Race Exhaust Systems And Insurance

Yep, that would be about the gist of it in 99% of cases I dare say.

 

If you were an insurance company, would you insure it when it says 'not for road use' on it?
Their business model is to minimise risk, not invite it.

 

Are you being asked specifically during the quote?

 

The onus is upon the applicant to declare….

 

BikeSure.

I told them categorically that I have an Akrapovic full system on my 1200. They accepted that but said they don’t cover individual extras. So if I damage it or loose it they’ll pay the price of the standard bike.

I’ll take that.

 

Fair cop!
From previous threads (this and other forums), the majority don't bother mentioning it, and cross their fingers.

 

My bikes are insured on a multi-bike classic policy with agreed values and mods declared. I even sent pictures of them showing front/left/right/rear views so, Termignoni exhausts etc. clearly visible. They didn't ask if the exhausts were road legal or not but you would think, a specialist bike insurer would know what they were looking at.

As for any replacement with OEM parts, I'm pretty certain an OEM exhaust system for any of my bikes would cost more than an after-market replacement and the originals are likely to be NLA anyway.

 

Also, depends if your actually wanting insurance in case of mishap, or just a certificate and an on line presence to keep the old bill happy.

 

Do any of these full systems have “Not road legal” physically stamped on them?

 

I would think they all do, probably a legal requirement? Unless they're legal with, the supplied baffles fitted, in which case they are legal as sold and removal of the baffles is not the manufacturer's concern.

But, in the case of 916 series Termis the 'Race use only' is stamped on the band that holds the end on the can but, this band sits underneath the undertray so it is impossible to read without some major dismantling plus, it's only lightly stamped into the stainless steel riveted-on band which is easily replaced or will polish out without much effort.

 

Back when I was young, reckless and end cans actually made some performance difference to a bike I used to find 1200 wet n dry would have that off in 10mins.

nowadays you need a full system requiring a second mortgage and I have to consider my long term hearing too

 

Did you tell them it was a race system and “not for road use?”

Initially they said they would insure me for the full factory system and I thought, great ! Then when I looked into what they had actually done, all became apparent, as they had filed it under the banner of “road-legal modifications !”

When I pointed out that it was a full factory race exhaust and not for road use, then under no circumstances would they insure me !!!

Slippy b######s !

 

Unfortunately what you actually pointed out to them was that your bike is no longer in a road legal state therefore they had no choice but to refuse insurance as it is a condition of all policies, you would have been far better off accepting their initial response.

 

Local to me, 2 of the small number of remaining motorcycle MoT testers, are now actively declining to test a motorcycle with what they consider an excessively loud exhaust fitted. I have also had a first hand conversation with a tester a bit further away from me, where he said that he has had to resort to photographing motorcycles ‘as tested’ after being questioned by traffic officers about the validity of the MoT of a motorcycle they had stopped. Andy

 

https://www.britishmotorcyclists.co.uk/mot-photo-checks-to-go-national/

 

Not sure if he was one of the testers to trial the proposed new system but I got the impression it was to cover his arse. Andy

 

Actually, I told them the truth !

Also, you are correct in stating that your bike must be in a road legal state. As such, you accept that I would have had no insurance at all, had I taken your advice of accepting their initial response and not told the truth.

 

In that case I believe the only way for you to get insurance is to remove the full factory system and install a road legal exhaust system, as well as ditch any other performance related items on your bike, unless all you want is track day insurance of course.
Good luck and please if you do find a company that will cover you as the bike currently is then pass that info on to us all