Posts tagged kawasaki
Finding cheap motorbikes to insure
May 23rd
Photo by Geraint Warlow (Click for image credit)
With hundreds of different models out there every biker should be able to find their perfect machine. But it’s not just about speed, manoeuvrability and ride: what about costs? Specifically, what about insurance costs? It’s perfectly possible to buy a bike and then have to fork out twice as much (or more) per year on insuring it.
Here the boffins at Bikesure, the freethinking motorbike insurance broker, offer a list of some decent bikes that won’t cost an arm and a leg to insure.
Japanese giant Honda is the biggest bike manufacturer in the world. The CB600 Hornet is a relatively cheap bike to insure and, according to motorcyclenews.com, it’s fun, easy to ride and offers great handling. The Hornet’s Nest is the home of the Hornet owners’ club and has loads of advice and information.
Other Honda bikes that are relatively cheap to insure include the 250 Superdream and the CB450.
Suzuki fans on an insurance budget should check out the GSF600 Bandit. Released in ’95, the first major changes were made in 2000 and include a bigger petrol tank and new steering geometry. Don’t let the relatively low insurance costs deceive you: according to Visor Down this is ‘a superb bike’ that spawned a host of imitators.
Kawasaki claims their ER-5, a 500cc naked commuter bike, offers ‘amazing fuel economy’. That’s a budget win-win when you add in its cheap insurance costs. If you have any questions then Bikers Oracle runs an owners club with an active
forum that may be able to help.
Bikers after a cheap-to-insure cruiser will find that the Yamaha XV535 and XV650 both fit the bill. There’s a selection of tourer spares and accessories for them at Motorbikes&Parts, a site that also offers a loyalty scheme which gives up to 20% discount.
Hog fans can find a cheap to insure machine in the Harley-Davidson 883 Sportster. In production for over 50 years, it’s a great looking bike with bags of pedigree. The Sportster.org site has a wealth of information for owners, including tens of
thousands of pictures, and a great tech section filled with essential maintenance tips. Once you’ve bought the bike, Jersey Harley-Davidson offers spares at VAT-free prices for online purchasers.
When it comes to insuring your motorcycle, the way to get the best price is to look around. It’s often worth ringing, too, as a good broker can be better at cutting costs than a computer programme. Whether you search around online or on the phone, be sure to ask Bikesure for a quote.
Sorry Sir, How many points?
Oct 1st
We’re not sure if this is a record, but a biker in Southampton has just been handed 39 penalty points for repeatedly speeding at speeds of up to 88mph in a 30 zone, as well as pulling a wheelie for the camera. He was also banned for 18 months and fined for his trouble – you can see the report here, or watch the local news report.
Of the seven times he admitted to in court, Steven Skilton was caught at speeds of 88, 82, 77, 72, 54, 58 and 83 miles per hour on his Kawasaki ZX-10R.
Anyone can make the odd mistake and go a bit too fast on a bike as powerful as this Ninja, but repeatedly flouting the law is sure to attract the interest of the plods, even if your numberplate isn’t visible. Sure enough, I hear they pulled out all the stops to catch this guy, and eventually tracked him down by his jacket – a rare Dainese number that was sold to only a couple of people in the UK.
It can be difficult getting motorbike insurance with convictions, but thankfully Bikesure can help in most cases, and you may even find, that for one or two SP30s, your quote might not be any more expensive than if you have a clean license, although if you have managed to rack up 39 points, I’m afraid you may be looking at a rather hefty premium for a few years.
Never Take A Test Ride for Fun
Jun 7th
Sunday Morning. A lovely sunny day, perfect riding conditions. Still rubbing the sleep from my eyes, I sent a bit of a random text to a mate who lives over 100 miles away; “Fancy meeting up for a ride out and then coming over for a BBQ?”
I got the answer I was hoping for and we arranged to meet somewhere in the middle.
So I got on my Black Z750 which I don’t use nearly enough and hit the road. It was just right; dry and sunny but not too warm. A few less cars on the road would have been nice but what can you do? Nothing apart from overtake them of course.
We met up had a chat about the ride and then set of to a nearby dealership “just to have a look”. Outside the garage there sat a lovely looking Triumph Speed Triple. We had a bit of time to spare so I blagged a test ride on said bike for a bit of fun. What could possibly go wrong?
As it happens nothing went wrong. In fact it all went right, too bloody right. It felt so right it must have been wrong. The bike seemed to know exactly where I wanted to go and obediently, straining at the leash rushed to get there in the most pleasurable way imaginable. The bike was so responsive and delivered the seemingly never ending power to the wheels smoothly but with a raw edge. Gulp!
I arrived back at the dealership with a shit eating grin (what does that mean exactly) spread across my face. Oh dear.
My fate was sealed and although it took me a couple of days of wrestling with my conscious (I don’t “need” a new bike) and my mortgage (hiding the cost over a 25 year mortgage seems sensible to me) I placed the order for the new machine.
I’ve found a buyer for the Z750 (bye bye) and should be picking up the new Speed Triple in Matt Black (only 100 made so I must be an individual and carving my own niche in life?) in a couple of weeks.
Mid life crisis? What mid life crisis?
I’ll let you know how it is and post a photo when it arrives.
Laters.
Rob