First of all, the EX500 / 500R really isn't exactly a "sportbike" IMO. It's more of a standard with a fairing and a recently added "R" to the name to help sell more of them. I took mine on a trackday to California Speedway in Fontana and while I was stuck waiting behind these goobers on literbikes in the tight sections, they would strut quickly away on the long (1/2-mile I believe) straight in this photo:


Sure, it has a fairing and it will humiliate a Harley ( which admittedly isn't saying much ) but it's too sensible, austere, efficient and utilitarian to be a true sportbike.

Next, I disagree with the assertion that the 250 will get 75mpg. I've ridden with and swapped bikes with a couple of acquaintances on 250's and they get almost exactly the same mileage I get. One of them even got much, much worse (35-40mpg), but he wasn't the original owner, so the jetting is suspect.

The beauty of the 500 is that it does almost everything well. If you want to take it easy, it has a wide and very user-friendly powerband. If you want to squirt ahead of Corvettes, Harleys, and a good number of larger, more outwardly manly bikes, just let it rev past 7,000rpm:

This is from 2003 Motorcycle Consumer News, I believe

I've ridden more than a quarter million miles, and have owned larger and faster bikes, but I'm on my 3rd EX500R and I suspect I'll always have one. It's not just a terrific beginner bike, it's a terrific bike period.
Good luck and let us know which bike you end up getting.
Peace!
-CCinC

P.S. No offense IROC, but the EX500 was still called the EX500 after 1994. They made those changes in 1994, but continued calling it the EX500 until 2002. The Wikipedia article is incorrect. KHI started marketing it in brochures and on their website in the US as the "Ninja 500R" in 2003 (which is when the above roster was printed; the bike was unchanged, so MCN adopted the new "500R moniker.)

 

hmm, thanks CCinC, that pic makes me want to GO! cool. I still want a 250 though. Maybe I am

 

You don't want a 250. It's too small. Even a Ninja 500R, mine's an '05, is making want for a bigger engine after 9,000 miles/one year of riding, and that happened a while ago. 500's a nice size to start on and there's also a lot of sport bikes in the 600 or 650 range which you could probably also start on and stay happy with for a while. I still like riding my 500 but as soon as I got past the stage of being a novice rider I've wanted something a bit bigger.

Good Luck.

Christopher
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no offense taken there the bits of info i had wasnt in any way documented just pieces of info i had kinda put together myself. i was waitin to see ur post on this topic, i know how passionately u feel about the 500's, and u always put an unique spin on things in a positive way. the 75 mpg from a 250 was a honda rebel 250 and she never took it on the hiway and drove it very sensible that was my only source for a 250. just for the record then the "r" is the 02's, and is that when the 17's came n2 play?

 

I would say get a 500. You'll be happy with it a lot longer. Just my not-so-humble opinion.

 

After riding my 500 only a few times i tried out a 250 and i felt like i was riding a wind-up toy in comparison to the 500. the 250 is almost like a 3/4 bike whereas the 500 is bigger and more comfortable (at least for me at 5'11" 205#)

 

thanks guys....you have helped me out so much. I'm going to be posting a lot of questions, because i'm doing A LOT of research before i purchase my bike in march. HOOOOOORAH!!!!

 

i think 1998 was when they added the R.

D means second gen. 88-93= EX500A, 94+ = EX500D

if you really wanna get specific, a 2006 is an EX500D13

my 93 is an EX500A7.

87=A1
88=A2
89=A3
...
94=D1
95=D2
96=D3 etc etc etc

 

P.S. I failed to mention: the 500 also makes a stellar touring bike too.

 

Looks like you had a great trip! Sweet pics!