'Modification' will it affect insurance premiums

DKLS

I thought that all moped owners de restricted their rides by fiddling with the exhausts. There is one near me and I dont know what he has done to it but it goes like the clappers.

iolanthe07

but it goes like the clappers

Probably sounds like the clappers too - bloody noisy sods.

ciderboy2009

Phlik wrote: »

(highly unlikely to get caught, I never was ).

Around my way the police regularly have operations where they round up moped riders and completely check over their bikes - including putting them on a rolling road to check power & measuring noise levels.

Each time they run the operation there are a number of mopeds that they take off of the road :rotfl:

Gloomendoom

Insurance companies also take into account whether, or not, a modification might make a vehicle more tempting to thieves. Aftermarket alloy wheels usually come into this category.

They also might view the sort of person that wants to fit a sports exhaust, whether it improves the performance or not, as potentially a higher risk driver.

Even colour can make a difference. It has been known for red and black cars to attract a higher premium than other colours.

Of course there are all kinds of other reasons why people fit non standard parts, but insurers prefer to look at the worst case scenario.

Coveredinbees!!!!

In short, a youngster I know needs a new exhaust for his scooter.
The price for a standard one is £170+vat (+ fitting if he can't do it)

Fitting an exhaust should be simple undo the bolts holding on the old one replace with the new one, not forgetting to fit a new exhaust gasket. The only problem you might have is the bolts could be seized so spray them with plusgas. If you can't get plusgas try WD40.

He's been quoted a lot less for a sports exhaust. (about £60 less I think it was)

Might not be that simple, the carb might need to be rejetted particularly if it's a 2 stroke.

I've said to be careful as the insurance co might want more money, but wondered where he stood.

Insurance companies will want to know but how often do lads on scooters tell them? Not very often.


Also if it's a moped it might make it no longer a moped, have you tried looking for a pattern exhaust, one that looks like standard but isn't?

*bob*

Thanks to everyone for your replies.
I decided to ring an insurance co for their advice and they said it would need to have a kite mark to ensure it was safe for use in the uk, and to have written proof of how it would change the perforance of the bike, then from that they'd speak to underwriters!

I must admit I think all the tinkering I done when I was younger, did I ever think about informing insurance - no, but then I'm older, wiser and grumpier!

*bob*

Coveredinbees!!!! wrote: »

Also if it's a moped it might make it no longer a moped, have you tried looking for a pattern exhaust, one that looks like standard but isn't?

He (who knows everything, they always do at that age) said you can't get an non-gen one!!

Regarding the fitting, he shoudl be able to do it, but as you say, sports will need to be tuned for it to run nicely

Thanks

trubble

If in doubt, tell them! Not worth the risk.

artbaron

*bob* wrote: »

Thanks to everyone for your replies.
and to have written proof of how it would change the perforance of the bike, then from that they'd speak to underwriters!

No such proof exists short of a rolling road before and one after. Talking from the perspective of cars, the ad will always say some nonsense like "increases of up to 15bhp!" when in actual fact you'd be lucky to get +2bhp at the wheels and in some cases it will actually reduce power.

Mankysteve

Replacement exhaust on mopeds will change the performance as the exhaust is usually part of the restriction system. A friend changed his exhaust on his moped to sport one killed the gear box though the extra power.

Most "sport" exhaust are not Kite/E marked and as such illegal and could lead to him to loosing the bike especially if a cop considered the louder exhaust anti social and issues a section 59. Or a cop feels the bike is not safe to be on the road and he get caught twice.

If the exhaust raises the power of the bike to over his legal power allowance.

And if he doesn't inform his insurance his insurance will be void and can have the bike taken away crushed 6 points and if memory serves me right £3000max fine?.

Tell him to save money in the long run and get the right part.