Bennetts three Mods rule!

[2 wheeled tourist]

...I think I need to act on this because from my understanding I am now uninsured according to Bennetts policy! What utter lunacy.


That's interesting, please let us know what and how thing's turned out after phoning them, please, thanks...:unsure:

[appleby]

I have been insured with Bennetts for over 20 years now, since they were a small oufit in Ironmonger row, Coventry. In that 20 odd years I have always had at least one bike insured with them and NEVER MADE A CLAIM!
Yet, my loyalty means nothing to them anymore & extract my money every chance they get.
I don't get asked if I carry passengers in the car, so why on a bike?
They recently charged me £39 administration fee to change details from one GS to another . . by the time I hung up it was done!

[Still Gotta Pulse]

...I think I need to act on this because from my understanding I am now uninsured according to Bennetts policy! What utter lunacy.


That's interesting, please let us know what and how thing's turned out after phoning them, please, thanks...:unsure:

Just finished on the phone with Bennetts and asked about the 3 modifications policy. The guy said "I take it you are referring to the MCN report"? and denied such a policy exists and said he doesn't know where these rumours start from.
He then asked if I had mods on my bike to which I said 'yes', and so continued to update my policy.

My mods are as follows:-

Crash Bars
Aluminium Sump Guard
Touring Screen
End Can
Pannier Rails
Rack

Oh, and a sticker!

He said the sticker mod is 'nonsense' unless it was so big as to alter the appearance of the machine.

He then went to the underwriters, put me on hold, got back and said "I can only include 3 of your modifications on your policy and we have selected...

Crash Bars
Touring Screen
End Can

...anything else on the bike that has been modified must be removed or your insurance would be void".

I questioned why such a policy if the mods aren't performance enhancing?
He replied "the underwriters consider that anything that is not as fitted when it leaves the factory is considered as detrimental to the bikes safety/construction".

I then advised him that BMW have a whole plethora of 'optional extras' designed to fit the bikes they were built for so are you suggesting that BMW are potentially making their own motorcycles unsafe for use?

He replied "I'm sorry these are not our rules but the rules of our underwriters".

I said so you DO have a 3 modification restriction after all, which I asked you about at the start of our conversation and you said 'no'?

I informed him I shall be cancelling my policy in the near future.

So confirmation then that at present I am uninsured , unless I remove the sump guard, rack and pannier rails.

New policy tomorrow then! :whistle:

[2 wheeled tourist]

...I think I need to act on this because from my understanding I am now uninsured according to Bennetts policy! What utter lunacy.


That's interesting, please let us know what and how thing's turned out after phoning them, please, thanks...:unsure:

Just finished on the phone with Bennetts and asked about the 3 modifications policy. The guy said "I take it you are referring to the MCN report"? and denied such a policy exists and said he doesn't know where these rumours start from.
He then asked if I had mods on my bike to which I said 'yes', and so continued to update my policy.

My mods are as follows:-

Crash Bars
Aluminium Sump Guard
Touring Screen
End Can
Pannier Rails
Rack

Oh, and a sticker!

He said the sticker mod is 'nonsense' unless it was so big as to alter the appearance of the machine.

He then went to the underwriters, put me on hold, got back and said "I can only include 3 of your modifications on your policy and we have selected...

Crash Bars
Touring Screen
End Can

...anything else on the bike that has been modified must be removed or your insurance would be void".

I questioned why such a policy if the mods aren't performance enhancing?
He replied "the underwriters consider that anything that is not as fitted when it leaves the factory is considered as detrimental to the bikes safety/construction".

I then advised him that BMW have a whole plethora of 'optional extras' designed to fit the bikes they were built for so are you suggesting that BMW are potentially making their own motorcycles unsafe for use?

He replied "I'm sorry these are not our rules but the rules of our underwriters".

I said so you DO have a 3 modification restriction after all, which I asked you about at the start of our conversation and you said 'no'?

I informed him I shall be cancelling my policy in the near future.

So confirmation then that at present I am uninsured , unless I remove the sump guard, rack and pannier rails.

New policy tomorrow then! :whistle:

Thanks...

This is VERY WORRYING indeed...i think that all riders should become vigilant and not fall asleep while on guard duty... :S

[Kenbo]

I had better run out and remove my ABR sticker then..........:side: NOT

[2 wheeled tourist]

I had better run out and remove my ABR sticker then..........:side: NOT

:laugh: Post it to Bennetts

[Jay B]

Utter Madness!! I had a feeling this was coming! I hope you have all signed the petition (epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/16322) This is a petition set up to try and throw out the EU proposal to stop us modifying our bikes full stop. They propose to stop all mods and only allow servicing by dealer. They also propose to make us all wear High - Viz all the time, and make ABS mandatory on anything over 50cc amongst other things... If you haven't already, its your duty to sign the petition!

This is another of those things that come about because people don't understand us or what it's like to ride a bike! They just see someone bobbing past in a que of traffic and instead if thinking, "Wow, I wanna get a bike and do that" it's more like... "They shouldn't be able to do that, it must be dangerous". Or if someone is out walking and we bubble past gently at 12mph , they'll say "My goodness where did they come from? How fast were they going, surely they shouldn't be up here on bikes, it must be illegal"

But...if we consistently battle on a "them and us" front we will loose because we're in the minority. We need to educate the public and show them that we are not all mad, speed demons with a death wish. We are law abiding, contributing citizens who are good for the economy and who are helping to reduce traffic congestion.

[Mul001]

Grim.

My insurance is up at the end of the month. I don't take pillions which gives me a discount, my 2x "Bike Safes" also give me 5% reduction. I do have a top box, an Abr sticker (!) and heated grips and hand guards. The rear tyre is also not what the manufacturer would put on !

Despite not riding since June (I might have my mentioned my injury once or twice !), I will be renewing. £126 Full Comp on an '08 TDM900 thro' AA. AA used to do their own insurance a while ago and were expensive, last couple of years they've been brokers and while I've shopped around they always been within a quid or three of the unknown cheapies. I'll be shopping around as usual and taking nothing for granted, thanks for the heads up.

[Jelly]

These mods , I assume, would extend to maintenance parts too.

I've just fitted a Hagon shock, a shock from Honda would've been £900! 3 times as much!

The bike never left the factory with a Hagon shock so that has to be a mod.

I'm glad I'm not with bennetts but is this the thin end of the wedge?, 'Yes', I fear is the answer.

[2 wheeled tourist]

These mods , I assume, would extend to maintenance parts too.

I've just fitted a Hagon shock, a shock from Honda would've been £900! 3 times as much!

The bike never left the factory with a Hagon shock so that has to be a mod.

I'm glad I'm not with bennetts but is this the thin end of the wedge?, 'Yes', I fear is the answer.

What's needed here is the biking community looking out for further Insurance Co'. changing their Polices, so, keep up the head's-up, our eyes open and the alarm bells ringing and spread the word!!!