Anyone have anything they'd like to rant about?

[singlesline]

I believe "standard" homeowners policies down here in Freedumb Land cover bicycles as personal property.

Yeah, but you gotta think real hard about whether you want to risk a claim. Especially if you live in any of the western wildfire-prone areas that insurers are pulling out from.

Two high end bikes? Maybe worth it. Single mid range bike that's a couple of years old? Doubtful.

Now you've got a homeowner's claim on your record. Hail storm comes and destroys your roof so you make a second claim. Insurer drops you at next year's renewal. Other major insurers won't touch you with your claims history for 3-5 years and you have to get some expensive policy.

Suddenly you've spent $6,000 in deductible + increased premiums just to replace a bike that was really only worth $3,000 on PinkBike.

[XXX-er]

Yeah up here bikes are always extra if you want to insure them and I never have even on the Eebs which are 5 figures

[evdog]

Yeah, but you gotta think real hard about whether you want to risk a claim. Especially if you live in any of the western wildfire-prone areas that insurers are pulling out from. Two high end bikes? Maybe worth it. Single mid range bike that's a couple of years old? Doubtful. Now you've got a homeowner's claim on your record. Hail storm comes and destroys your roof so you make a second claim. Insurer drops you at next year's renewal. Other major insurers won't touch you with your claims history for 3-5 years and you have to get some expensive policy. Suddenly you've spent $6,000 in deductible + increased premiums just to replace a bike that was really only worth $3,000 on PinkBike.

^ This

State Farm declined to renew my policy after I made a claim for stolen bike on my renter's insurance. Two years before I had my truck broken into on a road trip and duffel of clothes, tools and bike parts taken. Both claims were $3000+. I asked State Farm before the second claim if it would cause my rates to go up. They said no. Instead, they just declined to renew me, citing too high a risk profile. I was able to get insurance from a different company but the premium was double what I paid with State Farm (and never went down once both claims were beyond 5 years in the past). I've been told if you have a third claim within that 5-year period that no one will insure you. That's a huge problem if you've got a mortgage.

Yeah up here bikes are always extra if you want to insure them and I never have even on the Eebs which are 5 figures

When I lived in Vancouver I was able to get a renters insurance policy that included coverage for bikes as personal property (or more accurately did not exclude bikes). Don't recall the company or the agent we used, and never had to test it out.

But yeah most companies require a separate policy where you pay $5-7 per $100 of bike value. At that cost I chose to self-insure and be extra careful until I found the other plan.

[XXX-er]

yeah itwas always extra to insure a bike, especially nowdays with the homeless situ I know a lot of la-la-la people who lose the cheaper bikes they didnt lock even here in small town BC you can not just leave it in your back yard or carport anymore

[singlesline]

^ This

State Farm declined to renew my policy after I made a claim for stolen bike on my renter's insurance. Two years before I had my truck broken into on a road trip and duffel of clothes, tools and bike parts taken. Both claims were $3000+. I asked State Farm before the second claim if it would cause my rates to go up. They said no. Instead, they just declined to renew me, citing too high a risk profile. I was able to get insurance from a different company but the premium was double what I paid with State Farm (and never went down once both claims were beyond 5 years in the past). I've been told if you have a third claim within that 5-year period that no one will insure you. That's a huge problem if you've got a mortgage.

Yeah, it is one thing to blow up a cheap renter's policy. You're basically just covering personal property and a bit of liability there...and even if your rates double, renters policies are like 1-200/yr. Even if you lose the policy, it is not really the end of the world as lots of renters don't bother with one.

But with homeowners' insurance, you're covering the house itself (and usually a LOT more contents value than a renters policy on a smaller apartment). Your mortgage lender almost certainly requires you to maintain insurance and even if they didn't, you'd be a fool to not insure the single most expensive thing you probably own which could need hundreds of thousands of dollars in rebuild costs. Losing that policy and having to pay up for some last resort policy could be devastating.

FWIW, my insurance guy seemed convinced that the non-renewal problem caused by all the wildfire losses will eventually iron itself out in a few years. Better to get a high deductible and pay minor claims yourself right now...save the policy for catastrophic loss.

But also fuck the insurance companies, this is exactly the scenario they want. You pay for the policy, you should be able to use it without fear of retribution.

[skaredshtles]

Yeah, but you gotta think real hard about whether you want to risk a claim. Especially if you live in any of the western wildfire-prone areas that insurers are pulling out from.

Two high end bikes? Maybe worth it. Single mid range bike that's a couple of years old? Doubtful.

Now you've got a homeowner's claim on your record. Hail storm comes and destroys your roof so you make a second claim. Insurer drops you at next year's renewal. Other major insurers won't touch you with your claims history for 3-5 years and you have to get some expensive policy.

Suddenly you've spent $6,000 in deductible + increased premiums just to replace a bike that was really only worth $3,000 on PinkBike.

Yeah - that's a different issue, though.

[frorider]

Bummer to hear this Rideit. What was the location?

[rideit]

Way up high in the West Hills. We actually have video from my cousin’s Rivian, but no license plate. White contractor’s van. One dude was walking ahead with a flashlight, looking into every car on the street, and the van followed behind. To say they found a whale is an understatement.
Total pros. They left cash, 3 pairs of Smith glasses, my son’s wallet, even a bottle of Adderall. They knew exactly what was high value, and what wasn’t.

[rideit]

My bigger problem is that the adjusters likely won’t be able to comprehend the customization on this (these) bikes, it’s going to sound absurd to them.
I think the only original thing on that bike is the seatpost collar clamp. Maybe the rear axle, lol.
Let alone the value of the tools, etc, etc.
I wouldn’t believe it either.
I mean, the 160 EE wings alone…

[Canada1]

Yeah, but you gotta think real hard about whether you want to risk a claim. Especially if you live in any of the western wildfire-prone areas that insurers are pulling out from. Two high end bikes? Maybe worth it. Single mid range bike that's a couple of years old? Doubtful. Now you've got a homeowner's claim on your record. Hail storm comes and destroys your roof so you make a second claim. Insurer drops you at next year's renewal. Other major insurers won't touch you with your claims history for 3-5 years and you have to get some expensive policy. Suddenly you've spent $6,000 in deductible + increased premiums just to replace a bike that was really only worth $3,000 on PinkBike.

Put together a list of all of the components on the bike. Show where they can verify the price online. if you have a photo to validate the exiswtence, or reciepts, that will also help. Most adjusters won't know, and won't care if you can validate the value.

[toast2266]

You can get a local shop to put together a replacement estimate. Price for the frame + all the parts + labor to assemble.

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[rideit]

Yeah, I work in two shops. But I’m on the road for a few weeks.
That’s a great idea though, to give the claim legitimacy.
Thanks.

[Andeh]

I just spoke to my insurance agent (Farmers), who happens to also be a mountain biker. He said that until recently, there was no distinction, but about a year ago they started splitting out coverage for ebikes and electric motorized vehicles depending on the classification into personal property. He said different rates depending on Class 1 / pedal assist vs. electric throttle types (Surron). He said the personal property coverage for my Class 1 ebikes as long as they're in my possession (home, auto, or while I'm using them) is $125/yr. Seemed like good value to me considering how freaking expensive these things are. Thanks again for the prompt to look into this.

[toast2266]

Yeah, I work in two shops. But I’m on the road for a few weeks.
That’s a great idea though, to give the claim legitimacy.
Thanks.

When I was in your position (and also working at a shop), I got a buddy at a different shop to put together the quote. Just so the insurance company would have a harder time arguing with me about it.

Sent from my SM-S931U1 using Tapatalk

[jm2e]

I think it helps to remember other hobbies that go way beyond mountain bike costs. Road bikes easily trump your blinged out mtb. Photography has no ceiling. Musical instruments are bonkers. Even a work truck full of actual tools would quickly eclipse your claim. And it all pales compared with personal liability.
Be unapologetic, matter of fact.
And as long as you’re parting out the cost of the analog bike, you should look at the Ebike as a hanger for expensive parts. They might not cover the frame/battery/motor, but I’d argue that upgraded parts are different from the non-covered OEM bike.


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[singlesline]

I just spoke to my insurance agent (Farmers), who happens to also be a mountain biker. He said that until recently, there was no distinction, but about a year ago they started splitting out coverage for ebikes and electric motorized vehicles depending on the classification into personal property. He said different rates depending on Class 1 / pedal assist vs. electric throttle types (Surron). He said the personal property coverage for my Class 1 ebikes as long as they're in my possession (home, auto, or while I'm using them) is $125/yr. Seemed like good value to me considering how freaking expensive these things are. Thanks again for the prompt to look into this.

Yeah, I think the explosion in people buying commuter/cargo/casual e-bikes and then leaving them locked up outside where they get stolen has led to this. Plus I hear stories about urban landlords not allowing them to be stored inside apartments due to fear of battery fire (most are sketchy Chinese bikes) so they get stolen from bike rooms and back porches too.

Wouldn’t be surprised if high end eMTBs barely move the needle. There’s problem one of them stolen for every 50 hub drive Chinese bikes that get taken.

[rideit]

I tried to go that route, and ask ‘what if it was just the frame that was electric’? But she shut me down really quickly on even broaching it.

[Dee Hubbs]

jm2e has a point. My buddy had his eMTB stolen and found out that his policy did not cover it. He had some upgrades on the eBike and was able to work the adjuster to claim his "bike parts" stolen. They valued everything but the frame for him. Kinda like the old flying trick, you would be charged to fly with a bike in luggage, but could fly for free with "bike parts", and technically it's not assembled.

[Canada1]

The whole bike theft thing has become problematic. The fact that every fentanyl encampment I go by has 25 wheels and 10 bike frames outside it. Around here, sugarhouse and the avenues have bikes stolen every day. When my first went to the U we bought a pawn shop bike and fixed up for his school bike. He had a knife pulled on him when he was going to class and told a homeless guy stealing bikes to stop. It's something I spend too much time thinking about. Ther was an encampment outside my office for a few years that would disappear every general conference and then reappear the next week. Is it compassion to let these people slowly kill themselves in tents on our sidewalks, or is it compassion to arrest and put them into a system that seems to have a 5% success rate at getting clean? The layers to this issue have me doing mental gymnastics. In the interim, if you lock a bike in the city, make sure it isn't the nicest one on the rack. If you have a detached garage, or a communal storage room for bikes at your apartment, know that you will be preyed upon, and the cops won't give a shit.

[jackstraw]

Well, I mentioned this before but the cops did a test here with brand new SC bikes left out and they were not taken by homeless people. They seem to know it's not a good look to be on a newish bike. I just don't know if a homeless person has the means or capability to deal with a high end bike, so I think it's more capable people ripping off "our" bikes. Just a guess though as idk.

A couple months back several towns away they busted a few guys with a stockpile of stolen decent bikes. No details on what they were doing with them exactly. I've always assumed high end bikes get stripped and sold for parts. Maybe some sell the whole bike somewhere, but it seems like they'd get caught doing so.

Has anyone ever put a GPS tracker on their bike?

[dan_pdx]

I tried to go that route, and ask ‘what if it was just the frame that was electric’? But she shut me down really quickly on even broaching it.

Really sorry to hear about your bikes. It's worth posting them on bikeindex and 5 to 9 if you haven't already.

[rideit]

I tried on bike index a few times, and it asked me to request an invite to edit a Google doc. I can’t seem to get a reply. Is Royal still doing his thing? I have tried to reach out as well.

[Shaaarrrp]

Is it compassion to let these people slowly kill themselves in tents on our sidewalks, or is it compassion to arrest and put them into a system that seems to have a 5% success rate at getting clean? The layers to this issue have me doing mental gymnastics.

. Neither of these seem compassionate at all to me. Compassion would be offering them as many avenues as possible for forgiveness, growth and self actualization.

[Roxtar]

Is it compassion to let these people slowly kill themselves in tents on our sidewalks, or is it compassion to arrest and put them into a system that seems to have a 5% success rate at getting clean?

It is a form of toxic empathy and it seems to have permiated our entire culture.
It is now wrong, or mean, or hating, to expect people to rise to an acceptable level of civilized society.

[yeahman]

GPS tracker on a bike in an urban environment seems like a great idea. Bikes should come with them internally installed so they can't be disabled.