Riding other peoples bikes?

[Magnum]

Whats the law regarding riding other peoples bikes?
Such as a test ride, or borrowing it for a quick try out?
Obviously riding in accordance to your own licence, on an insured vehicle with tax etc.

[The Guru]

As long as your insured

[Magnum]

As long as your insured


Would i have to set up insurance with the owners insurance company to be able to ride it?

[pencil shavings]

mine gives me 3rd party cover on any bike I DONT OWN. you might well have that cover already. if you cant see it on your policy, give them a call, you might even get it for free :)

[Stig]

Would i have to set up insurance with the owners insurance company to be able to ride it?

You need to be very sure you are covered. There are a few companies out there who offer very cheap insurance. Bennetts being one of them. The clause is they do not insure you to ride any other bike.

If your policy covers you for other motorcycles it will normally be third party only. You will only be covered by your insurance if the bike you are wishing to ride is legally on the road. Tax, MOT (if required) and insured.

[dirtydog]

mine gives me 3rd party cover on any bike I DONT OWN.


Ditto for me. plus of course there is the you bend it, you mend it rule to remember as well

[Viney]

If you go for a test ride with a comapny, you 99% of the time have to sign a form, this is thier insurance, and you saying that in the event of an off during the ride, youa re liable for the excess (usually around a grand).

What Ape says is right. I have cheap insurance, but i can ride any other bike on a third party only basis. However, soething that i learnt recently (now that verna works in insurance) is that say numpty jumps on your bike and crashes into, say someones wall, then your insurance will actaully pay the 3rd party for the damage even though it wasnt you riding it! Your bike/car however is down to you!

[timwilky]

My certificate of insurance says :-


5. Persons or classes of person entitled to drive
blah blah
The policy holder
Under the terms of section ii of the policy - Liability to Third Parties. the policyholder may subject to the owners express consent also drive a Motorcycle not belonging to the Policyholder and not hired to the Policyholder under a hire purchase or lease agreement.




I take this to specifically state that I may ride others bikes under a U bend it U mend it agreement. Unless policies specifically state you are covered, do not assume it.

[Stig]

My certificate of insurance says :-


I take this to specifically state that I may ride others bikes under a U bend it U mend it agreement. Unless policies specifically state you are covered, do not assume it.

It does. But it also states only if that bike has not been hired by the person you are borrowing if from. So if your mate takes out a bike for a test ride, or it is a loan bike, your insurance would not cover you riding it.

[dunc1999]

I was insured with E-bike last year and they defo do not cover you 3rd party when riding other bikes!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[timwilky]

It does. But it also states only if that bike has not been hired by the person you are borrowing if from. So if your mate takes out a bike for a test ride, or it is a loan bike, your insurance would not cover you riding it.

correct, but under the first clause, requiring the owners express consent. The second clause would have given me cover as it would not belong to me and was not hired to me.

[timwilky]

I was insured with E-bike last year and they defo do not cover you 3rd party when riding other bikes!!!!!!!!!!!!!

correct, but they do allow you to add bikes to your policy that do not belong to you. that way you get full cover not just 3rd party when using a mates bike.

[diamond]

I've just changed insurance companies and finally i have cover that allows me to ride other bikes, now all i need to do is convince Fizz that his gixxer needs a little run out.

[Dave20046]

mine gives me 3rd party cover on any bike I DONT OWN. you might well have that cover already. if you cant see it on your policy, give them a call, you might even get it for free :)
Think that's another 21+ thing.

[Dave20046]

I'm definitely not allowed which is ****ing annoying because I've got some lovely bikes to choose from if I was.

[pencil shavings]

Think that's another 21+ thing.

being old does have some perks then!! :D

[Stig]

being old does have some perks then!! :D

Being really old has even more. :D

[custard]

check your policy, some will offer 3rd party cover on bikes you dont own as long as they are already insured.

[Graciepants]

there is a company that lets you take out day insurance for someone else's bike, or short term insurance, but for a bike you have to be over 30 and have held a licence for 5 years, car its 21.

[Stig]

check your policy, some will offer 3rd party cover on bikes you dont own as long as they are already insured.

I think you will find that is a prerequisite. If it were not already insured by someone else you would have to have your own insurance for it.

[Stig]

there is a company that lets you take out day insurance for someone else's bike, or short term insurance, but for a bike you have to be over 30 and have held a licence for 5 years, car its 21.

There are several companies that provide this service.

flexirider (http://flexirider.co.uk/?gclid=COOfu7_QrJkCFZiT3wodShqFIw)

[Paws]

The bike itself has to be insured and YOU the rider must have insurance that allows you to ride other bikes, and as other people have said the "you bend it, you mend it rule applies" hence why treacles bought all the bits for my sv and will be fixing her this weekend

[jimmy4237]

Always a handy thing to have on your insurance policy. I've always made it a point to have the facility on all my bikes (zx9r, sv1000s, and a divvy 600) on a group policy, as well as my car. You never know when you might have to pick up your mates bike from a garage, or take it for an MOT..

Plenty of times I've been up in Inverness visiting with the bike, and had to drive my cousins landrover discovery towing a huge horsebox around!!

As long as the other vehicle is insured, taxed and road legit, and you have the other's party's permission then it's fine. The general rule of you break it you mend it applies though, as it's it's only 3rd party cover!!! You just drive LOTS more carefully.

But more and more insurance companies are withdrawing it, as people just abuse the system. I.e - insure a crappy corsa, then go and drive dads bmw, or their mates hot hatch. You've to ask for the cover to be added. or they don't include it in your policy:smt070

[Swin]

I'm with Equity Red Star, and I have the 3rd party clause about riding another bike with the owners permission etc etc statement on mine.

[Milky Bar Kid]

I'm insured with e-Bike which as previously mentioned, don't cover other bikes BUT, my car insurance allows me to ride anyother motorcar or motorcycle for which I hold an applicable licence and is not hired to me or owned by me.......:D

[muffles]

Re: third party cover for other vehicles, most policies require the vehicle itself to be insured explicitly under a different policy, but it is dependent on the exact wording in your policy. Chances are you will have the clause, but some don't, and in fact some might have other clauses that you should be aware of.
Your policy document forms the basis of your contract so that's what matters.