Keyless - higher insurance premiums
Discussion
Looking for a 300-400cc scooter for my commute & had narrowed it down to a Honda ADV or Forza, however the insurance quotes I was getting were crazy high - like 2-3 times that of my ZX636. I could even insure a litre sportsbike for half the cost of a Forza 350. 
So I shelved the idea for a while. On holiday this week & browsing bikes, scooters & insurance quotes, I've realised that THERE'S ONE KEY FACTOR that determines whether a scooter has a normal premium or whether they want silly money............ Keyless ignition!
Two technically similar scooters can have an insurance premium of 2-3 times more on the model with keyless.
Is keyless seriously that much of a liability?
So I shelved the idea for a while. On holiday this week & browsing bikes, scooters & insurance quotes, I've realised that THERE'S ONE KEY FACTOR that determines whether a scooter has a normal premium or whether they want silly money............ Keyless ignition!
Two technically similar scooters can have an insurance premium of 2-3 times more on the model with keyless.
Is keyless seriously that much of a liability?
Well that's Honda's scooters within the last 3-7+ years out the picture then. Insurers are just sending out a clear message that keyless is a much higher theft risk.
Thinking that, for now, I'll stick with my trusty ZX636 & look at a decent ebike instead of a scooter. Not really what I want, but I don't really like being bent over for the cost of running a scooter either, which is after all intended to be a cheap commuter.
Thinking that, for now, I'll stick with my trusty ZX636 & look at a decent ebike instead of a scooter. Not really what I want, but I don't really like being bent over for the cost of running a scooter either, which is after all intended to be a cheap commuter.
I don't get this as most motorbikes are stolen without the keys. No need to relay the signal from your key inside the house, or cut a hole in the bodywork to plug some device in to unlock it. Just snap the steering lock and push it away or lift into a van.
Edited by Zarco on Sunday 7th April 22:18
moto_traxport said:
Gawd I despise keyless cars, vans & bikes with a passion so hopefully they will all soon be uninsurable and scrapped. 
It’s not as if they’re actually keyless, there’s just nowhere to put the godawful things.
Hmm, yes every time I get in my car I curse endlessly about not having anywhere to put the key.It’s not as if they’re actually keyless, there’s just nowhere to put the godawful things.
Oh hang on, actually, I just leave the key my pocket.
mikey_b said:
Hmm, yes every time I get in my car I curse endlessly about not having anywhere to put the key.
Oh hang on, actually, I just leave the key my pocket.
Exactly. If you don't have anywhere to put the key surely its more of a pain when you have parked the bike up and taken the key out of the ignition. Only more convenient if you are going in your house otherwise you have to find somewhere for it and phaff about getting it out when you get back to the bike.Oh hang on, actually, I just leave the key my pocket.
I've got keyless for car and bike and wouldn't want to go back to a key.
EasternBlocGeek said:
Well that's Honda's scooters within the last 3-7+ years out the picture then. Insurers are just sending out a clear message that keyless is a much higher theft risk.
Thinking that, for now, I'll stick with my trusty ZX636 & look at a decent ebike instead of a scooter. Not really what I want, but I don't really like being bent over for the cost of running a scooter either, which is after all intended to be a cheap commuter.
If it's just as a cheap commuter why not buy an older scooter with a regular key?Thinking that, for now, I'll stick with my trusty ZX636 & look at a decent ebike instead of a scooter. Not really what I want, but I don't really like being bent over for the cost of running a scooter either, which is after all intended to be a cheap commuter.
This doesnt read across for me.
I live in London, licence more than 20 years, lots of NCB, clean licence.
Struggle to get insurance quotes on anything sportsike like (eg 600cc sports bikes) and anything over 1000cc that isn't a touring bike.
Its amazing frankly.
I have a Yamaha Xmax 300 - keyless start - which costs a fraction of any of these bikes to insure.
Not sure what is happening with your quotes, but shop around or check a price comparison site to be sure.
I live in London, licence more than 20 years, lots of NCB, clean licence.
Struggle to get insurance quotes on anything sportsike like (eg 600cc sports bikes) and anything over 1000cc that isn't a touring bike.
Its amazing frankly.
I have a Yamaha Xmax 300 - keyless start - which costs a fraction of any of these bikes to insure.
Not sure what is happening with your quotes, but shop around or check a price comparison site to be sure.
Just today renewed my ADV insurance
£129 inc legal and personal injury with Bikesure (not in London though)
OP I presume you're trying to insure it for London??
As for the scoot themselves, the ADV has full length forks which makes it far better than the Forza if you like to push on a bit
Also, despite what Forza owners say on forums about the screens, the ADV one is better as I get no helmet buffeting like I did on my two Forza's
ADV over the Forza is a no brainer unless you prefer the Forza's dash
£129 inc legal and personal injury with Bikesure (not in London though)
OP I presume you're trying to insure it for London??
As for the scoot themselves, the ADV has full length forks which makes it far better than the Forza if you like to push on a bit
Also, despite what Forza owners say on forums about the screens, the ADV one is better as I get no helmet buffeting like I did on my two Forza's
ADV over the Forza is a no brainer unless you prefer the Forza's dash
Edited by Trevor555 on Tuesday 9th April 15:24
Five50, I always found sportsbikes silly money to insure when I lived in London but scooters were ok, though that was over 20 yrs ago. Now I think scooters have been added to the 'crazy money to insure' as well, UNLESS you have a garage. A garage in London makes a massive difference I think.
I now live just outside Edinburgh; a city that, like London, has a huge bike theft problem & the police are even less effective because they're too busy dealing with unkind tweets. I find here that a garage again makes a big difference, that pretty much all bikes are reasonable to insure, that scooters have really jumped in insurance costs & keyless ones unreasonably so. It's hard to understand the variations as the scrotes around here definitely prefer bikes.
Trevor I'm with you on the ADV being the better option for handling & ride comfort. I'm not a fan of its gauky looks hence my preference for the Forza. I would prefer used, but maybe 2-5 yrs old so Forzas would still be keyless.
I now live just outside Edinburgh; a city that, like London, has a huge bike theft problem & the police are even less effective because they're too busy dealing with unkind tweets. I find here that a garage again makes a big difference, that pretty much all bikes are reasonable to insure, that scooters have really jumped in insurance costs & keyless ones unreasonably so. It's hard to understand the variations as the scrotes around here definitely prefer bikes.
Trevor I'm with you on the ADV being the better option for handling & ride comfort. I'm not a fan of its gauky looks hence my preference for the Forza. I would prefer used, but maybe 2-5 yrs old so Forzas would still be keyless.
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