2006 Kawasaki EX500 review from United States of America
"Great commuter bike for the money"
What things have gone wrong with the motorcycle?
Nothing wrong since bike was still new.
Dealer closed doors on shop 3 weeks after purchase and, I never got an owners manual.
General comments?
The Kawasaki Ninja 500R (EX 500) is a good bang for the buck. It has a good solid engine with great gas mileage. It gets around town with ease, and has enough power and agility to get around pokey cars through traffic. This motorcycle will also get a beginner to pass a motorcycle test if need be, as I passed with ease on this bike.
With that said, I have come up with some other issues with this bike... like the bike still being in gear while the neutral light is on!
Plus the rear brakes are quite soft. I didn't get really any brake power out of the rear brakes, as I should be able to lock the rear wheel.
The shifter seems precise, but is very clunky. It makes too much noise while shifting. On the highway is where I have to give lower marks, because it requires gobs of RPMs to get any passing power. Granted, doing the homework on the Ninja 500R would have been better at first, but live and learn. Wanted the Ninja ZX6R, but costs twice as much as the Ninja 500R.
The Yamaha FZ6 or the Suzuki SV650S are better alternatives for a little more money.
Recommended reviews
 | A good bike - lots of power, good cornering. Good value |
| An amazing bike at twenty minutes, but a little pain comes with every additional moment |
| Would you buy another motorcycle from this manufacturer? | Don't Know |
| Model Year | 2006 |
| First year of ownership | 2007 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2007 |
| Acceleration marks | 7/10 |
| Roll-on Performance marks | 8/10 |
| Handling marks | 8/10 |
| Braking marks | 6/10 |
| Reliability marks | 9/10 |
| Comfort marks | 8/10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 5/10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 10/10 |
| Distance when acquired | 0 miles |
| Most recent distance | 576 miles |
| Date of Entry | 22nd July, 2007 |