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Ninja 500r 2005 as track bike

  1. #26

    Re: Ninja 500r 2005 as track bike

    agreed...had a wee bit of hanging rpm's once I let off indicating lean

    so uh...are the front turn signals always broken?

    got a replacement for the left, then the right broke being under a cover and pulled by the wind

    the givi F425 from twisted throttle and other googled retailers looks backordered...the renntech one looks available for maybe $170ish shipped and may take a few weeks. Or I can buy a $45 used seat and just bolt the top case to the rear portion of the seat & take off the rear grab handle.

    man forums say the bike gets 50-55mpg and it doesn't matter how you ride it 200+ mile tanks? I only got 130-150 on the Busa

    doesn't really matter...this will only be used for commuting 1-2 days/week...recreational rides on days off...bigger loop day rides...bike nights...runs to the beach. maybe a surf rack?

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    Last edited by breakdirt916; 04-15-19 at 12:23 PM.
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  2. #27
    Mophead going grey dontpanic's Avatar
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    Re: Ninja 500r 2005 as track bike

    Quote Originally Posted by breakdirt916 View Post
    agreed...had a wee bit of hanging rpm's once I let off indicating lean
    Could also mean they need to be synched - one of the slides may be hanging up, too, perhaps from a crack in the diaphram.

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  3. #28

    Re: Ninja 500r 2005 as track bike

    Quote Originally Posted by dontpanic View Post
    It's true.

    Be mindful of the saggy rear suspension and its impact on ground clearance. I ran out of talent in turn twelve - splat!
    did it today

    bottomed the damned thing crossing a road with a dip...almost started googling some upgrades, then remembered what it was. not spending a dime there

    both signals were broken...it was assembled quite poorly from the previous owner:









    going to mount a top case to the rear seat and remove that lower fairing so it can be used to commute by next week...maybe hit some canyons soon with the fresh, pro-leaning tires

    I also routinely flog it to red line to gap traffic...gtf away from me

    Edit: gas is $4.30 in commifornia Right now...after 2,400 miles the bike has paid for itself in gas over the truck

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    Last edited by breakdirt916; 04-21-19 at 12:36 PM.

  4. #29
    Lifer Kurlon's Avatar
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    Re: Ninja 500r 2005 as track bike

    IIRC the 'fix' for turn signals like that was shoving a bolt in the stem using the cast in hole.

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  5. #30
    Awesomeness, Inc. MattR302's Avatar
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    Re: Ninja 500r 2005 as track bike

    Like I said earlier, take the metal plate out of the back of the signal, just use the rubber to hold it in place.

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  6. #31

    Re: Ninja 500r 2005 as track bike

    Removed...they were a PITA to fit into place with the fairings on too, thx for the tip!

    Took it on some spirited exit ramps today...definitely a “standard” riding position instead of pushing down on the clip on and leaning into the turn. Instead you lean in with your torso and hip while your hands sort of rest on the bars.

    Also - contrary to popular belief, a redline clutch up at 6,500rpm in first and the bike WILL wheelie. Stopped by the local stunt spot and didn’t even bother trying in front of people...there were too many long rolling stunter groms and a Harley running the show

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    Last edited by breakdirt916; 04-21-19 at 06:45 PM.

  7. #32
    Lifer Kurlon's Avatar
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    Re: Ninja 500r 2005 as track bike

    I've wheelied a GS500E, of course an EX500 can therefor wheelie.

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  8. #33
    Your Father csmutty's Avatar
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    Re: Ninja 500r 2005 as track bike

    Quote Originally Posted by Kurlon View Post
    I've wheelied a GS500E, of course an EX500 can therefor wheelie.
    I mean... The weight distribution could be fucked and be all on the front end...

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  9. #34

    Re: Ninja 500r 2005 as track bike

    yeah you really gotta dump it, to get it up...I'm sure a -1 would help there a bit...maybe a -1/+2 clutch up 2nd gear, riding staggered, covering the rear brake was the way to long standups if I recall correctly from 2004 era kawiforums discussions I read way back when

    So far the XR100 with a bmx peg has been my favorite standup wheelie bike. XR650L favorite sit-down, ride out, slow power out wheelie. The FZR was my favorite for on ramps. The Vstrom wheelies were just fun to shock other riders when I did em' with a surf board attached.

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    Last edited by breakdirt916; 04-21-19 at 10:18 PM.
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  10. #35

    Re: Ninja 500r 2005 as track bike



    is this what it feels like to ride in the 80's?

    although the ninjette has a worse 0-60 than the DL650, I like it better. Feels a little more spirited when riding it, lighter, and feels faster above 7k rpm. They both fall into the turns with the same ease (maybe a little easier on the strom).

    bike still has plenty of "chill" rpm power for around town (as most twins do), and is my go-to for errands

    as a matter of fact, I'd enjoy this whole setup as an ADV bike - if I could get handle bars, more travel, and a better dampened suspension, I'd be happy. Unfortunately people have tried, it becomes a money pit (the handlebars alone don't fit as they normally would because of proprietary clip ons) and doesn't work well.

    In the end the bike is adequate the way it comes.

    No power/brake/suspension upgrades needed...maybe mirrors and high vis lighting.

    Ninja as in inexpensive commuter/canyon/beach/street bike and the YZ for everything off-road.

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    Last edited by breakdirt916; 04-25-19 at 11:17 AM.
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  11. #36

    Re: Ninja 500r 2005 as track bike

    man...ex-500.org is still an active forum

    so much reading...so many mods...so much desire to throw $$ at the bike. some guys have even put DS tires on it and say it works remarkably well on washboard roads as an ADV bike.

    maybe just a higher rate spring for the rear? maybe just a -1 front sprocket? maybe ninja 650 mirrors? maybe just a $174 luggage rack?

    no. bolt top case to used $39 rear seat.

    no suspension changes, ever.

    -1 front sprocket if chain and sprockets are already getting done.

    the one time/year I am doing a long street ride with ADV bikes, just run the street tires in the dirt. otherwise, load up the YZ and truck it.

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    Last edited by breakdirt916; 04-30-19 at 01:32 PM.
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  12. #37
    Wizard loudbeard's Avatar
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    Re: Ninja 500r 2005 as track bike


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  13. #38

    Re: Ninja 500r 2005 as track bike



    yeah, the Vstrom and Ninja 500R threads have been lackluster...the threads match the kind of bikes they are.

    but you know me, for enjoyment of dirt and street, I have found no better solution then separating the duties - my YZ250 thread is where more fun stuff happens

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    Last edited by breakdirt916; 04-30-19 at 02:36 PM.
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  14. #39
    Super Moderator TheIglu's Avatar
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    Re: Ninja 500r 2005 as track bike

    Just run it as is. Anything else is an exercise in futility.

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  15. #40
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    Re: Ninja 500r 2005 as track bike

    as a matter of fact, I'd enjoy this whole setup as an ADV bike - if I could get handle bars, more travel, and a better dampened suspension, I'd be happy.
    See this thread: ADV Bug: CB500X Rally Raid
    The 2019 models gained a 19” front and an inch or two more suspension travel, it’s essentially a mini-Weestrom now.

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  16. #41
    Wizard loudbeard's Avatar
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    Re: Ninja 500r 2005 as track bike

    Quote Originally Posted by MattR302 View Post
    See this thread: ADV Bug: CB500X Rally Raid
    The 2019 models gained a 19” front and an inch or two more suspension travel, it’s essentially a mini-Weestrom now.
    That bike is about 29 years too new for Bhavesh

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  17. #42

    Re: Ninja 500r 2005 as track bike

    haven't been commuting on it since I moved, but it's been a great bike to run around a city with!




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  18. #43
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    Re: Ninja 500r 2005 as track bike

    Put a new exhaust on mine for this weekend and had the opportunity to ride a rc390...

    Now I want a 390...

    Having a quick shifter is awesome. And the chassis is just so much better...

    Ninja 500r 2005 as track bike-img_20190512_194240_642-jpg

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  19. #44

    Re: Ninja 500r 2005 as track bike

    ohhhhh....a Hindle!

    but yup, 80's tech is just too far behind. it's zippy enough to be fun for a new rider at a fair price point, but that's all

    the newer tech, even on comparable class 300/390/400/500's are just better.

    on the plus side - went out on a ride with a 600 & a 1000





    I was confident that I could keep up with most of it...and I sure could!

    around town, lane splitting, in traffic, in twisties, I had no issues...maybe even easier to toss it into turns since the tires are so narrow. The only time I couldn't keep up was WOT cranking through the gears in wide open sections...but I still took them off the line! (because I could mindlessly just dump the clutch without worry of looping)

    freeway speed acceleration was adequate as expected.

    I would still go -1 on the front...and it will need a chain soon

    top case mount won't fit on the seat...I need a super long bolt to make it all the way through the foam in the middle...

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  20. #45

    Re: Ninja 500r 2005 as track bike

    finally got around to doing this



    had to use a 4" carriage bolt and stop nut to get the front of the rack attached to the seat because the pan drops down

    but it's not quite ugly

    I am thinking lose the pretty lower fairing

    and still kinda feeling like I should get the renntech rack - without the rear grab bar, someone could theoretically snake something through the gap and get the seat off. also, I want a wing-nut system for a surf board rack...would rather have the a frame that makes that easier.

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    Last edited by breakdirt916; 05-18-19 at 01:10 AM.
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  21. #46

    Re: Ninja 500r 2005 as track bike

    took the bike on a well known 270 degree exit ramp and looooved it.

    this is officially the easiest handling bike for me in the corners...more than the V-strom...can't wait to hit the canyons with this!

    can't believe it has a lower 0-60 than the v-strom...definitely felt like it had more ability to accelerate on the freeway than the wee

    you guys really don't like this bike?!

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  22. #47
    Mophead going grey dontpanic's Avatar
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    Re: Ninja 500r 2005 as track bike

    Quote Originally Posted by breakdirt916 View Post
    but it's not quite ugly
    I've got some bad news for you, Sunshine....

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  23. #48
    Super Moderator TheIglu's Avatar
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    Re: Ninja 500r 2005 as track bike

    Quote Originally Posted by breakdirt916 View Post
    took the bike on a well known 270 degree exit ramp and looooved it.

    this is officially the easiest handling bike for me in the corners...more than the V-strom...can't wait to hit the canyons with this!

    can't believe it has a lower 0-60 than the v-strom...definitely felt like it had more ability to accelerate on the freeway than the wee

    you guys really don't like this bike?!

    Most any decent running reliable bike is to be liked.

    For the money you paid, it's great.


    Buuuuuut, I think the main point here is that an SV is 3x the bike for 2x the price. If you think that thing handles sweet, just wait till you ride a well setup SV.

    Coming from experience. Lots of it, on both EX's and SV's.

    Just keep that in mind before "investing" anything beyond normal maintenance into this thing.

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  24. #49
    Wizard loudbeard's Avatar
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    Re: Ninja 500r 2005 as track bike

    Quote Originally Posted by breakdirt916 View Post
    you guys really don't like this bike?!
    Lets put it this way:

    There is a woman, she has most excellent venge and bobs. However, her face looks like your brother and she has enough hair on her back to weave a throw rug.

    This woman, she is an EX500.

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    I went to MMI I know what Im doing here chief

  25. #50
    Awesomeness, Inc. MattR302's Avatar
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    Re: Ninja 500r 2005 as track bike

    I liked my 2001, was my first bike, put maybe 15k miles on it in 4-5 years. Cheap on gas, tires, and insurance. I used it for commuting 110 miles one way from Rye NY to UConn Storrs for a semester.

    Sold it to my brother for his first bike. I think it’s still probably in my parents’ shed.

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