Insurance for a new rider

[Cyclingbiker]

Hi everyone.

I am at the moment not even a rider. I have my CBT booked in for next weekend at a local centre. Still I have been searching around furiously for what bike to buy when I do get my CBT and who to insure it with.

For whatever reason I have taken a gander at the bikes for sale at the local Honda Dealership, the CBF 125 really takes my eye and the finance seems very reasonable (£2500 OTR, £99 deposit and £67 for 36 months). I know that a new bike on finance is not ideal for a new rider but TBH it would take quite a while to save up the £1000-1500 for a decent 2nd hand bike such as a Yamaha YBR 125 or a good running Honda CG 125.

The insurance quotes I seem to be getting though look quite a lot higher than what I was expecting for a bike. Most places seem to be somewhere in the region of £1200 to £2000 fully comp with only small reductions for TPFT and TP. MCE did quote £670 but with £850 excess!!!
The only comparable quote is from BikeDevil, cheaper than MCE whilst being a subsidiary but with nil excess. Although it states that the excess is £1350 but protected by some sort of guarantee. No thanks!

I am 20 years old, work full-time and plan to keep it parked on a driveway or locked down the side passageway to my house (Detached, in a relatively low-crime area of Crewe). I have held a full UK car licence for just over 2 years now, never used as car insurance is massively too expensive. So glad I wasn't the one to pay for lessons

I can't understand why insurance is so expensive. I was expecting a premium rate for being a new rider and a new bike but this seems like the insurance companies are taking the p@#*. Even with cheaper/older bikes the premiums aren't much lower.

I have been on many of the price comparison sites, as well as Swinton, Bennett's and eBike and a few more that I have seen recommended. What is it about me that is making these premiums so damn expensive

[moppy]

I was 19 when I got my first bike (VL 125) and even with a claim against me from 2 years ago, I still got TPFT for my £1200 bike for £250 with no excess.

Look harder, buy a used, cheap bike, get some security.

[Ayrton]

[J.M.]

Run the quote again except on an older bike, you should be surprised at the deduction in premium. Early 00s or late 90s are good.

My CBR125 was only £440 TPFT at 17 with 0 NCB, 0 years experience and a 1 week old CBT. CBR125 was also only £800 to buy and never once let me down. All I had to do to it was give it a fresh pair of tyres.
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2004 R1 & 2018 XSR900

[Sid_The_Sloth]

What age are you? I bought a 2010 YBR, with no full license at all just provisional and cbt I got my insurance from MCE for £286 with full helmet and leathers cover, breakdown etc. I am 23.
My brother, 25 years old, got a brand new 2012 cbf125 and got it insured again by MCE for a little over £400.

[Cyclingbiker]

[lihp]

I think a big issue here will be a small bike that are regularly lifted being stored outside?

[TomGT]

hate to be a ball-buster but you won't get FC insurance, when I got my moped at 16 I was paying around £350 TPF+T with MCE, with one years NCB I'm paying £250 with Devitt on the GT, with FC being almost triple that. I had an accident a few weeks ago which I'm paying for, it kills me that I don't have FC, but if my £1000 bike had £800 worth of damage I doubt I'd bother repairing it
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1992 ZXR 400

[thepuma]

Have you run it through a price comparison site like Moneysupermarket,gocompare,confused.com etc?
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YBR125 (SOLD) - CBR250R(SOLD) - CBR650F(SOLD) Current - Street Triple
765 RS

[NEWBIKER123]

[Rogerborg]

[Cyclingbiker]

Suppose that patience is the word of the day then. I am sure that a decent used 125 will pop up nearby someday when I have some money for it.

I was looking a getting one as a cheap runabout and occasional commuter. I live just 7 miles from work so cycling will still be a big part of my transport plan. If I ever get work further afield a motorbike will become invaluable for cheap, daily commuting. Also in two years I will going to uni 15 miles away, within cycling distance but more comfortable and easier when an engine is involved.

A 125 seems a sensible choice at the moment. When I get something new I will tend to use it to its full potential before moving on. I doubt that I will get bored of a 125 quickly. I have heard about these new licencing laws but I am not fussed, I see no problem in being "stuck" with a small engined bike for a few years. At the moment 70mph is enough lol.

I will see what is available in September/October when I should have adequate savings for something at least.

[J.M.]

[Cyclingbiker]

Well since I will be riding on a CBT motorways are a big no no anyway. I will see whether or not it is financially viable to undertake lessons and my practical test before January but I think it is a long shot at best.

I don't foresee myself outgrowing a 125 very quickly, the amount of riding and the type of riding as well (occasional commuting and leisure). The bike would be more of a form of transport and not just about excitement. Maybe I feel this way because since passing my driving test at 18 I never got a car and have been "restricted" to cycling and getting around pretty much everywhere within 15 miles of home using my legs. I don't even really need a bike yet but I can see it becoming useful in a few years time and besides they do look appealing to me.

I will see what happens after I pass my CBT and get my first bike, whatever that may end up being, in a month or two. I can imagine that I will have to put down a lot of miles between now and January to have any hope of being ready for a test by then. So I may just lay back and accept that I will get a "big bike licence" eventually and enjoy riding what I already have. I plan on having some great days out on it already

[wayne.p]

my 125scooter was ""FAST"" when i used it, then as soon as i got my corsa, it was too slow so i didnt use it any more.

if you dont experience faster, it'll do.

but as soon as, and if you drive a car, going from a 1 ltre car that'll have power to pull *safely* (key point) above 50, then youll hate the 125.

i have a 1.6 meriva (105 bhp). going to a 125 is terrible, but its a means to get a bigger bike, and ~save~ money (not saving yet, after initial outlay etc, perhaps after a few services at home etc.

as others pointed out. SELF SERVICE! save so much money... so you want a decent Second hand bike. dont go new, otherwise dealer services needed.

tests dont NEED lessons. well, not before jan.

get your theory etc sorted, and ride for a bit, get used to the bike, then perhaps a "brush up" lesson (clean ur faults out). then book tests on your own 125 BEFORE JAN!.

being a full car license holder, bear in mind, you have held your A provisional since your car provisional, and after your CBT have a FULL moped license. so this would mean a mopeds insurance will be WELL cheap for you (but a moped cant go above 32mph or be above 49cc engine!.

but might be ideal to get some NCB etc built up?

since you havent got NCB on your car (assumption from you saying not got a car etc) this wouldnt help at all, but i have got 2 yrs ncb on my car. im 27. my bike is insurance group 5, you can get some larger engine bikes with a lower grouping...

these are things to look for... (mines classed as a "sports bike" despite only being a 125 because its a honda CBR copy.)

hence a cbf will be cheaper to insure than a cbr because the cbf is a commuter, but cbr classed as sports.

also, i have ridden for ages, yet because i have 0ncb on a bike then this goes against me somewhat...

TPO was 167, TPFT 192, FC was something silly like 800. (my car insurance is only 500 this year FC, and i can do a hell of a lot more damage in my car, esp since i do about 20k a year in it, and only about 1k on the bike)

I garage my bike in the shed (locked brick building).

insurance is a way of demanding whatever they want... they can guarantee to beat any quote, as they know others will overquote too! (IE: like selling a car, over price, to accomodate haggling)

so like anything,,, always ASK for a discount. if you have NCB you have a better chance of getting a discount.

[Rogerborg]

Well, it's all good. I rode a 125 for a year on a short commute and occasional fun rides and was perfectly happy with it. As Tef oft notes, it does teach you a lot, because you need to do more (gear changing, planning ahead, keeping yourself straight and upright) than on a bigger bike.

Just don't ride anything bigger, you're not going to want to go back.
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Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[Cyclingbiker]

CBT completed yesterday, passed it easily although I had some trouble with the slow manoeuvres I got the hang of changing gears and controlling the bike safely. Out on the road all was well apart from some confusion owing to the radio not relaying instructions from the examiner clearly. It was an absolute thrill to open the taps and get up to 55 mph on Middlewich Road Absolutely loved it can't wait to try again.

I have my theory booked for this Wednesday. Again looking forward to getting that out of the way so I needn't worry about it in the future. I passed my car theory test easily so I am expecting this to be about the same level of difficulty. Feedback from online tests are positive.

I haven't secured money for a bike yet but have been searching extensively and set aside a rough date for when I should have enough cash to spare for a bike and associated kit. One of the examiners at the training yesterday mentioned he has a Honda CB 125 "Superdream" and Yamaha SR 125 that he will looking to sell for £300 and £400 respectively. Supposedly in good condition and will be MOT'd and serviced before sale. I have left my contact details with him and he'll be in touch in a few weeks as he is in no rush to sell the bikes.

Still I do not know whether I'll have a bike and gained enough experience to pass Mod 1 and 2 before the changes in Jan.

[Teflon-Mike]

[groovylee]

[Cyclingbiker]

Passed my theory yesterday at Stoke with 47/50 on multiple choice and 55/75 on the hazard perception. Not a brilliant score by any means but a pass is a pass in my eyes.

Looking forward to what lies ahead.

I still haven't got funding secured for a 125 but I have started saving a little and have a few ideas of what to get. Insurance still seems to be the big barrier with even cheap 2nd hand bikes giving me expensive premiums. E.G. (Yamaha SR125, 2000 reg, £500) F.C for £800. TPFT not much cheaper.

[kernow24]

[Cyclingbiker]

[J.M.]

[ThoughtContro...]

[wayne.p]