I'm curious as to how insurance companies are treating the Versys for rates. I've been on Bikeline (Markel) for a couple of years, but have to change now because they're a little nuts on the rate for this bike. I was paying about $220/year full-coverage on my last bike, a 2000 Triumph Trophy 900. For the new bike they wanted to up the rate to $1300/year for the same coverage! :eek: I tried to explain that this was insane, as this is clearly a less powerful bike, but they insisted they treat it as a Sport bike. :confused: Why is it a sportbike? Because on the Kawasaki web page it is listed under Sport (also under DP, but no matter).

Anyway, I'm obviously in the market for new insurance, so curious to see which companies have done a little more research than checking a web page.

I was shocked at the insurance cost with Progressive. I had been assured by the salesman that the insurance would be lower than on the 2004 Suzuki SV650S I just traded in. The only answer I got was "Its a new bike and we don't really have a history on it yet"

I elected to carry only liability, $70 per year.

I'm 50 and it's costing me $850 a year here in GA with a $250 deductible. That's with 25/50/25. The customer service rep did tell me it was classified as a sports bike.

Here in las vegas I've got a company called Country I go through. Any bike over 600cc no matter what it is costs $57 a month. so I'm a at $684 a year with a $500 deductible.

I'm 27 with a clean record.

$526 a year for me with MetLife. Same coverages as my car 300/100 plus it has towing.

You guys might want to think about getting insurance in Canada. I'm paying $322 full coverage. That has to be the only thing that's cheaper up here. Then again, we only ride for 6 months!!!

Well it's obvious that insurance companies only do research when it's to their benefit. Any half-hearted attempt to look into this would have them comparing the bike to the GS/V-Strom/Ulysses types, and not to sport bike riders. I'm 50, have been riding for about 20 years, have multiple MSF courses--and the only thing that matters to the insurance company is that the bike appears on the Sport web page? A rate change from $220 to $1300, going from an almost 100hp sport-touring bike with lots of expensive plastic, to a barely 60hp bike with less stuff to break? I'm whining, I know. Anyway, so far I've looked into Progressive, and they were about $450. I'll keep shopping during my 30 day window--something I've never really done before for insurance!

Hi actar911
what company are you using?

Hi Johnny,

I am insured with La capitale www.lacapitale.com

I had the same problem insuring my Katana. Farmers considered it a high performance sport bike. They could not understand the difference betweeen GSX and GSX-R. I switched to gieco its less than 100 bucks a year. My Versys only added 12 dollars every six months to the policy.

I'm using riders plus.....about $650 per year ...full coverage...I'm 49 yrs old..tho...:(

$525 for 6 Mo in Saskatchewan, SGI (Gov't Insure) here.

I also got caught in the insurance trap here. I had a 2003 Victory Touring Cruiser - BIG bike, and was paying about $300 a year. That was a 1392cc bike, with lots of chrome, etc. to cover, in case of an accident, and was about $13k worth of all that. Now I go to a 650cc Versys, and the insurance almost doubled, due to the Sports Bike classification. Where's the justice!

Hell! I thought I was getting hosed. I pay $460.00 a year full coverage for a '08 KLR ($160) and a '08 Versys ($300)

Mine is here in Ohio under Drive Insurance by Progressive. They listed the Versys as "other street bike".

If your agent is listing the Versys under "Sport Bike" they are screwing you.:mad:

Maloy

You guys might want to think about getting insurance in Canada. I'm paying $322 full coverage. That has to be the only thing that's cheaper up here. Then again, we only ride for 6 months!!!

Who are you insured with? I'm at $512 minimum coverage (up from $352 on a street-legal WR426), and it'd be $830 with fire and theft, but no collision coverage with RBC Insurance...

I bet I can best all of you. I'm $2400 for more less good coverage. In my province, we use MPI, which in turn, has like the highest motorcycle insurance rates I ever heard of. We only pay for riding season (May to September,) So my monthly payments are about equal to what most everybody pays in one year. Basic for my bike would bring it down about $200.

The thing is, we have no choice, so private companies can't come in with the lower rates. We have a pseudo socialist government up here but I won't get into that :)

I bet I can best all of you. I'm $2400 for more less good coverage. In my province, we use MPI, which in turn, has like the highest motorcycle insurance rates I ever heard of. We only pay for riding season (May to September,) So my monthly payments are about equal to what most everybody pays in one year. Basic for my bike would bring it down about $200.

The thing is, we have no choice, so private companies can't come in with the lower rates. We have a pseudo socialist government up here but I won't get into that :)

Eek, I pay £180 fully comp' and I think thats harsh:(

Who are you insured with? I'm at $512 minimum coverage (up from $352 on a street-legal WR426), and it'd be $830 with fire and theft, but no collision coverage with RBC Insurance...

sorry Invader, did not see your post. As mentionned before I'm with La Capitale www.lacapitale.com

OK guys. I am 54 years old. I have insurance with Foremost Insurance Co. Full coverage, $250 deductible, covers acc. and riding gear.and my 1988 Hawk is on there with the new Versys. Total= $317 a year.

sorry Invader, did not see your post. As mentionned before I'm with La Capitale www.lacapitale.com

Oh yeah, I missed that... Are you in Quebec though? How much do you pay for your plates and registration there?

Yes I'm on the south shore of Montreal. Plates and registration went up this year from $320 to $416 and I think are going up again another $100 or so next year. If you had a sport bike, the plates will be close to $1500 next year.
Th 10 day transit was $25 versus the $8 they charge for a car!!! The governement gives money back for low emission cars, but are increasing the cost of riding a motorcycle. Oh no, you got me started, better stop here!

Hi Johnny,

I go through Auto-owners insurance and pay $360 a year full coverage, $500 deductible. Sounds like you need to try another insurance company!

I'm 36 and I pay 311/year in Pennsylvania through Dairyland. Full coverage with towing $500 deductible.

I just switched to Foremost Insurance from Progressive, saved $130 a year!

Greetings 2wheel brothers,

I’ve been reading the posts on insurance and I gather most of you are getting raped by a particular insurance company that misclassifies your Versys. I gather by your comments that you might not know that it’s your right to change insurance companies at any time! Once you find a lower rate insurance company for the SAME COVERAGE you can proceed; if they refuse to offer a lower rate ask the supervisor for a “closing account confirmation number” before hanging up or leaving the company.

I don’t own a Versys yet but I’m planning to and if it’s rated as a sport bike rather than a dual sport I might consider another bike like the Suzuki V-strom if all insurance companies have the same classification. I’ll let the insurance company know why I’m changing companies to give the company a chance to redeem themselves and I would suggest you all do the same if you can; they MIGHT lower your rate to stay competitive. Don’t hesitate to mention that you belong to a whole lot of motorcycle forums and you will post the outcome good or bad and tell them they might be losing a lot more here with their decision. One thing I have learned through the years is that you don’t want to deal with the first live person you get, rather ask for a supervisor that can make a decision such as changing the rate.

Companies base their whole idea of existence by pledging a product or service to the community at large and if they feel that they might be losing a market share of that business to competitors; if they are smart they might just consider your proposal. Another thing, remind them you’re not asking that the rate be zero but ONLY that it be fair like what another company’s rate might be; but you have to do your homework first, you can’t BS your way to a lower rate. Research your possibilities and do your due diligence and find a lower rate BEFORE you attempt to leverage your way to a lower rate.

What I would suggest is all of us shop around for the best rates and ask that company if there is a group rate as well. Those of us that prefer not getting rape might consider switching if the company is reputable and there are no pending class-action cases with that company I would highly consider changing to a lower rate.

Please let us know the outcome just like you promised your insurance company you would. Like the old saying goes, “there is strength in numbers!”
:D

I checked around a couple of places:

Progressive - $444/yr
Geico - $276/yr

Nationwide (my auto/home insurer) - $156/yr for $500 deductible, full coverage w 50/100/50 limits. 36 YO. I get several discounts for multiple vehicles, auto +home, long time customer, good credit, etc. They are still dinging me for a ticket 2 years and 7 months ago, but said that only adds $5 to the cost. But it just goes to show...fight all tickets all the time!

i'm in las vegas, 40 years old, through State Farm, $480 a year, clean record

I'm in Va. $380, full coverage includes my old 78 honda, through AIG, i'm leaving Progressive, they wanted over twice that!

24, male, single

in mid $600s range with $1000 deductible on everything

Hi guys I am insured with american family 265.00 yr full coverage. Also covers my givi baggs. I live in parker colorado