Modifications...

[Greg]

Well, we've probably all by now seen or heard about the latest scare stories in MCN about undeclared mods...

I wonder how this could affect any of is - indeed that it will affect all of us at some stage given that we love to tinker and fiddle (with bikes that is.. )

It seems as though insurance companies are requiring that any mod is declarable, but my fear is that by declaring the mods I've done all I'll be doing is opening a nasty little can of worms. The downside is of course that there's a possibility that in the event of the worst case scenario actually happening I'll find myself without insurance ..

I hope I'm not talking out of turn, but I recall Pete saying that he'd declared his mods to his insurer - that being the case did it have any significant impact on your premium Pete?

Where does the line get drawn as well? I can understand performance enhancements items like FCRs and Pipes etc., but what about chassis mods like my front end? MCN were saying that even using non OE tyres could be construed as a 'modification', although Bennetts refused to be drawn on this particular issue...

I can see this becoming a mighty pain in the arse and just another way for insurers to decline to issue policies.

G

[burty]

I've declared all my mods on my TRX to my insurance company (Ebike)

But it's a dual bike policy the primary cost of which is dictated by the Tuono (also modified).

In the past my ZRX1200 was insured with Carole nash and the only mod was a full exhaust (non-road legal). I declared that at the insurance time and was told it didn't affect the premium but did limit the number of insurance companies that would quote (so it could affect the premium of course).

In my view the MCN story smacks of stirring. The person concerned did have a number of undeclared mods. The full detail of which is not disclosed but the way the story is written by MCN implies that they are trivial but who knows really? When questioned, the insurance company stated that it "will not rule out" rejecting claims due to minor mods, but then is it reasonable to expect them to say otherwise?

[youngy]

My insurance renewal just came up.

The only mod I had declared previously was the Akrapovic pipe - just hadn't got round to telling them about the rest.

So I declared all the mods for renewal. Made no difference to the price, down to the penny. So there's no point in not telling.

[phuk72]

Yep - always have disclosed everything

Some insurers are funny but most are OK - if you have an ebike policy and do it on line you get the option to disclose everything.

A few years ago, my insurance was cheaper than a standard TRX because it was insured as a custom!

[gregs656]

probably MCN hyping it up beyond belief - the fella probably had nos or somthing ridiculous.

saying that i did declare all the mods on my 125 - didn't make any difference but they didn't offer any huge power gains either

[youngy]

Rant mode on:

MCN said non OE tyres could be a mod? What a bunch of c***s.

Anyone have a stockpile of Mac 90s?

And the same on cars of course - so that's all the high street tyre places out of business then. And replacement exhausts too - Bosal will be bust overnight.

What about a tank pad? Or floor mats in cars?

Huge pile of bollocks that they've spouted in the past. They truly are total w@nkers. I am so glad I don't waste my hard-earned on their toilet paper.

Rant mode off.

[earywig]

Huge pile of bollocks that they've spouted in the past. They truly are total w@nkers. I am so glad I don't waste my hard-earned on their toilet paper.

My sentiments entirely, MCN reminds me of the worst excesses of tabloid jounalism, a bit like Rupert Murdoch's 'quality' publications.

[Quan-Time]

much of the "hype" that MCN prolly talked about would be thru conditional insurance..

Lets look at an example.. Say you have a stock standard CBR1000rr 04 model.. your 35yo and only had 2 speeding fines.. You also have car insurance and only had 1 accident over 5 years ago, it was your fault.

You have a full exhaust, inlet, chip (say a powercommander 3), brake upgrade (new braided lines and good quality pads) and nice sticky tyres that are 190 rather than the stock 180 rear.

You would get insurance.

Now lets look at exactually the SAME conditons / bike / everything.. but make the owner 20. You would struggle to get full insurance..

You really need to look at your age and riding status. im 27, NEVER had a speeding fine and NEVER had an accident (that i caused, i hit a roo, but that was ignored by the insurance agency, lucky me). Im still a "hoon" cos im sub 31 (need 15 years experience so they say) i changed companies, not a problem and they took me on.. i pay $540 a year full comp, agreed value of like 6800$ (australian dollars) and declared SOME mods, not all..

Because my bike is so heavily modified now, i might not be able to be insured.. But most any accident, depending on how bad it was, i prolly wouldnt use it anyway.. since ive done all the work, i know what would need fixing, and if its even possible to fix.

PLUS my good mates own a bike shop, im sure we could work out a deal if needed. (we have done it before when i hit the roo, all 3 parties where happy with the deal.. me, bike shop, insurance agency).. so im positive it could be done again if need be..

anyway. it doesnt hurt to ask.. ring up "i want to insure a bike,, oh,, no i DONT have insurance with you, will you insure a bike with these mods ?" and list em.. if they DONT... could prove difficult.. if they DO, hang up, ring back, "yes i have insurance, i wanna change details".. bingo

[youngy]

I think you need to read the article Quan.

[Quan-Time]

we only got AMCN in australia, not MCN. I do subscribe to BIKE tho

AMCN ran an article a while ago about insurance, and now its littered with insurance advertisers on every 2nd page.. Prolly did it as a premotion / way to get more advertisers or something i guess..

[green96]

I just took out a policy with Swann insurance. I declared the exhaust and the blue spots. It did not make a difference to the price, but if you do not declare, there is every chance your mods wont be covered in case of an accident, you could be lumped with paying the difference compared to crappy OEM.

[phuk72]

I just took out a policy with Swann insurance. I declared the exhaust and the blue spots. It did not make a difference to the price, but if you do not declare, there is every chance your mods wont be covered in case of an accident, you could be lumped with paying the difference compared to crappy OEM.

That's not actually true. the policy can only be voided if it is proven that the modifications were somehopw material to the policy or contributed to teh accident.

[TonyDevil]

anything that was done to the bikes before they were registered in the UK is stock as far as i'm concerned
all of my bikes have some aftermarket parts, i have declared all mods that arent replaceable parts (brakelines/tyres etc).
it added £20 to my premium(£280tpf&t for 3 bikes), but that covers aftermarket parts value of £200 per bike on top of the book value

[Huw]

When I phoned Bennets about my TRX and they asked about modifications, I told them about the bars and headlamp and Microns, all they seemed interested in was how much these parts were valued, to which I replied no more than the stock parts. After a slight pause, they said they would have to talk to the underwriters and to hold the line, they must have been standing behind her because she was back very quickly The response was that there would be no difference to the premium but a note to my policy would be added about the mods.

[kookimonsta]

MCN = MORE CRAP THEN NEWS

I dont buy it just read the bosses one and i dont even read it.

i think alot of mods are down to the extra value added onto the bike. obviously big bores turbo etc im sure they would ask abit more.

just remember insurance companies will do anything to get out of paying a claim. if you have spent £xxx on mods surely you can affort 10/20% more ontop of your premium.