Before getting insurance on some models, it’s best to do your research and gain experience.

After working the big motorcycle shows in Ontario and Alberta earlier this year, I can confirm that the most common insurance myths still pertain to sport bikes. New riders always have plenty of insurance questions, yet it still amazes me that these conversations with visitors are the same as they were 10 years ago. In the last few years, the industry as a whole has seen a shift on the sport side, though the average motorcycle rider seems to not have received this memo. 

Currently, almost all moto manufacturers have abandoned true supersports in favour of a new breed of “real world” sporty motorcycles, most of which are aimed specifically toward newer riders. We’re talking more comfortable ergonomics and lower top speed and horsepower in favour of practicality, safety and forgiveness.

Supersport motorcycles became an unsustainable arms race in the past decade. These high-performance rockets are expensive to develop and build, sell poorly due to high-dollar MSRP, have higher insurance rates for new riders, and are uncomfortable in daily traffic as they are designed for racetracks and not streets. These bikes are great but are not meant for beginners whatsoever. Therefore, the big question is “Can a new rider start on a sport bike without going bankrupt or ending up in the hospital?” The answer is yes.

SPEAKING FROM EXPERIENCE

Part of my professional role includes regularly training staff on all things moto and how they relate to insurance. For years, I have emphasized getting familiar with the usual suspects. These are a handful of specific 600 cc supersport models that still come up daily. For a variety of reasons, the client or prospect almost never meets the experience requirements for decent insurance rates for these models, which is why insurance professionals need to know these bikes. 

Though every insurance company has their own rating system, overall, the insurance rates in Ontario on a 600 cc or 1000 cc supersport are surcharged heavily until you have at least three years as a moto licence-holder and the full motorcycle licence class. This is less of an issue in Alberta, for example, but the rates are still higher for newer riders on these models. Notice how the issue here is the rider, not the actual motorcycle. 

Over time, this will become less of an issue. These days, most of the bikes that are seen as higher-risk come from the used market. Of the big Japanese four, only Kawasaki is still producing ZX-6R Ninjas. The last Yamaha R6 (for the street) was produced in 2021. Honda is now only producing the CBR600RR for the Japanese market. And while Suzuki still sells 2024 GSX-R600s and 750s, these models have…