Kawasaki ER-5 2005, editor's bike. Walk around and ride

(Dutch below) Kawasaki ER-5 2005, bike of the editor.
498cc twin cylinder engine. Nice bike to learn on and even good enough
for commuting. No flashy bike, very basic but bulletproof.
Read the review at www.startersmot...
(translator is on top of the page)
=============================
Onze Kawasaki ER-5 komt ook een keer aan bod. De redactionele motorfiets
van Startersmotor.nl. 498cc twee-cilinder, prima motor om mee te starten en
voor de gevorderden ook prima voor woon-werkverkeer. Geen uitblinker, lekker basic
en bijna niet kapot te krijgen.
Lees onze ervaring op: www.startersmot...
Music:
"Blue Circles" by unreal_dm (feat. CSoul)
ccmixter.org/fi...
is licensed under a Creative Commons license:
creativecommons...
Visit my website at www.startersmot...
Lots of bike reviews up to 35kW (A2 license) online. Use the Google Translate on top of the page.
Gear:
Camera - Drift Ghost-S, buy it at eBay via goo.gl/SgKTLG
Camera 2 - Drift Ghost 4K, buy it at eBay via goo.gl/v8pT3k
Camera 3 - HawkEye Firefly 8S (4K, 170 FOV), buy it at Gearbest: goo.gl/nYEQMm (China warehouse) or
at goo.gl/fwXxuJ (European warehouse, saves you extra import taxes if you live in Europe)
Editing software - Magix Video Deluxe, buy it at Magix via goo.gl/VbKVHG

[@raven-jz6cv]

one of the best and most practical commuter bikes ever made.

[@MotoSnax]

Yup, except the brakes weren't as good as they are these days.

[@bobgibb2781]

I've got one just like it in my living room at the moment . Same colour , everything . Amazing bikes that can do anything .

[@MotoSnax]

I liked it but I got rid of it because of the bad brakes compared to new bikes. I was riding too many new bikes so this felt weak. But it is a great bike nonetheless.

[@twowheelfrenzy]

I used to have one of these with an aftermarket DOMO Exhaust. I feel like crying listening to that engine because of Nostalgia.It was a troubled beast though so I had to swap it out for a GPZ 500S.

[@MotoSnax]

+terry Gallier Too bad it had problems! But the GPZ has a little more horse power, so maybe a little bit more fun. :)

[@larsjansen847]

Leuke motorfiets. Het hoeft niet allemaal zo hard te gaan om plezier te hebben.

[@MotoSnax]

Thanks, john doe, I'm trying to keep it that way. ;)

[@Chr0nalis]

I like the engine and smooth gearbox on this bike when I had one.

[@MotoSnax]

Only downside were the brakes. They were not that good.

[@ComandanteJ]

That sucker is clean!

[@MotoSnax]

A little TLC helps every now and then. ;)

[@markjones336]

Picking one up for my m8 2mo!😁👍

[@RRRRefuelRideRace]

A good-looking bike. :)

[@MotoSnax]

Yep... but I sold it. :) Was looking for something with better brakes. Riding the latest bikes showed me how bad those brakes were. I think I traded it for the 660cc MT-03 if I'm correct.

[@RRRRefuelRideRace]

@@MotoSnax I believe you mate. Brakes are just bad on that one. 😉🤪

[@GUSTAVOSBTKOFC]

Nice Bike !

[@MotoSnax]

Thanks!

[@maisieprice6954]

It looks. Looks handsome. aberrant well-to-do !!

[@a-gyimotfalvi-betyarok]

very nice I like the colour the bike and everything

[@MotoSnax]

Thanks :) It has been some time now since I sold it.

[@andrewgray6283]

Cant wait to finish mine and get it back on the road but decided to make it diffrent going to respray mine black and gold possiblie with a silver fleck through not sure yet its red at min just doesnt seem the right colour for a kawasaki i would do it green but black sounds better ill post pick as i get further on with it

[@barnbersonol]

If you're used to big, fast bikes you'll be amazed how punchy an ER5 is. And very, very cheap to run. What a shame they stopped making them!

[@MotoSnax]

They stopped making them because of environment laws. It was Euro 2 I think, bikes need to be Euro 4 by now in Europe. The brakes on the ER-5 sucked big time. The engine was perfect.

[@robertoc2485]

My recently made a mess of petrol on the garage floor! Carb problem apparently. Missus went mad.

[@MotoSnax]

It is just marking its territory. :) But yeah.. probably carb problem.

[@robertoc2485]

@@MotoSnax ha ha yes true!

[@CboyNL]

Leuk. Ik heb dezelfde motor. Merk bij hogere snelheden dat het wel wat vervelender wordt met de tegenwind. Neemt het windschermpje dit goed weg? Welk type schermpje heb jij gekocht en wat is het systeem achterop voor de koffer? Lijkt mij namelijk ook wel handig om mijn helm in de bewaren e.d.

[@MotoSnax]

Het ruitje is van Puig, Universal Mini Sports Touring. Werkt wel redelijk tot 140km/u. Wil je echtuit de wind zitten, denk dan aan bijv. een Givi A602. Verschrikkelijk lelijk, maar zelfs bij 160km/u helemaal geen last van de wind. Topkofferrek is van Givi. Was in gebruik met een 46 liter koffer, daar konden 2 helmen in (2 integraalhelmen). De ER-5 heb ik een half jaar terug verkocht, heb nu een Yamaha MT-03.

[@craigirving4996]

For 39000 miles it looks really clean! How do you keep it like that?

[@MotoSnax]

Craig Irving it is in kilometers. I just take good care of it and don't ride in winters when there is salt on the roads.

[@craigirving4996]

Still very impressive! Do you use ACF50 or similar?

[@MotoSnax]

Craig Irving wd40 (not on stickers) and Dasty (normally to clean your kitchen from greasy stuff). Sometimes just water. But I don't have this ER-5 anymore, now owning the latest ER-6N. Has better brakes. :)

[@mrboleus8240]

I am buying soon bike... Which should I choose for my first bike ever (no experience, few hrs in moto school, I've got bike driving licence), so: 1. Kawa ER 5 2. Suzuki Bandit 400 or 3 Suzuki Bandit 600 Thanx for help in advance!!

[@MotoSnax]

All bikes are good beginners, but the Bandit 600 can be too fast if you open the throttle all the way. The ER-5 has two cylinders ,the Bandit 400 has got four. Less cylinders have more torque at lower revs, it is just what you like. I like twins more than fours, because when you start having fun on a four cylinder, you are way over the speed limit. Not sure if many Bandit 400 parts can be found these days, there should be no problem for the ER-5 and Bandit 600. Just try a twin cylinder and a four cylinder, just to see which suits you better. I can tell you what I like more, but you should definitely try more than one motorcycle if you want to buy one.

[@mrboleus8240]

Amersfoort81​ That's really really helpful mate.... I will try to try both of those...

[@jimmythestoic7447]

Damn i can't find a radiator grille anywhere do you happen to know where i can fins one

[@MotoSnax]

Sorry, I don't know. Perhaps try Ebay?

[@paulwushu]

any issues with the clutch? some say when changing gears, it barely gives you the feel you actioned something there....

[@MotoSnax]

Never had any issues with the clutch. But I sold it with around 40.000 kms on it.

[@algesbrek5695]

sounds great .....not to loud

[@MotoSnax]

+Al GESBREK Yup, not too loud. But it shouldn't be any louder either.

[@TheRockyBalboa100]

Hey, is de kawasaki er5 een goede beginnersmotor? Ik heb er een gevonden bouwjaar 2000. Is dit een optie?

[@MotoSnax]

Is een prima beginnersmotor! Alleen de remmen vond ik slecht, vergeleken met alles wat je nu nieuw/bijna nieuw koopt. Maar dat is ook niet zo vreemd, natuurlijk.

[@TheRockyBalboa100]

Amersfoort81 Hmm, is het dan vanwege de slechte remmen niet gevaarlijk om als beginner met min of meer 0.0 procent ervaring erop te rijden? Of zijn de remmen na verloop van tijd wendbaar? Dank voor snelle reactie!

[@MotoSnax]

De remmen wennen, ze remmen best wel, maar vergeleken met nieuwe remmen ga je ze eng vinden. Ik heb er drie jaar mee gereden, nooit een gevaarlijke situatie meegemaakt waarbij ik remmen te kort kwam.

[@TheRockyBalboa100]

Amersfoort81 Bedankt voor je reacties! Ik heb er veel aan gehad. Ik zat te twijfelen tussen suzuki gs500 en kawasaki er5 als beginmotor. Ik denk dat het de kawasaki wordt.

[@sanderbenga600]

What is the windshield you have?

[@MotoSnax]

Oh I sold it 10 years ago. I don't recall, I think it was one from Puig.

[@andrewgray6283]

The er5 a2 twister in minddle of rebuilding one at moment but finding it hard to find sertan parts my main one at the moment is clocks ive bought two diffrent ones niether have been any good didnt think i new the first one wouldnt fit as were off a gpz but thought a bit alteration be sorted but miles out bought a brand new setto small to go over ignition and again the fittings were miles out can anyone tell me please were i can getparts for the 98/99 ER5 TWISTPLEASE I WANT TO GETMY BIKE FINISHED BEFORE THE WEATHER GOES AGAIN LOL THANK YOU IN ADVANCE ANDY

[@MotoSnax]

I'd say try eBay or maybe this Dutch company has some parts www.boonstraparts.com/ Not sure if they ship worldwide, but who knows. Next to that we have the metric system, so don't think you will find any mph-clocks.

[@aza117q]

Great vid! Could you send me, which plexi is this on your bike? :)

[@MotoSnax]

Thanks. It has been some years ago, it was a Puig screen. I think something like 'Mini Sports Screen smoked'. Didn't cost much, though I don't remember how much. Maybe 30 euro's.

[@aza117q]

Amersfoort81 Okay, thank you so much. And does it work? Is this real good? :)

[@MotoSnax]

It is OK, keeps a bit wind off your body. But above 150-160km/h it is not that comfortable anymore.