[dcJohn]

I just want to echo the suggestion to try a Versys. Wonderful bike.

You’re in a great place to ride; there’s all sorts of terrific winding roads in North/Central MD. I’m in MD on the outskirts of DC, but I sometimes head north to ride with the Central MD motorcycle meetup group (http://www.meetup.com/motorcycle-4/) because of the great roads.

[dcJohn]

I missed one question on the road sign test and got a perfect score (20/20) on the collision/trap. I credit all the bad driver behavior I’ve been running into as an excellent trainer.

[dcJohn]

It is a great city to ride in. Sure, the potholes can be nasty, and city traffic anywhere can be a nuisance, but there’s a ton of great site-seeing to do by bike. I particularly love the range of things–from the downtown scene and historic monuments to scenic rides through Rock Creek and along the Potomac. There’s also fantastic winding roads through the country in nearby central Maryland. I also love, just for practical matters, how much easier it is to finding parking in DC on a bike (versus car).

[dcJohn]

I also started on a 250R, and it’s a great bike, and I would definitely expect someone 6’4″ being uncomfortable on it. I’m 5’8″, and it was a perfect fit for me. I also agree that the Ninja 650R (and also the ER6N and Versys) might make sense.

I moved up to a the Versys, which uses the same 650cc engine as the Ninja (just mildly detuned for added torque), and I didn’t find any trouble at all with adjusting to the extra power. The Kawi 650 engine is very, very well mannered and has a very predictable (linear) power delivery that I think is reasonably beginner friendly.

[dcJohn]

I found my Versys last year at Criswell Powersports up in Gaithersburg. As luck would have it (for me at least), it was the week they they were closing down their shop, and I got the Versys for dealer’s cost. From their perspective, they were about to lose money on it as their inventory was about to be loaded on a truck and shipped back.

It is a fantastic do-it-all bike. Handling is great, so a pleasure to carve around back roads. Plenty of power and good ergonomics and wind protection, so it does well on the betlway and 95. And I can’t think a better bike for city riding–tall height gives a good advance view of traffic nuttiness, and the suspension does a great job with DC’s many potholes.

At first I wasn’t crazy about the height of the Versys. I’m only 5’8″ with a 30″ inseam”, so I can’t fully flat-foot it at stops. But now I don’t even notice it–just balance on the balls of my feet or flat foot it on a single foot without even thinking about it. The only time I grumble about the height these days is on the rare occasion I am parking the bike on a significant incline and am walking the bike into place without being fully flat-footed.

If you’re seriously curious about the Versys, I’d be happy to meet up some time and let you take it for a quick ride. Happy to help a BBM neighbor scope out bike options

(And yes, that Hornet looks incredibly pristine and awfully nice in yellow.)

[dcJohn]

Hi there. Nice to find another DC area rider in the mix! Regarding the ER6N and Gladius, the two bikes seem close enough in performance that gauge preference might just be a fine preference to go by. There’s a good comparison review here: http://www.motorcycle.com/shoot-outs/2009-naked-middleweight-comparison-88345.html

I agree, the Hornet seems like a great bike. I really like my Versys, but I’d have preferred a Hornet (the ER6N and Gladius also weren’t available when I got my Versys, so I had to go to a quasi-dual sport for a close-ish equivalent of a sport-oriented standard). Now if we could just get more sport standards with ABS.

(Speaking of the Hornet, there’s a gorgeous one that recently went up for sale here in Bethesda: http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/mld/mcy/1291734739.html)

[dcJohn]

Ok, yes, the Kawi Versys has a high seat height. But it also has an incredibly comfortable riding position (you don’t spend much time with your feet on the ground) and is relatively light and well balanced, making footing a little less urgent. Better suspension than the ER6N and better wind protection as well, particularly with the available after-market Givi windscreen.

When you were giving the bikes the butt test, where you wearing the sort of motorcycle boots you’ll be riding in? It makes a big difference with ergonomics. I’m 5’8″ with a 30″ inseam, and while I can’t quite fully flat foot my Versys with both feet, I have no trouble with either being on the balls of my feet or flat-footing a single foot.

I just really wish they’d release the ABS versions of the Versys and ER6N that are available in Europe.

[dcJohn]

I wonder what Rider’s Edge courses are going to eventually start transitioning to using.
Oh, and yes, the Blast certainly had lots of vibration at idle and low RPM–the nature of the beast with thumpers.

[dcJohn]

My current night-on-the-freeway strategy is usually to follow cages, but not at all close, lined up roughly behind either their left or right wheels, watching their lights for a sign that they’ve hit something on the road. I figure it at least gives me a chance of a heads-up about an obstruction and the opportunity to swerve into a different lane.

Frankly, there’s no getting around the fact that it’s rolling the dice. Every time I go on the interstate and see a large obstruction during the day, it’s a reminder to me of what might be lurking unseen on the pavement at night.

[dcJohn]

The extra suspension and ground clearance of dual sports typically mean that they have a tall seat height. It might be tough to find a good fit at 5’6″. For whatever it’s worth, I love my Kawi Versys, but its stock configuration is definitely aimed at spending the bulk of the time on paved roads.

[dcJohn]

Riding at night is always such a big contrast of extremes for me. Sometimes it’s the most relaxing riding I do–empty roads, just the sound of my engine and the starts overhead. Other times, like when I decide to do my commute after teaching a night course, flying down I-95 between Baltimore and DC, it can be miserable and terrifying–going less than 70mph results in crazy passing from behind, and keeping up with or ahead of traffic speeds means radically over-riding my headlights’ reach and playing the lottery of “I wonder what junk might be on the road ahead.”

[dcJohn]

I agree, the 650 is a great looking bike. My Versys uses the 650 engine, and while I’m glad I started on a 250 and worked up, the Kawi 650 engine at least has a predictable and even power delivery, so no sudden surprises.

[dcJohn]

Yay for their being another Versys rider on the forum. You might want to check out the discussion of Versys tires on kawasakiversys.com. The general consensus seems to be that the tires on the Versys aren’t terrible, but they also aren’t fantastic. The advantage of “better” tires versus stock seems to be better cold-weather and wet performance.

So far I’ve just made a point of warming up my tires (time + turns) before pushing things in the corners. And, when it comes time to replace the tires, I’ll go with a different option than what came stock.

(I’m assuming you’re talking about on-road performance. While the Versys it technically a dual sport, the stock setup–including tires–is strongly aimed at pavement riding.)

[dcJohn]

Welcome from nearby MD (I’m in the DC burbs, Bethesda). I originally started on a Ninja 250 myself, and I’m glad I did.

There’s a ton of great riding in the area, and there’s a very active and well organized NoVA meetup group that you might want to check out once you’ve gotten your bike and some miles under your belt. Likewise, I’m happy to join up for a ride sometime.

[dcJohn]

That’s a mighty purty bike alright.

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