Top of the Mods - Our Top 12 Insurance-Friendly Modifications

Ever modded your bike and not declared it because of the cost?

(PRWEB) November 8, 2008 -- Well this week we take a look at the top 12 insurance-friendly modifications to show you the best way to "beat the broker" making for a cheaper bike insurance quote.

Sometimes you just can't help but want to stick that little bit extra on your bike. It may be that you simply want to change your bike's appearance, or it may be that you just want to boost the performance of your machine but don't want to be drained of your every last penny by your insurance company for doing it. Whether it's that end can you've wanted to buy, or those shock absorbers you want to add, or that paint job you wanted to get done, whatever takes your fancy. So you make that call to your ever-trusty insurance company and they do nothing but pipe up with their cries of "that'll increase your premium by £stupid amount" - Exactly what you didn't want to hear after you'd already fitted it all.

that'll increase your premium by £stupid amount

if you make your bike look pretty we won't charge you TOO much

Express Insurance have compiled a list of modifications you can make to your bike without having the worry of them sending your insurance bill through the roof.

The aptly entitled "Top of the Mods" is a top 12 list of those modifications you can make that won't have a disastrous affect on your bike insurance. So where do we start?

1 - End Can /After Market Exhausts
If your end can or after market exhaust is road legal you shouldn't have too much to worry about when it comes to ramping up your insurance costs. Although for something like a Dynojet Stage 1 you can expect to see maybe a 10-15% charge on to your policy.

2 - Paint Job
If you fancy a change of appearance, perhaps you'd like to turn your bike from your standard to a race-replica. One way is to do it is to get your paint job done. Maybe your bike needs a re-spray, but you opt for the non-standard. Again, this shouldn't cause your insurance to hit the roof.

3 - Power Commander / Dynojet Kit
A tidy bit of kit used to smooth out fuelling providing you with a nice little piece of fine tuning for your machine. Although this may be subject to an extra charge (approx. 15%) onto your policy it's not necessarily as much as you'd think.

4 - Braided Brake Hoses
Replacement brake hoses that improve your braking efficiency no-end. Ideal for when that idiot driver pulls out in front of you and you need to slam on the brakes. It shows the insurers that you're going that extra mile to ensure safety on the road.

5 - Crash Bungs
Quite a handy mod to have as it probably means your claim would be significantly reduced in the event of an accident. Sticking these little rubber bungs on your bike would show insurers that you're quite sensible really, and is why it shouldn't whack a load on your policy. Safety first!

6 - Shock Absorbers
These do exactly what it says on the tin, giving you that little extra on your suspension. Absorbing shocks and reducing wear and tear, elongating the life of your bike and raising your profile with insurers further. Thus this mod won't have a disastrous affect on your premium.

7 - Hugger
This rear wheel mudguard protects the shock absorber and is designed to extend the life of your shocks. A handy modification to have, if you get the shocks done it only makes sense to protect them, especially if it isn't going to break the bank.

8 - Air filter
Whether it's a replacement or upgrade, getting a new air filter for your bike won't have the insurance companies prying your wallet open for more dosh.

9 - Steering Damper
This helps improve the stability of your bike at high speeds. However, the common belief is that if you're travelling at speed you heighten the likelihood of an accident. This mod counteracts this trail of thought in that it essentially promotes safety at speed and thus notches up a few brownie points with the insurers.

10 - Belly Pan
This simple plastic cover protects the engine and helps to prevent any corrosion to it. Obviously the insurers shouldn't punish you for looking after your bike and in this instance they won't!

11 - Double Bubble Screen
With the additional bubble in the screen the air is pushed upwards over the bike and reduces the amount of turbulence you'd experience with your standard screen. Voila! An even safer bike than before as it steadies the ride of your machine - that's what the insurers like to hear!

12 - Scottoiler
A scottoiler helps prevent any wear and tear you'd expect to experience on your chain. Again, this is a great sign of you looking after your pride and joy to ensure nothing goes unexpectedly wrong and if anything, reduce the chance of anything unfortunate happening.

So there you have it, the "Top of the Mods" - our guide to the insurance-friendly modifications and they aren't all just your typical, "if you make your bike look pretty we won't charge you TOO much", because there are a lot of performance enhancing modifications you can do that won't break the bank too. Let's face it; you don't want to hand over the entire contents of your bank account to your insurance company unnecessarily!

Remember if you have modded your bike, you don't need to run and hide from your insurance company - especially if the mods you are making, or have made, create an overall safer ride and looked-after motorcycle. By declaring the modifications you have made you're not only ensuring that you are covered in the event of a claim you could raise your profile with your insurers and actually save a few quid in the process - getting the cheapest bike insurance deal possible in the future. Even if you're thinking about making any modifications, it's always to best to find out how much it will affect your insurance BEFORE making them.

The Expert's View
Mark Copper, Head of Bikes at Express Insurance, was on hand to provide his expert view on our top 12. "We deal with mods on a daily basis and work very closely with a wide range of insurers, utilising the rates and relationships we have with them. We are able to deal with all of the mods on this list without you having to pay over the odds. This applies to any combination of the above mods (with the exception of the power commander/Dynojet). So if you want to stick on some shocks, hugger, air filter, and a double bubble you won't see any increase in premium.

I've got an Akrapovic end can, double bubble, and a power commander/Dynojet on my ZX12 and I was only charged a 10% load for the Dynojet. Without the Dynojet my premium wouldn't have changed at all!

As long as you aren't going over the top on your mods, you shouldn't see a severe increase or in a lot of cases any increase in your premium at all."

For more information on motorcycle insurance, visit http://www.expressinsurance.co.uk/web/bike_insurance.html.

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