i am new here and registered up just to get some feedback. im stuck between buying a 94 Ninja 500R or a 94 CBR 600. both of these bikes are a little small for what im looking for right now but money yields that i would love to have either of the bikes because they will serve their purpose. but what im asking is how do these bikes compete...basically stock for stock?

 

OK...first off these two bikes are way different. Both in technology and configuration..the EX500 is an inline twin (2) cylinder from 1987, the CBR600F2 is an inline four (4) cylinder..the F2 will walk all over the EX in any performance comparison, whether it is handling, power, ect..the EX is very comfortable, but the F2 is not bad either. I have owned both of these bikes myself, and I loved them both, but they are comparing apples to oranges

 

i see what you mean. but do you think i would be satisfied with either bike for a fun, decently quick bike?...

 

Either will be fun, but the F2 is a far more capable machine..just check on insurance..there might be a HUGE difference there

 

The CBR puts out significantly more horsepower than the Ninja--around 85rwhp compared to the Ninja's 55 or so. The CBR also rides on modern 17" radial tires whereas the Ninja makes do with skinny bias ply meats. The CBR has better brakes and suspension as well. The Ninja would be a better learner bike simply because it is tamer but a new rider will outgrow the Ninja far quicker than he would the CBR. Hell, I contentedly rode an F2 as my primary bike for 8 years before I finally bought my Gixxer 1000 in '03.

 

sirlimpzalot and TheFleshRocket are right on.


I currently have a 93 F2 and my wife has a 05 Ninja 500R. We bought her bike about 8 months ago for her to learn on. She took the MSF course and has done great ever since.
Obviously she still has alot more riding experience to gain under her belt so to speak and is nowhere near reaching the limits of the Ninja, but she already likes to ride my F2. This is not to say that she is bored with the Ninja, but even as a new rider she likes the all around performance advantage of the F2. Now we planned all along that as soon as she felt comfortable on the Ninja and gained some riding experience that she would move up to a 600 (SV650,F2,F3,F4,Katana,YZF,FZR,ZX6,ect) which she'll most likely do next year. This might be something for you to keep in mind (ie. my wife as a new rider is looking to move up already after only riding the Ninja 500R for about a year....... although here where I live we don't have "riding seasons", it's year round riding weather so if you have been riding for two years here, it's 24 months of riding experience not just "two seasons" or maybe 10 -11 months in other parts of the country.)

Now I think my F2 is pretty comfortable for a sportbike, (alot more so than my friends 03 CBR 600RR IMO) but when we go for long rides I gladly offer to let her ride the CBR while I take the Ninja. It's ergonomics are more comfortable than the F2, and it gets better gas mileage as well ( I usually fill up at @ 140 - 150 miles to be safe, the Ninja goes 180 - 190 miles before filling up to be safe).

Unless you constantly ride at 130+, like to do wheelies while going down the highway, ect. the Ninja has plenty of power to have fun....... it's just that you have to continously keep the revs up to stay with the faster 600's (on straightaways......don't even bother wasting the gas to keep up though).

If you are a begining rider (ie. NEVER rode a motorcycle before) I would sugggest the Ninja 500R. It's very forgiving to new riders, handles well, good gas mileage, and should keep you satisfied for a while.

But if you have past riding experience, even if only dirtbikes as a kid and this is going to be your first streetbike, then you might want to consider that 94 CBR. Otherwise you might get bored with the 500R very quickly.