Blackvino - M1??

[pate]

i don't mean to be exclusionary, but i just wanted to ask blackvino a question about licensing here in ontario:

i've had my M1 this summer and it just expired yesterday. a friend of mine is in the same situation. we figured we'd pay the 15 bucks, go write the M1 again and ride out the last 3 months of the season. we'd then repeat the M1 test in the spring and take it from there.

it's not that i don't want to go to M2, but i've heard so many weird stories about it. ontario really considers a 50cc scooter a 'motorbike', so making the jump to M2 (so i can ride on 400 highways! c'mon!) doesn't even seem worth it (except you get to keep it for 22 months or something).

i was just wondering what your experience was. maybe you already have your M? i've had my G for years, so i wish i had taken my M back then before graduated licensing.

there's a story in today's citizen regarding scooters and ontario red tape:
http://www.canada.com/ottawa/ottawacitizen/news/driving/story.html?id=c4028510-4912-4289-8e57-0206aa7e198e

maybe i'll move over the river to quebec! :cool:

cheers...

[BlackVino]

I'm pretty sure the rule is under 50cc is considered a G Class motor vehicle, My vino is insured as a G class.

[pate]

really? who are you insured with? maybe i'm going about this all wrong!

[bman40]

I just read the article in the link provided, and I have to say that the reportage was not exctly correct - the insurance for my new vino classic (I live in the Vancouver area) was closer to $450 for the year, not the $200 reported. The article says the provincial insurance agency - ICBC - gives 'discounted insurance' - I'm not sure what that means...I think I'm getting hosed on the inusrance. I pay just over $1000 for my car, a 2002 Ford Focus - $20K canadian, and over $400 for a scooter with a dealer suggeted price of $2499...seems out of whack somehow.

I have a friend at work who just bought a Vespa ET2 50cc, and she went to the local motorcycle safety prgram, and they REFUSED to let here take the course, because she did NOT have a motorcycle license...in BC all you need is a regular licence for a scoot with 50cc or smaller. Unfair that people who want safety training CAN'T get it.

[BlackVino]

I'm insured through my bank TD Canada trust.

[pate]

thanks for the BC info bman40.

i'm thinking i may write a letter to the citizen editor over this one.

blackvino, i'm going to look into your way of insuring. sure beats the situation i'm in right now.

cheers all...

[bman40]

Blackvino -

how does that work? are you in BC? how much was you insurance?

**my ICBC 'plan' includes comprehensive coverage, so it covers, fire, theft and vandalism, for about $185.00 per year. That's where a lot of the additional charge comes from.

bman40

[BlackVino]

WOW thats pretty cheap....but i dont have the best record either. Costs me about 400.00 /year to insure my 02 Vino. But it is insured as a G class vehicle.