Hi,

My first post .. been lurking for a while and will do a proper intro when I get my ride

I am keen on purchasing a sportster 48 & so far insurance quotes seem to be around $800 comprehensive - I'm 47, live in inner west Sydney, good riding record, good no claim bonus & my bike will be parked off road in a carport. From your experience is $800 reasonable?

I'm considering not insuring it at all and am willing to run the risk of paying for damage to my bike or 3rd party property in an accident but what bothers me is the risk of theft especially as it won't be in a locked garage and is visible from the road - I could wheel it out to the back yard each night but it would be a hassle

My general question is - are modern sportsters stolen often?

Hope you can help ...great site btw

cheers, Paul

insure the bike.

$800 a year is not reasonable if it was me, I don't know you situation but if you ain't insured a bike prior, it may have to be ok, shop around

$800 is still better than having to pay $5000 or more each repair or the full replacement.

Anyone considering not insuring their bike to save money can't afford not to be insured.

Any bike any where can be stolen, even if they just want a part. Get insured, after you shop around for prices.

If you're looking at spending $16,000 - $19,000 on a bike, surely it's worth $800 incase it gets stolen and you're left with nothing, right!?

I've just ordered a new 2015 Forty Eight and my insurance quote was $750, I'll be getting my full license the day before and am 26 if that helps with 5 years no claims on my car which they are counting. That's insured through HD though, not sure if there is a discount on it as the bike is new through the dealer... 

PaulW

I also live in Sydney's inner west, have a 2012 sportster and am about the same age. I would give QBE insurance a go, my bike has been insured with them from new for about $450.00 a year or $15.00 a fortnight which is direct debited so I don't really miss it.

I reckon it is worth the peace of mind having it insured as there are plenty of fools on the road around my area.

PaulW. If its possible, at the very least buy a small garden shed and place it near or next to ya backdoor. A small garden shed is what, 300 or 400 bucks new,

You can buy a few lengths of stainless steel rod and cut it up and make long tent pegs out of it and peg the shed to the ground  if you dont want to cement ground.

The slight hassle of putting the bike in the garden sheds a hell of a lot better than having it stolen, You might not stop a professional theif but you can stop an opertunist.

At least park it in something out of general sight of the public wether its insured or not.

Just get a little creative.

Full CTP for a 2014 fatbob with QBE is $15 a week, or $780 a year. Helps me sleep better at night.

Just renewed my full comp with Youi, $306.
We have all our policies with them and saved us a bundle. (around $600)
Remember to check with your insurer each year and shop around, they never tell you about discounts and stuff unless you ask.

Think about it this way. If you don't have at least 3rd party, then I would hate to be you if you hit a Bentley or Rolls. Definitely worth ringing QBE.

Pay Up! Getting the bike stolen is a worry but I worry about the car drivin fuck wits that have no insurance and no money (heaps down here). You have to take them to court, if you can find them for a pissy $25 a week for the next fuckin m10 years and when thay stop paying you have to find rthem and go back to court..Let the insurance Co. do all of that for you.

pay the insurance and buy a garden shed to keep it out of sight the garden shed will cost less than the insurance excess

Try Famous motorbike insurance , imo one of the cheapest around.

Try New England Insurance Brokers ( NEIB) at Stanthorpe QLD. I have had my BMW and both HD's Ins through them. I think by memory in May this year it was $26,000. paid $540..
I do know someone that has claimed through them and they paid up right away.

Watch out for third party issues,
No urban myth my Nephew hit a brand new merc in his HQ.

No insurance and was hassled by Merc drivers insurance company.

Ended up having to declare himself bankrupt which proved a hassle when he got married and wanted to buy a house.

One thing about a garden shed with no floor, if you are going to leave for long periods watch out for water coming up from ground and corroding/marking all the nice shiney bits. Can buy a floor for em for a few hundred extra.

But no matter what, make sure you cover you arse by being at least 3rd party insured.

P.S

On insurance, I am with Shannons, might not be cheapest but have always helped with laid up insurance when either the bikes or I are off the road and for the one claim I had (Other party at fault) they sent assessors to my place and paid up very quickly. Couldn't recommend them better than that as its at claim time insurance companies stumble.

No I don't work for em or anything, just like the way they have treated me, they even inspected my trumpy at Bombala bike show for me to increase the insured value. lol

As everyone else has said , definitely have to have 3rd party .

I have my 99 Springer with Shannons for less than 500 a year and that's insured for 30,000 ... bit of work done on that old girl .

My 08 Softail Custom is with QBE again less than 500 and again insured for 30,000 ... pretty well blinged out that one .

I know the subject has been done to death and I realise age and certain circumstances come into it but anything over 500 seems a bit much to me .

As everyone else just my 2 bobs worth .

The harder and more time consuming the boost is, the more likely a thief will put it in the "too hard basket". Couple of disc locks and a heavy chain with an abloy pl362 will put most cunts off. If their willing to go on with it, then they're pros, and they'll get it anyway. Get insured. Sleep like a kitten.

Thanks guys for the replies - this reallyseems to be a great site

I agree that I'll sleep easier if I have insurance so 3rd party (at least) is a must

I also agree that if you cant afford to loose then you can't afford to not insure it - the problem is that I can afford the $13k or so if I loose it (it will hurt but honestly I've gone thru life not insuring things & I've easily saved that much already by doing so)

I also agree that I can do better than $800

BUT I haven't heard of anyone saying or knowing of a Sportster being stolen

I'll probably fully insure it for the 1st year or 2 but after that will probably go 3rd party only as it seems to me they (at least Sportsters) are not stolen that often

With respect, you make out like your not short of a quid, so by all means don't insure. I'd be heartbroken and financially buttfucked if my scoot got nicked, so for mine it's worth the cost of 4 cups of coffee a week. Your call brother.

53 years old, no claims, all my points still on my licence, $20,500 insurance on my flht. $450, insure my ride.