What's going on with bike insurance?
Discussion
I've been away from bike ownership for 5yrs and was about to pull the trigger on a '21 R1250GSA TE Rallye as I don't want to get on the train when returning to the office. Insurance quotes are coming in at £1200 for SDP+commute if I keep in a locked garage or £1900 on driveway!! Wow that wasn't expected...
Any recommendations on how to bring this down or do I just need to suck this up given my 5yr absence?
For background I passed bike test in '96 and last bike was a R1200GSA (which cost me circa £100/yr to insure).
Any recommendations on how to bring this down or do I just need to suck this up given my 5yr absence?
For background I passed bike test in '96 and last bike was a R1200GSA (which cost me circa £100/yr to insure).
TimmyMallett said:
I've just come back to biking so I'm 49 with 0 NCD, garaged and 170 fully comp for a 10 year old bike.
I'm guessing your area is hammering you, and the bike is very nickable, then the additional NDC factor.
I guess it must be this. I have been riding for 5 years and had a £20k bike from the start. My premiums have come down from just over £300 to just under £200 p.a. I don't commute and store it in a locked garage thoughI'm guessing your area is hammering you, and the bike is very nickable, then the additional NDC factor.
The spread in quotes has been insane. Now ranging from £900 - £2700!
I've had an enduro bike insured for the past 2yrs and just spoke with that company and although the policy doesn't accrue no claims discount, apparently it should help if companies will mirror.
My postcode is low risk so this must all be down to lack of NCD.
I've had an enduro bike insured for the past 2yrs and just spoke with that company and although the policy doesn't accrue no claims discount, apparently it should help if companies will mirror.
My postcode is low risk so this must all be down to lack of NCD.
Dog Star said:
I'm not sure what you're expecting - no NCB and a brand new 20K (guessing) bike - and quotes for leaving it on the street? 
I've noticed that when I get a brand new bike it is very expensive in year one and drops considerably by year 3.
I was expecting somewhere between £300-£500. Bike won't be parked on street.I've noticed that when I get a brand new bike it is very expensive in year one and drops considerably by year 3.
keep your nose clean for at least a year and it'll come down
advanced quals/courses don't make a difference to the base premium, despite what they say, but might indirectly by not having a bump for longer hence a lower premium
incidentally, did you tick datatool tracking and do they make you pay a subscription or is it all in the cost of the bike?
advanced quals/courses don't make a difference to the base premium, despite what they say, but might indirectly by not having a bump for longer hence a lower premium
incidentally, did you tick datatool tracking and do they make you pay a subscription or is it all in the cost of the bike?
I'm getting quotes of 800 from unknown companies and starting at 1200 from known companies for the same bike.
I live on the edge of London and said garaged. I'm 58 with 10 years continuous NCD.
I thought that reasonable for such an expensive bike.
I was paying £400 third party only for my Vespa in a SW London area. It's worth about £500.
I live on the edge of London and said garaged. I'm 58 with 10 years continuous NCD.
I thought that reasonable for such an expensive bike.
I was paying £400 third party only for my Vespa in a SW London area. It's worth about £500.
I'm coming back to the fold soon. Had my licence for 21 years, am 39 years old. Not had a bike for 10 years, so nil no claims.
Had quotes of just over £500 Fully Comp for a ZZR1400, V-Strom 1000 and a 1000RR Blade, down to £130 Fully Comp for a Deauville. All bikes around the £5,000 - £7,000 price range and insurance was for keeping on driveway (though it will actually be in the locked back garden, but that wasn't an option with The Bike Insurer online).
Had quotes of just over £500 Fully Comp for a ZZR1400, V-Strom 1000 and a 1000RR Blade, down to £130 Fully Comp for a Deauville. All bikes around the £5,000 - £7,000 price range and insurance was for keeping on driveway (though it will actually be in the locked back garden, but that wasn't an option with The Bike Insurer online).
towser44 said:
I'm coming back to the fold soon. Had my licence for 21 years, am 39 years old. Not had a bike for 10 years, so nil no claims.
Had quotes of just over £500 Fully Comp for a ZZR1400, V-Strom 1000 and a 1000RR Blade, down to £130 Fully Comp for a Deauville. All bikes around the £5,000 - £7,000 price range and insurance was for keeping on driveway (though it will actually be in the locked back garden, but that wasn't an option with The Bike Insurer online).
Compare via Autotrader has "on private land" as an option as was playing with a return on a Ducati Monster 1200 of similar value/ set up as you, but home counties with work came out at ~£600, not surprised at the BMW quote given value of bike/ popular theft in London etc.Had quotes of just over £500 Fully Comp for a ZZR1400, V-Strom 1000 and a 1000RR Blade, down to £130 Fully Comp for a Deauville. All bikes around the £5,000 - £7,000 price range and insurance was for keeping on driveway (though it will actually be in the locked back garden, but that wasn't an option with The Bike Insurer online).
1) You could ask Adrian Flux if they will give you one year complimentary insurance as you have lapsed your policy.. I was 3 years without renewing and they gave me a year to get me started. As others have stated the first year will help.
2) If you haven't got a garage do not insure it as "in drive". Cars benefit from being parked in your own drive but bikes do not. Put it in the house if you can and it will give you the same cover as garage, which for insurance purposes is, "Brick-built building".
3) Going forwards - buy the cheapest non-runner motorcycle for around £100 and just put it in your garden under a cover. Now insure it for "act only" which is the cheapest form of insurance and it does not include fire and theft. You are buying your no-claims bonus and it is completely legal as long as your premiums are next to nothing (ie £50 a year). If buying from a scrapyard (like I did) ensure the bike has not been marked as "permanently scrapped" as it shows up like on the insurance database.
2) If you haven't got a garage do not insure it as "in drive". Cars benefit from being parked in your own drive but bikes do not. Put it in the house if you can and it will give you the same cover as garage, which for insurance purposes is, "Brick-built building".
3) Going forwards - buy the cheapest non-runner motorcycle for around £100 and just put it in your garden under a cover. Now insure it for "act only" which is the cheapest form of insurance and it does not include fire and theft. You are buying your no-claims bonus and it is completely legal as long as your premiums are next to nothing (ie £50 a year). If buying from a scrapyard (like I did) ensure the bike has not been marked as "permanently scrapped" as it shows up like on the insurance database.
TBH you can see why some folk just don't bother. Insurance is stupid money (no claims or points since I passed my test in 2004), premium almost always over 25% of the bike's value, except bizarrely when I owned a Ducati. I resent paying for it every year as usually get quoted a huge excess as well.
Get an F650GS single for a year while you get back into it and get the big GS in a year's time.
Get an F650GS single for a year while you get back into it and get the big GS in a year's time.
It's reassuring to hear (unfortunately) that others in a similar situation have experienced the same problem. After much time spent on the phone to various companies I've managed to get the premium down to £800 fully comprehensive, but with a £1k excess.
Bike ordered and will hopefully be ready for 30th next week!
Now need to research riding gear as I threw out all of mine when I stopped commuting on a bike 5yrs ago...
Bike ordered and will hopefully be ready for 30th next week!
Now need to research riding gear as I threw out all of mine when I stopped commuting on a bike 5yrs ago...
I don’t think it’s the lack of NCB and more the value/bike.
I’ve recently returned after a 10 year hiatus post multiple surgeries after a crash.
First bike I insured last year was a 1991 GSXR750 slingshot for £120 with zero NCB.
Couple of months later I bought a B-King and had to put that on separate policy again with zero NCB and that was £300.
Bought the wife a GS500 and insured that for £75.
Granted none of them are 20k bikes, but parts for a B-king are astronomical and the smallest spill ends in total loss and payout usually, so quite high category.
Might be worth getting quotes on other bikes you fancy to see if they are more realistic in price ?
Good luck !
I’ve recently returned after a 10 year hiatus post multiple surgeries after a crash.
First bike I insured last year was a 1991 GSXR750 slingshot for £120 with zero NCB.
Couple of months later I bought a B-King and had to put that on separate policy again with zero NCB and that was £300.
Bought the wife a GS500 and insured that for £75.
Granted none of them are 20k bikes, but parts for a B-king are astronomical and the smallest spill ends in total loss and payout usually, so quite high category.
Might be worth getting quotes on other bikes you fancy to see if they are more realistic in price ?
Good luck !
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