The general consensus seems to be that the 500R is the better path, because it is a smaller bike, according to another forum I am on. One big thing that drives me away from the 500R is it’s styling…
I have read a number of “New Bikers READ THIS” posts, and have read that “if you really care about what your bike looks like, you are riding for the wrong reason” line before. I will admit ignorance to the motorcycle world, but have been a huge car guy (Mustangs esp.) for 7 years, and I know for a fact this is not true there. I know people that choose cars based SOLELY on the way they look, and I would hesitate to call them dumb for doing that. I have friends that drive older Fox bodied Mustangs purely because they like the look of them more than the new bodies. I also know people who broke the bank and bought a Shelby GT-500 because they are so gorgeous in their eyes. I understand that the 650R is more power…but I want it for the styling also. I think the 500Rs are not as attractive (No offense to anyone that owns one, I think they are great from the side, but the square front headlight is not my style), and when I sat on the 650R it FELT so good, and it looked so sexy (granted, it was Red too!), especially sitting next to a 2008 500R.
Anyways, all of this may not matter anymore…my parents, who had originally given me free reign on my choice of bike, dont like the “650” part, and REALLY don’t like the “R”.