Insurance & Low Cost Option | GTAMotorcycle.com

Insurance & Low Cost Option

frekeyguy

frekeyguy

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Grew up on SS, GSXR's and ZX6R...can't get afford 3-5K for insurance. Want to get back into riding....CAN GTAM suggest options.

#1. MAIN - Low Purchase price & LOW INSURANCE
#2. Don't mind anything old, I can rebuild etc. No issues there - as long as parts are easy to come by.
#3. Would prefer something that will sit on the HWY for hours. (used to ride 25K-30K per season and go down into the states etc etc, so I love touring)
#4. Would prefer with something with half decent suspension.
#5. Would prefer something that can 2up without difficulty.
#6. Smallest foot print, as I have limited space and won't be riding it daily.


I grew up riding SS, so I am spoiled with the lightness, the power, and mostly the suspension and brakes. But since I am getting 'older' I am willing to compromise.

Stats: 29M - Living in Brampton :( . No tickets


Stuff I won't bother with:
- Parallel twins
- No EX500's etc.

--> there must be some weird gem's out there that have low insurance and are nice to ride....
 
Looking for strictly a sport bike, or open to cruisers?

My experience as someone who just got back into riding after a long absence is that my cruiser was vastly cheaper to insure vs almost anything in the sport category short of something ridiculous (for an experienced rider) in the <500cc category.
 
sent PM.
 
PrivatePilot said:
Looking for strictly a sport bike, or open to cruisers?

My experience as someone who just got back into riding after a long absence is that my cruiser was vastly cheaper to insure vs almost anything in the sport category short of something ridiculous (for an experienced rider) in the <500cc category.
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I am open to cruisers, worked on a few Vulcan 900's , I am going to guess this would feel like a EX500 ? I don't mind the power level and handling level of a 650R - I can compromise to that level.

Riceburner said:
29 is older???? hahahahahahahahahahha

GO for a standard that isn't classed in the sport category.
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Thanks :) Metric cruisers seem better on insurance, plus they are easier to service.

yes, 29 is old. Next year it will be the BIG 30 :( I am doomed.

nfq said:
sent PM.
Click to expand...

Replied. Thanks :) A bit much to initially purchase, but dam that's the perfect option.
 
The two up issue is tricky. Most bikes, even bigger ones aren't really rated for it if you weigh over 150 pounds.
 
Wel, my experience - rode for about 4 years back in the early 90's. Stupidly never went for my M2 exit road test before selling my bike (for lack of time) and my M completely expired...so when I got back into riding this summer basically for an insurance standpoint I was rated at zero experience. If you presumably have a full M you're already ahead of me.

Second, didn't want a sport bike this time around, but did want a cruiser.

Lastly, wasn't willing to do the usual start small and go up routine being not only a rider with experience, but wanting to 2 up with my wife right out of the gate.

Ended up with a VTX1300 and it's perfect...and my insurance (42YO and clean record) was a half-palatable ~$1600 for year one having taken the MSC again and got my M2 ASAP, but insurance still rated me as zero experience beginner for the purpose of rating - past experience means nothing basically if there was a gap in your insurance or licence class.

I expect probably sub $1000 next year.

My wife, same insurance situation but no actual experience (but again, insurance looks at us as equals despite me having 4 or so years of actual riding experience) got quoted about $1000 for her new GZ250 which I got her for Christmas. Difference being she has no actual riding experience and I wanted something small and easy to handle for her to learn on by herself.

Long story short, I basically paid $600 extra for a big CC cruiser that I wanted vs a stepping stone bike, and I was totally ok with that.

Like you touched on, metric cruisers can be had cheap and are much less to insure vs a comparable Harley, and of course a lot cheaper vs about any sport bike over the 600cc range. Name/brand means nothing to me, style, function and reliability go first for me...and the fact I paid 1/3 to 1/4 of a comparable Harley (and arguably more reliable ;) ) was a bonus IMHO.
 
Looked at late year FZ6? What about is your budget, anywho?
 
I don't know if it covers all of your points, and it might not be powerful enough for you coming from those bikes... but have you considered a Vstrom?

My 650 is cheap on insurance, is very comfortable for touring, has tall suspension, tonnes of farkle options to customize to your liking and can easily 2-up.

As for how cheap on insurance... I am about a decade older than you and have had a full M for a long time. I pay $481/year at The Personal with fire and theft, no collision, with a good group discount there.
 
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Insurance &amp; Low Cost Option

I have an SV650. It's a nice bike but the suspension is very mediocre until you invest another several hundred into it. The good part about the bike is that it can be had for the same price as a ninja 300...

Aftermarket support and technical support is virtually unlimited. There's several forums dedicated to the bike and if you have the right tools and mechanical aptitude there's a tutorial for virtually everything there is to do on the bike on the Internet.

Riding position can easily be adjusted and it has nice torque. There's a couple "trims" available; fully faired, half naked and completely naked. Riding positions are the same and more aggressive for the first two trims and a lot less aggressive with the naked trim.

Let me know if you want to look at one, IIRC you're right around the corner from me.
 
I ride a versys 650. Yes I know, parallel twin. Insurance, fuel economy, comfort,still fun in the twisties,and powerful.
What's not to like?

Sent from my Le Pan TC802A using Tapatalk
 
I think you're looking for a 650 or so. Versys 650, or something similar. Honda Shadow 750 might be too tame for you, but insurance would be cheap. An older large cruiser might also fly under the radar, but they might be heavy.

Some general insurance cost saving guidelines:
-be old (>30?!?!)
-get an older used bike so you don't need comprehensive, theft, fire
-get a cruiser/stay away from anything that hints of "SS": It seems like anything SS scares the crap out of insurance companies
-stay away from HD
-upgrades don't really matter. Insurance companies don't seem to pay much attention to non-engine upgrades

Nothing will replace the performance of an SS. The geometry and ride will be totally different on a cruiser, so be open minded, or pay the Ontario SS performance tax.
 
im really curious how the Ducati Streetfighter 848 (or something similar like the MV agusta streetfighter) would be vs a 600cc Supersport class bike now for insurance...anyone know where the streetfighters are classified under?


Baggsy said:
The two up issue is tricky. Most bikes, even bigger ones aren't really rated for it if you weigh over 150 pounds.
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wouldnt say that, im about 190 ish plus gear and ride a 09 600rr, when my gf jumps on i barely notice her at all and shes about 110lbs. biggest problem on the SS for 2 up is comfort for my gf. shes good now that i got the belt with handles and i was planing on adding a gel seat for her.
 
CBR 650 F. Not sure about 2up ?


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Baggsy said:
The two up issue is tricky. Most bikes, even bigger ones aren't really rated for it if you weigh over 150 pounds.
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My VTX is rated for 402#. ;)
 
How is insurance on a SV650 or SV1000 ?

The SV650 would work well for me, yes its not 636 but I can easily put in a zx6R front end and rear shock into it.

Are the SV's consider touring still ?
 
I found my sv650 very cheap to insure. Great bikes for the street.

Sent from my Le Pan TC802A using Tapatalk
 
I ride an 08 Z1000, considered sport touring so insurance is cheaper, good for longer rides, 2 up, they can be had for a reasonable price.
 
I'm bike shopping, and am looking at a Honda Hornet (919 / 599), or SV 650 / 1000. The Hondas actually sound like what you're looking for imo. Anyhow, rates quoted by Riders Choice and State Farm have been reasonable for me (4 years M2, 46, clean record, prior motorcycle insurance). I've pasted the quotes I got below. I'd also suggest using Kanetix to check rates from different insurers - as the factors that'll generate good rates for you vary from insurer to insurer.

Comp & Coll - Echelon
SV1000 - Echelon doesn't insure this bike
SV650 - $1203
CB600 – 1153
CB900F - $1480
FZ6 - $1035

Comp & Coll - Intact
SV1000 - $1171
SV650 - $1089
CB600 – 1047
CB900F - $1182
FZ6 - $1089

Comp – Echelon
SV1000 - Echelon doesn't insure this bike
SV650 - $1079
CB600 – $988
CB900F - $1369
FZ6 - $911

Comp – Intact
SV1000 - $1064
SV650 - $988
CB600 – $951
CB900F - $1081
FZ6 - $988

Liability only* – Echelon
SV1000 - Echelon doesn't insure this bike
SV650 - $911
CB600 – $766
CB900F - $1220
FZ6 - $743*

Liability only* – Intact
SV1000 - $954
SV650 - $903
CB600 – $870
CB900F - $977
FZ6 - $903

Echelon – offers 6 month payment plan
Intact – offers 12 month payment plan
*
Scotia - SV650 - $1487

State Farm – Angali Oka –*905-799-8215
SV650 - $1043.

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