Thoughts on the Kawasaki ER-7? Good first bike?

[JohanTheAndro...]

I'm considering getting a 1997 Kawasaki ER-7 as my first bike.

Do you have experience with this bike? Have you owned one? What are they like?

[Zen Dog]

There isn't an ER-7 as far as I know.

There's an ER-6. Or a ZR-7. Or even an ER-5. Do you mean one of those?

From the year, I'm guessing you mean an ER-5, like this? - https://bikez.com/motorcycles/kawasaki_er-5_1997.php

In which case I haven't owned one, but they're a parallel twin commuter. I get the impression they're not the most exciting or dynamic bike in the world, but a decent first big bike if you've just passed your test.
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Current - '94 VFR750FR, '00 VFR800FI Previous - '10 Street Triple R, '92 MZ ETZ301, '05 TTR250, NSR125R, KMX125, "Honda" Win (chinese copy of an old Honda design with a C90 engine)
My bike trip around S.E. Asia 2010/2011

[ThunderGuts]

I had an ER5. It was a good solid bike. Enough power to have fun and handled reasonably well. Few issues to watch out for; oval drum on the rear wheel (usually needs a new wheel), non-functioning petcock which can result in the engine being flooded with fuel and reg/rec which tends to fry easily (wire a cheap voltmeter on the battery so you can monitor what’s going on). But in reality they’re pretty reliable and comparable to other commuter twins.

I regret selling mine to some extent- good first bikes.
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TG.

[Ericck]

After a break from biking for a few years bought an ER5 back in 2004.

Used her for commuting and general riding for about 5 years.

As already been said, was a good solid bike.

Not overly exciting but did what she was supposed to and was reliable.

Should be fine as a first big bike
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Current Bikes: 2006 Suzuki Bandit 1200, 2008 Suzuki SV650N.
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.

[T1Cybernetic]

I always liked the ER5 and I passed my test on an ER6 and loved both of them But I purchased a 1997 YZF600R because it was something I always wanted when I first saw one many moons ago.

In fact I still have a YZF600R, 50.000 miles and still going strong.

Buy the bike that you like and want and don't listen to anyone else as they are not the ones riding and or fixing it
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Signature removed by popular demand...

[JohanTheAndro...]

[krishay.baxter]

[carbon90]

So, did you take that as your first bike?