What are the insurance costs in the UK?

[Bojje]

Hi! I'm from Sweden and I've always wondered what insurances you get to pay for superbikes. Looking in the project forum, it's full of older bikes and people seem to drive older bikes because they're the only ones they afford.

I honestly believe that Sweden has one of the worst insurance costs when it comes to bikes, but looking at what you brits drive makes me wonder - are we worst?

Example:
I'm 23 years, had my license since 19 years. Basic coverage on let's say a GSXR 2003 is normally somewhere around 2000 euro/year. And our insurance can't be "turned off". You pay the same sum during the winter months even if you don't use your bike. The only way to get rid of the payment is to make an owner change. So basically, you'll be paying ridicilous amounts of money throughout the whole time you own the bike, even if you decided you wouldn't ride the bike for a full year. You must sell the bike.

I've tried Hornet 600 (2008) on my name and the best I've got was somewhere around 1100 euro/year for half insurance (theft, fire and so on).

And remember, these are the best quotes I've been getting - 99% of all the other quotes have been stupid amounts, basic for the gixxer - 14 000 euro / year... that's probably the record.

But realistically - the cheapest basic insurance on a 2012 superbike would be around 3000 euro / year with hard searching for the best quote.

I have no speeding tickets, no accidents, etc etc. I'm from Gothenburg. How are the insurance costs in let's say the bigger cities in the UK. Are they the same like here? I have a hard time imagining anything being more expensive.

[Matt B]

Insurance prices are wildly varied depending upon age, location, no claim bonus, points.....

As an example though - when I had the 2008 ZX6R (yes I know it's not a superbike) I was paying about £160 a year fully comprehensive, but I'm 42 so that helps.
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stinkwheel: He had an animated .gif of a cat performing fellatio. It's not socially acceptable. It can have real life adverse effects on other people.

[Bojje]

[Paris2]

[Matt B]

[nowhere.elysium]

Insurers seem to use a massive range of variables to mask the fact that when it comes down to it, they'll charge you whatever the hell they want.

If I remember correctly, the quote for my SV this year was around the £250 mark, although that's not fully comprehensive. In my favour, though, I'm a few years older than you, plus a homeowner, which they seem to like. I also have the use of a garage, which definitely helps a lot. Since I live in London, that's pretty damn cheap, in my opinion.

I've not bothered running a quote for a sportsbike, and to be honest, I'm not particularly interested in doing so, but be prepared for the insurers to do their best to utterly ream you.
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'10 SV650SF, '83 GS650GT (it lives!), Questionable DIY dash project, 3D Printer project, Lasercutter project

[Kwaks]

And our insurance can't be "turned off". You pay the same sum during the winter months even if you don't use your bike. The only way to get rid of the payment is to make an owner change. So basically, you'll be paying ridicilous amounts of money throughout the whole time you own the bike, even if you decided you wouldn't ride the bike for a full year. You must sell the bike.

Are you saying you have a continous insurance rule? bike nust be insured whether in use or not? If so would house insurance cover for your ornament suffice?Can you not get Fire & Theft cover only, ie no 3rd party as not in use?
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Fallen Angel "Nae sniffing my seat now!!!!! "
www.cliqueycuntsmcc.co.uk
I AM NOT A FAST RIDER!!!!!!!!!

[willis1337]

41, no claims on bike ever since got full licence 20 years ago (six years no claims as break in insurance for a couple of years I lost the previous no claims bonus - has to be running continuously), advanced riding qualifications, living on outskirts of small city, no garge (but loads of security, chains alarm etc).

€778.00 for 12 months insurance with condition that I pay the first €800.00 of any claim (me or third party).

Bike is one year old BMW K1300S.
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Current bike: KTM SD1290GT
Previous bike: BMW K1300S

[Joncrete Cungle]

29, 1 year NCB, Live on outskirts of a small city, 1999 CBR600f = £200 per year fully comp. Garaged, datatag, big chain, big padlock & disc lock.

[Bojje]

[DrDonnyBrago]

£215 for a 2001 CBR600F - comprehensive insurance.

[Bojje]

All the quotes so far have been really good.

There's no way even a 40 year old in Sweden can insure a Hornet or any other streetbike for 200 pounds a year. Never heard of it.

I know about one older guy, 60 years old - he was looking into buying the new panigale. He's had his license for 40 + years. 3200 euro / year fully comp, in Stockholm. In short, he didn't buy the new panigale.

[Fizzer Thou]

I have had the renewal through for my R1 which is £78 tpft
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Just talk bikes.What else is there?

Always have a 'Plan B'

[Bojje]

[Kwaks]

^^yeah i know a thing or two about insurance, what I am trying to ascertain is if it is law in sweden to have continous insurance on a vehicle, as seems a strange way of doing things.

Fire and theft cover is not that difficult to get once you go past the phone jockeys.
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Fallen Angel "Nae sniffing my seat now!!!!! "
www.cliqueycuntsmcc.co.uk
I AM NOT A FAST RIDER!!!!!!!!!

[willis1337]

You have my condolences - maybe I should move to Sweeden.

(To Fizzer Thou - git! (jealous))
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Current bike: KTM SD1290GT
Previous bike: BMW K1300S

[pits]

Insurance is usually drawn out of a hat here, depends on what they feel like charging you at the time.
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Stinkwheel: You have no right to free speech
00:32:08 Blau Zedong: yes, i am a massive CB400 fan and collector
00:33:00 Blau Zedong: the CB400 is my favourite road bike

[panrider_uk]

I pay less than £100/yr for fully comp on my Pan.

But I'm old and live out in the sticks.

Mark
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Current bikes: Honda ST1100 Pan European. Moto Guzzi V85 TT Travel

[Bojje]

[Fizzer Thou]

[daemonoid]

32, Ducati Monster 750 garaged in a very nice little village, fully comp but I'm non-resident and so had a lot of trouble finding it. £178
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current: ducati monster 750
past: hyosung gt250r, bajaj pulsar 180, hyosung gt 125 comet
@thomasgarrard | www.straitjkt.com | www.racingseven.com

[Rogerborg]

[Stiffler]

Prices vary based on location, bike, rider experience etc: My History of cost:

2006 - 1991 Honda VFR400 - £400
2007 - 2006 Kawasaki ZX6R - £1200
2008 - as above - £700
2009 - as above - £600
2010 - as above - £480
2011 - as above - £440
2012 - 2011 BMW G650 GS & 2006 Kawasaki ZX6R - £490
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Current Bikes - Kawasaki ZX-6R (636) | BMW G650GS

[Ol]

Me: 27 Years Old, Little village on the outskirts of York, 4 years NCB, 0 points and i pay:

2003 ZX-6R = £148 Fully Comp
1998 GSXR600 SRAD = £135 Fully Comp

Both come with free breakdown cover too.



when i had the SV650s - that was a mind boggling £109 Fully Comp, couldn't really justify not riding bikes!!
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Previous: Cub50, NRG50, TS50, YB100, CB125, NSR125, ZZR600, CBF1000, SV650s, ZX6R B1H, XT250, Mito Powered Crosser, WRF450, , FZ600, VN800, GSXR600 - Currently CB1000R

[Teflon-Mike]

You are taking a 'snap-shot' out of context comparison.

As I understand it, we have a 'lower cost of living' in the UK, prices of most 'stuff' being cheaper.... but flip side is we tend to also earn less!

Bike prices in Sweden I also believe are more expensive, both against average income and in $ value.

Then your continiouse 'insurance' scheme changes the way people buy/use bikes. Especially as with harsher winter, likely to be very much a 'summer-toy' rather than all year round transport.

So, in Swedein you have a much higher proportion of more 'affluent' 'leisure-riders' who can afford to indulge their hobby, to whome 'newer' bikes will be more affordable.... and older bikes probably not even available, due to the insure or sell/scrap scheme that will detur people from laying up older bikes like we do here or in the US.

Prices from what you have said, seem a little high in Sweeden, compared to the UK, especially as you dont have the same crime rate or crash-rate...... but you DO have higher cost-of-living.... so may JUST be pro-rata reflation of that, nothing else, possibly inflated a little by higher local pricing of bikes themselves.

Why do we ride more 'older' bikes here in the UK?

Not sure we do.... and looking at the 'Projects' on Show & Tell isn't really a good indication..... that's where we brag the old bikes we 'restore'! We're not likely to 'restore' a 3 year old GSX14, that only 'just' needs its first MOT 'safety' check, are we?
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