these niggas here are piss broke and pre-pubescent. they def got no bikes. They'll just make jokes abotu their BMX's and shit liek that. However..

I had a few bikes in my lifetime but I miss my ZX-12 and the 500-R the most. I used to have a 500-R like the one you're considering (they haven't changed at all in th last decade or so). They're fun as hell. Make sure you take off both the cans cuz it'll gain some serious top end and puke fire on a frequent basis. Sounds absolutely great too. The only thing I didn't liek about em is exactly whta makes them what they are. they're light and skinny. they're agile and their short wheelbase makes em handle pretty friggin great and it's great on gas, but in heavy crosswinds it (and every other bike in it's class) will feel liek you're sittin on a piece of plywood wiating to get blown into the next lane. You sit ON it not IN it like a sport bike which I also didn't liek about it. Makes the center of gravity feel high as hell on it. It'll run forever though and it's a great lerners bike. But be careful...it can still kill you. Believe me.

If you're looking for a great beginner sportbike, I highly reccomend the Katana. Takes a beating like none other and comfy as hell. Looks sport enough to impress anyone who dosen't know and reliable. the 500-R would be more of like a "street dirtbike" vs the katana which is a straught up street sport bike.

Just my 2¢.

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