Might be a dumb one, but why some people refer to the 500 as EX500 and others as 500R?

Is there realy a difference?

 

Kawasaki changed the name from EX500 to the 500R. I guess they thought it was a sportier name. They did the same thing to the 250 Ninja

 

So is that something recently that they changed?

I guess it really doens't matter since there is not one difference between the 2, right.....

 

No, nothing has changed. it's the same old bike they've been making for ever.

 

same engine and frame since 1987. they are a really great 500. torquey. enough top end for the majority. and common enough to find spares, aftermarkets and upgrades.

i believe the name changed in 95... look back at the body work... the name changed with the slight changes to the bodywork.

i had an 89... could be why i convinced the gf to buy an 88 as her second bike.

 

It's the exact same bike, the only thing that physically changed since 1994 has been the color.
But they changed the name to "Ninja 500R" in 2003. 2002 was the last year they called it the EX500. But no other changes were made.
-CCinC

 

thanks everyone!!!

 

You get one yet?

 

calamari... the plastic changed too... not just the color. also, the size of the front wheel changed very early on. and it received a rear disc instead of the original drum... so you can't really say it's the exact same bike now can you?

 

Hi Jeff. [sm=icon_ladiesman.gif]
I certainly can and am declaring precisely, "The EX500/Ninja 500R's plastic has remained exactly the same since 1994, and the only changes have been to the color."
It's a fact in the Library of Congress... learn more about Kawasaki's EX500 in your local library...
-CCinC