Happy New (Insured) Year!

[er-minio]

It's the first of Jan!
This means my motorbike insurance contracts run out a the end of this month and I'll start the (very manual) process of finding insurance for my "particularly complex" setup.
And you get to read my bitching - no escaping there.

Nah, in reality it is just to talk it through as, over the years in here, I always got excellent advice or pointers on things I miss.
I tend to avoid comparison sites and prefer to quote directly and from what looks like "decent" underwriters. Hope I won't miss many.

Contract 1
HP2 Sport.
10+ NCB. ~1000miles a year declared (does way less in reality).
No pillion, of course.
Paid ~500 last year.

Contract 2
GSA + DRZ
1 NCB (split them from the HP2 last year)
8000miles on GS declared (will cover less)
1000/2000 miles on DRZ declared (will cover less)
Paid ~800 last year.

GSA travels, so need a decent cover abroad (>30 days for theft or over-basics cover)

All bikes garaged away from property (brick, private).
All lock and chained but I only declare factory immobiliser and the disc locks – I always always always use them every time I park the bikes somewhere even for 5 mins – but I'm considering stopping declaring the disc locks too. They might not do any difference and just be a faff to add to the contract.
Current insurers are Swinton and Hastings, don't remember right now which is which. Haven't received renewal offers from them or letters saying they are not gonna renew, like it happened last year with BeMoto.

I'm happy with Third Party + Fire & Theft generally, but HP is usually always fully comp and will get fully comp where cheaper.

So far:
BikeSure for the HP, will have to call them.
Hagerty for the HP (YouTube Advertising really works ) will have to call them. I just tried out of curiosity, not sure the HP is included in the type of "classics" they deal with.

Bennets for GS/DRZ asking about 900 (fair).
Carole Nash asking about 4900 (Third + Fire/Theft) or 2200 (Fully Comp)

BeMoto seems broken.

 

[wessie]

last year, did you try Howden (A plan previously) who have real shops like Swinton?

Motorcycle Insurance Quotes and Cover

Howden helps bikers find the right motorcycle insurance, at our best price. Get a tailored policy by speaking to one of our advisors today.

www.howdeninsurance.co.uk

Bemoto seems to be getting a lot of bad reviews lately.

For me, the underwriter is the main thing. If your broker goes tits up then a policy with Ageas or Aviva is going to be fine. If the underwriter is some dodgy outfit from Gibraltar, good luck (as with the MCE story).

 

[er-minio]

No, haven’t tried Howden, will add it to the list, thanks!

And, yes, I think I’ll just skip bemoto. They have been fairly flaky in my experience, to be polite.

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

It's the first of Jan!
This means my motorbike insurance contracts run out a the end of this month and I'll start the (very manual) process of finding insurance for my "particularly complex" setup.
And you get to read my bitching - no escaping there.

Nah, in reality it is just to talk it through as, over the years in here, I always got excellent advice or pointers on things I miss.
I tend to avoid comparison sites and prefer to quote directly and from what looks like "decent" underwriters. Hope I won't miss many.

Contract 1
HP2 Sport.
10+ NCB. ~1000miles a year declared (does way less in reality).
No pillion, of course.
Paid ~500 last year.

Contract 2
GSA + DRZ
1 NCB (split them from the HP2 last year)
8000miles on GS declared (will cover less)
1000/2000 miles on DRZ declared (will cover less)
Paid ~800 last year.

GSA travels, so need a decent cover abroad (>30 days for theft or over-basics cover)

All bikes garaged away from property (brick, private).
All lock and chained but I only declare factory immobiliser and the disc locks – I always always always use them every time I park the bikes somewhere even for 5 mins – but I'm considering stopping declaring the disc locks too. They might not do any difference and just be a faff to add to the contract.
Current insurers are Swinton and Hastings, don't remember right now which is which. Haven't received renewal offers from them or letters saying they are not gonna renew, like it happened last year with BeMoto.

I'm happy with Third Party + Fire & Theft generally, but HP is usually always fully comp and will get fully comp where cheaper.

So far:
BikeSure for the HP, will have to call them.
Hagerty for the HP (YouTube Advertising really works ) will have to call them. I just tried out of curiosity, not sure the HP is included in the type of "classics" they deal with.

Bennets for GS/DRZ asking about 900 (fair).
Carole Nash asking about 4900 (Third + Fire/Theft) or 2200 (Fully Comp)

BeMoto seems broken.

How much?
I know you live in the smoke, but my £530 for 7 bikes fully comp, seems unbelievably good VFM out in the sticks

 

[er-minio]

How much?

Last year I paid ~1200 for all three over two policies.

Two years before it was 850 for all three under a policy with MCE and got shafted.

1k/1.2k I’m ok.
It is actually way cheaper than what I would pay in Europe/Rome with three bikes - to put it in perspective.

I used to pay 2k a year ages ago when I got the HP2 and wasn’t in a car park, not a lockup.

Hagerty called back and they told me they wouldn’t probably be competitive and… instead they gave a me a decent quote with agreed value (pics and all).
The underwriter is Aviva.

 

[Berin]

Also try Footman James, at least for the HP2. I have my HP2E with them, mainly because they didn’t make a fuss about it being kept at a lock up. The only thing to note is the policy doesn’t earn no claims, but it’s never been a problem as new insurers seem happy to “mirror” and take the claims history into account.

 

[Berin]

As an aside, I watched Harry’s Garage year end round up where he covers all the costs incurred for his rather lovely fleet of cars and bikes.
If I heard correctly he pays £8500 a year for 20 cars and 18 bikes. 3 of the cars on their own are worth £1.5m!

 

[er-minio]

Trying those options you suggested, thanks a lot.

Spoke with Devitts on the phone for a quote.
Once I explained that the lock-up is a few hundred meters (300 meters) up the road and at a different postcode they shat a brick.
After a series of question: "how is it built, how do you access it, why is it there?" they told me they cannot provide cover.

I love how, for years I took shite from insurers because I kept my bikes in a communal parking where I rented bays and they wanted a garage "I only have access to". I have it now (had it for the last 5 years) and it was good. Now, suddenly, it's a fucking weird setup.
Every time I try to explain that if I'd have to be a millionaire to live where I live and - maybe - find a property with an attached garage big enough to keep at least the bikes in. I'm a normal working bod that happens to like cars and bikes, I happily live in a flat and rent a lock-up nearby.


Howden they initially said they wouldn't be competitive on BMW bikes, then when I told them I lived central-ish London they said they flat out don't insure BMW in London. That's another no go.

GS/DRZ:
Devitts
Howden
Carole Nash (4k)
Bennets: ~900
Hastings 1100

HP
Hagerty ~480

Hastings sent their renewal quote for the GS/DRZ policy and they bumped it up about 200 quid to 1k something (my grand total above was wrong, total policy cost was a bit more than 1200 for all bikes).

Issue seems to be the GS, even if is an 18 years old bike insured for 3.5k total value.

 

[ChasMill]

Have you tried the BMW Motorrad scheme run by Devitt?

 

[dommiek]

That seems extremely expensive but to be fair crime in London seems to be out of control. I certainly wouldn't be happy leaving any bike in a lockup and you have some very desirable ones.
Have you considered moving?

 

[er-minio]

Have you tried the BMW Motorrad scheme run by Devitt?

I used them previously when I only had the GS/HP2, but since I split the contracts last year I bundle GS/DRZ and the HP sits on the old 10+ years NCB... but true might make sense to consider a reshuffle.

 

[er-minio]

Have you tried the BMW Motorrad scheme run by Devitt?

We might have a winner.
Let's party!


All the bikes together on a single policy (10+ NCB): £1100. That seems fair. Unlimited European travel cover for the GS that is perfect as I'm planning a couple of longish trips this year.

1197 if I add commuting to the GS.
I don't regularly commute by motorbike to work as I mostly cycle, but it happens every once in a while to take the motorbike if it rains, etc... again seems reasonable as a cover for those odd days of use. Couple of years ago another insurer asked 500 quid on top to add commuting

 

[ChasMill]

Strangely mine is due for renewal with BMW (no longer administered by Devitt it seems). £262.50 for my K1600 GT SE, fully comp with £300 excess.

I could get it for half of that (according to Compare The Market) but I find that once all of the details are confirmed on line, there isn't enough saving in it to bother with the ball-ache of moving, so probably won't bother.

 

[er-minio]

I owe you a beer at the next pub meet.

Last year I was sort of happy to split the bikes so I could build another NCB history on a separate policy, but might not be worth it... savings would be minimal and you have to manage/renew two separate policies and all that faff.
They also really didn't care about the lockup being at a different address, as usual, to each underwriter...

They tried different combinations with the three bikes and the HP on its own.
Finding is: Hagerty actually had the best deal for the HP on its own (despite them telling me they probably weren't competitive).

there isn't enough saving in it to bother with the ball-ache of moving, so probably won't bother.

Yeah, I wouldn't either to be fair.

 

[Berin]

We might have a winner.
Let's party!
View attachment 374479

All the bikes together on a single policy (10+ NCB): £1100. That seems fair. Unlimited European travel cover for the GS that is perfect as I'm planning a couple of longish trips this year.

1197 if I add commuting to the GS.
I don't regularly commute by motorbike to work as I mostly cycle, but it happens every once in a while to take the motorbike if it rains, etc... again seems reasonable as a cover for those odd days of use. Couple of years ago another insurer asked 500 quid on top to add commuting

Did you get a quote from Footman James?

 

[er-minio]

They're on the list to call tomorrow morning (I'm running a couple of other quotes before committing 100% to BMW Motorrad) as I have to dash out to meet some friends for coffee #27 today. I'm still in Rome at the moment and trying to have a smidge of social life in between elderly family members' commitments

Called them earlier but I had to jump off the call for a small emergency with my dad here.

 

[dicktheleg]

May sound daft but try Swinton, I’ve had a few good quotes from them for both bikes and cars, obviously I’ve checked the underwriter and it’s always been Ageas.

 

[er-minio]

but try Swinton

Not daft at al! HP2 is currently with them.
I am speaking with them tomorrow morning as well.

 

[er-minio]

Have you considered moving?

I really, really, really like where I live. Despite the Council's repeated attempts to make the area worse .
It's my home. Has been for 18 years now.

I think the insurance/crime issue will self correct to an extent, even though I don't have my hopes up.
I love biking and it's been a massive part of all my life since I was a kid, and hopefully will be until I'm old, but I wouldn't move out of London to get better insurance prices to be fair

Even though I might have to move back to Italy, at least for a while, at some point because of my father's decreasing health... but that's another complete different logistical/financial problem I don't even want to think about for now. I've had more than enough for 2024 and still haven't processed that.

 

[er-minio]

Spoke again with Footman James this morning (very nice/switched on people on the line) but my HP2 is just on year shy of what they insure.
Will try them next year for sure!