BRAND NEW 1989 Kawasaki EX500

[@yamaharaptor01able]

My very,very,very first streetbike. GOD I loved that thing,rode the wheels off of it. I had a motorcycle before I had a car at 16. Sure was fun here in New England lol. Mine was a red 88. Used to go to G&G cycles in Salisbury Ma for parts and drool over the zx-7's and 11's. Those were the fricken days!!

[@mountaineer1706]

Yah, my first bike too. Mine was white. Had a Kerker exhaust. Lived in Peabody. Yes. Wanted a zx-7 and the cbr900rr

[@StephenHyde-m3z]

FYI, I had one in 91. I lived in Wiesbaden Germany. The 118 MPH top speed is a gross understatement. I routinely got over 130 with witnesses. No mods.

[@scottc4433]

Yours was special mine was 120 on the dot

[@StephenHyde-m3z]

@@scottc4433 The only thing I can think of is that I was a runt, 135 lbs, @ 5-7 (really tight tuck) and I really took my time in break in. It wasn't the Euro version, either, I wanted one of those. They had duel front disks.

[@scottc4433]

@@StephenHyde-m3z correction mine was 200kph consistently . So 124 mph .

[@scottc4433]

And I was probably 160 pounds back then

[@1234597114]

No 130. I had an 87 600 Ninja I bought new and a friend had one of these, both stock. My bike would leave him for dead and would top out at an indicated 130 or so. And motorcycle speedos are optimistic.

[@akersquarteracre8002]

The ol' EX was made fun of back in the day by some experienced riders. I spent some time on one and honestly enjoyed it for what it was meant to be. It was a fun bike IMO. Definitely one of the precursors to the modern parallel twins.

[@deepbludude4697]

I used to hang with a gal in Cocoa Beach named Toye that rode that same color EX500, we would go up to the enchanted forest around Titusville airport and ride the twisties, Thanks for the memories!

[@akersquarteracre8002]

Nice road. Still being used BTW lol

[@deepbludude4697]

@@akersquarteracre8002 Yea man that was fun! Good to know. I left Brevard and moved to the rural Ozarks now I blast around miles and miles of gravel road on my 83 Honda XR600 , I just picked up A CRF300l for dirt cheap super fun.

[@akersquarteracre8002]

@@deepbludude4697 Cool. Airport road is currently used by McLarens, Lambos, Ducatis, R1s, clapped out 350Z's, new C8 'Vettes, coal rollers, LS swapped Beamers, wanna' be racer's, you name it. Not much has changed. It is Florida after all lol

[@kirkmooneyham]

That is absolutely incredible. Really the beginning of the legendary Ninja 500.

[@tosainu1]

My 94 was my 1st bike. 50 miles per gallon. Faster than a Corvette and great to learn on.

[@Astrothunderkat]

Getting 55-70 on my 24" z500. Fun bike, don't need more bike where I live

[@sissygoog9456]

Sir, I've been watching your channel for a long time unheard of the most intense Kawasaki with only 9 mi it is the only one. Absolutely amazing! Amazing! Number one best work Kaplan team

[@Christ-is-King-]

I used to like seeing these come through the shop in the late 90’s. I worked at a Kawasaki and Suzuki dealer. They had several customers that commuted on these! Thanks

[@JollUsARoint]

My Gosh 9 miles On It,,it sure is Brand New, & Its A Beautiful Bike,, & Its Perfect 4"A Beginner,, and no matter what bike is at the Museum when it leaves it will be top shelf that's one thing I can say about Ken Kaplan America and Junior their name means everything to them everybody that rides bikes needs to get their bikes right here let's turn it into a thing💯👏🏼👏🏼🇺🇲😎👌🏼🗯💥🤝🏼

[@johnranallo424]

The early Ninja 500s and the 250s were excellent bikes. Especially the real early 500s with the better looking front fairing. That '89 is a real gem! I commuted in South Florida on a '01 250 for about 10 years. My commute was 75 miles a day on I-95 to The Palmetto then down Red Road and back, a literal battleground. I loved every minute of it and it never let me down. Thanks Kap for what you're doing. Our passion is better off because of you.

[@uhtred7860]

Yeah they updated them in 94, and redesigned the fairing. I like the early ones, like this one.

[@highwayman1218]

👍 I bought one new in 91. It was the burgundy and white. Huge disappointment for me I blew $$ getting a full Targa fairing, Vance & Hines full exhaust and jetting it trying to make it something else. I traded it in 6 months later for a ZX-6 and a huge upgrade. I loved that ZX-6 for 2 years and then got a ZX-7.

[@VonT68]

Just sold mine few weeks ago,great bikes. Got a XT 350 1989 now👍

[@sissygoog9456]

Well Ken, you always blow my mind with these retro Kawasaki ex500, my good friend had one very good beginner bike, especially if you're getting into the super bikes. I feel bad for people that don't understand the feeling you get on these machines. Absolutely beautiful time capsule sir. The black and the red fits it perfect. Great info sir. Kaplan is the best in the business. Absolutely! Insanity motorcycle museum Ronnie number one you blow my mind when you say 9 mi. No oil in it. Absolutely unheard of you did it to me again sir. You fried my brain😮😮

[@andy5786]

Kawasaki EX500 so beautiful for 1989 motorcycle kaplan American cycles awesome videos guys love them all keep up for great work 👍🇬🇧

[@Shagnasty-bo5bj]

When I could still ride motorcycles I always wanted one of those in my stable along with the other bikes that were in the garage. Oh well I snoozed I loosed!!😁If I owned it it would not be new for long!!

[@sonnyseabury4051]

Nice little beginner's sportsbike. Love the black on red colors. Would be fun to putt around town on, running errands.

[@kevinsivertson5800]

That’s an absolutely beautiful bike! Thanks for sharing .love to own one of those! You can only see these type of videos on the worlds greatest motorcycle channel!!!!!

[@mainebigfoothunter7088]

That looks like a great older rider's machine. I'm 66 and it looks appealing

[@Crosshatch1212]

I had my last ride today onmmy 91 honda super4 400 ,mint .got the bandit 600 out ,why woukd i want a new bike when the carb bikes are the best and look good too ,

[@bio-plasmictoad5311]

Beautiful

[@karlfonner7589]

Schoolmate had one In the early 80s with an aftermarket exhaust, they were definitely a cool sounding bike. Put that back in the box. It definitely needs to stay as garage jewelry. Have you seen any Honda hurricanes lately?

[@straightchad8059]

What size Hurricane we're talking here ? In the mid nineties I saw a Honda Hurricane 110 in south east Asia ...... a real puny & goofy looking bike .

[@JollUsARoint]

Hey Ken you need to make some shirts of the panty snatcher man I love your setup it's the best in the world nobody can argue that you are one badass dude bro, A True American💯💚😎👊🏻🗯💥🤝🏼

[@will5150]

looks like the bike from top gun.

[@Spring-Hope-Studios]

I want this bike.

[@KaplanCycles]

It's for sale on eBay right now for under five grand go buy it

[@cardiffchris]

1987 I remember these being $2999 when the 600 Ninja was $3899

[@sevendyseven4090]

Ah, the Bike from 'True Lies' >> 'True Lies Kawasaki Ninja 500 vs Horse Motorcycle Chase'

[@paulscountry456]

Great mpg,they sold those big time for decades.

[@DaleJ-d4k]

GPX would be ideal for me! 🤘🏻💚

[@ericengstrand1136]

Would like to see your personal bike collection, bet it’s awesome!

[@KaplanCycles]

I own about 300 bikes right now, only 6 are daily riders, the rest are constantly revolving and upgraded.

[@scottc4433]

My first bike was an 87 got pulled over with no license when I was 14 . Rode the shit outta that thing . 14 seconds flat in the 1/4 if anyone cares lol

[@okatexoffroad1813]

My dad had one. They had me in 1989. He sold it in 1991

[@kingkong81icloud]

They are called GPZ in England for some reason?

[@uhtred7860]

Most of the rest of the world got them as the GPZ500S, The U.S market has its own weird naming system for bikes.😆

[@joelaichner3025]

What’s the unique bike to buy today , and leave in the crate for 40 years ?

[@Astrothunderkat]

zx4rr

[@6AlphaMikeCharlie9]

Is the a GPZ 500 version?

[@uhtred7860]

Yeah, Its what the U.S called the GPZ500S.

[@joelaichner3025]

64 mpg , getting close to Moped Mileage ,

[@Astrothunderkat]

i'm getting 55-70 with my z500

[@Punk_Unkle_Guitars]

BRO!!!

[@bobg1219]

Unbelievable!

[@michaelrichards3]

09 with 2,300k for 2900$ but i can say mine is not that nice its gorgeous

[@skozskoz9752]

In Europe it was named GPZ 500. I have passed my driving licence on this bike. Back in these days it was a big bike for me. Today a 500cc is not even a mid-size bike. I remember it was quite stable at « high » speed. I wish I could ride one as a daily today but you will not find any in such condition today (in France)

[@uhtred7860]

It was called the GPZ500 in Australia, New Zealand & South Africa as well.