After massive hikes of 200 to nearly 400 percent in three years, motorcycle riders in Quebec will be pleased to learn that the SAAQ is proposing a drop in annual registration fees.

Sport bike owners will benefit from the largest reduction after seeing their insurance contribution skyrocket from $320 in 2007 to $1,381 last year.
Quebec Minister of Transport Sam Hamad and the Expert Committee will submit their recommendations by December, but take it to the bank: reductions will range from $23 (125 cc or less, including electric two-wheelers) to $490 (''Sport'' models).

Encouraging numbers
Over the past three years, insurance contributions collected from motorcyclists have fully matched the cost of compensation benefits. The SAAQ also recorded improved highway safety results despite the increase in the number of registered motorcycles.

The only puzzling stat remains the number of registered sport bikes in the province, which fell from about 17,000 in 2007 to just 5,000 in 2011. Were they all stored for good or do they continue to ride without being registered and insured? The government needs to worry about that, and so should other road users.

According to motorcycle rider associations, the insurance contributions should be based on the rider's age and personal record, including claims, rather than the type of bike or displacement. They argue that the risks involved mainly depend on education, competence, experience, and most importantly, rider behaviour.

The guilty will pay
Eric Lessard, president of the Front commun motocycliste, says the riders most at risk – those who violated the Highway Safety code – should be penalized with an additional premium, as is the case with car drivers.

While the revised plan for insurance contributions must be approved by the Expert Committee following the public consultation process, the news brings a glimmer of optimism after a decade-long impasse and works toward favourable conditions on which to build the future of the sport.