Hard Decision, need some advice.

H

Hods

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I'm 16 years old with an M1 and G1. My M1 expires at the end of this month. My G1 passes the 8th month on the 11th (expires on Nov 11). I got enough money and gear for the M1 Exit Safety Course Test. I really want a bike this year but if I were to get my M2 through the safety course, I wouldn't have a guarantied bike/scooter this year. My brother told me he would get me a car if I got my G2 this month (requires driving school). Should I wait for the bike/scooter next year, let my M1 expire, use the money for Driving School (leaves me with $200) and get a car till next year OR get my M2 and possibly get a scooter, get my G2 in November (I would have to buy the car and the bike myself)?

:confused:
I want to get my M2 so bad. But is it worth the car and G2? I sorta know its a no-brainier but I want to see what others think, see the possibilities. :(
 
Riding is a hobby and it isn't cheap. Prioritize. A car is something you can use year round, unlike a motorcycle. My advice; get the car, save up and buy a motorcycle when you're financially comfortable to do so. You will enjoy it a whole lot more when you can afford it, good luck!
 
Get your M2, take the riding course. Then hold on to that license for at least a year. This will help you with insurance. You don't need to rush to get a bike.
In the mean time, get the G2, and get a car. You NEED a car, you don't need a bike. use the car to drive you to that job you're going to get, to pay for your insurance and bike.
 
Thing is I got no support from my brother, he hates the idea. Thinks is stupid to get my M2 before my G2. My mom thinks it will help me with insurance in general in case I would ever want a car or a bike. But she doesn't support it enough to pay the rest of my Driving School (I would have to work or save up for that). I don't got a job yet either, but I plan on working all summer. If I were to get my M2 I would be left with like $100, so I would have to save $200 dollars to do Driving School and I have no clue how long it would take for me to save that money up. Is it worth the risk? Would my G2 help my insurance for a future motorcycle? (whether I insure a car or not)
 
Hods said:
Would my G2 help my insurance for a future motorcycle? (whether I insure a car or not)
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Yeah it would help with bike insurance if you had your G2 or G. It did in my case.

Anyway, like everyone else said, get your G2 and a car since it'll cover all your needs, the scooter just lets you screw around for a few months in summer.

Cars are cool at your age man, you get to ride with your buddies, you gain a ton of freedom to go anywhere, and girls will think you're the **** cuz you're like 17 and have your own ride. Insurance won't be too bad either.

If you go the 2 wheeled route, it'll be years before insurance dips down enough for you to be able to insure a bigger bike for close to the price you'd be paying for a car, and for the most part you'll be riding alone everywhere. Think about the future too, like if you plan on going to college or university out of town, you'd be a dumbass to be eating ramen noodles to pay insurance on a bike. With a car at least you get year-round use out of it if you somehow can make enough money to pay for it.

Also, a lot of new drivers make mistakes and end up in crashes due to inexperience and not really having a keen eye for traffic dangers. Not saying you're gonna be a crappy driver, but if you did mess up you'd be a lot safer in a car. This way, when you do get the bike you can just focus on learning to ride rather than trying to learn ride and get used to being in traffic at the same time.
 
If you have no experience being in traffic at all I would say car first, bike second. That way if you make a mistake you end up with a dented fender, not under a truck. Once you have a bit of time on the road (to form good habits, understand traffic patterns etc) then I would jump to the bike.

My $0.02.
 
koma said:
If you have no experience being in traffic at all I would say car first, bike second. That way if you make a mistake you end up with a dented fender, not under a truck. Once you have a bit of time on the road (to form good habits, understand traffic patterns etc) then I would jump to the bike.

My $0.02.
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Agreed.

Also your insurance at 16 for anything will be insane, at least a car is usable year round.
 
Pursue the G2. I you have access to a motorcycle for the rest of this season, you can always get another M1 if needed. Save some coin over the winter, enrol in a M2 course next spring.


It's all good.
 
The cost to get an M1 is negligible don't rush into a M2 because it's going to expire.

Though I enjoyed my M2 course, it really focuses on how to operate a motorcycle, not how to drive on the street, which is mostly what driving school does. I would definitely take the driving school and get a car.

As mentioned previously:

1. It's probably cooler to have a car at your age to drive friends around and have a good time. Bikes are cool when your friends have bikes too so you can ride out together. As fun as riding is, I find a lot of the 'fun' is talking to other riders, group rides, etc.

2. Even having your M2 for an extra year will not help your insurance at this point, especially with no G2.

Take the MSF course when you've got enough cash if you'd like, but remember you have 5 years to get your full M..so if you don't have your own gear, practise and a bike to ride by then, that's a waste of money too.

If you manage to save enough, go dirt biking for a day in the summer!
 
You need to prioritize what's important. If you're already strap for cash now then it doesn't make sense for you to get an M2. Get your G2 and let the M1 expire. How much is an M1 anyways.....$15? You can get that some other time when the time is right,
 
Julz said:
You need to prioritize what's important. If you're already strap for cash now then it doesn't make sense for you to get an M2. Get your G2 and let the M1 expire. How much is an M1 anyways.....$15? You can get that some other time when the time is right,
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+1.

Honestly OP, if you can't come to this conclusion yourself then maybe you're not mature enough to own a bike. It's quite glaringly obvious which is the sound and logical choice.
 
Guess what? I only have a motorcycle and it was also my first time on public roads.
I go to school/ work downtown so a motorcycle is perfect (Free parking, cheap on gas). I think the car can wait till I graduate university.
I bike till it falls below zero/ rain, then I take the TTC.
OP get your M2 before it expires, then get G2. Either way there is no rush, save your money for school or start investing.
 
I got a bike before I got a car but I would suggest the car first. Even tho I put 12,000kms on my bike in 8 months, the car can be used at any time. There's no sense getting a bike and taking the risk (especially being a new rider) having to ride in the rain or in not so great weather. Save up and get the bike next year.
 
I also started out on a motorcycle before driving a car, was scary at first riding with traffic but it's defiantly doable. My first year on a brand new CBR 250RA (Full coverage) was $4000.00 with only my M1, so be ready to hear crazy quotes like that if you decide to do this. I was 19 at the time when I was first insured so I'm sure it'll be the same amount for you.
 
KarGo said:
I bike till it falls below zero/ rain, then I take the TTC.
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For a new rider, I would definitely not be giving that advice. At least you could have included how dangerous the roads can be when it's cold or wet out, tires not sticking as they would in summer/warm weather, etc... not to mention that people are oblivious to bikes on the road in nice weather, let alone when it's raining or cold out which makes it even more dangerous, especially for a new rider.
 
im 18 now and ive always wanted a bike when i was young. when i hit 16 i got my g1 and as soon as the 8 months were up i got my g2 cause i knew i didn't want to sit in a bus to get to places. having a car in high school was the best thing ever cause i didn't have to wait to get in a crammed up bus and i left and came to school on my own pace and time (big plus cause once u get a spare period in grade 12 u will know lol). once i got to university first year that's when i decided that i have enough coin to buy a bike and gear (gear was something i didn't expect to be soo much). even now insurance for the bike would be insane on my own name so im secondary on it and my bro is primary, that's the only reason why i can afford to keep the bike.

bottom line, get a job make some cash then consider a bike, until then stick with a car that will help you a lot when it comes to learning how traffic flows. mind you i just started riding this year and i can say if i never drove a car before this i wouldnt be nearly as tempted to ride the bike, its really scary when you come inches away from a car about to side swipe u off the road cause they didn't see you (happens at least twice a week even if im in blocking position...)
 
So let me summarize this for you...

Do you have money for bike, gear and insurance? That's 3-4K EASILY in the first year.

Get your G2, get a car. When you will have money, get a bike. Bike is a hobby, whereas in a lot of cases car is a necessity.
 
koma said:
If you have no experience being in traffic at all I would say car first, bike second. That way if you make a mistake you end up with a dented fender, not under a truck. Once you have a bit of time on the road (to form good habits, understand traffic patterns etc) then I would jump to the bike.

My $0.02.
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Definitely +1.
Bikes are fun but you will wish you had chosen the car.
I was 16 once and I KNOW I will unlikely be around if I got my bike back then lol
Seriously. Car is the sensible choice.
M1 is cheap. Get it when u can afford the course and buy a bike on the same week or at least same season.
 
riding a bike is one of the may things that let u be alone and free you will be happy on a bike its a fun thing to do to ride and just be on a bike i think its worth it just cus i my self have only my G1 and my M so i went throw what you did i say im happy i did that cuss now i have 3 motorcycles it all ripeneds on you how much you like to ride
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