New Rider :)

[Aeroflaire]

Buy a new helmet, but don't buy the $1000 one either. As for the rest of your gear consider buying used - Kijiji is a good resource and there are a few consignment shops around like Re-Gear in Oshawa...you should be able to get outfitted for the $500 range easily, IMHO. 2K is going to buy you nice gear and would be easy to spend, sure, but you're going overkill for a beginner IMHO.



M1 is $40 or something like that and the motorcycle foundations course which includes your M1 exit runs about $500, so you don't need $1000 there either.



Not sure what you're planning on buying yet, but as has also been mentioned there are FAR cheaper bikes out there unless you really want to buy new. Used 250's can be had for the mid $2K range all day long, and IMHO given your age and the fact you're a beginner I think you'll quickly find that the 250cc range is going to be about the limit from an insurance affordability scale.

The several other thousand dollars you can save in just the above can go towards your insurance.

See, one problem with all those quotes, is that you're taking it out of context. I know I don't need that much, but I'm saving that much, and when I pay for it all, I'll have extra leftover, which will go towards insurance.

 

[Aeroflaire]

It looks like you are approaching this from a good angle...you just have your age and lack of experience/years insured against you. Courses typically run sub $500, and for around $1000 you can get pretty much all the gear you should wear (helmet, jacket, gloves, pants, boots, etc). Personally I'm a fan of GP Bikes (and typically they'll give you 20% off MSRP if you are buying full gear and spending over $1000...if you ask), but ReGear is a great option as well if you are ok with lightly-used equipment (and a new helmet).

As for bikes, start small, as you'll learn more and the age thing will sting a bit less when it comes to insurance. You could go as small as a 125 if all you want to do is commute locally, but a 250 or 300 would work well as a commuter with light highway use (just don't expect much acceleration above 100-120km/h). Expect to pay upwards of $2000-5000/year, but hopefully that drops quickly as you prove you are not a risk to them, by not getting in accidents and not getting tickets.

If you do plan to sit on things and wait for the costs to drop...keep in mind although you can (and should) do the course to get your M2 and get to use their bikes..for the M2 -> M you must provide your own bike, no matter if you go through another course or go to the MTO. If memory serves, you have 5 years before the M2 expires and you have to start over again with the M1.

Yeah that was my plan. I believe I read that if you pass an approved course you get a recommendation letter to skip the M1 road test and go to m2 but I could be wrong. That was another thing tthat pulled me in there, 3 months is quite a bit of pressure to get a bike and insurance (was my first thought) but come to think of it, yeah, I'm sure I could use one of their bikes to take the test, I know I can with the G1, since my dad payed that extra to use their car. (Ours has a little glitch where it's engine light comes on all the time even if the engine is fine, as checked by a mechanic) and the car has to be in great condition to even be used in the test, so there's that haha. But yeah, thanks for the advice, and also thanks to everyone else, I appreciate the welcomes, and advice.

 

[PrivatePilot]

See, one problem with all those quotes, is that you're taking it out of context. I know I don't need that much, but I'm saving that much, and when I pay for it all, I'll have extra leftover, which will go towards insurance.

You must have a better paying job that I did at 17, or are you not planning to start riding until next spring?

I think your insurance is going to be a lot more of what you're saving up than you are anticipating. My point is that if you want to ride at all this season spending money on lesser gear and actually getting your licence, training, bike and insurance may be a more direct path. Saving thousands and thousands of potentially unneeded money is great and all, but realistically we have about 4.5 months left in the season so getting the basics on the cheap and actually getting riding (again, assuming you're aiming for this season) is essential, especially if you don't even have your M1 yet and will not be eligible for your M2 until mid August at this point.

 

[commonsense]

Welcome to the forums. Make sure not only save for your dream bike, but also invest with a good set of safety gears.

 

[Aeroflaire]

You must have a better paying job that I did at 17, or are you not planning to start riding until next spring?

I think your insurance is going to be a lot more of what you're saving up than you are anticipating. My point is that if you want to ride at all this season spending money on lesser gear and actually getting your licence, training, bike and insurance may be a more direct path. Saving thousands and thousands of potentially unneeded money is great and all, but realistically we have about 4.5 months left in the season so getting the basics on the cheap and actually getting riding (again, assuming you're aiming for this season) is essential, especially if you don't even have your M1 yet and will not be eligible for your M2 until mid August at this point.

Understood. Yeah, I'm planning to start as soon as I get my G2, which will give me enough time to save up at least enough for gear, licence and that course I want to take. I have some driving lessons coming up this, and next month, and then I'm going to take my G2 right after (since I technically already can get it, I took the written about 8 months ago and took an approved course, so I didn't have to wait a year) But I plan to go to the Royal Distributing there in Guelph that someone here suggested, and check it out. I know I'll need some help with helmet size, that's why I'm not going online for that. Besides, I've always preferred buying stuff in person for some reason haha. When that's done I'll take the written test, probably the same day, depending on if I have the course dates worked out beforehand. I feel I have a relatively clear plan on what I'm doing, it's just a matter of getting started, and having enough money to get those first 3 steps out of the way in 3 months.

 

[conundrum]

I believe I read that if you pass an approved course you get a recommendation letter to skip the M1 road test and go to m2 but I could be wrong.

When you get your M1, if you tell them you are taking a course you only pay the M1 paper test fee and not the M1exit test fee, as the course includes the test in it (if you pass the test at the end of the course, you automatically have your M2 at day 60 so long as you walk into the MTO at that time). If you paid for the M1exit test when you got your M1, I believe there is a form you can fill out to get a refund (around $60-80 I think).

 

[black_CG2]

I'm thinking of starting with a 250. I've heard the warnings of starting with powerful bikes, and I heed them. May not be as bad as people are making it out to be, but my first bike won't be my last, as with many riders. My idea, is to get the kawasaki ninja 250, since the ninja is literally one of my favorite bikes ever (so far haha) and they have quite a bit of progressions upwards after that, including the ZXR (Which is also beautiful, I may add) But I'd like to start on a kawasaki to get familiar with the bike, as I'm almost positive I will be getting the higher power ones later on.

Its funny how I was into zx6r when I was in grade 11 (2004). I think it was the 2004 zx6rr.


Can you get your dad or mom to do m1, get the bike under their name and list yourself as occassional rider? That way
insurance could be affordable and still legal. Question is whether dad or mom would agree, lol.
If only I would have gotten a bike when I was at your age.


Start on a litre bike. Everything else is too slow.




JK.


Yamaha R3 gets my vote. If parents dont agree to get m1, you should pursue m1x course and then sit on m2 for few years.
The savings in insurance will pay for the bike or you can travel and make memories.

I also have a blue/white alpinestars textile jacket for ladies. You can buy if off me for $60. Size small (fits size 6 to
size eight).

 

[Aeroflaire]

Its funny how I was into zx6r when I was in grade 11 (2004). I think it was the 2004 zx6rr.


Can you get your dad or mom to do m1, get the bike under their name and list yourself as occassional rider? That way
insurance could be affordable and still legal. Question is whether dad or mom would agree, lol.
If only I would have gotten a bike when I was at your age.


Start on a litre bike. Everything else is too slow.




JK.


Yamaha R3 gets my vote. If parents dont agree to get m1, you should pursue m1x course and then sit on m2 for few years.
The savings in insurance will pay for the bike or you can travel and make memories.

I also have a blue/white alpinestars textile jacket for ladies. You can buy if off me for $60. Size small (fits size 6 to
size eight).

lol yeah, I don't think they'd pay for insurance. They're not into the idea of me on a "coffin on two wheels", which is why I've made it clear to them that, if they won't help out, I'll do it all myself, which includes the cost of insurance. I could talk to them about it, but I'm 99% sure that the answer will be no.
To be quite honest, as far as the jacket goes, I don't know my size lol. I've never really liked shopping so I literally just have what I have as far as clothes go. I usually wear either medium or large though. Large, because it's comfortable haha. I like all the room large gives me, and it's quite cozy. Actually, for the longest time I used to wear shirts from the boys section because of how big and comfortable they were. Went from that to graphic tees so I guess I never really liked depraving myself of oxygen in girl's clothing lol.
I'd have to check a shirt I have to see my size, but really, I think medium would probably be a better fit for me.

 

[Riceburner]

You don't want loose or tight bike gear...get the right size. Later on if you start riding in the cooler temps, get gear that you can layer under. For now you can always throw a windbreaker over your summer gear.