Motorcycle FAQ

MAG have been talking to AON/Axa, the third insurance offering here in Ireland. They have been able to secure agreement for discounts based on passing a 3 hour assessment ride. The discount will apply for all licence holders, provisional and full. The assessment is carried out by RoSPA certified people.

The example I heard quoted was a twenty-something rider with provisional licence on a CG125 (group 2) bike was quoted 2800 for insurance (not sure if TPO or FC). Other companies were quoting "silly money" :rolleyes: With a day's training (cost about 150 yoyos) the guy could have a 40% discount. That means a discount of 1120 yoyos. Do the maths yourselves, but makes sense financially and in safety terms. I believe that's made up in 2 parts, 25% for passing basic level assessment (same as getting passing the State driving test) and another 15% for reaching next level.

One of the drivers behind this initiative is the ridiculously long waiting lists for driving tests, 40-50 weeks and the high fatality rate amongst bikers and hence higher premiums for bikers as a group. In effect a provisional licence holder could have insurance of a full licence holder very quickly while waiting to do the test. Other disadvantages of the provisional licence still stand: restricted to riding in Rep of Ireland and riding restricted-power bikes.

There will be info on the MAG site in the near future.

Full licence holders can also benefit, but will need training to reach the standard. Having just spoken to Aon about insurance, RoSPA Bronze would get me 15% discount and Silver/Gold another 15%. That's on top on no claims discount (10% per annum).

It would appear that only 10% of people using bikes have full licences. Holders of old provisional licences can ride unrestricted power bikes.

BigCon wrote:

Just starting out and I got the following quotes for an '82 Honda CB650 (prov A licience, can't get classic insurance 'till I have a full one :rolleyes: ):

Hibernian (web quote, wouldn't quote over the phone): €1,629 (3rd party, fire & theft)
AON: €1,494 (3rd party, fire & theft)
Carole Nash: 1,318 (3rd party, fire & theft), €845 (3rd party only).

Curious to know why none of them asked me if the bike was restricted?

It's simple: they don't believe the bike is restricted.
Hibernian will only recognise factory restricted engines. CN even recognise those restrictor kits. I've asked recently as I want to change bike and had suggested a couple of factory restricted bikes. They were not interested.
AFAIK the typical restrictor kit is very simple to fit and remove, so this is why the insurance companies ignore them.
Also I think the factory restricted engine is a recent innovation to help bike companies sell the bigger bikes and for the riders to get insurance on them. I think bikes like the Honda Bros (mentioned in another recent thread) is a Jap import and meets stricter Japanese power limits. Also many of the recent BMW bikes were limited to 100 BHP, but there is one new BMW bike that puts out >160BHP. Cannot remeber which mode, but has been something I recall seeing in MCN recently. Your 23 yo bike is unlikely to have had a factory-fitted restrictor kit and even if it did, it's unlikely to still be there 23 years on.