Hi everyone. I just bought a ninja 250 and am debating if I should insure the bike now or wait until next season. I will be turning 21 next February, so finding insurance right now has been difficult. Anyways, TD has told me that they can insure my bike for legal street riding, as well as fire and theft for a one time fee of 344$ from today until February. Then I wont have a policy with them and can go searching around in aprilish time(State farm seems to have the best rate). My question was how much riding usually is done during these months, and would it be worth my money (I am a student so debating on whether to save 344$ for next season is a big decision). I know that october is usually just cold and can be fine for riding, but does anyone find nice days in december etc where they take the bike out of storage and go for a ride? Any help would be appreciated, thanks!
Question about winter riding
- Thread starter miker313
- Start date
It all depends on the weather and your tolerance for the cold and risk...I'd say as your first season it'd be best to wait until the spring. If you have the bike now you'd probably still get a good 3 weeks (not including rain days etc.). My vote is for wait until Spring. Save the $344 and use it for gear at the December/January motorcycle shows. EDIT: There will always be a nice day here/there in December/January/Feb that you can take out the bike, but then you're dealing with possible black ice, idiot drivers who don't expect you, and salt on the roads.
I typically put on 20-30,000 km between january and april on bikes, but learning to ride in the winter is not ideal.
Personally, I would go for it and keep the rides close to home, it will help you build some experience and insurance history and you shouldn't get caught out in horrendous weather.
Personally, I would go for it and keep the rides close to home, it will help you build some experience and insurance history and you shouldn't get caught out in horrendous weather.
Joots
Well-known member
This is actually exactly what i've done with my insurance right now. I got my bike about a month ago though, so I've had time to ride. It's really up to you, if you think you're going to get that much out of it between now and when you are going to stop riding for the season, then go for it. If you're tight on money, maybe put it off until next spring.
++1
but just an addition. you will be aching to get on that bike with every dry day between now and spring.
also, you will be likely to take the bike out EARLY in the spring, in which case you will still be a new rider facing weather that is similar to Fall... hence similar risk. so it's your call.
BUT if you decided to wait, keep in mind that if you start EARLY in spring, you should still take care ESPECIALLY the first rain that brings out ALL teh crap collected in the asphalt over the Winter months.
Good luck.
Sadly but true. A good helmet alone worth more than that.
^^ Although in my first year, I was pretty broke, but after finishing school and starting to work things became more comfortable.
I rode my first winter on any nice enough days and it was a good learning experience. Last winter was not so nice - the winter before, was awesome for riding all throughout. I say go for it and be careful if you get to ride, but don't complain if it snows all winter
I rode my first winter on any nice enough days and it was a good learning experience. Last winter was not so nice - the winter before, was awesome for riding all throughout. I say go for it and be careful if you get to ride, but don't complain if it snows all winter
Face
Well-known member
I put my bike away on Dec 24th both last year & the year before. That's 3 months of the fun & gaining experience that you might be missing out on.
Would you use the bike to commute to school? A student Metropass is $106/month. 3 months of insurance is almost a break even on what you'll save by not taking the TTC.
Would you use the bike to commute to school? A student Metropass is $106/month. 3 months of insurance is almost a break even on what you'll save by not taking the TTC.
bboySushi
Well-known member
It's all your preference, but riding in the winter does take a little more skill than on a hot sunny day.
Have you ever went riding at 0 deg Celsius, even for 20 minutes? Without proper gloves and/or heated grips, let me tell you, you'll be stopping at Timmy's for some coffee. Last winter I rode with only summer shorty ventilator gloves and my hands were frozen and extremely uncomfortable. (i actually thought I had frostbite at once point and had to exit and pull into a Timmys to warm my tingling hands up).
I still don't have cold weather gloves but at least I have gauntlets now. Will still ride. Trying to get my bike fixed now so I can ride until snow hits (that's my limit, snow and ice).
Have you ever went riding at 0 deg Celsius, even for 20 minutes? Without proper gloves and/or heated grips, let me tell you, you'll be stopping at Timmy's for some coffee. Last winter I rode with only summer shorty ventilator gloves and my hands were frozen and extremely uncomfortable. (i actually thought I had frostbite at once point and had to exit and pull into a Timmys to warm my tingling hands up).
I still don't have cold weather gloves but at least I have gauntlets now. Will still ride. Trying to get my bike fixed now so I can ride until snow hits (that's my limit, snow and ice).
djez
Well-known member
Why so expensive? I'm insuring my liter Sport bike with TD for 74$ from october 1 to end of Feb, try getting a quote starting Oct.
I say go for it, nothing is more sad than a bike sitting in the garage.
The experience you will gain in cold riding will prepare you for next season.
Make sure to invest in good gears and always listen to your body. Practice in empty parking lots and use your best judgement before going out.
Get CAA and don't be afraid to call it quits if you find yourself in bad weather and need help to get your bike home.
I say go for it, nothing is more sad than a bike sitting in the garage.
The experience you will gain in cold riding will prepare you for next season.
Make sure to invest in good gears and always listen to your body. Practice in empty parking lots and use your best judgement before going out.
Get CAA and don't be afraid to call it quits if you find yourself in bad weather and need help to get your bike home.
I started riding in March of 2010, when it was still fairly chilly out for a new rider -- and have ridden through every winter since, though only if there was very little to no snow/ice etc present in the area. That said, I generally would stick to my own area (Scarborough) and to roads I routinely took, so that I'd have a better idea of any road conditions etc.
Currently I work downtown (about to transfer back) and one of my biggest issues with the upcoming winter, was knowing that I'm not willing to do that daily commute on the bike since it involves highways, streetcar tracks, and more than the usual idiot cagers on the road. Knowing that I'll be back in my own area again though, I will once again be riding through winter.
As mentioned above, heated gear & appropriate riding gear makes a huge difference. There's no way I would've comfortably taken on winter riding without my heated liner the first 2 years. Also, appropriate tire pressure, and being mindful of bike control/handling -- acceleration, braking, cornering etc will all be significantly different from the spring/summer months. Salt on the road means much less traction, I've had many good slips on that stuff. So it's up to you if you're willing to take the risk -- as a new rider though, I'd say either wait til next year, or at least avoid riding through the worse parts of the winter, for your own good.
And, absolutely take a course if you haven't already!
Currently I work downtown (about to transfer back) and one of my biggest issues with the upcoming winter, was knowing that I'm not willing to do that daily commute on the bike since it involves highways, streetcar tracks, and more than the usual idiot cagers on the road. Knowing that I'll be back in my own area again though, I will once again be riding through winter.
As mentioned above, heated gear & appropriate riding gear makes a huge difference. There's no way I would've comfortably taken on winter riding without my heated liner the first 2 years. Also, appropriate tire pressure, and being mindful of bike control/handling -- acceleration, braking, cornering etc will all be significantly different from the spring/summer months. Salt on the road means much less traction, I've had many good slips on that stuff. So it's up to you if you're willing to take the risk -- as a new rider though, I'd say either wait til next year, or at least avoid riding through the worse parts of the winter, for your own good.
And, absolutely take a course if you haven't already!
+1 to this. But do buy good winter gloves. Nothing worse as a new rider than to lose the feeling in your hands. You need them at fairly peak performance to operate your bike
You'll need to spend money on a good full leather jacket, pants and good gloves.
Learning to ride when you are freezing is not a good idea.
You don't think rationally. All that matters to you is that you get home as quick as possible so that you can warm up.
I ride fast as hell when I'm cold, just so I can get it over with as soon as possible.
I take stupid risks, but I have a lot of experience.
I suggest you don't do it.
Learning to ride when you are freezing is not a good idea.
You don't think rationally. All that matters to you is that you get home as quick as possible so that you can warm up.
I ride fast as hell when I'm cold, just so I can get it over with as soon as possible.
I take stupid risks, but I have a lot of experience.
I suggest you don't do it.
Guess it depends how tough u r when it comes to the cool air
BTW winter photo tag is beginning shortly over in the multimedia section. Ask me who won last season.
This.
If I started all over again, I'd start even on Nov 1st.
Sure you may not be able to ride as much compared to summer, but you'll 100% have a blast.
sunny_pines
Well-known member
A few things.
1. October counts for 5% of TD's annual insurance premiums, September - another 10%. If you insure starting Oct 1 you should be able to get the lowest rate for the following 4 months.
2. Get good gear. I would not suggest leather for winter, as leather jackets often do not feel that good when layered up. They are good for autumn (current weather), but below 10º a dedicated winter jacket (with a thermal liner, plus GoreTex or similar) is much better.
3. The faster you go, the colder you get. City streets will feel a lot less brutal than the highway. On the other hand, small streets tend to get less prompt and less thorough snow removal, so even if the main streets look clean and ridable, there may be snow/ice on the side streets, so watch out.
1. October counts for 5% of TD's annual insurance premiums, September - another 10%. If you insure starting Oct 1 you should be able to get the lowest rate for the following 4 months.
2. Get good gear. I would not suggest leather for winter, as leather jackets often do not feel that good when layered up. They are good for autumn (current weather), but below 10º a dedicated winter jacket (with a thermal liner, plus GoreTex or similar) is much better.
3. The faster you go, the colder you get. City streets will feel a lot less brutal than the highway. On the other hand, small streets tend to get less prompt and less thorough snow removal, so even if the main streets look clean and ridable, there may be snow/ice on the side streets, so watch out.
Get warm gear, especially gloves. I commuted until early December last year, and started up again in March this year. I still rode a few times in January, but didn't commute. You have no idea just how cold -5*C is when you add a 130km/h wind chill factor. I wore gauntlets, and even tried snowboarding gloves, in the end I had to give in to the cold. My commute is almost an hour each way at highway speeds.
