Insurance on a restriced license (33 Bhp)

[Austin]

Phil, another question for you...

I have 2 boys both of whom have passed their motorcycle tests and are on restricted licences. Both have bikes that in standard trim produce over 33bhp. Both bikes have carburettor restrictors fitted - one tested on a dyno at under the 33, the other remains untested. When insuring the bikes one company asked if the bike was restricted (didn't say or ask to what just "restricted" which I think is a major omission). The other did and was answered in the affirmative.

There is always a lot debate about whether or not you are covered if you are on a restricted licence and your bike can be shown to be producing over 33bhp. Clearly its a legality matter for thepolice to deal with but I would appreciate your opinion on the insurance aspects. Ta

And BTW - top guy with the generous Charity donation

[Bikesure]

Phil, another question for you...

I have 2 boys both of whom have passed their motorcycle tests and are on restricted licences. Both have bikes that in standard trim produce over 33bhp. Both bikes have carburettor restrictors fitted - one tested on a dyno at under the 33, the other remains untested. When insuring the bikes one company asked if the bike was restricted (didn't say or ask to what just "restricted" which I think is a major omission). The other did and was answered in the affirmative.

There is always a lot debate about whether or not you are covered if you are on a restricted licence and your bike can be shown to be producing over 33bhp. Clearly its a legality matter for thepolice to deal with but I would appreciate your opinion on the insurance aspects. Ta

And BTW - top guy with the generous Charity donation

In my opinion it all depends on the numbers involved. If you have a stock 100bhp bike that has been restricted and produces 35bhp, I do not think there would be an issue with an insurance claim. If it was still putting out 50bhp that's a different matter.

I would expect an insurer to always give the benefit of the doubt to the customer. If someone has gone out of their way and to the best of their knowledge purchased a 33bhp restricted bike but it, unknowingly, runs a little higher, what more can customer do? Furthermore, readings from different dynos vary.

I know I'm going to get shot down for saying this, but, in my time here I have never known an insurer to refuse a payout when they should have. Not once. If a customer non-discloses something, I don't think the insurer can be blamed for not paying out on a risk that they would not have accepted had the truth been known.

Honesty is the best policy and if in doubt, tell your insurer / broker EVERYTHING about yourself and the bike! If you are with the right company, the outcome will be no great surprise.

[jarl]

The 33 hp is one that interests me as well, since I have a 33hp license. I phoned DVLA, and the nice lady said that the bike needs to produce under 33hp at the crank. How on earth am I meant to manage that without paying FI an insane amount for the official washers? All I can test is rear wheel HP. If I make 26 at the rear wheel, but 32.9 at the crank, I'm fine. If I make 26 at the rear wheel, but 33.1 at the crank will I get shafted? If I make 32.5 at the rear wheel, and a lot more than 33 at the crank, does it matter? Everyone I've talked to seems to have no idea- heck, even a police rider I know said he had no clue as to crank/rear wheel. What hope is there?!

Legally, it seems the law wants me to make less than 33 at the crank. Practically, this is near impossible to manage, because it's so hard to get an accurate number at the crank without going crazy with the bike. Have you ever heard of the insurer taking a reading at the crank to avoid making a claim?

For reference, I was thinking of getting a TA, which will certainly need restricting, hence the questions.

Many thanks, and I'll drop you a line when my insurance needs renewing

[Lumiya]

If the bike is over the legal limit then I don't think it's really the insurance company you should be bothered about.. More a case of his licence will not cover him for that bike and the police will count the insurance as void. The bike will get taken off him and he could end up with more than 6 points on the licence (minimum of 4 for insurance and 3 for driving pther than in accordance with your licence and if it's a new licence it'll be revoked after 6 points in the first two years)

Get it tested and confirmed that way you'll never have any issues with legality

[jarl]

Get it tested and confirmed that way you'll never have any issues with legality

Tested how? Tested to make under 33hp at the rear wheel is easy enough, but tested to make under 33 at the crank is nigh impossible....

[Bikesure]

The 33 hp is one that interests me as well, since I have a 33hp license. I phoned DVLA, and the nice lady said that the bike needs to produce under 33hp at the crank. How on earth am I meant to manage that without paying FI an insane amount for the official washers? All I can test is rear wheel HP. If I make 26 at the rear wheel, but 32.9 at the crank, I'm fine. If I make 26 at the rear wheel, but 33.1 at the crank will I get shafted? If I make 32.5 at the rear wheel, and a lot more than 33 at the crank, does it matter? Everyone I've talked to seems to have no idea- heck, even a police rider I know said he had no clue as to crank/rear wheel. What hope is there?!

Legally, it seems the law wants me to make less than 33 at the crank. Practically, this is near impossible to manage, because it's so hard to get an accurate number at the crank without going crazy with the bike. Have you ever heard of the insurer taking a reading at the crank to avoid making a claim?

For reference, I was thinking of getting a TA, which will certainly need restricting, hence the questions.

Many thanks, and I'll drop you a line when my insurance needs renewing

I can only offer my "opinion" from an insurance point of view. If, to the best of your knowledge your bike is making less than the restriction, I think the insurance will be ok.

I can not image an insurance company trying to refuse indemnify on the basis that the bike is making 35bhp. How would the owner know that? I don't think it is not for the industry to presume that the owner has that level of accuracy / knowledge. I can not speak on behalf of the industry as a whole but if a situation like this occurred for one of my customers, I would be fighting it all the way.