Bike Insurance

E and L just gave me a suprisingly ok quote, so I think I'm going to go with that. I'm going to pretend I never read about their track re: paying out though, which might ultimately prove to be tantamount to poking tenners down the drain going la la la with my finger in my ear, but I'm getting desperate for atleast some kind of the cover for the bikes, and that seems to be the only option...

Read the small print first.

I've read both pdfs and nothing leapt out, is there any bit in particular?

Let me find where I saved them and have a look.

Also might be worth PM'ing PhotoBen for his experiences of them before you sign up.

Just phoned them- they categorically deny that they offer such cover.

Said to me that I would be in breach of their terms and conditions if I made a claim and they then discovered that it was anything other than close family/partner that I was living with.

Ok... well... I better look at the policy documents.

Balki- did you tell Direct Line that you were in an "unconventional relationship" with your housemates?

I think this is the only way that I am going to be able to get insurance- claim multiple partners.

No, but I'd happily take one for the team.

"Yeah, no drama, its B12 0NP." says I.
..... momentary delay.
..... a bit more (with a muffled clear of the throat)
"I'm sorry Mr Morris, but we are not able to ensure your premises - with the "Special Items" cover, because of your postcode. Thankyou for your call. Is there anything else i can do for you today?"

For those who never heard of cities other than London, what's so particular about that postcode in the mist of Brimingham?

It's in Birmingham Ed.

Well obviously but I has no idea whether that area is the equation to E1 London or SW7 London.

Just noticed that Butterworth (CycleSure etc.) are saying this now - "From March 2009 we are delighted to be able to confirm that all of our schemes will benefit from full 'New for Old' cover, i.e. depreciation is not applied in the event of a claim, regardless of the age of the cycle." So I'm going to try a quote from them too - before I slack off any more at work though, Butterworth horror stories anyone?

They are meant to be very good- just could not stomach them saying as my value was over 5K they would have to charge me for the full value then pay out on 75% of it.

Other members use them and swear by them.

I don't really understand why you'd get seperate bike insurance. Everyone know's that bikes lose half there value as soon as you pedal them round the corner from the shop. There are good household contents insurance policies which cover up to a grand. It's the same with most things that are meant for competition MXers, Karts, race cars etc. - there's no point insuring them, just get a garage and some meaty locks / anchors. Also Just be bloody careful when you take them anywhere and don't let anyone see what you own and where you keep them if they are even slightly sucpicious. If your using a bike for comutting is there any point in spending over a grand on it?

I don't really understand why you'd get seperate bike insurance. Everyone know's that bikes lose half there value as soon as you pedal them round the corner from the shop. There are good household contents insurance policies which cover up to a grand. It's the same with most things that are meant for competition MXers, Karts, race cars etc. - there's no point insuring them, just get a garage and some meaty locks / anchors. Also Just be bloody careful when you take them anywhere and don't let anyone see what you own and where you keep them if they are even slightly sucpicious. If your using a bike for comutting is there any point in spending over a grand on it?

If you pay £5000 for a bike and it gets nicked you want £5k back.. not £1k.

There are good household insurance policies that cover up to £4000... unless you live in a shared household like Dammit.

"just get a garage" - yeah, at £90/week rent. Good one.

And if you use your bike for racing? What then..

+1, household contents insurance policies almost always exclude tenants who aren't sole-occupiers or family, its something that's totally unavailable to people in shared rental housing.

I'm sure lockups / garages can be had for less than £90 a week in London, I know containers can be as cheap as £9 a week if you've even got a tiny bit of land, garden sheds can be made very secure. What I was getting at was why keep a £5 grand bike in a flat with a shit yale lock on the front door, priorities yeh? Don't the police say that prevention is always the best solution anyway? I've seen steel bike "pods" in a few new housing schemes and office blocks which seem to be a great solution. Better than the insurance quotes that seem to be on offer anyway.

These 'pods' would be shared with other residents.

"can be as cheap as" - depends where you live doesn't it? £90 per week is cheap for Ealing.

Garden sheds can be cut through quicker than most locks and you can hide behind them whilst doing it.
Also, most people I know don't own their property so a garden shed or even parking pod are usually out of the question.

If getting insurance puts you at peace of mind that your 4 grand piece of bicycle art is covered when it gets stolen, fine. I'd rather not get mine stolen in the first place.

I'm sure lockups / garages can be had for less than £90 a week in London, I know containers can be as cheap as £9 a week if you've even got a tiny bit of land, garden sheds can be made very secure. What I was getting at was why keep a £5 grand bike in a flat with a shit yale lock on the front door, priorities yeh? Don't the police say that prevention is always the best solution anyway? I've seen steel bike "pods" in a few new housing schemes and office blocks which seem to be a great solution. Better than the insurance quotes that seem to be on offer anyway.

Why would I pay £90 a week for a garage when I could just pay £30 month for insurance? Prevention is the key but for the majority of people using two high rated locks and storing them out of sight is the best they can realistically do.

If getting insurance puts you at peace of mind that your 4 grand piece of bicycle art is covered when it gets stolen, fine. I'd rather not get mine stolen in the first place.

It's all well and good hoping your bike won't get stolen but if a thief wants it.. they will get it. Insurance covers you when this happens.

If, and only if they pay out........

That's why you read the policy documents to make sure your situation is covered. It's not rocket science this insurance business, jeez.

My home contents insurer refuses to pay out for cycles on the policy I have now, they used to, up to £500. My mate got his bike knicked. They stole the fence his DH rig was locked to, no proof no pay out. My flatmate said that he'd heard of policy's not paying out if there was no broken lock on the scene to prove the bike had been stolen. From claiming insurance for other things, it may not be rocket science, but a lot of people are either lazy or ignorant when it comes to studying every detail of insurance policies. I change / swap frames fairly regularly too, so when the statement I give to the police doesn't match up with what I've insured whats going to happen?

Er you ring up the insurance company each time you change frame/parts. Unless you're changing frames on a weekly basis it's hardly hassle is it?

I have to ring up the insurance company every time I modify my car, which I do fairly regularly. That doesn't make me think, shit I have to ring the insurance company regularly so I might as well not buy any....

Sorry, explain to me why I should get insurance for my bikes. I've got a bj fixed £700 to replace new and an S&M ltf (chrome £500 frame only, £1500 - £2000 build) both of which I treat like shit. But these bike are my friends and I lock them up well or keep them in my room / van which has dead locks. I've claimed for 2 bikes in 13 years living away from home, Hoffman Complete £550 and a Cannondale Killer-V £1500 and got £500 each. Gettting seperate bike insurance just seems excessive, especially when you get killer locks for £100, concrete anchor bolts for under £50, and data tags for £15

Why should we explain to you why you should get insurance?

It sounds as if you are happy with your arrangements.

This thread is for those of us who would like the peace of mind that comes with knowing that our bicycles are insured, so should they be stolen or damaged we can simply file a claim and be reimbursed instantly.

It would be beyond me to put my hand in my pocket and buy two three grand road bikes, a two grand mountain bike and a grand and half fixed gear tomorrow morning should they all be stolen tonight for example.

If I were able to find an insurance company willing to cover me I would gladly pay say £100 a month to be able to replace the lot any day of the year with no further cost to me.

Sadly that seems impossible having spoken to pretty much every insurance company operating in the UK at the moment.

Just phoned them- they categorically deny that they offer such cover.

Said to me that I would be in breach of their terms and conditions if I made a claim and they then discovered that it was anything other than close family/partner that I was living with.

My mate's bike that got nicked and was replaced by his new single-speed has just confirmed that they insure with Direct Line and that it was indeed them who paid for his new bike. It's house contents insurance with the bikes listed as separate extra items, you know like your jewellery and stuff. No receipts needed. They have 3 bikes listed at the moment but will be upping it to 6 or so soon (to cover mine and g/f's spare bikes that we leave round theirs) if they can.

Try again and speak to an anti-muppet, or maybe they've dropped that as a policy they can sell you now but existing customers can continue with what they've already got. You sure she didn't think you were talking about a motorbike?