Compare sport bike insurance

Finding affordable coverage for your sport bikes can be tough, with the highest theft rate and a high rate of injury, insurers could shy away from covering supersport bikes.

What kind of sport bike coverage do I need?

Unless you live in Florida, New Hampshire, Montana or Washington, you’ll need motorcycle insurance for your sport bike. The most common types of coverage include:

• Liability. Covers damage you cause to another person’s property or injury to that person.
• Collision. Covers damage to your bike caused by a crash.
• Comprehensive. This covers damage to your bike that results from something other than a collision, like fire, theft or vandalism.
• Uninsured/underinsured. You’re covered after an accident with a driver or rider who doesn’t have enough insurance to cover the damages.
• Medical payments. Coverage for medical bills after an accident while riding your bike.

What sport bike add-on coverage should I consider?

Beyond the standard types of coverage, you might want to consider additional protection for your sport bike.

• Enhanced injury protection. Because riding a sport bike can be dangerous, extra protection for injuries that cause you to be unable to work might be beneficial.
• Total loss coverage. With this coverage, you’ll be reimbursed for your bike’s full MSRP. Without it, you’ll only get the actual cash value of your bike, after depreciation.
• Accessories and custom parts. If your bike is customized and tricked out with accessories, this will make sure you’re covered.
• Original Equipment Manufacturer parts. Only OEM parts will be used when you purchase this coverage.
• Roadside assistance. Get a tow or winch if you’re stuck on the side of the road.
• Carried contents. Make sure anything you carry on your bike is protected.

How much is sport bike insurance?

Sport bikes are one of the most expensive types of motorcycles to insure, due in part to their high-speed performance and likelihood of being stolen. A bike with higher ccs will push the cost of insurance up significantly.

Consider a Suzuki Hayabusa with 1,340 ccs. Insuring this bike with only liability coverage can run you $1,850 annually. A Honda CBR250R (250 cc’s) with full coverage will cost around $950 annually, and only $216 annually for liability only.

Do different kinds of sport bikes have different insurance requirements?

No matter which class your sport bike falls into, the requirements for insuring it are the same. Sport bikes generally fall into four classes, categorized by their engine power, measured in ccs:

• Lightweight. Up to 500 ccs
• Middleweight. Up to 750 ccs
• Superbike. Up to 1,000 ccs
• Hyperbike. 1,000 ccs and up.

If you use your bike for racing, look to a provider that offers specialty insurance. Most policies won’t cover track-day coverage. Specialty insurers can cover things like a collision, and include storage and trailer transport.

How can I get cheap sport bike insurance?

To help save money on your sport bike insurance, look for these ways to save:

• Safety course. Earn a discount for completing an approved motorcycle rider safety course.
• Stolen vehicle recovery system. Many providers will give you a discount for installing a recovery system like LoJack, for example.
• Motorcycle endorsement. If you already have a driver’s license, adding a motorcycle endorsement could earn you a discount. It’s also required in many states. You can get this endorsement by passing a DMV-approved rider course.
• Rider membership. Members of select motorcycle organizations can get a discount on their insurance, depending on the provider.

How do I get sport bike insurance?

Many providers allow you to get a quote, sign up and purchase a policy all online. If you need track-day insurance for racing your bike as well as traditional coverage, you’ll likely have to contact a specialty insurance provider over the phone or in person.

Be prepared by having the following information ready when purchasing insurance:

• Bike make, model, year, ccs and VIN
• Contact info
• Years of motorcycle driving experience
• Driver’s license number

What should I watch out for?

You may need to find a provider that offers coverage for these add-ons:

• Street racing. Although it can sometimes be hard to prove, many policies will exclude any damage resulting from street racing.
• Organized racing events. Make sure your policy includes coverage you might sustain on the track.
• Custom parts and accessories. Add-ons like specialty clothing and helmets usually need additional coverage.

Bottom line

If you use your sport bike for racing you might have to look for specialty insurance, and coverage can get expensive. Comparing all of your options will help you get the best deal possible.

Frequently asked questions about sport bike insurance

• If I have collision, will I be covered if I wreck my bike during a race?

  Most likely no. Your insurance policy won’t likely cover damages resulting from a racing event. Look for a specialty provider that offers track-day coverage.

• How much does sport bike insurance cost?

  Sport bikes are more expensive to insure than other class of bike, largely due to the high theft rates and volume of accidents. But the make and model of your bike, as well as personal factors like your riding history, location and age all play a role in determining the cost of insurance. You can find sport bike insurance as low as $75 a year or as high as $2,000-plus.

• What qualifies a motorcycle as a sport bike?

  There is no legal definition for a sport bike, but the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety defines a sport bike as a bike “built on racing platforms but modified for the highway and sold to consumers.”