oh forgot to mention that the self insure option is a great idea, I have my own opps fund building already.

Back threads discussing cheap insurance have suggested Farmers Insurance and Dairyland (and McGraw and American Modern Insurance).

Sometimes the big insurers give a lower price if you have a house & car with them (renters insurance usually counts).

Also, groups like Honda Sport-Touring Assoc. or AMA may have insurance deals available to members.

If you can't find any better insurance prices, then you might try changing the financing whenever you get the chance.   Selling the GS500F can be a problem, since you'll likely find that you owe more on it than it is worth.

EDIT:

Sorry, I meant to send a PM. I am smart.

Just a little info here regarding the post by natedawg120 about getting only minimum insurance:

I just spoke to the financing manager at Action Motorsports and she told me that with bikes under $10K, Suzuki requires no proof of insurance. This means that in a state without mandatory insurance, you can ride without insurance. In a state that requires the minimum, you can ride with liability only if you wish. Check with your local dealer before you change, but just thought I'd drop that info to ya'll.

I will go liability and comp until I get a garage; while the bike is parked in the tarped-off area in the back yard though, I will not risk getting it stolen.

Dave  

hey, thanks a lot for the info 2005-GS500-PDX  

I will ask the dealer and suzuki about this.

About the risk of the bike getting stolen: I think it doesn't matter if you store it on a garage or not, does it?
I mean, I use the bike for transportation, and I can't go from garage to garage all my life. at some point I must leave it parked in the street or a driveway (when I visit gf), or it might get stolen while im at the theater too.


good info. thanks

Very true SUBC. It could get stolen anywhere and at any time. It wouldn't be worth it if I bought the bike for $1500, but I bought it for $5K so I will be putting Comp on it.

Just to give you an idea of what you can expect to save, my policy went from $1490 a year to $467 just by dropping Collission and making no other changes. Hmmm, do I want to save over $1K a year?  :dunno: Uh, yes  

Good luck. Call around after you get the A-OK from the dealer and find a good quote. I'm getting the cheapest so far from Geiko, but do some research and you'll come out ahead.

Dave  

Just get a pitbull...  Take the dog with you...  It'll never get stolen.

Quote from: RVertigoJust get a pitbull...  Take the dog with you...  It'll never get stolen.

best advice ever      ( <- yes, 2 thumbs up)

Quote from: subcbest advice ever      ( <- yes, 2 thumbs up)

   

You can also lock it to things and get the disc locks...  But, I think pitbull would be more effective.

Are those locks pretty effective? It seems like any 2-bit thief that really wanted the bike could still get it. Any other theft-prevention items that would make my bike much less likely to be stolen? I'd rather spend $250 once to keep the bike for getting stolen than $250 a year, EVERY Year!  

Dave  

Quote from: 2005-GS500-PDXAre those locks pretty effective?

:dunno: I can't get one because I KNOW I'd forget to take it off and wreck... :lol:

I see people with them all the time though.  (Seattle area has relatively high vehicle theft).

Anyone else have any reviews or opinions of motorcycle security devices? I Googled the terms and found a lot of products, but who knows what is a good deal and what is junk?

Dave  

Quote from: RVertigo:dunno: I can't get one because I KNOW I'd forget to take it off and wreck... :lol:

I see people with them all the time though.  (Seattle area has relatively high vehicle theft).

Dude that's happened to me at least a dozen times. Start the bike, warm it up, put it into gear, start moving -- then the disc lock comes around and smashes into the brake. The wheel stops turning, the bike stops moving, and the engine stalls. Whoever is around silently laughs at what an idiot noob I am. But nothing was actually damaged, aside from my pride.

Yeah...   :lol: That would be me!  I went riding off the other day in my Vans...  I didn't notice until I shifted to 2nd...

I've also been flying along on the freeway and noticed that I forgot the strap on my helmet.  Good thing it's really damn hard to get off.

And I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have the GS any more if it wasn't for the kick-stand shut off...

Quote from: 2005-GS500-PDXAre those locks pretty effective? It seems like any 2-bit thief that really wanted the bike could still get it. Any other theft-prevention items that would make my bike much less likely to be stolen? I'd rather spend $250 once to keep the bike for getting stolen than $250 a year, EVERY Year!

Our bikes weigh around 180 kg -- all it takes is two guys and a pick-up truck and *poof* no more bike.  All security devices are deterrents only.

C

I'd say a bike cover is probably the first thing to get.  It takes effort for someone to come over and peek under the cover (and risk getting seen).  They may opt to jump out and steal a bike they can see.

If you park the same place frequently (like girlfriend's place), then locking the GS to something substantial is a good idea.

my garage works pretty good.   I used to use a brass padlock through one of the holes in the front brake disc, then roll it all the way foward so if I did try to go anyware I couldn't.  the way I figure it stealing bikes you are going to have some knolege about them, grab the clutch push it over to the truck, and pick it up.  if it won't roll foward to the truck you have about a 99% chance they are going to leave it eithe cause they think your clutch is fked up or they don't want to carry it to the truck.

and the best part is that padlocks cost like 5 bucks.

Davipu that is genius, i would have never thought to use a simple padlock.

Quote from: davipu... I used to use a brass padlock through one of the holes in the front brake disc, then roll it all the way foward so if I did try to go anyware I couldn't...

i got a padlock today.. a bit oversized  
on the front because the bike has to roll backwards



sorry about pic. low light + camera phone.

the padlock was too big to fit on the little holes