I have my policy with Safeco, for two bikes (an 800cc Suzuki C50 and a Suzuki SV650S) it’s about $85 a month (both bikes included). But the deal was that the amount made just small, incremental increases until it hit 1000cc’s, and then it started making big jumps.
So I guess what I’m getting at is that something more stature-friendly, like a DRZ400 dual sport, might not be much more insurance-wise, than the 250 rebel.
I know there are plates for the SV650 that will move the controls up and back (1.5″ up and 1″ back) that some have mounted in reverse to move the controls down and back, or down and forward (check eBay for svracingparts). Don’t know if that sort of thing is available for the Rebel though.
The real disadvantage of forward controls, to my mind, though, is that you can’t unweight the seat for bumps…