Motorcycles are enjoying a boom in popularity like the one McQueen sparked back in the early ’60s, but by comparison, the machines available now make the ’60s machines look like they were carved out of trees.

And the power. The 600cc machines new to today’s market are, well…. Rudy Epp, 30-year rider, 10-year professional racer, and former senior instructor with Safety Services Manitoba (formerly The Manitoba Safety Council) puts it into technical terms: “With a 200-odd kilo bike putting out 100hp, that power to weight ratio is just insane.” Exactly.

Point is, the new technology is much more efficient at getting you killed if you’re not properly prepared to handle it. Enter Safety Services Manitoba (mbsafety.org). Greg Dueck, SSM’s Director of Road & Industrial Safety, explains that you can’t just buy a bike and jump on. “It’s a stepby- step process,” he says. Passing a written test gets you your 6M license so you can take one of two training courses. The basic eight-hour course ($275) teaches the need-to-know for your license. The 21-hour course ($325, but MPI rebates $162.50 upon completion) is more involved. Pass either and you upgrade to the 6L license and the graduated licensing program, which is mandatory for riding anything that is 50cc or more, or 50 km/ h and faster.

Oh, and plan on buying some serious safety gear. The high MPI rates that you hear riders bitching about are largely the result of personal injury claims, so get thebest you can afford. It will all pay off the first time you lay that bike down, which you probably will.

“If you can’t afford a good helmet (mandatory in Manitoba), you probably shouldn’t be riding,” says Dueck. “I would stress a full-face for a beginner. Even a slow-speed crash can do a tremendous amount of damage. Buy a jacket with some kind of armour plating, gloves with either plating or re enforcedpalms, good, thick jeans, and boots that cover your ankles at least.” Plan to invest anywhere from $500 to $5,000.

Now what about insurance? Dueck recommends the highest level of third party liability available. And it’s going to cost you: the premium for a 1000cc sport bike, for example, is going to run in the neighbourhood of $1,600/year without fire and theft. And you want fire and theft. “If you don’t have that insurance and someone steals your bike, you’re left with nothing,” explains Dueck.

Preliminary issues aside, you swing your leg over that saddle, now where to? Jerry Nagamori has been riding for 42 years, a good number of those as a safety instructor for SSM. Nagamori’s garage is crammed with seven motorcycles and two scooters, and he’s been everywhere on all of them. He says that any drive that is enjoyable in a car is going to be better with the wind in your face. “It’s smellingthings: the fields, the fresh air, the freedom.” You get the picture. But Nagamori says your body will dictate your ride.
“Some people’s bodies can handle riding for long periods of time. Other people find that going to Lockport for coffee is a ride in itself.” Which leads us to your choice of machine.

“There isn’t a lot out there (specifically) for novice riders (because the bikes are all so powerful),” says Nagamori. “Find one that makes you feel secure, and that you can handle, and are comfortable on. In terms of comfort, some people might have a problem with a cruiser or touring bike because most of the weight is on the tailbone, which is hard on the back. Chiropractors would recommend something that has you leaning forward slightly on your pelvis.”

Those looking for less power might also consider scootering, although some will cruise at 150 km/h (!). “I use a scooter to go for coffee,” Nagamori says, “because I can’t see firing up 1500cc just to go a few blocks. Scooters are a totally different experience.You don’t have to shift gears, and there is a floorboard as opposed to a gas tank in front of you, and their simplicity is appealing.

 You just walk up, turn the key and go.” Go to www.scooteringmanitoba.com to get started.

So you’re ready to take the plunge. What’s it going to set you back? As you might expect—especially given the $100,000 US-plus custom bikes you’ve been drooling over on the Discovery Channel—the price range is canyonesque. “In my opinion,” says Epp, “I don’t think you’ll get anything (used) in any kind of condition for anything under about $2,500. If you’re looking for something decent, $2,500 to $3,000 is going to get you into a good, entry-level bike. And from there, you can go wherever.” Literally