Ninja 500 going away?

[adouglas]

I just got back from tire-kicking at one of the "local" Kawasaki dealers (don't own a 250 yet...been away from bikes for several years and am considering getting back into it, but not ready to pull the trigger just yet).

During my chat with the owner about the 250R, I told him that my last bike was an 89 EX500. Great bike...sold it because at the time I just wasn't riding and my rule is that if you're not using a toy, you should sell it, so I did.

He said something really interesting...that Kawasaki is going to kill the 500 next year. People either go for the 250 or the 650, apparently.

Anybody else heard this?

[mike_sema]

it wouldn't surprise me if they got rid of it for 2010 I think that the bike would be more appealing if they redesign it like the 250r

[optikal]

Yeah, appearance-wise, it is nowhere close to the 250 or the 650. So for a beginner (like me!), 250 is smaller and better looking and hence, the obvious choice over 500. And when I am more experienced, I wouldn't want to go with the 500 either...
It really needs upgrades, or they better kill it anyway...

[tinng321]

yeah.
i heard the same from the saleman at my local dealer.
i think they will come back in a few yrs with a totally new look like the 250

[Strider]

Talked to my dealer about a 500 last week. They said that they heard the 500 was going to get a make-over like the 250 did in 2011, and that there would be a few new 500's in 2010 ...
Who really knows but Kawasaki Corp themselves ...

[Daeldren]

500 doesn't really make much sense in their lineup since they introduced the ER6N and 650 ninja (I believe that is the reason they got rid of the ZZR too because the 650 fit their modern middle weight street bike segment, although it would be awesome if they came out with a 636 model ZZR but its doubtful.)

So now they have the 250r for their lightweight/beginner street bike and the 650 for their middleweight budget street bike, more power than the 500 and not a whole lot more money, plus its fuel injected.

[Snake]

Originally Posted by mike_sema

it wouldn't surprise me if they got rid of it for 2010 I think that the bike would be more appealing if they redesign it like the 250r

I don't think Kawasaki wants to redesign the 500 cuz if they did I belive that for a grand or so more people would opt for the bigger bike. Just my opinion,

[Lurkable]

Well I guess they don't really need the 500 anymore, but I always thought that if they redesigned it's appearance like the 250, it would sell well. Personally, I think the 650r is ugly, but I suppose more people would go for it over the 500 anyway...

Of course, zzr600 is beautiful, but I guess that's going too?

[capt_bugaloo]

That's too bad if true. I owned an early 90s EX-500 and it was a very good bike.

I do agree that the styling is showing its age, yet I can't see them redesigning it for the same price.

[250Rocket]

Kill the 500 and introduce a 400

[capt_bugaloo]

Originally Posted by 250Rocket

Kill the 500 and introduce a 400

The problem is that they won't do that because so many people in the North American market think anything under 600cc is "too small"...

Kawasaki is more likely to introduce a new 600+ cc bike than to introduce a 400.

[Sound Wave]

i thought both the vulcan 500 and the ninja 500r were going to be discontinued after 2009. i don't remember where i heard that.

i asked a kawasaki salesman about that. he said that he had heard that rumor too, but he couldn't confirm it.

being that there is a ninja 650r now, i wouldn't be surprised if they also come out with a vulcan 650 to compete with the yamaha v-star 650 cc series.

[TonyKZ1]

yes, it's an ongoing topic over on the EX-500.com site, from what they're saying it's due to ever tightening emissions and as was said earlier having the 650 as their next step up bike from the 250.
Tony

[tjkamper]

The 500 looks like it got stuck in the 80's so if it does get dropped it wouldn't surprize me. They might bring it back in a few years but with a differing body. Who knows.

[250Rocket]

Originally Posted by capt_bugaloo

The problem is that they won't do that because so many people in the North American market think anything under 600cc is "too small"...

Kawasaki is more likely to introduce a new 600+ cc bike than to introduce a 400.

Yeah but seeing how well the redesigned 250R did, don't you think they would want to try. IMO 500 is to close to 650. If i was looking at the 500 then i'd buy a 650R for a grand more. However 400 is like the ultimate size. Not overkill for daily rides but not underpowered for high speed highway passes.

[Purspeed]

Originally Posted by Strider

Talked to my dealer about a 500 last week. They said that they heard the 500 was going to get a make-over like the 250 did in 2011, and that there would be a few new 500's in 2010 ...
Who really knows but Kawasaki Corp themselves ...

I'm not sure if I would agree. From what I understand, the 650 is meant to replace the 500. Having a 500 similar to the 250 would be very exciting, though. Think Cagiva Mito.

[Grn99Kawi]

The EX500 is nice, but it does look even more outdated than my 99 250.. I like the powerplant, but not the looks especially the open part of the lower fairing area..

the next step for me up from the 250 would be a ZX6R... I like the look of the Ninja 650R, but it sounds too much like the 250... I love the 4cyl sound I guess... but not for a while.. I like the N250

[BlueRaven]

I hope they redesign the 500 with an up to date look as my licence only allows me to drive 550cc's and under. I want to upgrade as soon as i get more experience which will be in the next couple of years. If they scrap the 500 i would have to go through the licencing process again which i rather not repeat.

[Sailariel]

I like the styling of the EX 500 and the pre 08 EX 250`s I see bikes like Sunny`s Blue Tyke and Smoke Diver`s black an yellow pre 08. Those are beautiful bikes. I didn`t buy a used pre 08. because I was a chicken--so I bought an 08, and guess what, it is on its second cush drive in 5000 miles. It may be pretty to look at, but a royal PIA to ride with its sloppy cush drive. It is back at the dealer. Fix it or get me a new bike on your nickel. It may look nice but it is not a nice bike.

[Strider]

Originally Posted by BlueRaven

I hope they redesign the 500 with an up to date look as my licence only allows me to drive 550cc's and under. I want to upgrade as soon as i get more experience which will be in the next couple of years. If they scrap the 500 i would have to go through the licencing process again which i rather not repeat.

(hijacking post for a moment...)
What kind of license do you have? Never heard of this...

[TheGoodLyfe]

There have been many rumors circling about future lineups from Kawasaki. I would definitely be all up on getting a 500R if there was a massive overhaul on the styling. Guess we will have to wait and see what 2010' models will be available! I can't imagine there will be any real significant changes or improvements to the N250 or any other models for that matter

[addy126]

Originally Posted by Strider

(hijacking post for a moment...)
What kind of license do you have? Never heard of this...

Being a Canadian earns you the priviledge of being over-regulated in everything that moves, can be shot or is earned. One of the biggest reasons for me moving and becoming a U.S. citizen along with better year round riding weather and great Southern cooking not to mention the tantilizing marguaritas! I'll be denouncing my Canadian citizenship in 2010... yeeee hawwwww!

[sombo]

Originally Posted by addy126

Being a Canadian earns you the priviledge of being over-regulated in everything that moves, can be shot or is earned. One of the biggest reasons for me moving and becoming a U.S. citizen along with better year round riding weather and great Southern cooking not to mention the tantilizing marguaritas! I'll be denouncing my Canadian citizenship in 2010... yeeee hawwwww!

Personally I think that the US needs to adopt the tiered license system that Europe and Canada use. It might help restore some of the sanity towards riding bike. All of this "anything under 600cc is for p%$^ies" and crap would slowly start to go away. If people in the states were forced to ride the 250 to start it would change their minds and make the biker world a bit more respectable. It would also help bring in all the small bikes we've been denied for decades.

But that's just my opinion of course.

I could possibly see the reasoning to do away with the ninja 500 because of the 650. However, they don't have anything to replace the 500ltd. For cruisers it goes 125, 500, then jump to 900. I think they should make a 250 cruiser using the ninja's engine and tranny just like they did with the ninja 500 and 500ltd. And if they do get rid of both 500cc bikes they need to make another small to mid-size cruiser.

As for the problem of not being able to get anything over 550cc's. The manufacturers will continue to have something available because they KNOW it will sell. Here in the states however, since they don't have tiered licenses they don't need to do that or be worried about it.

[Syphen]

Originally Posted by Purspeed

I'm not sure if I would agree. From what I understand, the 650 is meant to replace the 500. Having a 500 similar to the 250 would be very exciting, though. Think Cagiva Mito.

The Cagiva Mito is a 125cc.. I don't see how that is similar. The Mito SP525, despite its name, is still a 125cc. There was a prototype/concept bike that featured a Husky 500cc thumper but that bike never materialized for production.

Originally Posted by sombo

Personally I think that the US needs to adopt the tiered license system that Europe and Canada use. It might help restore some of the sanity towards riding bike. All of this "anything under 600cc is for p%$^ies" and crap would slowly start to go away. If people in the states were forced to ride the 250 to start it would change their minds and make the biker world a bit more respectable. It would also help bring in all the small bikes we've been denied for decades.

In Canada, our license system varies from province to province. Our system does not promote low cc bikes at all. This is how our system works in Ontario:

Step 1: Go to the Ministry of Transportation Driver Centres
Step 2: Pay $17.00 canadian and write a simple test
Step 3: Pass the said test and get your "M1" license
Step 4: Go to dealership and buy a Hayabusa/GSXR1000/R1/CBR1000RR/Ducati
Step 5: Ride it and kill yourself.

In all seriousness, here in Ontario, with NO riding experience at all, you can purchase and ride any motorcycle on the same day you write your test. There is the same attitude you speak of alive and well here in Ontario. I get comments on a weekly basis about riding 250's. I made the step down from owning several 600's to using a 250 as my daily ride. I did it by choice for money saved on insurance and fuel from use as a daily commuter. To each there own.



Regarding the 500, its a shame. Its a great motor and has been around for a while but that bike doesn't really fit into Kawi's line up these days. The 650R or ER-6N are proving to be a fantastic bike and I would rather put my money into one of those bikes instead regardless.

[BlueRaven]

In New Brunswick the have 2 motorcycle licences 6a (any motorcycle) and 6b (550cc and under). I would have tried for 6a but i felt the bike the course had to pass this test was a little too high and i had to do 7 stops with it. So in my mind it was the small licence or the possibility of failing the test hence no licence altogether with the big bike. I was suppose to move to Alberta where they only have one motorcycle licence but that is on hold right now. I can drive any vehicle except a schoolbus and a big bike.

[Snake]

I have always felt that they should have progessive licensing here in the States as well like they have in Europe. It is too easy for someone to pass the test on a small bike and then get them a big bike before they are ready and get themselves hurt or killed.

[CC Cowboy]

Just a rumor but I heard they are changing the 500 to a 2 stroke with full body work, an upgraded suspension, and 125hp. It will only be available in Florida at first( we have those clean burning 2 stroke outboard motors). If there seems to be a demand they might introduce it to the rest of the country. The only draw back is the price. MSRP is going to be somewhere in the $5000 mark making it out of the reach of most first time buyers.

[BlueRaven]

your too hilarious cc

[Snake]

There goes cc with his witty humor.

[addy126]

If you guys personally had to live with the restrictive licencing, regardless of the argument of step up riding, you'd all be cryin in your oil cans within a year

[BlueRaven]

i have to agree

[KnoxNinja]

I heart the 500. I'm hoping they redesign it and make it "pretty," but they better not make it heavier and less powerful than the old one.

[kkim]

Originally Posted by KnoxNinja

I heart the 500. I'm hoping they redesign it and make it "pretty," but they better not make it heavier and less powerful than the old one.

lol... like they did the 250?

[Alex]

Emissions regs are a b*tch.

[mcteague]

With a global economic slowdown why would they introduce yet another new model. The 650R is $1300 more than the ancient 500R. A revised model would have to sell for more and then it gets even closer to the 650R's price. I think the 500R is gone for good in 2010.

Tim

[KnoxNinja]

Originally Posted by kkim

lol... like they did the 250?

Hey you said it not me

[sombo]

Originally Posted by addy126

If you guys personally had to live with the restrictive licencing, regardless of the argument of step up riding, you'd all be cryin in your oil cans within a year

I disagree. I had plenty of friends trying to convince me to go bigger. Hell, one of my friend's uncles had a 1500 nomad. We got to talking about it last summer (before I had a bike) and I told him how I was looking for my first bike and was gonna stay small. He said, "Oh yah, you should go smaller, something like a 1000 or so to start." I looked at him like he was an alien with 3 heads on crack breathing fire speaking klingon to me. Then everyone else in the group (other then me) demonstrated how little they knew about the ninjette. Telling me how I'd never be able to ride with anyone, that even if I did find a group to ride with I'd always be stopping for gas (none of them seemed to realize how big a tank the ninjette has or that it could get 60mpg easily) and other such nonsense. All this just proves how much the general rider would benefit from having to go through the smaller bikes to learn to actually appreciate the sport and other bikes more.

My issue is the overall "bigger is better" mentality the USA has in general. I'm so sick of seeing guys with egos too big to fit into a 4xl helmet get their license, get a 600cc or 1000cc supersport bike as their first bike because they "need the speed". Then they go out, and either get several tickets for racing or get into a serious accident trying to be 'cool doing 150 down a crowded highway. Even if they live through that crap it makes 75% or more of the population look at ANYONE on ANY size bike like they are just a crazy idiot that's worthless and going to get killed. Therefore they have little to no respect for bikers in general and don't bother to 'see' us. It's a classic case of not seeing those you have no respect for.



/rant off

[backinthesaddleagain]

Originally Posted by sombo

I disagree. I had plenty of friends trying to convince me to go bigger. Hell, one of my friend's uncles had a 1500 nomad. We got to talking about it last summer (before I had a bike) and I told him how I was looking for my first bike and was gonna stay small. He said, "Oh yah, you should go smaller, something like a 1000 or so to start." I looked at him like he was an alien with 3 heads on crack breathing fire speaking klingon to me. Then everyone else in the group (other then me) demonstrated how little they knew about the ninjette. Telling me how I'd never be able to ride with anyone, that even if I did find a group to ride with I'd always be stopping for gas (none of them seemed to realize how big a tank the ninjette has or that it could get 60mpg easily) and other such nonsense. All this just proves how much the general rider would benefit from having to go through the smaller bikes to learn to actually appreciate the sport and other bikes more.

My issue is the overall "bigger is better" mentality the USA has in general. I'm so sick of seeing guys with egos too big to fit into a 4xl helmet get their license, get a 600cc or 1000cc supersport bike as their first bike because they "need the speed". Then they go out, and either get several tickets for racing or get into a serious accident trying to be 'cool doing 150 down a crowded highway. Even if they live through that crap it makes 75% or more of the population look at ANYONE on ANY size bike like they are just a crazy idiot that's worthless and going to get killed. Therefore they have little to no respect for bikers in general and don't bother to 'see' us. It's a classic case of not seeing those you have no respect for.



/rant off

couple good points in there: one of my coworkers asked me if my bike held like what a gallon of gas. a friend asked me about a bmw he saw. he dismissed it immediately when i told him it was an 800cc. never mind if i told him i rode a 250. hey i will confess when i was younger i said i would never have a road bike with less cc than my biggest dirt bike (CR500) years later i have a 250 ninja and enjoy the heck out of it. am i ever self consience about it? yes. i live in HD heaven near my house most of those guys are cool and wave others hate it cuz its a jap sport bike, they don't know if it is a 250 or a 1400. had a guy standing near me looking down on me cuz he had a 1000cc sportbike. i heard through the grapevine that he struggled to get financing and insurance and bike almost went to someone else. glad i paid cash and insurance cost me only $330 for the year.

[Apex]

I honestly feel that 500cc is a dang nice bike. My old GS500E had decent power (it would run low 13's at the drag strip), got 60+mpg on the highway, and topped out at 120/125mph. Honestly, do you really need more than that? No.

Yet with Kawi's move to the 650 twin, there isn't much of a power difference between that and the EX500. It would only make sense to ditch the 500 (at least here in the states).

As for leveled licensing, I'm all for it. Keep newbs to 500cc's and below (650cc and below for singles) for the first 5 years. That is plenty of power to get yourself into trouble quickly. It is also cheaper, and well, the suspension systems are not quite as refined as the 600cc+ inline fours, so it shows you what you are doing wrong. I honestly feel that the dated suspensions make you a better rider. You feel things more, stupid things upset the chasis more, you learn.

I don't think it should be an extreme licensing system, but 500cc and below is plenty for newbs to handle. One of the guys at work has a 1100 cruiser for his first bike. He is totally intimidated by it. He is afraid to go out of his neighborhood, even though he has his license. He reasoning is that he wanted to get something he liked and own it for years to come. Makes sense, but you can't be afraid of your bike, that alone can get you into trouble, and fast.

I think it should be set up like this:
Age________Restrictions
16/18-20____250cc (400cc single) and below
21+________500cc (650cc single) and below for first 5 years of riding
21-24______600cc I-4 (900cc V2) and below (if been riding for 5 years or more)
25+________No restrictions


Just a thought. *shrugs*

[CC Cowboy]

Originally Posted by backinthesaddleagain

dirt bike (CR500)

Drool, what a rush, way too much power, just like we like it.

Greg, ever ride Big River Reservoir? I used to live next to Carrs Pond. I would cut through there and be in Big River Reservoir and ride 3 times a week. 8500 acres to myself. I knew every inch of that place. Every year they would have a hare scramble (other than that you was not permitted to be in there). I would practice the course after they set it up, before the race. I used a KX250 and that had too much power of in there (but no one ever passed me). There is nothing like a motorcross bike in the woods for shear excitment.

I remember riding with a guy on a CR500 down in Slocum by the turf fields. Was that you? Must have been in the late 80s early 90s. I was on a Yamaha 350 dual sport (the bike sucked but I could make it go if I beat it hard enough).