Motorcycles hold a special place in the heart of any one thats ever owned one. There is something almost magically more special and cherished about a motorcycle than any car could muster. You never forget your first and your always looking forward to your next ride no matter how trivial the journey.

Unfortunately being careful out there in the big wide world just isnt enough to get you through. Many bikers feel persecuted by many different factions of the establishment & society. Coupled with the ever rising cost of motoring for many motorcycling is not just a hobby but a financial transportation necessity.

Because of the inherent risk of motorcycling, usually brought about by car drivers in there cocoons biking is a risk that needs to be insured properly & thoroughly. As many have experienced when you have to make a claim it can be a long and drawn out affair lasting years and often incurring medical expenses, time off work and a whole bunch of hassles that can often be covered by a good insurance policy.

Many policies now include legal cover, breakdown (recovery) cover, uninsured driver protection, riding in Europe, protect No Claims Discount (NCB) and so on. Its best when trying all the different companies to get your self a good quote but to also see what else the insurer has to offer, legal cover is widely regarded as the normal thing to take out with any policy and many industry leaders are asking that it become compulsory. Breakdown cover is offered with a lot of policies at a cheaper rate than you can get from the Clubs (AA, RAC, Green Flag etc.) So it is essential when hunting for quotes to find out what is offered with any policy.

Another thing that must always be asked is what will the Excess be? If the bike gets damaged or stolen how much of the bill does the owner/rider have to pay? Some insurers will let the policy holder raise the Excess and give a cheaper policy in return just be aware that when it comes to the Crunch! the rider may well have to reach that bit deeper in to their pocket.

There are of course different types of insurance whether its Third party only Third Party Fire and Theft or Fully Comprehensive if the policy purchaser is not sure of the differences then ask the insurer giving the quotation to explain. The differences financially are not huge but the returns should a claim need to be made most certainly can be. Check to see if it is possible to protect NCB (No Claims Bonus) as you wouldnt want a small accident like dropping a bike on the driveway ruining say six years of hard earned NCB!

If the bike is modified from the manufacturers original standard you will be obliged to tell your insurer, this way should a claim be made they can give you a fair value of the bike and any extras. Otherwise the insurer may well say that in the event of a claim being made that the bike was not as described in the policy and could end up with difficulties proving the bike is insured and getting a claim processed. Honesty is definitely the best policy when obtaining a policy.

All Insurers will usually ask where the bike is kept is it on the road or in a garage etc. also what security is installed on the bike. So if the bike has an alarm, a chain and/or ground anchor, Smartwater, Alpha-dot, a Tracker or other security device be tell the insurer as these may be able to reduce your policy premium.

As with any contract taken out always take time to read the small print and if in doubt about anything ask the insurer in question. A little time taken now could save a whole lot of time later.

When sitting down and obtaining insurance quotes it can be handy to have a pen & paper and make notes of all the policies available different premiums, perks & excesses. Who includes legal cover, breakdown cover and more importantly which insurers dont?

For a range of UK Motorcycle insurers please visit Creditmarket.co.uk a UK financial based web site offering many products but most importantly run by people who ride motorbikes.