Katana Owners Club U.K.

Hi

Not been here in a while but mainly I don't have a Kat any more. Come to think about it I don't ride a Suzuki anymore. Anyway what I am after is do any of you guys pop over to mainland Europe and if you do who do you use for breakdown cover. My old Kwak is coming up 30 and I cant get cover for Europe for anything over 16 what is rubbish. There is a reason people ride old bikes, they are reliable.

I'm I the same boat, I've got a four year old car covered by the rac but when I enquired about bike cover I was told it had to be 15 years old or younger (my Kawasaki kr1 is 25 years old and has 12000 miles on the clock and my 250 kat is 21 years old and has covered 22000 km, about 13000 miles) a bmw bike owner could do more miles in just one year, hopefully with a lot of tlc and regular maintenance they won't let me down.

I get my insurane through Carol Nash which includes UK and European breakdown cover in it's policies. There is no age "limit" clause.

"European Assistance: Breakdown assistance within Europe, including roadside
assistance and repatriation if your vehicle cannot be repaired."

"Vehicle(s) covered The policy only applies to the vehicle(s) covered on your
motor insurance policy."

That's why I always tend to use them and I have a multi bike policy as well! though there is a 4 callouts limit per year. Some other brokers offer the same (Footman James).

One thing to note, while on an Alps biking holiday with my brothers, my oldest brother trashed his 9 month old 1200mile SV650 on the Col de la Cayolle at about the further south we were on that holiday. I had to ride 40 odd minutes just to get a phone signal and talked to his breakdown cover people. They would not arrange for the bike to be recovered as it was an accident and not a breakdown! Unbelievable! We just left it there and once back at the hotel got the helpful good english speaking manager to arrange a local shop to pick up a few days later, but by that time we had moved on and it never made it back to the UK.

Also you need to make sure your own insurance covers riding motorbikes over 125cc as some of these exclude motorcycling as dangerous sports.

Rob

im with peter james and my policy includes full european breakdown cover for all my bikes, even my 1953 bsa.

I decided to have a look as some classic bike sites for hints/ideas who to try and seen this lot

http://www.hagertyinsurance.co.uk/Class ... -insurance" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

They use AXA for the breakdown. Go to AXA site and stick in my reg and get the message that they cover no older than 17. WTF is that all about on a classic insurance site. You talking RAC pooki I am sure they will cover me at 90 quid but repatriation was a total of 500. I am sure if I break down in the Black Forrest it would cost a hell of a lot more to shit my bike back to Scotland. In an ideal world I want UK car and bike cover on one policy that will give me a couple of weeks in Europe. Even if I have to pay a bit extra I am happy with that but not to be raped out my beer money.

I never bothered before as all I did was go from north to south Holland and back but my mate who lives over there does not get his works van home anymore what was handy as he is a bike mechanic.

Ah good one Carl Nash and Peter James to look at as the bike insurance is due in March and the cover wont be needed until then. Bike is in the shed for winter as I am getting to old for this winter riding rubbish. That is what the car was invented for.

Carol Nash is through AXA as well. I was going to get a Peter James quote next renewal (March). I have one modern and 3 classic on my policy. Carol Nash admin fees were I thought a bit high if making changes mid term so I always avoided that.

How odd that AXA will cover if through Carl Nash. Now I got a quote and they want 230 quid for insurance and UK - Europe breakdown cover. Now that is not bad but does not cover the car what the wife drives more than me. Need to ask more about that when the time comes However, Peter James. They came in at 130 quid what is great but I had to do a white lie as the only option for night parking was locked premises or garage. I have none. Well a shed for winter if that counts but I don't live in the kind of area where theft if common so again I will need to phone and ask more nearer the time but two contenders as I could get the breakdown added to the car at next renewal for something stupid like 30 quid but UK only.

The breakdown cover isn't actually arranged with the insurance company , it is an arrangement agreed with brokers, so basically the bike is insured with. Say AXA But the cover is with say SOS through the broker, the legal cost is with another company through the broker.. It comes as a package which they buy in bulk. So get a decent discount and use as a loss leader to get the buisiness .

We have the same deal with our car as it is an import. So a specialist broker.

Peter James has my continued support which includes all the above European and uk breakdown for all bikes listed on policy.

thing to note.
footman james cover (and i assume most others) will only spend up to the value of the bike for recovery/repatriation so if its a "classic" (read old) bike make sure you have an agreed value on it