Wanting to buy a sports bike is something natural for motorcyclists. It’s something we’ve wanted since we were kids, waving at bikers on the road. The real obstacles start coming when you start thinking about money and actually want to make the purchase. Motorcycles today aren’t cheap, and the used market is full of rattly old sports bikes that have been abused to hell and back on a racetrack.That’s why, when you’re out to buy a bike, you have to think about every little expense that will go into it. Otherwise, what’s stopping us from financing a brand-spanking-new BMW M 1000 RR? One of those expenses is depreciation, and Honda shines here as its sports bikes tend to hold value better. But CBR sports bikes aren’t the only ones that will save you money in depreciation; there are others, too. Sports Bikes Depreciate Faster And Why It Matters In The Real World HondaAmong all the motorcycles out there, perhaps one type of bike that depreciates more than the rest is sports bikes. These motorcycles are specialized tools, and while they may look very tempting, they aren’t the most sensible motorcycles out there. They have high initial pricing, are typically uncomfortable to ride every day, and are generally less practical. As a result, many sports bikes usually end up with weak used market pricing.HondaMost of us would like to think that depreciation doesn’t matter, but if you’re on a budget, it does matter a lot. Sure, sports bikes are marketed based on performance or emotional appeal, but long-term ownership costs are just as critical. It translates into how much money you’ll lose over the years by simply owning that motorcycle. Which is why, if you’re buying a sports bike on a budget, you need to consider how much that bike will depreciate. Fortunately, some bikes do fit that bill and usually come with a Honda badge. Why The Honda CBR Doesn’t Depreciate So Much HondaThere are still some sports bikes that will hold their value, and sometimes, even appreciate in value. Usually, these are special edition motorcycles that are sold in limited quantities, which drives their demand in the used market. But Honda CBR sports bikes are an exception here, as they do tend to hold their value relatively better than their competitors. Think the Honda CBR650R, the CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP, or the CBR500R. Credit To Honda's Bulletproof Reliability And Service Network HondaCredit goes to how Honda designs its motorcycles. Of course, there’s the brand’s exceptional reliability factor, which gives used bike buyers peace of mind that they are not landing on a lemon bike that will cost them more in repairs and maintenance. Hondas can run for thousands of miles with nothing but routine maintenance. The same can’t be said for a Ducati, which is usually very expensive to maintain, especially if it comes with the desmodromic valve system.HondaApart from reliability, Honda sports bikes are known for their high build quality and a vast service network. Plus, Honda spares are relatively cheaper than their European counterparts. Another aspect driving their demand in the used market is their broad appeal. Honda likes to make their bikes more ‘sensible,’ so they service a diverse range of owners, not just those looking for a committed sports bike that’s only good on a racetrack, not on the road. The Kawasaki Ninja 650 Holds Its Value Better Than A CBR KawasakiThat brings us to the meat of the matter: what if you don’t like Honda? You’re still not out of options. You can still get yourself a sports bike that will hold its value just as well as a CBR sports bike. Case in point, the 2026 Kawasaki Ninja 650, a sports bike that has shown to hold its value much better than its Honda counterpart, the CBR650R. Across model years and market conditions, the Ninja 650 consistently sheds its value at a slower rate, and, at least according to Kelley Blue Book (KBB), you might not even lose any money on it sometimes. Honda CBR650R Depreciation From 2021 to 2023 HondaTake the CBR650R, for example. According to KBB, a MY21 CBR650R has depreciated by around 18 percent in the last five years. Meanwhile, MY22 and MY23 have lost around 13 to 14 percent of their value till today. So, if you bought a CBR650R back in 2021 for $9,699, it would be worth around $7,926 today, and for MY23, that value would go from the $9,899 starting price to $8,518 in the used market. That’s excellent value retention for a sports bike, and you’d probably spend more money on consumables than you’d lose on the bike itself. Kawasaki Ninja 650 Depreciation From 2021 to 2023 KawasakiHere, the Ninja 650 has the CBR beat. According to KBB, a MY22 Ninja 650, which sold for $8,299 to $8,499 (depending on the color option), is valued at $7,671. And a MY23 Ninja 650 (KRT Edition), which sold for $8,599, is valued at $7,961 today. That’s a depreciation of 7.5 percent and 8.4 percent, respectively, beating the CBR650R’s 13 to 14 percent depreciation. We’re not taking into account the MY21 Ninja 650 as KBB shows a depreciation of just 0.55 percent, which sounds too good to be true and should be taken with a pinch of salt. How The Ninja 650 Holds Its Value Better Than The CBR650R KawasakiKBB shows that, across multiple model years, the Ninja 650 beats the CBR650R in terms of depreciation. Mind you, both motorcycles sit on the practical end of the spectrum, offering plenty of performance without sacrificing everyday usability, comfort, and reliability. What makes the difference in depreciation, apart from the brand value, is how the two motorcycles are built and positioned in the market. The Ninja 650 Is Cheaper To Run In The Long Run Kawasaki Starting with the underpinnings, the Honda CBR650R is powered by an inline-four screamer. That sounds excellent and produces more power, but it is more expensive to run, complex to repair, and the spares can be pricier compared to theNinja 650. On the contrary, the Ninja uses an age-old parallel-twin engine that has made a name for itself for its bulletproof reliability. At the same time, the parallel-twin mill is cheaper to run and fix, thanks to its relative simplicity compared to the inline-four engine. It's An Everyday Sports Bike, Too Kawasaki Along with that, the Ninja 650 also offers more or less the same things the CBR650R offers, like year-round practicality. Despite being a sports bike, the Ninja 650 offers a less committed riding position and a tractable engine with plenty of mid-range punch. This makes it comfortable to ride in the city and even on longer tours, so it can serve as the only motorcycle in your garage for years to come. It’s also 40 pounds lighter and a solid thousand dollars cheaper than the CBR650R. The 2026 Kawasaki Ninja 650 Is The Default Sports Bike For The Value-Oriented Ninja 650 actionOn paper, the CBR650R is the better bike. Who wouldn’t want that inline-four symphony and classy looks? But in the real world, the Ninja 650 just makes more sense. As a result, the demand for the Ninja 650 is always high, whether at the dealership or in the used market. The CBR650R has a smaller audience to serve, and if KBB values are anything to go by, fewer people want it used compared to the Ninja 650.KawasakiSo, what does this mean for you? If you’re a practical enthusiast on a budget, the Ninja 650’s value retention means that you’ll lose less money over time. If you own that bike for a few years, you should lose around $600 to $1,000. Of course, that depends on your specific model and its maintenance history. This cost isn’t just theoretical, either. It could be that extra cash you need for an optional package when you finally upgrade to something bigger. So, while the CBR650R is a more emotional purchase, the Ninja 650 comes off as a smarter buy today.Source: Kawasaki, Honda, Kelley Blue Book