Thunderbird Commander Insurance problems

Yes, I had the same issue with my Commander (also applies to the LT).

I was with Hastings for my America and they wouldn't insure the Commander unless it was garaged. If I had bought the 1600 there would have been no issues but I was told by a couple of companies that the Commander and LT are seen as premium models and designated as high risk in terms of theft so the premiums reflect that.

Triumph gave me a quote but it was so expensive it was a joke (then again that's not unusual as the quote they gave me for my America was 3 times the premium I paid to Hastings!)

Every quote I got was expensive and I ended up with Motorcycle Direct. Still 4 times what I was paying for the America and with a large excess but the cheapest by far of all the companies I contacted. All of them wanted the bike to be garaged but Motorcycle Direct accepted a big chain and a ground anchor.

Remember this is for a bloke who is over 60 and been riding for 40 years with no claims!

I've no idea why the bikes are loaded so heavily. Perhaps when the Commander and LT are no longer "new" models the premiums might return to realistic levels (was that a pig coming in to land?)

In terms of the bhp the 1600 is 86 and the 1700 Commander is 94 according to the specs. As far as I can see there are no Commanders at 85.

 

Who/Where have you tried looking/calling?

 

Dunno about the OP but I did the comparison websites and canvassed mates for who they use. The personal recommendations were a waste of time in the end. They mostly gave me the same answer as the OP got "they'd check their underwriter" (one wouldn't insure the bike without it being garaged and one made it clear they didn't want my business by quoting over £800). Two others never got back to me.

 

Have you tried Principal? They kept coming up on the comparison sites when I started to try and get rough ideas for mine (although in the end just swapped it over on my current policy for now). I think they are on MCN Compare and Confused - not sure about the others though.

They seem to be very aggressive in the market at the moment (run by a former Carole Nash exec).

 

Mines not due for another 6 months but I'll bear it mind, thanks.