Kawi Versys - I wants me one pretty bad.

For the street kids:


Don't like that one so much, though.
I like this better:



Ninja 650R with KLR forks, etc, KINDA like a Versys.  Too dirt-oriented for me, though.
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=319441&page=23

Modified Wee that I like a lot, though still dirt-oriented:
(check out the headlight fairing - it's a tail section)
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=251613&page=15

$600 for two aluminum boxes?   
http://www.happy-trail.com/images/products/6/lid-lock.jpg

It seems to me that you're just in love with the green!

I've often thought my next bike might be a Versys; I've liked them since they came out a couple years ago.  I also like the ER-6N and the Buell Ulysses.

My only issue is that i'm 5'8" and i'm tip-toeing when i sit on the Versys (and Uly).  ER-6N is fine, but I think it may bee too similar to the GS (ie, why get a new bike).

I still like the GS, but most of my riding these days is commuting to work 30+ miles on the highway each way and that is no longer comfortable for me.

I really just need to take a test ride on the Versys to see how I feel on it

I think that last one looks really nice. I'm impressed by how nice of a job he did mating that seat up to the new tail. I don't have too much use for off road bikes so they don't appeal to me as much as other things, but it still looks cool. I had a bmw f650 gs as a service loaner once that looks to be pretty much like the versys and it was ok but definitely not my style.

Manofthefield: have you sat on a on a Ulysses, or are you just assuming it's too tall for you? I know it looks big but Buells are pretty small bikes so you might be ok. The nice thing about those is how many different bikes they make out of the same parts. You could but a Uly and trade your suspension and sidestand for someone with a normal lightning/firebolt, or even an xb12scg if you wanted it much lower. You'd lose a little bit of off road ability due to less suspension travel, but if you're just looking at it for commuting it wouldn't be so bad. Considering they're such small bikes, I think most people over 6'0 look a little goofy when they're hunched over their lightning, so I'm sure it wouldn't be hard at all to find someone that would like to lift their bike up an inch or two.

Versys - yes nice name, I think its japanese, it means "rust bucket".

Well for the same $ a dl650 is better, aluminum frame. Though I like parallel twins over V 2's. Sadly a steel frame is not it unless its pennies on the $.

Cool.
Buddha.

It is a tall bike.  I played around at the dealership; I could hardly mount it from the right side. 
The seats are cheap, though.  You can have it lowered with gel inserts added for under $100.
I've heard of guys lowering the suspension, but not exactly sure how.  Doesn't have shock linkages, but I don't think they bought a new shock.  I may be wrong.  The spring rate is something like 1200 lbs, and aftermarkets are $$$. 

Same shock as my 650R.  Just a different swingarm (5 lbs lighter and a lot stiffer) and adjustable front forks with better damping. 
I've been keeping the rear at position #1, works fine for me.
Just a height issue, really. 
I'm still getting one, though.  It's just a challenge.  Short females have to do it... so can I. 

Mounting any bike from the right side is always awkward.

You could say I like green, yes.



A local Dr.'s wife couldn't hold it up at the dealership, he wrote a check on the spot.  She's scared to ride it, now. 
The left bar end has a scuff the size of my pinky nail, and the mirror the same. 
Has -get this- 32 miles. 
I think he wants a little too much for it, though. 

Sleeping on it, but I'm either getting a different private sale with a GIVI topbox... or a local dealer (but it's probably crate-damaged, like the ones in Michigan) but pay sales tax.  Dealer's selling 09's at $3k below MSRP to drop inventory. 



This is in Daytona Beach:
http://daytona.craigslist.org/mcy/1778238756.html
Under $4000, with factory GIVI sides. No topbox.  Lowering links, lowered pegs, some kind of comm system. 
Has a Spencer seat, but he'll mod anything for $75. 
Just talked to the guy, it's still for sale.... but.... I'm 60% sure there's something wrong with it. 
Said he's selling it to pay for his new Wrangler, but he slipped up and mentioned he'd had something repainted on it. 
He had it posted on the Kawi forum - someone tried to buy it and turned it down after seeing it.  No word about why. 
Last thing I bought from Florida was a complete lemon, anyway, and I'm frankly... tired of crap breaking. 

If someone wants it, you're welcome to it. 

Crate damaged bikes in MI

Quote from: tt_four on June 06, 2010, 06:17:13 AM
Manofthefield: have you sat on a on a Ulysses, or are you just assuming it's too tall for you? I know it looks big but Buells are pretty small bikes so you might be ok. The nice thing about those is how many different bikes they make out of the same parts. You could but a Uly and trade your suspension and sidestand for someone with a normal lightning/firebolt, or even an xb12scg if you wanted it much lower. You'd lose a little bit of off road ability due to less suspension travel, but if you're just looking at it for commuting it wouldn't be so bad. Considering they're such small bikes, I think most people over 6'0 look a little goofy when they're hunched over their lightning, so I'm sure it wouldn't be hard at all to find someone that would like to lift their bike up an inch or two.

I stood next to one at a Harley stealership and I didn't really want to try getting on it.  I would have asked, but since I was by the Buells and rode a jap bike, no one came to help me.  I do think the XB12XT (Ulysses Touring) might be more doable, since it's seat height is an inch lower. 

My other issue with the Uly is the price; I'm not ready to spend $6000-$10000 on a bike.  $4000 or so for a Versys is probably a stretch right now too.  Doable, but I don't want to do it.

(I am curious about how much the local dealer wants for the xb12xt they are trying to get rid of.  I'm thinking not too bad though since they have a $#!t ton of 1125R and 1125CR's left)

yeah, I'm hoping to spend around $3k on an xb9s or an xb12s at the moment, but would go up to $4k if I found the right bike. It's too bad I don't feel like spending more because I could still find a brand new xb9sx for $6500-6900, but that's more than I care to pay for a bike. I also can't bring myself to spend more than $4k knowing that they were selling brand new xb9sx for that price last october, and I'm still kicking myself for not even having the little bit of money I would've needed to jump on one. There are still a lot of random bikes around in dealerships though, who knows what you can find. The prices on buells are completely random at the moment because some people paid $10k for the same bike that other people paid $5k for a month later, combined with the fact that so much of the motorcycle world hates buell, compared to the exclusivity of the fact that buell went under.

Anyway, the dealerships are tough too. I wouldn't mind going around and seeing if any dealerships have any trade ins sitting around. One kid is picking up an xb12s at a dealership in a day or two for $3k and it only has something like 2k miles on it, which is awesome, but I can't bring myself to just walk into a bunch of HD dealerships and browse around. I may need to get myself a leather costume, because otherwise you get treated like a minority in the south.

I love it when fools @ dealers or CL post ads like ...

"Just wanting to get rid of it" and its priced at 2 X it would sell for if you were wanting to just sell it. Want to get rid of it ... just throw it in the dumpster and you're good.

Better yet, "it sells on ebay for gazillion and I am only asking bazillion" and it sits there for months. Sadly fleabay has listing fees, and they hit you no matter whether it sells or not, and a 10% sale rate totally works for making fees for fleabay. If you want to find its actual worth, ebay it with no reserve and atart it at 99c.

I'm moving to (clear across the country) this POS is priced to move ... at 2 X what it would have to be if they weren't moving. Yea pal its priced to move "back with you to boston".

Cool.
Buddha.

Local dealer's selling '09s at $4800, out the door.  Since I'm paying cash, they'll absorb the taxes and fees. 
A little more than I wanted to pay, but doable.
They were a little over $7k last year, fresh out of the box. 
Nothing wrong with them, they're brand new 09s.  Just too much inventory. 

Private sellers are actually wanting MORE than the dealers!   
A lot of folks bought them at $7K and trying to sell at $5500 to $6K, to take less of a hit. 

Put my 650R on CL last night at 2 a.m.
By 10 this morning, I'd already had 2 phone offers.  Haven't checked my email, yet, either. 

The crate-damaged ones, yeah, some dealer up in Michigan bought most of them.  There was a bad shipment, I heard.  Maybe a storm or something, i dunno.    
They're pawning them off on Ebay to unsuspecting folks.  But... still not bad for the price, if you're planning to drop it anyway.  Or ride through gravel. 
Last I heard, they had chips in the tank, down to the primer.  I think some scuffing on some of the plastic.  Not so bad. 
I just don't wanna drive to Michigan. 

I want a 996TT.  I'll probably get one in the next year or so, I need to wait until I turn 25 to buy a sports car and wait for one last citation to fall off my record.  Otherwise, I'd be paying more to insure the car than the monthly finance payments would cost.

Guy's bringing cash for the 650R tomorrow.

Bought it for $3300, $132 for title fee.... I'm selling for $3650, and I'm keeping the Scorpion muffler ($500).      I've had it a week.   

I just got paid $700 to ride a motorcycle.   


In other news - The Versys isn't crate damaged.  Dealer has to order it, takes 10 days to receive it. 
No bike for 10 days.   

so if you had the 650r and are looking into a versys, how did you end up in the gs forum? Do you have a GS500 too, or did you just end up here when you were bored someday.

either way I'm glad you came, as I love my new boots! 

I've been lurking. 
Fixed up a GS, then sold it to SlimKlim last week. 

Since I'm already accustomed to everyone here, I might as well stay. 
Maybe I can help a few people.
And, being here will keep me grounded, rather than becoming a snob. 

Hope you guys don't mind. 

haha, yes, 650r and versys riders are well known for being bike snobs...  haha

I remember now, he was the one who had a dad and uncle who hated the thought of their kid riding a GS, right? So he finally went through with it? That's cool.

I like the crowd here better than other forums too, so once I get rid of mine I'm sure I'll stick around too.

Putting cash on the table this afternoon.  I'll have my Versys by this weekend!

An 09 with zero miles, $700 cheaper than a used 08.  My first brand new vehicle ever! 
My wife's pissed and wants a new couch, now.     It's always something....

Haha thats awesome that's what she wants. that's exactly what my wife said after i emailed that guy about that buell yesterday. "If you're getting  a new motorcycle I'm buying a new couch"

thats a good price, i have been looking at these as well, let us know what its like when you get it!!

Well, if you want one, you should move fast.  
Dealership told me they've sold nearly every green 09 on the east coast.  All the way to Texas.  
I'm getting one of the last ones.  I think there's one in Ohio, also.  
There are a few blues left.  
They're clearing out for the new models.  Private parties are asking close to $6000, because they bought new at $7000.  
Dealers are selling for $4700 to $4900, with zero miles.  
You don't even have to go through Ebay.  Every dealer I've called in the past few days is matching the same price.  

I just want a green one, which is why I'm still yakking on about it.  


As far as what they're like?
They're tall, but have a fairly low center of gravity.  The stock muffler alone weighs 20 lbs, and it's underslung.  
New slip-on from Arrow is about $200, if you like that sort of thing.  Doesn't require re-tuning, though a Power Commander would help.
Fitting a slip-on actually reduces your fuel mileage.  PC's help, but they're $230, and they're not paying much attention to the model.

The front suspension is nicer than the competition (WeeStrom, BMW 650GS, KLR).
USD forks with adjustability, dual disks.  Smaller front wheel, which is better on the street... worse on gravel/dirt.
They're still damping-rods, and could use emulators.  But, still night-and-day better as a street bike.
Non-spoked wheels.
The rear shock isn't the greatest... but, it's better than the 650R.  Preload and compression adjustment.  A better shock is big bucks.

The fit and finish is great, to me.  YMMV... personal preference.
Some people complain about casting nubs on the plastic.   
Headlights aren't BAD, but not as good as the Wee Strom.  Non-HID, of course.  Twin H4's, vertically positioned. 
Sides of the tank are plastic, so magnetic tank bags are out.  I don't like them, anyway. 

The seat is skinnier than the others.  The entire bike is thinner, in fact.  About the same width as the GS500, really.  
The brakes aren't BAD, but could use braided SS lines. 
Honestly, it feels like a tall GS500 with better suspension, 74 horsepower, and insanely better ergos. 
Gas mileage is the same, insurance is the same. 
The FI is nice, very smooth.  Digital gauge, with a fuel gauge meter (!)

Let me know if you have particular questions.