XJ 600 vs ER-5

[Harold_Shand]

Commuter bike needed, varying speeds, all weathers.

M reg XJ 600, 16k £1295

or

01 ER-5, 21k £1495


Yes, it's another one of those threads...
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[mr.z]

XJ - Shaft drive = win

XJ - inline 4 = win (but not as cheap as a 2twin)

ER-5 is a nice bike for what it does but isn't any better than a cb500 or gs500...

The xj is a capable touring bike, comfy and faster, you'll love not haveing to piss about with chains.. also lots of luggage available for it..


my two pee.
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[feef]

I'd got the Xj from the points of view of power, build, comfort and size.

also probbaly from maintenance and reliability too.

a
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[Harold_Shand]

Even though it is 8 years older than the ER-5?
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[Mr.Everready]

Is the XJ a shaftie ? I thought it was only the bigger version that was.
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[Harold_Shand]

You're right everyready, the 600 isn't shaft drive.
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Harold_Shand's theory might be the best explanation.

[mr.z]

From what i hear er-5's have been leaveing a little to be desired in the reliability department..

Millage imo makes more difference, but not as much as build quality and design.. appart from that xj parts will no doubt be easyer and cheaper to get hold of..

Never owned either but know people who have, put it this way, you get allot more bike for your money.


EDIT: There IS a 600 shaft drive xj https://www.bikepics.com/pictures/022137/ must be the "s" version?
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[phantomtek]

The ER5 is a lovely bike, don't let anyone tell you otherwise. It does everything you want it to do and the power across the range is well spread out, so you get good acceleration (0 - 60 in 4.5 seconds) and a competitive top end of 120mph. Don't let anyone say just because it is a commuter bike it is boring, it can shift for what it is and sounds really nice, in my opinion at least.

You should haggle with that price though, it does seem a little over the top, my 02 model with 5k cost £950, you just have to shop around. Also with it being a low insurance group it costs little to insure, a good learner/commuter bike that won't complain much and is quite easy to work on.

The GPZ500 and CB500 both have slightly more BHP than the ER5 but in my opinion the ER5 is the better looking of the three, the GPZ looks a tad dated, again that's just my opinion.

Unfortunately I know little about the XJ600 but any questions about the ER5 and my experiences so far can be asked via PM if you want any.

[Harold_Shand]

Do you remember that bloke in the Fast Show who could never make his mind up. He ended up agreeing with one mate and then agreeing with other until they made him cry? That's me, that is.

I like them both for different reasons.

I like the XJ power, fairing, price, miles. I like the ER-5 age, FSH. I think it may all come down to how comfortable I feel when sat on them as I'd be happy with either...
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Harold_Shand's theory might be the best explanation.

[phantomtek]

Don't just sit on them, take a test ride. The ER5 can be a little windy when you're gunning it, I mean really gunning it, but it is quite a nice bike to ride, the fairings will help the XJ's case.

My best advice, is to test ride both models, fully test ride for an hour or so on a country road, then look around for different bikes to the ones you found, unless you can get money off.

You never know, there could be a bargain waiting just around the corner.

[feef]

[mr.z]

Very simple soloution, go and book two test rides.


Its all about what your expecting to do with it..

No offence to the er5, i got my licence on one! (and felt more solid a ride than the gs500 or cb i had a short go on) but its one of those bikes thats "ok" at everything, stuff like a zzr, xj and others are ok at everything and do other stuff extreemly well..
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[Method]

My mate has an XJ-600, i have a GS500 (Basically the same as the ER5 realy)

XJ = Higher top speed
XJ = Gets there quicker
XJ = Slightly bigger road presence IMO
XJ = Better lights!
XJ = Wind protection from that little fairing
XJ = Very well balanced, he can throw it around where ever he wants which is usefull
XJ = Very comfy seat!
XJ = Loadsa luggage around for it
XJ = Easier to get parts for

GS = Smaller
GS = A more commited ride
GS = Runs a little further on the fuel (even though its running rich)
GS = More "racey" feel if you like
GS = A Lot easier to work on

I know your not after a gs, but still, its a good comparison bike.

Just remember to pick up your complimentay slippers and pipe from your nearest Yamaha dealer when you purchase the XJ though
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[dodsi]

My old ER-5 is for sale for £1000 I think paulodd off these forums owns it now.

17K miles and was in great nick when I left it with him

and its in essex.

[instigator]

Reliability on an er5 isn't an issue, theyre great full stop. Regulator/rectifiers are known to blow between 10-20k but thats it. Okay, so craig- here hasn't had much luck with them but I've never heard of any more complaints.

Cover them in wd40 and they're supoib.

No idea about the Xj.

Could get an er5 much cheaper than that harold bishop.

[Kickstart]

Hi

Used to have an XJ600. They are chain drive (the one on Bikepics is a 900 that has been mislabelled, check some of the other pictures and you can see the badge).

Personally it would depend on where you are riding. Up and down a motorway the Divvy is perfect, but on A roads and round town it was fairly asthmatic. Handled OK, but the way the engine felt meant I just did not enjoy riding it.

Personally I would be tempted to go for the ER5, although if you are doing long distances on it the lack of fairing might get tiring.

The build quality of the Divvy was not that bad overall. The vacuum fuel pump is a sick joke though, and some people seem to have problems with the wiring under the tank (it is a bit exposed).

Price wise, not sure on that pair. I sold my Divvy for £850 I think (not certain) which was M reg as well, in pretty good condition (faired version, with a rack) with new tyres but which had done 43000.

All the best

Keith
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[Ritzah]

£1495 is a little expensive for an ER5 with 21k on it.

I got mine for £1795 with 3k on the clock and its 03.

And i havent had any problems with my ER500, good MPG aswell, i got 200miles to a tank.

[stinkwheel]

I had a 600 divvy for a week at the same time as I had my first GPZ500s (long story as to why). I can't think of any circumstances under which I would pick up the keys to the Divvy over the ones to the GPZ.

I rode it a few times to see what it was like being the biggest bike I had ridden at the time and the first inline four. Conclusion: Mundane, bland, uninteresting. Does everything in an unsurprising, predictable and fuss free way but seems somehow the less for it.

Can't vouch for the ER5 as it is a few ponies shy of a GPZ but I was spectacularly underwhelmed with regard to the divvy, I would have a GPZ500 over one any day.

Next to no difference in the power and top speed between the two (divvy slightly faster if anything) but the way the power is delivered made the GPZ a much more fun machine to ride.
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[greatmoorred]

i was looking at a ER-5 on monday, it was in the same shop as the hornet that i like. Never ridden one but looks wise, it definately lacks presence, its quite a small bike for a 500.
But ive only heard good things about them.reliable, easy to ride and look after etc..

[extreme3d]

[nrml76]

Personally, I think ER-5's are great little bikes. Unfortunately, they are a victim of their own success as DAS bikes. Most people turn up their noses on them once they pass because of the 'newbie' label that goes with them. For everyday use, riding within the law, it is as good as any of the other bikes mentioned, if not better than most of them.

[bish777]

I had a 1993 XJ600S

Fairing was good, it was very comfy.

Engine was a bit meek, and a bit noisey but never caused me trouble bar a little carb icing.

Handled ok and was good on fuel 50-55mpg.

Never had an ER5 so cant comment.
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[LustyLew]

My first 'big' bike was an ER5. I cannot fault the reliability one bit. In the 1 1/2 years I owned it, I only replaced chain, sprockets, tyres and a clutch cable. In that time I notched up 40k so it had about 50k on the clock by the time I got rid of it. Thats pretty good gonig for a commuter bike.

Oh, it's tough as old boots as well, came off it around 6 times and just picked it up and off I went!
Not ridden the XJ, thought about it when I looked at the Bandit, just didn't appeal to me. Looks somehow 'old'.

ER5 for the win. As McGee would say!!

If I had to have a 500 twin again, it would be an ER5 no question.
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[Harold_Shand]

Thanks for all this guys. This is the reason I love BCF.

I'm going to have a look on Saturday at the pair. If I can get the ER-5 down to something like £1150- £1200 ( from dealer, including 12 months MOT and 3 month warranty ), hopefully it'll be snowing...
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Harold_Shand's theory might be the best explanation.

[iCraig]

Personally I wouldn't go for either, If I were you I'd go for a GPZ500S or CB500, and I am sure you can find one the same price if not cheaper.

That ER-5 will no doubt need new shocks, if they haven't already been replaced at that mileage as they are a weakspot on it. Rectifiers go all the time and they have a habit of snapping speedo cables. Apart from that there a reasonable bike, and very durable hence why training schools use em.

Oh and don't go for the Divvy, they maybe reliable and cheap and easy to work on, but my god I've never yawned so much on a bike before and I even ride an ancient CB450DX and thats not even as boring as a Divvy!