Kawasaki ER5

My friend runs a motorcycle school and we often road test bikes. At present the ER makes up 70% of the school bikes. My experience of the ER is somewhat mixed.

As a first bike it can be a really good bike. It depends on your weight. If you are small or under 11 stone, the bike tends to handle erratically. It dives over into corners and is quite easy to drop (Exhausts always hitting the deck).

This is good for a new rider because it means less work, but for an advanced rider it can be disconcerting when you gently draw it down and it shoots to the floor.
It also seems to have problems with traction. If you hit a corner with and adverse camber, you have to force the rear down to ensure bite.

These problems do seem to be weight-related. If you are heavier(or got a pillion) the ER handles like a dream.

Acceleration is pretty good and it keeps on giving at the top of the gearbox (I have had more than the spec top speed out of it). The lower gears seems a bit gutless and acceleration is 'tepid'.

The problems come when you try and push it. Normally if you push a bike too hard, it justs 'wimps out' on you. My experience of the ER is that if you really push it, you will quickly find the handling becomes unstable.

All in all, the ER is a brilliant first bike. If you have just passed ,this bike will keep you interested for a year, maybe 2. It handles consistently under normal use and is good on fuel. I would recommend this bike for novices but advise them to move something else before they get used to having their head 6 inches from the tarmac, because it will give you some scary moments.