Motorcycle and Scooter appreciation

Obviously shopping around for insurance makes sense, but just had a result for renewing next week. Been with the same insurer for 10 years, always been competitive, but price hiked in the renewal quote to £359. Looked around and got a like-for-like quote with Motorcycle Direct for £163 (including tax) on my Ducati: fully comp, £400 excess, protected no claims (on 9 years ncb), 30 days European cover, covered for pillions, legal cover, key cover, 3000 annual mileage - based on the bike being kept on a private drive (but not garaged) in Brixton and/or Peckham. Result!

I remember being pretty much uninsurable as a young-un riding superbikes and forking out premiums of around £1500. Growing old less than gracefully has its compensations...

Anyway, shop around folks.

Insurance on my Kat is a complete farce because of all the mods and the fact it's a Jap home market import. It sort of doesn't exist on the insurance data spreadsheets that they all crow from. Nightmare.

Chipperfields in France! Ha! Have been thinking about taking the Kat but it would be a nightmare in terms of comfort, I've managed about 150 miles in one go this year but the riding position is not about comfort even for a big old bruiser (the bike) and 400 or 500 mile days just don't look realistic. So am thinking about picking up a nail for the trip, something like an old GS850 or maybe a GSX1100 (EFE or similar) or even a GSXR11 mid to late 90s.