Motorbike insurance buyer's guide
If you own and ride a motorbike on the road then by law you are required to have
motorbike insurance.
What motorbike insurance doesn't do is improve your ability to ride the bike.
Unfortunately, after purchasing motorbike insurance you are unlikely to find that
you can do quicker lap times than Valentino Rossi or perform stunts like Evel Knievel.
However, similarly to Evel Knievel you may be thrown off your bike unexpectedly, damaging
perhaps yourself, your motorbike and quite possibly others or others property. This is
where your motorbike insurance begins to work.
If, every time you went out for a ride you knew there was a possibility you would have
to pay out perhaps £5,000 to a third party because of an error you made then the
chances are you would only choose to ride your motorbike between the hours of 2am and
4am when there is significantly reduced traffic, more than likely a great many of you
would choose not to ride a bike at all. Though, dependant on what level of insurance
cover you have, this kind of cost can be covered so your wallet doesn't feel the
full sting of that £5,000 payout. Okay so you have to pay for the insurance cover
in the first place, and you may agree when you take out the policy to pay an excess
towards any claim, but with the possibility of such costs being paid out it's the
lesser of evils.
There are quite complex calculations and reasons for the price that you are quoted. Those
reasons will include your riding history (have you a number of prior claims or convictions
which may make you a greater risk?) or the area in which you live (is there a lot of vehicle
crime in your area?), do you ride a high-performance bike? Almost every piece of information
you are asked when you get a motorbike insurance quote will have some influence on the
insurance premium you are quoted.
Motorbike insurance is there to offer both financial cover and peace of mind for you everyone
else on or about the road.
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No matter how skilled or proficient a rider you may be there is always the possibility
that you can be involved in a road accident. While you may feel extremely confident in
your skills you cannot guarantee how capable the other motorists are around you. The same
can be said about pedestrians, cyclists and anybody about or on the road. If somebody steps
off the pavement thinking the road is clear and hasn't spotted you, if a driver of a
car or lorry doesn't check their blind spot at a junction..
It is a legal requirement that you have current and valid insurance cover if you drive or
ride on the road.
If you are involved in a road accident and the accident was not your fault then you would
expect to be reimbursed for any costs or loss. Without insurance cover, how many of us can
honestly say they can afford to cover the unpredictable costs that may arise.
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Even though it's obligatory to have motor insurance should you ride or drive on the road you can
guarantee that somewhere there is someone who is on the road without insurance cover. If you were
involved in a claim and found out the person who caused the accident had no cover and couldn't
personally cover the costs incurred you would feel that compulsory insurance wasn't working.
So, back in 1946 the Motor Insurers' Bureau was created. The bureau was conceived as a way to
compensate the victims of untraced or uninsured motorists. In order for the bureau to function
properly all motor insurers must be members of the bureau and contribute to its funding.
In 2001 the insurance industry created a database with details of private and fleet motor insurance
policyholders. This is a very useful tool, especially for the police who can access the database to
determine whether or not motorists have current insurance during spot checks or at the scene of an
accident. The Motor Insurance Database is currently run by the Motor Insurers' Information Centre.
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Following an accident caused by an uninsured or untraced motorist the Motor Insurers'
Bureau should be able to companesate you. Also if your motorbike is stolen and the thief
causes property damage or injures somebody your insurance company will then be liable to
carry the costs involved (allowing the rider to be identified).
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You can buy a second hand bike from a dealer or in a private sale. There are some
differences between private and dealer sales worth noting.
Including:
- The dealer should ensure that the motorbike is not stolen and has no outstanding finance and be able to prove this.
- The dealer is required to adhere to the appropriate consumer protection laws e.g. the Sale and Supply of Goods Act and Trades Descriptions Act.
- The dealer may offer a service package or warranty.
- The dealer may allow you to test ride the motorbike without you having to arrange your own insurance cover, although they may insist that a test ride is accompanied.
A major oversight that potential buyers may make is they don't confirm with either the dealer or private
seller whether there are any modifications on the second hand motorbike. If you accept an insurance quote
without disclosing modifications you could find that the insurer doesn't honour an equal replacement
for the modified parts or may even invalidate the claims or insurance in total. The bike could also fail
its MOT. A common modification is to replace the exhaust. This could be because it will sound better,
or it will go faster or simply the old one broke. Whatever the reason you must be sure that the pipe is
road legal (it should be stamped).
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Inspect the motorbike's logbook to verify matching frame and engine numbers. If they do not match
then the bike has been rebuilt after an accident or stolen.
Inspect all over for rust, cracks, scratches, accident damage, dents and evidence of repair work.
Inspect the condition of the chain and that the rear sprocket isn't damaged.
Check the mileage is consistent with the bike's age and condition and documentation.
Check that the engine starts properly and that there's no smoke emitted when you turn on the
ignition, also that the clutch doesn't slip, and that there are no leaks of any kind under
the bike. Please note that chain oiling systems may drip but this will be under the chain rather
than the engine. Also check the oiling system does not oil the wheels and tyres as well as the chain.
If possible, ask the seller if you can test ride the motorbike, this may require you to leave some
security. Check the suspension, exhaust, gears, brakes, and all the electrics are working correctly.
A common term is a POWER check that should be completed before every ride.
- Petrol
- Oil
- Water
- Electrics
- Rubber
If you have any doubts about the bike, the price or even the seller, just walk away. Remember,
you are under no obligation to purchase the vehicle.
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