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.)