Hey new riders,
So you've got your M1 and maybe you've already bought a bike, you have two choices for your M2. You can sign up for a weekend course which will teach you some proper riding skills, or you can book a test at select Drive Test centres in the GTA and pass their exam. I got my first m2 via the weekend course at Humber college 5 years ago, and let it expire, so last weekend I went for the test at Drive Test Aurora. What are the advantages/disadvantages of each way?
Weekend Course
Cost: $300-500
Bike: Provided for you, usually a light sport or sport touring (125-250 cc)
Time: a full weekend of riding (saturday/sunday all day)
Additional Benefit: Insurance Discount
This is a great choice for first time riders. You'll learn proper riding techniques and have fun. The instructors are generally very friendly, they want you to succeed, while still providing a challenging environment for you to learn in. Some people DID fail the course I took, but if you actively try, more likely by the end of the weekend you'll have passed and be shopping for your first bike. And bonus, some insurance companies will take into account the completion of the course when getting insurance. This can easily offset the upfront cost of the course.
Drive Test Centre
Cost: $75
Bike: Must provide your own
Time: 2-3 hours
If you're an older rider and the insurance discount wont be a factor, or you are returning to riding and know the basic operations of a motorcycle already. and additionally, if you already have a bike or someone who'll lend you one, you can make an appointment and do the test at a Drive Test Centre. The test is very basic, and consists of 4 parts:
http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/handbook/motorcycles/section8-1-0.shtml
-walking your bike in a figure 8 among cones
-doing a "serpentine" (crossing through pylons down a straight line)
-speeding up and stopping on a line
-a road test where you'll be observed making a left turn, right turn, and changing lanes.
I will say this. of the 8 people I went with, only 1 person could perform the serpentine correctly. Streetbikes and Cruisers were not made for this test, (which is designed to check your clutch control) but it ended up not mattering anyway. You do not lose points for every cone you hit, or taking wider turns, etc. the serpentine is 1 mark out of 25, and you could (in theory) drive straight and kick over every cone you please and still pass. No one opted to do this.
so there's a bit of info for you. Have fun!
So you've got your M1 and maybe you've already bought a bike, you have two choices for your M2. You can sign up for a weekend course which will teach you some proper riding skills, or you can book a test at select Drive Test centres in the GTA and pass their exam. I got my first m2 via the weekend course at Humber college 5 years ago, and let it expire, so last weekend I went for the test at Drive Test Aurora. What are the advantages/disadvantages of each way?
Weekend Course
Cost: $300-500
Bike: Provided for you, usually a light sport or sport touring (125-250 cc)
Time: a full weekend of riding (saturday/sunday all day)
Additional Benefit: Insurance Discount
This is a great choice for first time riders. You'll learn proper riding techniques and have fun. The instructors are generally very friendly, they want you to succeed, while still providing a challenging environment for you to learn in. Some people DID fail the course I took, but if you actively try, more likely by the end of the weekend you'll have passed and be shopping for your first bike. And bonus, some insurance companies will take into account the completion of the course when getting insurance. This can easily offset the upfront cost of the course.
Drive Test Centre
Cost: $75
Bike: Must provide your own
Time: 2-3 hours
If you're an older rider and the insurance discount wont be a factor, or you are returning to riding and know the basic operations of a motorcycle already. and additionally, if you already have a bike or someone who'll lend you one, you can make an appointment and do the test at a Drive Test Centre. The test is very basic, and consists of 4 parts:
http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/handbook/motorcycles/section8-1-0.shtml
-walking your bike in a figure 8 among cones
-doing a "serpentine" (crossing through pylons down a straight line)
-speeding up and stopping on a line
-a road test where you'll be observed making a left turn, right turn, and changing lanes.
I will say this. of the 8 people I went with, only 1 person could perform the serpentine correctly. Streetbikes and Cruisers were not made for this test, (which is designed to check your clutch control) but it ended up not mattering anyway. You do not lose points for every cone you hit, or taking wider turns, etc. the serpentine is 1 mark out of 25, and you could (in theory) drive straight and kick over every cone you please and still pass. No one opted to do this.
so there's a bit of info for you. Have fun!
