It was an expensive bike show

**Michel** · 01-18-2008, 09:36 PM

Greetings from Toronto,

I certainly wasn't expecting to plunk money down for a new bike, especially since the riding season is still a few months away. But I guess I was ready to move up from my Katana. I was seriously considering the Gixxer 1000, but then I looked at what it would do to my insurance rates and my old, battered body.... and then I looked at the black metallic 06 VFR with only 1,388 km on it...

**OKCVFR** · 01-19-2008, 04:38 AM

Sometimes a bike just reaches out and snatches your heart. She won't break it, in fact she'll keep you coming back for more. Congratulations on your purchase.

**stewartj239** · 01-19-2008, 05:30 AM

Congratulations. The VFR is a reasonable bike to insure. On my policy, I have liability only on all 3 ('07 800, '86 750, '86 500) and the total bill is only $192. They have the '07 premium at only $82.

**pjvtec** · 01-19-2008, 05:37 AM

Great choice. It may not have the power of the GSX-R 1000, but it has ridability, comfort, style, 30 second rear tire removal, and the Honda logo on the gas tank. I do like the black paint, but when ride a Honda you gotta ride red. No kiddin', it's always time to ditch a Katana. Does anyone else call them " Cans of Tuna " ? Whats the temp. up there? I woke up this morning and it was -4 F with a wind chill of -25F, thanks for the cold artic air mass.

**blackjack_mike** · 01-19-2008, 06:32 AM

Michel, the same thing happened to me at the same show last year. I went to window shop and ended up with buying my 98 black VFR. Absolutely no regrets at all! I've been riding for over 30 years and I have to say, this is one of the best bikes I've every owned! You've made a great choice and you are with a great bunch of people who share the same passion! Hopefully we get a chance to ride together. Cheers!

**rngdng** · 01-19-2008, 06:57 AM

I just put liability on my 91 yesterday.......$34.00/yr. Dairyland Insurance Company rules!!

Lane

**PARedVFRRider** · 01-19-2008, 07:35 AM

Congratulations on your new purchase. You won't be disappointed.

**Michel** · 01-19-2008, 07:51 AM

Hey thanks everyone for all the comments.

stewartj239, don't forget insurance is stupid in Canada. (Must be because we try to get 12 months of riding into 6.) My rates are considered very reasonable and they're still more than 4 times for my 1 bike what you pay for 3 -- go figure. And I'm only slightly further upstate than you are. (grin)

pjvtec truth be told, I really did love my Katana. Yes, it's somewhat underpowered but it's solid, goes forever and it's a great do everything bike. It's just that the vfr seems to do be much better on all fronts. Glad to have the Honda logo on the gas tank. I worked on the advertising account (cars) when the original Interceptor was introduced!

blackjack_mike, thanks... you ride north and I'll ride west. Meet you in the middle?

**grayflare** · 01-19-2008, 04:23 PM

I might be biased but you will enjoy that bike immensley. Congrats on the purchase and hold on to your purse string because the mods will try to follow you home. Ask me how I know.

**Michel** · 01-19-2008, 05:02 PM

Originally Posted by grayflare

I might be biased but you will enjoy that bike immensely. Congrats on the purchase and hold on to your purse string because the mods will try to follow you home. Ask me how I know.

Uhm, gulp, how do you know?

**xShadowrider** · 01-19-2008, 07:05 PM

Originally Posted by Michel

Greetings from Toronto,

I certainly wasn't expecting to plunk money down for a new bike, especially since the riding season is still a few months away. But I guess I was ready to move up from my Katana. I was seriously considering the Gixxer 1000, but then I looked at what it would do to my insurance rates and my old, battered body.... and then I looked at the black metallic 06 VFR with only 1,388 km on it...

Hi Michel, the recent shows likewise affect on me. I just traded my '04 Shadow in on an '06 Pearl White from Burlington Cycle. Now I am too desperately waiting on the quick return of the riding weather which feels a long way off today with temps at -10 and a wind chill which makes it feel like -infinity.

**Michel** · 01-19-2008, 07:57 PM

ooooooooooooh the Pearl white. Gorgeous. 06 was a good year for colors.

**xShadowrider** · 01-19-2008, 08:08 PM

Originally Posted by Michel

ooooooooooooh the Pearl white. Gorgeous. 06 was a good year for colors.

Had it been any other colour I probably wouldn't have convinced my wife to let me part with the coin to sustain this addiction.

**grayflare** · 01-20-2008, 06:19 AM

Originally Posted by Michel

Uhm, gulp, how do you know?

Lets see, where do I start:
Luggage Locker rear tail bag
Nelson Riggs saddle bags
Marsee tank bag
Throttlemeister cruise control
Michelin Pilot Road 2s
Leo Vince Carbon exhaust
Dynojet PCIII w/O2 eliminaters
Garmin Zumo 550
Racetech springs and Gold Valves up front
ELKA 2way clicker hydraulic preload rear shock
Sargent seat
Scorpio alarm

Uhhhh, thats all I can think of right now.

If you want me to go into all the riding gear Ive bought I may need to start another page.

**Michel** · 01-20-2008, 10:03 AM

Eeek. Nices pics btw. If you got a new bike tomorrow, what would be the first thing you'd put on?

**xShadowrider** · 01-20-2008, 01:09 PM

Originally Posted by OKCVFR

Sometimes a bike just reaches out and snatches your heart. She won't break it, in fact she'll keep you coming back for more. Congratulations on your purchase.

Nicely put! I think I'll steal that one.

**xShadowrider** · 01-20-2008, 01:13 PM

Originally Posted by pjvtec

Great choice. It may not have the power of the GSX-R 1000, but it has ridability, comfort, style, 30 second rear tire removal, and the Honda logo on the gas tank. I do like the black paint, but when ride a Honda you gotta ride red. No kiddin', it's always time to ditch a Katana. Does anyone else call them " Cans of Tuna " ? Whats the temp. up there? I woke up this morning and it was -4 F with a wind chill of -25F, thanks for the cold artic air mass.

-14 centigrade here with wind chill pushing that to -28. I think you have us beat.

**ontargetnow** · 01-20-2008, 01:17 PM

I just last week put liability & comp on my 97 xr650l and 2000vfr for $94/year. I was going to wait a few months, but at this price, I'll get in a little winter riding here in N.Y. . (cut my ride short to 10 miles today though @19 deg F) Ride safe, Dave

**grayflare** · 01-20-2008, 03:46 PM

Originally Posted by Michel

Eeek. Nices pics btw. If you got a new bike tomorrow, what would be the first thing you'd put on?

I guess that would depend on what I needed most at the moment, with that said you asked for my opinion, It would be the suspension mods. Nothing else I have listed will give you more bang for the buck than this.

**chomper** · 01-20-2008, 04:03 PM

Originally Posted by stewartj239

Congratulations. The VFR is a reasonable bike to insure. On my policy, I have liability only on all 3 ('07 800, '86 750, '86 500) and the total bill is only $192. They have the '07 premium at only $82.

wow I'm confused is that all you pay for your mandatory insurance! plus fire theft collision......I pay over 900 yr mandatory insurance then about 400 for theft collision with a clean record!

[

**chomper** · 01-20-2008, 04:10 PM

Originally Posted by Michel

Greetings from Toronto,

I certainly wasn't expecting to plunk money down for a new bike, especially since the riding season is still a few months away. But I guess I was ready to move up from my Katana. I was seriously considering the Gixxer 1000, but then I looked at what it would do to my insurance rates and my old, battered body.... and then I looked at the black metallic 06 VFR with only 1,388 km on it...

congrats on your new ride........those bike shows are great eh...they sure good at prying the money out your pocket
now you need some staintunes oem bags and sargent seat!! its only money

**Michel** · 01-20-2008, 04:36 PM

Thanks. Yeah it's only money and you only live once...

**R.W.** · 01-20-2008, 05:52 PM

Originally Posted by chomper

wow I pay over 900 yr mandatory insurance then about 400 for theft collision with a clean record!

[

Those startling insurance rates in Canada are truly scary, so I have two questions for all Canadian riders.

1. Does auto insurance cost as much as motorcycle insurance in Canada?

2. Is the average wage in Canada a lot more than the U.S? To put that question into prospective, does an average McDonalds burger flipper get $12.00 dollars an hour in Canada?

**chomper** · 01-20-2008, 06:07 PM

Originally Posted by R.W.

Those startling insurance rates in Canada are truly scary, so I have two questions for all Canadian riders.

1. Does auto insurance cost as much motorcycle insurance in Canada?

2. Is the average wage in Canada a lot more than the U.S? To put that question into prospective, does an average McDonald burger flipper get $12.00 dollars an hour in Canada?

depending on car you drive insurance is lower but not much
these rate are not across country just in B.C we have gov. mandated insurance for liability potion(no choice) the rest of insurance we can shop around for but yes its scary!! if it was under 750 cc it would be a few100 less.

if you wanna get 12 bucks an hr flipping burgers you have to move to oil rich Alberta

**Michel** · 01-20-2008, 06:48 PM

In Ontario, car insurance is just as stupid as motorcycle insurance. I pay thousands for two cars, despite high deductible/clean record. Insurance companies don't have to look hard to understand why, as a group, they are so despised. State Farm has often been held up as being good for sport riders since they are the only company that charges by the cc, but I have received 2 quotes from them and both were higher than what I am paying now.

You can't compare just one item between countries though. We can't deduct mortgage payments from taxes but university tuitions are still less than a quarter what they are in the U.S. And then there's medical costs -- another can of worms if you want to open that one up. The usual comments about Canada being safer, cleaner, etc. are generally true. I am also 6 hours' drive away from being to drop my canoe in a river and not see another human being for a week, despite the fact that I live in the 4th or fifth biggest major market area in North America.

Bottom line. Except for the short riding season, insurance rates, generally higher prices for a lot of things, and few other gripes, I love it here -- but I'd also consider moving to hmmm, say, San Francisco...