Bike Insurance

[Dimebars]

Firstly, for full disclosure, I am not a biker, nor have had any interest in bikes previously so am a total novice when looking at these things

However;

Kid 1 is 18. He wants a bike, not a car. He's inherited a 50cc scooter to get him started and sits his CBT soon.

Insurance for the 50cc scooter is cheap - £400 a year cheap - but he wants to graduate to a "proper" bike (125cc max in the short to medium term)

The insurance for a 125cc is 4 times that of the scooter. I get there's a power hike from one to the other, but is this usually the case or am I looking in the wrong place?

[Drezza]

I wouldn't have expected it to be 4x as much but there can be many factors that make it so. I'd just get a 50cc to build some NCD for a year or two then get a 125.

[Dimebars]

The only thing I can think of is the scooter is a 2008 and the bikes we've looked at are all 2019/20/21 so much newer and more expensive

But I wouldn't have though it would be 4 times the price

[anonymous-user]

I suspect because statistically more 125cc bikes get nicked than 50cc bikes.
I was paying £140/yr for my Monster 1200R. Downgraded to a commuting Vespa GTS300 and insurance went up to £240. Go figure.

[andyhawes]

Where are you trying for insurance? Always worth shopping around, I've always found companies like Carole Nash very good on price
https://www.carolenash.com/

I've used them for years, and always managed to haggle a bit off here and there too - I'm not a new rider though, and so may be different in your case, but there are a few more motorcycle specialists companies worth trying.

[RazerSauber]

Despite having no knowledge of your son, insurance companies will hike the price of your 125 insurance up because 125's are extremely popular both for being crashed and stolen. I'm not surprised the difference is so big. Have a look at something older. I got a CBF125 for a grand and other than when people crash into it, it's never had anything go wrong and insurance is cheap for me. The style of bike will probably make a difference too. Commuter, cruiser, sports style.. Go mad on the price comparison sites and follow the Martin Lewis 21 (I think) day rule for insurance to see what you can or can't look at.

[Dimebars]

Thanks for the suggestions

I've looked at the major comparison websites so far to gauge what prices may look like, will have a look at Carol Nash

I get that 125's are more popular, both with owners/TWOCers/scrotes and are statistically more likely to be nicked/dropped/crashed. I was expecting a jump in price, but maybe not so large a jump!

[fred bloggs]

Stating the obvious.

50cc scooter , inherited = free.
125cc 2019 at least £2500

I'm not really surprised its 4x as much.

[fred bloggs]

Mac. said:

I suspect because statistically more 125cc bikes get nicked than 50cc bikes.
I was paying £140/yr for my Monster 1200R. Downgraded to a commuting Vespa GTS300 and insurance went up to £240. Go figure.

The vespa 300 is the pickings of choice for a certain type of urban dweller. For the Insurance company, its not IF they pay out, but when.

[Donbot]

Out of interest I've compared the meerkat for an 18 year old John Smith on a £1400 YBR125 and it is £350 for the year TPFT.

I'm guessing OP is looking for something nickable.

Edit - I see you are looking at scooters. Might be better off looking at geared bikes.

Edited by Donbot on Tuesday 22 November 16:54

[DirtyHarley]

Year and value of bike will make a huge difference.

I've just gone from a 15 plate worth £8k to a 69 plate worth £9k of EXACTLY the same make, model, modifcations - my insurance for the '15 plate was £263 a year fully comp, for the 69 plate is costing me £526 for exactly the same coverage with he same provider.

Maybe look at older 125cc's, and also a geared bike over a scooter since those are theft magnets in most locations.

[OutInTheShed]

In the stone age, before I passed my test, 100cc bikes were much cheaper to insure than 125's.

You can only shop around.
Are there any 'classic' policies for scary 2 stroke 80cc bikes?

[Donbot]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

[Dimebars]

Donbot said:

Out of interest I've compared the meerkat for an 18 year old John Smith on a £1400 YBR125 and it is £350 for the year TPFT.

I'm guessing OP is looking for something nickable.

Edit - I see you are looking at scooters. Might be better off looking at geared bikes.

Edited by Donbot on Tuesday 22 November 16:54

He has the scooter already, but wants to move to a proper geared bike soon

The twist and go is acceptable at £400, gears at £2k+ maybe not!

[Krise]

Location makes the biggest difference to insurance I found

I moved from central London £900 a year, to rural Essex Cambs borders and the insurance dropped to £110 !

[Donbot]

Dimebars said:

Donbot said:

Out of interest I've compared the meerkat for an 18 year old John Smith on a £1400 YBR125 and it is £350 for the year TPFT.

I'm guessing OP is looking for something nickable.

Edit - I see you are looking at scooters. Might be better off looking at geared bikes.

Edited by Donbot on Tuesday 22 November 16:54

He has the scooter already, but wants to move to a proper geared bike soon

The twist and go is acceptable at £400, gears at £2k+ maybe not!

Even for a cheap YBR / CBF?

[Dimebars]

Donbot said:

Even for a cheap YBR / CBF?

That's this evenings research task!

[pozi]

andyhawes said:

Where are you trying for insurance? Always worth shopping around, I've always found companies like Carole Nash very good on price
https://www.carolenash.com/

I've used them for years, and always managed to haggle a bit off here and there too - I'm not a new rider though, and so may be different in your case, but there are a few more motorcycle specialists companies worth trying.

It was good while it lasted but Carole Nash won't budge on pricing these days. Company policy apparently and quotes/renewals are take it or leave it. Since it was a £100 increase for my renewal I took their advise and went elsewhere to BeMoto who equalled what I paid last year.