Soon to be New Rider! I Have Some Questions | GTAMotorcycle.com

Soon to be New Rider! I Have Some Questions

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himynameisjulz

Member
Hello! I recently joined the r/Torontomotorcycle community on Reddit and many people advised to join the community here as well...so here I am! I'm planning on taking my M1 very soon, possibly within the next few days, and I'm incredibly excited to finally start riding. It's been on my bucket list for some time and now feels like a good time to start. I do have a handful of questions that I'm hoping I can get some answers to.

1. DriveTest says that I need my passport as ID when I write my M1. I have my G license...can I use that as ID instead? I took my G1 13+ years ago and I remember I had to bring 2 pieces of ID but I'm not sure if that still applies, or if I can just bring one piece of ID. I'm sure things have changed since then lol.

2. I heard insurance is terrible in Toronto. If anyone has any tips or leads on where/who I should go to, please send them my way!

3. I'm planning on going with Learning Curves for my M2 course/exit exam, specifically their Markham location. Anyone with any insight/experience learning from them, please feel free to leave your opinions here! Google has a perfect 5 star rating and all of their reviews are overwhelmingly positive, but any other anecdotes are welcome.

4. Any recommendations on where to get gear? Reddit has been recommending Revzilla but they're American so I'm not sure how their international shipping rates work. Are there any Canadian sites that are similar to Revzilla, or any great gear stores in the GTA I should check out? I've heard good things about GP Bikes. Any recommendations on gear would be appreciated as well!

5. Bike-wise, I've been leaning towards cruisers. Never really been a fan of sport bikes; speed isn't my priority. Would much rather just "sit back and enjoy the ride" if that makes any sense. A lot of people on Reddit have recommended the Rebel for beginners, though I've heard good things about the V-Star and Vulcan as well. Just want to know if there's anyone here who can provide further insight on any of these bikes, or if there is another beginner-friendly cruiser you think I should check out. For context, I'm a really small female - 5'3, around 140 pounds.

6. ABS or no? Is it true when people say that beginners will get bored of 250s and 300s quickly, and should start with a 500 or higher instead?

Any other general tips or advice is also welcome. Thanks for all the help!
 
At 5'3" a cruiser is a good choice. You may be good for up to about a 600 in rhe cruiser category. Depending on your maturity. Check out Fortnine for gear.
 
Welcome to GTAM!

I don't remember carrying my passport for M1. I did have my G2 at the time.

For insurance, best to start with brokers that specialize in motorcycle insurance like Mitchel and Whale, Dalton Timmis. Other options include riders plus, the cooperators.

For Gear, GPbikes located in Whitby is excellent. Royal distributing is also right next door to them. GPBikes usually has most of the gear in stock on display, so you could try it out before buying. Especially helmets. They also do online orders. Also, fortnine.ca is another good Canadian online retailer. Regear is a small store in Oshawa which is probably also worth checking out.


Other advice: after passing the course and securing a bike, hit empty parking lots for practice. Course is not enough to become a good street rider, although it's a very good start for basic skills. Good luck

Edit: oh and make sure to secure insurance before buying a bike. I like to provide the VIN to the agent and make them confirm with the underwriter before buying any bike.
 
roadrash said:
Welcome to GTAM!

I don't remember carrying my passport for M1. I did have my G2 at the time.

For insurance, best to start with brokers that specialize in motorcycle insurance like Mitchel and Whale, Dalton Timmis. Other options include riders plus, the cooperators.

For Gear, GPbikes located in Whitby is excellent. Royal distributing is also right next door to them. GPBikes usually has most of the gear in stock on display, so you could try it out before buying. Especially helmets. They also do online orders. Also, fortnine.ca is another good Canadian online retailer. Regear is a small store in Oshawa which is probably also worth checking out.


Other advice: after passing the course and securing a bike, hit empty parking lots for practice. Course is not enough to become a good street rider, although it's a very good start for basic skills. Good luck

Edit: oh and make sure to secure insurance before buying a bike. I like to provide the VIN to the agent and make them confirm with the underwriter before buying any bike.
Click to expand...
Someone on reddit recommended Dalton Timmis to me. Thanks for the recommendations, will definitely check them out.

I've been checking out GP Bikes' online store and they seem to have a good amount of stuff. Will definitely check out fortnine and Regear, thank you!

A lot of people have been telling me to practice in empty lots, so I'll probably end up doing that once I'm able to start riding.
 
140 pounds, you are just like me, the bike will hardly feel you on there.
Price insurance with whoever you have household insurance with if you have none then at least inquire about a tenant policy, that will usually suffice to see a little discount on your vehicles.
Don't go cheap on helmets, try lots on for comfort, light weight helmets cost more and if they are also aerodynamic they are easier on your neck :| Buy stuff at bike shows or at end of season, youth size gear is frequently left over and discounts are really good.
Learn to ride real good as if your life depends on it, have fun stay safe & ride lots :)
 
Trials said:
140 pounds, you are just like me, the bike will hardly feel you on there.
Price insurance with whoever you have household insurance with if you have none then at least inquire about a tenant policy, that will usually suffice to see a little discount on your vehicles.
Don't go cheap on helmets, try lots on for comfort, light weight helmets cost more and if they are also aerodynamic they are easier on your neck :| Buy stuff at bike shows or at end of season, youth size gear is frequently left over and discounts are really good.
Learn to ride real good as if your life depends on it, have fun stay safe & ride lots :)
Click to expand...
One of the advantages of being small is that I can fit into some kids' stuff, which means I can pay less :) thank you for the tips!
 
himynameisjulz said:
1. DriveTest says that I need my passport as ID when I write my M1. I have my G license...can I use that as ID instead? I took my G1 13+ years ago and I remember I had to bring 2 pieces of ID but I'm not sure if that still applies, or if I can just bring one piece of ID. I'm sure things have changed since then lol.
Click to expand...
Welcome!

Bring your passport. I had to return a second time because they only accept passport. Stupid because it wasn't worded that way online. Just said "Legal Identification". Guess that only means passport. Bring it. I had my G2 and literally every piece of ID except passport and they sent me home the first time.
 
Also I got a decent rate with Dalton Timmis - Echelon. CBR125 for 180/mo with upped AB and liability. Would reccomend that route. My broker was also a pleasure to deal with and helped quote me on a billion things before I finally settled on a bike. That's his job obviously, but I felt good about working with DT.
 
MaksTO said:
Welcome!

Bring your passport. I had to return a second time because they only accept passport. Stupid because it wasn't worded that way online. Just said "Legal Identification". Guess that only means passport. Bring it. I had my G2 and literally every piece of ID except passport and they sent me home the first time.

Also I got a decent rate with Dalton Timmis - Echelon. CBR125 for 180/mo with upped AB and liability. Would reccomend that route. My broker was also a pleasure to deal with and helped quote me on a billion things before I finally settled on a bike. That's his job obviously, but I felt good about working with DT.
Click to expand...
Glad to be here!

Passport, got it. It's just a hassle because mine's locked away in a safety deposit box, which means I have to make a stop before heading to DriveTest. Ugh. But better to be safe than sorry, right? Do they only check your passport, or do you need a secondary piece of ID too?

Thanks for the insurance tip! Several people have recommended Dalton Timmins so I'll definitely have to check them out.
 
himynameisjulz said:
Glad to be here!

Passport, got it. It's just a hassle because mine's locked away in a safety deposit box, which means I have to make a stop before heading to DriveTest. Ugh. But better to be safe than sorry, right? Do they only check your passport, or do you need a secondary piece of ID too?

Thanks for the insurance tip! Several people have recommended Dalton Timmins so I'll definitely have to check them out.
Click to expand...
When I went they just looked at my passport. But bring some other photo ID (Drivers License, Health Card or Citizenship) just in case. Sucks to spend 90 minutes in line like I did and then get sent home haha.
 
MaksTO said:
When I went they just looked at my passport. But bring some other photo ID (Drivers License, Health Card or Citizenship) just in case. Sucks to spend 90 minutes in line like I did and then get sent home haha.
Click to expand...
Definitely do not want to do that! I'll be sure to bring my passport. Thanks!
 
I dont understand how a passport could be mandatory when not everyone has one, nor are people here required to have a valid passport, except for travel.
 
Regear reminds me of Winners - great prices IF you can find something in your size and style. The owner told me they primarily stock larger sizes (XL) over smaller, but they did have a few things. Just so you know what to expect if you have to make a long trip out there.
 
himynameisjulz said:
Hello! I recently joined the r/Torontomotorcycle community on Reddit and many people advised to join the community here as well...so here I am! I'm planning on taking my M1 very soon, possibly within the next few days, and I'm incredibly excited to finally start riding. It's been on my bucket list for some time and now feels like a good time to start. I do have a handful of questions that I'm hoping I can get some answers to.

1. DriveTest says that I need my passport as ID when I write my M1. I have my G license...can I use that as ID instead? I took my G1 13+ years ago and I remember I had to bring 2 pieces of ID but I'm not sure if that still applies, or if I can just bring one piece of ID. I'm sure things have changed since then lol.

2. I heard insurance is terrible in Toronto. If anyone has any tips or leads on where/who I should go to, please send them my way!

3. I'm planning on going with Learning Curves for my M2 course/exit exam, specifically their Markham location. Anyone with any insight/experience learning from them, please feel free to leave your opinions here! Google has a perfect 5 star rating and all of their reviews are overwhelmingly positive, but any other anecdotes are welcome.

4. Any recommendations on where to get gear? Reddit has been recommending Revzilla but they're American so I'm not sure how their international shipping rates work. Are there any Canadian sites that are similar to Revzilla, or any great gear stores in the GTA I should check out? I've heard good things about GP Bikes. Any recommendations on gear would be appreciated as well!

5. Bike-wise, I've been leaning towards cruisers. Never really been a fan of sport bikes; speed isn't my priority. Would much rather just "sit back and enjoy the ride" if that makes any sense. A lot of people on Reddit have recommended the Rebel for beginners, though I've heard good things about the V-Star and Vulcan as well. Just want to know if there's anyone here who can provide further insight on any of these bikes, or if there is another beginner-friendly cruiser you think I should check out. For context, I'm a really small female - 5'3, around 140 pounds.

6. ABS or no? Is it true when people say that beginners will get bored of 250s and 300s quickly, and should start with a 500 or higher instead?

Any other general tips or advice is also welcome. Thanks for all the help!
Click to expand...

> 1. Passport
I believe I had only just 2 different IDs on me (no passport) but it might changed.. better call them and ask

> 2. Insurance
Yeah, it is bad for new riders. Make sure to secure it before buying a bike. And don't forget that online quote is not accurate. You need to call to insurance broker in order to get the real number. In addition, ask if there is a difference between paying the full amount or monthly. In my case, there is some additional fee for monthly payments, so I paid in full to save some $$. I'm with Dalton Timms (like many others here) and they gave me a good quote this year.

> 3. Learning Curves in Markham
I was there.. and you know.. they are AWESOME! Learned a lot and it was super positive experience. They have a lot of honda bikes, so you can try a rebel, grom or CB300R/CB300F

> 4. Gear
Like other people said, GP Bikes is a good place to try gear. They have everything what you need for your first set.

> 5. Bikes
If you don't have experience then try bikes at learning curves. You will have a chance to ride all of them..

> 6. ABS/250/300
ABS is a nice feature especially for new riders (removes fear to block front wheel in emergency). Regardless of ABS or no ABS - go to a parking lot and practice emergency braking once you will get your bike.
I personally started with a smaller bike and then upgraded on the next year. And I'm happy that I started with a smaller bike because it gave me the opportunity to learn a lot. If you will get a 300 then there is a big market for them. So, you might ride it for a year and basically sell it for the same price of what you've paid for it..
 
himynameisjulz said:
Hello! I recently joined the r/Torontomotorcycle community on Reddit and many people advised to join the community here as well...so here I am! I'm planning on taking my M1 very soon, possibly within the next few days, and I'm incredibly excited to finally start riding. It's been on my bucket list for some time and now feels like a good time to start. I do have a handful of questions that I'm hoping I can get some answers to.

1. DriveTest says that I need my passport as ID when I write my M1. I have my G license...can I use that as ID instead? I took my G1 13+ years ago and I remember I had to bring 2 pieces of ID but I'm not sure if that still applies, or if I can just bring one piece of ID. I'm sure things have changed since then lol.

2. I heard insurance is terrible in Toronto. If anyone has any tips or leads on where/who I should go to, please send them my way!
Click to expand...
Line up your choice of motorcycles first. Your ride and age are the two biggest factors for insurance. Since you are over 25, you should be in he sub $1000 range on a 300cc and down, possibly as low as 500 on a 200cc and smaller enduro.
himynameisjulz said:
3. I'm planning on going with Learning Curves for my M2 course/exit exam, specifically their Markham location. Anyone with any insight/experience learning from them, please feel free to leave your opinions here! Google has a perfect 5 star rating and all of their reviews are overwhelmingly positive, but any other anecdotes are welcome.
Click to expand...
Good choice.
himynameisjulz said:
4. Any recommendations on where to get gear? Reddit has been recommending Revzilla but they're American so I'm not sure how their international shipping rates work. Are there any Canadian sites that are similar to Revzilla, or any great gear stores in the GTA I should check out? I've heard good things about GP Bikes. Any recommendations on gear would be appreciated as well!
Click to expand...
Try FortNine.com (they always have lots of well proced clearance gear), GP Bikes and Royal Distributing in Whitby have showrooms. Re-gear in Oshawa may also be worth a visit.

himynameisjulz said:
5. Bike-wise, I've been leaning towards cruisers. Never really been a fan of sport bikes; speed isn't my priority. Would much rather just "sit back and enjoy the ride" if that makes any sense. A lot of people on Reddit have recommended the Rebel for beginners, though I've heard good things about the V-Star and Vulcan as well. Just want to know if there's anyone here who can provide further insight on any of these bikes, or if there is another beginner-friendly cruiser you think I should check out. For context, I'm a really small female - 5'3, around 140 pounds.
Click to expand...
My favorite small cruiser is a Vstar (Virago) 250. It's light, handles well and is and geared specifically for beginners. They are also durable and inexpensive to fix.
himynameisjulz said:
6. ABS or no? Is it true when people say that beginners will get bored of 250s and 300s quickly, and should start with a 500 or higher instead?
Click to expand...
If you don't pick a Virago, start with a used 250 in the make you like. Japanese beginner bikes are cheap and hold their value if you keep them in good order. Sell it when it's time to move up -- you will not lose money. The next step would be a 500 Honda or HD, or a 650 Suzuki or Yamaha. With your frame size, I'd be looking at the Suzuki S40 -- it's the lightest 650 cruiser and perfectly sized for your frame.
 
himynameisjulz said:
6. ABS or no? Is it true when people say that beginners will get bored of 250s and 300s quickly, and should start with a 500 or higher instead?

Any other general tips or advice is also welcome. Thanks for all the help!
Click to expand...

6a) If you had two bikes in front of you, otherwise identical except one had ABS and was a bit more expensive, I personally would choose the one with ABS. Some folks dislike the feature and they have their own valid reasons for doing so. Those reasons, however, are usually "corner cases" where the likelihood of the case of which they speak (e.g. comin' in hot on some stutter bumps) is relatively low and the benefits of ABS in every other situation is ignored.

There's a reason every new bike sold in Europe is required by law to have ABS.

6b) Many riders do bore of small machines (some find the firebreathers kind of exhausting and look to go down in size too, FWIW...) but there's no one pat answer.

If you grew up riding motorcross bikes and are skilled on a steroidal 50HP 250cc stroker I suspect a 25HP 250 street bike will not wow you. If you've never ridden an ICE-powered machine before you may find that same 25HP 250 to be intimidating and all you'll ever need/want.

It may also depend on how/where you ride; downtown TO in traffic? -- a small displacement bike would be more suitable than a Goldwing. Got a 1-1/2 hour 401 commute each way on the highway? -- you'll want something more substantial than a 250.

Part of the problem we face here in SOnt is that virtually every road is km after km of straight line. Look at a google-map view of SOnt (esp south-central and -west) and you'll just see a grid of straight lines. As such, motorcycles tend to be used very one-dimensionally here (i.e. straight-line) where "performance" is mostly acceleration, cruising comfort etc. If we had roads like those in the canyons of southern California those 250s would be able to flex their considerable handling and flickability skills and would be more popular for longer times with people. But because you go in a straight line everywhere here, it's nice to have some more ccs for more relaxed cruising and "peppier" acceleration.

As a general rule, I think the average new rider should start on a smaller machine. It just makes sense, you're less likely to get yourself into trouble and insurance will be friendlier. They retain their value well so if you do want to go up in size in a season or two, you can get your money back as long as you've kept it up.

As always, check insurance on any bike you like before buying; that is often one of the biggest impediments to new riders. Get a quote from a real person, not online (they lie...)
 
Relax said:
Regear reminds me of Winners - great prices IF you can find something in your size and style. The owner told me they primarily stock larger sizes (XL) over smaller, but they did have a few things. Just so you know what to expect if you have to make a long trip out there.
Click to expand...
Will do, thanks!
 
GreenPlane said:
> 1. Passport
I believe I had only just 2 different IDs on me (no passport) but it might changed.. better call them and ask

> 2. Insurance
Yeah, it is bad for new riders. Make sure to secure it before buying a bike. And don't forget that online quote is not accurate. You need to call to insurance broker in order to get the real number. In addition, ask if there is a difference between paying the full amount or monthly. In my case, there is some additional fee for monthly payments, so I paid in full to save some $$. I'm with Dalton Timms (like many others here) and they gave me a good quote this year.

> 3. Learning Curves in Markham
I was there.. and you know.. they are AWESOME! Learned a lot and it was super positive experience. They have a lot of honda bikes, so you can try a rebel, grom or CB300R/CB300F

> 4. Gear
Like other people said, GP Bikes is a good place to try gear. They have everything what you need for your first set.

> 5. Bikes
If you don't have experience then try bikes at learning curves. You will have a chance to ride all of them..

> 6. ABS/250/300
ABS is a nice feature especially for new riders (removes fear to block front wheel in emergency). Regardless of ABS or no ABS - go to a parking lot and practice emergency braking once you will get your bike.
I personally started with a smaller bike and then upgraded on the next year. And I'm happy that I started with a smaller bike because it gave me the opportunity to learn a lot. If you will get a 300 then there is a big market for them. So, you might ride it for a year and basically sell it for the same price of what you've paid for it..
Click to expand...
Thanks for the advice! I just got back from DriveTest and apparently all I needed was my driver's license. Passed in 10 minutes! Super stoked to finally get the ball rolling. Guess the next step is to book a weekend with Learning Curves and start shopping around for insurance!
 
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