Insurance for the London area

Ok, obviously not an event thing, but since my trouble is the postcode, I thought I'd ask here!

Basically, I need to lower the SV and am having difficulty finding an insurer who will both take the lowered bike on (most consider it a modification) and who will give me fully comp because of my SW20 postcode.

So the only people I have found so far who will cover me for both are Performance Direct, but they are wildly pricey at £908!!

Does anyone else have the same issues? If so, who are you insured with?

Thanks

Jo

[TSM]

bikesure
H&R

I personally would not bother saying about a lowering mod, if you lowered the forks as to make the bike level it would hardly be noticeable to see.

[G]

Damn I would hate to try and insure anything in london, not to mention the boring roads

Bikenet were qouting the cheapest when I was looking to renew last week, they seem fairly specialist and insure high risk because the main company specialise in vans.

Originally Posted by TSM

bikesure
H&R

I personally would not bother saying about a lowering mod, if you lowered the forks as to make the bike level it would hardly be noticeable to see.

Thanks. A lot of people have suggested that. I guess the trouble is that if anything were *touch wood* to happen, and if in the process of assessing the bike they were to discover the longer rods (or suspect it had been lowered - to me and others who are used to riding SVs, the difference is definitely noticeable when sitting on it!) then I am taking the risk that they might not pay out. In worse case scenario (say an incident involving someone else's personal injury), I might be deemed uninsured and not only have to pay out of my own pocket but also face criminal charges...

A lot of grief for the sake of a bit of hassle looking for an insurer now!

BikeSure did the Adrian Flux quote and due to my postcode, I was told that they would only offer third party as London postcodes have high theft risk, and my bike is parked on the drive with no gate or post to lock a chain onto...

Would it be possible to fit a ground anchor - and would that make any difference?

MCE? (check paperwork carefully, & check if you want miles/pillion/3rd party on other bikes etc)

Is the bike alarmed? That might help cut down costs a bit for the initial £300 outlay.

As for insurance companies I am currently with this lot: ramasis insurance. Might be worth phoning them up ( Yes, I know that is terribly old fashioned).

Bike is alarmed - Thatcham 1. I'll look at Ramasis, thanks. Not heard of them but worth a try!

Update: Been quoted by Express - still pretty hefty, but better at £717! Ramasis can't insure at my postcode if it's not garaged.

MCE are too expensive even without the problem of lowering the bike. I had to make a claim last October on a different bike and that's had quite a big impact...

Can't fit a ground anchor as I rent and the landlord (who lives upstairs and shares the bike parking space with me) doesn't want one put down... Grr

you tried the normal online ones http://www.thebikeinsurer.co.uk/

I'm with Bikesure.

But I got them through the Go Compare website - have you tried doing it that way?

My TPF&T cover is £170.

My bike is only valued at £950 - but it is a 600cc sports bike and I keep it on the street in an N8 postcode.

As for the lowering - in my experience, insurance companies want you to state 'performance enhancing mods' - surely lowering doesn't count for that?

Originally Posted by Cazza

I'm with Bikesure.

But I got them through the Go Compare website - have you tried doing it that way?

My TPF&T cover is £170.

My bike is only valued at £950 - but it is a 600cc sports bike and I keep it on the street in an N8 postcode.

As for the lowering - in my experience, insurance companies want you to state 'performance enhancing mods' - surely lowering doesn't count for that?

I thought it was more performance modifications. Which would be covered by lowered. Does anybody work in insurance around here? I am sure someone around here must know the exact details.