Opinions on an EX500, and a question or two

[butcher bergs]

I see plenty of headshake on the F4i into 7....it's always been managable though.

[Pittenger5]

I see plenty of headshake on the F4i into 7....it's always been managable though.

You also have more than double the horsepower.

[Honclfibr]

No, he's not. I originally thought it seemed a bit high not to have that as well, based on other bikes I've seen for sale in older ads. The reoccurring "buy it" theme in this thread had me thinking I was wrong and it was a deal. What's a second set of wheels gonna set me back? Maybe it's negotiation time?

That's the thing with racebikes, it's hard to put a value on them. Especially EXs. What year is the bike? Is a 2007 EX500 worth more than a 1995 EX500? Maybe, it's the same exact bike. Depends on the condition, miles, etc. There are plenty of EX500s with lots of go fast bits that have been thrown down the track on their bellys many times, and plenty of mostly stock EXs that haven't.

In the end, you have to decide what's worth what to you. Is this bike worth $1500 with what it has? Maybe, it seems to be in better condition than a lot of the EXs that get raced. Then again, the EX is a tough bike and a few getoffs / years raced hard don't seem to hurt it.

Most PTWN legal race-ready EXs sell in the $1000-1500 range, some a bit more some a bit less. The penske is a good shock, that probably adds a few hundred in value over a bike with a stock shock, or even a fox shock (the penske is the better shock). A set of wheels will run you 200-300 on ebay. A set of rain tires will run you 400. Some EXs come with wheels, and rains in various shapes of repair.

In the end, you're going to spend enough on track days, race fees, gas, and tires that the initial cost isn't that consequential. Is $1500 a fair deal for this bike? Probably, it looks to be in good shape. Could you get it for $1200, or even $1000? Possibly. If you're in no hurry, negotiate. If you're jonesin to make sure you're set up, then you can pay $1500 for this bike and noone is going to accuse you of getting ripped off. Your call.

["Dangerous" Dan K]

That's the thing with racebikes, it's hard to put a value on them. Especially EXs. What year is the bike? Is a 2007 EX500 worth more than a 1995 EX500? Maybe, it's the same exact bike. Depends on the condition, miles, etc. There are plenty of EX500s with lots of go fast bits that have been thrown down the track on their bellys many times, and plenty of mostly stock EXs that haven't.

In the end, you have to decide what's worth what to you. Is this bike worth $1500 with what it has? Maybe, it seems to be in better condition than a lot of the EXs that get raced. Then again, the EX is a tough bike and a few getoffs / years raced hard don't seem to hurt it.

Most PTWN legal race-ready EXs sell in the $1000-1500 range, some a bit more some a bit less. The penske is a good shock, that probably adds a few hundred in value over a bike with a stock shock, or even a fox shock (the penske is the better shock). A set of wheels will run you 200-300 on ebay. A set of rain tires will run you 400. Some EXs come with wheels, and rains in various shapes of repair.

In the end, you're going to spend enough on track days, race fees, gas, and tires that the initial cost isn't that consequential. Is $1500 a fair deal for this bike? Probably, it looks to be in good shape. Could you get it for $1200, or even $1000? Possibly. If you're in no hurry, negotiate. If you're jonesin to make sure you're set up, then you can pay $1500 for this bike and noone is going to accuse you of getting ripped off. Your call.

Well thought out reply, thanks. I'm not dying to get one right now, and know there will be plenty of opportunities before the season. Heck, opportunities are coming around a couple a week it seems. At the same time I would like to get one early, I'm impatient like that and would like the time to get into the bike and go through it before I ride it. I think I'll go look at the bike with a more knowledgeable buddy, check it over and make the call there. If it's totally sorted and in great shape maybe I'll pay that. If I can get it for less, I will. If i can't and I don't think it's worth that, I'll pass. The second set of wheels are gonna cost more than I thought, seems all the cheap ones are 16". That's a bit of a bummer. It's hard to make a definite call without seeing the bike up close or at least with better pics, which I'm not going to be able to get. We'll have to see how it goes.

Again, thanks for the reply. If anyone else feels like throwing in their two cents I'm all ears.

[Pittenger5]

Be patient on wheels, theres no need to rush into them. Youll find em cheap enough. On an EX you can get into the high 1:20s (aka 1:28-1:29) with street pilot powers without breaking a sweat. Those pilot powers were my rains for 2 full years and only failed me once when it was absolutely downpouring AFTER they'd been my rain tires for 2 years. So worse comes to worse you can run those for a while, and by then a spare set will come around cheap.

[OreoGaborio]

That's not high 20's!!! That's sub 1:30!!!

[Pittenger5]

That's not high 20's!!! That's sub 1:30!!!

["Dangerous" Dan K]

Be patient on wheels, theres no need to rush into them. Youll find em cheap enough. On an EX you can get into the high 1:20s (aka 1:28-1:29) with street pilot powers without breaking a sweat. Those pilot powers were my rains for 2 full years and only failed me once when it was absolutely downpouring AFTER they'd been my rain tires for 2 years. So worse comes to worse you can run those for a while, and by then a spare set will come around cheap.

Bad-ass, thanks. That's encouraging. How are the Dunlop 208s that are on there if the track is wet? Pack it up and go home, or ride and don't get stupid?

[OreoGaborio]

Heh... The 208's are race DOT's.... and race DOT's in the wet are.... interesting

It just takes smooooooth inputs & careful riding. They'll definitely move around on ya a bit.

[zx1012r]

$1500.00 sounds like a good deal for that bike, provided it shifts well. A lot of aged transmissions shift like crap on the EX, in which case would require transmission work, which really wouldn't cost much from Dana at the track. Other than that any other problems it may have would be cheap to remedy.

I used to need the damper on mine. Even though it has no power, the front end comes off the ground going over the little rise when you flick right into 8, and on the D208 Dunlops it would get a little hairy with wobble through 8, not a fun place to be working the bars. I bent it in a crash during the year, switched to D211's and it is managable without it, although it sure doesn't hurt anything having it on there.

There are plenty of people over the years in the 20's on an EX. Paul on this board is one of them. Riding an SV this year has improved my times where I have been able to get into the mid 20's on the EX most race weekends. 19's this year baby

Mark Dages 454

["Dangerous" Dan K]

Heh... The 208's are race DOT's.... and race DOT's in the wet are.... interesting

It just takes smooooooth inputs & careful riding. They'll definitely move around on ya a bit.

Duly noted.

["Dangerous" Dan K]

$1500.00 sounds like a good deal for that bike, provided it shifts well. A lot of aged transmissions shift like crap on the EX, in which case would require transmission work, which really wouldn't cost much from Dana at the track. Other than that any other problems it may have would be cheap to remedy.

I used to need the damper on mine. Even though it has no power, the front end comes off the ground going over the little rise when you flick right into 8, and on the D208 Dunlops it would get a little hairy with wobble through 8, not a fun place to be working the bars. I bent it in a crash during the year, switched to D211's and it is managable without it, although it sure doesn't hurt anything having it on there.

There are plenty of people over the years in the 20's on an EX. Paul on this board is one of them. Riding an SV this year has improved my times where I have been able to get into the mid 20's on the EX most race weekends. 19's this year baby

Mark Dages 454

Sweet. Thanks for the input, and the heads up on the transmission. We'll pay special attention to that.

[a13x]

There are plenty of people over the years in the 20's on an EX. Paul on this board is one of them. Riding an SV this year has improved my times where I have been able to get into the mid 20's on the EX most race weekends. 19's this year baby

Mark Dages 454

Ah you are correct. I didn't realize the pace had picked up that much recently. Was going off some old post/email I remember BJ writing.

Congrats. Mid-20's on a ProddyEX is no joke.

[GixerJockey]

Dan? Did you buy this thing yet?

["Dangerous" Dan K]

Dan? Did you buy this thing yet?

No, I just found it today. Planning to look at it, maybe buy it and hopefully pick up that suit on Saturday.

Edit: Er... yesterday, since it's pushing 1AM now. Can't seem to get to sleep tonight, maybe the about to have a new toy jitters?

[Dieseldan]

Sounds like it

[Evil_Weasel]

spare rims and rains are nice but you don't need to show up with them on day one. i've raced in the rain on DOTs (by race i mean rode around while the guys with rain tires fucked off before i made it to turn 3). it's fun and deffinatly doesn't lead to instant death.

for 1500 though an extra set of rims would be nice. use that as a bargining point...but don't let it be a deal breaker.

[Paul_E_D]

Yep, I'm a member of the EX 1:20 club. I had a pipe on the bike, but that really doesn't mean much on the EX. I believe BJ runs a lot of 19s now... Mark, I noticed you hit the twenties! Congrats.

Anyway, buy that bike! You can't get into racing any cheaper than that (unless you want to run a steaming pile of crap). Keep the damper since it's there, but turn it way down. the first position on the knob. It will do something without intruding on steering feel/effort much.

[6 Fingered Man]

Just find some dude willing to go look at it with you, pull him away from watching racing this weekend to go look at a bike he wants and your gonna get... thats what friends are for to abuse and make jealous.

["Dangerous" Dan K]

Just find some dude willing to go look at it with you, pull him away from watching racing this weekend to go look at a bike he wants and your gonna get... thats what friends are for to abuse and make jealous.

That's what I've got in mind. I actually know a guy who volunteered to cut his riding day early, miss the race, and use his truck (since mine really needs that exhaust/headlight thing sorted out) to go help me go and buy a bike that he wants. Like you said, that's what freinds are for.

[TheIglu]

I have a set of rains/rims and another set of rims with Supercorsa's on them I might be willing to part with.

["Dangerous" Dan K]

I have a set of rains/rims and another set of rims with Supercorsa's on them I might be willing to part with.

PM sent

[zx1012r]

Yep, I'm a member of the EX 1:20 club. I had a pipe on the bike, but that really doesn't mean much on the EX. I believe BJ runs a lot of 19s now... Mark, I noticed you hit the twenties! Congrats.

Thank you Alex and Paul.

I believe BJ did A 19 five or six years ago. He hadn't been in the 20's again til this past season. It's nice I can push him and him me. Riding the SV is the only reason I have been able to do it. I just use the same braking markers on the EX as I do on the SV and let the sphincter puckering feeling of never slowing enough to make the corner force me to keep the corner speed up. It IS quite puckering, however.

I liked the schedule last year cause I could ride the SV only on Saturday and then concentrate on the EX on Sunday. Now the days are switched so I don't know if I'll be able to start off on the EX so fast.

Mark

[Pittenger5]

I believe BJ did A 19 five or six years ago. He hadn't been in the 20's again til this past season. It's nice I can push him and him me.

You people are insane. Im damn near pooping myself just trying to stay in the 26s.

["Dangerous" Dan K]

Dan? Did you buy this thing yet?

Updated answer: YES!