Is a 500 ninja a good track bike?

3414 Views 18 Replies 8 Participants Last post by Sticky, Aug 28, 2002

Hooligan

Discussion Starter · Aug 9, 2002

A guy I know, delivers to my work place, races a 500 ninja and he keeps raving about how good it is.......... I somewhat question this since he is a 230lb muscle head { the guys huge }

Anyway he says i could pick one up race ready anywhere from 1200 to 2500 bucks. that perked my interest.

Just curious on how you guys feel about it

1 - 19 of 19 Posts

Odysseys

· #2 · Aug 9, 2002

lol i would suggest turning your bike into a track whore as it is...fogadaboutit

really i dont think its a good idea..last time i checked even a new 500 ninja is a POS

vtr996

· #3 · Aug 9, 2002

HooliganZX10 said:
A guy I know, delivers to my work place, races a 500 ninja and he keeps raving about how good it is.......... I somewhat question this since he is a 230lb muscle head { the guys huge }

Anyway he says i could pick one up race ready anywhere from 1200 to 2500 bucks. that perked my interest.

Just curious on how you guys feel about it

The EX500/Ninja 500's were and are great little trackbikes. The engine is strong for its size(and BIG HP with mods $$$$), and it handle pretty well. The main problem with the early ones Pre-94? was the odd wheel size, so guys would put ZX6 swingarms and forks to run good rubber. The newer ones come with 17in wheels so that isn't a problem any more.

Little bikes are fun; you learn to brake late, and keep your entry and exit speeds up, you don't have much choice with only 50hp on tap. And these are skills that translate to any bike. I'm a big guy 6'2 225lbs and my bike is tiny....and I have a BLAST on it.

Odysseys

· #4 · Aug 9, 2002

hince they are kaka

but dont get a moster bike..get something small to really focus on riding...and NOT controlling power like mark said

vtr996

· #5 · Aug 9, 2002

Odysseys said:
hince they are kaka

but dont get a moster bike..get something small to really focus on riding...and NOT controlling power like mark said

I disagree, I think they're great little bikes for doing trackdays or clubracing. They have BULLET proof engines, and have been produced since 89? so spare parts are bountiful and cheap. You can have a shitload of fun for the $1500 pricetag and THATS the bottomline....the SMILE factor

I was just informing him that the ones with 17" rims are much more desirable.

They sound cool too, we don't get to hear many parallel twins nowadays. :twofinger :thumbsup :thumbsup :twofinger

Jim

· #6 · Aug 9, 2002

actually the ex500 and gs500 are great beginner bikes for the track and in my opinion are great tools to learn how to ride fast. they both have great aftermarket race support from what i hear and lots of parts are available for these bikes.these 2 bikes where the sv650 of the class before the sv showed up. worth looking into.

Odysseys

· #7 · Aug 9, 2002

ok looks like i was wrong here...sorry for my bad info

KBOlsen

· #8 · Aug 9, 2002

FWIW, I agree with Mark and Jim. You'll get faster more quickly with a smaller bike.

cherrypicker

· #9 · Aug 9, 2002

I'd sped a litle more and go with the SV. Seems liek there is more ports for them these days. Last trac day I did there was a really fast guy on a SV. It was funny though because you'd come up on thsi groups of guys only doing 120 on SV's and older 205 2 strokes on the straight all huddled together. Then you hit the turn and they all braked late as all hell and just disappeared throught the turns.

Once I amde the mistake of passing them and I was braking conservative that day and he just flew past me on the inside.

That reminds mem, I'm working solely on my braking on the 20th and phozed's trackday

Hooligan

Discussion Starter · #10 · Aug 9, 2002

Odysseys said:
lol i would suggest turning your bike into a track whore as it is...fogadaboutit

You have got to be kiddin me Ken???????????????????

That pig would kill me in a heartbeat on the track.......... Yea I could go down the straights at a decent pace, then youd see a trail thru the grass cuz it dont go round corners, atleast not with me on it......... I have no faith in it whatsoever

Im gonna look into it this fall, thanks VTR, Jim and Kim

Ken musta got ahold of some good weed in the last few days
:rofl

Hooligan

Discussion Starter · #11 · Aug 9, 2002

cherrypicker said:
I'd sped a litle more and go with the SV.

My opinion on that is................ Id buy a 600 of some sort if I was in a position to spend that kind of money.

Thanks though

vtr996

· #12 · Aug 9, 2002

HooliganZX10 said:
cherrypicker said:

I'd sped a litle more and go with the SV.

My opinion on that is................ Id buy a 600 of some sort if I was in a position to spend that kind of money.

Thanks though

Click to expand...

I agree....for that kind of money $4000+ your options are pretty open. But if you have that kinda cash and want a LW then the SV is a no-brainer.

Odysseys

· #13 · Aug 10, 2002

no hooligan..i was kinda like meaning usuing a 500 ninja for a track bike would be a bad idea like turning your zx10 into 1....all because of the rims size will be a bitch to find and deal with..just like everyone else was saying

Jim

· #14 · Aug 10, 2002

hmmm i wonder if they make gold valves for air shocks!!:evil :evil

Hooligan

Discussion Starter · #15 · Aug 10, 2002

Oh Ok Ken I misunderstood...........Sorry

I was gonna ask for some of that good shit ya got though damn now Im depressed.

Whats a gold valve?:laughing

Did I mention........................... Fuck you Jim?

:rofl :twofinger

I wonder if the anti dive whatever it is I got on the 10 was the shit in the 80s...... I have no clue I was ridin a KZ750 then and nope it didnt have air shocks.

Jim

· #16 · Aug 10, 2002

HooliganZX10 said:
Did I mention........................... Fuck you Jim?

:rofl :twofinger

:helmet :rofl :rofl :rofl

Grover

· #17 · Aug 21, 2002

Whoa, 2 pages of good information. That's a rarity with the post whoring that sometimes goes on here :twofinger

A buddy of mine who cornerworks at CCS and NESBA was looking into getting a little track bike. I mentioned the Ninja500's and GS500s since I've seen them on the track (flying by me). I'll definately forward this thread to him.

What about a medium displacement (350-450cc) dual sport and putting street tires on it (ala supermotard)? They got those wide handlebars to help throw it into corners. Probably get them pretty inexpensive.

All this track talk...4 WEEKS TO NEXT TRACK DAY! Look what you've done Jim!

Chris

vtr996

· #18 · Aug 21, 2002

GroverSV650S said:
What about a medium displacement (350-450cc) dual sport and putting street tires on it (ala supermotard)? They got those wide handlebars to help throw it into corners. Probably get them pretty inexpensive.

Dualsports are usually much heavier and have less power than MX/Crosscountry dirtbikes...thus most motards you see are big motocross bikes...YZ426,KTM640's,Husky610's,CR&KX500's ect

Sticky

· #19 · Aug 28, 2002

I think a race prepped EX is a great choice. Don't expect to be competetive unless you're a nut and build it into a grenade. For the $ it's a great way to go; of course the ultimate light-weight is the yammie fizzer 400

1 - 19 of 19 Posts

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