Last month I renewed my bike insurance policy and I decided to have a good look at the market; what an eye opener it was. From the 'good old days' where everything was included, now all the little extras have been removed and are only put back when asked.
For example on one quote there was no cover if I was taking a pillion, no 3rd party cover for riding other people bikes, no riding to and from my place of work, a 3000 mile cap on mileage, and my 9years no-claims bonus wasn't protected either! (Also if you are an IAM Observer, your observing has to be covered too) All these things can be added back onto the policy and often at no extra cost, but in this current market the insurers are trying to get away with the bare minimum, and with some people they seem to be succeeding.
However more worrying is something that I had not been aware of but took for granted....and that is Breakdown Cover. For a number of years my insurer has included UK and European Breakdown Cover, but reading the small print is does not cover any form of accident. So if you have a puncture that's ok you're covered, but if you slide off on a patch of diesel the policy is useless and it is 100% down to you to recover the bike.
Sorry to be so gloomy, but hopefully if you all check your policies on renewal, you won't be caught out!
Max
email Max for more info on WSAM
or visit the West Sussex Advanced Motorcyclists website
WSAM
We are a registered charitable organisation affiliated to IAM (Institute of Advanced Motorists). Our aim is to promote safer motorcycling through Advanced Training. We are unpaid volunteers who give up our time because we believe in what we are doing. We currently have 38 observers, 7 senior observers and 1 chief observer, all are highly experienced riders who come from as far and wide as Waterlooville, Crawley and Brighton and Hove.
