds like a proper twin and pulls amazingly. Even on the motorway up to about 100 if you can deal with the wind blast.
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Riding: BMW R1150RT `02 bought mildly crashed
Fixing: Also the BMW as I get less broken bits
Gone: ZZR600 '00, TRX850 '97, RXS100 '93, JS125-6B '07, BMW R1100RS '93, Kawasaki ZX-6R-J2 '01, Honda Bros NT400 NC25 '88

[sidewinder]

[Benson_JV]

[mad4it028]

[Benson_JV]

[Nick_Giles]

@ mad4it028

Interested. You have mail.


Nick

[Nick_Giles]

@ mad4it028

Interested. You have mail.


Nick

[flumpy7]

For the record the GPZ500s is a cool bike.

All the other 500 twins suck balls.

Fact.
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2012 Sinnis apache

[Diddylord]

I'm affraid I have to dissagre with flumpy7 here honda cbf500 fantastic bike as far as i'm concerned.

Not that I'm biased or anything
https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=92493&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=2300

[Seb]

Get that GS500, stick an RGV250 rear shock on there, some BT45s fitted and get the forks overhauled with cartridge emulators or at least some extra preload. Transforms these things from a wallowing pogo stick of a commuter to an absolute sleeper on tighter roads

I will note though, stock up on the FS365 or ACF50, GS500s will rot away before you eyes if you don't look after them properly.
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2010 Triumph 1050 Sprint ST

[lozzypop1]

[flumpy7]

[mad4it028]

i think all 500 twins are as dull as dish water
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always looking to buy bikes crashed ,unfinished projects,none runners pm me
currently riding kawasaki z1000 only bike ive ever loved

[goto10]

[Seb]