First time motorcycle insurance

If you can. Get a Buell. But BMW makes great bikes too. Better than their cars.

I like Honda Scooters, but really start smaller and work your way up. I know its maybe not great but a 250cc. Ignore the idiots laughing at you. I have met too many thats ended up in hospital without an arm or leg or both from bike accidents. My brother is a bike mechanic. But you have to pay a lot to see him, and he is fussy with clients.
Then again he can service your bike without a drop of oil spilled on a white tile floor, but thats how he was trained at college. But he does Harley and Buell mainly.
 
Last edited:
Ted76 said:
Wow, what a jaded pessimist you sound like. Mind over matter, I'm young and sprightly. And fyi, the 40-50 age bracket pays significantly less for motorcycle premiums as that age bracket is deemed low risk. Above 50 is when the premium increases exponentially.
Click to expand...
I am a realist, I know better, our roads were in much better condition compared to 20 years ago, when I was still a rider, so were the drivers, traffic volume also increased a lot, and the amount of drivers with lucky packet licenses has increased significantly as well. UK has significantly better drivers compared to South Africa.

The lower insurance for a given age group is based on driving experience, you have no experience, you will be paying more, I don't know why you even make an argument like that, knowing that you are a first time rider, you are automatically a higher risk. Stats that say you are less of a risk doesn't apply to you, you are essentially a baby and need to be treated like one, however unpleasant and condescending it may sound, next to sex, motorcycling is the most enjoyable thing you can do sitting down, it doesn't change the fact that you are at higher risk, you need to accept that, then you can move on and enjoy riding.

And no I am not a jaded nor a pessimist, I completely understand the enjoyment of riding, I would definitely recommend it as a bucket list experience if only just once, as a realist I am aware of the risks.

https://www.msi.org.za/motorcycle-safety-analysis-for-south-africa-2018/
 
wizardofid said:
I am a realist, I know better, our roads were in much better condition compared to 20 years ago, when I was still a rider, so were the drivers, traffic volume also increased a lot, and the amount of drivers with lucky packet licenses has increased significantly as well. UK has significantly better drivers compared to South Africa.

The lower insurance for a given age group is based on driving experience, you have no experience, you will be paying more, I don't know why you even make an argument like that, knowing that you are a first time rider, you are automatically a higher risk. Stats that say you are less of a risk doesn't apply to you, you are essentially a baby and need to be treated like one, however unpleasant and condescending it may sound, next to sex, motorcycling is the most enjoyable thing you can do sitting down, it doesn't change the fact that you are at higher risk, you need to accept that, then you can move on and enjoy riding.

And no I am not a jaded nor a pessimist, I completely understand the enjoyment of riding, I would definitely recommend it as a bucket list experience if only just once, as a realist I am aware of the risks.

https://www.msi.org.za/motorcycle-safety-analysis-for-south-africa-2018/
Click to expand...
I agree with everything you are saying. To start biking in ones 40's isn't a wise decision. The power of the bike at least gives him the ability to keep up with the traffic on highways - however - people drive insanely in SA and without a legacy of situational awareness and muscle memory it's asking for trouble. I see lots of older men on bikes who have zero riding ability, I can spot it almost straight away. Last week I saw an old guy on a powerful bike, piss-pot open face helmet, Crocs (WTF!!), t-shirt...gunning down the highway not even having the basic ability to lean the bike properly and understeering/braking through corners.
OP - take Wizard's advice - join a club (like Motorrad) and do the courses. Make sure you have life insurance and decent medical aid. As he says, it's not "IF", it's "WHEN".
 
The Darkness said:
I agree with everything you are saying. To start biking in ones 40's isn't a wise decision. The power of the bike at least gives him the ability to keep up with the traffic on highways - however - people drive insanely in SA and without a legacy of situational awareness and muscle memory it's asking for trouble. I see lots of older men on bikes who have zero riding ability, I can spot it almost straight away. Last week I saw an old guy on a powerful bike, piss-pot open face helmet, Crocs (WTF!!), t-shirt...gunning down the highway not even having the basic ability to lean the bike properly and understeering/braking through corners.
OP - take Wizard's advice - join a club (like Motorrad) and do the courses. Make sure you have life insurance and decent medical aid. As he says, it's not "IF", it's "WHEN".
Click to expand...

lol, whether rain, snow, hail, or sunshine, I was always fully kitted, always wore, jeans, gloves and a leather jacket, had a small bag on hand with some toiletries, like deodorant and a wash cloth, sometimes an extra set of clothes, might have the minor inconvenience of having to clean up a bit, but never the inconvenience of, having to pick up pieces of my self off the road, Roads are like cheese graters, if you like to look like jason voorhees lost a match up with a bear, I guess that is your choice. A carpet burn is bad enough, road rash is the most unpleasant thing that can happen, and it get worse as it starts to heal as well.

With heavy rain, I got off the road, stopped at a garage or whatever and waited it out, I avoided driving at night if at all possible, if it was at night it was always in a group, we avoided highways at night like a plague.

It brings back memories of all the toy runs we did back in the day, it was always fun, the best part was taking a walk in the parking lot, checking out all the bikes.

People that have the mentality I have driven vehicles all my life, bikes are no different, is in for a rude awakening, bikers are virtually invisible to other road users. I know it sounds like I am making out that it is dangerous, it isn't anymore dangerous than driving a car, it is rather incidents or potential for danger is practically a daily occurrence, a small pothole, debris on the road, a gust of wind, means nothing to a car, on a bike it means everything, you can't be distracted for a second and you have to have the mentality everyone else is trying to actively kill, you willingly. If a biker is angry with you, it is with good reason.

The thing about every long time biker has heard many times before " I didn't see you" !.

Definitely the most fun filled chapter of my life. If there is one piece of advise I could part with for the OP, is get to know your brakes, study and practice actively, when, how and where, there is a difference between "grabbing" and "squeezing" it is difference between high siding and joining the body work of a family sedan and low siding and smashing into obstacles, I had the pleasant experience of high siding once,(it didn't end well) you are way better off low siding and ditching the bike, your life is far more important than the damage to the bike.
 
Last edited:
Ted76 said:
Any advice here much appreciated.

I'm in my 40's and looking to do my LONG overdue motorcycle learner's. I don't have a bike yet, but just trying to gather some information on a ballpark figure of what annual insurance would be for a 500/650cc parallel twin ADV motorcycle of somebody my age who has never owned a bike before. I've been a mountain biker all my life, so this somewhat translates as far as learning to ride a motorcycle goes. I'd be getting insurance, initially, with only a learner's licence. Bike would live in an access-controlled complex, but outside.

Just doing an exercise on whether it's worth selling my smaller city car and going the bike route, or would I end up paying more for the bike per year, considering insurance, maintenance, consumables like tyres etc etc. I'm comfortable servicing most stuff on the bike bar the engine. The bike would probably see ~5000kms per year, mostly road, some fire paths or light off-road. My car has seen about the same mileage the last few years.

I know these questions are a bit like "how long is a piece of string", but any feedback welcomed.

TIA
Click to expand...
Not sure about insurance, but re costs: I would say a bike will end up costing more per year, unless it's a 150cc scooter or something.

Higher Costs:
-Bikes chow tires. I got about 7000km per rear on an NC700 if I remember correctly, and that's riding conservatively. Some claim 15000km, but they must be coasting at a steady 100km/h with no braking or accelerating to achieve that.
-Short service intervals
-Regular expensive service items like chains/sprockets/fork oil.
-It's possible to become bike obsessed, and you'll spend all your money

Lower Costs:
-You save on petrol
-You save tons of time
-You don't have to look for or pay for parking
-You will be happier

I've been commuting solely by motorbike since around 2005. For many years I didn't even own a car. Many years in city traffic, but these days I live in a small town and work from home, so my current 'bike' is a scooter, but going back to 4 wheels ain't going to happen soon. The convenience of 2 wheels is hard to beat.

Not so sure about everyone's negativity to start later in life, but what I can say is 100% go for professional lessons. Maybe even some track time. You need to know how to brake, how to counter steer, how to use and shift your weight and how to corner. Otherwise I'll take a 100:1 bet you'll see your arse in the first month.
 
Last edited:
wizardofid said:
lol, whether rain, snow, hail, or sunshine, I was always fully kitted, always wore, jeans, gloves and a leather jacket, had a small bag on hand with some toiletries, like deodorant and a wash cloth, sometimes an extra set of clothes, might have the minor inconvenience of having to clean up a bit, but never the inconvenience of, having to pick up pieces of my self off the road, Roads are like cheese graters, if you like to look like jason voorhees lost a match up with a bear, I guess that is your choice. A carpet burn is bad enough, road rash is the most unpleasant thing that can happen, and it get worse as it starts to heal as well.

With heavy rain, I got off the road, stopped at a garage or whatever and waited it out, I avoided driving at night if at all possible, if it was at night it was always in a group, we avoided highways at night like a plague.

It brings back memories of all the toy runs we did back in the day, it was always fun, the best part was taking a walk in the parking lot, checking out all the bikes.

People that have the mentality I have driven vehicles all my life, bikes are no different, is in for a rude awakening, bikers are virtually invisible to other road users. I know it sounds like I am making out that it is dangerous, it isn't anymore dangerous than driving a car, it is rather incidents or potential for danger is practically a daily occurrence, a small pothole, debris on the road, a gust of wind, means nothing to a car, on a bike it means everything, you can't be distracted for a second and you have to have the mentality everyone else is trying to actively kill, you willingly. If a biker is angry with you, it is with good reason.

The thing about every long time biker has heard many times before " I didn't see you" !.

Definitely the most fun filled chapter of my life. If there is one piece of advise I could part with for the OP, is get to know your brakes, study and practice actively, when, how and where, there is a difference between "grabbing" and "squeezing" it is difference between high siding and joining the body work of a family sedan and low siding and smashing into obstacles, I had the pleasant experience of high siding once,(it didn't end well) you are way better off low siding and ditching the bike, your life is far more important than the damage to the bike.
Click to expand...
Yup. ATGATT. That was my rule too. I've since sold all of my bikes as well. Too many close calls with idiots texting and people not paying attention. Nothing beats the feeling of being out on a remote farm road blasting along, but the close calls were too frequent, and on a ride one day, after 3 close calls (being cut into my lane, some idiot texting and a fool jumping a stop street) I was sitting thinking about it and it just seemed like madness to continue. I sold off a garage full of bikes.
 
notayoba said:
Not sure about insurance, but re costs: I would say a bike will end up costing more per year, unless it's a 150cc scooter or something.

Higher Costs:
-Bikes chow tires. I got about 7000km per rear on an NC700 if I remember correctly, and that's riding conservatively. Some claim 15000km, but they must be coasting at a steady 100km/h with no breaking or accelerating to achieve that.
-Short service intervals
-Regular expensive service items like chains/sprockets/fork oil.
-It's possible to become bike obsessed, and you'll spend all your money

Lower Costs:
-You save on petrol
-You save tons of time
-You don't have to look for or pay for parking
-You will be happier

I've been commuting solely by motorbike since around 2005. For many years I didn't even own a car. Many years in city traffic, but these days I live in a small town and work from home, so my current 'bike' is a scooter, but going back to 4 wheels ain't going to happen soon. The convenience of 2 wheels is hard to beat.

Not so sure about everyone's negativity to start later in life, but what I can say is 100% go for professional lessons. Maybe even some track time. You need to know how to brake, how to counter steer, how to use and shift your weight and how to corner. Otherwise I'll take a 100:1 bet you'll see your arse in the first month.
Click to expand...

Are you willing to be a passenger on his bike ?
 
notayoba said:
Not sure about insurance, but re costs: I would say a bike will end up costing more per year, unless it's a 150cc scooter or something.

Higher Costs:
-Bikes chow tires. I got about 7000km per rear on an NC700 if I remember correctly, and that's riding conservatively. Some claim 15000km, but they must be coasting at a steady 100km/h with no breaking or accelerating to achieve that.
-Short service intervals
-Regular expensive service items like chains/sprockets/fork oil.
-It's possible to become bike obsessed, and you'll spend all your money

Lower Costs:
-You save on petrol
-You save tons of time
-You don't have to look for or pay for parking
-You will be happier

I've been commuting solely by motorbike since around 2005. For many years I didn't even own a car. Many years in city traffic, but these days I live in a small town and work from home, so my current 'bike' is a scooter, but going back to 4 wheels ain't going to happen soon. The convenience of 2 wheels is hard to beat.

Not so sure about everyone's negativity to start later in life, but what I can say is 100% go for professional lessons. Maybe even some track time. You need to know how to brake, how to counter steer, how to use and shift your weight and how to corner. Otherwise I'll take a 100:1 bet you'll see your arse in the first month.
Click to expand...
The standard base wallet relief when exiting a bike shop is R2500.
If I had to choose though, I'd never ride a scooter - the wheels are too small and not enough rotational mass - very unstable. Also, I think underpowered motorbikes are unsafe - better to have heaps of power (that you know how to harness) and be able to get into safe spaces on the roads.
 
The Darkness said:
Yup. ATGATT. That was my rule too. I've since sold all of my bikes as well. Too many close calls with idiots texting and people not paying attention. Nothing beats the feeling of being out on a remote farm road blasting along, but the close calls were too frequent, and on a ride one day, after 3 close calls (being cut into my lane, some idiot texting and a fool jumping a stop street) I was sitting thinking about it and it just seemed like madness to continue. I sold off a garage full of bikes.
Click to expand...

Getting pushed off the road, when a vehicle with no indicators on decide to take a slip way is another fun experience,( lesson learned quickly I have as much right on the road as you do, and stuck to the middle of the lane or closer to center line that way I can't be passed on the right without the vehicle having to physically change lanes not that has stopped vehicles passing on the left, or simply do not give them any gap to pass, illegally ) last second lane changes and u-turns is another fun game cars like to play. Personally I hated lane splitting, friends all did it, but I was happy to stay with in the flow of traffic, it was really only with, stand still traffic I might do it, but with traffic flowing normally I was happy to stay in a lane.....

The Darkness said:
The standard base wallet relief when exiting a bike shop is R2500.
If I had to choose though, I'd never ride a scooter - the wheels are too small and not enough rotational mass - very unstable. Also, I think underpowered motorbikes are unsafe - better to have heaps of power (that you know how to harness) and be able to get into safe spaces on the roads.
Click to expand...
We had a saying the slower the bike the harder the fall, you fall harder with a 50cc than a 250cc........getting into trouble is easy, getting out is hard........
 
Last edited:
wizardofid said:
Are you willing to be a passenger on his bike ?
Click to expand...
I don't want to be a passenger on any new rider's bike. Those first 6 months or so are critical. You need to fill the skill bucket before the luck bucket runs out. Everyone needs a bit of luck, no one got through their first period of riding without some.

You seem to be under the impression 40 is 1 year short of 99. I've got guys in mid to late 60s in one of my (other) sport clubs, and they'll outrun/outlift/outlast/outdrink/out reflex sedentary types in their 20s. It's a use it or lose it thing. If you stay active, stay involved in sports and look after yourself, it's no issue. If you spend your days watching TV and drinking, it's a different story.

Some guys are in pipe and slippers mode by 35. Others are still active in their 80s
 
notayoba said:
I don't want to be a passenger on any new rider's bike. Those first 6 months or so are critical. You need to fill the skill bucket before the luck bucket runs out. Everyone needs a bit of luck, no one got through their first period of riding without some.

You seem to be under the impression 40 is 1 year short of 99. I've got guys in mid to late 60s in one of my (other) sport clubs, and they'll outrun/outlift/outlast/outdrink/out reflex sedentary types in their 20s. It's a use it or lose it thing. If you stay active, stay involved in sports and look after yourself, it's no issue. If you spend your days watching TV and drinking, it's a different story.

Some guys are in pipe and slippers mode by 35. Others are still active in their 80s
Click to expand...
lol hypocritical much ? You can't have it both ways....... It is a scientific fact you do slow down with age, some more than others. No one person is the same, whether your active or not, it doesn't really matter, prior experience goes a long way, having none is dodgy AF, not matter who you are, even F1 drivers who hit their prime between 30 - 33, get significantly worse after that, and while they will still be better than the average person, they have experience and skills that have been build over a long time. There is no age limit to starting F1, but starting at 30 you will be outperformed consistently, it is no different in motorcycle racing either.

No one person has the exact same life experiences, pointing out at 40+ it may not be the best idea ever, isn't wrong, it isn't saying you shouldn't, just you are automatically a higher risk, whether you are, gold medalist or participant trophy holder, you are going to get into trouble a lot more, than someone with experience, getting out of it might not be as forth coming as someone with experience.

No experience at that age, no thanks, wouldn't touch that with a barge pole, which is why suggesting of advance driving course, joining up with an experienced club is the only way to go. Going at it alone, you are going to get fked hard fast and quickly in no time flat.....
 
wizardofid said:
lol hypocritical much ? You can't have it both ways.......
Click to expand...
So you popped out of your mother's womb with 6 months biking experience? Anyway, apologies. I mistook you for someone rational, good thing you stopped biking.
 
notayoba said:
So you popped out of your mother's womb with 6 months biking experience? Anyway, apologies. I mistook you for someone rational, good thing you stopped biking.
Click to expand...

It's no coincidence vehicle operation and skills training is done at a young age, is it now ? and no I farted my way out of the womb like a two stroke with a broken seal......I stopped biking because I prefer not to have the life expectancy of a hamster.
 
Well I opened a can of worms it looks like. All advice is good advice but there is so much negativity. As notoyoba wisely said, it's all about how active and mentally alert a person keeps themselves. Yes, the body generally slows down as it ages, but there's lots of scientific evidence to show how that can be counteracted with staying active, diet, not drinking or smoking and so forth. And mindset plays a big part obviously. You know what they say, you're only as old as the person you're feeling :)
 
Ted76 said:
Well I opened a can of worms it looks like. All advice is good advice but there is so much negativity. As notoyoba wisely said, it's all about how active and mentally alert a person keeps themselves. Yes, the body generally slows down as it ages, but there's lots of scientific evidence to show how that can be counteracted with staying active, diet, not drinking or smoking and so forth. And mindset plays a big part obviously. You know what they say, you're only as old as the person you're feeling :)
Click to expand...
Not really, just wish for you to be well prepared, as former fellow biker we kinda look out for one another, just don't want you to have any regrets.

I love watching this channel and just shows how shyte just randomly happens, overconfidence is your worst enemy.

This just showcases lapse of judgement, being alert, speeding and lack of experience how quickly things go south, watching videos likes this has lots of little bits and bobs, while not really instructional does have some don't and there is A LOT of them.....lol. Wiping out is as simple as hitting loose gravel.......
https://www.youtube.com/@MotoMadness/videos
 
Ted76 said:
I appreciate the sentiments. I know the biker community is a close-knit one, and that's nice to know.

This is more my style, and why I want to get into biking. If you guys haven't seen Season 5, Southern Africa, well worth a watch!

And yes, off-road riding comes with YEARS of learning too.

Click to expand...
Lol you need a new bike every few years for that, the plus is you are going to fall off roading whether you like it or not, generally it's a low speed, generally when the bike becomes unstable. In other words you are going learn the off road shuffle fairly quickly. First thing that comes to mind for off roading is, when you don't have them install handle bar guards, besides protecting your hands, you want to protect the clutch and brake levers, they can and will break on a whim spoiling your day.

I have driven to a bike shop before once or twice before without the front brakes with the tools to install it at the bike shop my self, not something I would recommend being attempted.
 
Ted76 said:
I appreciate the sentiments. I know the biker community is a close-knit one, and that's nice to know.

This is more my style, and why I want to get into biking. If you guys haven't seen Season 5, Southern Africa, well worth a watch!

And yes, off-road riding comes with YEARS of learning too.

Click to expand...
Best of luck to you and many happy miles ahead hopefully. The biker community really is a brotherhood. Take it slow and NB: ATGATT.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X