Just curious but does anyone actually say yes I have modded my bike to go as fast as poss when asked? If so what kind of impact has it had on your premiums and if not have you problems when making a claim. Just seen Tigs post but as nearly two years old will leave it up
I told mine about the mods on mine pipes airbox tune etc but they weren't too worried. Not for speed you see but for performance.
I have been told (but there is o truth to until the bill comes ) by members of Carole Nash Staff that the only thing that they care about when it comes to modding is Pure power or frame weakening. Handles, Exhaust, Saddles, fenders etc... They won't really charge your that. Everything falling the category "Aesthetics" isn't much interest for them. They just need to know and have agreed BEFORE a claim. Sometimes they might send a guy to have a look a the bike. Again, that's juste what some Carole Nash told me, on the phone. Can't give you a trust factor on that.
If the rider was claiming on his own insurance then that's fair comment but if someone bamboozled him and he was claiming of the other party then that's not fair.
"If the rider was claiming on his own insurance then that's fair comment but if someone bamboozled him and he was claiming of the other party then that's not fair." Trouble is, if you're Comp, you usually claim from you insurer and then they re-coup their outlay back from any relevant Third Party. Any non-disclosure (as it would be deemed) could lead to your policy being treated as invalid/voided......although if you are lucky they may just make a deduction from any payout for the non-disclosed items (presuming they would have still provided cover had they been disclosed at the start of the policy). Even I you were claiming straight from the Third Party's insurer, they would still be able to use similar excuses to reduce payouts should they see fit - technically you could be deemed to be riding with an invalid policy! On top of this, remember there are specialist insurers and schemes out there which will actually give a discount for mods.....some insurers see the 'investment' of time and sweat etc modifying a vehicle as likely to decrease your chances of making a claim, as you'll ride/drive more carefully than had you just 'bunged a load of money' on something standard to not really care about.......if that makes sense!
In all fairness is there really any unmodded bikes? Even a pair of heated grips or similar like extender fender, luggage rack are a mod in the eyes of an insurer so we all need specialist insurance really.
I think we all believe that insurance companies are our friends, helping us with our hobby. THEY ARE NOT !!! They are there to make money, not friendships. Any opportunity to screw more dosh out of you at the beginning, the middle and the end, they will take. To avoid disappointments we need to do our homework, declare everything, read all the small the print. But it does take time and effort.