Hi, asking for a friend... genuinely Im 60 but my mate is 75, been riding for 50 years on big bikes. He's having problems with getting insurance since he turned 75, has BMW GS1400 just now and paying through the nose for insurance. He's about to press the button on a new 1250 RT and will have to go through the insurance bit again. I advised hm to have a look at the Triumph range but as they now dont do a tourer / sports tourer the choice is imited. He does like the GS's so could be interested in a Trophy 1200 if the insurance was favourable.... How does Triumph Insurance treat the older gentleman?
Where does he get his quotes? I know I'm only 71, and ride a smaller bike, but Confused.com is still providing plenty of very reasonable quotes, from a variety of companies including mainstream names like Bennetts, Carole Nash etc. Might be worth a try, or maybe he's done that already!!
Not sure where he has tried but will have done some on-line quotes, first sign was when dealer couldn't give him a coutesy bike... they couldnt (wouldn't) get it insured? Were both riding similar bikes and he's paying about £600 pound more than me!!! Was wondering if any specialist insurers do over 75.... he managed to get insured last tme but at a stupid price...
is it perhaps a custom bike that is costing him an awful lot of money for insurance? BMW don’t make a 1400 GS. If it’s a one off build this is quite possibly the reason it is expensive.
Well spotted Glen, its a GS1300.... I think the higher premium may be affected by the value of the bike as well, think it was £24k new !!! but even so, lots of new bikes are around that now.....
How does he shop for insurance.....has he a clear record.....any recent tickets or claims. So many people stay with the same insurance company each year....CRAZY. I am also in the UK.....I will only get price via the likes of Compare The Market. My 2020 900cc Bonnie T100 is £96....I am 71....never made a claim in my life....never ever had a ticket....I know hard to believe.....more so when I say I drove for a living......on the roads all day long.
He has aways shopped around, like most of us.. did have a write off a while back but sure that was over 5 years ago (pre covid) no points on his licence. just seems to have hit a ramp as he turned 75? tried googing but not much info there, but seen this
I guess any 75 year old riding a £24k 1300cc bike with a bit of claims history is going to be seen as 'high risk'. Like nickjaxe I pay around £100 for fully comp/5,000 miles for my new £5,000/400cc bike but 9+ years no claims, secure garage storage at home, living in a country village here in Scotland and no commuting or pillion cover probably helps. Plus it is a small, cheap bike!! Of course that could all change in 4 years when I reach your friends magic number!
I think the problem is tipping into the 75+ bracket as far as insurance is concerned and far less about the bike itself. For me the best bet would be to find a good insurance broker and let them do the legwork
I’ve a mate who is desperate to downsize to a new bike but he’s over 70 and Dealer insurance will not provide him with cover even for a short test ride.
I am now 76 and have just changed to a Speed 400, I had no trouble getting a test ride on one from Total Triumph, maybe it's because I have been dealing with them for many years, however when I tried the comparison sites I had only 4 quotes for the bike, I tried Bennetts and they advised that they do NOT insure anyone over 75. Carole Nash wouldn't provide cover even though I was already insured with them on the Honda CB500 I was selling. I eventually arranged cover with Hastings Direct who were most helpful and cover was only £126
The leader of a group that I ride with ( Fossil Riders ) has just turned 84 and can't get insurance for his Guzzi and has sold it and now meets up with us in his car, now that is a warning to all of us oldies, buy a classic and insure through Footman James who do good deals for classic bikes used for low mileages. ( so I am told )
