Dear Mr Suzuki,please stop scaring the insurance companies

[Wos]

Seems to me that the narrow minded Bean counters down at the insurance companies think that anything with plastic on it has to be a sport bike, or in the case of the big Vee a super sport, whatever that is.
My VL800 suzuki cruiser didn't seem to scare them (even though it's poor brakes and it's half acre U-turn certainly gave me a few moments).
Please build us a bike without the plastic (it must scare them to much) and maybe include a picture of a fat, balding old geezer (no offense old grey hair dudes listening) wearing nothing more than a doo rag for protection. If a piece of cotton is all you need on your head it must be safe then right? Maybe then we could afford to insure these machines which would then make them more popular which would cause more people to buy from your fine company.

[Bisbonian]

Maybe you should check around for insurance quotes. Perhaps it's different in the Great White North but I find my insurance rates to be quite agreeable, I'm locked in around $200/year for full coverage on my Vee.

[dtalk]

I'm locked in around $200/year for full coverage on my Vee.

Who is the insurer?

Progressive wants nearly $1k/yr for my '08 Wee in Seattle. And that's with a squeaky clean record and excellent credit. Uh, yeah, I'm shopping around.

[Wos]

my insurer was the personal. finally got coverage from Jevco but the point I'm trying to make is that most insurance companies are very ignorant about motorcycles and make judgement calls on first view only.

[av8or]

mines 400 and change for full coverage on my v, no accidents or tickets, group reduction for also having car and house with state farm

[Jstrom]

mines 400 and change for full coverage on my v, no accidents or tickets, group reduction for also having car and house with state farm
Same here. $468.00/year. '07 Wee, lousy credit, 9 points with group rate for the car and truck.

[wsikorski]

$575 here in Jersey for full coverage.

[av8or]

forgot to suffix that i'm in NY and in my late 30's, insurance is kooky here, haven't shopped around though

[Muttley]

Couple years ago I was going to buy an SV650 - plain vanilla, tubular bars, no fairing, etc. Another option was a Harley 883.
I checked insurance prices for full coverage with three or four companies.
In each case, the SV650 was going to cost $700 / year... the Harley, $120/year.
Of course I bought the Sportster. My insurance ended up being $105 for full coverage!

[rfulcher]

I have Geico in South Carolina, with 3 bikes an FJR, SV650, and a Wee. My wife and I have good records and have taken the MSF course. I think we pay around 1000 a year for full coverage. Price varies greatly from one insurer to another.

[Vee4Me]

I Progressive and pay $440 a year for full coverage on a 08 Vee. Will no black marks and excellent credit. The first year I did play about $640 and then when it renew it dropped by $200. I guess not tickets or accidents in that first year payed off :-)

[BadTrainDriver]

36/Married/Erie Insurance/bike, 2 cars, and Condo w/ them, $240 a year w/ $500 deductibles across the board, towing and trip interruption included.

Shop around!!!

BTD.

[sk8rlee]

Just renewed mine a few weeks ago, $464.00 with Progressive for full coverage on the Wee and the CB. Last time I paid before getting the Wee (last year) it was right about $100 for the Honda so that would be around $360 for the Wee. 36, single, clean record.

[rjsurfer]

Mine can't be to bad, I don't even know what I spend for my Wee inurance:confused:

Ron W.

[FireDog45]

http://www.markelinsuresfun.com/Motorcycle/Pages/default.aspx

$158 / year $500 deductible 24/7/365 w/ roadside assistance on an '02 Vee.

Married / 45yo / no violations.

These guys were at least half of everyone I called (even the company that insures my house and cars).

[bwringer]

It's worth noting that the OP is in Canada, which is a different country and everything from most of the replies here. Insurance is stupid expensive in Canada.

With that said, the points about shopping around are valid, and yeah, sometimes the insurance classifications are pretty random.

It wouldn't surprise me at all if Strom insurance costs a little more simply because we probably ride 10X more miles than the fair weather cruiser pirates.

[john sarver]

I have used bikeline for the last 10 yrs. me 03 VEE is 207.00---full coverage year round, no layup recovery & trip interuption included. I get a discount for being a MSF instructor but it ain't that much. Also I haven't had an accident or a citation------- since Christ was a child-----may matter may not----
John :biggrinjester:

[dancer]

For maximum liability coverage only (with uninsured motorist also), my wife's '02 Honda VT-600 is $102 and my '06 Vee is $168 annually with Progressive through an independent agent.

[Chewy]

Also I haven't had an accident or a citation------- since Christ was a child-----may matter may not----
John :biggrinjester:

That confirms my suspicions about your age, John! :jawdrop:

My 2008 CBR 1000RR is about $50.00 more a year than my DL-650 for full coverage. I would think that the Honda would be much more because it has almost three times the HP and costs twice as much as the Strom.

Here the Strom is unfairly placed in the "Sportbike" category by my current insurance company. Insurance varies tremendously from state to state. :confused:

[GRS1959]

$155/yr for full coverage on my 650 through American Modern (http://www.amig.com/motorcycle.html)

[PTRider]

Safeco Insurance Company of Illinois (related but somehow different from Safeco of America) rates my 2004 DL650 as a Sport Bike #1 and covers it for $169 per year with coverage for everything except uninsured bodily injury (my health insurance covers that) and with $500 deductibles for comp & collision. That is with five assorted discounts from Safeco, good driving record, and good credit score (what difference does that make except an excuse to charge some folks higher rates???).

In all cases, shop around for insurance. With a list of the lowest prices, check to see if any have a consistently hard time paying off good claims. "Consumer Reports" has some info. Check with your state insurance commissioner's office.

For maximum liability coverageConsider an umbrella liability policy (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Umbrella_insurance). It sets minimums for your home and vehicle liability coverage (probably below what you're already buying) and covers your liability above that in increments of one million dollars. The price is usually very affordable. I feel that one should have umbrella coverage equal to about twice your non-retirement assets. IRAs and 401(k)s and other qualified retirement accounts are usually well protected under state law...check in your state.

It's worth noting that the OP is in Canada, which is a different country and everything from most of the replies here. Insurance is stupid expensive in Canada.A friend was involved in an attempted insurance scam in B.C. A car stopped very short in front of him, his car just touched that one with the only damage a broken license plate frame. Three people came out of that car holding their necks. Another car stopped and the woman jumped out, saying, "I'm the witness," (really, that's what she said), and his bullshit detector jumped into the red zone. He started taking pictures and got out a notebook for names and addresses and statements. They said not to bother with all that. He insisted that they drive directly to a medical clinic, and they split. When he tried to complain to the police, he was told to take everything to the insurance company. Total insurance scam, and the honest people pay and pay and pay.

[vstroms.com]

You should be In my shoes I own a Fleet of 650's the Insurance will shock you!
Doug
www.vstroms.com

[Basso]

Seems to me that the narrow minded Bean counters down at the insurance companies think that anything with plastic on it has to be a sport bike, or in the case of the big Vee a super sport, whatever that is.

Heh...I am one of those "narrow minded Bean counters." Vee's are dual sports or sport bikes. Sport bikes by characteristics, dual sports by experience results. Even HLDI considers the Vee a dual sport. I think you need to find better bean counters. :thumbup:

[Yak]

In BC the V Strom is not on "the list". The list contains the Busa, GSXR, etc. That is with our Crown Corporation insurance company and they aren't working for NASA, if ya know what I mean.

[Strom Chaser]

You should be In my shoes I own a Fleet of 650's the Insurance will shock you!
Doug
www.vstroms.com

Yea, but you surely just pass that cost on to your customers right?

[seawolf06]

Yea, but you surely just pass that cost on to your customers right?

Mandatory insurance is $15 a day - Yep

I have Progressive here in the US and it's $500/yr with full coverage. I called Geico and they wanted $800. :yikes:

[jdfoster]

I'm surprised nobody in this thread has mentioned what I've found to be one of if not the biggest variables in motorcycle insurance: time as a licensed motorcycle driver.

As a 30-something recently changing bikes and carriers, I've been quoting insurance a lot lately. Most carriers ask, separately from your normal drivers licensing, how long you've been certified on a motorcycle. After accidentally quoting one as a green rider and nearly going into cardiac arrest at the price:yikes:, I can attest that if you've only had a motorcycle license a few years (even with a clean automobile license for many years), your rate will be through the roof. I played around with a few online quotes just changing this variable and it can make a 4x increase or more, everything else being equal.

Today's lesson: get your motorcycle license early, even if you don't plan on riding anytime soon. Your insurance rates will appreciate it if you ever decide to hit the road on 2 wheels.