Some info about having a bike in Quebec

Hello again World,

   I know it's been a couple of weeks since my last post, got distracted.

   I thought this time around I'd post some important links regarding the cost of owning a bike in Quebec. There's some missinformation going around because of changes to the laws over the past couple of years. 

   The first question that most people will ask when you tell them you're getting a bike will be about the high cost of insurance.  It is not the insurance costs a lot in Quebec, it is the vehicle registration. Insuring a bike is actually relatively cheap.  For a 39 year old man such as myself, to insure a FZ6R (which is a sport touring, 600cc bike) it was less than 280$.  On the other hand, to register this same bike with the Quebec government, it'll cost me upward of 560$ for a full year.  Some of you might be thinking, well just register in April, cancel in October, that way you only have to pay roughly half.  Nope, the government thought of that, you have to register for a full year, so you pay for your bike to sit in storage, awesome, eh?

   And what if you're daring and you want to drive a super sport bike?  Or as the government calls them, high risk bikes?  You'll be paying upward of almost 1200$ for registration alone.  Not insurance, and not your license, only to put a license plate on the bike.

   Here is a link to the costs of registering a bike in 2012:
http://www.saaq.gouv.qc.ca/en/vehicle_registration/registration_cost/moto.php

   If you're wondering if the bike you are considering is a high risk bike, the following links will help you, the first is a list of characteristics of what they consider high risk is, the second link is the official list of high risk bikes for the past several years.  The section for 2013 is being updated as we speak if I read it correctly.

http://www.saaq.gouv.qc.ca/en/vehicle_registration/high_risk_motorcycle.php

http://www2.publicationsduquebec.gouv.qc.ca/dynamicSearch/telecharge.php?type=3&file=/A_25/A25R3_1_A.HTM

   So there you have it World.  Some of the costs associated with just trying to get your bike on the road.  It's March 10th already and officially there are only 5 days left until people can get their bikes out.

   If you are taking your bikes out while there is still snow on the ground, stay safe and stay warm.