Sports bike insurance guide

Everyone was born to be wild, and then the sports bike came along to free the adrenaline beast. Anyone who loves their sports bike will also love tearing every straight and gripping every corner, accelerating through the gears with the wind in their hair and freewheeling with grace. However, getting to know which insurance best suits your bike can be as hard as going up a hill at 2mph – an uphill struggle! Therefore, knowing the difference between scooter insurance and moped insurance is always the best way to win the insurance race.

SPORT BIKE INSURANCE

Statistically, sport bikes or crotch rockets are much more prone to accidents than any other kind of motorcycling.

Developed to resemble race track bikes these are immensely powerful bikes, some even able to reach 200mph. This explains why sport bike insurance tends to be considerably more expensive than a cruiser.

Some policies are based on the size of the engine, whereas others are based on the make and model of the bike.

Sports bike insurance normally tends to include a few elements as standard. For example, breakdown assistance, repair and replace, theft, European recovery, doctor and hospital charges and a 24-hour helpline are always included.

There are extras as well, such as legal assistance. You can always tailor your cover to suit your needs. Remember, a more expensive sports bike will attract a higher premium, not only because they will cost more to replace, but also because they are generally of higher power and considered more dangerous

THERE ARE SEVERAL POINTS TO REMEMBER WHEN INSURING A SPORTS BIKE:

Customizing – Any customizing that affects the value e.g. body work or wheels, should be declared to your insurer, otherwise it will not be covered, as they will insure a standard bike.

Modifications – Any modifications that affect your bike’s performance should also be declared for the same reasons. Also you must check if such changes are legal for the road. Any modifications that could impair or affect handling in normal road conditions also must be declared.

Tell the truth – Realistically a claims inspector looking at the remains of your bike will not know what were ‘add-ons,’ therefore be sure to tell them everything, otherwise your claim could become void.

TRACK DAYS AND RACING INSURANCE

If you are a road racer or take part in track days it can sometimes be possible to insure your bike.

Your street insurance specifically excludes racing, speed tests etc, so for an extra charge you can cover your bike, in case you become another casualty of that bend no one can do!

It is also possible to cover out and race bikes, however this cover is not included on a normal sports bike policy, therefore it is always important to research and read the small print.

MOPED INSURANCE

Buying a moped is normally the first step taken before buying a motorbike; therefore, moped insurance is extremely important and is a legal requirement.

As a new driver, your first insurance quote will be steep, but this is only because as a newbie you present a certain risk and you are not familiar with some insurance policies.

There are different types of moped insurance protection:

Third party, fire and theft – This covers you for third party damage. This will also give you complete cover for more devastating incidences, but will cost you a little bit more.

Fully Comprehensive – This covers you for all of the above but also for loss and theft as well as damages. This is more for top of the range bikers and is expensive. For first time moped users, purchasing a basic insurance policy will be fine.

SCOOTER AND MINI SCOOTER INSURANCE

Scooter’s are normally a commuter’s best friend and they are perfect for whizzing in and out of traffic. However, finding the right insurance for you can also be a whizz.

Liability insurance – This covers bodily injury to other people as well as property damage to others, in case of a crash that was your fault. Bodily injury pays medical costs for others.

Comprehensive insurance – This helps to pay for any damage done to your scooter that was not caused by a collision e.g. damage, loss, theft, falling objects, vandalism, fire, storms or other natural disasters.

Collision Coverage – This helps to pay for the damage if another vehicle hits you.

Anyone looking for Mini Scooter cover will do just as well with basic coverage.

MONEY SAVING TIPS

There are ways to save money on scooter insurance. It is worth keeping your scooter in a neighbour’s garage if you do not have one as this will cut the insurance cost down. It is also advisable to pay your bill in a lump sum rather than in monthly instalments, as such bills could incur high levels of interest. Remember-always shop around.

SPORTS MOTOR BIKE INSURANCE

Most bike insurers have two types of special rates cover: 19-24 years old – Third party fire and theft and 25 years and older – Fully Comprehensive.

The types of insurance available for such a policy are as follows: Comprehensive, Third party fire and theft and third party only sports bike insurance, multi-bike insurance covers, riding other bikes, European cover, sports bike insurance cover available for Northern Ireland and modified bike insurance.

So get the right insurance for you and find that open road!