Kawasaki ER-5 (1996-current)

My wifes bike, I have gone through x3 bikes in the past 9 yrs, all were around £1500 650cc - 750cc, but this wee bike has never let us down. I use it for work rest and play, we have gone too a few rallies 2-up fully loaded tent sleeping bags camping stove and beer, sits ok on motorway at 70mph, handles A and B roads. I took it too Isle o Man, cause i knew it would get me home safely, I sat with all sorts of sport bikes and held my own just fine. Great wee bike, good allrounder, keep it maintained and it'll keep on the road ok. Just remember its not a sports bike, it is what it is.

Its cool love it

and not much else, great first bike but you quickly get bored. It's a work horse and as such not too suitable for someone who wants a bike thier going to enjoy for a long time, it's a heavy lump, but it's still got enough to tear away from the lights leaving the cars in your wake

OK... It's never going to be one of those bikes that set the world alight but what more do you want. It's got a well proven twin cylinder engine that Kawasaki have been using since the dawn of time. Any garage can service it.. or.. service it yourself.. it's that easy.. Using the bike as a commuter is a breeze.. Get the bike in the wrong gear.. so what.. it will manage.. Very easy to ride and zip in and out of traffic. It's a light bike so easy for moving around and getting on to the centre stand. A nice upright riding position and a comfy seat that you couls sit on all day. It's low insurance, Good on fuel.. Could be the ultimate commuter! Minor niggles.. The brakes could do with a bit more feel but then again I suppose it stops you locking the wheels up.. It is geared guite low so it feels like you need another gear 65/70mph.. Overall: Its a basic bike but if you need a day to day reliable bike that won't break the bank.. get one of these...

Decided to commute by bike after 12 years of packing onto the train. I have the bike serviced every 4k miles, as per warranty requirements, which isn't cheap. Had 2 mirrors replaced due to silver disappearing, and the Starter clutch replaced, all on warranty, with no problems. Strengths: Reliability and MPG. Weaknesses: Expense of servicing by dealer, and frequency of servicing. If you buy a new car the first service is approx 18k miles, bike is every 4k.

First bike after passing my test in 2002, as I am only 5ft tall it was a low seat height, you can buy a lower seat for about £100. I got bike with only 322 miles on clock so more or less a new bike So good a bike I am awaiting my new 55 plate ER5. Strengths: Handles well on bends, will start first time no problem, great on fuel and cheap to insure, also parts are cheap and service charges are ok. Weaknesses:
Not great on motorways could be doing with a fairing, but new ER6 looks a lot better. Problem with stand cut off switch but a litle grease should cure any problem.

Bought 7 months ago for £400, with 28,000 miles on the clock and another 5000 miles added. Used nearly everyday as a second bike/commuter, I've found the ER5 to be the ideal tool. Easy to ride and cheap (if more than a little ratty) the little Kawasaki is great at putting a huge grin on my face! There is a perverse pleasure to be had out of riding this bike to its limit, something that I cannot get anywhere near on my Kwack ZX6R. It's proved to be capable of everything I've thrown at it and nothing exspensive has gone wrong beyond normal wear and tear. Strengths: The ER5 is reliable, rugged and very easy to ride. Weaknesses: The engine is needs to be kept in the top half of the rev range for rapid progress (not really what's it about though...), the brakes take some effort and the gearshift is pretty agricultural.

I ride ER-5 everyday, mostly commuting in London. Bike is lite and filtering is easy, sometimes scooters have to stop in tight gaps and I would suprise myself going throu, wondering how much tighter gaps I can take, and most of the time it will pass ! I bought it new 0 miles from George White for 2500£ which was 900£ off the list price, its a plate 54. I have riden it whole winter and this shows the weekest point of the bike, corrosion , all fasteners and bolts on suspension are white already after 4 months, but I did expect that as I read a lot of rewievs before I choose it against CB500 and GS500. I never liked the look of above two, ER-5 looks much liter and fresher, almost modern;) And hey for the price I could buy 2002 CB500. Engine is nice and quite flexible and when You wind it up above 5000 RPM it will make You smile, if the buzz on the handlebars will not put You off. Be delicate with the paint (thin like mist) Budget suspension make You ride wide. Strengths: Price, economy, weight, bulletproof jurrasic engine. Weaknesses: Corrosion, paint, suspension.

Bought ER5 new for under £3000 on the road, to use as hack to work. Took bit getting used to after my CBR600 and at first hated it. It is rough, runs like a tank, looks bit like one too. Now having done 12,000 miles on it in about 9 months through all weathers, I am used to it, and it does serve its purpose well. Very cheap to run, good mpg, and easy to service. Howvere the finish is really bad, and this has put me off buying any other Kawasaki. The forks, swingarms, engine, tank etc are all corroding. I do look after it washing the salt n crap off, but that seems a waste of time. Strengths: Cheap to run, insure etc. Easy to ride, reliable. Weaknesses: Very poor quality.

I have an ER-5 for winter hacking; my 'best' bike is a Harley Dyna Glide. Compared to the Dyna, the ER is frankly awful - or it should be. I keep telling everyone how much I hate it, but really, it does everything that I ask of it. Compared to the Harley and no doubt most other 'fancy' bikes, this thing is basically free, and mine has been 100% reliable in the 2 years that I've owned it - despite being cleaned about three times and having the most basic maintenance schedule possible! It was left for 6 months without being touched, I dug it out from all of the rubbish piled on top of it, and it started 1st prod. Can't do better than that, can you. Strengths: Cheap, handles pretty good, and HOW many miles to the gallon?? Loads! Weaknesses: Substantial, plus the paint finish (especially the engine) is terrible.