Insurance and track days?

[rapid van cleef]

I am looking at various track days and called my insurance comapny, 'Star'. to be told that there is an excess of between 1000 and 2000 bucks for approved trackdays. They will not offer any cover to 'fast' groups on those days though.(albeit, It will be a while before Im in the fast group!)

Then I called kiwibike insurance and they only have a 250 dollar excess, similarly on approved track days.

Its not like Im planing on binning my bike, but, like most of us...not having a factory support etc I cant afford to ride without insurance with the chance of smashing me bike up. adding to that, a possible 2k excess. I am seriously considering changing insurance to kiwibike. Their premium is cheaper than Star too.

I plan on doing the california superbike school and then to taupo for regular track days.

anyone have any experience of a claim through track accident etc through either of these companies? The thoughts and opinions of the masses are welcome.

regards

[yachtie10]

Check whatever insurance you have or want against the track day you want to do. As some times tracks and/or companies are blacklisted (usually due to amount of claims) which means you may have to change which one you attend or accept the risk.
you dont list what bike you have so I cant know what your risk is.

Personally people who ride expensive machinery on trackdays (im not including training days) should pay a high excess. this may help them stay on their bike.

There was a "trackday" recently where aparently over $100,000 worths of claims was made from the day

[cowboyz]

i think it should be done by a case by case basis as it is on the road. I have done a few trackdays and never crashed on the track. Why should I be penalized because muppets cant keep their bikes upright?

[rapid van cleef]

hey, thanks for the replies to my thread.

My bike is a zx10. whilst regarded as a bit of a nutter bike, it only goes as fast as i make it go. ive never crashed in 10 years riding. anyhoo. after discussing the issue with both insurance companies and the events that they both cover at this moment, why should i stay with star and potentially pay an additional 1750 bucks excess? the guy at star didnt have an answer.

so , should i stay with them , or move to another company. if i can get the same cover for cheaper and 'potenially' only have a 250 dollars excess, why would i stay with star??? thats where my heads at right now.

[cowboyz]

oh, and for what its worth. I got insurance through kiwibike. Done the deal at $250 excess for on road, $250 excess for off road but when it comes round to trackriding excess magically jumped to $2000 for a $6000 bike. Apparently trackriding is not included in the 'offroad' section of my policy. managed to do a deal last year to cover bike except lights and fairings for $500.

just because you make a deal and sign a contract with an insurance company doesnt mean that is the rules they are going to play by. I would check and then double check before bothering changing insurance companies. Getting it in writing is not enough either. The rules will change - that is for certain.

The most upsetting thing about it is people think this is acceptable.

[yachtie10]

There was a ZX10 that highsided at hampton downs yesterday
remarkably little damage to the bike but the rider was limping badly

most people dont intend to bin but i think a high excess is an incentive not to go nuts (and better than raising everyones premium)
Can those who do lots of trackdays advise if there is usually expensive damage to bikes apart from the usual fairings etc (crashing on a trackday) the crashes I have seen are the usual fairings indicators etc

You can hire bikes at Hampton downs but I've heard the excess is pretty huge if you bin

[vifferman]

I ...called my insurance comapny, 'Star'. to be told that there is an excess of between 1000 and 2000 bucks for approved trackdays.
Then I called kiwibike insurance and they only have a 250 dollar excess, similarly on approved track days.

Kiwibike is only a broker, and Star is one of the companies they sell policies for (in fact, the one I'm insured with, via Kiwibike). I nearly did a trackday recently, and Kiwibike said my bike would have a $1k excess, and I'd be insured only if I attended the Advanced Rider Training session before the trackday itself.

I decided the dubious benefits of the trackday didn't outweigh the financial and physical risks.

I may well do one this year however - take a few risks and live a little before I sell my bike or cark it.

[rapid van cleef]

Hmmmmmmm. ok, i know kiwi bike is a broker. I am planning on doing the advanced rider training day first anyway, as i have never been on a track. then go to taupo , do a few days there, then the california superbike school. so it seems as thought insurance companies can change their minds whenever they bloody like!

[Voltaire]

I did a HMCC rider training day at Hampton Downs recently, for the 900ss ( 10 years old) Go Lightly ( insured with Vero) said no as it was not one of the two recognized training providers.
I have an old Darmah insured thru the Vintage Car Club for $ 120 a year...called them and they were uncertain what a track day was....they came back with 3K excess....so the Darmah it was..... I was only in the learner group but I had a ball...
Have fun

Deciding on insurance is like choosing a mobile phone plan....you know they are going to get you somewhere.

[ynot slow]

Get anything in writing with date on it,and even email as well,stating excess etc.When I had first bike insured through Kiwibiker they asked if I was going to ride on track,nope was my reply along with them saying if I did tell them and track cover is placed on the policy,with no aditional excess,but that has changed now.
I'm of the opinion to get them to ok what you want to do,i.e Manfeild trackday 9th Jan competing in slow,medium or fast group,rider will be xyz,and asking for excess,this to be emailed and/or posted to me.

[Starky307]

The whole reason I'm insured through Kiwibike is for the plan that gives me track day coverage with the least excess and least restrictions. I always have to get email confirmation before participating but I'm yet to be turned down. The whole insurance coverage is based on rider training so there can be no timing of any sort etc, it seems pretty solid so far (touch wood) and only $250 excess as with riding on the road.

I could of insured my bike for less else where but then get shafted or not covered at all for track days, I chose the piece of mind and stayed with kiwibike.

I say change the insurance companies and go with Kiwibike.

[cowboyz]

and yet I get turned down all the time via kiwibike and star insurance. which seems weird to me because,
a, I have never crashed
b, any crash will be a realively low payout having a $6k bike (rather than a 20k bike)
c, ive never crashed.

got an email pending to see if I am covered for this weekend.

Just got confirmation that insurance will not cover any trackdays without a licence.

[ynot slow]

got an email pending to see if I am covered for this weekend.

Just got confirmation that insurance will not cover any trackdays without a licence.

Can't see why no licence at the time is a problem,if you're disqualified shows you had one,fair enough if you haven't got a licence.

But then they use the old thought of no licence,hmm disqualified,hmmm speed/demerits or dic,careless etc.On the other hand it is in the insurance companies interests if you speed on the track to get your fix rather than the road,if you crash on the track it costs them to repair your bike only,on the road it could also involve a $100K mercedes or similar as well.Can see both sides of equation but don't agree with it(insurance angle).

[cowboyz]

insurance is beginning to be more and more of a joke. Just got confirmation that I will not be covered for this weekends trackday because I am about to lose my licence. Never mind that I still have a licence. still have a warrented/registered bike. No.. because I am going to lose my licence I am not covered.

whats the next step? You warrent is about to run out in 3 months time so its the same as not having one?

[ynot slow]

Bloody crazy,the rules of trackday are licence,bike wof/rego and gear,nothing about if your losing licence in x days don't ride,so what gives with insurance companies,at the time of trackday you have met every clause for organisers and insurance companies.Who cares if in the following few days you will lose privelidge of a licence due to demerits,hell no difference to a guy who gets pinged on Friday dic and goes to court on Tuesday or so and will lose his licence,but is able to complete a track day with insurance as he still has licence.