Insurance advice about tread depth

[FJRider]

Kiwibike simply up my excess a bit for track cover. I transfered from Golightly as they didnt offer track cover

Not always as simple as that.

If the claim is accepted ... you pay the excess and nothing more. Apart from them (possibly) upping your excess/premiums for your main policy. And NOT just on track days.

Or they decline your claim. And then (possibly) up your premium and excess. Maybe even refuse cover for your track days.

The ball is ENTIRELY in THEIR court. NOT yours ... Don't rely on any advice in this thread to make it better.

[tigertim20]

He may well be insured to ride on the track day. But the "Up to WoF Standard" clause is common with some insurance companies. And a WoF is required when riding a motorcycle in any public place ... or any place where public have access. Turning up at a race track and signing the waiver form ... might then deem the race track as then a "public place"..

you are confusing this with a public road.

a public road is deemed as a place the public have access to, whether by right or not.

generally, once you are on the track, the gates are closed, which PREVENTS ACCESS, the gate is usually manned as well - so no, its not a 'public road' at all.

To the OP - I would fight it and see where you go, get in touch with a local tyre rep and see what they have to say about the matter - I think you are splitting hairs with the argument - it would have been helpful to you if the bike HAD been scrutineered but youll have a fight with this one I expect.

[Marmoot]

Agree Dave has been great to deal with, but insurance experience is also with the undertaker, not just the broker.
Even with great broker if the undertaker sucks the experience is still bad.

I am now considering my options.

Thanks for sharing.

[FJRider]

it would have been helpful to you if the bike HAD been scrutineered but youll have a fight with this one I expect.

Had it been ... it probably wouldn't have been allowed to participate in the track day. He signed a waiver accepting the event organisers conditions/standards. And declared the bike was up to the standard required. It was not. And the OP knew that. He was caught out. His problem.

No change in the policy conditions was stated by the insurance rep ... nor asked for by the OP ... for the track day. Trying to change terms of the policy AFTER the event (crash) seems a bit stupid. (and pointless)

Begging seems to be the OP's best hope in his next contact with the rep.

[chasio]

...insurance experience is also with the undertaker, not just the broker.

An unfortunate slip of the keyboard!

I wish good luck to the OP but I think you're up the proverbial creek. If it had been a blown headlight bulb I can see you might have had a chance, since it is not relevant to the off. But since it seems that the faulty item may well have contributed, I think this is going to be an expensive lesson.

Look on the bright side: you didn't learn the lesson about your tyres by lowsiding under a truck. If you had, your family could have been dealing with an undertaker, rather than you dealing with an underwriter.

[Dragon]

Just got myself approved for the Victoria motorcyles club track day next month, assuming I don't have work and decide to go.

Got this reply

Hi Alan,



The below track day has been approved and the following conditions will apply:

Excess will be $2,000; this can be brought down to $1000 for a one off payment of $50.

- No timing

- No death benefit

- Only named policy holder will be covered

- Bike must remain in a WOF standard at all times.

- Excludes ‘fast group’



If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact me.



Regards,

I have emailed back seeking clarification on a few things will update with the response

It may be slightly different for me as I have driving charges etc listed on my insurance and I'm only on a 250cc bike insured for 3k and gear covered at 2.5k

I am guessing your bike is worth alot more

[FJRider]

Just got myself approved for the Victoria motorcyles club track day next month, assuming I don't have work and decide to go.

Got this reply

Hi Alan,



The below track day has been approved and the following conditions will apply:

Excess will be $2,000; this can be brought down to $1000 for a one off payment of $50.

- No timing

- No death benefit

- Only named policy holder will be covered

- Bike must remain in a WOF standard at all times.

- Excludes ‘fast group’



If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact me.



Regards,

I have emailed back seeking clarification on a few things will update with the response

It may be slightly different for me as I have driving charges etc listed on my insurance and I'm only on a 250cc bike insured for 3k and gear covered at 2.5k

I am guessing your bike is worth alot more

Have you got the $50 that may save you $1000 .. ???

And have you got $1000 should you bin it .. ???

If the answer to either is no ... Flag it ...

But get a WoF check the day prior. Written proof ... should you have an "off" ...

[Marmoot]

An unfortunate slip of the keyboard!

LOL I know. I chuckled!

[Dragon]

Have you got the $50 that may save you $1000 .. ???

And have you got $1000 should you bin it .. ???

If the answer to either is no ... Flag it ...

But get a WoF check the day prior. Written proof ... should you have an "off" ...

Talked with Dave and was told I only have the 1k access to worry about if I bin it.

I also don't have to have an l plate

plan is im getting a 10000km service done before I head up so should be all good just need to make sure I don't have other commitments when its on

[FJRider]

Talked with Dave and was told I only have the 1k access to worry about if I bin it.

I also don't have to have an l plate

And you wont have an insurance record. (And under 25 ??) But unless you have enough funds to pay the excess should you bin .. you may have the bike put in for repair. But until that excess is paid ... it probably WONT be released back to you.

Even if you HAVE the funds ... but can't afford to "miss" $1000 .. flag the track day.

The worst that can happen ... may ...

And adhere to THEIR conditions if you do it.

[jimichelle]

mate hit a 4x4 what turned in front of him at the lights
totalled his harley and him
the coppers turned up 3 times to go over his bike checking the tyres all 3 times too

[tzrmike]

I am with the same insurer, and I just checked my acceptance, and it has these words on it:
"Bike must remain at WOF standard"
I queried the insurer about this, and they re-affirmed this.

As a result, I no longer remove mirrors or other bits from my bike wen on the track - because it would no longer remain at WOF standard.

This seems ridiculous. How can it be better to smash your mega-dollar factory abs fairings, mirrors, lights, etc, rather than a cheap set of fibreglass "race" bodywork?!? You would think they would actually INSIST you fitted a cheap set of aftermarket fairings.

[discotex]

This seems ridiculous. How can it be better to smash your mega-dollar factory abs fairings, mirrors, lights, etc, rather than a cheap set of fibreglass "race" bodywork?!? You would think they would actually INSIST you fitted a cheap set of aftermarket fairings.

Following this logic you wouldn't need to bother with insurance if aftermarket fairings reduce the claim costs that much... I'm sure Star have hundreds of claims before and after this came in and know if they're saving money.

By limiting to WOF standards they cover all the majors mechanical risks in one go and as a byproduct limit racers (and wannabies) from using a road policy to insure a dedicated track bike (which is far more likely to be written off).

You'd think they wouldn't bother with the hassle of covering track days like most insurers. Star almost went that route. Instead they're managing the loss/risk through excess, WOF requirement, and case-by-case approval. I'm personally bloody grateful for that and have no issues with the conditions.

[FJRider]

Following this logic you wouldn't need to bother with insurance if aftermarket fairings reduce the claim costs that much... I'm sure Star have hundreds of claims before and after this came in and know if they're saving money.

On a $3000 bike ... it doesn't take much fairing damage to write it off. Even if the engine still runs and the bike is still rideable.

By limiting to WOF standards they cover all the majors mechanical risks in one go and as a byproduct limit racers (and wannabies) from using a road policy to insure a dedicated track bike (which is far more likely to be written off).

Track days are not race days. Don't confuse the two. Even timed laps on road bikes are frowned on by the insurance companies. The WoF base standard makes it fair for ALL policy holders. Regardless of the excess they are individually bound to.

You'd think they wouldn't bother with the hassle of covering track days like most insurers. Star almost went that route. Instead they're managing the loss/risk through excess, WOF requirement, and case-by-case approval. I'm personally bloody grateful for that and have no issues with the conditions.

There would be more chance of breaking the conditions of the policy on a track day ... than on the open road.
Track days push the limits of the riders abilities ... and boys will be boys.

A "tidy little earner" for them ...

[discotex]

On a $3000 bike ... it doesn't take much fairing damage to write it off. Even if the engine still runs and the bike is still rideable.

On a $3000 bike isn't going to be on anything other than 3rd party insurance anyway. Even if you're mug enough to pay $500 a year on a $3k bike you've only got $2k of cover after your excess...

Track days are not race days. Don't confuse the two. Even timed laps on road bikes are frowned on by the insurance companies. The WoF base standard makes it fair for ALL policy holders. Regardless of the excess they are individually bound to.

Are you agreeing by arguing with me or something here cause you seem to be making the same point? I've only done 10+ track days and watched a few races so yeah, I might be getting them mixed up

There would be more chance of breaking the conditions of the policy on a track day ... than on the open road.
Track days push the limits of the riders abilities ... and boys will be boys.

A "tidy little earner" for them ...

How is it an earner for them? Aside from the $50 option to reduce your excess from 15% of insured value to $1k they make no more money from track days.

Refusal to pay out on trackday claims is very low as far as I know. Had the OP crashed on SH16 he'd be in the same position given a non-WOF tyre.

I'm as skeptical as the next person about insurance companies but Star and others than insure us for trackdays are doing us a favour. Not the other way around. As far as I can tell they consider it a marketing tool to get people away from AMI/State/etc. They certainly don't profit by offering the cover.