interested in motorcycles...how can I start??

[CJJ25]

what can I do to obtain a license?? whats the process like?
what kind of bike is recommended for a starter?? =)

[tharkad1]

Not sure where you are located, but for ONtario, there is a graduated licence program like the G.
M1 - Written
M2 - Practical course (done in a parking lot)
M3- Highway driving

Check out gtamotorcycle.com for more info....


For beginners, an older 250-500cc classic like a marauder or rebel, or a 250-500 cc Ninja.

[TooSoonJr]

What the above poster said is correct, just to add:

You do the written M1 test, similar to G1, and you have 90 days to complete the safety course for M2.

To do the M highway, you have to wait 18 months after you get your M2.

I have my M currently, and i started on a Yamaha R6 when i had my M1. The bike you start on depends on your maturity level, your confidence, your skill level (how fast you learn), and whether or not you can afford the insurance rates if you are under 25.

I am under 25 and had to bend over backwards when it came to insurance, however since i have my M now and have had experience it's signficantly cheaper.

Good luck.

[mrlooneytoon]

What everyone else said above.

And in addiiton, here's a good website I kept track of when I had just started. Has got everything from choosing a bike, clothing, learning curves, etc.
http://www.gtamotorcycle.com

[AzN_RiverdaleCI]

what can I do to obtain a license?? whats the process like?
what kind of bike is recommended for a starter?? =)

obviously you did not do a search... The OFFICIAL M1,M2,M + L restrictions licencing questions thread

http://www.redflagdeals.com/forums/showthread.php?t=386235

[CJJ25]

obviously you did not do a search... The OFFICIAL M1,M2,M + L restrictions licencing questions thread

http://www.redflagdeals.com/forums/showthread.php?t=386235


haha i had no idea it is called M1, M2...in the first place. =P

how much is the insurance??? i am under 25 and i don't see the bike as my primary source of transportation. just use it for school in the summer and get to places thats local. but i figure it is a cool skill to have. and i am highly unlikely to go on highway with a bike....lol.

is it not worth the investment???

[pfbmgd]

Most community colleges have new rider programs .Great place to start riding .Use their bikes and see if you like it .

[mrcantrell]

haha i had no idea it is called M1, M2...in the first place. =P

how much is the insurance??? i am under 25 and i don't see the bike as my primary source of transportation. just use it for school in the summer and get to places thats local. but i figure it is a cool skill to have. and i am highly unlikely to go on highway with a bike....lol.

is it not worth the investment???

Assuming you're male... if you got a crappy bike and had a squeaky clean driving record you'd be lucking to be under $3,000 a year for insurance. Get quotes before you buy anything.

Don't forget the other costs; Gear (Min $750), Bike (Min $500), Gas, Maintenance, Winter storage, accessories and add ons.

Good luck, it's not cheap, but personally I LOVE my bike.

[Atomic Chip]

Dont buy a motorcycle. They are so slow, and dangerous, and you need a special license. Get an Ariel Atom! Much more fun.

[D-Sisive]

Dont buy a motorcycle. They are so slow, and dangerous, and you need a special license. Get an Ariel Atom! Much more fun.

i always see ppl hating on your post when you pimp your ariel but never comment since the ariel is cool

but this is funny

pretty sure a zx-12r or hayabusa is just as fast or faster than your ariel

plus an atom is at least 4-6x more expensive than a top end bike

most ppl would be happy doing a 600cc, its WAY cheaper than your atom and just as fun....if you don`t respect the bike and get hurt, its your own fault

plus im pretty sure if you get hit or crash in an atom even with the rollcage, it`ll be just as dangerous as a bike

if everyone had extra money like you to buy an atom, im sure they would (just like ppl that buy supercars), but for someone with less money, a bike gives a pretty good thrill

[dark169]

Dont buy a motorcycle. They are so slow, and dangerous, and you need a special license. Get an Ariel Atom! Much more fun.

$ for $ nothing is faster or more fun then a motorcycle. Having driven some pretty nice cars I can tell you they are never as fun as bike leaned way over, they are fun but its not the same.

edit: btw I just remembered Ariel was in town this past summer and typical lap times where in the in the 1:40's, with some of the instructors hot laps getting well into the 1:30's which is 10 seconds slower then the SV650 record on track (1:25) Super bike record is 1:16, 600cc is 1:17, Amateur 600 is under 1:20...

If your Ont. you'll get screwed huge on insurance, here in Alberta I pay 1100 a year on my Hayabusa, and thats with a couple tickets and an accident on my record. My gf pays 600 a year on her 01 zx6. When I first started I paid 1700 on my Katana...

Get training, get good gear and WEAR your gear ALL the time, you don't wear the gear for when your riding you wear if for when your sliding down the road @ 100km/h.

NEVER buy a new bike as your first bike. I did and it was stupid.

Never think your finsihed learning, and never think your better then you are.

One of my instructors had a good saying (i'm sure he stole if from somewhere): Everyone has 2 buckets, Luck and Skill, when you start you have a full bucket of luck and and empty on of skill, the trick is to fill your skill bucket before running out of the luck. Some people have bigger buckets then others.

Almost any bike you'll buy will be twice as fast as your car, the speed where they stop being fast changes but even 500cc bikes will get up and go off the line pretty good.

[BartBandy]

Sign your donor card.

[Atomic Chip]

pretty sure a zx-12r or hayabusa is just as fast or faster than your ariel

I can't say for certain, but I highly doubt it. To the best of my knowledge, no motorcycle has ever beaten the 300 hp Atom in controlled tests.


plus an atom is at least 4-6x more expensive than a top end bike ... If everyone had extra money like you to buy an atom, im sure they would (just like ppl that buy supercars), but for someone with less money, a bike gives a pretty good thrill

True and true.


plus im pretty sure if you get hit or crash in an atom even with the rollcage, it'll be just as dangerous as a bike

Have to call BS on that one. In an Atom, you are surrounded by one of the strongest structures available, and are strapped in with a five-point harness. On a bike, you have no protection at all.

[blue mountain raider]

[QUOTE=Atomic Chip;6086902]I can't say for certain, but I highly doubt it. To the best of my knowledge, no motorcycle has ever beaten the 300 hp Atom in controlled tests.

the full electric bike "killacycle" goes to 0-60 in 1 second.

[dark169]

I can't say for certain, but I highly doubt it. To the best of my knowledge, no motorcycle has ever beaten the 300 hp Atom in controlled tests.


Most likely true, but then again how many controlled tests go the other way? So many factors, and really depends on what your looking to compare.

[Rekognize]

All I can say is be safe and don't be a tragedy :)

[Atomic Chip]

Most likely true, but then again how many controlled tests go the other way?

None that I know of. :?: :?: :?:

[Frankie3s]

what can I do to obtain a license?? whats the process like?
what kind of bike is recommended for a starter?? =)

You can start by buying a coffin. Seriously, most drivers don't watch out for motorcyclists and you are very likely to be hurt seriously. Every time I see one of these guys on the road I think of them as evil kenevil. You have been warned.

[ac328]

You can start by buying a coffin. Seriously, most drivers don't watch out for motorcyclists and you are very likely to be hurt seriously. Every time I see one of these guys on the road I think of them as evil kenevil. You have been warned.

LOL, that's a bit over the top isn't it??

[Polaren]

I think his point is, people in Toronto barely ever pay attention to other vehicles..large ones at that.
How do you expect them to pay attention to motorcycles?

In a car most people aren't worried about being dinged or cut-off.etc as they have the car to protect them. On a bike you are the cushioning lol

In a normal accident the car wraps around you, in a bike accident you wrap around the car. :)

[mrlooneytoon]

Well, to be safe, know your bike limits. Don't push it, cuz it's scary unless you're a pro. I started on an SV650S which is a beginner sport-touring bike.

Don't ever speed, always wear full leathers, helmet and as much protection as possible.

Watch far out ahead of you and always anticipate. Ride like you're invisible on the road and no one can see you. If you keep that mentality in your head you'll be a lot more prepared for the worst case scenario. Never ride in someone else's blind spot (especially SUV driving soccer moms and rich beemer driving old men - sorry to generalize but they're the worst!)

The worst position for a bike is when approaching a light and a car is waiting up ahead to make a left turn from the intersection. It's hard to judge distance from a car driver so slow down and hover on the brake lever.

In my opinion, the highway is a motorcycle death trap so I avoided it like the plague. If I need to get somewhere far away I take side streets that are slower but riding a bike is fun anyway so why would you want to get there fast? :)

If you want to ride fast goto a track. There are many track days available and you can do things on a track that you'll never in a million years be able to do on the street (such as knee dragging :razz: and getting rid of your chicken strips)

When I first got my bike I went to the parking lot at a high school closest to me and practiced emergency stopping and swerving. Helps a lot because guaranteed you'll be doing it every day you're out for a ride.

Other than that, you'll love riding a bike!

[Robmic]

You can start by buying a coffin. Seriously, most drivers don't watch out for motorcyclists and you are very likely to be hurt seriously. Every time I see one of these guys on the road I think of them as evil kenevil. You have been warned.


Hows life in your plastic, sanitized, temperature controlled bubble there??

Must get boring???

:cheesygri

[Robmic]

Canada Safety Council offers some of the best initial training.

http://www.safety-council.org/