Ducati Monster Forum

Quebec has been doing it's best to try and ban sportbikes in recent years. It all started when some ignorant politician made a statement about banning all sport bikes over 400cc (which is ALL sportbikes, seeing how nothing under 600cc is available on the market). As a result of the usual media bullshit and some phoney statistics (showing a spike in sportbike related deaths, without mentioning that sport bike sales had risen the same amount) the government implemented a plan to make sport bikes prohibitively expensive to ride. Originally annual registration cost was to be 1400$, but they settled on 670$ for this year (up from 320$). A blacklist was issues covering an arbitrary range of "sports" machines from 1985 to present, including models not sold in Canada and defined according to such scientific criteria as handlebar to footpeg placement and the style of the exhaust. Anything from the 620SS to a ZX-14 is covered, but naked bikes are ignored regardless of their power (so all Monsters are omitted, as is the Speed Triple, and side-by-side models like the BMW K1200R are left out while the K1200S is included.)

There were several major protests last year, where tens of thousands of motorcyclists converged in Quebec City and Montreal - the Montreal protest went ahead despite torrential rain. There was a small blurb in the news, then it dissappeared. Nothing came of the protests, the policy went ahead.

Well this morning I hear on the radio that there were a new round of protests in several cities. The protest is for quote " a 100$ increase in registration cost" which is completely wrong. 100$ is the increase in standard bike registration, (320 to 420 this year), they completely ignored the fact that sport registration doubled overnight, with further increases planned, and that is the real reason for the protest. I hadn't heard about the protest before the media blurb, so I was pissed that I missed them.

What gets my goat is that I'm now trying to find the news piece on the protests, find out how many went and where they met, but guess what - there is not a single article anywhere on what happened, and the radio news isn't repeating the one-off broadcast they played earlier today. This is exactly what happened last year - major, high visibility protest gets swept under the rug and forgotten before the day is over. It's no wonder we were not able to stop the registration hike, our government has completely ignored us as a political body, and the public has no clue what is going on (even if they did, the usual media bias would probably skew them into the "ban 'em all!" camp).

I'm just pissed, and I thought I'd share the situation with the DMF to get the word out. I'm increasingly considering moving my bike back to the Maritimes so I don't have to deal with this bullshit anymore. On top of all this, the police have implemented a zero tolerance policy for speeding, aftermarket parts, and any vehicle modifications.

Jason
President, DOC of Montreal

I hadn't heard about this protest myself and I'm just next door in Ontario.

It almost sounds like there isn't much of an effective lobby group amongst the motorcycle community in Quebec.  I am just wondering out loud if the press received an advance press release on this or was it just a whole bunch of motorcyclists who thought that just being there would be enough to interest the media?  Sometimes it takes a professional lobbyist to open the right doors for you.

I got involved in a lot of this media savvy stuff in a 'past life' and it all boils down to who you know and what strategy will push their buttons in the manner that serves you best.


Good luck!  It's a tough uphill battle dealing with bureacrats and politicians.  [bang]    [bang]     [bang]     [bang]      [bang]     :-\

Dang... I'm getting more and more opportunities to say this...

Blame (french)Canada

Sounds like you need a "Canadian Motorcyclist Association."

Wow - that's messed up.

That sucks.  I now if you got a big percentage of the protesters to call/write in to a new station or news paper, you'll get coverage. 

That's kinda what happened here in the Bay Area a few years back.  A new local DJ said on the air',that he wished cars would open their doors as motos split past them on the freeway.'  There was a massive call in and write in to the station and local news agencies.  Then there was a massive protest in front of the DJ's work.

Good luck [thumbsup]

VS must be behind this!

Is there any kind of organization that can help support your cause with the gov't?

Certainly there's plenty of riders who collectively could make some noise, no?

Maybe this will make you feel a bit better Jason.  (Then again...maybe not...)

I just finished reading our Monday local paper and there is a picture of the ride in section 1.  It's a Canadian Press picture with a caption describing it as a protest against Quebec's motorcyce licencing fees.

No accompanying article to explain things however. :-\  If I hadn't been looking for it I probably would have confused it with just another charity ride photo or a Hell's Angels' ride. [cheeky]

Folks. We have to remember that Canada is a heavily regulated country.  Pretty much every industry is somehow regulated or owned by the local government. Borderline Socialism at its core. If you think you're getting screwed with registration in Quebec try getting insurance from the Government owned insurance company for your bike in Manitoba or BC? You'll cry. You can't get insurance elsewhere, coz the local Government has ban all independently owned insurance companies. They OWN the market!! Hummmm?... sounds like Communist don't it? VS?  [puke]

I used in live in California. I now live in Alberta. Same bike and less riding reason(5 months per year) you think it would be cheaper? Nope. I'm still paying twice more then what i paid south of the border.

NO Government should have this much power over its people. Communism sucks along with VS. They want to own and control all.

If there is, I'm not familiar with it and it certainly hasn't accomplished anything worth noting. I wish there was a CMA that would lobby government for our collective rights. As it is we are a minority of drivers and that makes us the easy target for exploitation by an ignorant government driven by an equally ignorant public. One dumbass gets into a crash and the whole community suffers, that's the gist of what we face.

What pisses me off is the misinformation in the media. The reports on "rising sportbike fatalities" were completely false, the data showed no appreciable rise (maybe 5%, without giving any statistical data that would tell you if that was within the margin of error or not), and completely overlooked the fact that the MAJORITY of motorcycle fatalities were NOT sportbikes. Who are the other 75-odd percent of deaths? Isn't that what should be looked at? They provided no data on the rest of the groups, so for all we know 75% of deaths could be Harley riders.

that really sux.

you guys pay enough taxes as it is up there...was in ONT last year with some pals for a guys weekend..25% sales tax sound about right?

and then they make all the singles into coins, so you get tricked into giving the girls $5 at a time whilst at the jiggle zone  >:(

You need to be heard some way or other. Time for some civil disobedience. Lane split to every major intersection on a given day in the center of town. Then chain the bikes together. You'll get some media coverage.

Naw, sales tax is about 14-15%.

By the time you factor in the extra Fed tax we pay from each paycheck(+10% more then US) and the sales tax and the $14 six-pack of beers... and now the super high registration. I wish it was only 15%. That is why i would NEVER live in ONT or QB. They F*** you in the drive thru.

That's it. Canada needs a revolution~  [bang]

I was in London, ONT, and I'm sure it was well over 20%, so maybe there were other taxes in there?  :-\

That blows man. I am in BC and its not much better here. I mean where not going that right now but its on its way trust me. I am still a young man myself (23), but I do agree somewhat with the stats of the "young male" trouble makers. Australia I believe has a system where you have to progress your way through the insurance brackets. So under 250cc first, then 400, 600 and unlimitied. That would be ok too I suppose. At least it would stop 18 year old idiots from buying a ZX-14; not saying all 18 year old men are idiots, just more likel.

On the other hand... What the hell happened to freedom of doing what you want. Natural selection.

How will you protect your rights?
I would be interested in learning how you can protect your rights against these hair brained regulations?

Sorry dude there are only two taxes PST for 8% and GST for 5% in Ontario.  Being an American you can claim back your GST you paid with a form you get at the border. 

Maybe you are referring to overly inflated pricing on everything, since traditionally the US dollar has been higher.

oh, Canada is so great, Canada is so progressive, Canada is so friendly to minorities, Canadians just love everyone, the Canadaian gov't is so fair to their people.

Bah, I'll stay here in 'merica with my guns, cheap registration, and cheap booze.

 [evil] [roll] ;D [drink]

Here in B.C. we have the B.C. Coalition of Motorcyclists that lobby the Provincial Government, I.C.B.C., B.C. Ferriess etc. over rider's rights.  There must be some organization in Quebec that acts in the same way.  Who is organizing the rallies?  

I've been reading in Cycle Canada about what's happening in Quebec for at least a couple of months now, and it's a real shame.  Unfortunately all it takes is a couple of high profile bike fatalities, wich always seem to get more than their fair share of media coverage to get the average car driver all riled up.  The politicians pick up and run with it, 'cause it's a great way to get votes and make it seem that they are doing something to save us stupid middle classers from ourselves.  I think it's a pretty tough issue to get any support from the general population on.  Good luck with it though, John.

I want to go visit friends in Quebec but don't want to risk getting tickets (points transfer to NY) for BS laws & enforcement.

Last I checked, Australia breaks up licensing such that an Learner can only ride a 250, they have to ride for 6 months (or a year?) on the Learner's permit and then can take tests to get the Provisional license which is limited to 500cc. Once they've been on that for 6 months (again, maybe a year, don't remember), then they can get whatever they want. It's a much better system IMO because it encourages people to learn how to ride rather than just buying whatever superbike has the lowest finance rate.

There's a lot wrong with legislation surrounding motorcycling in the US (and the AMA is all for half of the crappy laws) but in some cases it's warranted, many others it's definitely not.

IMO of course. :)

Now that I'm old (and have enough bike experience to meet any test), I could probably support a graduated licensing scheme. Don't know how fair it would seem to me if I was 16, though.

And I'm shocked to hear someone in Alberta claiming it's too socialist!

errr... 14% last time i checked... more for boose though i think (we sin, oh how we sin)

as far as the jiggle zone, they get you one way or the other, don't be blaming our 1 and 2 dollar coinage.  [beer]

i do pay about $1500 for full coverage on my bike. it's steep but if i crash, i will be mended free of charge. and for that i am happy to pay a bit of tax.

I'd support graduated licensing too, I'm only 22 but I've been riding since I was 17.  Quebec has a phony graduated system - you can chose to start below 250 or open class right from the start.

I'd be more than happy to sit every test required to get my open license. Clearly for already licensed people, being able to group them somehow would be a wise move but we should all be held to the same standard.

I really hope it's not the case but I doubt the laws in Quebec will change unless there's a legal challenge. Good luck Jason.

Maybe it's time to move? :(

Oh I'm considering it. My family has a house in New Brunswick, it's always available for my bike... But I like it here in Montreal, and having a bike 1000kms away makes no sense, so I'll just knuckle under and pay for the privilege of riding for the time being.

Just plate it in NB.

I'd rather not screw with the insurance companies. If they caught wind of my shenanigans it would be big trouble for me. I still owe money on it and my loan requires full coverage, if it were just liability I'd consider it. Plus I'm kind of high profile, being the prez of the DOC and all.

My dad is an insurance adjustor, I know the system all too well. And I prefer not to mess with it.