Welcome to GTAM!
I'll concur with what everyone else is saying and it seems like you have realistic views on what you want and need for your first bike. Don't get sucked into people ribbing you about "that's a tiny engine" or "you'll get bored of that bike in 2 weeks!" song and dance. A lot of new and inexperienced riders won't even use the full capabilities of a small CC bike in their first year or two of riding - the newbies who start on 600CC supersports aren't remotely capable of using them to their full abilities, as is demonstrated by them getting destroyed at track days by experienced riders on bikes with half their power.
Also keep in mind that the difference between a sportbike 250cc engine and a cruiser 250cc engine can be almost double the horsepower - Ninja 250 for example, 39HP. Vstar 250, 21HP. So depending on what style you go with should have some factor in the engine size you want. My wife started on a 250 cruiser and yes, it will do 100, but you're wound out, so I'd consider entry level something in the 600cc range if you go full on V-Twin cruiser - they do fine on the highway but are still light and nimble for in town and backroads cruising. For a sportbike the 250 class is easier to insure for sure and still decently capable.
You need to shop around. I'm paying under $500/year for full coverage now. Yes, I've been riding forever etc etc, but it still sounds like you're getting hosed. You've been riding for 4-5 years now, no?
Unfortunately foreign experience doesn't count in much at all here in Canada as it's difficult if not impossible to verify.
I'll concur with what everyone else is saying and it seems like you have realistic views on what you want and need for your first bike. Don't get sucked into people ribbing you about "that's a tiny engine" or "you'll get bored of that bike in 2 weeks!" song and dance. A lot of new and inexperienced riders won't even use the full capabilities of a small CC bike in their first year or two of riding - the newbies who start on 600CC supersports aren't remotely capable of using them to their full abilities, as is demonstrated by them getting destroyed at track days by experienced riders on bikes with half their power.
Also keep in mind that the difference between a sportbike 250cc engine and a cruiser 250cc engine can be almost double the horsepower - Ninja 250 for example, 39HP. Vstar 250, 21HP. So depending on what style you go with should have some factor in the engine size you want. My wife started on a 250 cruiser and yes, it will do 100, but you're wound out, so I'd consider entry level something in the 600cc range if you go full on V-Twin cruiser - they do fine on the highway but are still light and nimble for in town and backroads cruising. For a sportbike the 250 class is easier to insure for sure and still decently capable.
Dam I wish I was paying that much in insurance....mine is double that...
You need to shop around. I'm paying under $500/year for full coverage now. Yes, I've been riding forever etc etc, but it still sounds like you're getting hosed. You've been riding for 4-5 years now, no?
Unfortunately foreign experience doesn't count in much at all here in Canada as it's difficult if not impossible to verify.
