I have discussed this several times with insurers; some will accept minor changes from OEM; ie a smoked screen instead of clear, or milled aluminium bar end weights.......... But most stick to the mantra 'Any modification which diverts from the original OEM specification is notifable'........ This includes different paint; decals; screens; footrests; rear-sets; exhaust; suspension; brakes and hoses; and any engine changes ie Dynojet kits etc etc etc. It took my insurers quite along time to understand that fitting 900SS suspension and ally swingarm, plus the adjustable 900SS shocks to my 750SS was in fact using standard OEM parts; because fundamentally all the carbed SSs were all the same, apart from engine and suspension (and front tyre profile)............so in the end the premium wasn't loaded. But when I fitted the ally swingarm, it transpired they still knew SFA about anything --- they wanted the bike re-MOTd to say it was safe and they couldn't understand why I wasn't able to present the bike 6 months earlier than the expiry date. They let it go in the end.
That's because the manufacturers figures are quoted as taken at the crank. You tend to lose about 7% of that at the wheel. Stock is probably around high 80's
The main reason that I switched to Ducati insurance was that they would insure my heavily modded Monster. I struggled to find anyone else that would touch it.
I used to be with ebike insurance. With them you just listed all your mods and it didn't seem to make any difference. Then they ceased reading or sold out to another company and were no longer operating. I tried carole nash who wouldn't touch it then Bennetts. Bennett listed tick boxes for my mods but you were only allowed three before they referred it back to their underwriter for approval. I haf something like 10bdeclareable mods.The stupid thing was that one of the allowable tick box options was a power commander which I had fitted, but the underwriter came back and declined cover due to a power commander being fitted. I lost the will to argue and tried Ducati insurance. They covered my Monster and 900ss for about £120. I've since sold the Monster but stayed with DI. Just renewed the 900ss for £70. I'm happy.
I see having put my head above the parapet in another insurance thread Pete1950 wondered if I had any thoughts on this one. There was a change to the law in terms of consumer disclosure for insurance a few years ago - the Consumer Insurance (Disclosure and Representations Act) 2012, which very broadly speaking means that if they ask, you have to answer truthfully, but if they don't ask about something, a consumer is not expected to be a mind-reader and second guess what an insurance company might later decide they were interested in. See e.g. : What the Consumer Insurance Act means for customers ABI or The Consumer Insurance Bill Under the Act insurers will still be able to decline a claim if it is found that a customer deliberately, recklessly or carelessly gave incorrect or incomplete information when answering questions about their circumstances, so you still have a duty to answer questions correctly.
My friend is a leading accident lawyer. His advice to me is declare everything. For any insurance. He does. No matter how obscure or seemingly irrelevant. This is based on his history of dealing with insurance companies over accident claims. The industry has an expression, in Latin of all things, which basically means they can do/say what they want, when they want to get out of paying. The reason they usually do co-operate most of the time is at the end of the day they are there to make money, so need to avoid brand damage to attract new customers.
That is what I was hoping you would say. So the 2012 Act tones down uberrimae fidei a bit, doesn't it?
I am with ebike on both my bikes. Monster has well over 20 big modifications and erm probably 100 if I include bar ends/mirrors. No issues ever. Last renewal was December. Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk
I have used Ducati Insurance for several years mainly due to their good customer service however every time I renew there seems to be another exclusion put on my policy by the insurance under writer. So my heavily modded 1098 was originally covered for 99% of mods now it seems if I have a write off type claim I'll be covered for the value of a standard 1098. I've said it before "insurance companies have us over a barrel because we need insurance to be within the law, therefore they do what they want".
Mate heard from his insurers; they are not going to pay out so he's going down the complaint/ombudsman route. They have him bang to rights but worth a punt.
Which insurance company, what did he declare and what exactly he has? Would be nice to know the least full list of declared Vs installed mods. Also insurance company will say which mod they use to deny payout Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk
That's a real shame for him but I guess that's the game people have to play to get reasonable insurance nowadays - run the gauntlet of not being caught out....
I doubt he is going to want any of that to go public! Safest bet is just to declare everything, then there is never going to be a problem.
I don't see why anyone should run the gauntlet. If you can't afford to declare or pay the premium on the modification, don't do it. I know that on the car forums the insurers have spies and black list anyone modifying their car and not declaring it. I wouldn't be surprised if there are people lurking in here also. Also, if the bike had a previous owner who declared mods that you didn't, it is still there on record. Be very careful, big brother knows all your secrets, so just be honest (it isn't that hard).
Don't get me wrong, I'm not condoning it but then I am lucky (?) enough to be the wrong side of 40 and have the means to fully declare (which is what I do). Just saying that the insurance companies don't make it easy to do this often asking for unreasonable premiums or refusing insurance, quite often on the basis of some trinkets and baubles being added that do not affect performance or desirability to the tea-leafs. We all ride for our own reasons, be that the freedom, speed or individualism so it's only natural that people want to distinguish their possession from the next persons... Still, having said that, clearly that is not the case here so I'll shut up now
All I can say is my premium was going to go up when I connected P50 monoliths to replace goldline callipers. Erm it should lower the premium due to safety hehe Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk
