Buell Insurance Discount: Bikesure Celebrates Buell's 25th Birthday With 10% Offer

To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Buell motorcycle company, Bikesure is offering 10% discount on all new motorcycle insurance for Buell bikes taken out before the end of the year. The 10% can be combined with several of Bikesure's other discount deals, such as limited mileage schemes, to get even cheaper motorbikeinsurance. "Buell has a relatively short history but it's a company that's all about biking passion, commitment and dedication," says Robert Balls of Bikesure. "Their radical attitude to design, their technical wizardry and the bikes' cool, aggressive looks have fired imaginations and inspired bikers since the company was founded by former Harley-Davidson (http://www.harley-davidson.com/wcm/Content/Pages/home.jsp?locale=en_GB) engineer Erik Buell (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erik_Buell) in 1983. "Over the years Bikesure has developed special polices for both Harley-Davidson and Buell motorcycles. We wanted to get involved in the celebrations, so we chatted to some of our Buell customers and the discount seemed the best way." The discount will apply to all Buell bikes – sports, streetfighter and adventure, along with Buell's various derivatives – and to both new and used machines. To get a quote simply call the Bikesure quoteline on 0800 089 2000 or visit the company's website - www.bikesure.co.uk - where you can also buy cover online. Bikesure is 100% British owned and based. It has a huge range of specialist policies for the motorcycle enthusiast, including cheap motorbikeinsurance schemes for performance and custom bikes, scooters, trikes, quads and bug riders. news source : http://www.pr-usa.net/

Loose Change: Some tips on downsizing to a motorbike

One sure-fire way to save on gas is to ditch your car altogether and downsize to a motorbike. From Consumer Reports, here are five considerations to keep in mind before you buy your first bike: You may need to get a special license. In some states, smaller scooters require a vehicle license to operate and not a motorcycle license. Limitations on where the bike can be operated. As a general rule, vehicles that go below 30 mph are restricted to the right lane or the shoulder.

You should take a class. You’ll need to learn how to work the throttle and brakes, and how to take turns. You’ll have to find insurance. One good thing about insuring a motorcycle or scooter is it’s cheaper than insuring your car. You should shop around for a helmet. Although only 20 states currently require helmets for everyone, it is a safety feature that you shouldn’t go without. (In Texas, those age 21 and older can get helmet exemptions by passing amotorcycle course or proving that they have a minimum level of insurance.) Head injuries are the leading cause of death in motorcycle crashes. When you buy your helmet, look for one that complies with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s standards.

news source : http://www.star-telegram.com/

BIKE INSURANCE FIRM IN THE HUNT FOR BRITAIN’S BIKING TALENT

BIKE INSURANCE FIRM IN THE HUNT FOR BRITAIN’S BIKING TALENT Carole Nash, the UK’s favourite motorbike insurance broker, is once again searching for the nation’s finest two-wheeled machine with the launch of the 2008 Britain’s Got Biking Talent competition. A bumper prize package is on offer for the winner, including £1,000 cash and the chance to see their pride and joy displayed at one of Europe’s biggest motorcycle shows. Karl Galloway, of Takeley, Essex, took top prize in last year’s Carole Nash Britain’s Got Biking Talent competition and is set to fly out to Japan in September to enjoy the thrills and spills of the Motegi circuit. His modified Kawasaki 1200cc ZRX bike, which he built in memory of his mother, also featured in Carole Nash’s 2008 calendar which was given away and sold to over 120,000 bike fans nationwide.

Now the UK’s biggest motorcycle insurance specialist, Carole Nash, in association with biker’s bible MotorCycle News (MCN), is once again seeking out the nation’s favourite motorbikes. Last year the competition attracted over 1,500 entries and to get involved this year all you have to do is upload a picture of your beloved bike onto the MCN website. An expert judging panel will then whittle down the entries to a shortlist of 50 which will be put to the public vote on both the Carole Nash and MCN websites. The 12 bikes receiving the highest number of votes will then be professionally photographed with their owners for the calendar. They will also feature on a special Carole Nash Britain’s Got Biking Talent stand at November’s International Motorcycle Show where the winner will be revealed in front of 200,000 show visitors. This year the owner of Britain’s best loved bike will walk off with a £1,000 cash prize with the runner up getting a Shoei helmet worth nearly £400 and the third placed winner £250 worth of Spada biking gear. The helmet and leather winners will also receive Carole Nash helmet and leather cover. All three will also enjoy up to £250 off a Carole Nash bike insurance policy, VIP passes to the International Motorcycle Show and a night’s accommodation.

Rebecca Donohue, head of marketing at Carole Nash, said: “Last year Britain’s Got Biking Talent really captured the imagination of the biking public. We were deluged with entries and the judges faced a really difficult task in coming up with a shortlist. Karl’s Kawasaki was magnificent and a deserved winner but now we want to find its successor, the best loved bike in 2008.” Riders can enter their bikes on the MCN website from Wednesday July 23rd and they will stay online until the judges announce the top 12 finalists going through to the public vote on September 27th. To be in with a chance of winning just visit the MCN website then click ‘Upload your bike’, fill out a few details and upload some pictures. Carole Nash recommend choosing images that have been taken in good light against a clear background, without anybody sitting on the bike. Once a bike is uploaded, MCN users will be able to rate it from one to five, and post comments.

news source : http://www.responsesource.com/

Bike Insurance - Bikers urged to buy bike insurance

Motorbike lovers have been reminded to make sure they take out the bike insurance policies that would save them money and give them a peace of mind. A statement from Cheap Motorbike Insurance advised customers of the need to avoid expensive bike insurance premiums and go for pay as you go policies, which will guarantee a number of benefits that include payment convenience.

Commenting on this, a senior marketing executive at Cheap Motorbike, Jane Hudson said: “All vehicles inclusive of a motorbike are prone to mishaps while driving… The expenses accrued on such mishap are likely to take away a large part of your finances but you could be wise and choose insurance.”

Ms Hudson went on to urge bikers to purchase pay as you go motorbike insurance so as to avoid the stress of paying a lump-sum premium. This, she added, will enable customers make monthly convenient instalments and reduce the pressure on their budget.

news source : http://www.onlyfinance.com/Bike-Insurance-News/

Bike Insurance - Bikes popular with commuters in london - 09/07/2008

According to the British Motorcyclists Federation, motorcycles are becoming more and more of an attractive option, with those commuting to work in the city of London. It has been suggested that the reasons for this is a combination of individuals not wanting to pay the congestion charge, as well as the fact that people are now wanting to proceed more swiftly in traffic, has led to a higher population of motorcycles in London.

This is a view by Jeff Stone who is the public relations manager for BMF media. He further commented on the issue saying “Indeed the rising use of this type of vehicle has meant that accidents have actually decreased, which could spell good news for riders’ motorbikeinsurance premiums, he said. “

He also stated “Because of the increase of people using motorcycles and the decrease in people using cars, the accident rates have actually gone down in London.”

news source : http://www.onlyfinance.com/

Do scooter drivers catch break on insurance?

While it’s true that drivers save gas money driving scooters and motorcycles, do they really save money in the end? Besides the price of a scooter or motorcycle and the fuel costs that come with it, auto insurance is another thing that drivers should consider. “By and large motorcycle rates are real competitive now,” says Mike Flowers, the owner of a local Allstate agency.

Motorcycle insurance is the usual blanket term given to insurance covering those who ride motorcycles, scooters and mopeds. Insurance companies consider a variety of factors when determining rates. Age, driving record, size of motorcycle or scooter, marital status and time with a motorcycle license are among variables considered byinsurance companies.

Under Texas law, a driver is required to have liability insurance. The minimum liability that a driver of an automobile must carry is $25,000 in bodily injury for one person, $50,000 in bodily injury for all injuries in one accident and $25,000 for property damage liability. Both motorcycles and cars have the same liability requirements. “We’re getting three or four calls every other day for people who are driving to Austin and San Antonio for work and want to save money on gas,” Flowers said. “It’s constant.”

Gene Wheeler of New Braunfels has been driving scooters for almost two years. “I love it,” Wheeler said. So much so that he is part of a group of scooter lovers that call themselves the Texas Road Rats. One of the Road Rats’ favorite rides is on River Road of Loop 337. He says that it costs him $179 a year to fully cover his 400 cc Suzuki Bergman. His car is insured for $456 a year. He describes himself as aninsurance shopper; looking for better rates once his policy expires.

“Last year I had Progressive, until they raised their rates,” Wheeler said. He says that in his experience in shopping for motorcycle insurance, a driver receives almost uniform rates for driving a scooter between 50 and 400 cc’s. He said rates get higher and began to vary for 400 cc’s and above

news source : http://herald-zeitung.com/

Bike Insurance - Motorcycle riders safety crackdown - 24/06/2008

Motorbike riders were put under the spotlight by police officers in York as part of a campaign against rogue motoring, according to a local news source. In a report, York Press stated that officials in the area working under the Operation Footpath programme handed out three £30 fines to adults caught riding on public footpaths.

According to the news source, police had also clamped down on rogue drivers and additional reports suggest that fixed penalty notices were handed out to motorists found driving without a seatbelt while behind the wheel.

Police say that such behaviour can result in more expensive car or bike insurance policies should cover firms view them to be a risk on the roads. PC Jo Brooke said: “We hope what we have done this weekend will make people think twice before breaking the law in future and set out a clear signal to them.”

Earlier, a report by Swindon Advertiser stated that police had mounted a crackdown operation to catch out drivers travelling over the legal speed limit. At the same time, figures released by the Department for Transport show that some 3,150 people were killed on roads in the UK during 2006. It is believed that figures could be reduced by measures that include clampdowns.

news source : http://www.onlyfinance.com/

Scooter Sales Rise As Gas Prices Continue To Climb

CHICAGO (CBS) ― Some drivers are so down and out about the price at the pump, scooter sales are up. CBS 2's Kristyn Hartman reports they're the hot new commodity on the roads. Americans have long had a love affair with their cars, but with spiking gas prices Glen Richardson says his attraction to four wheels is wearing off. He has a new crush on something that can get more than 80 miles to the gallon.

"I bought it and fell in love with it," Richardson said of his scooter. "I took it to church and it was the talk of the church. People came out and asked how does it work, and is it like a motorcycle? I said no it's totally different bike." Johnny Scheff, owner of Motoworks of Chicago, explains the difference between the two to customers looking to buy. "On a cycle you have a clutch, 5 or 6 gears, significantly heavier, significantly more powerful. Scooters are light weight, very easy to ride," Scheff said.

He sold almost as many scooters in the month of May as he did all of last year. He also says at least a couple of brands nationally have doubled their sales numbers. At ACE Motorcycle and Scooter Co. in the West Loop, interest has been so high, they'll be turning some of their repair room into a showroom. They think the bike will sell because "The initial price, bike insurance and the operating costs are all low," owner Chad McDade said. Entry level models are around $2,000, and some go as fast as 95 miles an hour. Others aren't made for anything over 40. "It's mostly for in the city," McDade said. "It's mostly for the errands. People don't want to take their Hummers to get something small.

That's one reason Richardson is smitten. But he's actually upgrading to a heavier model, though he said he doesn't use his scooter in the winter months. Protective gear is recommended for anyone on a scooter. Many dealers offer test drives, and for some models you don't even need a different class of license.

news source : http://cbs2chicago.com

ETA's pimped Charge Plug is going for gold

You've seen Pimp My Ride, now it's time to pimp your bike – and without a forty-something man who talks like a rapper in sight. Bike insurance and breakdown bods, ETA, have taken a standard, single-speed Charge Plug two-wheeler and pimped it beyond all recognition. After stripping the frame, polishing it and plating it in copper, it's been finished in 24ct gold. Not the ideal substance for something you could end up using to haul yourself up steep hills and through rush hour traffic but it sure looks the business – if you spend your spare time chillaxing with P Diddy.

Of course the mods don't stop with the frame. The wheels have been rebuilt using white velocity deep-v rims and the chain, seat and handlebars have had a lick of white too. To finish, the front wheel has been radially spoked. As with anything of this ilk, price is on application, but if you fancy owning one (and lord knows someone must or it'll have been a huge waste of time) then you can win one on the ETA website.

news source : http://stuff.tv/

Bikers get top insurance deals on web

The UK's 1.2m motorbike, moped and scooter owners will be able to shop around for the cheapest motor insurance with the launch of a new online comparison site. The site, from swift cover.com, enables riders to compare quotes from a panel of more than 19 specialist brokers and insurance firms, including Devitt, MCE and MotorCycle Direct.

The average cost of running a 125cc bike is now £1,540, with insurance the second biggest expenditure after fuel. This service claims it will save riders more than 37% on their premiums — or an average of £143 a year. If you find a cheaper quote elsewhere, the site promises to beat it. However, this applies only to riders aged 21 years old and over.

news source : http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/

Bike Insurance - Brits may turn to motorbikes to save money

Motorists could save money during the credit crisis by swapping four wheels for two, the AA has suggested. Using a motorcycle to get around could prove to be a cheaper option than a car as bike insurance is usually less costly than car cover and motorcyclists also avoid having to fork out for congestion charges. It is also far easier to park a motorbike which is another advantage it has over its four wheeled brother.

AA public relations manager, Ian Crowder, has predicted that the economically friendly motorcycle will become more popular on Britain’s roads as motorists look to save money. “I don’t think we are going to see huge increased numbers of bikes used but I think a lot of people have a bike as a second vehicle rather than a sole vehicle,” said Mr Crowder. Around one-in-seven woman would consider abandoning their car in favour of a motorcycle for financial reasons, a recent Post office survey has found.

news source : http://www.onlyfinance.com/

Motorcycles need respect and good training

It was tough Monday afternoon watching yet another young motorcyclist being buried while his mom, dad and the love of his life looked on, still in shock. Already, some hard questions are being asked: How can a kid who just got his licence legally ride a 1,000cc machine? Why are bikes legally sold to rookie riders that can easily do twice the speed limit, and more? These are the wrong questions, focusing on the wrong thing: the bike. A motorcycle by itself never hurt anyone. A bike is as safe, or unsafe, as its user. Luc Bourdon was a very good kid by all accounts, who made one wrong decision at a very bad moment in time. Let he who has never done the same cast the first stone.

Too often though, on a motorcycle, that one lapse of judgment might turn out to be your last, especially on super-powerful machines that are growing increasingly popular, as are motorcycles in general, even if sales in New Brunswick dipped slightly last year. The Motorcycle and Moped Industrial Council says almost half the bikes sold in Canada last year were 951cc or bigger. Those are some powerful machines. Every year, another 2,200 new motorcycles on average are sold in New Brunswick. Some suspect that with the skyrocketing price of fuel these days that number can only grow, though soaring motorcycleinsurance premiums will eat up a lot of those savings. Hardcore motorcyclists say there are two kinds of bikers: those who have crashed, and those who will crash.

I know many bikers, none of whom ride irresponsibly, all of whom have taken rider-safety courses and yet all but two of whom have found themselves being collected by paramedics at one point or another. The other two who have yet to take advantage of New Brunswick's free ambulance service have indeed dumped their bikes before, but walked away with little more than scratches and a good story to tell around the campfire. If some good is to come from the loss of Luc Bourdon, perhaps it will be that each rider reviews his or her riding habits, and maybe it's time to have a second look at our requirements for licensing new riders as well.

That being said, it's worth noting that the training of motorcyclists has never been better and the stats reflect that, with the majority of motorcyclists taking training above and beyond what is required by law. Deaths have been almost halved from their peak in the 1970s and injuries are down 48 per cent. There is also the argument that having the power of 1,000ccs under your butt when you need it can save your bacon in some situations as well. Experienced riders say it can be a valid argument. But can we do more than what we are already doing to make sure riders come home safe? Luc also took a highly regarded motorcycle course, after all. The bottom line is that one can't lose sight of the fact that blaming big-bore bikes by themselves as the cause of tragedies such as the one we saw this past week would be as silly as blaming forks for obesity.

news source : http://timestranscript.canadaeast.com/

Bikers get top insurance deals on web

The UK's 1.2m motorbike, moped and scooter owners will be able to shop around for the cheapest motor insurance with the launch of a new online comparison site. The site, from swift cover.com, enables riders to compare quotes from a panel of more than 19 specialist brokers and insurance firms, including Devitt, MCE and MotorCycle Direct.

The average cost of running a 125cc bike is now £1,540, with insurance the second biggest expenditure after fuel. This service claims it will save riders more than 37% on their premiums — or an average of £143 a year. If you find a cheaper quote elsewhere, the site promises to beat it. However, this applies only to riders aged 21 years old and over.

news source : http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/

Bike Insurance - Off-road biker case reminds small vehicle operators of importance of insurance

A 22 year-old off-road biker from Hall i’th’ Wood faces child neglect and dangerous driving charges after speeding away from police while balancing a seven-year-old-boy on his bike, The Bolton News recently reported.

"This is an example of how dangerous off-road biking is and how irresponsible some people can be,” Inspector Tony Kenyon told The Bolton News. “We can only be thankful that a serious accident did not occur and we want to do everything we can to prevent such incidents leading to tragedy." The man was riding his bike on the playing fields near Canon Slade School, while the child was straddling the bike between the man and the handle bars.

The report reminded readers that use of mini-motos, scooters and quad bikes require legal documents such as bike insurance and road tax, given that they are classed as motor vehicles. Insurance cover, for example, would be necessary for any operators of these vehicles before they can be operated in any fashion on public roads.

"These machines are often bought for young people as toys,” inspector Kenyon was further quoted in The Bolton News. “However, nuisance from off-road motor vehicles being used illegally is having an increasing impact on communities across Bolton and there are serious concerns about the safety of riders and pedestrians."

news source : http://www.onlyfinance.com/