RiderSite.com - Motorcycle Forums

I'd delayed insuring the Duke after purchasing it in early December as I knew I wouldn't be riding it until March at the earliest (and the two dumps of snow we've had in March have delayed that even further). So I was a bit miffed when I got a letter from DVLA telling me that I had to either insure the bike or put it on SORN. If I didn't they'd fine me.

So I went to my current insurer and asked for a quote to add the Duke to my existing multi-bike policy. I went through all the questions, including the one 'does it have an alarm/immobiliser/tracker?' to which the answer was No. The girl on the phone said 'give me a few minutes while I contact the insurer'. No problem, I thought.

Imagine my surprise when she came back a few minutes later and informed me that my insurer had declined to quote because no alarm or immobiliser was fitted...! I've always regarded alarms as a waste of time, as everyone just ignores them anyway, and they also can introduce wiring issues and battery drain.

But the insurance company had me over a barrel, as I didn't want to start a standalone policy for the Duke; I wanted it incorporated in my multi-bike policy. Also, any standalone policy would not attract ANY no-claims bonus - it would be just as if I was a first-timer.

So I had to swallow my pride and start searching for an aftermarket alarm. My criteria was simple - cheap and easily fitted (by me). It was really just intended as a get-around to appease the insurance company. This is the one I settled on:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/X-50-KTM-Duk ... 1340469382?

Apparently (I haven't fitted it yet) it plugs straight into a connector thoughtfully provided by KTM for just that purpose and no cutting and soldering/crimping of cables is required. I'll post up a progress report once I've seen how easy/difficult it actually is. Once I was able to tick the boxes for alarm and immobiliser being present the insurance quote was forthcoming, the bike is now insured, and DVLA are off my case.

Has anyone else encountered this requirement when insuring a bike?

One reason I like the HISS fitted on my BB, absolutely no problems.

My CB400/4 also has an immobilizer when its rebuilt as then I can get fully comp ins for £15 a year lol

It's apity you couldnt have said ' I don't need one as I keep a crocodile in the the shed , in the evenings I smoke cystal meth and look out of the window whilst cradling my assult rifle.
Will the insurance company offer you compensation if the Duke gets nicked after having an alarm fitted ?

fatboy wrote:It's apity you couldnt have said ' I don't need one as I keep a crocodile in the the shed , in the evenings I smoke cystal meth and look out of the window whilst cradling my assult rifle.
Will the insurance company offer you compensation if the Duke gets nicked after having an alarm fitted ?

Hahahaha love it, but he doesn't need an alarm, fit an immobilizer instead, far less to go wrong.

Yes, the immobiliser is the more important function. I want to make sure that the alarm isn't too sensitive. It really pisses me off when a puff of wind sets alarms off - very inconsiderate. It also increases the chance of people ignoring the alarm if it's 'crying wolf' all the time.

Gio wrote:

fatboy wrote:It's apity you couldnt have said ' I don't need one as I keep a crocodile in the the shed , in the evenings I smoke cystal meth and look out of the window whilst cradling my assult rifle.
Will the insurance company offer you compensation if the Duke gets nicked after having an alarm fitted ?

Hahahaha love it, but he doesn't need an alarm, fit an immobilizer instead, far less to go wrong.

I thought the crocodile was the immobiliser.....

fatboy wrote:

Gio wrote:

fatboy wrote:It's apity you couldnt have said ' I don't need one as I keep a crocodile in the the shed , in the evenings I smoke cystal meth and look out of the window whilst cradling my assult rifle.
Will the insurance company offer you compensation if the Duke gets nicked after having an alarm fitted ?

Hahahaha love it, but he doesn't need an alarm, fit an immobilizer instead, far less to go wrong.

I thought the crocodile was the immobiliser.....

Bit cumbersome to cart around when you ride I would have thought.

fatboy wrote:

Gio wrote:

fatboy wrote:It's apity you couldnt have said ' I don't need one as I keep a crocodile in the the shed , in the evenings I smoke cystal meth and look out of the window whilst cradling my assult rifle.
Will the insurance company offer you compensation if the Duke gets nicked after having an alarm fitted ?

Hahahaha love it, but he doesn't need an alarm, fit an immobilizer instead, far less to go wrong.

I thought the crocodile was the immobiliser.....

It's also part of the alarm, although one component is removable and only sounds when brought into close proximity to the teeth...

Firestarter wrote:

fatboy wrote:

Gio wrote:

fatboy wrote:It's apity you couldnt have said ' I don't need one as I keep a crocodile in the the shed , in the evenings I smoke cystal meth and look out of the window whilst cradling my assult rifle.
Will the insurance company offer you compensation if the Duke gets nicked after having an alarm fitted ?

Hahahaha love it, but he doesn't need an alarm, fit an immobilizer instead, far less to go wrong.

I thought the crocodile was the immobiliser.....

It's also part of the alarm, although one component is removable and only sounds when brought into close proximity to the teeth...

There you go Gio, Firestarter has solved that problem

Great, but the "close to the teeth" is a bit worrying lol

I am having to fit a cat 1 alarm to the newly purchased Tornado 1130 I have bought before insurance will touch it.
I have been quoted £260 for the alarm including fitting.
There's a chap called the alarm man on fb who is in coalville who comes highly recommended and will supply a certificate for the install for the insurance.

Your insurers are more fussy than mine, Jay. Mine just wanted an alarm, any alarm, before they'd quote. The one I've got has an immobiliser built in and can be retro-fitted with a tracker, so ticks all the boxes.

But to be honest I just went with the cheapest and easiest one I could. I'm no fan of alarms and feel the best insurance against theft is keeping the bike out of sight when not in use and steering clear of city centres.

blinkey501 wrote:I am having to fit a cat 1 alarm to the newly purchased Tornado 1130 I have bought before insurance will touch it.
I have been quoted £260 for the alarm including fitting.
There's a chap called the alarm man on fb who is in coalville who comes highly recommended and will supply a certificate for the install for the insurance.

Thats not good.

Gio wrote:

blinkey501 wrote:I am having to fit a cat 1 alarm to the newly purchased Tornado 1130 I have bought before insurance will touch it.
I have been quoted £260 for the alarm including fitting.
There's a chap called the alarm man on fb who is in Coalville who comes highly recommended and will supply a certificate for the install for the insurance.

That's not good.

Well no not really. Insurance is £550 on top.

Bloody hell, Jay/ What insurance group is the Tornado? That's Panigale V4 levels of premium...