My first bike. I'll never get rid of it. I've gotten some shit for riding an old-looking bike, but I've also gotten some compliments. Those are the ones I take to heart. It looks badass, and no one can tell me differently. That gap between the front wheel and body somehow looks mean as hell and is my personal favorite feature of the bike
hey man i agree with all your points dude! i just got a 2007 ninja 250 as first bike. i wasn't totally sold on the looks of this bike at first but the older retro style has grown on me so much. it looks straight out of the first top gun movie lol. ive gotten a lot of bs from people at school saying it looks stupid and "why would you buy a CrOuCh rOcKeT with only 250ccs?!?!?" just dumb stuff like that. but i love it to death at the moment and im having a blast
That was an EXCELLENT sales pitch for this great motorcycle, Ken. The only thing I would add is: for all of us with 30+ years of experience, who have "been there & done that" with lite, medium & heavyweights, but now would like to "dial-back" the weight & horsepower and still maintain the two wheeled lifestyle, the Ninja 500 R would be a PERFECT choice to do just that !
I have this exact bike as my beginner and i am still debating whether or not i want to upgrade. It is so nimble and the power delivery is amazing. I love my ninja!⁴
I agree with you Ken,,, I've had a zg1000 ,'98 trophy , '84vt750 , 400 maxim, and a gl1100 standard ,,, this is my next bike , why: because i don't like ling trips anymore but i need something that can with small adjustments and i do need something to hop around tropical locations,,, what I really need is to GTFO of cold Canada and live somewhere nice for extended periods on the cheap. was looking at a big ruckus bit this makes more sense,,,, time tested small bikes will become premium soon,,, big ones are way too luxury now with nowhere to go but up now... thanks Ken
I just bought a 2008 Ninja 500R with the same paint job as this one (all original). It has 12,888 km's and is in mint condition. I too live in Canada (QC) and haven't ridden it yet - I had to store it for winter instead 🙄. But I'll have fun polishing it up over the winter months - it doesn't need much more than that. Ask me if I'm a happy little beaver 🦫
I'm looking at picking up a used 2008 red ninja 500R today! 900 bucks only a few scratches but needs a battery carburetor cleaning and some maintenance plugs and lights.. Definitely some new tires.. Is this a good deal on this specific model being so old??
@9:00, you said you wouldn't mind riding it cross country?? You wouldn't have ergo issues over a long haul like that at 6'2"??? That's pretty good!! I am so strapped for cash at this time but would not think twice about traveling there to pick it up if I had it. It is a beautiful machine, indeed!!!
I've heard parts can be hard to find for the 500, it's been 10 years since they stopped making them. This is a classic sportbike, but I think the ninja 400 is a much better bike since it has fuel-injuection, ABS, 70 lbs. lighter, only 5 hp less than the 500, and you get newer parts/materials.
A 500 will stomp a shitty new age 400, that bike's more comparable to an R3 than anything else. Parts are extremely easy and cheap for the 500. Also the ninja 400 doesn't have near enough torque, hp aint nothing if you dont have the torque. Literally has 24lb of torque while the 500 has 46lb. No need for abs or fuel injection if you know how to maintain and ride the bike properly, we've been doing for decades.....Kawasaki took a huge step backwards with that shitty 400, would've gotten a lot more praise if they brought this back instead. All in all fuck a 400 id grab a 80s 500 before that and you should probably do some research before trying to give a opinion expecting to be taken seriously.
My first bike. I'll never get rid of it. I've gotten some shit for riding an old-looking bike, but I've also gotten some compliments. Those are the ones I take to heart. It looks badass, and no one can tell me differently. That gap between the front wheel and body somehow looks mean as hell and is my personal favorite feature of the bike
hey man i agree with all your points dude! i just got a 2007 ninja 250 as first bike. i wasn't totally sold on the looks of this bike at first but the older retro style has grown on me so much. it looks straight out of the first top gun movie lol. ive gotten a lot of bs from people at school saying it looks stupid and "why would you buy a CrOuCh rOcKeT with only 250ccs?!?!?" just dumb stuff like that. but i love it to death at the moment and im having a blast
That was an EXCELLENT sales pitch for this great motorcycle, Ken. The only thing I would add is: for all of us with 30+ years of experience, who have "been there & done that" with lite, medium & heavyweights, but now would like to "dial-back" the weight & horsepower and still maintain the two wheeled lifestyle, the Ninja 500 R would be a PERFECT choice to do just that !
This man could sell a Ferrari to a broke widow.
Omg that bike is AMAZING!!
I bought the very first one in 1987..ex 500..had to do our research in magazines bac,k then..black with a red seat
Sick double exhausts.
what was the final selling price, i need to know for science
Clean cut you also look cool bro.
I have this exact bike as my beginner and i am still debating whether or not i want to upgrade. It is so nimble and the power delivery is amazing. I love my ninja!⁴
I have the same bike its a 1990 looks the same mine is mint i love it !
They're slick. Perhaps I'm biased, but they are probably in the top 3 500's ever made
Do u still own ur 1990 Ninja 500?
@@dakidsbac777 I now own a 1988, got any questions?
Just got my 08 fir 2grand. Red. Ive owned 3 ninjas back in the day but its true' these bikes are so good light fun to ride.
Super belle ,elle est magnifique.france❤
I agree with you Ken,,, I've had a zg1000 ,'98 trophy , '84vt750 , 400 maxim, and a gl1100 standard ,,, this is my next bike , why: because i don't like ling trips anymore but i need something that can with small adjustments and i do need something to hop around tropical locations,,, what I really need is to GTFO of cold Canada and live somewhere nice for extended periods on the cheap. was looking at a big ruckus bit this makes more sense,,,, time tested small bikes will become premium soon,,, big ones are way too luxury now with nowhere to go but up now... thanks Ken
I just bought a 2008 Ninja 500R with the same paint job as this one (all original). It has 12,888 km's and is in mint condition. I too live in Canada (QC) and haven't ridden it yet - I had to store it for winter instead 🙄. But I'll have fun polishing it up over the winter months - it doesn't need much more than that. Ask me if I'm a happy little beaver 🦫
Thanks Ken
I'm looking at picking up a used 2008 red ninja 500R today! 900 bucks only a few scratches but needs a battery carburetor cleaning and some maintenance plugs and lights.. Definitely some new tires.. Is this a good deal on this specific model being so old??
5:38 You said inline engine here, but it's a parallel twin. You actually correct specified this later in video though: 9:36
Gotta another sub! Thanks!
@9:00, you said you wouldn't mind riding it cross country?? You wouldn't have ergo issues over a long haul like that at 6'2"??? That's pretty good!! I am so strapped for cash at this time but would not think twice about traveling there to pick it up if I had it. It is a beautiful machine, indeed!!!
Throw some handle bar risers on it and you're got yourself a great upright sitting stance for longer rides.
Where can I get this tail light ?
is the Delkevic slip on or full system?
This may be my next bike. Upgrading from an ice bear champion.
What model Delkevic's are they?
what would be a comparable Honda product? old school silverwing engine? I don't the CM could compare.
I have 1
I've heard parts can be hard to find for the 500, it's been 10 years since they stopped making them. This is a classic sportbike, but I think the ninja 400 is a much better bike since it has fuel-injuection, ABS, 70 lbs. lighter, only 5 hp less than the 500, and you get newer parts/materials.
A new production motorcycle is better than the 25-year-old ancestor of the same bike? I am not ashamed to say I agree 100%.
A 500 will stomp a shitty new age 400, that bike's more comparable to an R3 than anything else. Parts are extremely easy and cheap for the 500. Also the ninja 400 doesn't have near enough torque, hp aint nothing if you dont have the torque. Literally has 24lb of torque while the 500 has 46lb. No need for abs or fuel injection if you know how to maintain and ride the bike properly, we've been doing for decades.....Kawasaki took a huge step backwards with that shitty 400, would've gotten a lot more praise if they brought this back instead. All in all fuck a 400 id grab a 80s 500 before that and you should probably do some research before trying to give a opinion expecting to be taken seriously.
While everything you said is true a newish 400 will cost you. You can bag a 500r in semi decent condition for CONSIDERABLY less than a 400.
@@theripper121 just got a 3,900km 1988 for 2200 CAD so id say its STILL 10x the value
@@oliverthecat6529 in Ontario?
sounds like a cheap motard