Yeah, I've owned bikes all my life and I also wouldn't have a bike as my only way of transportation. At first, it doesn't matter since you're excited to have a new toy and all that but it gets old really quick if the weather sucks (or especially winter time). As for the insurance, its really not bad at all. I paid (these are this year rates) $347/year full coverage (best you can get) for a 1998 Suzuki GSX-R 750 SRAD. I don't think that's bad at all...