Noobie Explosion

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mxs said:
Why do you OP think there's an "explosion" in ridership? Do you have some official numbers to prove it (new Mx licences issued through ministry ...), or you by eyeballing it on the street. I don't think there's many new people getting into it.
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There was a recent post where someone linked to stats on bike registrations for the last decade or so. The number of bikes on the road is definitely increasing, however, the stats aren't detailed enough to say how many are new riders. It's reasonable IMO to assume that many of these new registrations are new riders.

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Found the link (posted by Deimos): http://www.mmic.ca/images/content/PDF/Annual Industry Report MMIC & COHV - 2011 - summary.pdf

And the thread: http://www.gtamotorcycle.com/vbforu...d-Motorcycle-Popularity&p=1818029#post1818029
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Well, I'm a full time student and I really just wanted a way to get around town, without having to borrow my parents car. So I simply looked for the cheapest mode of transportation. A motorcycle is cheaper than a car when it comes to gas, insurance, maintenance and the actual cost of the bike itself. I would be lying if the vanity aspect didn't play a role, once I realized I could afford a bike the thought of how I would look/how others would see me sort of got the snowball rolling a bit more.

Honestly though, the cost really surprised me and got me all excited. Dunno why but I always thought that owning a bike would be more expensive than owning a car. (Mind you I have a Ninja 250, so that might be why)
 
So......what are you planning to do the other 6 months of the year for transportation?

For reasons already explained, new riders usually find out quickly that motorcycling is not a cheap alternative to owning a car.
 
short stop said:
So......what are you planning to do the other 6 months of the year for transportation?

For reasons already explained, new riders usually find out quickly that motorcycling is not a cheap alternative to owning a car.
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correct, riding alone can be a cost effective and efficient means of transportation, but for most it simply does not function well as a primary or sole means of transport. For most the "season" here can last 8-10 months, some people shorter. So an alternate means of transport is required, by foot, by bicycle, by car, by public transport...

The reality is, once you have a career, spouse, kids, a car becomes almost a necessity and adding a motorcycle becomes a use of disposable income, as operating 2 vehicles of any type will always be more costly then 1 vehicle of any type.

The perceived operating cost savings of your motorcycle will always be offset by the stationary "alternate" means of transport.

I know this does not apply to everyone but definitely it must apply to 75% + of the population.
 
as many of the new riders said ,i always wanted to ride, i had to put it off for a while (rock band, buying home, car and marriage) . finally i had enough money to support my riding habit , i used to ride scooters back in my home country all the time. i think it has to do with immigrants populating the GTA last ten years too. Most of the immigrants coming from countries with high motorcycle traffic.

I do think that its not cost effective when it comes to operating more than 1 vehicle, but it does add alot of comfort to ur lifestyl if you like travelling alot and being outside instead of watching tv and playing video games.

also i think bike prices for 250cc range is very reasonable. many of my friends (not riders) thought my 2009 ninja 250 costed me $10.000 plus tax. they have no idea about motorcycles prices , of course they have no idea about CC and insurance as well , actually they think insurance would be very cheap for bikes . its smaller than a car at the end , right?...:)...

I like seeing more riders on the roads , i think its going to be much easier for us in the future , as car drivers would pay attention more when they see bikers more often.
 
short stop said:
So......what are you planning to do the other 6 months of the year for transportation?

For reasons already explained, new riders usually find out quickly that motorcycling is not a cheap alternative to owning a car.
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I usually ride 10 months out of the year. I did 11.5 this past year. TTC into the city for the down time. My gas money gets directed to token money for that period. Then I day dream of +1 degree weather and snow melt.
 
Gotta be the price of gas for me, riding to work opposed to driving over 4 months actually saves $2000 in gas! Of course we can't forget the obvious that bikes are just plain cool :)
 
my v6 costs like 80$ to fill, **** that **** lol.

it feels better to put a max of $20 in the bike and im good for 2 weeks...(just to work and back)

cost effective, who cares...it makes my mind feel better about it.
 
For me its cheaper..
Car:
$350/month insurance
$200/month gas
$120/month parking at YorkU

Bike:
$169/month insurance (lets make it ~$230 to account for the months I can't ride)
$80/month gas
Free parking at school, downtown, and at work.

Theres many variables such as repairs and maintenance (just spend $150 on replacing tires on the Ninja)..but I find that at the end of the day, for my situation, the Ninja is saving me money. With the GO bus charging $4.50 one way to york, (thats $9 per day, plus $6 for TTC fare)..The bike seems to be cheaper/close to the cost of taking the bus.
 
i got a bike to ride. not in the city. **** riding in the city with all the ****** drivers.

i only do long distance. riding in the city is for whimps
 
awyala said:
Ok what's causing the plethora of noobs? By the way, I love it. But I can't quite figure what's causing the riding boom.

To discuss:

Is there in fact a rider boom?

Is it due to:
1) gas prices?
3) congestion?
4) some sort of imported European sensibility?
5) high insurance rates for cars?
6) high insurance rates for noobs, pushing noobs to the 250 lower capacity market, which in turn creates a more accissible culture as compared to the olden days of jumping straight onto an R6, binning it, and having the rest of society hate your hooligan hide?
7) the hipster scooter culture creating a non-ss-biker culture which turns people onto 2 wheels in the first place?
8) warmer winters?
9) E-bikes making you envious in traffic while stuck in your car?


Discuss.
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Dunno, you tell us?
 
:lmao:
 
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Kri$han said:
I'm 30 in a few months, and I recently had to move back into my parent's house so I can save $$ to get married. Most people who criticize those in my situation should look up historical data on the cost of living vs. average income (even for white collar careers) :( I'm glad that at a minimum, I own a house (it's rented).

Anyway, I disagree with the quoted comment: In Canada, a bike CANNOT be a viable (or serious) commuting tool. As a hypothetical, let's compare to a mid-90's civic. On the bike;

- it s more dangerous (esp. at times when bikes aren't expected on the roads)
- weather IS a setback, regardless of your tolerance, are you gonna take a full change of clothes when it rains on the way to work? Full gear? Where will you keep it, under your shared cubicle desk?
- insurance is not any cheaper than would be for a mid-90's civic hatchback
- gas cost is only marginally worse in the civic; definitely not enough to justify the initial cost of the bike
- winter (for 99% of riders) is not practical

These are toys here. Some of us are lucky that we can commute on them, to feel better about the ownership costs. I got my first bike because I had 5k of disposable income, I was hooked after taking the M1X course, and because I ****in' felt like it.
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In my case my business covers my insurance for my Cherokee. My insurance on the bike is $470 per year. Gas for the Cherokee is over $200 per month if I drive it everyday as opposed to the $30 per month on the bike if I ride everyday. So for me it is a viable means of transport for daily commute, as well as being a method of entertainment. Kinda sucks actually, haven't ridden the bike for anything other than back and forth to work in some time.
 
CharleneLizette said:
I've wanted a bike for over four years.. but just had other priorities... now I'm making enough to support the bike habit..it's not a cheap one.. and I feel mature enough to ride safely... and my God does it feel good to sit on a bike as a woman.. I'm an adrenaline junkie.. the sound of the exhaust... the sleek contours of almost any motorcycle.. its just HOT.. eventually i want to get a dirty ducati... eventually......
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My answer exactly, - just except for the woman part :D
 
#10) children of the baby boomer generation hitting the mid-life crises age.. ;)
 
Oh forgot the biggest reason i would think for younger riders or anyone who doesn't posses a G license. If you don't have a G license, you are looking at 2 years to get one, with a minimum of 1 full year after passing the written test before you can even drive a car alone.. and that's with a lot of restrictions!. Compare that to a motorcycle, where you can write the m1 test, and get an m2 60 days later. Then you are on the roads, all on your own. It's so completely backwards in my opinion. A car can do more damage sure, but a motorcycle is technically far more difficult to ride. So it makes no sense that you can be on a bike on highways in just 2 shorts months. Yet not in a car for 2 years. And with an M2 your only restriction is no alcohol. In a car after a full year you still can't ride at night, on highways etc.. totally backwards..
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