2001 Kawasaki Ninja 500R Motorcycle reviews

I purchased the bike new in 2001, and after five years it has been a great bike. It has been super-reliable, only requiring the usual routine maintenance items such as oil and filters. Just this year, I'm having to replace tires, brake pads and battery - not bad for 11,000 miles. Good gas mileage too - around 45 MPG. This is my first bike and I found it very easy to learn on -- very predictable and no 'surprises'. It has more than sufficient power to satisfy my needs. Only complaint is that the seat is somewhat uncomfortable for rides longer than an hour or so. Show less

This bike is great! It's my first ride and I must say I'm impressed with how it handles and feels on the road. Great beginner's bike; it's all I'll need for a few seasons. Great hig-rev power, good suspension, I'm impressed. Show less

Just thought I would give you guys a little long term update on my bike . I have had it for just over two years now and everything I wrote in my first review still applies . I have still not outgrown the power this thing makes , and the rush above 7000 rpm is still as addictive as it was the first time I opened it up . It is showing 3500 miles on the odometer now and I have had zero problems with this bike . Even with the hot Texas sun beating down , the temp gauge never climbs much past the halfway mark in stop and go traffic . I found a taller windscreen which creates a much larger still air pocket at speed with no buffeting . My main gripe after these two years is vibration in the handlebars , gloves are required for extended non-stop trips on the highway , or my right hand will numb out . I still feel that this is the best bike for the money out there , comfortable , good mileage and range and more than enough power to keep me happy . Ride on . Show less

This is my first bike and I'm very happy with it. Freeway speeds (65) run around 5k rpm and 6k is 80ish. You sit in a relatively upright posture for a sport bike and is comfortable. There's not much wind protection so above 55 I usually start leaning forward more. It corners well and the brakes are confident (don't recommend stoppies though). The acceleration is exactly what most reviews make it out to be. It's smooth and will build a new riders trust quickly. Being 500cc it gives enough power to develop your skills before moving up in size and you won't outgrow it in a couple months as a 250 is likely to get a little routine. I would recommend it to most new riders interested in a sportbike. Show less

My husband has a Kawasaki Vulcan 800 cruiser motorcycle - and after attempting to learn how to ride it (or wreck it) - I put the helmet away for over a year. When I finally decided it was time to learn riding the right way (MSF courses) and get a bike I did all the research. This bike was labeled the "beginners" bike so I thought GREAT! My husband was not too thrilled that I wanted a sport bike after wrecking the cruiser. This bike is AWESOME. I am so comfortable on it and it is so smooth. Cornering is a breeze and it is light enough that even I can push it around without dropping it. The performance is not "beginner" at all. At first is scared me - now I cannot get enough. Now my husband is going to trade in his cruiser and convert to a sport bike. He wants something with a few more cc's but we are fighing over who gets the Ninja right now! As a seasoned rider - he is very very impressed with this bike. Some people will say it is a "chick" bike because of the 500cc ...... but if you know how to ride it you can blow away those idiots with bigger bikes that don't know how to ride. This bike has POWER. Show less

After much concideration and viewing of different motorcycles, I purchased this bike in June of 2001 . 1150 miles later , I have absolutly zero regrets . The bike is beautiful and I have received many compliments on its looks . The power was a big surprise , this thing really scoots . Excellent midrange eliminates the need for frequent shifting around town and feels very relaxed going 80+ on the highway . Comfortable riding position and seat make my occasional 90 mile round trip to work a breeze . Only change I would make would be a slightly taller windscreen to aid in highway comfort above 70 mph . don't let the "beginners bike" hype sway your vote , this is my forth bike and will be more bike than most people not named Eric Bostrom will need . Show less

I finished the MSF course less than a week ago and now own a Ninja 500R as my first bike. When I first got on this bike I thought I'd have a harder time riding it than the 250cc Suzukis we used during the class. But within the first 10mins I was surprised that this bike actually handled BETTER than the 250cc bikes I was using at the MSF. Not to mention the throttle is a lot smoother. On the MSF bikes I tended to "jerk" the bike because my hand might have rolled on the throttle a little without me noticing, but on this Ninja accelerating is very smooth. If you're new to motorcycling I strongly suggest you take a hard look at this bike. This bike will bring a big grin to your face when you'll realize how much fun it is to ride. The bike will do 140mph, which in my opinion, is more than enough for any newcomer to motorcycling. If you own a 250cc bike such as the Ninja250R and are thinking about upgrading then I would suggest looking into a bigger bike in the 600cc or 750cc range. But if you're looking for a first bike keep in mind that this bike's longevity is much greater than the 250 and at the same time is easier to control than the larger bikes. To me the 500R is right in between the "bigger bikes" and the "smaller bikes". It's easier to handle than the 600+ crowd and faster than the 250s. To me this middle line allows a new rider to develop their skills much more efficiently than on either a 250 or a 600 would allow. The only other competitor in the same class as the 500R would be Suzuki's GS500E. I looked at both bikes before buying and the Ninja beats out the GS500 in just about every category. All in all this is *THE* starter bike I would have to recommend Show less

I have ridden for only a year, and researched the options for my first bike carefully. Many endorsements for the 500R led my to my purchase. I have zero regrets. This bike is both super-friendly for beginners but packs enough whallop that you won't feel like a victim on freeways - and freeways don't get much hairier than the cross-town 401 here in Toronto. This bike is light, responsive, comfortable (unless you are very large), and has a smooth substantial powerband. The vertical twin sounds great and revs freely. Cornering is both sharp and forgiving. While I've got my eye on a Bandit 1200S, even if I don't trade up I will continue to be thrilled by my 500R. A great bike for all riders in all settings save perhaps long-distance touring, and even then it'd be better than most of the hard-core sport bikes. This bike is fun and easy. The best all-rounder middleweight on the market - period. Show less

I bought 2001 500r in October. I must say that for this being my first motorcycle it's great. It was easy to learn on and easy to handle. No regrets buying it and at a great price. Show less

I've had the 2001 500R since August. I have about 1100 miles on it. It is a great machine - easy to ride and forgiving. I (and my two sons) are relative beginners (I rode 30 years ago, but not since). We took the Michigan Motorcycle Safety foundation course and needed a bike that was sporty, but not overpowered. (Actually I had WON a bike earlier in the year - on line contest - a Ducati 996 - WAY too much bike for me...sold it...then used some of the money to get the 500R.) This bike has plenty of power! Riding position is relatively comfortable. Seat is a bit narrow, as are the mirrors. Everything else, though, is just great. Color is unique as well. Great beginner bike! Show less