RIP motorcycles in Ontario?
- Thread starter caferay
- Start date
K
Kamn
Guest
it will come down from the $1300 next year, but this province is the worst when it comes to insurance. Im not like a lot of others here, I dont ride to save gas, I ride for pure pleasure
caferay
Been Around the Block
What this has done is killed the Italian sport bikes, and killed their resale values because no one can get insurance. Some insurance companies refuse to insure super sports bikes, regardless or age of rider. People find it easier to sell their bikes in the US. Ducati even closed their CDN distributor.
A conspiracy theorist would conclude that this is collusion between the Ontario government and insurance companies to get bikes off the roads completely. Forget lobbying government, because lots of municipalities have learned to hate bikes, because the majority of motorcycles now on the road have no mufflers. It's only a matter of time before they just ban them , as Oakville did.
I can sympathize, you go to a nice rural area for the scenery and get some nice lunch and you are blasted by Harleys in groups of 20 or more that put out over 120 Db. This a-hole culture and "loud pipes save lives" nonsense is killing motorcycling. You no longer meet the nicest people of a bike, you meet poser a-holes seeking attention. Sooner or later, Joe average voter will lose patience and just lobby to ban bikes.
These shirts are really popular in southern Ontario. As if we don't have enough of a white trash stereotype.
A conspiracy theorist would conclude that this is collusion between the Ontario government and insurance companies to get bikes off the roads completely. Forget lobbying government, because lots of municipalities have learned to hate bikes, because the majority of motorcycles now on the road have no mufflers. It's only a matter of time before they just ban them , as Oakville did.
I can sympathize, you go to a nice rural area for the scenery and get some nice lunch and you are blasted by Harleys in groups of 20 or more that put out over 120 Db. This a-hole culture and "loud pipes save lives" nonsense is killing motorcycling. You no longer meet the nicest people of a bike, you meet poser a-holes seeking attention. Sooner or later, Joe average voter will lose patience and just lobby to ban bikes.
These shirts are really popular in southern Ontario. As if we don't have enough of a white trash stereotype.
Scruffy
West Tennessee
The scene is dying around here too. Lots of old farts on Harleys and similar v-twin cruisers, lots of hood rats on sport bikes, but every day riders on generic Japanese twins and fours? Forget it. Insurance on my 650 single is the same as on the 1500 Drifter. $86/yr, liability only. Most people in my county refuse to get a license, let alone insurance (68% black population, close to 80% poor of all ethnicities). There is NO work.
Nobody stocks consumables except for ATVs and dirt bikes, unless you have a Harley. Or know exactly what you need and what will cross over from the auto parts store. Tires, tubes, rim liners and such are cheaper and get here faster from Motorcycle Superstore and related. Custom shops? Forget anything that isn't a catalog sourced bolt on for Harley and their clones. And expect to pay through the nose for any work done to your machine. Million dollar dealerships have brand new 2005 (or older) bikes on the showroom floor, and brand new still in the shipping crates from Japan 1990s models rotting away out back.
It isn't just Ontario that is hurting.
Nobody stocks consumables except for ATVs and dirt bikes, unless you have a Harley. Or know exactly what you need and what will cross over from the auto parts store. Tires, tubes, rim liners and such are cheaper and get here faster from Motorcycle Superstore and related. Custom shops? Forget anything that isn't a catalog sourced bolt on for Harley and their clones. And expect to pay through the nose for any work done to your machine. Million dollar dealerships have brand new 2005 (or older) bikes on the showroom floor, and brand new still in the shipping crates from Japan 1990s models rotting away out back.
It isn't just Ontario that is hurting.
Jbone
New Member
I makes me sad to read all of this...after living in Italy for 3 years, I came back with visions of rising my 748 along gorgeous twisties in the Canadian country side. Then I tried to get my 748 home.....then I tried to get my license transfered.....then Insurance....AND THEN I tried to get my Ducati 996 SPS across the border from buying it state side.
Through all of that I was made acutely aware that Ontario as well as Canada as a whole does not have a whole lot of time for bikes. The current system we have definitely feels as though its designed to fail so that motorcycles will simply "go Away".
Personally I think this is a symptom of a greater problem in our 'once' (my humble opinion) great country. Without getting into it to deep, I feel that Canada has become this complacent, "just let it be" kinda place where everyone agrees that there is a problem, and maybe even agree on what the cause of said problem is, but yet , stand by and do nothing about it.
I think a good start is for the biker community in all its forms to stick together, get together and start promoting a positive image of itself. If we can show our respective communities that we're not all a bunch of douche bags and get them onside, it'll helps if and when we get our act together and start lobbying MPP's to do something about all the crap we've been talking about.....and hey...maybe more people will start riding bikes once they see that you don't have to be a member of the HA or some dickhead stuntrider/street racer to enjoy riding.
Failing something of this nature, Im afraid I might have to live elsewhere as bikes are pretty much IT for me and if I can't ride well...what the hell's the point 8)
Through all of that I was made acutely aware that Ontario as well as Canada as a whole does not have a whole lot of time for bikes. The current system we have definitely feels as though its designed to fail so that motorcycles will simply "go Away".
Personally I think this is a symptom of a greater problem in our 'once' (my humble opinion) great country. Without getting into it to deep, I feel that Canada has become this complacent, "just let it be" kinda place where everyone agrees that there is a problem, and maybe even agree on what the cause of said problem is, but yet , stand by and do nothing about it.
I think a good start is for the biker community in all its forms to stick together, get together and start promoting a positive image of itself. If we can show our respective communities that we're not all a bunch of douche bags and get them onside, it'll helps if and when we get our act together and start lobbying MPP's to do something about all the crap we've been talking about.....and hey...maybe more people will start riding bikes once they see that you don't have to be a member of the HA or some dickhead stuntrider/street racer to enjoy riding.
Failing something of this nature, Im afraid I might have to live elsewhere as bikes are pretty much IT for me and if I can't ride well...what the hell's the point 8)
seestheday
New Member
Digging this up from the grave.
Dammit, I was really hoping I would be able to come here and find a way around the high premiums I'm paying on my 81 cb750. I actually bought myself an xs400 project bike because I figured (stupidly) that with the significantly lower horsepower I'd end up with lower rates.
Turns out that is not the case. I'd only end up saving $10/month. What's the point?
I'd be willing to do something about it, but I'm not sure what to do.
Dammit, I was really hoping I would be able to come here and find a way around the high premiums I'm paying on my 81 cb750. I actually bought myself an xs400 project bike because I figured (stupidly) that with the significantly lower horsepower I'd end up with lower rates.
Turns out that is not the case. I'd only end up saving $10/month. What's the point?
I'd be willing to do something about it, but I'm not sure what to do.
cosworth
Coast to Coast
My 250 is $30 a month. It will cost me in the end around $1500 to build and title. It gets 70mpg.
I make half what I did in 2008. Not by choice either. When people and their disposable income find motorcycles again it will see another revival. Look at Canon and Nikon DSLR sales figures since 2008. It's appalling.
I make half what I did in 2008. Not by choice either. When people and their disposable income find motorcycles again it will see another revival. Look at Canon and Nikon DSLR sales figures since 2008. It's appalling.
