Your Prized Possession and Classic Bike Insurance
For many motorcycle owners, riding is more than just a recreational activity, it’s a lifestyle. Riding represents freedom, friends and fun. It’s what fuels daydreams and fills weekends. Vintage or classic motorcycles are the pride and joy of their owners many of whom like to parade and demonstrate them at classic bike festivals or other outdoor events.
With classic motorbikes the insurance implications are different to those with standard bikes. Motorcycle Insurance companies will normally insist on certain criteria on which they base the cost of the annual bike insurance premium for your policy and will also dictate whether your bike falls into the classic bike category.
With classic bikes it is generally acknowledged that an ‘agreed value’ insurance policy is the most effective way to insure. One of the main benefits of an agreed value motorcycle insurance policy is that you have the value of your vehicle agreed at the start of the policy, meaning if you have to make a claim there can be no doubt about the motorcycles worth.
To obtain an agreed value policy, insurers will usually request a fully completed vehicle condition form and 4 coloured photographs of the vehicle.
Classic bike insurance packages are specifically created to give owners peace of mind that their prized possession is covered for every eventuality
Generally, classic bike insurance premiums are much more competitive than an average policy premium based on the market value of a bike and even though older vehicles are more prone to breakdown and repairs and parts for specialist and obsolete models can incur a major expense, other factors for the classic bike insurance criteria override these and essentially reduce the risk therefore reducing the price.
So what are the factors which meet the classic bike criteria and how does this allow reductions in the motorcycle insurance premium.
* The motorcycle must be at least twenty years old.
* The policy will have a limited mileage restriction. This usually ranges from 2000, to 3500 or 5000 miles per annum. Obviously the lower the mileage restriction on a motorbike policy, the lower the usage on a public highway reducing the risk of a road traffic accident.
* The policyholder must have the sole use of another vehicle for daily use again this reduces the amount the bike is actually used on the road.
* The motorcycle must be kept in a secure, locked garage at the home address when not in use. This will reduce the theft risk of the bike which reduces the cost of the bike insurance premium.
* The usage on the policy is restricted to social, domestic and pleasure use only excluding commuting again possibly reducing the amount of time the motorbike is on the road.
* Drivers on a classic bike policy must generally be over the age of 30 and must have held a full motorcycle driving licence for at least 2 or more years. This again ensures a better risk based on age and experience, thus making a bearing on the premium.
There are usually many benefits provided under a Classic motorcycle insurance policy that would not be normally included under a standard motorcycle policy.
This may be automatic cover for all club organised rallies, cover for the insured motorcycles spare and dismantled parts whilst stored in a locked garage or other secure premises and possibly free breakdown recovery in addition to the main benefit of an agreed value.
Policies usually have a minimal excess of 50.00 pounds for both accidental damage, fire and theft claims and generally exclude the riding other bikes clause. This is so riders do not take advantage of the competitive lower classic bike insurance premium to use a much higher rated bike.
Anna Stenning loves classic motorbikes, which is why the right classic bike insurance is crucial for her hobby. If you are a bike fanatic visit http://www.insureyourbike.com/
A Brief Historical Perspective On Suzuki Motorcycles
The Suzuki motor company was started and funded by Michio Suzuki. He had a very good business going before he started to invest in the motorcycle industry in 1920. Suzuki didn’t take to the top quick instead came to the top of the industry over time. There were a variety of bikes that had good success. Most of the people began to notice Suzuki after one of the bikes one the Mount Fuji climb in 1953.
In June of 1954, Suzuki started using a trademark symbol the “S” to their bikes. So after observing the motorcycle company for some time they put all their intelligence to use. When 1962 came around they were the Grand Prix championship holders. Suzuki then started selling their bikes in the United States in 1963. Since they first appeared in the United States they have come a long way from where they first stood over seas.
Suzuki first showed the X-6 hustler in 1966, this was the first street legal performance bike. Also at the time it was the fastest and best 250cc bike on the market. After the success of that bike they made another that was 500cc called the titan. Suzuki took everyone and everything by surprise when they made the GT750 in 1969. This kind of bike was a two stroke bike that could reach speeds of up to 110mph. This bike could go from zero to sixty in five seconds. Since their bikes seemed to be selling and grabbing attention they made a bigger bike that was called the RG500. The RG500 soon became the bike that was the best at the time to have.
Suzuki still went on to dominate over everyone through the 1970s, taking the World Motocross Championship in 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, and 1976. Their bikes were just faster and better; in 1976 they had some problems meeting regulation with their four stroke bike but soon got over the altercations and went on with it.
In 1982 with the XN85 they made history again with a new Suzuki model. This bike was a turbo charged bike that one many of the high profile races back then. The very first American to win the world championship did so with the XN85 in 1982. They also made another bike in 1986 called the GSX-R which was also a turbo charged bike; it was made of an aluminum frame which made it the lightest bike in its class at the time.
As to selling a lot of bikes they soon did well selling cruisers as well. The Boulevard model came in a variety of different models that the rider could choose from to however they needed or wanted to ride.
The way the model was made was so good that you could ride wherever you needed or wanted. This model still today is the best model being sold as it is being sold around 13,000 dollars. Every single one comes with a 12 month warranty that can be extended at any time. Suzuki today is still the best bike company that there is.
Gregg Hall is an author living with his 18 year old son in Jensen Beach, Florida. Find more about motorcycles as well as automotive care products at http://www.5starshine.com
How To Find Your Own Customized Motorcycle That Fits Your Style
Motorcycles are popular and are going to keep being popular on every road that you see today. You can find them in many different models and makes whichever you would like to have. Although finding exactly which kind of bike you may want can be hard you can find whatever kind you want for under $15,000 unless you want an insane custom bike.
Perhaps the most well known custom bike builder is Jesse James of the west coast choppers. Jesse James has loved everything about bikes since he was seven years old. Jesse has built bikes for a lot of celebrities with them ranging in price from $50,000 to $150,000.
Even though this is going to be a very expensive bike to buy you can still get a good bike like a custom from other makers for a good price. The first thing you want to ask yourself what do you need a custom bike for that you cant get from a regular retailer? If you just can’t find the color you want then you can just get the company to repaint it and have it met to your standards.
A lot of the time a person will want to have the bike custom to fit them and their needs. Just think of an example like a tall basketball player they probably will not fit on a stock bike so they will have to make simple and minor adjustments to fit them. The builder will just have to take measurements of the person so they can build the bike to size. Custom bikes are good if you have the extra money and want exactly what you want no matter how much it is.
If you want a custom bike but you can’t think of which make to buy from then just go online and look at the many different brands and models. Just keep in the back of your head that it can take a long time to get the bike you want especially if you want it custom.
When you are thinking about getting the bike you want it is good to do a little research about the maker just to see the feedback on the bike you want and what it has to offer. Just look up simple things like the Horsepower, how much they are price wise, just research them in general get to know the bikes you like.
Having your very own bike is good to have with spare money and time it can be a good hobby to have when you have a lot of free time. Having a custom bike will allow you to have exactly what you want. Having a bike that you like and that fits you will last you longer then a bike that you like and doesn’t fit you. You will be less likely to get in a bike accident if you fit the bike rather then having a bike that is fast and doesn’t fit you.
Gregg Hall is an author living with his 18 year old son in Jensen Beach, Florida. Find more about motorcycles as well as automotive care products at http://www.5starshine.com
Some Crucial Considerations For Motorcycle Safety
Riding a motorcycle, nothing feels better then just riding down the road on a clear down just cruising. So it is good that you keep safety in your mind when you start to ride. You will need to realize that you don’t have the protection of a car or truck around your body so if you get into a bike accident you are just going to go flying off the bike if you are not careful.
How most motorcycle accidents happen is a result of the vehicle not being able to see the person riding the bike. You will just need to be careful when you are riding any kind of motorcycle whether it is a cruiser or a crotch rocket you still need to take intensive care when riding.
This article is for the person riding the bike and for people driving regular vehicles because people need to understand the importance of riding a bike and the safety you need to take when doing so. When you are driving a vehicle you will want to be able to see the person on a bike to either side of you before you change lanes or make a turn. This goes both ways for the person driving a vehicle and for the person riding the motorcycle.
When you are riding a motorcycle you don’t have any other privileges that a regular vehicle wouldn’t. Everyone that drives or is in a vehicle has seen people riding on bikes and has seen those few that ride carelessly. When you are on a main highway you will see them zooming past you at top speeds when it is not necessary. Those are the few that will get hurt and usually are the ones that are going to listen to the laws.
People that ride bikes usually ride together and like to ride side by side to decrease the danger of other vehicles. Even though it is kind of a danger they still need to remain calm and ride with care when riding in groups as it can be a horrible accident for the lead or lead bikes to go down. Seeing as that can cause a major accident.
When you are driving or just riding on a motorcycle it is important to wear a helmet or some kind of safety equipment. In most states it is illegal to ride or drive a bike without a helmet of some kind. If you don’t it is just ignorant and can cause you an injury or even kill you.
Also as an added piece of advice it would be a good idea to ride with long pants and a long shirt so you don’t get burned on the motor and exhaust on the bike.
A lot of the time the cause of the accident or wreck is because of the road conditions this can be dangerous so you will need to take caution when riding. So be careful when you just decide to go riding without checking the weather first.
Gregg Hall is an author living with his 18 year old son in Jensen Beach, Florida. Find more about motorcycles as well as automotive care products at http://www.5starshine.com