Insurance for born again bikers

[milb001]

Hi,

I've potentially made a mistake that I'm desperately seeking help in recovering.

I've been without a bike since 2021 (Triumph Speed Triple) but I made an exciting new purchase on Monday - an Indian FTR1200

Being 35 and having had a full bike license since 17, I thought insurance was just a formality. However, I've visited a couple of comparison sites and haven't managed to get a single quote at less than £5k for the year!! On the comparison sites I've used (MCN and Compare the Market); only Bennetts have returned quotes.

There are a couple of (I think relatively minor) things which increase my risk profile:
-Haven't ridden since 2021, and therefore 0 NCB
-2x SP30 endorsements at 3 points each

I can't justify £5k on insurance. I desperately don't want to have to get rid of the bike. Are there any suggestions for how I might go about finding a cheaper policy?

[Wacky Racer]

Try Hastings Direct.

If you haven't had a policy for two years you revert to 0% NCB, as I found out.

[black-k1]

Check out the MCN comparison site. I found it to be the best of the comparison sites.

Failing that, have you asked your Indian dealer? I'm sure you won't be the first returning biker to look for insurance on their bikes.

[carinaman]

milb001 said:

I can't justify £5k on insurance. I desperately don't want to have to get rid of the bike. Are there any suggestions for how I might go about finding a cheaper policy?

On 44 Teeth 3 months or so ago Baron von Grumble cited his local BMW dealer having orders cancelled as buyers couldn't get insurance or the premiums were more than they were prepared to pay.

I know of a youngster who works in the motorcycle trade who was looking to get whatever the new single cylinder Ducati super motard bike is called. They were quoted double what you've been quoted for your FTR.

Those Indians look great to my eyes.

I may've lost access to the garage I use come my next insurance renewal.

[Ecosseven]

milb001 said:

Hi,

I've potentially made a mistake that I'm desperately seeking help in recovering.

I've been without a bike since 2021 (Triumph Speed Triple) but I made an exciting new purchase on Monday - an Indian FTR1200

Being 35 and having had a full bike license since 17, I thought insurance was just a formality. However, I've visited a couple of comparison sites and haven't managed to get a single quote at less than £5k for the year!! On the comparison sites I've used (MCN and Compare the Market); only Bennetts have returned quotes.

There are a couple of (I think relatively minor) things which increase my risk profile:
-Haven't ridden since 2021, and therefore 0 NCB
-2x SP30 endorsements at 3 points each

I can't justify £5k on insurance. I desperately don't want to have to get rid of the bike. Are there any suggestions for how I might go about finding a cheaper policy?

£5k on insurance sounds mad! Is the bike garaged? How many miles are year? do you have access to a car for commuting?

For comparison I returned to biking in 2024 after a 16 year break (so no NCB to use). I bought a new Suzuki GSX-8S and insured it for around £340 including commuting, and helmet & leathers cover. This is based on 3000 miles a year, bike garaged, access to a car, fully comp cover.

I'm with BikeSure.

[milb001]

Ecosseven said:

£5k on insurance sounds mad! Is the bike garaged? How many miles are year? do you have access to a car for commuting?

For comparison I returned to biking in 2024 after a 16 year break (so no NCB to use). I bought a new Suzuki GSX-8S and insured it for around £340 including commuting, and helmet & leathers cover. This is based on 3000 miles a year, bike garaged, access to a car, fully comp cover.

I'm with BikeSure.

I'm glad you agree! I know insurance costs have risen, but I wasn't expecting anything over £500.

I own a car, the bike is garaged, fully comp and no extras.

I'm going to try Hastings and BikeSure. May try the dealer too, but I've bought it from CMC - one of the bike supermarket places, not an Indian dealer.

[A500leroy]

At worst see if you can issue something old ( Thunder cat etc) to build the first years no claims, no need to ride it just insure and leave in your garage if you wanted, then add the Indian at a later date?

[the-norseman]

Speak to a few insurers, if you can prove you've had insurance previously and have had a decent NCB before they might offer you 2 or 3 years NCB.

[AlunJ]

Have you tried Bikesure? They accepted my lapsed no claims after having a few years away from riding.

[Biker9090]

I'm sorry but why on EARTH didn't you get a quote before the purchase?

It's been common knowledge that insurance has skyrocketed across the board.

The same answer as always with insurance questions - Shop around.

1 persons price is totally irrelevant to the next persons - regardless of how "similar" their circumstances are.

Your only other options are to approach specialist brokers or keep the bike off the road whilst you get NCB on an old stter or cancel the purchase.

As others have mentioned, this has been happening a lot with newer models.

Edited by Biker9090 on Wednesday 16th April 14:45

[Hugo Stiglitz]

Will it be garaged or are you in London?

On some bikes I was quoted 3k yet on say a BMW 1200RT - £300. Some bikes just have more accident/claim stats.

[Steve_H80]

That is one major cock up.
Any hope of the dealer taking it back?
If you sell the bike now you're likely to lose money on the deal, although that might be the least worse options.
Get on the comparison sites and see how much difference a year's NCB would make, it might then be worth parking it up and buy something cheap to get that 1st year's NCB. Although the cost of that might be almost as much.

[Skeptisk]

I had the same problem last year after returning to the UK after a few years abroad so NCB. I had ordered a CBR600R but when I tried to get insurance I was being quoted over £1000 despite being old, riding for years, garaged etc.

In the end I bought a K6 GSXR and insured it TPFT for £240. I was going to keep it a year to get some NCB and trade it for something new…but now wondering whether that is worthwhile as it rides very well.

[Triaguar]

It may be the make/model of the bike...I returned to biking some 14 years or so ago with no NCB I wanted a Bennelli Tre ...quote £2000... I thought it would stop me biking. Luckily the insurance rep I was talking to told me it was the bike...price of spares etc...I changed to a Triumph Daytona 650, insurance quote was £150.

You may want to do some more research and see if it's a deal you can get out of and chose another bike.

[Skeptisk]

Triaguar said:

It may be the make/model of the bike...I returned to biking some 14 years or so ago with no NCB I wanted a Bennelli Tre ...quote £2000... I thought it would stop me biking. Luckily the insurance rep I was talking to told me it was the bike...price of spares etc...I changed to a Triumph Daytona 650, insurance quote was £150.

You may want to do some more research and see if it's a deal you can get out of and chose another bike.

I really don’t understand the logic of insurance. It was cheaper to insure an older 1000 GSXR with 180 bhp and no riding aids (no ABS, no lean sensitive ABS, no TC, no wheel control) than a 600 with just 120 bhp and all the aids. Surely the risk of crashing the former is higher than the latter? Yes the former is worth more but normally the value of the bike is a smaller part of the average insurance claim.

[itcaptainslow]

AlunJ said:

Have you tried Bikesure? They accepted my lapsed no claims after having a few years away from riding.

They did this for my NCB from 2022 (it did probably help the NCB was from them, mind!).

[Triaguar]

OP ...be sure to let us know what happens

[Gas1883]

milb001 said:

Hi,

I've potentially made a mistake that I'm desperately seeking help in recovering.

I've been without a bike since 2021 (Triumph Speed Triple) but I made an exciting new purchase on Monday - an Indian FTR1200

Being 35 and having had a full bike license since 17, I thought insurance was just a formality. However, I've visited a couple of comparison sites and haven't managed to get a single quote at less than £5k for the year!! On the comparison sites I've used (MCN and Compare the Market); only Bennetts have returned quotes.

There are a couple of (I think relatively minor) things which increase my risk profile:
-Haven't ridden since 2021, and therefore 0 NCB
-2x SP30 endorsements at 3 points each

I can't justify £5k on insurance. I desperately don't want to have to get rid of the bike. Are there any suggestions for how I might go about finding a cheaper policy?

Highest quote I had with 20 yrs away from bikes , so obviously no ncb was £900 for a fireblade sp , now paying £331 for brand new xx4rr , the quote was through mcn , I’m in my 60,s not in my 30,s though , I
Wonder if that is the issue , age ?
Others have suggested age of bike , modes etc mine is brand new , with all sorts of modes etc so it’s possible it’s that , but in my case it didn’t seem to make any difference .
If its £5,000 and you’ve brought the bike I’d be p/ ex it , selling it , I know you’ll probably loose some ££££££ , but I doubt it will be as much as £5,000.

[milb001]

I managed to get a quote from bikesure at £2k, which is a big improvement, but still more than I'd like.

I'm trying to go through a decent broker now; someone who can offer some actual advice on ways to reduce the premium.

I'll keep you all posted!

[Gas1883]

Like my mates said to me before I got a bike , there not cheap transport anymore , there a very expensive hobby
I was asked when I brought mine would I like any accessories, wouldn’t mine a can , I
Nearly fell through the floor at nearly £1,000 , every thing seems really expensive upto when I started out on kh250 / 400 , even my prev fireblade , r1 didn’t seem this expensive
Best of luck hope you can get ins down to a reasonable level .