Starting out on a moped/scooter, good or useless idea?

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xCanadianBacon

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Let me start out by stating I am 16 years of age, 17 on the 21st. I am still in Grade 11 of highschool. I plan to get my M1 the end of this month and get my M2 as soon as I finish the safety course. I currently hold my G2 for the past few months. Clean of claims and no accidents, under my parents name.

On to the main topic. My friend who rides has given me advice as to start with a Tomos [2010~] Streetmate 70cc (claim 50cc) and stick with that for a year or two. I planned to grab a CBR125r or even a Ninja 250 but the premiums for my age and predicament from insurance companies was far past 3k+/year. I got two quotes from Desjardins that was 260~/year for the moped and 3,800/year with the CBR125.

Some forums are telling me it's not going to change anything but my friend says he started like that for a year and his premiums went down on his current 600cc (I think that's the size) from that 3.8k mark to about 700 a year. Any thoughts?
 
can't say from experience but perhaps continue to shop around with different insurance brokers.. any chance your folks can bundle your ride in with their policies? continue to ask questions is all I can say.. and more time on two wheels for more experience is always a good thing… happy hunting and good luck.
 
As long as you get you m2 and not your m2L your good. If its 260/year I'd hop on it. It may not make a difference later with insurance but it's time on 2 wheels and it couldn't hurt insurance.

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When I was given a moped as a 16 year old, MTO gave me my full M on the spot with restriction. After that I only had to do M2 exit and M training which I did within 3 weeks of each other to get it removed. I don't think they allow that anymore but if they do its a quicker way of getting your M and cheaper rates which will help in the long run.
 
peterm15 said:
As long as you get you m2 and not your m2L your good. If its 260/year I'd hop on it. It may not make a difference later with insurance but it's time on 2 wheels and it couldn't hurt insurance.

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Well the thing is if I run a good year without any claims it'll give me a good reputation with Desjardins and insurance in general. 1 year M license + 1 clean year means a good rate drop, no?
 
I'm not really sure if time with your M2L is considered as time with your M2 when you eventually get a bike. Why not take a motorcycle safety foundation course to get your M2, and then use your M2 to ride a Moped?

FYI, Motorcycles and Mopeds are considered different "Vehicle Types" in the insurance industry. I would talk to your potential insurance company about your plan to see how it will work out when you eventually move up to a full-size bike.
 
I am getting my M1 and M2. Not M2-l or anything. M2 as in full speed motorcycle license. Moped can be ridden under M2 alone, can it not?
 
I never noticed the front forks.. hmm...

Well I called the insurance and that 260 a year is only for the moped. The smallest bike I can find is the 125 which is still 3800/year. This is the way my friend told me he did and his premiums dropped... unless anyone has better ideas?
 
^ What they said! Look for another one in better condition or be ready to replace forks (can be found on ebay)

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doesn't effect driving so have not had straightened
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LOL
 
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I mean, I'd rather bike over scooter but nothing I look at is that great on me insurance wise. I looked at cruisers, street and sports. I prefer to lean towards sports but that's what'll strike me hardest in the wallet. I don't think cruiser bikes are any better.
 
Burgman 650

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xCanadianBacon said:
I mean, I'd rather bike over scooter but nothing I look at is that great on me insurance wise. I looked at cruisers, street and sports. I prefer to lean towards sports but that's what'll strike me hardest in the wallet. I don't think cruiser bikes are any better.
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A moped/scooter sounds like a good choice at your age. At sixteen I had a Honda Elite scooter and it was a blast.
No need to spend a fortune on insurance to have fun! Just make sure to get something in decent condition, maybe bring your friend with you when you go to check out the mopeds/scooters.

[video=vimeo;4129435]http://vimeo.com/4129435[/video]
 
I started on a yamaha riva 180 scooter. It worked fine for me but that was 14 years ago. Plus I was at school in toronto at the time so the machine was suited to the commuting I had to do.

Insurance wise though it really wasn't that much more $ when I moved up to a 400cc bike.

If you want a scooter then get it but if you think it's a stepping stone it's not. Find a bike that between 250cc to 400cc for you first ride. Buy an older machine to. It's your first ride not your dream bike.

This is my signature.....apparently
 
xCanadianBacon said:
Well the thing is if I run a good year without any claims it'll give me a good reputation with Desjardins and insurance in general. 1 year M license + 1 clean year means a good rate drop, no?
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1 Year riding experience with Desjardins won't make a difference. They don't provide ANY discount, (at elast in my case), until you held a full M, (not M1 or M2), for 2 years. A reason I am no longer with them..lol But the company I am with now, TDMM, won't touch you due to age and lack of full M

Once you get off a scooter and onto a bike, even with a couple years of experience your going to pay to play if you want a sport or goodness forbid a SS. lol
 
I'm not a specialist, but The longer your with a company the less you will end up paying (some companies won't do this, but Jevco did for me (they don't insure first year riders any more, or they will at a huge premium) and TD will probably give me a lower rate next year.) I don't think it will be much help getting a scooter first, other then that you will gain valuable experience, but when you make the jump to full speed, i don't think your history will do all that much. I started out on an RZ350 and paid 3100 the first year, second year it dropped down to 1100. (I've had 0 police interactions with driving any vehicle, except the one time i got yelled at to slow down. Only cause the 2 stroke was loud as hell) So if you can afford the 125 CBR, with the insurance, i say bite the bullet now. The only thing i could see is waiting about 9 years until your over 25, and even then its not much of a discount. I think your first year will be expensive no matter what. I started when I was 21, and like i said paid 3100 the first year for a 350 that’s not a SS. I'm still amazed i didn't kill myself, RZ350 not really a starters bike. Now I’m 26 married, with insurance for a while and am again I'm paying like 2xxx for the year with TD, on a 600 cc Sport bike. (class for insurance is sport tourer). Hope this helped.
 
Venom01 said:
I started on a yamaha riva 180 scooter. It worked fine for me but that was 14 years ago. Plus I was at school in toronto at the time so the machine was suited to the commuting I had to do.

Insurance wise though it really wasn't that much more $ when I moved up to a 400cc bike.

If you want a scooter then get it but if you think it's a stepping stone it's not. Find a bike that between 250cc to 400cc for you first ride. Buy an older machine to. It's your first ride not your dream bike.

This is my signature.....apparently
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If I wanted my dream bike I would've said something like a Ducati or a Ninja 750. I don't even want a scooter but I'm looking for something to help me with my insurance.
 
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