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Looking to buy a motorbike after passing my test lat year. Budget means somethign arround 10 years old but hopefully good consition, something like a Fazer or Bbandit 600.
Only problem is 99% of them have aftermarket exhausts. Some were probably done for performance, but at 10 years old the rest were probably done because the originals rotted away.
Are insurers bothered by stuff like this? Or do they take a pragmatic approach that any 10 year old bike is unlikely to be completely original, epspecialy when they came with mild steel downpipes?
Only problem is 99% of them have aftermarket exhausts
Phh. Not really no, they don't.
Even if they do OE ones are cheap and readily available if the insurance doesn't like them.
Personally, I like a quiet bike (Or I prefer to listen to the induction!) as they don't draw unwanted attention.
If it's an aftermaket 'performance' can then you need to declare it. If it's just some new downpipes or a pattern (Usually Motad made) exhaust, all fully road legal, you'll be fine.
Fazer/Bandit - Get a Fazer if you can. FAR better bikes. IIRC the later ones had SS downpipes on them anyway
First one I looked at on Ebay. Bog standard. And BLOODY CHEAP!
Ideal first bike, that! If you don't crash it you'll never loose a penny on it.
EDIT
Here you go
50 Fazers on that first page, only 3-4 with aftermarket cans on!
Hmm, must just be me then, did quite a restrictive search on autotrader and only 3 came up all with stainless pipes.
personally I wouldn't worry, they legally can't refuse to pay out they just won't pay to replace the aftermarket part. When someone knocked me off my Buell I had a micron system (all 128Dbs of it) and they did replace the Micron because it was cheaper and in easier supply than the OE exhaust, they do what suits.
If you're a new rider having anything other than stock bike will send your premium stratospheric so go standard and play dumb, as long as the mods are sensible and not OTT
I had a variety of end cans on my bikes never informing the insurance companies and it didn't cause any issues with any claims. Just make sure you get a legal can for MOT day 😀
You will need a legal can for MOT day - there should be one with it.
Depending which insurer it is they aren't bothered at all if it produces a certain % or less power increase (usually 10 or 15%) above that then premiums can go up. In reality hardly any exhaust will give this increase.
MOT - exhaust noise pass / fail is at testers discretion.
geordiemick00 - Member
personally I wouldn't worry, they legally can't refuse to pay out
As a general principle, insurers can void your policy if you've failed to advise them of a fact that could affect the premium.
So a pattern part with a CE mark in stainless is generaly fine (but probably best to phone them before I buy anything), anything without a CE mark or with the words micron/apovrick/etc will probably cost me.
As an aside,
When I was looking for my first bike, I was looking at the Fazer / Hornet / Bandit camp too. On a budget of about 2k, every 600 I saw was absolutely badgered. When I started looking at 500s instead, pickings were considerably better; I got an immaculate low mileage CB500 considerably under budget.
Fazer/Bandit - Get a Fazer if you can. FAR better bikes.
The (old shape) Fazer is the better bike, sure, but it has a face only a mother could love. The new shape is gorgeous but I don't think I could ever bring myself to own the old one.