Hi,

I'm assuming you've not done any Advanced Rider training, if you have then IAMSurety do free business use with their standard policies for IAM members and will beat any quote. They might do something for non-members. If you can tolerate TfL for a few months it might be your cheapest option to go through the process of doing the test and have additional qualifications to add credibilty for your business.

Hope it helps,
Penfold

Do you have brokers over there that do all the legwork chasing the best policy for you??
Matt

Thanks for the suggestions,

I'm looking into doing the IAM's training, and have been for a while - didn't know that they offered free business use on their policies, that's something to investigate! I wonder if it's just for commuting or for Class 1 / 2 business use...?

We do have brokers here, though I've spoken to about 15 different companies, most of which won't touch me with a bargepole!

I also got a couple of quotes without the business use, to see just how much last years crash increases my standard premium... It was just over �700 last year and now I'm getting quotes from about �1200 fully comp, not cheap but around the �1000 I expected given the seemingly dodgy London address, lack of no claims and the fact that the residents only, gated, cctv monitored private parking is, for some unknown reason, treated as an insecure, open, unmonitored public car park by all the insurance companies! I even suggested that I could send a few pics of the security in place so they believe that is secure... and they were having none of it!

Does anyone know how much difference adding a dealer fitted alarm would make?

Anyway, in the mean time, I think I'll save myself a couple of grand and use my push bike for getting to and from clients houses... keep the tenere for Social, Domestic and Pleasure use only, build up some no claims and do some advanced training - I'll try again next year!

Premiums like this have also put a stop to my mod plan... I'm itching to get hold of an Exan exhaust, kev + O2 mod, filters etc... oh well... I suppose a little patience is required!

Thanks again for you help!

Solitary Dread

Carole Nash are twisters mate.Go on go con pair.

Here's a thought, When I did Bikesafe years ago the mainstream insurance companies gave a better discount for a BikeSafe certificate over IAM Green Badge holders.

IAM surety are certainly better than the other brokers I've dealt with, the pretty much guarantee to beat any other quote (you just need to go through a compare site, them give them the reference so they can confirm the price you were offered), they also provide better cover (free NCD protection after 4 years, Business use etc) Incidentally, they also offer the same service to anyone in the household for car and home insurance - so very much worth the �149 investment in the Skill For Life Course for the savings alone, without mentioning the riding improvements.

What I'd do is pick a comparison site, then play with the Bikesafes, IAM or RoSPA options and see how it pans out. Most companies will accept some mods without impacting the price.

Incidentally, I live in one of the lowest crime parst of the country and I pay �160 Comp for the Tenere with a load of modifications (that add up to more than the bike is worth), including can, PC-v, brakes suspension etc. The cost without is around �80 - If it helps you at all.

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Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.

Hi mate. Sorry to hear that the insurance guys are up to their usual games. As suggested above, I would definitely try what others have said, ie try a few comparison websites. Give "thebikeinsurer" a go as well. Again, it might also be worth waiting till you're up for renewal and going for a different company.

Here's a curveball: have you thought of getting a second bike purely for commuting and getting business cover on that? Maybe get some quotations on something like an ER5 or similar. You never know, the total cost might be cheaper than what you've been quoted so far.

Why is the claim unresolved and what were the circumstances?

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Bike: 2008 XT660Z Tenere with various bits and bobs added or subtracted

Hi SD,
I use my Tenere for business as a gas service engineer. When I first got the bike I looked at sd&p insurance as well as business. Although I have other bikes I was unable to use my no claims discount on separate policy so effectively had to start from scratch. I ended up getting business insurance with Express insurance 08009523166 MASSIVELY cheaper than it was going to be for sd&p !! I'm not promoting them in any way shape or form, and I'm not saying they'll be any good for you. However in my circumstances it really paid off. Another possibility for you may be to register the bike to the business, insure the bike for any rider through the business ....
Oh yeah, one other interesting bit of info, my accountant found out that motorcycles are NOT vehicles, they are plant and machinery so you get 100% tax back and write them down much quicker. I didn't pay any tax last year & the tax man effectively paid for my brand new tenere RESULT