New rider with many question

D

DFlikks

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Hi. I'm 16 looking to get my m1 next spring when I turn 17. I've been doing a lot of research and have seen that for an m1 rider it would be about $3000 or more a year on insurance. People suggested getting your m2 first then insuring. How am I supposed to practise for my m2 without a legal bike to ride. And do you need your own bike for the m2 exit test? Is it possible to get like a really cheap insurance plan (like no coverage really) just so you can legally ride the bike?

thanks for any help
 
Thanks. And I was looking at either an 07 honda cbr 125 or an older (70's 80's) dual sport. 175cc I think. And do I need my m2 to have a bike registered in my name?
 
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Get 50cc scoot for the first year on facility insurance.
Then move to a 250-300 something. You'll save a ton of insurance money and learn traffic etc.

It's got good road presence
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and is fun...all for a $1k

http://www.kijiji.ca/v-scooters-poc...er/1094677203?enableSearchNavigationFlag=true

My kid had fun on his for that year and it was quick enough to go on local road rides with me.

Also recommended...take the motocross course at Motopark.....you be a way better rider.
If you have someone to drive you....buy a Honda 230 and leave it up there for the season and ride every weekend.
Learn to fall, learn to deal with uneven surfaces....all good for you on the street.
 
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Get your Dad to put the bike in his name and insure you as a second rider, and pay him the difference in the rate. It will be much cheaper that way. If you never rode a bike before get an on/off road bike, like a 250 or something and practice off-road. Honestly, I recommend that you drive a car on the public roadways for a couple of years first, before you ride a bike on the street. You need to get used to drivers who don't follow the rules and train your eyes to get a good picture of what is going on around you. Cars are forgiving in an accident, bikes are not, and there are jerks and psychos out there who will find it amusing to almost run you off the road. You need to learn how to anticipate and deal with that.

If you absolutely must have a motorcycle, try to keep on the less travelled roads until you get more experience.
 
I wrote my M1 and then enrolled in an "M1 Exit Course" from Learning Curves. The course took one weeknight plus a full weekend and they supply the bike (you need gear). On the last day, you they test you and if you pass, they give you an envelope you can take in to get your M2. It costs just under $500 including taxes. Compared to $3000 for the year, it may be a good option. Taking the course should also lower your insurance (probably only slightly since you are still young).
 
So take the course. They supply the bike teach you how to ride? And as for the m1 exit test. Do they supply a bike?
 
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If you take the learner course, bikes are supplied for the duration and the test at the end of the weekend.

As for not having interest in a G1 or driving, that's kinda backwards... just get both licences. In fact, it would be extremely beneficial for you to have road experience in a car before jumping on a motorcycle. 2 wheels add an entire element of danger that can be mitigated by road awareness and general road experience that you don't currently have. We've all been dumb teenagers behind the wheel - I can't imagine having gone through that phase on a motorcycle instead.
 
DFlikks said:
My parents dont ride at all. And I don't even have my g1 yet. I have no interest in getting it to be honest
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Get your G1 the same day you do your M1, Since the part of the G1 test is in the M1 test you might as well do them both. You can get your G1M1 for the same cost as just the G1.
As others are suggesting take the motorcycle course, some insurance companies will insure you as an M2 rider while you still have your M1 if you provide them with a copy of proof you completed the course.

I would also suggest a 250 over a 125cc as the difference in insurance cost isn't usually that big. For instance I had a Ninja 250 and paid $160 a month for it and a Honda Grom (125cc) is $148 a month. You may have different results but that is how it is generally. Dual sports are often cheaper to insure than other street bikes as well.

Start getting some quotes and have a few bikes ready to give them as it will save you a lot of time and you can see the different prices.
 
As to your other questions, you need a motorcycle of your own (or borrowed, whatever) to do the m road test. And you're absolutely right about the part about needing insurance in order to get road experience. And no, there's no "cheap no-coverage insurance" because the mandatory part, the liability, is also the most expensive factor in insurance. It's gonna cost you several thousand a year to ride a motorcycle, no matter what.
 
As long as it's cheaper than 250 a month I really wouldn't mind and I'm 17. Have nothing better to spend my money on anyways
 
DFlikks said:
As long as it's cheaper than 250 a month I really wouldn't mind and I'm 17. Have nothing better to spend my money on anyways
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I think 250 a month should be obtainable for you as long as you take the course. Get lots of quotes from different companies, not just 2 or 3 as rates from companies vary wildly and like I said have 3 or 4 bikes ready to get quotes on when you call, you'll need the year, bike name and sometimes engine size.
 
DFlikks said:
As long as it's cheaper than 250 a month I really wouldn't mind and I'm 17. Have nothing better to spend my money on anyways
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I would really use that money to get a cheap car and get some driving experience. I really believe you need to be able to read the traffic/drivers in order to ride safely.
 
mmmnaked said:
If you take the learner course, bikes are supplied for the duration and the test at the end of the weekend.

As for not having interest in a G1 or driving, that's kinda backwards... just get both licences. In fact, it would be extremely beneficial for you to have road experience in a car before jumping on a motorcycle. 2 wheels add an entire element of danger that can be mitigated by road awareness and general road experience that you don't currently have. We've all been dumb teenagers behind the wheel - I can't imagine having gone through that phase on a motorcycle instead.
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I had my bike license before my car license. It made me a better driver. And the phase you are referring to lasts for a few years at least so waiting to get a bike license is a waste of time.
And motocross/off road riding is the best way to learn how to control a motorcycle.
 
It's gonna cost you several thousand a year to ride a motorcycle, no matter what.
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That is not true if he starts with facility insurance and a 50cc scoot. The little Yamaha has good road presence and cheap to buy and cheap to insure. For a 16 year it's fun and cheap and not pissing away money to the insurance companies.

Then after a clean year of riding go for a bigger ride.

I don't recommend getting car licence first ....if you bicycle ride in traffic and obey the traffic laws. Good transition and will give you road awareness. Small scoot is an ideal next step for insurance purposes - then go for better bike...I agree a small dual sport is excellent and they are made to be dropped. You'll be a much better street rider if you have some off pavement experience.
 
MacDoc's 50cc option is intriguing and will surely get you on a motorcycle and save you money on insurance.

I recommend the used car option for a few years. A used car will be close to or cheaper than a motorcycle. Motorcycles are more dangerous than cars, but it is often the other car drivers that make mistakes and put motorcyclists in hospital, or worse. You, as a potential motorcycle rider, need to learn to read the road and to predict the actions of these other car drivers, in order to not be in the wrong place at the wrong time. This learning is part of experience driving/riding on the road, and nothing will substitute. Unfortunately the time for this learning experience is also quite dangerous. Mistakes will be made. If you are in a car you experience a fender bender, no worse for wear. If on a bike you'll be in a hospital. It does not matter who makes the mistake or who has rightrs of way, the rider pays the price for whomever's mistake. Until you have some road experience, it is safest to do this learning in a car.

On a bike what will you do during the winter? Do not underestimate how cold it can get on a motorcycle due to windchill. If the temp is 0C and you travel at 50kph, which is slow, you will feel like -15C. Protection from the wind is critical to not getting frostbite. Check out some windchill calculators. I stop riding at 3C and I have a windshield and heated grips. When it gets colder few riders are out and car drivers are not expecting motorcycles to be on the road, thus increasing the risk to the rider.

There is lots of time to learn to ride in the future, so there's no rush to get on two wheels. It's more financially expensive, it is more physically risky, and you can ride less months of the year, but it is a lot more fun. Learn the rules of the road in a car and then supplement with a bike.
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