Kawasaki Ninja 650R or HD Sportster 883

[OldBlock]

If I could I would but both. I would also own a car, truck, and a sports car but I can't afford all of them. So has anyone owned both, ridden both or have a strong feeling one way or the other. They are both about the same price, I like the way the HD looks, I just think that the Kawasaki is more bike for the money.

[Wrider]

If I could I would but both. I would also own a car, truck, and a sports car but I can't afford all of them. So has anyone owned both, ridden both or have a strong feeling one way or the other. They are both about the same price, I like the way the HD looks, I just think that the Kawasaki is more bike for the money.

Two VERY different bikes there... I have a friend that owns each.
First, Kawi is a parallel twin, Sportster is a V-twin. The Kawi is more sport-bike-like, the Sportster is more cruiser-like. Kawi will accelerate faster. It will also turn harder. What are you looking for? Sport touring? Then def the Kawi. If you're looking for cruising around, either will work. I did ride the Sportster once, and was surprised at it's cornering capability. It might have been me, but I couldn't get the thing to lean over! Even with countersteer and leaning my body, it still didn't lean as easily as my Volusia! Anyway, good luck with your decision!

[storysunfolding]

Wrider, it's just you. The sportster drops into curves for me... well as much as any cruiser drops into turns from a lawn chair position

They are two different riding styles. The best thing to do would be to sit on both of them and see what you like the best.

Then analyze what riding style seems like more fun to you.

The best way is to get a used standard bike to learn on- who cares if you drop a used bike right?- and see if you want it a bit sportier, or a bit cruise...ier

[Ninja Geoff]

I say the Ninja 650R myself. It's comfortable, and easy on the back (very neutral position if you sit foward on the seat), accelerated about as fast as a 636 until ~95 mph. Handles well dry or wet. Easily set up for sport touring OR race track, and can do both well. Depending on riding style, you're looking at 40-50 mpg with the 650R. It gets almost as loud as some Harley's when it's got a pipe on it. I've gotten an impressed nod from some dude with a harley when i revved it once (I've got a Jardine GP-1 exhaust, one of, if not the loudest pipes available for the bike). The brakes are okay, though once the stock pads are worn out, a lot of people seem to be upgrading to vesrah pads and stainless brake lines and saying they make a huge difference (this will be my next upgrade probably). Oh yeah, it'll stand up and point at the sky in a first gear power wheelie with my ~250 lb self on it, so it's got some serious grunt down low. There's no bogging this bike down in first or second gear. And it's hard in third (below 3k rpm).

[Big B]

personally i'd go with the sportster, but you can't really go wrong with either bike, it all boils down to which one fits you better, that'll be the better bike for you

[Nalian]

You need to figure out your riding style.

I have a sportster that I think I'll be getting rid of in the next week or so - I'm currently fighting with myself over an 06 599 at one dealer, and an 07 650r at another.

My sportster is a great bike and it's been pretty good to me. Its not the right riding style for me though. I should have known (my dad is a sport/sport tourer fanatic) that it'd be in the blood, but hey.

On that note..if you do want the sporty I happen to know one that's been babied and never laid down.

[Sev]

Between the sportster and the ninja I'd take the ninja.

[flw]

Ninja is the clear pick if you can ride a sport bike, as HD is soooooo over priced for what you get. HD is a fine bike over all but not for what they ask for them. My 2 cents only.

For alot less money, you can get some excellant crusiers from other mfg's.

[Nalian]

Ninja is the clear pick if you can ride a sport bike, as HD is soooooo over priced for what you get. HD is a fine bike over all but not for what they ask for them. My 2 cents only.

For alot less money, you can get some excellant crusiers from other mfg's.

I disagree - it really depends on where you buy it. I got my 883 for cheaper than the new Honda 750 and Kawasaki Vulcan 900 at 2 competing metric dealerships.

[storysunfolding]

Yeah, the sporty is very reasonably priced compared to other harleys