True heffay - in 94 they upgraded the rear brake to a disc brake and they changed to a 17" wheel. You could get a lower fairing too, it was optional.

 

compelling argument calamari but the original question referred to the switch from ex500 to 500r. it was at that point the ex500 got new plastics!
meaning: ex500 pre1994: generation 1 plastics
500r post1994: generation 2 plastics [8D]

and don't give me that "i looked it up on the internet bull$hit"

 

Please don't take this personally Jeff, but I assure you its marketing title remained "EX500" from 1994 to 2002. And no one's accusing you of looking anything up on the internet. Not trying to win an argument here, just want the truth told.

Its nomenclature for 2005 in the parts diagrams even remains EX500-D12.
A similar example is my 2000 W650. Everyone refers to it as a "W650", but you won't find that name on any parts fiche, you have to go by EJ650A2
-CCinC (and "calamarichris" is not my Xian name either.)

P.S. I just looked at Wikipedia for 5hitz-n-giggles, but the Wikipedia entry is incorrect. I know this because I've bought, ridden and maintained an '01 EX500 for my wife, then I was kicking myself in 2003 (when they first started calling it "Ninja 500R" in the brochures) for not getting one of those sexy red 2002 model, which I ended up getting later anyway.


P.P.S. I just noticed you're in Boulder! Haha--I drove all the way to freakin' Greeley, CO from San Diego while there was still snow on the ground to get that cherry '02 model.