Well, two weeks after I registered on the forum, I finally found out why I wasn't able to participate in threads. Looks like I'll have to make an introduction!
My name is Nick, I'm a US Army Veteran and I'm currently working towards my degree in engineering.
Having owned a few motorcycles over the past 12 years, I found myself back in the market after a 3 year hiatus when parking became an issue at my university. In august I picked up a ninja 250 as a commuter and felt I needed something more substantial to lug my 6'2, 230lbs around... So after researching everything in the single/dual cyl category at 600cc~700cc. I narrowed my decision down to the BMW G650GS since it was half the insurance cost of any other model out there... So I had my mind made up, until I actually tried purchasing one. I refused to pay over MSRP(not including taxes) and all three dealers within 100mi radius wouldn't budge on their prices at $600-1200 above that (except for a NOS 2013 model that they would sell for $145 over msrp, plus all the prep fees, taxes, etc.)
At that point I swung by the local kawasaki dealership to look at the KLR650, thinking that I could just order a set of supermoto wheels and sacrifice the fuel injection and ABS that I had hoped to gain in a new purchase...
After discussing my woes with the salesman (poor fella) He turned me to the versys, said he could make me a heck of a deal, and even throw in a set of color matched hard cases and mount... At that point I told him he was speaking my language, and I went for a test ride. It was most everything I dreamed of in a motorcycle. Great balance, good low end power, excellent handling and stability, fuel injected, and abs.
When all was said and done, I traded in my ninja and walked out with a 2014 Verys w/ extra gear (and a crappy hat) for half of what I would have paid for the BMW, and feel 110% that I made the right choice, despite the higher insurance costs.
I currently have an internship that imposes a 200mi commute 3 days a week, so I aim to rack the miles on the Versys as long as it isn't snowing/ice on the roads.
Mods so far are:
-Kawasaki/Givi color matched hard cases & Mount
-Currently installing Cyclops H7 LEDs
Future Plans:
-Touring Windscreen
-Auxilary LED lights
-Composite rear tire hugger
-Composite fairings
-Composite seat cowl
I am looking for suggestions for Heated gear and more appropriate Touring gear for my long commute. As of now I only have basic short commute gear.
Advice on a quality full face helmet would be appreciated as well.
My name is Nick, I'm a US Army Veteran and I'm currently working towards my degree in engineering.
Having owned a few motorcycles over the past 12 years, I found myself back in the market after a 3 year hiatus when parking became an issue at my university. In august I picked up a ninja 250 as a commuter and felt I needed something more substantial to lug my 6'2, 230lbs around... So after researching everything in the single/dual cyl category at 600cc~700cc. I narrowed my decision down to the BMW G650GS since it was half the insurance cost of any other model out there... So I had my mind made up, until I actually tried purchasing one. I refused to pay over MSRP(not including taxes) and all three dealers within 100mi radius wouldn't budge on their prices at $600-1200 above that (except for a NOS 2013 model that they would sell for $145 over msrp, plus all the prep fees, taxes, etc.)
At that point I swung by the local kawasaki dealership to look at the KLR650, thinking that I could just order a set of supermoto wheels and sacrifice the fuel injection and ABS that I had hoped to gain in a new purchase...
After discussing my woes with the salesman (poor fella) He turned me to the versys, said he could make me a heck of a deal, and even throw in a set of color matched hard cases and mount... At that point I told him he was speaking my language, and I went for a test ride. It was most everything I dreamed of in a motorcycle. Great balance, good low end power, excellent handling and stability, fuel injected, and abs.
When all was said and done, I traded in my ninja and walked out with a 2014 Verys w/ extra gear (and a crappy hat) for half of what I would have paid for the BMW, and feel 110% that I made the right choice, despite the higher insurance costs.
I currently have an internship that imposes a 200mi commute 3 days a week, so I aim to rack the miles on the Versys as long as it isn't snowing/ice on the roads.
Mods so far are:
-Kawasaki/Givi color matched hard cases & Mount
-Currently installing Cyclops H7 LEDs
Future Plans:
-Touring Windscreen
-Auxilary LED lights
-Composite rear tire hugger
-Composite fairings
-Composite seat cowl
I am looking for suggestions for Heated gear and more appropriate Touring gear for my long commute. As of now I only have basic short commute gear.
Advice on a quality full face helmet would be appreciated as well.