Katana vs. Ninja

[axelccmabe]

I'm currently looking at 2 bikes for my first bike. One is a 2005 Suzuki Katana 600 with aprox. 12,000 miles, and the other is a 2006 Kawasaki Ninja 500 with aprox. 11,000 miles. Any opinions?

[SRTie4k]

In before TheIglu's sarcastic remark.

[tsorfas]

i would take any Suzuki over any similar Kawi any day of the week.

[PhilB]

The Ninja 500 is a better choice for a first bike.

PhilB

[CBR929RE]

i would take any Suzuki over any similar Kawi any day of the week.

I guess I've never taught you the correct motorcycle hierarchy

Honda>Yamaha>Kawasaki>>>>>>Suzuki

[csmutty]

I guess I've never taught you the correct motorcycle hierarchy

Honda>Yamaha>Kawasaki>>>>>>Suzuki

Kawi is def at the bottom...hands down.

[Karate.Snoopy]

I started with EX 500, found it to be a great 1st bike. Good over all performance, easy to maintain/upgrade, easy to sell, has enough power for a beginner. I would consider the EX 250, much more nimble and fun bike than its elder 500. You can get one for next to nothing. And if you have the cash go for the Ninja 300.

The EX500 (Dry weight 390 lbs ) is much lighter compared to the Katana (around 460 lbs). This weight matters as most beginners tend to stall their bikes. Ofcourse if you are a big strong fella then the effects might be countered.

I have tried the Katana once, I liked it, the throttle is spot on (I have a FZ6 which has less than desired throttle response.) With the Katana you also get Fuel injection, the EX500 is carbureted

Personally I would go with one the following EX250 or EX500 or Suzuki GS500. Just my humble 2 cents
Good luck

[Sheppo]

An '05 Can0Tuna would be carburated. ( http://www.bikez.com/motorcycles/suz...a_600_2005.php ) What the Suzuki has going for it is a smoother 4 cyl engine. That's about all I can think why I would take one over the other. Both are solid great first bikes.

[CBR929RE]

Kawi is def at the bottom...hands down.

oh course the EX500 went through only minor revisions for 20 years. guess that's why its at the bottom.

but my personal preference is to never own a Suzuki. they just do nothing for me. all 4 of them make good bikes.

[tsorfas]

the katana will hold better value, it is a great starters bike, although its a 600 it doesnt have aggressive power at all.
Suzuki logo is better than Kawi. I bet the Katana isnt puke green. Definitely a shitton of Katanas out there for parts.

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but my personal preference is to never own a Suzuki. they just do nothing for me. all 4 of them make good bikes.

my last 5 streetbikes were Suzukis and all of them were great. I dont ride dirt so I have no saying there,

[rice_rocket]

Although I never rode an EX500, thought about it a bunch of times to get as a fun bike.. I did have the can-o-tuna as my first bike. I like the look a little more than the ninja styling. Of course I had a 99 Katana.. not much difference when you go up in years.

Solid HEAVY bike, hard to rip wheelies on accident, which almost happened a few times when I hit a jerky bump and gripped the throttle too tight. I did indeed like the throttle response much more than my fz6 or r6, those were a little touchy.

I would just find out what is the better deal......

[mzdagrl]

if you can, go sit on both of them. buy the one that you are more comfortable on. as said before, they are both great first bikes for different reasons.

[Rossco]

I ride a Suzuki Bandit 600, which has the exact same powerplant. I've been riding for almost four years now, I've ridden many bikes faster than it (Tunono V4, Dayton 675, coupla GSXR's.) Yet the air-cooled, carbed, 80hp lump still puts a smile on my face everytime the RPM's climb past 5500.

That being said, the Ninja, despite having half the cylinders and 100 cc less, is just as sprightly as the Katana. It's also lighter and handles better then the heavy Kat.

But both are reliable machines and great beginner bikes.

[GNTurbo6]

I'd vote for the Ninja. Katana is a fatty.

[ninjagirl]

the katana will hold better value, it is a great starters bike, although its a 600 it doesnt have aggressive power at all.
Suzuki logo is better than Kawi. I bet the Katana isnt puke green. Definitely a shitton of Katanas out there for parts.

suuuuch a hater haha

my vote is for the kawi 500

[nhbubba]

I owned a Suzi GS for about 10 years.

I'd go for the Kawi EX instead as well. The Kawi is water cooled, IIRC while the Katana is air/oil. So score one to the Suzi for simplicity. But I think the parallel twin in the EX more than makes up for that. Two sets of valves to adjust/check. Two carbs to take care of. You can sync them with a bit of tubing and some motor oil. And it'll just be a heck of a lot easier to work on.

Rossco, does your Bandit really make 80 HP? That's astonishing. Only 20 or so shy of my Bandit 1200.. supposedly.

[aldend123]

if you can, go sit on both of them. buy the one that you are more comfortable on. as said before, they are both great first bikes for different reasons.

Relative to everyone else here, I'm pretty inexperienced. But I think this point is often undervalued and overlooked. It is easy to get wound up reading all the reviews about how it rides, how it handles, how it performs. But how it fits you is barely addressed in any literature. Bottom line is that you probably won't be out-riding either of the bikes any time soon. But hopefully you will be sitting on it for long periods of time.

[dannyjm]

Kawi is def at the bottom...hands down.

(not)

[tsorfas]

suuuuch a hater haha

my vote is for the kawi 500

your vote doesnt count. you are from Maine

[ninjagirl]

your vote doesnt count. you are from Maine

well you seemed to of enjoyed maine just the other week ha! so mainer vote does count.

[Kurlon]

your vote doesnt count. you are from Maine

So... I shouldn't be helpful this weekend due to my chosen state of residence?

[tsorfas]

So... I shouldn't be helpful this weekend due to my chosen state of residence?

im just busting her balls

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well you seemed to of enjoyed maine just the other week ha! so mainer vote does count.

and you ride a Kawi

[Kurlon]

im just busting her balls

She has balls?!

[ninjagirl]

i have balls?!

[tsorfas]

both your responsed verify the Maine comment I made...