thinking of returning to Canada from California...only now I ride

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k193

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The title says it all..years ago I moved to Cali and started riding after that, been thinking of returning to Canada for various reasons, but some of the things I read on here are a little disturbing to say the least...it looks like insurance is so cost prohibitive that I would need to keep the bikes registered in the US

My major concern is splitting and filtering...it's legal here in California, and if drivers try to block us we break their mirror for our trouble and keep going while laughing at them...but that is by far the minority of people, maybe 7% of drivers in Cali try to block lane splitters.

Can anyone comment on these experiences personally? Have drivers tried to block you or run you off the road for the simple act of filtering?

I'm not worried about the police, I don't filter aggressively and if necessary I will sue to recollect my money if they impound my bike on a bogus "street racing / stunt driving" charge; and as I understand it various people are fighting this ridiculous law and it will be overturned in the next few years as unconstitutional, etc... anyway

Other than deer and snow, anything else unique to riding in Ontario?
 
k193 said:
The title says it all..years ago I moved to Cali and started riding after that, been thinking of returning to Canada for various reasons, but some of the things I read on here are a little disturbing to say the least...it looks like insurance is so cost prohibitive that I would need to keep the bikes registered in the US

My major concern is splitting and filtering...it's legal here in California, and if drivers try to block us we break their mirror for our trouble and keep going while laughing at them...but that is by far the minority of people, maybe 7% of drivers in Cali try to block lane splitters.

Can anyone comment on these experiences personally? Have drivers tried to block you or run you off the road for the simple act of filtering?

I'm not worried about the police, I don't filter aggressively and if necessary I will sue to recollect my money if they impound my bike on a bogus "street racing / stunt driving" charge; and as I understand it various people are fighting this ridiculous law and it will be overturned in the next few years as unconstitutional, etc... anyway

Other than deer and snow, anything else unique to riding in Ontario?
Click to expand...
ARE YOU INSANE?????? Stay in California....everything is better
 
k193 said:
....

My major concern is splitting and filtering...it's legal here in California, and if drivers try to block us we break their mirror for our trouble and keep going while laughing at them...but that is by far the minority of people, maybe 7% of drivers in Cali try to block lane splitters.

Can anyone comment on these experiences personally? Have drivers tried to block you or run you off the road for the simple act of filtering?

I'm not worried about the police, I don't filter aggressively and if necessary I will sue to recollect my money if they impound my bike on a bogus "street racing / stunt driving" charge; and as I understand it various people are fighting this ridiculous law and it will be overturned in the next few years as unconstitutional, etc... anyway

Other than deer and snow, anything else unique to riding in Ontario?
Click to expand...

You might want to take note that smoking weed is illegal in Canada. This is the most ridiculous thing I've read in a while... on GTAM... and that's saying something.

Toronto-Hockey-Team-Sucks-and-Mayor-Smokes-Crack.jpg


What do you need to know?
 
Dresden said:
You might want to take note that smoking weed is illegal in Canada. This is the most ridiculous thing I've read in a while... on GTAM... and that's saying something.

Toronto-Hockey-Team-Sucks-and-Mayor-Smokes-Crack.jpg


What do you need to know?
Click to expand...

LOL

Looks like one possible positive reason to move back would be people's sense of humor? That photoshopped sign is hilarious

To the person who said everything is better - I agree with you, living in LA is preferable to the GTA, but I don't plan to live in the GTA, just be riding there from time to time...which is another reason I'm not that worried about getting stopped by the police for filtering, I won't be doing commuting on the DVP or anything.

How is filtering "stunt driving"? When I read about that new law from McGoofy and his crew of morons I thought to myself "well that's it, Ontario has gone full retard"

You think that law is so sound that one can't recover costs after winning the HTA case? I bet nobody has spent the money to try
 
k193 said:
You think that law is so sound that one can't recover costs after winning the HTA case? I bet nobody has spent the money to try
Click to expand...

You might be able to get your money back, but getting your legal fees back would be near impossible.
 
anyway I've been gone for awhile so if my attitude seems extreme that is why.

can anyone post with experience that I originally asked for - aggressive drivers trying to move or run you off the road? this concerns me more than any legal ramifications...400 lb bike vs 3000lb car = no brainer outcome

here in LA when traffic is bumper to bumper you can damage someone's car if they try to swerve into you because they can't chase you down afterward, on most freeways there is no shoulder for them to drive on even if they were crazy enough to do so

if I remember correctly most 400 series highways have a fairly big shoulder, which says to me if you escalate a confrontation into property damage that they may have a way to give chase and cause a massive incident which is not going to end well for anyone
 
There's a big difference between "Canada" & "Ontario".
I've spent most of the summer in Montreal, and there traffic isn't quite as bad as the GTA...but it's close. BUT, people there actually are aware of their surroundings, and not only DON'T try to block you, but MOVE OUT OF THE WAY TO GIVE YOU SPACE! It was mind blowing...and I sign I've been in the Socialist Police State of Neo-Libtardism for too damn long.

To answer your question, yes. Ontario, especially the GTA, is full of self centered retards. Even more so than Cali. If you filter on a regular basis (like me), expect atleast one self centered retard to block you once a day. For no other reason than you are moving and they are not.

Stay the hell in Cali...not only will you be classed as a "new rider" by insurance companies (your Cali record doesn't count, if you had an Ontario license as far as insurance companies are concerned the black hole of your time out of province you simply haven't been on the road), but even the retarded DMV system will look blissfully efficient compared to the cluster**** that is the MTO nowadays.

And you gave me a good belly-LOL talking about the suing the police. In a word, no. It's even written into the fine print of the "street racing law" 172...police officers & dept's are specifically exempt from any liability no matter what the outcome of your charge. You might try a half assed Charter challenge...oh wait, it's been done before. And lost. This is Canuckistan...not only can a cop shoot you in the back of the head for doing nothing more than drinking a beer in a parking lot after a hockey game, but he won't even lose a days pay over it.

Ontario has indeed gone full retard.
 
Too bad you have to come back, and here I am trying to find a way to Cali! Biker/Car heaven if the magazines and shows are accurate...

As for the filtering thing, I don't expect a glorious battle of HTA172 law suits, more likely this...
http://www.gtamotorcycle.com/vbforu...filtering-and-even-the-lawyer-sees-no-way-out

A ****** ticket, prosecutor makes it stick and you're out a few hundred + increased insurance. They nibble away at you slowly till you're forced to obey!

Anyway, after driving around LA and doing the PCH 1, all you have to look forward to here is flat roads, retarded laws and self righteous people behind the wheel. Welcome :-).

Edit: One positive, we all wave at each other! Remember that?
 
All these people hating where they live. Just move. Life is too short to live in a place you hate.
 
thanks Sal, I don't have to come back but my entire family is in Ontario and they're not getting any younger...

You saw the good part of LA if you were driving around Malibu and the 1, gotta be affluent to live in that area, but if you can get score a job that pays 100-200k in Santa Monica or somewhere in the SFV you can commute on canyon roads everyday and live somewhere in Malibu, would be a good time.

I'm thinking of having kids as well and the school system here is horrible, and at the risk of sounding arrogant people here seem for lack of a better word...dumb.

If I can find a job in the KW area or Owen Sound I may return, definitely not moving to the GTA for any amount of money, no offense to anyone who likes it there.

I've ridden up the coast to SF bay and spent some time in that area as well, definitely where you want to be in terms of California...roads just as good but less concrete jungle type living...I will miss the canyon roads and mountains if I return, but I'm hoping track days and maybe car rally racing in the winter will fill that gap
 
nearace said:
the majority here dont (imo)filter or lane split Canadians are to polite for that.
Click to expand...

thanks for being honest, my parents ride as well and it took them some adjusting when they came down here to visit!

it's too bad, because by filtering we are taking ourselves out of the traffic equation and not taking up a space, if it's done properly. I filter "politely" - if a car has their signal on I wait for them to change lanes or turn before I go past them, usually with a waving hand to indicate that I see them and they can go
 
First, there is no comparison between LA and Ontario. If you steer clear of the GTA for the most part anyways. If Ontario had the same traffic congestion as LA, then I'd say filter/splitting would be something to look at. It isn't. Head north, north east to keep the ride somewhat interesting and you'll be fine. For the odd time you are caught in GTA rush hour, go ahead and filter/split but, it will be at your own peril of law enforcement. Good luck with your legal challenge after the fact. We all wish you the best and hope for a victory. You won't be the first nor, will you be the last. If you have the time to take the matter up in court, you likely have the time to wait in traffic too. Welcome back!!!!
 
I don't know what is nuttier...that you are planning to move from LA to...Kitchener.

Or that you plan on filtering there. Kitchener drivers are going to head their wittle heads pop off!
The smaller the town, the more arrogant (and bored) the cops are going to be. Be sure to wear a GoPro when you start riding around there...would be kinda fun to watch your first stop.
 
k193 said:
The title says it all..years ago I moved to Cali and started riding after that, been thinking of returning to Canada for various reasons, but some of the things I read on here are a little disturbing to say the least...it looks like insurance is so cost prohibitive that I would need to keep the bikes registered in the US

My major concern is splitting and filtering...it's legal here in California, and if drivers try to block us we break their mirror for our trouble and keep going while laughing at them...but that is by far the minority of people, maybe 7% of drivers in Cali try to block lane splitters.

Can anyone comment on these experiences personally? Have drivers tried to block you or run you off the road for the simple act of filtering?

I'm not worried about the police, I don't filter aggressively and if necessary I will sue to recollect my money if they impound my bike on a bogus "street racing / stunt driving" charge; and as I understand it various people are fighting this ridiculous law and it will be overturned in the next few years as unconstitutional, etc... anyway

Other than deer and snow, anything else unique to riding in Ontario?
Click to expand...

My yearly insurance payment is about $1000 on a 1000 ss, which is about the same as the impound fee which you will never get back even if you beat the stunt charge.
 
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