cheapest liability coverage insurance & other questions

[TheGoodGuy]

Since I am planning on getting my bike up and running soon, I wanted to see if there is a consensus on insurance coverage.


For years I used to pay 50/yr for Markel American Motorcycle Insurance, that was great for liability, but they don't operate in California anymore.
Geico is about 80/yr for just liability, and a full coverage is about 180.. that's not bad.


-- also what do I do with my old gear, the helmet is now 20 years old (well at least one is) -- the bike is 21 years old.. seesh.. its old enough to drink  -- I'll need to get newer helmets and stuff.

[ShowBizWolf]

I understand that there are many contributing factors to insurance rates so I'll be specific with my info.

I'm 35, live in a small Pennsylvania town and my GS is a '98.
I've got no accidents on my record that were my fault... the two that are on there were from 2012 and 2013. One was when a lady backed into me while I was stopped behind her and the other was when I was rear-ended while stopped, waiting to make a turn.
I bundle my homeowners insurance with my vehicles (two cars, a minivan and my GS.)
For several years, I was with Nationwide. I switched near the end of 2020 to Progressive. Their rates for my vehicles for the exact same coverage saved me hundreds. The homeowners insurance is a bit more but nowhere near the amount I save on the vehicles.
Nationwide was charging me a whopping $397 a year for full coverage on my bike. I now pay $93 a year for full coverage with Progressive. That also includes roadside assist.

If I had any experience with filing a claim, I'd definitely share how it went... but thankfully, I don't. When I was going to switch, I read over customer reviews (ya never know which ones are real, who to trust, etc. but I still read over them) as well as talking with my agent about any complaints she has heard about in her years of experience. After that, I felt confident in going ahead with the switch.

As for the gear... I'd be excited about new gear and a helmet!

I wish you the best of luck getting everything sorted and back on your bike 

[mr72]

For years I used to pay 50/yr ...Geico is about 80/yr for just liability,

You might consider an independent agent who can shop your insurance for you and get the lowest rate. We have been using an independent agent for decades who proactively searches for the best deal and we end up switching brands often. Currently we have Travelers. I think for liability only we are paying about $200/yr for two m/c riders and four bikes (two regular motorcycles, two scooters). The scooter made the biggest difference in insurance cost. But that may change next year if my agent finds a better deal, and he often does. BTW my wife and I are both 49 with super clean driving records.

-- also what do I do with my old gear, ...I'll need to get newer helmets and stuff.

You should change your helmet every 5 years according to the mfg. recommendation not only because the material degrades passively, but also because the tech improves so newer helmets are simply better at doing their job. Plus, it's a good time to get yourself a good full-face helmet, in case you had an open-face before. If you have a good jacket with replaceable armor, replace the armor, keep the jacket. But beware, once you go down, all of those seams are going to take a lot of stress trying to keep the armor where it belongs, and as you know, that can weaken over time. Analysis of my crashed gear revealed a lot, really made me specific about my future gear choices. I replace my gloves more than every 5 years because they just wear more than any other stuff.

Make yourself a museum for your old gear. You'll eventually have a collection.

[TheGoodGuy]

so I ended up getting Geico - the base liability was 80 ish, but the full was like 225 ish.. so I went with that option since I plan to ride it.

now to finish the repair service in the house before i send it to the shop. I need new tires but I'll be going through all the stuff and posting as I go along. I cant wait to get back on the road.. though the GF and parents are not happy lol

[ShowBizWolf]

I'm excited for you and I look forward to your progress.

I can understand about the parents... my Dad used to ride so he understands (and has a healthy amount of worry) but my Mom worries a LOT. And I don't blame her, I really don't. Even though I never ride aggressively and I always wear my gear, it's other people and variables on the road that pose significant threats.