Wanted: Ninja 500 for son's first bike

[wheatonFJR]

Hi all,

I'm looking for a used Ninja 500 for my son David. He will be using this as a commuter bike mainly (to a local junior college next year) and maybe a trip or two with me. I am buying his motorcycle gear for him, but he is purchasing this bike on his own. I might help him some with insurance IF he is a good boy...(not like his dad)

Anything you hear and can pass on would be helpful. Looking in the Chicago area...but may travel a little bit if we can't find a good deal in this area.

 

[beemerdons]

https://www.cycletrader.com/find/search-res...Sort-YearESC/ Good Morning My Friend Wheatie! Here is what is within 400 miles of Chandler, Arizona. If any of these Kawasaki Ninja 500 bikes interest you, I can check them out for you after we Zonies return from CO Rockies on 9/1.

Hell's Bell's, since I'm now retired with nothing to do other than look after my two sons, Seth (12) and Skooty (43); If you bought one here in the Southwest: I'd ride it up to Denver and take the bus back to Phoenix; just to have beer(s) with you!!!

 

[SouthernCruizer]

Might want to check out the Ninja 250. I bought a used 2004 model last month...damn little thing is fun to ride, gets great gas mileage, and can run all day long at 75mph comfortably. Insurance is dirt cheap too.

 

[airboss]

Hell's Bell's, since I'm now retired with nothing to do other than look after my two sons, Seth (12) and Skooty (43); If you bought one here in the Southwest: I'd ride it up to Denver and take the bus back to Phoenix; just to have beer(s) with you!!!

Having ridden my Daughter's EX500, belive me Don that is a heck of and offer. :dribble:

 

[wheatonFJR]

https://www.cycletrader.com/find/search-res...Sort-YearESC/ Good Morning My Friend Wheatie! Here is what is within 400 miles of Chandler, Arizona. If any of these Kawasaki Ninja 500 bikes interest you, I can check them out for you after we Zonies return from CO Rockies on 9/1.
Hell's Bell's, since I'm now retired with nothing to do other than look after my two sons, Seth (12) and Skooty (43); If you bought one here in the Southwest: I'd ride it up to Denver and take the bus back to Phoenix; just to have beer(s) with you!!!

As always Don, you are most accommodating and selfless at trying to help a guy out. I would be embarassed not to take up such an unselfish offer.

However, I will first look closer to home to cut down on shipping/travel costs.

If I do travel out southwest...or over in Europe with you...the first couple beers are on me. I think you bought last time.

 

[beemerdons]

Hell's Bell's, since I'm now retired with nothing to do other than look after my two sons, Seth (12) and Skooty (43); If you bought one here in the Southwest: I'd ride it up to Denver and take the bus back to Phoenix; just to have beer(s) with you!!!

Having ridden my Daughter's EX500, belive me Don that is a heck of and offer. :dribble:

Ha, Ha: I hear you loud and clear airboss! I believe you and I've met at FJR events; and if you remember correctly I'm a big, fat, dumb and happy Irishman. I'd look like a monkey fornicating a football riding an EX500 to Denver for wheatonFJR!!

 

[Geezer]

I looked at cycletrader in my area and found nothing worth buying for under $2k. I hope people are more realistic about what they are asking for a used bike in your area.

Have you guys firmly decided on a Ninja 500? The SV650 or SV650S are very nice and there are more of them available around here. And the little 250 Ninja (Ninjita?) are less expensive and also make a great starter bike, though maybe a little light for long distance riding. It has plenty of power and looks about as cool as the Ninja 500.

 

[wheatonFJR]

I looked at cycletrader in my area and found nothing worth buying for under $2k. I hope people are more realistic about what they are asking for a used bike in your area.
Have you guys firmly decided on a Ninja 500? The SV650 or SV650S are very nice and there are more of them available around here. And the little 250 Ninja (Ninjita?) are less expensive and also make a great starter bike, though maybe a little light for long distance riding. It has plenty of power and looks about as cool as the Ninja 500.

Yeah the SV650 is more expensive around here...he could do the 250, but if he takes a spin out in corn country or out to Galena with me...he is gonna want the 500 would be my guess.

But ya...the fallback is the 250 if he can't find a decent 500 for his price range.

 

[luvtoride]

Hell's Bell's, since I'm now retired with nothing to do other than look after my two sons, Seth (12) and Skooty (43); If you bought one here in the Southwest: I'd ride it up to Denver and take the bus back to Phoenix; just to have beer(s) with you!!!

Having ridden my Daughter's EX500, belive me Don that is a heck of and offer. :dribble:

Noooooo kidding! The seat on the EX500 is a torture rack!

 

[1wheel peel]

Don't know if your locked in on a Kawi or not. If not you might consider the GS500F. I used this one for a few months to commute on about a 100-120mi round trip daily. You could probably pick one up around the same price as the nija. Just might give you another option if you don't run up on something soon. Depending on how you rode it it get any where from 48-62 mpg and had no problem running highway speeds or having power to pass. It IMHO would make a very good first bike.

 

[DeweyIsgod]

Don't know if your locked in on a Kawi or not. If not you might consider the GS500F. I used this one for a few months to commute on about a 100-120mi round trip daily. You could probably pick one up around the same price as the nija. Just might give you another option if you don't run up on something soon. Depending on how you rode it it get any where from 48-62 mpg and had no problem running highway speeds or having power to pass. It IMHO would make a very good first bike.

+1 although I'm bias having owned the older naked version of the GS500. It's not quite as much horsepower as the Ninja 500, but is a much more reliable engine. It's not uncommon to find GS500's with 30,000 miles or more. It's an incredibly easy bike to wrench on as well...although it takes 10 minutes more now that it has fairings.

As far as price, especially in the entry segment, you'll do a lot better in a couple months when the weather turns cooler.

 

[tbwrench]

I have a 94 ninja 250 my wife doesn't ride. 18k, new tires runs looks good.1200..00 pm me for photos if interested.(I can't ever seem to post photos here) we are 3.5 hours north of you. thanks tbw.

 

[buf2phx]

Probably too far away for you, but my 95 Seca II 600 is still for sale. Can't see why Don wouldn't ride it up to you though. PM me for pix & details if you're interested.

Mike

 

[jcyuhn]

The advantage of the ninja 250 is there are so many of them available; it's much easier to find a decent, well cared for example. I bet the 250 outsells all the other candidate bikes combined. And of course it's a good little bike - good standard riding position, light weight and easy handling, runs highway speeds no problem, and fantastic range with 60-70MPG and a 4.8 gallon tank.

Downsides - It's not the most comfortable thing out there. Fits 5'6" people well, but 6 footers will be cramped. It's buzzy at high speeds - the engine turns 8K RPM at highway cruise. And the saddle is at least as bad as the ninja 500!

Overall it's a great starter bike. Easy to buy, easy to sell. Tame enough at low RPMs not to be intimidating, but has enough power at high RPMs to be entertaining. You can do worse.

 

[wheatonFJR]

Thanks for the posts guys...keep 'em coming. He will likely be riding it in the spring, so we will be looking around this fall and winter.

I'll let him know of your guys' responses...

 

[charismaticmegafauna]

The advantage of the ninja 250 is there are so many of them available; it's much easier to find a decent, well cared for example. I bet the 250 outsells all the other candidate bikes combined. And of course it's a good little bike - good standard riding position, light weight and easy handling, runs highway speeds no problem, and fantastic range with 60-70MPG and a 4.8 gallon tank.
Downsides - It's not the most comfortable thing out there. Fits 5'6" people well, but 6 footers will be cramped. It's buzzy at high speeds - the engine turns 8K RPM at highway cruise. And the saddle is at least as bad as the ninja 500!

Overall it's a great starter bike. Easy to buy, easy to sell. Tame enough at low RPMs not to be intimidating, but has enough power at high RPMs to be entertaining. You can do worse.

The above ^^^^ is a very fair assessment.

I've had experience with both Kawis (250 & 500) and, IME, they're both dead-reliable. S.O. toured with me cross-country for several years, many extended tours, on a 250 Ninja. I owned both edition 500s -- liked the EX and really liked the, later edition, Ninja 500. I set-up the EX for sport-touring and went out-west w/2 riding buddies who rode a ZX-10 & a FJ-12 -- it was one of the most-fun trips I ever had (lots of racing on my part -- but never left behind.... ).

Both can be found kind'a old, now -- get the newest one you can afford. Lots of 250s can be found -- hardly used.

 

[wheatonFJR]

Thanks for the input guys...

...maybe my son will be convinced to look at the 250 then. This bike, as I said will be his first bike that he will use as he goes thru college. After he gets out of school, he will then select a newer bike of whatever size or type he wants.

 

[SouthernCruizer]

I cruise on the Ninja 250 at between 8K and 9K (70-80 mph)....not enough buzziness to bother me at all. I am 5'10" and 190lbs, and it's a decent fit. The only thing really needed is a better seat.

 

[tbwrench]

Today I saw a 02 ninja 500 for 2200.00 in greenbay wi craigslist. It looked pretty nice. Thought you might want to check it out.

have a great day, TBW.