49 years young, 1980's bike & out the door with an M1

R

Rockenstein

New member
I quit driving back in 1993 and let my Ontario G & M licences expire. Have rode a bus, plane, train and a bicycle pretty much since that time when I've needed to get places I didn't feel like walking to. Been thinking lately that I'd like a 350-750cc project bike from the early 80's. Had a 74 RD350, 76 CB550-4 and an 82 Seca 750 way back in the mid 80's, regret not mothballing the RD and CB in dad's barn in a bad way. Anyway I have been thinking the last few weeks, after taking a co-workers S40 for a spin around the block, that I'd like an 80's era project bike that I can tinker with over the winter and then maybe ride from London to Chalk River on next summer a few times to see my daughter and my grandson. The lame graduated licencing thing aside the thought of seeking out insurance for vintage bike and rider is worrying me the most! I am considering 3 project bikes for sale close to me that I could have trucked home without too much difficulty. The bikes are an 82 Maxim 400, an 84 Virago 500 and an 86 650 Savage.

What do you think my chances are with regards to finding insurance coverage for an 80's era bike & vintage rider with an M1 or M2?

If I get a bike from 83 or earlier would it better to register and insure it as a historic vehicle since my only planned trips would be a few weekend rides to Chalk River and the local Timmies now and then to sit and chat with friends?

:)
 
Welcome back. Check carefully before registering as historic, there are very strict conditions on historic cars (can only drive to the mechanic or to an organized car show/club meet). I assume there are similar rules for historic bikes and chalk river is probably way outside of that definition (unless you go the weekend of a bike show). Also historic insurance normally limits your yearly km (2000 to 5000km/yr IIRC). I had a car registered as historic for a few weeks until I realized the restrictions and decided it was worth it for me to register normally.

As for pricing, at least you're not young, that will help some. Let us know if insurance companies consider your past experience, or whether they rate you as a completely new driver.

Good luck, post pics when you find your steed.
 
The insurance companies will not take into consideration his past driving history. I too let me M licence lapse and left it that way for almost 20 years, then decided to get it back and get a bike I was of course forced to go M1. Although I had had m y previous M for 20 years the insurance company viewed me as a NEW rider. Their justification was unless you had an M licence AND had bike insurance all along they consider you to have not been riding, and therefore your skill level would be the same as someone who was just learning.

In fact I am getting quotes today as I now have regained full M but Desjardins doesn't consider that until you have one FULL year with M, (got the M in Jul this year and my renewal is in Feb so it won't lower my rate with them until the following renewal, in 2015).

GreyGhost said:
Welcome back. Check carefully before registering as historic, there are very strict conditions on historic cars (can only drive to the mechanic or to an organized car show/club meet). I assume there are similar rules for historic bikes and chalk river is probably way outside of that definition (unless you go the weekend of a bike show). Also historic insurance normally limits your yearly km (2000 to 5000km/yr IIRC). I had a car registered as historic for a few weeks until I realized the restrictions and decided it was worth it for me to register normally.

As for pricing, at least you're not young, that will help some. Let us know if insurance companies consider your past experience, or whether they rate you as a completely new driver.

Good luck, post pics when you find your steed.
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Yeah , sadly you have to start afresh with the insurance companies. I have a buddy in that boat too. Its a typical insurance con job IMHO. Once you have the skill you don't lose it and while you maybe rusty for awhile soon it will all come back. As far as the age of the bikes, few of the insurers now will touch anything over 25 years of age regardless of the actual state of it. There are one or two companies that do offer coverage for older bikes and I think Intact is the major one. Insurance for historic vehicles is very restrictive and usually only available to move the bike to an from events. Not for pleasure trips. Of the bike in question the maxim and Savage are ok. The Virago stay away from. The worst bike I have ever owned. Non stop electrical and carb issues that stranded me 4 or 5 times even after being completely rebuilt several times. Check the insurance scenarios before you buy anything.
 
The Ontario technocrat bureaucracy sucks, 'nuff said.

If you like the Savage and are looking for a project, there's a company called Ryca that are making bolt on kits for the Savage/S40 chassis & engine.
A few different styles to choose from.

http://www.rycamotors.com/bikes/

ryca-cs2s-06.jpg
 
GreyGhost said:
Welcome back. Check carefully before registering as historic, there are very strict conditions on historic cars (can only drive to the mechanic or to an organized car show/club meet). I assume there are similar rules for historic bikes and chalk river is probably way outside of that definition (unless you go the weekend of a bike show). Also historic insurance normally limits your yearly km (2000 to 5000km/yr IIRC). I had a car registered as historic for a few weeks until I realized the restrictions and decided it was worth it for me to register normally.

As for pricing, at least you're not young, that will help some. Let us know if insurance companies consider your past experience, or whether they rate you as a completely new driver.

Good luck, post pics when you find your steed.
Click to expand...

This depends on the company. I forget the name but I found one that said I could drive it almost anywhere including to work periodically as long as it wasn't my primary use vehicle and I kept it under a certain number of KMs per year (forget what the cap was). The part that disqualified me is you needed to park it indoors and I live in an apartment with no garage.
 
I'm in the exact same boat, im 40 and my M and G had expired 10 years ago, i lived in the city and had no need to drive.. big mistake not renewing cause i just called for insurance with my new G1 and M1 and nobody will touch me unless i have a full G or G2 first!
 
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