My 1988 Kawsaki EX500 Vs my 2014 Honda CBR500R:

[EX500rider]

You'd think there would be a lot of improvement in 26 years....only difference I can see is fuel injection Vs Carbs and updated styling, otherwise the Kawi had more HP at 49.9hp/64mpg/11,000rpm redline/408lbs/top speed 118mph Vs Honda @ 46.9hp/69mpg/8,500rpm redline/428lbs/top speed 110mph....so heavier, slower, less HP, less rpm redline.....and the Kawi is faster 1/4 mile @12.6" Vs 13.6" for the Honda.

How did we go backwards in almost 30 years?

Plus the Kawi neutral finder is much better, I always found neutral coming up from 1st with it, with the Honda it usually goes into 2nd and I have to tap it gently back down to neutral which is annoying....and I have almost 6,000 miles on the Honda now so it's not lack of practice.
The Honda build quality is nice I will say but surprised it only came with a 12 month warranty.

[CentralMass]

1. Gee, that Honda sounds terrible. You can give to me and cure your angst .

[EX500rider]

2. I would but I sold the Ex500.. : ( After owning it for 30 years too!

Paid $2,995 for it, $6,500 for the Honda, both new from the dealer.

[CentralMass]

3. On a serious note that drop in performance is a bit odd but it looks like you are getting better

fuel mileage. You could try a oerformence chip.
https://www.magnumtuning.com/en/detail/evo-tech-motorcycle-performance-chip/honda/cbr500r

[EX500rider]

4. I did go with a aftermarket exhaust, Yoshimura carbonfiber...

Hopefully added a few ponies and definitely loses a few pounds + much prettier.
Also gave it a much nicer Ducati like twin sound, sounded like a sewing machine stock.

[CentralMass]

6. Nice.

[EX500rider]

5. My EX was far from stock by the end...

GSXR750 43mm front end & 17" rims-heads up display-ZX6 alum swing arm-Fox shock-chromemoly rear subsection-Ducati tail-re-enforced frame-rear sets-SS brake lines-pod air filters-Muzzy/Yoshi 2into1 exhaust-

[flotsam]

7. Well as an old timer

street talk always was advantage Kawasaki in engine performance. The difference in them prehistoric days was the frame and handling and those were Honda's Bailiwick. If you had ever really laid into an old Kaw 2 stroke 3 cylinder and felt that momentary disturbance in the force...well that's what happens as geometries change and raw horsepower flexes the entire freaking frame under your ass. Lotta fun but not a feeling you want when you're carving some S's with bad intent.

So it was a fair fight-max speed and power Vs a bike you could ride to it's max in relative safety.

Well anyhow that's how the tale was told to me. Maybe your honda has some virtues you just haven't recognized yet...

[EX500rider]

9. Yeah seen that in action when I used to roadrace..

...750 Kawi triple 2-stroke would scream past me on the straight then I'd pass him in the corner, thing looked twitchy, that's for sure.

[Straw Man]

10. The Kawasaki triples were straight-line bikes ...

... pure and simple. I had a friend in high school who fucked himself up pretty good riding one on a twisty campus access road. It twitched out and ran him into a curb. He still limps.