The Performance direct debarcle

[Gothtec]

After the recent fek up by Performance direct I find myself in an unusual position...

When I took out this years insurance at a reasonable £76 for the year, through comparethemarket.com I answered all the questions asked fairly and honestly. I was asked the question "Value of modifications?" for which I put "£0" as all the mods were done by myself at nearly zero cost so not worth the hassling them... I paid and thought nothing more of it!

After news got out about PD only allowing 3 mods I did a tally and I have 8 mods, not including the tank protector stickers and the AlphaDot sticker!

Am I still insured, or just insured for the bike not including mods? Or am I insured untill I try to claim?

As I took the insurance through a third party, does it matter and they only underwrite it? Although I am actually insured through them, I though I had a swinton policy when I paid!!!
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[P.]

If you have stated that you have mods on there such as exhaust etc...

I'd ignore the 3 mod rule, pretty much every bike will be non standard when they swap the tyres and sprockets.

[Jayy]

I'm confused about this stuff too. I did declare a power commander 3 on my insurance which hiked it up by £80 for the pleasure but I have other mods on the bike too.

Technically speaking:-

PC3
Harris carbon hugger
Harris carbon mud guard
Carbon heel plates
Carbon engine casing
Quick shifter
Quick action throttle
Gilles rearsets
Braded lines
Sprint steering damper
Double bubble screen
Tank pad
Brembo front master brake cylinder
Seat pod
Aftermarket exhaust

I told the guy on the phone I had loads of other mods as well as the PC3 and he said, "Are any of them performance enhancing?" to which I said, "Not really".

[stinkwheel]

I suppose this would define what you call a modification.

In my book, a sticker isn't a modification and an alphadot sticker certainly isn't. They know there is an alphadot kit fitted (if they don't, they should do because you'll get a discount). Chopping the subframe off or sticking a different front end on would be a modification in my book.

I still tell them nothing. As far as they are concerned, all my bikes are totally standard. I've had bikes so heavily modified they should really have been put through an MSVA test but I just opted for keeping my mouth shut. Most of the mods I've done can't be seen anyway and you'd really have to know what you were looking for to pick up on them.

My Enfield has a high compression piston, carb modifications, rocker-gear, valvegear, gearing and oilflow mods. The only thing you can see externally is a short piece of braided steel hose running into the tappet cover.

Likewise the dynojet kit on the VFR. I didn't go sticking stickers advertising the fact all over the bike so you'd have to strip the carbs and compare the needle profiles to standard ones to find it.

I should point out this course of action could prejudice your level of cover if you claim off your insurance and they spot it. Doesn't stop you claiming off someone elses though.
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[iooi]

I only declare any thing I would want replacing should the bike get totalled.
So stuff like handguards, top box, rack, heated grips etc... Do not get listed.
I would simply want to take these off if they are in a state of reuse.
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Just because my bike was A DIVVY, does not mean i am......

[Frost]

A modification is something that may either increase your changes of having an accident through improving performance or altering characteristics in a major way, or result in a more expensive claim in the event of an accident.
In my book anyway... So i'd class these as modifications:

Performance exhaust
Change of suspension
Changes of wheel sizes
Different engine
Highly tuned engine
Different or highly modified frame
Different braking system
Engine covers
Luggage
Different headlights or indicators
Turbo / supercharger
etc

Stickers or a respray though you may think give a performance increase sadly do not

[P.]

[sickpup]

My broker doesn't count my mods as mods. He is so used to dealing with couriers that there is no mark up for top boxes, screens, muffs, heated grips etc he just knocks up the vehicle value slightly.

[Gothtec]

Sorry it was bennetts not performance direct, silly me...
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