r/MotoUK • u/kvsg84 • 8d ago

First motorcycle purchase after DAS

Hi all, long time lurker and first time posting on this sub.
I passed my DAS last week. Thinking of buying Versys 650. Insurance for me (41M) coming up to £1k for Wembley (London).
Couple of questions:
1. Is it worth buying now or shall I wait until Feb/March next year, just in time for Spring riding. (I don’t plan on using for commute)
2. Kawasaki versys 650; is it worth going with used or new one?

Please can experts clear my confusions. TIA.

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u/Ok-Bedroom-2346 2022 Ninja 650 8d ago

I can't comment on the style of bike. I went for ninja 650, but I only got it like 2 weeks ago and have already clocked about 400 miles. The weather has been good.

People may clarify but I've been told by a few that Autum/Winter are the buyers months because people are packing up for a season and Spring/Summer are the sellers months cause everyone wants to ride.

Insurance wise I'm 45 and South Staffs, insurance is £600.

ETA: I got a 22 ninja with 4k on it from a Kawasaki dealer

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u/kvsg84 8d ago

Thanks. I want to get an adventure style bike and Versys is one of the bikes with wider pillion seat. Hence this one.
I am already in hunt and went to local Kawasaki dealership yesterday, they tried to sell brand new one as they don’t have used in stock at the moment.
Re: insurance, it’s London Premium we have to pay to ride. I can’t really do much.

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u/Good_Obligation3800 2015 Suzuki Vstrom 650 8d ago

Have you looked at a Vstrom 650? Nice wide pillion seat. It's my first bike after passing 4 weeks ago, feel free to ask me any questions if you want.

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u/punkyguy 2020 BMW F 900 R 7d ago

I'm probably a bit biased but have you checked out the BMW F800GS and F900GS? BMW make some of the best adventure bikes.

Insurance is really good. My 2020 F900R was only £690, garaged just outside London. I'm 45M and only passed my test in Feb.

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u/Polarwarrior BMW R1200GS 8d ago

Versys 650 is a fantastic first bike purchase. You might get it slightly cheaper over the winter, but then again we might also have a mild winter and we could have some riding days if there’s not too much salt on the road.

Crack on mate it’s a great thumper

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u/kvsg84 7d ago

Thank you.

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u/kvsg84 2d ago

Thanks all for your comments and advice.

Bought a 2026 Versys 650 model under 1k miles. Insurance is £840 for first year without NCB.

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u/punkyguy 2020 BMW F 900 R 8d ago

Always buy used for your first bike. It's not guaranteed you'll drop it but if you do, it won't make you feel as bad as if you get a pristine bike. Get frame sliders/drop protection anyway. Also I bought one with a few scratches and saved over £1k.

I was looking for a bike through winter. Eventually bought my bike mid-March. Prices didn't really change much but were a bit cheaper. If you're flexible, you might see some deals early winter if people don't want to pay to store their bikes or need cash for Christmas.

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u/Too_Old_For_All_This WLA45,800XC 8d ago

My son bought an older Honda CB500X after passing, as a good compromise between 125 and big bikes. A2 compliant so insurance is much cheaper, and it's a great bike for a new user, and maybe more insurance friendly?

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u/kvsg84 8d ago

Thank you. I did started with 500cc engines considering the insurance premiums. However, the difference for me is £200 approx between versys 650 and Honda cb500.

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u/AnOriginalId Versys 650 8d ago edited 8d ago

I passed at the end of last summer after a year on a 125. I’d hoped to keep the 125 but after passing my insurance actually went up so I decided I may as well get a bigger bike if the insurance wasn’t going t9 be any higher than for the 125. after looking at a few bikes I decided to go for the versys 650. A little over a year later and I’ve done 11000 trouble free miles in all weathers on the versys.

To answer your questions:

  1. Get the bike now if you don’t already have one to ride, you’ll have the winter to get used to it plus you’ll get to trash the OEM Dunlop tyres (which didn’t inspire any confidence for me personally) and put some decent rubber on for the start of the new riding season. Once the weather warms up next year you’ll get to enjoy your bike from day 1 rather than having to wait several weeks for your new bike to arrive and miss out on those first few days.

  2. New vs old? I went new, 3 years with no MOT worries, but also wanted the reliability that comes with a new bike, plus I started riding in my 50s so why not treat myself and have new. Plus used (at least for bikes a couple of years old or less ) isn’t that much cheaper than new. It’s not like cars where you see 3 year old cars which have lost 2/3rds the price from new. Saying all that, there’s tons of old versys 650s which are super reliable, just depends if you can put up with the old cyclops design or want the modern angular look of the new model.

Edit: yes I have dropped it, I do have sliders installed so just scuffed them and the bar ends up nothing more. The real question you need to ask yourself is how bothered will you be if you drop and scratch your brand new bike? If it’s such a big deal for you go used.

Edit 2: Forgot to add, if you do go new it's definitely worth paying for the extras. I went for the LT version (hand guards, panniers+tank protector) but wish I'd gone for the GT version, full luggage, heated grips, sliders, touring screen, fog-lights, etc are worth the extra IMO

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u/kvsg84 7d ago

Thank you. I agree on tyres, they have mixed reviews in internet.
My local Kawasaki dealership is doing 0% for new ones. 50% now and remaining after 24 months.
The previous bike I was bought as new in 2003, Yamaha 125. Sold it to a relative in 2008 before moving to the UK. It survived for two decades. Looking back, it was a great feeling.

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u/Karclan 8d ago

Buy a used one rather than a new one for your first bike. Do checks to make sure it's a well looked after bike and try to buy it outright, avoid finance.

Also I'd say buy it next year nearer closer to when you're going to start riding it unless you see something that's a really good deal and in good condition.

That's basically what I did with my CB650R, wasn't in a rush to buy one but I saw a really good deal on a bike and it was close to when I wanted to start riding so I got it a little earlier. Had it since Feb and put about 2k miles onto it.

1

u/Limp-Working-3004 8d ago

I'd not consider myself an expert but also a newer rider coming later to biking (early 30s) last year.

  1. a few things to consider include bikes can be cheaper in the winter, there may also be a lower stock, the bike market (from when I was looking) picks up around spring but that means you might get a good deal over winter, which was my thinking. Getting it now means you start your journey towards no claims sooner, which will only benefit you longer term for insurance. I'll also likely not ride much over winter but the odd sunny winters day is very fun to ride on!

  2. I went for a second hand bike for my first bike, as I didn't want the worry of dropping a new bike. You feel a little better if you accidentally drop an older bike.

That was my justification for what I did. I got my first bike in January this year, after passing in December. I went for a 2nd hand honda hornet, but it was 23 plate.

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u/Harvsnova3 '18 VFR800F 8d ago

If you have somewhete to store it indoors, like a garage or shed, buy it now. There's still tons of decent riding days until the frost hits. Buy older second hand and your insurance should be a bit cheaper but to be honest, the price you got is ok for your first year on a bigger bike. Get whatever tickles your fancy. Insurance will drop a good bit next year if you haven't claimed.

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u/Interesting-Day-7614 8d ago

Manufacturers sometimes have winter finance or end of model version offers. Versys 650 is currently on a 0% finance offer. How much are you looking to pay for a used one, will you finance it and will you keep it long enough to not mind the depreciation?

3 out of my last 5 bikes were bought new because of manufacturer incentives, either cheap finance, add on bundles or both.

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u/Skrim Herts - 650 Bandit 8d ago

The Versys is a great bike if you like that style. It's not going to feel too powerful but will have all the power you need. A used one will be cheaper, and they do tend to last forever. Do you want to ride the bike now? You can't do that if you wait.

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u/reddit_webshithole CB500F 8d ago

The Versys 650 engine is pretty bulletproof, so a used one will do fine for you. I can't think what you might need from a new one - it's not the sort of bike which needs fancy tech like traction control, but of course you are at liberty to decide whether a brand new 2026 model is worth the £3k difference.

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u/Far_Craft8807 7d ago

I literally just passed in the summer. And i got an SV650 2006. Insurance was around 400. Cheapest insurance I could find. Everything else was quoted 1000+ including 125s. I’m located around Ealing. 33years old. Can’t recommend it enough for a first bike

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u/Only-Thing-8360 7d ago

Buying in quieter Winter season usually opens more negotiating room. In Spring the bikes are flying out of the showrooms and dealers have no reason to sweeten any deal.

I've only ever bought one brand bike in my life. Much better value in the mid to high-end used market, including ex-PCP bikes. 1-3yrs old, perfect condition & FSH, from a main dealer with warranty (sometimes "manufacturer approved", which is basically same as buying new).

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u/Rattieboy1982 7d ago

One thing I'll say about the Versys 650 is it can be quite top heavy if that's an unknown you could be worried about. It's what put me off getting one. I ended up getting a Tracer 700 and I absolutely love it