Kawasaki GPZ500S

[moog]

Hi. I use my bike to commute to work and back and occasionally go to the nearest city (Norwich) which is about a 30 mile round trip. I don't need anything fast and I don't like the sportsbike riding position. I currently ride a CBR125, the theory being that it isn't powerful enough to get me into any trouble during the winter. So far, my theory is being proved correct. However, I am thinking of upgrading next spring/summer, and have decided to go for a 500cc twin, as they are reasonably quick (quick enough for my uses anyway), are generaly reliable and return good mpg. I have considered but ultimately dismissed the GS500 and CB500, and wouldn't touch an ER-5 with yours mate (no offence to ER-5 owners/riders, I just didn't like riding it), which has left me with the GPZ500S.

Firstly, are there ANY other 500cc twins that I have overlooked, and secondly, has anyone ever owned a GPZ500 on here and what were your experiences with it?

Many thanks, Moog.
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"A process which led from the amoeba to man appeared to the philosophers to be obviously a progress...though whether the amoeba would agree with this opinion is not known."

"I've made an odd discovery. Every time I talk to a savant I feel quite sure that happiness is no longer a possibility. Yet when I talk with my gardener, I'm convinced of the opposite."

[doggone]

Suzuki SV650 is a better buy and dirt cheap to insure.

[moog]

Not keen on the half-fairing on the SV though. I agree it is a cracking bike, but that fairing....just seems too bulbous for my liking.
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"A process which led from the amoeba to man appeared to the philosophers to be obviously a progress...though whether the amoeba would agree with this opinion is not known."

"I've made an odd discovery. Every time I talk to a savant I feel quite sure that happiness is no longer a possibility. Yet when I talk with my gardener, I'm convinced of the opposite."

[mr.z]

Why a 500?
A 400/600cc twin will be roughly equivilant power for all intents and purposes..

Twin will be cheaper to run and have less to go wrong (generally)

Allthough a suzuki bandit is worth looking at too..


But for winter bikes/general hacks theres better bikes out if you can get past the looks.

Stinkwheel has/had a gpz500, sure theres many others too, very good bikes
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>RidingSkills<->Tech Tips<->MyBikes<

[Rookie]

The Old Geeza is in the process of selling one, too.

[Kickstart]

[moog]

I think I'm correct in saying that pre95 they had a 16 inch front wheel which made the handling, um, exciting!!! After 95 they came with a 17 as standard I believe.

Correct me if I am wrong.
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"A process which led from the amoeba to man appeared to the philosophers to be obviously a progress...though whether the amoeba would agree with this opinion is not known."

"I've made an odd discovery. Every time I talk to a savant I feel quite sure that happiness is no longer a possibility. Yet when I talk with my gardener, I'm convinced of the opposite."

[Zx6man]

the new ER6 is a nicer machine to start with...

[selfdestructi...]

I had a GPZ500S for a few years.. Not the best build quality and not the quickest - but not too bad either.

I'd recommend the 'D' model (95 on I think?). If you get the earlier 'A' model with single front disc and drum rear, make sure that it has had a new alternator rotor fitted with enclosed magnets - otherwise the magnets will break up and spread throughout the engine.

Personally I'd get a bandit or an SV if I could stretch to it. If you must have a 500 twin, the CB500 is a bit better than the GPZ, but less fun. Oh and the ER5 isn't much different to the GPZ as the motor is virtually the same.
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Triumph Daytona 955i - Triumph Sprint Sport - Suzuki DR350ES

[Kickstart]

[moog]

Thought so. I am looking to get as new a model as I can afford, I will have about £2500 to spend. When did they stop producing them?

ER-6 is probably a good bike and all that, but I really won't be able to afford one. I kinda have my heart set on a GPZ500 now anyway.
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"A process which led from the amoeba to man appeared to the philosophers to be obviously a progress...though whether the amoeba would agree with this opinion is not known."

"I've made an odd discovery. Every time I talk to a savant I feel quite sure that happiness is no longer a possibility. Yet when I talk with my gardener, I'm convinced of the opposite."

[Kickstart]

Hi

Think that the last new ones went for £3k~£3.5k. For your budget you should get a really nice one.

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[moog]

Many thanks Keith. If I can get a 3 year old one I will be chuffed. Once again thanks.
____________________
"A process which led from the amoeba to man appeared to the philosophers to be obviously a progress...though whether the amoeba would agree with this opinion is not known."

"I've made an odd discovery. Every time I talk to a savant I feel quite sure that happiness is no longer a possibility. Yet when I talk with my gardener, I'm convinced of the opposite."

[The Old Geeza]

[The Old Geeza]

IMHO ?

GPZ500 ?

Superb bike

Those who haven't ridden one have no idea. And those who have are too embarrased to admit how good they are



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Horse Power was safer when the Horses had it!

[A J]

How about the sv650 without the fairing ?

I think it is the perfect bike for what your looking for, its not a complete rocket but has enough go when pushed and its not a sportsbike riding position.

Also the insurance is dirt cheap!

Have you considered anything else? rather than the 500 twins?
maybe a bandit, fazer worth a look and a test ride i think.

[iCraig]

I would NOT recommend the GPZ500S.

Probably one of the worst bikes I ever owned on the reliability front of things.

However it did handle very well and did me proud on a trackday.

I would however recommend the GS500, even though you said you've dismissed it, can I ask why?

[stinkwheel]

Fantastic bikes Excellent for a first 'big bike'. I have had both a pre and a post 96 model. The pre D-model does indeed have a 16" front wheel and a drum rear brake. I'll tell you what, it handles better than the newer model. I have had no problems at all with the smaller front wheel, I ride it all year round and I have been known to push it pretty hard. The drum brake is WAY more effective than the crappy single pot disc on the later models.

That said, the earlier models DO have a timebomb in them in the form of dodgy alternator magnets.

I can assure you that it is a better bike handling, comfort and performance wise than the CB500 and the GS500. The CB has a slightly better standard of finish but I can assure you that the GPZ will take a huge amount of neglect and abuse.

I owned one for six years, then I bought another one that I still have, then I bought a KLE500 which uses the same motor so I am putting my money where my mouth is. My older model on is sat in my lockup now and hasn't turned a wheel for a month, I would be entirely confident that I could go downstairs now, fire it up first push of the button (bearing in mind it is about -4C just now) and ride it to any location in the UK without missing a beat.

Niggles wise, they are fussy about tyre choice, fit only Bridgestones and you won't go far wrong, they eat unitrac bushes at a frightening rate (all unitrac kawasakis do) and the brakes could do with being a bit more effective (sorted out by fitting braided hoses). The back disc brake on the newer models is a joke, but it does work well enough to be going on with.
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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.

[moog]

[stinkwheel]

It is worth mentioning that if you can get the very last model they did in the UK or a grey import European one (Both called a GPZ500E if I remember correctly), go for it. They have twin front discs as standard.
____________________
“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.

[tsmith]

the GPZ500 is an excellent bike. They stopped doing them in 2003, so the latest one you can get is an EX500E10 model. This has the dual front discs and dual horns as well. The '02 GPZ500 was an EX500E9 model and so on. If you get one of the EX500D models it only has the single front disc.

Don't get one of the really older bikes (<1994) as the 16" wheels have a habbit of letting go when the tread is wearing. Stick with >1994 and you will have no problems.

For commuting, the GPZ is way better than the SV650. Things like comfort, tank range, and fuel economy are important. The GPZ will do 0-60 in under 5 seconds easy (the books say 3.5secs!) and top out just under 130mph. And even thrashing its nuts off you will hardly ever drop below 58mpg. Riding it sensibly results in 65mpg and riding like a pooftah results in just under 80mpg! Good for when Tony Blair raises the petrol price. Expect around 200-250 miles out of a tank, or 280 miles if you ride in economy mode (keep the revs below 5,000 rpm all the time to get almost 80mpg)

The sportsbike brigade will tell you to get a 600 or an SV650. The SV650 weighs 169kg and produces 70bhp, the GPZ weighs 179kg and produces 60bhp. Are you really going to notice that slight difference on the road? The cheaper cost of consumables and the low insurance group are also a major plus point for the GPZ.

As far as reliability goes.... 45,000 miles on my 1996 EX500D3. 32,000 miles on my 2002 E9. and 5000 miles on my 2003 E10. I use the bikes in all weathers and they have never let me down.

If you get a GPZ, fit either Bridgestone BT45's crossply or Michelin Macadam 100X radial tyres and you won't have any problems.

And the 02 model in black and red looks the best

[Kickstart]

[moog]

[feef]

My last bike was a GPZ500

old shape.

had over 76000 miles on the clock, and ran very well. I did rebuild the engine due to some problems the previous owner had with it tho.

Comfy. and quick.

Mine had uprated suspension, floating disks and braided hoses, as well as a jet kit and K&N.

fitted a Motad Nexus stainless system, but had (and still have) a Muzzy Ti race system too, sounded lovely on that

on the whole, a cracking bike, cheap to insure, VERY easy to work on, and nowadays, you can get an older model for a few hundred quid.

a
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[stinkwheel]

Did anyone mention yet that they have been making the engine for so long now (pushing 20 years in one form or another) and used it in so many different bikes that it is virtually a disposable componant?

Seriously, even if the engine does a major self-destruct (which they don't) you should be able to pick up a complete second hand engine for under £200 from any breakers in the country.

I agree with tomsmith about the red ones, they look fantastic.

In the states they get the 'Ninja' label and rightly so because whilst they are not as full-on, they have enough attitude.

There are not many bikes on the market which have had such a long production run virtually unchanged, which speaks volumes.
____________________
“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.