Insuring an Airhead (Basic)

[Berin]

I'm getting quotes to insure a Basic - coming up at a lot of money, over £500. It was built 11/96 and imported 2008, and has a 1000cc Siebenrock kit.

Any pointers for something a bit more reasonable?

 

[wessie]

Who have you tried so far?
What is the bike worth compared to the £500 premium?
Is it old enough to be insured as a classic by the likes of Peter James?

 

[er-minio]

I spoke with Hagerty last year to get a quote for the HP2 that, to my surprise, they can insure as a modern classic provided you have a car as a main transportation thingie.
They came up with a very decent quote to be fair to them, and the process was pleasant.
Maybe give them a try too?

 

[sidkn33]

I'm getting quotes to insure a Basic - coming up at a lot of money, over £500. It was built 11/96 and imported 2008, and has a 1000cc Siebenrock kit.

Any pointers for something a bit more reasonable?

That sounds like silly money but obviously depends on the agreed value of your Basic.
I have an R80GSPD, R80ST, R100RS and R80RT on a Mackenzie Hodgson multi-bike policy for less than £300 a year with EU breakdown included

 

[Gelandestrasse]

Also try Peter Best

 

[Berin]

Thanks all, some good names to try. That price was from Footman James, who gave a price of £750.
This included pillion cover, agreed value of £17,500, breakdown cover, and free buy back in the case of a write off.
Interestingly Footman James won’t insure my HP2E!

Bikesure are at £460 including breakdown and pillion, and valuation of £15,000 - but I need to get that in writing as I’m pretty sure that they just mean market value.

 

[wessie]

I don't think those figures are out of the ballpark. Imported bike, modified, high value, home counties[1] postcode.

[1] contentious but I always think of Oxon and Beds as home counties due to the number of people who used to commute into London

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Lynbrook insurance

 

[Berin]

Lynbrook insurance

Looks interesting too!

I’ll be on the phone tomorrow, although it saps the will to live.

I must have been on the phone an hour or more with Adrian Flux, as they faffed around with the fact it’s imported, and has a Siebenrock kit, and whether to start a new policy or make a multi bike out of one of the others. Weirdly, it was £440 to add it to the HP2 policy for 8 months or £400 for a new 12 month policy.

 

[Bubb]

Try Holden insurance ( used to be RH insurance) good for classics, and you speak to a real person.

 

[Berin]

Right, getting better - £262 from Peter James, if I'm a member of a bike club - any bike club but not a forum like GSer. However, VMCC is £47 and BMW Owners is £60, which wipes out a big chunk of the savings. Are there any cheaper clubs? I'm unlikely to participate, so this is just an exercise to get the premium down.

Also, I wonder if I'm being over-optimistic on value. For context, the bike is the Kalahari Basic that was the subject of Mikeyboy's recent rebuild thread. My logic of £17,500 was that that's pretty much what it would cost to replace, but an independent valuation is required anyway, which means more faff.

 

[wessie]

does BMF count? £28
Honda https://www.hoc.org.uk/ £25
https://www.gbmcc.co.uk/ is only £15
I have been in all of them but none now

 

[er-minio]

Are there any cheaper clubs?

Does TRF count as a club too?

 

[Nice 'n' Fat]

Does TRF count as a club too?

Good point

What about MAG or BMF ?

 

[Berin]

Good point

What about MAG or BMF ?

It may well do but I’m no longer a member. Good shout on MAG and BMF though.

Cheers @wessie, though I’m not sure I’m well suited to the gay bikers club!

 

[timeandtide]

Right, getting better - £262 from Peter James, if I'm a member of a bike club - any bike club but not a forum like GSer. However, VMCC is £47 and BMW Owners is £60, which wipes out a big chunk of the savings. Are there any cheaper clubs? I'm unlikely to participate, so this is just an exercise to get the premium down.

Also, I wonder if I'm being over-optimistic on value. For context, the bike is the Kalahari Basic that was the subject of Mikeyboy's recent rebuild thread. My logic of £17,500 was that that's pretty much what it would cost to replace, but an independent valuation is required anyway, which means more faff.

VOC (Velocette Owners Club) only 20 quid pa if you pay by Standing Order.

 

[Berin]

It's getting better! I have a car, a van and house insurance with Howden. They've quoted me £175 comp SDP, agreed value £17,500, £100 excess, me and Mrs Berin as riders, pillion cover, kept at either my home or lock up, 30 days per trip Euro cover, 3000 miles per year. I've had some insurance with Howden for years and they've always been very good to deal with.

£175 plus £53 for breakdown and £34 for legal cover.

That's with KGM. My quote from Footman James for the same cover with KGM was £553.39

 

[Berin]

Well, I’m pleased with this. The insurance is from a reputable company, the value is guaranteed at £17,500, it covers me both at home and at my lock up, no security needed on the bike, £100 excess only. That’s for Mrs Berin and I, SDP.

The breakdown covers me in the UK and the usual European countries, and also has home start, roadside repair or recovery, covers onward travel, doesn’t have a call out limit and will repatriate the bike home in the event either it’s not repairable or, if I’m ill or injured and can’t ride. This also applies in the case of accident.

The legal cover covers recovery from a 3rd party, but also covers legal costs from pothole damage, and legal costs for disputed parking fines, speeding fines, or dispute with a supplier such as if a garage damages the bike.

Any repairer can be used, and they specifically do not use 4th Dimension.

£264 which I think for that cover is decent, plus I’ve previous good experience of Howden.