Is it true that the two makes are made in the same factory, and are for all intent and purpose the same comapny? 
If that is the case, why are Suzuki better built bike.
well, thats what I was saying to guy at work - how crap my ER5 is and I we then went on about them being built in same factory etc , dunno if I’m dumb or hes bull****ting - prob the former knowing me!
There was a period of about 1.5yrs where Suzuki & Kawasaki did produce some bikes that were exactly the same just different manufacturers logos on them. This was almost exclusively motorcross/off road/ trials etc bikes.
This relationship no longer exists, ceased about approx 6-9months ago.
The 2 co.'s are very much seperate these days, well as much as they ever were.
The ER5 is similar to GS500 in it’s crapness, maybe there is a link between the 2???!??!
haha very true, first Kwak I owned - and def the last, would NEVER buy another, had sooo much go wrong with it, nothing major but things like choke cable, throttle cable clutch cable (twice), bulbs in rev counter - lost count - must be up to 10/12, brake problems u name it that bike has had it go wrong lol and the rust is everywhere (swingarm, engine, tank, mirrors, handlebars etc etc etc) - lol well lets not go there!
Rant over
It pays to spend money, if you want a bike that retains its new bike feeling- most bikes can’t survive a british winter unless given plenty of TLC.
ER5’s a budget bike and therefore a budget finish - CB500 would have survived better I believe
I personally love Kwaks, and do look after mine, so I’ve had no bother, well not much.
Good luck on hunting for a replacement machine
Haha, British winter… 
No, it’s not true, but it’s not that simple either… They collaborate on various engineering aspects, which means there can be similarities between components, and sometimes whole bikes. I.E Suzuki’s DRZ is very similar to a comparative Kawasaki. Most of the time it just means small metal bits are the same between the bikes, but how these parts get used is of course a whole different matter, hence build quality.
I agree, I knew what I was buying at the time, only wanted it for work and figured out if it lasted 3 years I’d have got me moneys worth - anything over and it would be a bonus. I knew I wasn’t buying a cb500 - they were £1000 more, but I just cannot believe how bad it is - really has to be seen to be believed. I have owned loads bikes over the last 25 years and this is by FAR the worst I have ever owned. ( and my first [and last] Kawasaki)
I do look after my bike - my cbr has done 57,000 miles, and no rust anywhere - used it for 3 years thru all weathers - snow, ice rain, everyday of the year, and have looked after them the same. No rust at all anywhere on cbr, had very little go wrong with it - only usual stuff you’d expect. But the er5 - whats with the bulbs? every bout 4 weeks I renew all the bulbs in the rev counter, no idea why they keep going, even had a new rev counter and its same thing!
Cant see ANY Honda being this badly built, so why do Kawasaki build such a poor bike? It is a shame as it does all I want for commuting.
Kawasaki wanted Suzuki to join with them at one point to become one mega company…Suzuki declined.
I don’t agree that Kawasaki’s aren’t built as well certainly not the latest bikes…Saying that I’ve never owned one but there’s no reason why I wouldn’t.
A budget bike is a budget bike so don’t expect highest quality components…The Suzuki SV650 for example rusts badly in certain areas…A comparative Honda or Yamaha would be similar as they’re built to a budget so the low cost parts bin is raided to build the machine.
well I honestly dont think even the cheap honda’s are as bad as this! never known it before on any bike