Newbie considering getting a two-wheeler

[djbordie]

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scooter NO

cbr 125 yes! you will learn way more on one of these than a scoot scoot

they are very economical...insanely great on gas. cheap to buy a used one.

dont buy anything new. save the tax.

that aprilia is bad ***!, also yami has some crazy scooter out. T-max i think? 500cc 45 hp, ninja 250 duster.

 

[MacDoc]

Would be brilliant if you knew what you were talking about - unfortunately you don't and you don't save any tax buying used you still pay it.

Are you offering to pay his insurance premium for a 12 HP CBR

 

[Kri$han]

You can't beat a scooter for practicality (or gayness, LOL jkjkjk), and usability around town, but MacDoc, you gotta chill there brosef; isn't that aprilia an 850cc? Hardly what the OP is considering here, and I don't think that'll be considered a "scooter" in Toronto and able to park with the vespa's on the sidewalk.

I'd get a Honda Ruckus if I were you, OP, although not sure how it'll handle 80 km/h; you might still need the car for those runs to Markham.

The CBR will be expensive for insurance, and storage options (saddle bags/locking storage is big $$), not to mention all the gear you're gonna wanna buy.

in terns of costs a '95 civic hatch will always be more practical than any actual motorcycle.

 

[Wheelieboy]

State farm will not be friendly to bike only policies. Try different companies, Jevco would have insured my bike for $900/year about 2-3 years ago...the rates likely would have went up by then but at the time I was 21.

Currently I pay $50/month, ($600/yr) on a CBR125 with State Farm but I have a multiline discount with them. I'm now 23 and living in Richmond Hill.

 

[MacDoc]

I was needling the 125 CBR uber alle guy..... - he deserved it. 12 ****ing hp -

The OP needs a 50cc scoot for his first year otherwise he will pay through the nose for insurance. Been there done that with my son. The only practical route is via facility insurance unless someone will put him on with their car policy.
None of the companies I am aware of have reasonable rates for a first year rider.....period. Facility is a pool insurance run by the gov.
Once you get that year then the OP has some choices in the bigger scoots or the something like a Ninja 250 but as a "only vehicle" the scooters right up to the 400 Burgman offer a better combination of weather protection and secure storage tho you can always put top case and side case on a motorcycle.

It sucks that the borderline is 100 cc instead of 125 as there are a number of better 125 cc machines out there....the 50 cc I think are more dangerous but that's gov for you.

There is a convergence in the commuter bike/city wheels n the 250-850 range with a variety of transmissions and storage approaches.

Even tho we had a van kid and I would take the scooters grocery shopping in almost any weather and he could put 2 bags and me up to 6 in the 650 - that was enough for a week,

When I had the KLR and he had the 250 Ninja - you couldn't even carry the mail. OP wants a machine that can carry stuff and is affordable.

First year that's a 50 cc scooter and that little Aprilla is sweet in that category.

Next year he still has to choose storage/convenience/roll and go which most of the scooters represent versus the bigger wheels and ( in the city ) marginal advantage of a standard transmission.

There are some very sophisticated ( and not cheap ) scooter solutions in the 250 cc range that will cruise nicely at 100-120 with a light rider and offer good storage and superb city maneuvering.

Bikes like the Ninja 250 are fun but even my son got tired of it after a year - it's not a sports machine and you can't carry stuff. Something like a Burgman 400 would do better for light touring, carry lots and be surprising in the twisties while still keeping city advantages.

Now he's got his own 650sv....and still can't carry anything...

 

[conundrum]

To the OP -- When thinking about 2 wheels, don't forget about the cost of getting proper gear. The reason I say this is because if you are on a tight budget, a car might still make more sense, once you factor in what you'll have to pay to protect yourself (unless you only get a helmet, then I really hope you never go down). Hitting asphalt at 40 on a scooter hurts the same as hitting it at 40 on a bike.

Also, don't forget that you probably won't be riding come winter, so a car works year round while a bike does not.

Anyhow, just things to consider.

 

[MacDoc]

For Toronto a scoot is fine nearly all days. Hell we rode our bikes in St. Catherines all year round.
Sure there a few days but not all that many.

Gear is cheap if you buy on Kiji and you really don't need a lot.
Helmet yeah but there are decent $100 lids out there and some hunting on Kiji maybe even less
- some sort of armored jacket but I got my mesh for $50
pants - if you want armor $30 for motocross knee/shin but not critical

Gloves jacket and helmet $150 and bet it could go for $120

http://toronto.kijiji.ca/c-ViewAdLargeImage?AdId=380869658
Boots - hiking boots and ski gloves are fine ...a balaclava for cold weather.

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