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Harley Davidson Owners.... need some advice

Night StalkerNight Stalker Member Posts: 11,967
edited August 2003 in General Discussion
I own a Custom Softail, and my insurance is killing me! I have a perfect driving record, recieve all the discounts I can, to include advance rider safety course, owned several bikes, no speeding tickets, no accidents, etc..., and the insurance my two "newer" cars (Durango and Mustang Convertible) are less than my bike.?[:(]

I already use USAA, which is an extremely competitive insurer, so I called Geico to get a comparison quote. I currently pay just over $1000 a year for a bike I simply am not riding due to deployments, and then when I am home, I want to be with the family, etc... so I am not getting my moneys worth.

So here is the bottomline. I told Geico I had e a Custom Softail, they mistook it for a Softail Custom, and my price quote was $317 for the year!!! When I said "sign me up", she entered the scooters VIN and said, "I am sorry, I misquoted you, I thought you said a Softail Custom.... our quote is now $987 for the year".

So now, what do I do? I understand the whole "custom" issue, but mine is just a scooter with a custom paint job and some more chrome than the average HD. Nothing more. Why is my bill THREE times the rate? Has anyone else experienced this? Any idea where I may turn to get a more resonable rate? Nearly $100 a month for a bike I ride 500 miles a year is simply ridiculous! Thanks in advance for all who reply.



NSDQ!

"Nobody dislikes war more than warriors, but we value the causes of peace so highly that we will not duck a war in an effort to get a lasting peace." -General Daniel "Chappie" James
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Comments

  • shooter4shooter4 Member Posts: 4,457
    edited November -1
    I had the Harley Davidson insurance on a brandy new $22K, '02 heritage softail for somewhere in the 600s. And I live in the state where insurance is the highest in the nation.

    Better check with Harley. And they got the best coverage and they know what Harley parts cost.
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  • Warpig883Warpig883 Member Posts: 6,459
    edited November -1
    I pay $120.00 a year for full coverage for mine. That is $10.00 a month[:D]

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  • LowriderLowrider Member Posts: 6,587
    edited November -1
    I pay around $250 per year for full coverage on my Harley. I'm insured through Dairyland Insurance. You should check them out. They give discounts for Harleys, for number of years riding motorcycles, for age, for Rider's Safety Course...

    I'm even insured if some scumsucker steals something out of my saddlebags.

    Lord Lowrider the LoquaciousMember:Secret Select Society of Suave Stylish Smoking Jackets She was only a fisherman's daughter,But when she saw my rod she reeled.
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  • n/an/a Member Posts: 168,427 ✭
    edited November -1
    I have Geico also, it cost me 293 for everything, including 5000.00 for chrome, total replacement, . It depends on where you live, if I move 20 miles south of here, it doubles, Oh Yea, I ride a 95 Ultra Classic, 1 of 2000, 30th aniversary model, Check with them, and see if your in the High risk zone,

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  • Henry0ReillyHenry0Reilly Member Posts: 10,892 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I have no idea how the service is but Progressive quotes good rates. I gave up my Harley some time ago. It wasn't as much fun after the second wreck.

    Remember Ruby Ridge.
    I used to recruit for the NRA until they sold us down the river (again!) in Heller v. DC. See my auctions (if any) under username henryreilly
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  • hawkeye6020hawkeye6020 Member Posts: 2,517 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    sell the newer bike and buy a shovelhead. 120.00 a year for 10,000 worth of coverage. in two years when the bike hits 35 years old it will drop off to 85.00 a year for 13,000 worth of coverage. the tags are only 35.00 a year now and will drop to 17.00 after 2005.

    mike
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  • pickenuppickenup Member Posts: 22,844 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Just wrote the check for $160 for my Ultra.
    Can not imagine $1,000.


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  • cletus85cletus85 Member Posts: 2,104 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Is the bike a HD? If it's a custom make That's the problem.
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  • jjmitchell60jjmitchell60 Member Posts: 3,887
    edited November -1
    I have mine through Grange Idemity Insurance Co. and it is $240.56 per year full coverage on my 1985 FLHT. They also cover up to $3000 in extra chrome with that and if it is totaled they pay market value, not book value. Their home office is in Columbus OH. I have had it with Mid-West Mutual, Dairyland, and Progressive but Grange is the cheapest as well as the best over all in my opinion. Also if you add PIP to your policy it will be much higher. See if you can get a quote from them. Also I know it depends on what state you reside.
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  • fragmentsfragments Member Posts: 407 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    They're ALL ripping us off. Read the small print. Some insurance companies cover less if you're not wearing a helmet. I've got Dairyland on my '97 FXSTS. $260.00 per year
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  • Night StalkerNight Stalker Member Posts: 11,967
    edited November -1
    I tried Progressive, Geico, etc... Need to try the local insurance companies in town as well. I also will call HD Insurance tomorrow, when they are open. I rode the bike about 500 miles last year[:(], so $1000/year for insurance may just drive me into putting it in storage until all the deployments are over and I can ride on a regular basis.

    Cletus. You are exactly right. It is a CUSTOM, not a HD, but the major difference is just the frame. If I had a VIN which began with 1HD, my rates would be in the low $200 range. But, if you were to put it next to a slightly customized Softail Custom, they are identical. Mine is lowered and has a slightly larger rake in the front-end, some fairly expensive paint, etc...

    I have a digital pic, can not post? I'd like to have you all look at it and give me your thoughts.

    NSDQ!

    "Nobody dislikes war more than warriors, but we value the causes of peace so highly that we will not duck a war in an effort to get a lasting peace." -General Daniel "Chappie" James
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  • cletus85cletus85 Member Posts: 2,104 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    The way I've had it explained to me is a Custom is or can be a one of kind bike and therefore has the possibility of high replacement cost. As if something could be higher than HD authorized repair![:D]
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  • jjmitchell60jjmitchell60 Member Posts: 3,887
    edited November -1
    Night Stalker, the reason I suggested Grange is that they specialize in customs whether it be motorcycles or cars. I am now in the planning stages of building a 124 inch stroker custom and I have checked with Grange as to insurance. It will run in the $600 range and we are talking about a bike that will sell for in the $30,000 range! There are some in my area that have custom bikes and cars and all of them insure with Grange around hare. Funny thing is if I was to drop the engine size to 100 CI or less the insurance would be in the area of $400! I will be paying $200+ more for a bigger engine. Also I use a 3 month lay over on my insurance since during Dec, Jan, & Feb it is too cold to ride anyway.
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  • mudgemudge Member Posts: 4,225 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    We live in West Virginia.
    I'm 68. I ride a '95 Road King.
    Mrs. Mudge is 51. She rides an '88 Low Rider.
    We both have the advanced rider course discounts.
    I pay $296 a year and she pays $294.
    Dairyland Insurance also covers up to $3,000 in "custom equipment". That does NOT include custom paint. (Learned that the hard way.)

    Mudge the HOG driver


    I can't come to work today. The voices said, STAY HOME AND CLEAN THE GUNS!
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  • shooter4shooter4 Member Posts: 4,457
    edited November -1
    Nightstalker, email the pic to me and I'll post it for ya.
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  • Night StalkerNight Stalker Member Posts: 11,967
    edited November -1
    Shooter, just sent you an email.

    NSDQ!

    "Nobody dislikes war more than warriors, but we value the causes of peace so highly that we will not duck a war in an effort to get a lasting peace." -General Daniel "Chappie" James
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  • 96harley96harley Member Posts: 3,992 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    TextTextTextI pay Progressive less than $500.00 for a 2001 Electra Glide Classic. I jumped this year because of Indiana's no helmet law. I was paying $300.00 per year. That's full coverage.

    "Save the Whalers, they need jobs too."
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  • DIRTYRATDIRTYRAT Member Posts: 2,167 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I have "Progressive" at $400.00 a year on a 1999 FXSTB Night-train.

    member; DUCKS UNLIMITED,AGA, ............R.S.A. KULP..................OHIO
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  • Night StalkerNight Stalker Member Posts: 11,967
    edited November -1
    I tried all the major insurers you guys listed... no dice. Looks as if I am going to have to try specialty insurance if I want to lower the current rate I pay thru USAA. I contacted Harley Davidson Insurance, and they referred me to there "customs" insurance underwriters group.

    They are going to send a packet to me via snail mail and I have to have the bike appraised, photograph it, add a few other misc. items and send it back into them for an Insurance Quote. I hope it is worth the time and effort. Have a feeling they may want special amounts of money for special insurance[:(].

    Will give you a holler back later when I get the quote. Thanks again for all your input, it helps tremendously.[:D]

    NSDQ!

    "Nobody dislikes war more than warriors, but we value the causes of peace so highly that we will not duck a war in an effort to get a lasting peace." -General Daniel "Chappie" James
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  • shooter4shooter4 Member Posts: 4,457
    edited November -1
    Night Stalker, you have mail.
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