Cant decide between Kawasaki Vulcan 900 Classic or a Yamaha VSTAR 650 Custom..please help?

Question

Ive narrowed it down to two bikes a 2008 Kawasaki vulcan 900 classic in dark red, or a 2008 Yamaha vstar 650 custom in black. Both are great bikes, not too big for me to learn on as for being my first bike. here are just some of the major differences of the bike.. the url links for the bike pages are listed below.

the kawasaki is a 900, the yamaha is a 650

the yamaha is shaft dirven, the kawasaki is belt

the kawasaki has a 5.3 gallon tank, the yamaha has a 4.2

the yamaha weighs 515lbs, the kawasaki weighs around 550lbs

any help in decision from seasoned bikers is greatly appreciated or if you have one of the bikes. im inly 20 so i plan on keeping this bike as ling as i can also.

http://www.kawasaki.com/Products/detail.aspx?id=273&content=specifications

http://www.starmotorcycles.com/star/products/modelspecs/22/0/specs.aspx

Answer 1

stay far away from the V star in the past year and a half I have had about 50 of them in my shop because at around 45,000 miles they throw a rod.Yamaha cut a lot of corners with this bike.

Answer 2

I think you should go with the kawasaki 900.  It's a bike you will stay with and not want to trade up like you will so quickly with the yamaha 650.  I think the 900's are great bikes.

Answer 3

If your looking for a bike to 'learn on', you need to take an MSF or Riders Edge beginners course. Also its a good idea to have an experienced mentor, someone who can guide you thru the early days and weeks of riding.

As far as a first bike, you should take into account your physical size and abilities. If your 5' 4" or less, then the v-star is a better choice. If you are a larger size person, then the Kawasaki might be a better fit. You should sit on both bikes at the dealerships, and see which one feels right.

Then decide based on fit, looks, and technical specs, and also, dealership support (and warranty) in your area.

Being a new rider you will undoubtedly have questions. A good dealership can make or break your satisfaction with the bike.

Also, check with your insurance agent, since insuring a larger bike for a 20 year old new rider will cost more.

Having said all this, it looks to me like the 900 is a better deal, and you probably wont 'outgrow' it as soon.

Answer 4

Ones air-cooled - V-Star

The other water-cooled - Vulcan

That's a big difference

What's also a big difference is that these bikes don't even compare

The Vulcan is a lot more bike and compares with bikes up to 1100 in size and many owners are satisfied owning them without feeling the need to up-size to a bigger model. That speaks volumes. People with the V-Star are constantly wanting to up-size and the proof is looking around and discovering how many V-Stars are for sale.

You are not comparing bikes with much similarity at all in my opinion

Answer 5

Get neither. Go get a Suzuki Boulevard. A way hotter bike. Here in NY it's the hottest thing going for guys who neither can afford or want a Harley. That bike is hot!

Answer 6

been there, done that

bought the yamaha 650 3 weeks ago, hated it, sold it.  it was a replacement for a harley 1200.  thought long and hard about the vulcan 900, and realized a sportster 883 custom is still a better bike... same weight, same power, 4.5 gal tank, much more fun, many more add ons, holds its value way better, and isn't out of japan.  (then bought another 1200 anyways which is alot more bike yet)

if harley ain't your thing i would definitely go for the kawi 900

Answer 7

the V stars are great bikes they could be coustomised a lot there is a great web site for the bike with a lot of links and performance info and pics of people that have customised their bike ! I have the 1100 and love it

www.650ccnd.com