Motorcycle Insurance

Waterdawg says on Jul 30, 2007, 09:52:

Dam " Elk " , you are not fooling around ! A big ass 650 ?

Robert Jorge says on Jul 30, 2007, 10:09:

A 650 in Colombia is a hog! That's 375 cc's bigger than the average bike there. (Sorry, no info on insurance)

Chelesupercono says on Jul 30, 2007, 14:18:

can i take out a life insurance policy on you.........the moto accidents in colombia are at an all time high.....be very very careful and I wish you luck

never go to bed with someone crazier then you are, you will do it and you will regret it.......

elk says on Jul 30, 2007, 16:57:

Thanks for the information. The bike is for pleasure trips outside of Medellin. I have no plans to ride in the Medellin traffic. I can leave early in the AM and be out of the city before the crazy drivers wake up. The routes from Medellin to La Pintada and Manizales offer a lot of scenic riding. The 650 power is to avoid traffic and accidents. I've made the trip by car and bus and it appears to me a motorcycle would be a safer option. I've ridden bikes most of my life and this is something I want. Maybe not smart on my part, but "slow and easy" will offer some protection.

Robert Jorge says on Jul 30, 2007, 23:14:

Hey Elk, I at least wasn't making fun of you for your motorcycle size choice. Hell, I ride a 1000. And I can appreciate what you say about avoiding traffic and accidents. There have been times where I have been crowded by cars from all sides, things got a little scary, and I said "Foq it", hit the gas and was a mile beyond them within seconds. I feel safer riding my liter, than I would be on a 125. (Though the little guys sure are maneuverable)

A question about the price of that 650. Are they really 20.000.000 cop??? I paid a little more for a brand new GSXR 1000 here in the US. It is amazing that bikes are that expensive in Colombia. Jeepers.

elk says on Jul 31, 2007, 02:46:

The exact price is 19,900,000 COP plus accessories and they have a waiting list of buyers. I'm told it will take three weeks for delivery. Your correct, prices for moto's and cars are more expensive here.

The drivers license is also expensive here at 220,000 COP. Same price for a vehicle license.

vicshere says on Jul 31, 2007, 06:06:

elk by law all you really need insurance wise is the SOAT insurance...this insurance should cost you about 250,000 per year ....this is the government insurance which really is useless...there are private insurance companies that sell insurance for bikes which cover theft and stuff ....I could guess at a price of maybe in the range of 1,000,000 a year over and on top of the government insurance....remember the SOAT you have to have to get your bike on the road....also remember that you have to pay your taxes on the bike every year to .... should run you about 300,000 or so...that's it I think

listo

vicshere says on Jul 31, 2007, 06:10:

by the way you can get a nice brand new United motors/ Hyosung 650 for 17,000,000 really nice bike

listo

webmanco says on Jul 31, 2007, 08:23:

Owners of those type of motorciles (FreeWind, GS500, Vtrom etc) need to be more carefull in Medellín than in Bogotá.

But, I'm going to start making some assumptions here.... Which means I might actually end up making an ass out of myself ..........Thu 04 17, 2008 11:34 am

Tom says on Jul 31, 2007, 12:22:

Hell, let me ask you ? what for do you need a Colombian drivers license ? I'm driving since over 4 years my Bike 1300cc in Medellin and even you get stopped and show what ever ( international ) they let you go, but as soon you have a Colombian license, you get checked by the Police !
and what for do you need full coverage ? the SOAT covers 3rd party as well if you you crash !

webmanco, question for you, why do you need more carefull in Medellin than in Bogota ? the people in Bogota driving like shit !

hasta la vista

vicshere says on Jul 31, 2007, 12:56:

tom check the coverage on the SOAT lets take an example if your in accident and its your fault and the accident includes say 5,000,000 for the other party and the SOAT only covers say 2,000,000 the other party has the legal right to make a "demanda" against you...now for the normal Colombian that's not a problem cause usually they have nothing to make a "demanda" against.....but being a gringo believe you me they will definitely go after the "demanda" example a friend of mine whose father was involved in an accident with his truck it was his faulty no brakes (what an idiot) anyway he had the SOAT well the other party made a "demanda" they took everything he had house TV .....basically he became penniless overnight
as for not having problem license ...you may be ok in Medellin but I would be careful in other jurisdiction of Colombia....I have Colombian license for bike and car and have never had a problem

listo

webmanco says on Jul 31, 2007, 13:20:

I don´t care how everyone else drives, I know how do I drive. I meant about motorcycle theft. That is all. It is more theft in Medellín of Freewind and the like than in Bogotá.

But, I'm going to start making some assumptions here.... Which means I might actually end up making an ass out of myself ..........Thu 04 17, 2008 11:34 am

elk says on Aug 8, 2007, 11:49:

Tom and others. Thanks for the information regarding insurance.

The insurance here in Colombia is very expensive. Theft on the 650 is $500.00 USD per year, but there is a 10% deductable. That means if I lose the bike by theft they will give me $10,000 less the 10% or $9,0000 USD. Paying $500 per year to insure $9,000 doesn't make much sense to me.

Liability is another $500 USD per year for a total of $1,000 USD per year for full coverage. I agree with Tom in this case and will take my chances. I may opt for increased liability, but nothing else. Again, the bike will be stored in a very secure area and I will only be using it for pleasure trips and have on intention of riding in the Medellin traffic unless it is with a Motorcycle group. I have had a cycle for most of my life and will enjoy trips outside of Medellin.

Again, thanks for the comments and information.

P.S. I have been told by many that theft really isn't a problem for the larger and more expensive bikes. It's very difficult to sell the parts since there is no market as with the smaller Yamaha, Honda.

Cali2005 says on May 2, 2008, 20:10:

Just watch out for drivers that cut across 2 or 3 lanes of traffic to take a turn. They will rarely be looking for motorcylces so be prepared to slam on the brakes and lay into the horn!

Better to have a larger bike to stay in front of the tail gating taxis!

Viva Medellin

mranderson says on May 3, 2008, 06:54:

why not the suzuki enduro 650? That's the bike that the police use and would probably be much easier to manuever through traffic than that big plasticy v-strom. Just in case you decide you want to cruise through the city every now and then. You also wouldn't stick out as much.

With some nice street tires I bet the enduro would handle quite nicely.