Why does my insurance want to know if I have a full exhaust system on my bike ? Does it make a difference if I tell them I have one or not ? If I buy my bike brand new stock and decide to add a full exhaust, do I still need to tell my insurance ? Why or why not ?
Replacement exhaust systems to a new bike are for several reasons, primarily to make it go faster – the insurer can then weight the premium, because, if someone fits a full exhaust system they are likely to want to use that extra speed – making them more of a risk. They will also need to adjust the premium if you have fitted a hugely expensive aftermarket system, crash and then claim for it – if you don’t tell them, they will not pay for it. Racers and trackday enthusiasts replace stock exhausts with full race systems (where noise regulations permit), so if an adjuster looks over a bike, sees lockwired sump plugs or suspiciously chipped wheel rims or a bellypan full of kitty litter they will claim the accident took place on a track and are therefore not liable. All insurance companies owe it to their stockholders to avoid making payouts – anything they can do to avoid payouts they will do, so, if the smallprint demands it, unless you comply the insurance will be worthless.
The reason they ask is to determine if the bike has been modified. Adding a full exhaust can (and usually does) increase the power of the bike. To the insurance company: more power more risk higher premium. Now, if you tell them you don't have a full exhaust, and you get into an accident and upon inspection of the bike they determine you did have a full exhaust, the could deny your claim. Technically, you are supposed to inform them if you make any sustantial changes to your bike (exhaust, turbo, nitrous, stretching, etc.). Again, back to my point above, if you make the change and don't tell them and they find out after, you could have your claim denied. That being said, an exhaust system is almost impossible to determine if it's a stock system, vs an aftermarket system. I think it's unlikely an adjuster would be able to look at an exhaust system and absolutely state it's aftermarket. I think in reality, only OBVIOUS performance modifications would really be a problem (stretching, lowering, turbo, nitrous, etc., etc.)
Both of the answers given are correct. The only issue I have is with the second answer. In my country, I'm from the UK by the way, it's a legal requirement to have insurance should you want to ride on the public roads, so it seems that telling them all mods will be a very good idea D. I would also rather pay a little more for my premium with all mods stated. For example, say a full system adds ?100 ontop of your premium, it's still cheaper than not stating it, then having your bike stolen/damaged/crashed and then being left without an insurance company to give you back-up and provide the value of repairs/replacement. Think about it, that ?100 could save you thousands in the long run. --Mikey B--
