having a bike insurance issue - smart thinking needed

[The Selfish Gene]

OK - long story short - I've ordered a new GS1250 and I'm told I can't insure it by nearly everybody.

I've had one 7k plus quote.............everybody else said no, even TPFT

The bike will be garaged, limited mileage to 5k a year

I am over 40 with 20 years riding experience

The reason they're bouncing my request - had a bike stolen in June and thus have that claim and zero NCB

Which organisations do we know that want to take my money for what is a low risk situation in reality.

Note: this bike will be insured in the Midlands as it's home address (not London)

[SaulGoodman]

You sure you have zero no claims? If you had 5 years it should usually be stepped back to two years, so at least you can quote something...

[The Selfish Gene]

SaulGoodman said:

You sure you have zero no claims? If you had 5 years it should usually be stepped back to two years, so at least you can quote something...

I am - had 2 years off bikes...........it lapsed..........started again a year ago, had the bike nicked halfway through - groan............

They asked lots about my experience (20 years) and the bikes I'd ridden prior to the NCB lapsing......... 1000cc sports bike types

I think it's just new bike, zero NCB, stolen claim and value of bike conspired to get the computer to say no..............

whatever happens - I'll get something else to start building the NCB

[Rawwr]

Have you tried BeMoto?

[garypotter]

You say you are in the midlands not London - but you has a bike stolen so maybe the midlands may be the issue for insures.....

[CAPP0]

Have you asked the BMW dealer to help? I know they changed their approach on insurance, and I can't remember the details, but I'd think they'd rather help out with this than lose a lucrative sale?

[fergus]

Can you try one of the more premium end of the market type insurers and see if they are able to recommend anyone/anything - Chubb, Hiscox, Zurich Private Client, etc?

You may need to do a bit of ringing around, but I'd steer clear of "internet based underwriters". I know a few underwriters at Lloyds syndicates, but they don't offer cover for individuals. I'll ask a couple of the motor guys for their opinions.

[outnumbered]

Are you sure you're not being turned down just because the GS1250 isn't in their systems yet, rather than your history ? IIRC there were similar problems when the LC version first came out.

[The Selfish Gene]

garypotter said:

You say you are in the midlands not London - but you has a bike stolen so maybe the midlands may be the issue for insures.....

I'm in the MIdlands and London (hence why I differentiated)

The London address is an absolute non starter - despite it being garaged.

[The Selfish Gene]

CAPP0 said:

Have you asked the BMW dealer to help? I know they changed their approach on insurance, and I can't remember the details, but I'd think they'd rather help out with this than lose a lucrative sale?

I have - that's the latest call, saying can't do it.

BNW insurance are just a brokers anyway - it goes to many of the same underwriters. It went past the computer says no............and to a proper human, who called me (which was good customer service) to personally say sorry can't be done.

[The Selfish Gene]

outnumbered said:

Are you sure you're not being turned down just because the GS1250 isn't in their systems yet, rather than your history ? IIRC there were similar problems when the LC version first came out.

Yeah this did occur - I think some of them were that, but then on the Meerkat thing I went to a new GS1200 on their system - and same result.

Interestingly - I just went for a quote on a 2014 GS, 12k worth and it was 600 quid............all other things being equal.

So - it looks like shiney new bike risk could be the deciding factor.

I've just upped it to a year old 15k bike , and it's still sub 1k............

I'm thinking trying to test the algorithm it may be the value of the bike at 18k...........?

Thanks for all the suggestions thus far - I've just called BMW, I may well try and get onto last years model (1200) with a deal, and the snazzy screen and get the NCB built back up.

I kind of have a rule about insurance, no matter what I'm driving, it needs to be 999 or less (as a total max)

Just a rule I've set in my head.

[Harji]

I t has worked for me in the past, for motor insurance and flights and holidays, but have you tried going into incognito mode, so no cookies are tracked, creating a new account and getting a quote? Once they have a cookie you'll find the price will only go up.

[The Selfish Gene]

Harji said:

I t has worked for me in the past, for motor insurance and flights and holidays, but have you tried going into incognito mode, so no cookies are tracked, creating a new account and getting a quote? Once they have a cookie you'll find the price will only go up.

I have definitely heard of this before, but essentially I think this time I'm my own limiting factor with my recent history.

it's cool - I'm happy to save a load of money and buy the year old model..............I mean I wouldn't have gone for the crazy insurance costs, but if I did - that would be 3k plus an extra 5k for the bike.........

madness really

[CAPP0]

The Selfish Gene said:

I'm thinking trying to test the algorithm it may be the value of the bike at 18k...........?

Actually that rings a bell - mate bought a Rallye and chucked some options at it which took it over £17k and I think he had problems as a result. Let us know what you get it up to before it fails!

[The Selfish Gene]

CAPPO - I can't do a proper boundary value analysis - as trying loads of times is going to flag I'm taking the piss and cause me issues.

but...........I can tell you - over 17k (might be 17500) I'm getting the response:

"fk you human, you're way too dangerous to ride this ridiculously expensive high powered machine you piece of st"

but - if I go for last years brand new model, at 16500 plus 200 for extras (top box guess) I'm getting the response

"well human, you are a little dangerous, and I will charge you a minimum of 800 English pounds to insure you"

if I go for a 2016 bike, at 14k - the response is

"nice human - 600 pounds you are no risk and should be encouraged to milk virgins"


At least that's how I would have coded it

Edited by The Selfish Gene on Wednesday 10th October 14:32

[CAPP0]

The Selfish Gene said:

CAPPO - I can't do a proper boundary value analysis - as trying loads of times is going to flag I'm taking the piss and cause me issues.

but...........I can tell you - over 17k (might be 17500) I'm getting the response:

"fk you human, you're way too dangerous to ride this ridiculously expensive high powered machine you piece of st"

but - if I go for last years brand new model, at 16500 plus 200 for extras (top box guess) I'm getting the response

"well human, you are a little dangerous, and I will charge you a minimum of 800 English pounds to insure you"

if I go for a 2016 bike, at 14k - the response is

"nice human - 600 pounds you are no risk and should be encouraged to milk virgins"


At least that's how I would have coded it

Edited by The Selfish Gene on Wednesday 10th October 14:32

Whatever it is that you consult on (I'm one of those, too), I can advise you that your talents are wasted and you should write online insurance engines instead.

[The Selfish Gene]

CAPP0 said:

Whatever it is that you consult on (I'm one of those, too), I can advise you that your talents are wasted and you should write online insurance engines instead.

thank you sir - there was a period of time when I was in charge of a rather big insurance companies software.

alas - they were boring as fk, and extremely incompetent and thus I didn't get to improve their system in any way.

[garypotter]

The Selfish Gene said:

garypotter said:

You say you are in the midlands not London - but you has a bike stolen so maybe the midlands may be the issue for insures.....

I'm in the MIdlands and London (hence why I differentiated)

The London address is an absolute non starter - despite it being garaged.

Again being in the Midlands AND London may be why you are having issues getting quotes, having multiple address is an issue for computers as they do not understand, when insurers are running the back grounds checks if you are not being recognised or there is a difference in information - electoral role, bank acc, driving lic etc they either decline or load the premium.

Also the issue is that it is a brand new motorcycle and insurers may not have a rating group for the bike hence no quotes, i would advise calling the companies directly to find why they are not quoting.

[croyde]

I'm 56, have ridden since I was 17 and have given up on any idea of owning a nice new bike whilst I am in London as no one will quote.

Even boring middleweight stuff is almost impossible to insure.

How anyone gets insurance on something worth £10k plus is beyond me.

BTW before anyone gets their knickers in a twist, by boring middleweight, I mean like a Chinese 400cc, for if I mention Super Sport 600cc the phone is put down very quickly.

[Bikesalot]

I had this problem when trying to insure my brand new Africa Twin Adventure Sport - it wasn't on the 'system' yet and quotes were coming back at a few grand, even though I have 5 year NCB and a clean licence.

Thankfully something changed a few days before I was due to pick the bike up and I was then getting sensible quotes