Classic Motorcycle Insurance Policy

Classic vehicles are owned by equally classic people who value the olden days more than anything else. Its not that they live in the past, it is that they are the ones who know how priceless a classic vehicle is. Gone are the days when we could see Bullets and Flying Merkels, Nortons or Jawas thunder across the roads, whipping up a cloud of dust as they roar out in the horizon. But not everything is lost. Even today we have motorcycle lovers who keep these rare beauties in their stables well oiled and polished to the finish. Their passion for owning these grand two wheelers is so deep and intense that they are willing to go all out to pay what it needs to own and maintain these vehicles. It is essentially for these lovers of classic motorcycles that the insurance companies have come up with a number of classic motorcycle insurance policies which are affordable and contain a host of added features.

Most of the classic motorcycle insurance policies are available at reduced premiums. This is because of two reasons - one, the insurance company assumes that these vehicles would be very sparingly used and would not be involved in major accidents and two, these vehicles are owned by experts who know motorcycles in and out, and therefore have spent considerable years being on the road. Some insurance companies also provide extensive breakdown and recovery service at a very nominal fee throughout Europe and UK with the added benefit of foreign use entitlements.

Classic motorcycle insurance is also attractive to the owners because some insurance companies also include in the policy a free agreed value. This is a benefit given to the owner who just needs to send in a photograph of the actual vehicle to the insurance company, which values the vehicle based on the features presented in the photograph. A valuation is put on the vehicle which is mutually agreed upon by the insurer and the insurance company. In the event misfortune befalls the vehicle in the form of an accident or a burglary from the owner's garage, the insurance company would settle the value based on the agreed value and not on the existing market value which is certainly going to be very insignificant. This proves once again that the company would respect the price that a classic motorcycle truly enjoys.

Live Your Teenage Dreams Restore a Classic Motorcycle

Do you have a memory of a local motorcyclist and his motorcycle, and how you wished you could be the owner of that fine metal steed?

Many of us look back with fond memories of motorcycles of days gone by, and remember how cool they looked, and how we wished we could own one at the time. Now we're older the bikes have moved on, but that doesn't mean we should forget all about those old motorbikes. In fact the opposite is true, now those bikes we looked at with awe and envy all those years gone by are becoming classics, and as such are worth saving from the scrapheap.

Classic motorcycle restoration isn't all about locking yourself away in a garage and becoming an expert on which grade of chrome was used to plate the headlamp retaining bolt. Motorcycle restoration is a fun hobby for everyone, from the DIY mechanic to those who just want to ride a motorcycle they never could afford when they were younger. You don't even need to have a lot of spare money as some classic motorbikes can be picked up quite cheaply in various states of repair. Some motorbikes can, with a little attention, be ridden almost immediately and yet still not hit your wallet too hard.

Another thing worth thinking about is the investment factor of classic motorcycle restoration. You can pick up a cheap bike, do some small repairs and cosmetic tidying, and already it's started to increase in value. It doesn't need to be a complete nuts and bolts restoration to increase the value, with some extra care even as you enjoy riding it over a few years, a classic bikes value can increase greatly, and could mean you can make a tidy profit if you decide to sell it later.

There are plenty of classic motorcycles out there still to choose from, and your own teenage favourites could well be just waiting for you to pick them up and give them a home. Imagine living out that teenage fantasy of owning the motorcycle of your dreams, it doesn't matter that it's 20 years on you can still enjoy owning that dream motorbike. Only now instead of being called a teenage hoodlum, you'd be a respected classic motorcycle owner.

Classic Motorcycle Insurance

If you go to an insurance company to inquire on how you can get your classic bike insured, you would likely face several questions before you can be given a classic motorcycle insurance quote.

What was the starting price of the bike? How often do you ride it? Has the bike been restored?

All these questions actually lead to one path only: the possible price of your classic motorcycle insurance premium.

If your motorcycle is both classic and rare, your premium will definitely go up. These types of bikes have more value than a regular motorcycle because it has spare parts that are quite expensive and hard to find. Because of this, classic bikes deserve to have more than the standard, average insurance.

What is Considered Classic?

Generally, a bike that is between 15 to 20 years old is considered to be classic by insurance companies. But aside from that, it also has to meet certain criteria or set of standards to be able to qualify for a classic motorcycle insurance.

What is good about classic bike insurance is it is specifically tailored to the kind of bike that you have and what you use it for. It offers appropriate coverage to your bike and usually has reduced monthly premiums. Why? This is probably because in general, classic bikes have reportedly fewer claims.

Insurance providers assume classic bikes are owned by enthusiasts whose passion for motorcycles go beyond just riding it to get from one place to another. Because of this, it is likely that they would not be involved in road mishaps and would take care of their bike-with or without insurance.

An insurance company will also take into account a few criteria used in regular motorcycle insurance standards such as the age of the bike (which should be declared from the very beginning), where you usually park whenever you are home or at work.

How to Get the Best Quotes

It is always wise to canvass for prices with different insurance providers before signing up for classic motorcycle insurance. With so many companies offering competitive premium rates, you want to make sure you get the best deal there is for your prized bike but without putting a hole in your pocket.

Take your time to browse your phone directory or better yet, you can search online for the best quotes you can find.

Tips For Collecting Classic Motorcycles

If you though that collecting classic motorcycles was a bad investment think again! You can buy four or even five of such bikes for the price of a car. They even take up far less garage space.

Since 2000, the sales of classic motorcycles have doubled. Among the higher end bikes, the Brough Superior SS100, a British bike, which was used in the film, "Lawrence of Arabia", now commands a six figure price in dollars. Don't panic - the prices of such bikes are not as high and are close to $10,000. For $5000, you can get an Italian 1950s Vespa scooter and for about $20,000 you can land up with a British classic motorcycle like Triumph. You can choose from a whole range of British, Italian, American, German and Japanese classic motorcycles.

What you need to look out for while buying them is paying the correct value. If you are inexperienced you might just end up spending on a bike which does not have original parts. Experts can tell you if the serial number of the bike is original or has been forged.

If plan to get into collecting classic motorcycles, make it a point to visit rallies, meets and other events. Subscribe to publications like Vintage Motorcycle and Walneck's Classic Cycle Trader. Look up any local clubs in your area and become a member. This way you will get to meet other collectors and exchange information.

When you start buying classic motorcycles for your collection, look for bikes that started off as expensive, such as limited edition, hand-built ones like Crocker, Brough, Vincent and Mondial.

The rarest examples of American made classic motorcycles are those made before the year 1920. There are only 200 known classic motorcycles that were made in that era and were produced by brands like Harley-Davidson, Indian, Excelsior, Cyclone and Flying Merkel. Most of these models have either been sold as scrap or traded privately. In the 1980s, an original paint 1907 Harley-Davidson came up for auction at a farm in Nebraska and sold for the rice of $175,000.

One of the rarest models that one can find is the Grand Prix race bikes in original condition. The Japanese made ones are among the most difficult to find because their engineering was supposed to kept a secret. So after a race, the bikes were compacted so that competitors could not study their inner parts. Japanese examples of such bikes are particularly scarce; since their engineering was considered top-secret.

The values of classic motorcycles are that much higher when their parts and finish are original. If you are not sure if a bike is original, call in an expert.

When One Classic Motorcycle Engine Is Not Enough

When one Classic Motorcycle Engine is not enough.

In any classic motorcycle one motor is enough, but back in 1966 Bob Leppan set a record at Bonneville at 395kph.

Two, 650cc Triumph engines powered this classic. and was fairly streamlined to say the least.

The road going version however only had one engine, and with its iconic classic chrome headlight sticking in the wind, its pea shooter exhausts with that familiar sound rather than being streamlined, it was none the less a beautiful bike to behold.

The classic motorcycle model T120, 650cc landed in 1959 . Even with its high performance engine and twin carbie set up, it didn't quite manage 120mph as the model suggests, but 110mph wasn't too slow either.

Legends on Classic Motorcycles

There was a time when the classic motorcycle, Triumph Bonneville had "stars" astride.

Marlin Brando, Richard Gere, and Clint Easwood all rode 'Bonney's' in their respective classic movies (no prizes for getting them right). James Dean as legend goes, gave away a Harley to Elvis, and was rumoured to have sat on a classic motorcycle called a Bonneville. Jame's personal Triumph bike had "Deans Dillema" painted on the tank. (No, not a movie)

Brando's bike in fact was a Tiger T110 on which the classic Bonneville motorcycle was based. Also appeared in The Wild One.

Arguably the most valued collectors item would be the "Bonneville Royal Wedding T140D" to celebrate Charles and Dianna's wedding in 1981. This one only model came with certification of authenticity and heralded as a true Classic
Motorcycle.