everything costs more in B.C then the rest of this damn country
Actually, your province has very enviable insurance rates for vintage vehicles, when compared to most elsewhere. What I'm referring to is the licensing and insuring of a "collector multi-vehicle license", which with some restrictions covers a collection of older vehicles. Most other locations require that each vehicle be separately licensed and insured - and that gets expensive when compared to the reasonable rates that BC enjoys.
Also, I have to agree with the "beginner" restrictions that appear to be implemented in BC. With the size and power of motorcycles available today, it makes a lot of sense to restrict their use on the road until one has proven experience of operation. Here in Ontario, you can take a written multi-choice test at the Ministry and obtain a 90-day beginners permit (M1), that allows you to operate ANY motorcycle on the road with only four restrictions:
- no passengers
- no roadways posted over 80 KPH (with some exceptions in the northern regions were no other roadways exist between points)
- no nighttime riding (1/2 hour after sunset until 1/2 hour before sunrise)
- no alcohol (0.00% BAC)
After a minimum period of 60 days, one can apply for the next graduated level of license, the M2. This license is good for 5 years and has only one restriction - no alcohol. It is obtained by demonstrating the skills of riding in a parking lot, covering various prescribed maneuvers that some "experienced" riders would have trouble performing on anything but a smaller vehicle (and then maybe too
). This test is administered by the Ministry, or taught and tested by approved riding schools. Then, after a minimum of 22 months (or 18 months with course for M2) one can obtain the full M license by taking a test on the road, with traffic.