North Bay Ontario

[Rigger]

Hey all, is anyone in the North Bay Ontario area?  I might be posted back to North Bay next summer.  Let's just say it can't come soon enough.  How is bike insurance out there for a 46 year old man on a VFR800ABS, no points on his driving record and no insurance claims ?

[Hardware]

Not enjoying the 'Peg?

[bungie4]

Hey all, is anyone in the North Bay Ontario area?  I might be posted back to North Bay next summer.  Let's just say it can't come soon enough.  How is bike insurance out there for a 46 year old man on a VFR800ABS, no points on his driving record and no insurance claims ?

Bring loob. Lots of loob.

[Rigger]

Insurance here in Winnipeg is killer.  In Alberta full insurance for my 2008 VFR was $505.00 per year, that's it!  Here in Winnipeg it is $2500 / year for minimal insurance.  In Alberta my 1985 Nighthawk S 750 was a whopping $100 for the whole year.  Here in Winnipeg it is $2700 / year.  So in total both bikes in Alberta were $600 / year roughly.  Here in Manitoba I would be paying $5200/year.  I can even afford $2500 for the VFR, so no riding for now  .  But being that I am military I might be getting posted to North Bay next year.  I just hope the insurance there is better than here.

[Huron52]

I have to say... It is less the Winnipeg Manitoba... maybe not as good as Alberta

[Huron52]

   Come on Steve.... tell him what you pay living next door....

[Hardware]

Insurance here in Winnipeg is killer.  In Alberta full insurance for my 2008 VFR was $505.00 per year, that's it!  Here in Winnipeg it is $2500 / year for minimal insurance.  In Alberta my 1985 Nighthawk S 750 was a whopping $100 for the whole year.  Here in Winnipeg it is $2700 / year.  So in total both bikes in Alberta were $600 / year roughly.  Here in Manitoba I would be paying $5200/year.  I can even afford $2500 for the VFR, so no riding for now  .  But being that I am military I might be getting posted to North Bay next year.  I just hope the insurance there is better than here.

MPI should give CF members the full 25% rebate if you bring in a driver's abstract from your previous province proving you were accident/claim/ticket free for the past 5 years.  Otherwise it's a 5% rebate each year.

Get the rebate and get the bike on the road and ride it.

There's lots of flat straight roads there that SUCK.

That said, head up along the North Perimeter Hwy and take the exit for Henderson Hwy.  Take that (it's also Rt 204) north to Lockport.  Turn left on 44 and cross the bridge - stop at Skinners for a famous hotdog.

Then head south on River Road.  This is one of the only twisty roads in the area.  Enjoy (limit's low though...50 km/h IIRC).

Another ride that can take a whole day:

Head east on the TCH to Kenora.  Just past Kenora, head south on 71 all the way down to the T.  You can go left (Emo) or right (Barwick).

We went through Barwick and crossed into the Hysterical States at Rainy River, then on the 11 up to the 313 and then across the border onto Canada.  Then we meandered up through Steinback back to The Car Theft Capital of Canada...

[Rigger]

I have gone riding through the area and the Whiteshell area is nice, lots of winding roads.  I do have the 25% discount and it brings the insurance down to $2500.  I should have mentioned that I have the discount, my bad.  

[Hardware]

That seems high, especially with the discount.

IIRC correctly I was paying ~$2200 on my '04 'Busa when I registered it in MB in '06.

That was without any discount - I had to fight and argue with MPI and about a year later won my case and got 4 or 6 hundred back (it was backdated).

Traded the Busa in on a brand new RT and insurance went down again.  I think I was paying ~$1700 for the RT.

 

[Hardware]

I have gone riding through the area and the Whiteshell area is nice, lots of winding roads.  I do have the 25% discount and it brings the insurance down to $2500.  I should have mentioned that I have the discount, my bad.  

Whiteshell has beautiful twisties but the asphat was in really rough shape when we rode it.  We're talking dangerous conditions.  Did they repave?

[bungie4]

   Come on Steve.... tell him what you pay living next door....

Okay, keep in mind, I just shopped and redid all my policies this past Sept.. and, I'm going from memory, previous prices are in brackets

Stats: I'm 51, clean driving record, one claim for a no-fault hit and run on my car for $700

04 FJR1300 - $800 - TD ($1400 - Elite)
11 CBR250RA - $290

I moved my car ins and my tenants insurance over for a bigger discount. It pays to shop around!

[Rigger]

Hey Hardware the riding through the Whiteshell is beautiful with lots of twisties, but sadly the road is in very rough shape.  I wouldn't even think about pushing the speed limit in some places it is that bad.  Last summer and the summer before there were places where water was flowing over the road.  The roads here are very poorly maintained.  Were you working here in Winnipeg before?

[Hardware]

Yup.

[Rigger]

Yup.

What do you do for a living? Military???

[Rigger]

I got word yesterday I am moving back to North Bay!  Looks like I will be riding again     Thankfully I did not sell the VFR or the Nighthawk S.  I should be back around the beginning of August.

[Hardware]

Congratulations!

[Rigger]

Hardware what do you do for a living in North Bay?

[Baz]

Hey all, is anyone in the North Bay Ontario area?  I might be posted back to North Bay next summer.  Let's just say it can't come soon enough.  How is bike insurance out there for a 46 year old man on a VFR800ABS, no points on his driving record and no insurance claims ?

You didn't direct a F-18 to bring pain into downtown Toronto again did you Mr. Rigger?  

[Hardware]

Hardware what do you do for a living in North Bay?

Never been to North Bay.

[Rigger]

You didn't direct a F-18 to bring pain into downtown Toronto again did you Mr. Rigger?  

When I move back    I am sooooo stoked about riding again and not just to be riding but I will be able to ride in the Muskokas which I truly love.  And I also can ride down to London with no problem and ride around with my dad and my brother!!!!  I am grinning from ear to ear  so much my face is sore.  I can't even contain it at work

[Baz]

Good to hear it is a likeable posting!

I guess I can scrub you off my coffee at Starbucks list?

[Rigger]

Sadly yes, however if I do make it out west on 2 wheels I will let you know and will stop by St Albert Chapters!  And you know I will stop at St Albert Honda to visit the people there and probably buy some stuff.

[bubba zanetti]

 

Go Rigger !  The grin explanation alone was worth reading this thread. Glad you have found a happy landing !!  

Lots of ride reports and pics ..... eh ?  

[Rigger]

Thanks Bubba!  Look out central Ontario, all your roads are belong to me  

[bungie4]

Thanks Bubba!  Look out central Ontario, all your roads are belong to me  

Two pretty decent rides out of North Bay.



The first is up Hwy 63 (Trout Lake Rd) to Temiscaming. Mostly straight, but fresh pavement and some good sweepers. Awesome (as is the whole North Bay area) in the fall.




The second could be spectacular if they'd only repave it, Hwy 533 heading out of Mattawa comes out onto the road above. But honestly, last I was on it I actually turned my bike around at one point to turn back. It's that bad. Every see pavement with HUGE washboard?  Anyway, I'm glad I kept going. The first and last 8-10km are *SHITE* but the middle 20 is really good.

[Rigger]

Bungie4 I will let you know when I am settled in North Bay. I loved riding the area when I lived there.  I started riding in 2005 and rode when ever I had the chance.  The Muskokas, North Bay area, the drive on Highway 17 all the way to Thunder Bay are all incredible.  I am sure there are other STN'rs in the area that we could get a gathering going.

[Huron52]

  I am sure there are other STN'rs in the area that we could get a gathering going.

I'm sure if you will host it they will come

[frankr]

Thunder Bay On      zzr600 with 29 year old $ 600   zzr1200 50+ age and a clean record $625 for the year with collision, theft - alarm mounted

[Rigger]

Well I just found out that I am not just getting screwed in the ass once (being posted to Winnipeg and cannot afford insurance) but being screwed twice.  I was informed this week that my posting to North Bay has been cancelled due to budgetary reasons.  Looks like my whole life is now completely SCREWED. My career is screwed and my fav past time (bikes) is screwed. Thanks once again career manager.  I am not unemployed or anything like that. I just miss being able to ride, paddle my kayak and be close to family and enjoy an outstanding career.  Guess I will have to settle for the time being.  Hopefully next year brings a change.  My time on 2 wheels this year will be a whopping 14 days.  I guess that's better than nothing.  A 2 week trip on the bike, then that's it for another year.    

[Huron52]

Sorry to hear that.... that's a real bummer!

[Hardware]

That does suck.  A posting is what you make of it.

You've got okay riding within range of you...

[Rigger]

Yes I can ride but I cannot afford $2500 for insurance  

[Hardware]

Yes I can ride but I cannot afford $2500 for insurance  

That still seems high, even with the %25 discount.  I just ran the numbers on the MPI site and for your bike, get a quote of $1806 for 2012.

[bungie4]

Yes I can ride but I cannot afford $2500 for insurance  

Shop around. I saved myself over $800/yr last Sept. Turns I got the best rate from TD (Primmum). Odd bit is, every time I've shopped for Ins., Primmum directy was always the highest by a ridiculous amount. Go figger.

Give Kanetix.ca a try. They do online motorcycle quotes.

[Hardware]

Shop around. I saved myself over $800/yr last Sept. Turns I got the best rate from TD (Primmum). Odd bit is, every time I've shopped for Ins., Primmum directy was always the highest by a ridiculous amount. Go figger.

Give Kanetix.ca a try. They do online motorcycle quotes.

Doesn't work like that in the People's Republic of Manitoba.  Government insurance (MPI) - no option to shop around.  

[bungie4]

Doesn't work like that in the People's Republic of Manitoba.  Government insurance (MPI) - no option to shop around.  

Ah hell I forgot about that. Government run anything is usually a really bad idea.

[Rigger]

That still seems high, even with the %25 discount.  I just ran the numbers on the MPI site and for your bike, get a quote of $1806 for 2012.

Thanks hardware I will take a look at that!

[bungie4]

Ah hell I forgot about that. Government run anything is usually a really bad idea.

I forgot to add. At least in Ontario we get to choose who slams us in the pooper for insurance.

[Rigger]

You got slammed in the pooper?  ewwww  Ummm just a thought, that might not have been an insurance agent, just sayin  

And I looked up MPI today for my bike and they want $1783.  That is a far cry from $2500 that they were quoting last year and earlier this year.  For those of you who are not living in Manitoba, there has been a massive amount of people complaining about the ridiculous insurance premiums people have been paying then recieve a 45% refund on their insurance in the mail.  A refund of that amount is fairly evident that they have been massively overcharging the people here.  $1783 is still a bit steep but I am going to bite the bullit and insure the bike. I cant let her go, she still gets me excited every time I see her    Now I have to work on reducing my mass balance weight around my waste.  Less weight on the bike, all the better  

[Flyer]

... I am going to bite the bullit and insure the bike...

Best news inna thread.
 

[Hardware]

 

welcome