There have been a number of motorbike insurance increases and these are due, says insurance giant Aviva, to more motorcyclists carrying pillion passengers.

Aviva says that the motorbike insurance increases are coming as a direct result of more claims by pillion passengers against the motorcyclist. The insurance leader reckons that there has been a 57% increase in bodily injury claims against motorcyclists since 2005.

And the motorbike insurance increases of around 51% in the same period, can be directly attributed say Aviva to the more litigious nature of motorcycle passengers.

As Aviva point out, the number of motorcycle accidents in the UK is still a major worry for the authorities, road safety groups and police force, another major factor behind the recent motorbike insurance increases. Motorcyclists account for nearly 35% of deaths on UK roads, yet only account for 1% of the overall traffic.

Aviva motoring expert Nigel Bartram, said:
“These are certainly sobering statistics. We believe that the upturn in bike claims, particularly bodily injury claims, is a consequence of more riders opting to carry pillion passengers. Congestion and fuel costs are certainly issues of concern for all motorists, so taking the bike out rather than the car can save on time and money.

“However, carrying a passenger can affect the way a bike handles in relation to stopping distance, cornering and steering, so we are advising riders to take extra care, and to seek expert help if not completely confident.
“Now that summer is here more bikers will be taking to the roads. We are trying to raise awareness that, whilst biking can be a liberating and extremely enjoyable experience, it is still a vulnerable activity that requires acute awareness of risks and hazards that are associated with travelling on two wheels.”

A medical expert added his opinion. Team manager for Casualty Reduction at Norfolk County Council, Iain Temperton, said:
“It is a sad fact that a large proportion of rider fatalities in Norfolk are caused by rider error. Carrying a passenger can make the challenge of riding a bike more difficult and I would urge all riders to take any opportunity to enhance their skills. Courses are available via local Constabularies or local authority Road Safety teams.”

Aviva Insurance advise that all motorcyclists should make key checks before they opt to take pillion passengers out on the road.

These include making sure that the passenger is using a satisfactory helmet and clothing. The motorcyclist has a crash helmet which is a British Standards approved model and wears clothing that is safe and protective on a motorcycle. Secondly, that the motorcyclist ensures that their bike is equipped to take a pillion passenger safely, and that it is set in terms of suspension, tyres and mirrors, and other vital adjustments.

Because only when the statistics improve, will motorbike insurance increases slowdown.

Guest Article by Neil Camp

Are you looking for Harley or Ducati bike insurance? Perhaps you own a Piaggio scooter and need to find the best and cheapest bike insurance possible. Whichever motorbike you own the below top bike insurance tips will hopefully help you find the best deal and reduce your premiums.

Cheapest Bike Insurance Cover

1. Many bike insurance providers offer optional extras such as legal expenses, breakdown cover and a courtesy car, which is useful if you have a crash. You could opt out of purchasing these optional extras to keep your premiums down. But you should first carefully consider the consequences before making your decision.

2. It’s common knowledge that adding performance enhancing modifications to a bike can dramatically increase the cost of bike insurance, especially if you own an already powerful bike like a Ducati 1198 or a Yamaha YZF R1. However, it is also important to know that any modifications even if they are cosmetic can considerably increase the cost of cover. If your bike does have any modifications always inform your insurance provider. This will ensure your bike is fully covered and reduce the risk that any claims will be made invalid due to non-disclosure.

3. Many people every year are literally throwing money away, why? Because they don’t bother to compare bike insurance quotes to get the best deal. Even though your insurance provider may have reduced your premiums this does not mean you are getting the best deal on the market. When your policy is up for renewal have a look around and get a few quotes. It doesn’t matter whether you are looking for Ducati bike insurance for an 1198 or cover for a second hand scooter, you can still save money.

4. When you first start riding it can be tempting to buy the most expensive and powerful bike you can afford. But in the beginning you can save lots of money if you purchase a older less powerful bike. Once you have a couple of year riding experience and no claims under your belt you can buy a more expensive machine.

5. If you do buy a cheaper bike which isn’t worth that much you could consider buying third party only bike insurance. Fully comprehensive insurance is often more expensive, so you could save by going for third party fire and theft. However this does mean reducing your cover.

6. Most bike insurers allow you to ride in the EU for up to 90 days every year. If you do intend on riding abroad you should discuss what precautions you can take in terms of security to keep your premiums low.

7. Ducati bike insurance is expensive and this is the case for many desirable makes and models. There are many approved alarms and immobilisers which can help reduce the cost of bike insurance. Thatcham is one alarm make which can help you to save 10%. It can be well worth the extra investment over the long term.

8. In some cases you can save a considerable amount on bike insurance if you ride less than 3,000 miles a year, particularly if it is only for social reasons. Before taking out bike insurance carefully consider how much you will use your bike, you could save quite a lot of cash.

9. If you have a garage or back garden make sure you inform your provider of where you intend on keeping it. Insurance providers base the amount you pay for your bike insurance on risk assessment the less risky you appear to be the less you pay. So any precautions you can take could help.

10. Depending on what type of bike you own whether it is a classic Harley Davidson motorbike or a brand new Ducati superbike using a specialist bike insurance provider can help you save. To compare UK bike insurance quotes from all the top providers use Buyability’s insurance comparison tool.

Guest Article by Carlan Li

If you have recently taken out Ducati bike insurance or cover for any other bike you will be aware of the risks involved of riding a powerful motorbike. Of course most of us are careful but sometimes accidents do happen through no fault of your own. But in these unfortunate circumstances what can you do to ensure you are prepared and don’t risk complicating your bike insurance claim? The below helpful tips are usefull whether you are riding your motorbike in the UK or abroad. You could be riding a Harley Davidson or a Vespa scooter the dangers remain the same.

Always carry your insurance documents and license in a waterproof bag. If you do have an accident you will be able to exchange details and prove to police that you are fully covered and own the bike you are riding. This will help you avoid producers.

UK bike insurance claims can be complicated and in many instances disputes arise from who is actually at fault. In this situation it is imperative you take photographic evidence of the situation. Nowadays most mobile phones have cameras, so take some pictures of the positioning of your bike in comparison to the other vehicle and any relevant road signs and markings. If you can find any skid marks from the offending vehicle these are also useful.

You may be riding an expensive Ducati superbike or a less expensive scooter, in either case making sure you can actually claim against your motorbike insurance policy is crucial. Take down the other driver or riders full contact details and ask to see their driving license and insurance documentation, don’t forget to take down the make, colour and registration plate of the other vehicle. At this time you should also write down a full description of where and when the accident took place.

How to Make a Bike Insurance Claim

If you need to make a bike insurance claim your insurer will usually request that you report any incident within 7 days. At this time you should also notify the police of the accident. If a policeman happens to arrive at the scene make sure you take down their details including badge number and resident police station.

If you have any injuries go to the hospital immediately and obtain a record of your visit and the injuries treated. You should also obtain the details of the person who treated you.

Obtaining cheap bike insurance can obviously save you money but if you do not properly handle a situation after an accident you may not be able to make a claim. The severity of a crash can make bike insurance claims very complicated and it is advisable to seek qualified legal advice.

Guest Article by Carlan Li

When buying a second hand motorbike it does not matter whether it is a Ducati, BMW or a little Vespa you should be careful. In some cases people have bought motorbike insurance in the UK only for it to be invalid and have their bike taken away.

When you are looking over the bike try to look for serial numbers, if you can see some have been scratched off this is sign the bike could be stolen. If the bike does have a VIN or serial number on it you can check with your local police station to see if it has been reported. The best way to ensure a bike is not stolen is to check all paper work is in order. This includes service history, past MOT documents and V5 log book from the DVLA.

Criminals have many ways of concealing the true identity of a bike. One of which is called “Ringing”. This is where a stolen bike actually has the identity of another. If a criminal buys a Ducati all they have to do is buy a frame for an identical make from a breaker with a log book, they then buy a new number plate and transfer the VIN number from the legal frame on to the stolen bike.

The best way to spot if the bike is a Ringer is to check the VIN number on the bike, if it looks like it has been tampered with it is probably stolen. This is often overlooked as the owner apparently has a valid V5 document. In this is instance if you bought Ducati bike insurance for this vehicle and it was later found to be owned by someone else the police could take it away from you. As a result you would probably lose the money you paid for the bike and insurance cover. 

If you want to check if a bike is stolen you can compare the registration number with the tax disc if they are different the bike is probably stolen. If the engine number, VIN or MOT documents are missing this is another telling sign.

Nowadays you can conduct online data checks to see if a bike is stolen. If you are thinking about buying a second hand bike be vigilant and ensure you don’t buy it or bike insurance until you are absolutely satisfied the bike is not stolen.

Guest Article by Carlan LI

Below is a comprehensive guide to cheap Ducati bike insurance and where to get the best quote.

Ducati bike insurance has been around for as long as the motorbikes themselves. The Ducati is something most bikers will aspire to ride, they are the Ferrari of the motorbike world, the chocolate chips in vanilla ice cream and simply the must-have bike for serious speed freaks, which is why insurance for Ducati bikes is so essential.
Ducati bike insurance can be found at affordable prices if you know where to look and it is hugely important as statistics show that motorcyclists are around 30 times more likely to have an accident than car drivers.

Ducati is still going strong in 2010 and has seen many changes over the year but still retains its gnarly looks. The Monster accounts for around 50% of Ducati’s new worldwide sales and insurance for Ducati bikes is a must if you get one of these machines.

Cheap Ducati Bike Insurance

If you want to reduce the cost of your Ducati bike insurance over the long term and make big savings you could take a Bikesafe course, which can reduce your premiums by 10% and cost as little as £30.00.

The amount you use your Ducati motorbike and the miles you clock up over a year will affect the amount you pay for your Ducati bike insurance. Be as specific as possible and try to use your bike only for social purposes. Some insurers allow you to specify a single place of work which can help keep the price down.

Where you keep your bike at night can affect how much you pay for your Ducati bike insurance. If you have access to a garage, park your motorbike in there overnight to keep it safe.

When you get a Ducati bike insurance quote the amount you pay will be affected by what kind of security your bike is fitted with. You can fit for example an Oxford Hardcore Chain and padlock which costs around £45.00 and an Abletronics alarm for around £250.00 to help greatly reduce the cost of your cover. Fitting security obviously makes your bike harder steal so the more precautions you can take the better.

Your Ducati bike insurance should cover you against:

• Theft
• Damage
• Accidents
• Fire

Ideally you should take out comprehensive insurance to cover the cost of damage to your vehicle as well as the other vehicle. However you can usually obtain cheaper bike insurance if you take out third party fire and theft.

Ducati Bike Insurance Quote

You can use Buyability’s comparison tool to obtain cheap Ducati bike insurance quotes from many of the top insurers. It takes only a couple of minutes and displays the best quotes in an easy to read table with the most important cover features. You can then go on to buy if you find a quote you like.

A popular Ducati model is the 749 we used the below criteria and received 10 quotes within about 20 seconds.

• Make/Model: Ducati 749, 2004
• Purchased: Not bought yet
• Value: £9,600
• Use: Social & work
• Annual Mileage: 5,000
• Physical Security: Yes
• Alarm: Yes
• Type of Cover: Comprehensive
• Voluntary Excess: £250
• No Claims: 3 years

The cheapest Ducati bike insurance quote was from Swinton Bikes at only £644 for the year, with BikeSure coming second with £722.

Get a quick Ducati bike insurance quote now.