Sport bikes are different from run of the mill motorcycles, and insuring them properly requires a little thought. These higher powered performance machines are more expensive to insure for a number of reasons. With a bit of care, however, motorcyclists can trim even the premium for a sport bike somewhat. At http://www.expressinsurance.co.uk/bike-insurance/ the premium is already trimmed by quite a mile, including other insurers such as http://www.gocompare.com/bike-insurance/ who compare the cheapest bike insurance providers.
Desirability
Thieves look for something they can resell. The cost and popularity of sport bikes increases the risk that they will be stolen and either stripped for parts or sold intact. This increases the likelihood that insurers will have to pay a claim, and they respond with higher premiums. Owners can do little about the bike’s popularity, but they can decrease its vulnerability. The most useful tactic in preventing sport bike theft and lowering insurance premiums is to lock up the bike in a garage at night and whenever it is not being used. Riders without garages might even consider renting a corner of a neighbor’s to store their bike. Other anti-theft devices may also help get discounts.
Power
Sport bikes have powerful engines, high-performance brakes and adjustable engines designed to let them go very fast and remain maneuverable when they do. This is the reason many bikers choose this class, but it is also the reason their insurance premiums are higher. The faster a motorcycle is moving when it hits another object, the more damage it will do and the higher the insurance payout. Achieving lower premiums in this class is a matter of bike choice: smaller engines equal lower premiums.
Demographics
The portion of the riding population to which sport bikes appeal is also a risk factor from an insurance point of view. Powerful bikes are purchased by people who like to go fast, and that speed is a risk factor. This is an area where driver behavior may have a substantial effect on premiums. Riders with at least twelve months’ road time without having made an insurance claim should speak to their insurers about the possibility of reduced premiums.
Allocation of risk
In the UK, motorcycle insurance comes in two primary varieties. Third party insurance covers damage done by the bike to the property of others, while comprehensive insurance also covers damage to the insured bike. Bike owners who select the less expensive third-party option save substantial money on insurance, but in doing so they themselves assume the risk of having to pay for repairs to or replacement of a bike. Similarly, bikers who elect a larger excess will save money on the up front cost of insurance, but in the event of an accident will pay a larger amount out of pocket.
By assessing the level of risk that their sport bikes represents to an insurer and taking steps to lower that risk, drivers can substantially lower the cost of their insurance. One tactic, though, should never be tried. It is an offense to own an uninsured vehicle unless a Statutory Off Road Notification has been registered, so going without insurance entirely is not an option.
I have a couple of friends who have sport bikes and their insurance costs are through the roof. It’s something that potential owners need to know about!
Incredibly expensive, but offset by the fact that bikes will be less expensive for the most part than cars. What year is that bike from? Ducati, no? Beautiful stuff.