[BoarderBry]

just to cut in here about ins.... I was quoted roughly $430/yr for a Ninja 650R and $408/yr for my '04 Kat-600 thru State Farm. Course I have no points and no accidents/claims in the 14 yrs. I've been on the road.

[Enjay386]

650. It's not a question.

[Badfaerie]

There was a pretty fz6r at the local dealership that I wanted to fall in love with. It even matched my laptop, it was really really pretty. Then I sat on it and it felt like a heavy lumpy mess. The 650r fits me like a glove.

[scottynoface]

That's pretty much the same thing all the tests on the FZ6R say about it too.

Yeah but its a yamaha...blech...

650R will have more stomp, FZ6 is an I4 standard.

[Psycho1]

That's pretty much the same thing all the tests on the FZ6R say about it too.

[scottynoface]

She will like the 650 better, I can promise you that. It will be much easier to ride, and less RPM-picky. Its got go in every gear at every range of revs.

[Kreylyn]

My wife picked the 650R for several reasons...

More up right, comfortable seating position, good balance and feel to it, doesn't feel to "big", and the overall seating/bar position for her was much more comfortable.

Krey

[sharpie6]

650r sounds like a dirtbike.

FZ6R please!

[600Kat4EB]

i like the kawi myself. nothing other than its a kawi and i personally dont like yammies. IMO....either way a new bike would be sweet!!

[seriss_cweald]

we dont mod things very much, my kat only has a few mods. I dont like the idea of spending more cash on a bike and then wreck it to have to replace that again.

Mostly paint and maybe a few small performance parts, nothing crazy (maybe).

She wants to ride a bike equal to mine, for confidence reasons (woman thing).

i just dont see alot more bikes in that range or performance or cost that would fit what we want. She has sat om my Kat and its too big for her (bike size) she doesnt like it.

and insurance reasons, i think these bikes are pretty decent in cost.

[scottynoface]

While both are comparable, the Ninja has a more usable powerband due to the parallel twin.

My thoughts exactly. I think she would benefit more from the twin for street riding. The 650R suspension is pretty decent from the factory, and a LOT of stuff from other Ninjas swaps over (front master, calipers, clip ons, and in some cases even bodywork) with minimal to average effort if she wants to deck it out.

[CenCalKat]

While both are comparable, the Ninja has a more usable powerband due to the parallel twin. But, the seat is a bit higher than the FZ6R. Both will have similar performance, but not even close to that of your 750.

Asthetically, I think the new ninja looks nicer than the yammie, not to mention, it is already in it's 2nd generation and had a ton of improvements made to it over the 1st gens.

If it was my choice and these were my options, I'd go with the Ninja.

[Psycho1]

One thing to think about is the post 750 Kat has better suspension than either the Ninja 650 or the FZ6R do, and more power. Haven't ridden with a FZ6R yet, but do know the Ninja 650 (stock) isn't as fast top speed, or as quick as a modded pre Kat 600. Another thing to consider is, you mentioned this bike being for your wife. Does she really need cutting edge power and handling? Realistically chances are very few people would tap into the last 10% of either of these bikes capabilities very often on the street.

[scottynoface]

i like them both, but i dont want to down grade from my Kat750.

Then dont buy the FZ6. The 650R twin provides substantially more torque across the rev range. The FZ6 just drives like another 600cc I4.

[seriss_cweald]

Ninja 650. Hands down.

but why?

i like them both, but i dont want to down grade from my Kat750. i want about the same performance and power but with some modern upgrades. also i want to the wife to be comfertable and she likes both bikes. she is leaning towards the FZ6R due to the paint schem, but again, almost the same bike i think.