Posted by krap on November 13, 2001 at 23:56:24:
Hello everyone - looking into switching to something a bit sportier. I've been doing quite a bit of research and the Kawasaki ex500 seems like a really great bike - especially the ones from 94 on with a bit larger tire size and rear disc brake. The only drawback I see is that the bike is a little ugly without a full-fairing. I can get a full fairing on the thing for a few hundred but doing this would pretty much boost my expenditure into the zx600 range. The zx600 has a full fairing and has a four cylinder engine vs the ex500's two. It also has about 50 more pounds on the frame dry though which I don't think really makes up for the marginal increase in power. I've also heard that the zx6's often have carburator and electrical problems.
Being a LS650 rider, I really like the fact that the big single is so simple and easy to maintain. I want a new bike to be as easy-to-maintain yet a bit sportier. From what I've seen an ex500 with full fairing mod seems the way to go. The little two cylinders are actually a very popular racing bike.
Any opinions?