Insurance woes for modified R80

[BigyellowGS]

Well.. As my R80 project "gs" is pretty much done now I've been looking for insurance for my baby!

The list of mods is quite long and my current broker who I have been with for 10 years is unabale to find anyone to cover it! They have always been very good and cheap.. But even with them searching and the other 10 or 15 calls I've made I'm completly stuck!

To give an idea.. I'm 30.. I've got 10 years no claims.. And the insurance for my ZX9R and Tenere costs me 130 quid a year!

Does anyone have any suggestions?

James

 

[ovenpaa]

eBike seems to cope with modified bikes quite well

 

[Kenny]

Ebike will give you up to 4 modifications....sadly this is the world we are currently having to perservere. An awful lot of bikers won't be getting paid out this year if they have a big expensive bump

Might be only option to name the four biggest mods only

 

[Rob Farmer]

The only mods I can see are a larger front wheel rim and non standard exhaust. The forks and other parts are all bmw standard parts.

 

[BigyellowGS]

Rob - The only mods I can see are a larger front wheel rim and non standard exhaust. The forks and other parts are all bmw standard parts.

You would think so wouldn't you! But aparently anything which didn't start life on a 1986 R80RT is a mod according to the insurance guys.

I've put it though on ebike.. Came up with all "mods" declared at about 200 quid.. Not cheap but at least I can get it covered... And thats not using my no claims bonus either! As I need that for my other bikes.

 

[oblertone]

... And thats not using my no claims bonus either! As I need that for my other bikes.

Speak to your current Insurer first; My bikes are on a 'Classic' Policy which does not itself generate a no-claims bonus, however they did allow me an effective 4 years discount when I insured another bike with them.

 

[BaldBaBoon]

This is going back to about 2000, but it might just be worth contacting them anyway.......Try Carole Nash.

I had a Bandit 1200 that was heavily streetfightered back then, and I mean properly streetfightered....big bore engine....stage 3 dynojet....widened rear wheel to a 200 section...custom brakes...reinforced frame etc etc.

( When I was working in Germany with that bike, Norwich Union gave me a quote of....... 5,400 British Pounds Sterling......... to insure it on a year long green card fully comp ).Later When I got back to Britain, I contacted Carole Nash and explained about the bike....who said no great problem, just give us a comprehensive list of all the modifications and we will send you a written quote the next day.

The quote arrived and I was dumbfounded....I even had to contact Carole Nash again to make sure that they had not made a mistake.The quote was actually 20 pounds cheaper than a bog-standard straight from the crate Suzuki Bandit 1200?....The chap on the phone said that when they looked at bike modifications, it wasnt just the cons like big engines and exhausts they looked at but also the pros like better brakes and top rated suspension as well.

Might have been a one-off, but what a find!

 

[Tarka]

My 'LegoBike' Airhead was an R80g/s that I modded with

Homemade raised rear subframe
Spax monoshock
Yamaha DTR front end..later replaced with Yamaha XTZ750 front end
GPZ style fairing
Akront rims and stainless spokes
CCM 4" alloy silencer on stainless header
45litre Acerbis tank
Mad paintjob

I rang Carole Nash who insured my other bikes via Equity Red Star and there was no premium change at all.
None of those mods made any difference to any Policy they dealt with.


The main areas for higher premiums... or no cover at all .. are
Nitrous Oxide kits
Turbochargers
'Specialist Paint' such as one off free hand airbrush jobs and flip paint
Bigger cylinder capacity than stock (pay attention you Siebenrock chaps)
Q plated bikes
Ex race machines being road registered.

Although none of my mods made any difference to the premium I would have been seriously in the shit if I hadn`t declared them and subsequently had an accident involving a claim....so ALWAYS declare any mods to your bike.
Bear in mind non declaration is a very naughty thing indeed and will affect any future chances of getting insurance for anything at all.

 

[biggles12]

Save a lot of trouble and sell it to me

 

[Monty]

Is there a definition of a modification compared to an accessory? I was thinking about things like sat nav mounts, taller screens, luggage etc. I have aftermarket exhausts on one of my bikes and I am happy that is a modification, but the other stuff is a bit of a grey area to me.

 

[BigyellowGS]

biggles12 - Save a lot of trouble and sell it to me

Strange.. I've had several offers to "take it off my hands".... As with everything in life she might be for sale if the right offer comes along!

Monty Is there a definition of a modification compared to an accessory? I was thinking about things like sat nav mounts, taller screens, luggage etc. I have aftermarket exhausts on one of my bikes and I am happy that is a modification, but the other stuff is a bit of a grey area to me.

I think this depends on the insurer.. They have all seemed to have different views on what is what... One guy even said that as my bike was mainly BMW parts that it wasn't modified.. I sent him a picture of a std R80RT and mine.. He changed his mind at that point!

Overall.. I'm going to keep looking.. Anything more than about 150 quid I feel is a rip off considering my no claims, age, the bike in question.. and the fact that my ZX9R's insurance is less!

 

[BigyellowGS]

Finally got a reasonable quote.. 140 fully comp, limited to 5000 miles... Which I'm happy enough with...

But.. Also had an offer of 1800 quid from someone to take her away as she stands (no mot and the carbs need setting up as they keep flooding and she stutters a bit on light throttle)... She's been a labour of love and I'm now torn between finishing her (and enjoying riding her) and selling up and tracking down a "propper" R100Pd or R80g/s....

 

[brassmonkey001]

Finish it and ride it before considering selling, you'll only wonder if you made the right decision otherwise. You've put in the work, you should at least try it out before getting rid.
That's my line of thinking anyway.

 

[BigyellowGS]

I've made my choice... I took the bike round the paddocks near where I live for a little bit of light off roading (the bikes not MOt'd yet).. (And other than the leaky carbs) she goes, stops and handles great.. And I'm in love with the noise the pipes make!

So.. she's staying.. I'm going to get the insurance sorted today and an MOT booked for next week.

But.. I think I might keep her as a green laner and get something else for doing touring duties.

James

 

[samual1962]

carole nash.....................ive modded my 1100gs,std engine but sports wheels,remus,lights etc etc all cosmetic plus corbin etc for comfort,the've been more than happy i even offered to send fotos,not an issue