Equity Red Star - not interested in promoting rider safety

[Kalessin]

I registered for the BikeKraft Experience day at Silverstone and my confirmation arrived at the weekend, with the recommendation that attendees check their insurance cover.

My insurer, Equity Red Star told me today that I will not be covered for this rider safety course because it takes place at a private racetrack.

Never mind that the literature specifically states that this is not a track day.

Never mind that it's run by Police riders and IAM.

Never mind that it's designed to make me a safer rider, and presumably less likely to need to make an insurance claim.

So, unless I can take out a separate policy to cover the event, I won't be able to attend.

Bravo Equity Red Star, thanks for your support. When my policy's up for renewal, I'm going elsewhere.

In the meantime, anyone know where I can get a one-day policy to cover a safety course?

[SoulKiss]

I registered for the BikeKraft Experience day at Silverstone and my confirmation arrived at the weekend, with the recommendation that attendees check their insurance cover.

My insurer, Equity Red Star told me today that I will not be covered for this rider safety course because it takes place at a private racetrack.

Never mind that the literature specifically states that this is not a track day.

Never mind that it's run by Police riders and IAM.

Never mind that it's designed to make me a safer rider, and presumably less likely to need to make an insurance claim.

So, unless I can take out a separate policy to cover the event, I won't be able to attend.

Bravo Equity Red Star, thanks for your support. When my policy's up for renewal, I'm going elsewhere.

In the meantime, anyone know where I can get a one-day policy to cover a safety course?

Why can't you go?

You will be covered for the trip there and back, and while you are not covered on the track, you dont need insurance when on the track.

They just put a blanket ban on track-usage, makes it a whole lot easier for them, no need to investigate whether a certain claim happened on a certain day, and while there are police officers there to handle statements, its still a hassle to collect and collate that info.

Just dont drop the bike on the track......

[Kalessin]

Just dont drop the bike on the track......

You're talking to the guy who dropped his lid on the floor the other day!

Whilst I obviously intend to be careful on the track, I suspect that accidents are quite likely when trying to learn new skills.

[Sudoxe]

You're talking to the guy who dropped his lid on the floor the other day!

Whilst I obviously intend to be careful on the track, I suspect that accidents are quite likely when trying to learn new skills.

In which case you were riding past the circuit on your way to your aunts, and happened to hit a very large pot hole that has since been filled in...;)

[Paws]

Put your toys back in your pram, :rolleyes:its not a trackday!
ive done it (at silverstone) and trust me, its nothing like a trackday so i wouldnt worry about insurance cover, you'll be fine.Treacle on here came with me on his zx10 as did my mate on her zx6 and we came away having learnt something from it, you dont actually spend v much time on track, Hour at MAX!
I took my few months old daytona 675 and had a great day, its all about slow speed work and cornering, with workshops on drink/drug driving and causes of accidents.:riding:

[evonic]

I'm not sure why you thought they would cover you to ride in what is essentially track conditions. They have no control over what you were doing that would allow them to indemnify your behaviour, i.e. on public roads where you are governed by laws that they expect you to follow.

So how much do you think a policy to cover you against that would cost? Probably be about the same as replacing a scratched fairing - which you wouldn't really need to do :rolleyes:

[Kalessin]

I'm not sure why you thought they would cover you to ride in what is essentially track conditions.

Depends what you mean by "track conditions". If you mean going hell-for-leather round a track, knee down, etc., then no, of course not. However, I expect that it will emulate road conditions, but on a track for extra safety.

They have no control over what you were doing that would allow them to indemnify your behaviour, i.e. on public roads where you are governed by laws that they expect you to follow.

That's my point. They hear the word track and it's an instant "no, you're not covered." Forget the common sense aspect of encouraging their policy holders to improve their safety. And where is your riding likely to be safest, on a road on your own in the middle of nowhere, or on a slow-moving safety course under the watchful eye of a Police advanced rider? How much more "governed by the laws" could I be? :)

Probably be about the same as replacing a scratched fairing

Yes, assuming I only damage one bike. And it's starting to sound like I have very little faith in my own abilities, but that's not it; I have insurance for a reason. You can never guarantee what's going to happen next. Otherwise, why bother with fully comp?

[Gazza77]

Bravo Equity Red Star, thanks for your support. When my policy's up for renewal, I'm going elsewhere

I'd have thought that you would have the same issue with most insurers in that respect.... only cover for riding on a public highway.

[the_lone_wolf]

I'd have thought that you would have the same issue with most insurers in that respect.... only cover for riding on a public highway.
:winner:

can't think of any mainstream underwriter that'd cover you for any off-highway use...

[yorkie_chris]

Good question there... if you bin it on a track and take someone else off with you, are you liable?

[plowsie]

IMO its between yourselves to sort it. If I chuffed someone up on the inside but they were adamant they weren't giving in their spot and caused them to come off, **** it, your fault mate. If I was to come off because of this, I'd be ****ed.

If, I made a drastic maneuver (sp), unmakeable sort of thing and caused us both to come off, hand in pocket time Stu.

[SoulKiss]

If, I made a drastic maneuver (sp),

What, like turning the key and hitting the starter button.................. :p

[plowsie]

What, like turning the key and hitting the starter button.................. :p
No, cmon - putting my kit on is a pretty hasty manoeuvre!

:smt069:smt037

[SoulKiss]

No, cmon - putting my kit on is a pretty hasty manoeuvre!

:smt069:smt037

So its in the interests of not being hasty that you just ride in jeans and trainers....... :D

Well I guess leathers are expensive to repair, and boots expensive to replace when you run your foot over :p :bball:

[the_lone_wolf]

Good question there... if you bin it on a track and take someone else off with you, are you liable?

the generally accepted view is that all bets are off on the track

however, i do remember a year or two ago a big hoo ha with one guy trying to bring a damages claim against another rider who wiped him out, i suspect the moment the "blame and claim" culture infiltrates trackdays their days will be numbered:mad:

If something like this happened to me i'd be pretty ****ed off, i'm wary of going on a trackday unless i know the people there:

Skip to 0:30 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2KOvbllml9g)

[Spiderman]

...Whilst I obviously intend to be careful on the track, I suspect that accidents are quite likely when trying to learn new skills.

With police and IAM riders leading you on good lines thru bends you mean?
Teachin you to use throttle and gear controll and not always the brakes?
By teaching you to RIDE SAFELY in a safe environment?

Nah, not gonna happen dude. I only did my first trackday last year, a proper tarckday, and felt the same way you're doing now tbh. But then again my intention on the track was to push myself and the bike to the edges of our envelopes and that was always gonna be risky (reality was i never even got close to getting my knee down so was miles away from any real envelope pushing).

Turned out that even by following some of the super quick instructors' lines i actually discovered the fears were all in my head and the lines they showed me were far smoother and probably sfaer than what i'd been doing so far.

So the chances of you crashing while learning new safe riding skills are very few my friend. I'm sure the course organisers want it that way too. Nothing would be worse publicity for them really would it?

Go have fun and make sure you remember you're back on a road when you leave and its all the other traffic that screws up your otherwise faultless riding that you were displaying on te track. :D

[Kalessin]

I'd have thought that you would have the same issue with most insurers in that respect.... only cover for riding on a public highway.

Hmmm. That sounds logical, except that the tone of the BikeKraft literature seemed to imply that lack of cover was the exception, rather than the rule.

What happens if you crash in Sainsbury's car park?

[Ceri JC]

What happens if you crash in Sainsbury's car park?

I believe there was a change in legislation a few years back that extended the scope of "public highways" to include any area commonly accessible to the public, like car parks. I know people who've successfully claimed from others' insurance in car parks when they been bumped into, too.

Whilst I sympathise with the OP's reasoning, I agree with the others that unless it's a specialist "track day insurer" (some policies include coverage for x number of trackdays for an additional premium), no normal insurer will cover these sort of days being run off road.

[plowsie]

I believe there was a change in legislation a few years back that extended the scope of "public highways" to include any area commonly accessible to the public, like car parks. I know people who've successfully claimed from others' insurance in car parks when they been bumped into, too.

Whilst I sympathise with the OP's reasoning, I agree with the others that unless it's a specialist "track day insurer" (some policies include coverage for x number of trackdays for an additional premium), no normal insurer will cover these sort of days being run off road.
All I advise is not to bother trying to charge the company whose car park it is.

[Kalessin]

With police and IAM riders leading you on good lines thru bends you mean?
Teachin you to use throttle and gear controll and not always the brakes?
By teaching you to RIDE SAFELY in a safe environment?

Nah, not gonna happen dude.

Yeah, when you put it like that, I do seem a little paranoid, don't I?

Thanks to everyone who responded. :)