Motorcycle claim or not for a stolen wheel?

psy

Hi Guys,

Just wondering if I could get your opinions on my situation.

I've just had my front wheel stolen off my scooter. I got a crime reference number and informed my insurance company (CIS) who are sending out an engineer to assess the damage and give an estimation on repair cost. I have arranged for a local mechanics to collect the bike and also prepare a quote.

Phoning around I have found the wheel and tyre will cost about £250, and as it's a Peugeot bike, the wheel may take 4 weeks to come from France! I can get hold of a wheel from a local breakers yard and fit a new tyre at a total cost of £100. The excess of my claim is also £100.

I can await the outcome of the engineers report before I proceed with the claim.

What I'd like to know is if I should claim on the insurance. I was literally about to put the bike up for sale this weekend (at about £550). I now have a car so I will not be keeping my bike insurance, and making a claim will not effect my car insurance no claims, therefore, I'm not worried about losing my bike NCB.

I'd obvioulsy like to get as much money for my bike as possible for as little outlay.
Should I claim and pay the excess?
Or should I just get a wheel 2nd hand?
Or is there a way of receiving a cheque from the insurance company to cover the cost of repair minus excess and then I get a second hand wheel?
As a final option, would there be any point in just selling existing bike for spares to avoid any extra expenditure.

Sorry for the length of message, but a little confused on what I should do.

Thanks in advance

Paul

Markyt

If you claim, future car insurance may still be affected - you'll have to declare any claims at renewal, not just those bike related.

greyteam1959

Short answer....repair it yourself and then sell it.
I would not involve ( any more than you have to ) the insurance company.

psy

Markyt

I've checked with my current car insurer, Lloyds TSB (who I think are backed by Chruchill), and they say I would not have to declare any bike claim, and it would not affect my no claims.

Keith

Don't go through the insurance, get yourself on eBay, I'm guessing its a speedflight, ebay have one for £20.

Markyt

psy wrote: »

Markyt

I've checked with my current car insurer, Lloyds TSB (who I think are backed by Chruchill), and they say I would not have to declare any bike claim, and it would not affect my no claims.

Don't believe it! Your insurance renewal for your car will ask 'have you had any accidents, claims or convictions in the last n years'.

Lloyds might not bother, but I wouldn't take the risk with another firm who may decline to pay out if you haven't declared it, or load the premium if you do tell them.

For the record, I've got both bikes and a car on different policies. I've made a claim on a bike theft in the past, and been told by some car insurers I need to declare it.

scbk

£10-£30 for a 2nd hand wheel, £30 for a tyre and a fiver tops for fitting the tyre to the rim. Might need a new spindle if they nicked that aswell