Kawasaki GPZ500s (EX500)

My first ever brand-new bike, this was going to be my concession to practicality. I'd read lots about this bike being suitable for people who had just passed their test, and I could certainly get a toe down on it. I needed a bike for commuting, because the VFR400 gets rather warm in traffic. The GPZ seemed like a good buy.

However, I wasn't prepared for the great all-round capabilities of this bike. It may be an old design, and looked on as a beginner's bike. But it has many other virtues. A super-revvy twin engine with a powerband over 7k revs that makes it feel like a two-stroke. Super-light steering and very well-mannered handling. And a comfortable riding position and seat making it much more practical for long journeys with luggage. I took this bike on a track day and it wasn't out-performed by other larger bikes. It is good for cruising all day at 85-90mph, and has noticeably more mid-range than the VFR400. At present, I don't feel I could manage a larger bike - it would simply be too heavy to manage at low speeds in town, and while parking. The GPZ is an ace little sports bike. 

Good points:  

• light, low seat
• low centre of gravity 
• high pegs and zorts considering low seat - only just managed to ground my hero blobs once on this bike, despite being on the edge of the tyres (on the track....no I'm not a hooligan!)
• great at low speeds in town
• good suspension and comfy seat
• great revvy twin engine, takes off like a two stroke at 7k revs! 
• very light steering, holds its own on the track 

Bad points: 

• doesn't have full fairing as standard - I had to fit this separately
• variable tickover sometimes a problem
• doesn't really like the damp, but can usually be coaxed into action.
• reserve tap a bit fiddly