Insurance suggestions - R Nine T

[teamHOLDENracing]

Any suggestions for insurers to use for a BMW R Nine T?

I'm an old-ish git, passed my DAS in May last year and since then spent a month/800 miles on a 9T, 5 months on an F800R, a hibernation Dec-March then 5 months on a GS 1250 and I'm 1,000 miles/6 weeks into an RT1250 which I will continue to run until at least July 2020. These bikes were provided on a manufacturer 'car scheme' so I have not had insurance in my name on them, but I have a decent amount of (accident free) experience of >1,000 cc. The 9T I'm buying will be a low mileage summer toy and I'll likely customise it a bit in time.

I've done 2 extra days of rider training with BMW and I'm also an associate member of the IAM doing my Advanced Rider test training and the bike will stored in a locked garage.

Ideally looking for an insurer which will take these various factors into account rather than just the short length of time licence held and no NCB.

Any suggestions?

[Wildfire]

Try Alan at All Styles, my current insurers have all quoted me many thousands for a potential new bike, whilst Alan came in at a quote that was less than the old one. Going from a 2016 Monster 821 to a 2019 1200S.

[dibblecorse]

Hi, as wildfire says you'll need a good broker, an underwriter is likely to cut you limited if any slack based on your sporadic riding experience through the comparison sites but truth is you're a minimally experienced rider with no NCD looking to buy quite a powerful bike, I wish you luck as sounds like you have your heart set on the 9

[Pravus1]

Bemoto were very good at taking other things into account and getting the best price.

Beat all the comparison sites and gave better cover

[Wildfire]

Alan went direct to the underwriters and explained my circumstances, they gave a great price. I'll hopefully be taking the quote next week! Do give him a ring. Way better than the web based comparison sites.

[teamHOLDENracing]

Thanks guys - I'll try the broker you suggest. I'd started with Bennetts yesterday who were at £765 - as a starting point its higher than I'd like but its not crazy.

Likelihood is I'll barely ride the 9T through the winter as I'll use the RT - and when I do start using it I will hopefully have passed my IAM test. Ideally I'd have waited to buy until then but the right bike has come up now....

[black-k1]

Check your local BMW dealer. BMW have a (badged) insurance scheme which is often attractive to owners.

[teamHOLDENracing]

Spoke to Alan and he’ll come back to me next week. In the meantime BMW are the highest at £940 (exc commuting), MCE the lowest at £570. Bizarrely the MCE quote comes in at slightly less by including commuting.

I love insurance quotes - it’s almost like they come from a random number generator....

[TT1138]

teamHOLDENracing said:

Any suggestions for insurers to use for a BMW R Nine T?

I'm an old-ish git, passed my DAS in May last year and since then spent a month/800 miles on a 9T, 5 months on an F800R, a hibernation Dec-March then 5 months on a GS 1250 and I'm 1,000 miles/6 weeks into an RT1250 which I will continue to run until at least July 2020. These bikes were provided on a manufacturer 'car scheme' so I have not had insurance in my name on them, but I have a decent amount of (accident free) experience of >1,000 cc. The 9T I'm buying will be a low mileage summer toy and I'll likely customise it a bit in time.

I've done 2 extra days of rider training with BMW and I'm also an associate member of the IAM doing my Advanced Rider test training and the bike will stored in a locked garage.

Ideally looking for an insurer which will take these various factors into account rather than just the short length of time licence held and no NCB.

Any suggestions?

I can’t quite believe that I’m sticking up for the insurers but unfortunately I reckon they’re probably right on this one.

From what you’ve said you passed less than 2 years ago, have done approx 2000 miles since then on bikes that you have no no claims for and have done so far two days of extra motorbike training. As far as the insurers are concerned you’re basically starting from the beginning I’m afraid.

[teamHOLDENracing]

TT1138 said:

I can’t quite believe that I’m sticking up for the insurers but unfortunately I reckon they’re probably right on this one.

From what you’ve said you passed less than 2 years ago, have done approx 2000 miles since then on bikes that you have no no claims for and have done so far two days of extra motorbike training. As far as the insurers are concerned you’re basically starting from the beginning I’m afraid.

There’s no right or wrong - the spread in quotes surely demonstrates that. There are some insurance companies with a standard approach and others that look a bit deeper - I’m just after the latter. I don’t expect to pay peanuts - it will start high and come down as I build experience and no claims.

Of course I’m inexperienced, though I have rather more than you credit me for: just under 6,000 miles all on 800cc+ and more than half on 1250cc machines.

If I was younger, jumping straight on a 1200 with no prior experience, didn’t have another (1250) bike I’ll continue to use, or 30+ years of driving experience (not necessarily directly relevant but roadcraft is transferable), or showed no interest in developing my skills with further training I’d expect to pay more....

It is easy to lump everyone that has had a licence for just 18 months in the same risk category - but fortunately some underwriters are a bit more sophisticated.

[TT1138]

teamHOLDENracing said:

It is easy to lump everyone that has had a licence for just 18 months in the same risk category - but fortunately some underwriters are a bit more sophisticated.

You might be looking for a more sophisticated underwriter but what I’m saying is that to all insurers, you will be seen as a high risk option.

Middle aged male on a motorbike 500cc plus is one of the highest groups for KSI stats in the U.K. so you’ll struggle to find an insurer who gives you a discount because of age. Additionally, from experience, most insurers hold very little stock in IAM etc, and even less so in things like your BMW extra training. Similarly holding a car license for 30+ years won’t make the slightest bit of difference to how an insurer sees your level of risk.

All they’ll see is a middle aged man on a powerful bike with no no claims who passed his test less than 2 years ago and in insurance terms hasn’t ridden a bike since.

I understand that you’re looking for an insurer that does take those elements into account but I’m saying that justifiably, most insurers won’t so you may struggle to achieve what you’re looking for.

[teamHOLDENracing]

TT1138 said:

All they’ll see is a middle aged man on a powerful bike with no no claims who passed his test less than 2 years ago and in insurance terms hasn’t ridden a bike since.

That’s probably one of the key parts - the same as having a company car for years with no claims/accidents, then taking out insurance in your own name. Some insurers will take into account driving record, some won’t.

Anyway, the quotes so far are not deal breakers, so if I get a lower one happy days....

[uzziwozzi]

Nice tips on post. Looking at insurance for my husbands bike so done an enquiry at Alan's
.