About 700,000 people in this age group now own motorbikes and Saga's research suggests another million wish they did so   Telegraph.co.uk By Ian CowiePublished: 10:14PM BST 27 Aug 2009   Saga, the company that specialises in the over-fifties, plans to extend its financial services to include motorbike insurance next month. At a time when their mothers and fathers were thinking of putting their feet up, hundreds of thousands of fiftysomethings today are hitting the road in search of thrills. To be precise, about 700,000 people in this age group now own motorbikes and Saga's research suggests another million wish they did so. Saga points out that older bikers have less to prove, are likely to travel at lower speeds and cover fewer miles. Even the most powerful motorbike is nearly risk-free if it sits in a garage for 11 and a half months of the year. So, for example, the insurer reckons it can cover a Harley-Davidson XL 1200 Sportster for just under £90 a year – provided annual useage does not exceed 1,000 miles and the rider is 65 years old. The company certainly knows its customers; it covers 25 motorists who are more than 100 years old.                                                                                                                                                                              

Do you think they will cover a hardtail chop with wide glide front end and aftermarket 4 into 2's? Need to know TeeCee cos the year is getting closer by the day.                                                                                                                                                                              

i wonder how many great bikes are gathering dust locked away and forgotten about due to uncle Alz ?                                                                                                                                                                             

Ric - just rang them and they said as long as it has a comfy saddle and you are prepared to wrap up warm if it is a bit nippy, then they will cover you....                                                                                                                                                                              

Cheers TeeCee. Thats a comfort to know. Maybe they will give discount for insurance company recommended knee warmers.                                                                                                                                                                             

"Need to know TeeCee cos the year is getting closer by the day"   You poor old bugger!   lol @ tc                                                                                                                                                                             

dont forget the nappy's for long rides of up to 10 miles [its the vibrations]                                                                                                                                                                              

fortunately they're all throwaway these days TM                                                                                                                                                                              

mmmmm fresh nappy's!!simple pleusures every time!                                                                                                                                                                             

I gather they're not as competitive as they make out on other insurance and they declined to insure my speedboat because it was kept on a trailer at a caravan site in spite of the site being secure and my using two locks on the trailer. They still keep sending me reminders for insurance.

It's all very well their insuring a 1200 Sportster for 1000 miles a year for a 65 year old, but would they even consider me at 58 for a 1200 Bandit and a ZX_9R doing around 10,000 miles a year between them? I can't see it somehow. Still, I'll ask for a quote when I'm due to renew in March - and be prepared to have a laugh.

Cata i'm sure they just see $ signs ...this is not to do us older riders any favours and i agree they will most likely be pricier .                                                                                                                                                                             

Wow - people really DO get more cynical as they grow older....                                                                                                                                                                              

Cynical, grumpy, incontinent forgetfull and erm.....No, it's gone again  (hit 50 in june)

                                                                                                                                                                             

Saga's more expensive for most things Cata... they're just using a great marketing idea... bit like that stupid women drivers insurance company... I've forgotten the name of it now, but they wanted about £300 more than anyone else did when I asked for a quote a few years back!
                                                                                                                                                                             

BB you youngster ! get outta here and mend that old biker injury of yours ...lol                                                                                                                                                                              

I got balls of steel!! unfortunatly they're hip joints.                                                                                                                                                                              

imagine the pain and stress you'd cause if the wer'nt lmao get well soon BB                                                                                                                                                                              

Wb - Sheila's Wheels? Blonde bimbo's in pink jackets.                                                                                                                                                                             

I've always been cynical but there are still things that make me more so - like my experience with Swinton Bikes.

I used to be an angry young man but somewhere along the way I became a grumpy old one.