Servectomy and insurance

[stolzy]

Maybe this has been discussed before, but a search revealed nothing.

Anyone have an idea if insurance companies take a view on servectomy? Since the abs is lost at the same time, I guess they would consider it a substantial and safety-sensitive modification.

When you did your servectomy did you tell the insurer and if so wht was the result?

 

[hank]

I told Carol Nash about my servo removal and all they said was that it would be noted on the policy that ABS had been removed. No need for engineers report and no extra cost.

 

[sockpuppet]

Maybe this has been discussed before, but a search revealed nothing.

Anyone have an idea if insurance companies take a view on servectomy? Since the abs is lost at the same time, I guess they would consider it a substantial and safety-sensitive modification.

When you did your servectomy did you tell the insurer and if so wht was the result?

I removed mine, didn't bother telling insurance. Had to make a claim and never heard anything from it regarding ABS.

 

[se7en]

I checked with Carole Nash beforehand - they confirmed it was not a problem as it did not constitute a change to the policy and they didn't even note it against the policy.

As I was coming up to renewal I wrote to them confirming what they had said for the record and the renewal went through without further comment.

My contention anyway is that it's safer to have a system without abs that will work, than a system that may save you in certain circumstances but may fail completely when you need it.

 

[stolzy]

My contention anyway is that it's safer to have a system without abs that will work, than a system that may save you in certain circumstances but may fail completely when you need it.

May be a good point, but with insurance companies getter every more weasely about paying out . . . .

 

[sockpuppet]

May be a good point, but with insurance companies getter every more weasely about paying out . . . .

BMW made a ABS and Non ABS version of the bike. If you do the "modification" correctly you've effectivly got the non ABS version of the bike. That would be worth an argument in any court of changes from "manufacturer spec".

 

[bowser]

I have never been asked by any insurance company as to ABS fitted or not, so why would you tell them its been taken off?

 

[hank]

Took my bike in for an MOT today, first one since I removed the servo ABS. The bike passed with no problem, the lack of servo or ABS was not even mentioned.

 

[sockpuppet]

Took my bike in for an MOT today, first one since I removed the servo ABS. The bike passed with no problem, the lack of servo or ABS was not even mentioned.

For MOTs the rule I follow is "if it's fitted it has to work, if it isn't fitted it doesn't have to"

 

[MattW]

I have never been asked by any insurance company as to ABS fitted or not, so why would you tell them its been taken off?

As others have said, they probably won't 'ask' until someone makes a claim. At this point, if they discover that ABS has been removed and there's any hint that lack of it might have contributed to the accident / damage, you can bet a pound to a pinch of sh*t that they'll try to weasel out of paying.

There will be small print in your policy somewhere that says you must inform them of any changes to the bike from standard - why not do it and cover your arse - from what others on here have said, they won't charge you

 

[Steptoe]

There will be small print in your policy somewhere that says you must inform them of any changes to the bike from standard -

You aren't changing your bike from standard. You're putting it back to standard.

The same standard that was sold from new by the manufacturer

 

[stolzy]

I have never been asked by any insurance company as to ABS fitted or not, so why would you tell them its been taken off?

Because you are obliged to in the contract between you and the insurer. Not to do so would be foolish in the extreme. You could end up with life-changing liabilities if someone was injured and the insurers refuse to pay because you'd made an unreported modification to the brakes.

I'm not concerned about the MOT or the effectiveness of the brakes post servectomy, just the attitude of the insurers post notification.

So far two reporters without issues from the insurers. Anybody had a problem?

 

[MattW]

You aren't changing your bike from standard. You're putting it back to standard.

The same standard that was sold from new by the manufacturer

Well I guess we're arguing semantics - my interpretation of 'standard' would be as the bike left the factory with its various options.

Sure - there are many possible configurations of GS but your insurers have insured the one that was delivered new unless they've been told otherwise. It's one thing changing your seat or adding pointless (although benign) bling but for something which could be argued is safety critical like ABS, I'd rather not give them the option of wriggling out of a claim.

I don't know exactly which details are recorded for a bikes configuration but I do know that the presence of ABS is noted as each time I take mine for its MOT, the tester looks it up on his computer and says 'oh it's got ABS' which means he has to do the brake test differently (something about the lock up - dunno but it's recorded on a computer somewhere).

But each to their own - I'd tell them for peace of mind if I ever had to make a claim but we're all grown ups and can make our own mind up

 

[cookie]

Well I guess we're arguing semantics - my interpretation of 'standard' would be as the bike left the factory with its various options.

mine too.

the insurers will probably know what the bike should have from the reg number.

why not just tell them?