Motorcycle Safety & Driveability: which one???, better motorcycle, honda vlx

Question
Greetings Pat I want to move up from my Honda VlX 600cc to eather the Kawasaki 07 900 Classic Or the 08 1100 V-star Classic. The 1100 has carbs & shaft drive the Kaw 900 is FI & belt drive. The cost dif is 1500. What do you think? John Pugh

Answer
What a great problem you have to solve!

I have heard great things about the V-Stars, and I'm partial to Yamaha's fit and finish, as well as performance and reliability.

However, I'd prefer from a very basic perspective the FI and belt drive--less maintenance and monkeying, so from that angle I'd go with the Kawi.

My sense is the Yamaha is the better motorcycle, and you'd have absolutely no regrets. I could see someone having the buyer's remorse with the Kawi. I like Kawi's styling, but have never been too impressed with their fit/finish. Sometimes they seem kind of slapped together.

Good luck and happy shopping!

Pat