WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2019
 If you own a motorcycle, it faces many of the same risks as other vehicles. However, motorcycles also face extra, and sometimes very unique risks.
Oklahoma requires you to carry certain minimum levels of motorcycle insurance. The requirements help to better protect consumers in the event of problems. By insuring your motorcycle, you protect the bike, yourself, and others on the road.
If you experience a motorcycle accident, you could face financial losses due to injuries and damages. Insurance most often lessens the financial burden of accidents on the rider.
Motorcycle insurance is a necessary part of any rider’s budget. Therefore, you need to take steps to ensure you get the right coverage.
Operating a Motorcycle
The biggest thing to remember about motorcycle insurance is that a motorcycle is not a car. That will affect everything about your relationship to the bike.
Because they are two-wheeled vehicles, motorcycles are much more sensitive to operator controls. Drivers have to devote a lot more effort to maintain control on the highway. Therefore, an inexperienced driver poses significant operational risks on the bike.
Furthermore, bikes, are not enclosed vehicles. They pose exposure risks to drivers. This exposure could potentially increase injury risks to any operator, regardless of experience.
Therefore, you can’t operate a motorcycle solely as a rookie. Most states, including Oklahoma, require bikers to apply for extra licensing. You will likely have to take a test to receive this extra certification. Testing proves that you have the qualifications to safely operate your bike.
Insuring Your Bike
Once you have your bike certification, you need to buy motorcycle insurance. Motorcycle insurance is very similar to your standard auto insurance. It usually provides personal injury, collision and property liability protection.
However, motorcycle insurance is not car insurance, nor should you consider it such. Never attempt to insure your motorcycle with a standard car insurance policy. Motorcycle insurance comes with special coverage items that may not come with the standard policy. Furthermore, coverage levels on motorcycle insurance often vary from those of a standard vehicle.
For example, you might need a higher proportion of collision coverage than you would for a standard vehicle. Your personal protection coverage is the most likely factor that will be higher on motorcycle insurance. Riding a bike exposes you to the elements much more than a car does. Therefore, your risk for injury increases merely by riding the bike.
Talk to your insurance agent about insuring your motorcycle. The agent will ask you a lot of questions about the specifications of your bike. He or she will also perhaps ask about protective equipment, certifications, and other value factors. Be honest with your agent. Correct specifications will help the agent design a proper policy.
Take Modifications into Account
You have a lot of choices of when it comes to your bike. Motorcycles can be great ways to invest in a hobby or express your personality. That’s why you often have the ability to customize certain parts of your bike.
Customizing your bike often adds value. In some cases it can increase safety risks, though these are usually quite minimal. Customizations may include special paint, chrome work, and additions to control appliances. You might even be able to add customizations to the bike’s critical systems that enhance performance.
With modifications come additional risks for financial losses. You need to make your insurance company aware of modifications you make to the bike. Your agent may need to adjust your coverage level to completely cover these changes.
Furthermore, your insurance may govern modifications in special ways. Because modifications add risks, you may have to take special steps to make changes. Insurance may not cover certain modifications. Additionally, your carrier may require that a specialized mechanic install modifications to ensure their proper function. Therefore, check with insurance before you make changes.
Always Protect Yourself
MotorcycleYou open yourself to a very high personal risk when riding your bike. Your bike is not an enclosed vehicle. Thus a rider faces more exposure than the average driver. Often, you have to protect yourself to best protect your personal injury liabilities.
Helmet laws are usually the most important safety measures that riders encounter. Most states have varying requirements for riders to wear helmets. Some states require them for all riders. Others require them for all riders under a certain age. The minority of states have no helmet laws at all.
In addition to helmets, riders should invest in special clothing, pads, and shoes that insulate and protect them. Some states may have laws dictating how riders should use extra safety protection.
The connection between protecting yourself and your insurance liability is undeniable. Better protection lessens your chances of sustaining serious injury in an accident. Therefore you become less of a liability to your insurance company. You might even be able to save on your insurance rates by wearing helmets and other protective gear.
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