Insurance quotes: accessories and mods - advice?

[Freddyfruitba...]

Following a hefty claim in August (my fault; lost all my NCD), now that the payout's in and I'm more or less mended I'm getting another BMW R1200RS on Friday. Unsurprisingly, the insurance quotes are no joke, so I've been really shopping around trying to find a decent deal. I've obtained a load of online quotes from the usual suspects (Confused, Bikeinsurer, MoneySupermarket, GoCompare, BikeSure and Carole Nash so far!), and with most of them, it's as clear as mud what to do about accessories and modifications. I know I'll need to get on the phone eventually, but would like to whittle down my shortlist online first.

Thing is, I'll have a bunch of extras to fit, removed from my trashed RS (it had a lot of them, many of which, having bought it 2nd hand I didn't actually realise at the time were extras); eg bar risers, crash bars, Mudsling hugger thingy, Crudcatcher, radiator guard, Fuzeblock fusepanel, DRLs, Stebel horn, auxiliary power sockets; not to mention luggage including OEM BMW topcase and panniers (with liners); satnav, tankbag...

I haven't resorted to phoning insurers yet, but so far the majority just ask for 'Value of motorcycle' (without specifying whether this includes any extras or not - presumably 'not'). One insurer let me add a maximum of just three extras from dropdowns before it maxed out; I picked "crashbars", "handlebar modifications", and "luggage", and was consequently quoted an extra £30 premium, but with no indication of how much extra ££ cover that got me.

I realise there are two potentially conflicting issues here - first, a legal need to declare anything and everything to your insurer so they can't deny a future claim by saying that an accident was the result of my modified handlebars or tankpad; and second, a personal decision as to whether to ensure all my expensive add-ons are covered in the event of total loss.

It would be good to hear how others approach this...
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KC100->CB100N->CB250RS--------->DL650AL2->R1200RS->R1250RS

[Freddyfruitba...]

[Sister Sledge]

I dunno so I stayed quiet!

Is there not an insurance person here??
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CCM 404 DS

[Freddyfruitba...]

[Amber Phoenix]

My understanding was that you're damned if you do, and damned if you don't. House always wins.

Got to declare them all, otherwise you're just giving them currency to wiggle out of a later claim and leave you shafted.
As soon as you declare them, expect a hike in insurance cause it makes it more desirable (yeah heated grips do just that...), adds performance (sure a new end can make it much faster...), greater fire risk (cause 'm stupid and can't wire a satnav to battery properly...) and other such excuses for insurance firms to charge extra. But definitely don't expect any cover for mods. Future claims will only cover cost of stock vanilla bike. Cover for extras is usually an extra insurance premium on top... yeah- go figure...

And once you have declared your mods, make sure you mention them on all future policies, because they'll be on the system and they'll know!

Of course, if you buy the bike brand new and pick a certain version with special letters on end that gives you a bunch of extras as standard - are these mods you need to declare? But what if you add the very same mods yourself a week after buying the stock model? The difference being?
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Beginner Biker Adventures Blog
Yamaha FZ6 S2 2007

[duhawkz]

It's going to be a case of rtfm or calling the insurer. Some insurers have a list of permissable mods, things that everyone fits that don't really alter the risk, tank pads, air filters, stuff like that. If its one of those then you don't need to tell them as they are automatically accepted.

Others have mods which you need to tell them about but it doesn't alter the premium and they're automatically accepted, the tow bar on my last car for instance.

But as I say it will depend on the insurer.
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"The guy is a worthless cunt and I honestly believe I would be a slightly happier person if he died." - Chris-Red

[recman]

Can you ring around and ask hypothetical questions like, I want to fit some SP cans on my Street Triple, will my premium increase?
Say, before you give any personal information?

[chickenstrip]

Don't tell them anything they don't need to know!
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[recman]

[chickenstrip]

[sickpup]

Helps to have a tame broker to help.
The broker I use isn't the cheapest but I list the mods on my bikes and he doesn't increase the premium at all.

[BLB_Rich]

Not a legal/insurance expert, but I go with Carole Nash.

They are pretty open the insurance providers who actually do the policy nearly always accept mods on my bikes, whichever one I've had at the time. I had a large insurance repair job in 2015 on a CBR & I forgot to disclose the slip on, but they still paid out for repairs.

I'm 27, 2 yrs NCD & my FZ6 S2 (100hp) has "cosmetic end cans, like for like Renthal handlebar replacements". TBH they're performance exhausts & flat drag bars but don't really look/feel that different to OEM.

I'd do some shopping around with hypothetical mods on the bike using different providers.

[AdamEf]

Bennets have a long list of things you don't need to declare and then about 3 options for things you do want to add on. Worth a look.