New motorcycle which to choose?

I have a 77 yamaha RD400 it has pretty good power for a 400 I love this bike very much. But i was thinking I want a new present day sports bike. I had two bikes in mind a 2014 honda cbr500r which a few of my friends have them and they say they are great then a 2014 Kawasaki ninja 300 but I haven't risen one before these two bikes are in my budget. My yamaha can go on the highway and it can handle itself I know the 500 might handle its self on the highway and the 300 I'm not sure it might from what I hear but what do you guys think pros and cons of each bike?

The 300 is marginal on the highway. Otherwise they're both fine bikes. It really just comes down to preference. Whichever you get you'll be happy with it. But remember, both are designed as trainers, to be easy to ride, stable, forgiving, predictable, etc. The RD400 was definitely not in that category!

The old RD was famous in its day as the best handling bike in the world, and it would be interesting to compare the best handling bike of the 1970s to a modern 'sporty' trainer like the CBR500 or Ninja 300.

CBR 500 will have roughly the same power as your RD. Delivery will be way different though.

Handling will be much better with modern suspension and brakes.

You'd have fun on the CBR 500 BUT for-god-sakes hold onto that RD, that's a fun little bike in itself and sorta classic.

*Sigh* Mr. "300cc is a baby bike designed as training wheels" ignores that the Ninja 300 can easily cruise at 85 mph on the Interstates and tops out around 100.

The Ninja weighs about 380 pounds -- same as your old RD400. The CBR500R is 45 pounds heavier. The 300 will be slow compared to the 400, and even a 500 4-stroke will not be much different from a 400 2-stroke.

But what the Hell, you have an itch for a modern "sport" bike. *DO NOT* sell the RD. *TRY* a newer one before buying new. You can get a used 500 for half the price of new. Ride it. If you do like it more than the RD, *then* sell it and get a new one.

IMHO, the only reason to get a 4-stroke instead of your 2-stroke is the fuel mileage.

Look at a Suzi GS500. Engine is better economy than old 2 stroke, meets some emissions standards that might be getting picky about in some areas. As others note- keep the little 2 stroke.

Frankly neither of those bikes are really sportsbikes, both are decent bikes in their own right, but not that sporty.

Keep the RD. It is a collectors item. Even if you get another bike, never sell the RD.

I had several RDs and R5s, sure wish I would have hung on to at least one of the 1975 350s.