Future Classic Bike Insurance

What is a future classic motorbike?

A future classic motorbike is a motorcycle that, while not yet considered a classic, has the potential to become collectable, highly valued or increasingly sought after in the future. These bikes often possess a combination of unique features, design, performance, or historical significance that could make them stand out from other motorcycles as they age.

Future classics sit somewhere on the timeline between modern motorcycles and established classic bikes.

There is no universally agreed age at which a motorcyle becomes a future classic. Instead, the term is generally used to describe bikes that are beginning to attract interest from collectors and enthusiasts - particularly where good examples are becoming rare.

Future classics will most likely have stopped depreciating, and may even start to increase in value again.

What makes a motorcycle a future classic?

Characteristics of future classics often include:

• Uniqueness
• Rarity
• Performance
• Design
• Historical significance

Is there such a thing as future classic bike insurance?

There is no single definition of a "future classic" that all insurers use. Brokers even differ significantly in their approach to determining what qualifies as a classic motorbike.

Some providers offer classic policies covering bikes that are 15+ years old, whilst others require the motorbike to be 20+ or even 30+ years old.

What should future classic bike insurance cover?

Owners of future classic motorbikes will often look for features commonly found on classic bike insurance policies such as:

• Agreed values
• Salvage retention rights
• Spare parts cover
• Cover for modifications
• Cover for restoration projects or show bikes

Not every policy will offer these features, and they should not be assumed to be included simply because a bike is described as a future classic.

If you require any of these features on your future classic motorbike insurance, speak direclty to the broker before buying the policy.

Comparing quotes can give you a useful indication of the price, but you should check the policy provides the specific level of cover you require by carefully reading the wording, terms and conditions.

Will being a future classic make any difference to my quote?

Not necessarily. If you do not require any of the specialised features typically associated with classic bike insurance, then being a future classic may not significantly impact the price of your policy.

The price you see when comparing quotes will be for standard motorbike insurance, with the bike insured at its current market value.

As insurers and brokers differ in how they define modern, classic, vintage and specialist bikes, it can pay to check with them directly.

If your priority is finding the lowest priced insurance, and you don't require the benefits associated with a specialist or classic motorcycle policy, then you can compare standard policies and options completely online using the comparison service.

In other words, the label “future classic” is not necessarily what determines the price or suitability of your insurance. The more important question is whether your policy provides the type and level of cover that you actually need.

After all, if you have a bike that you consider to be a future classic but its current value is broadly in line with the market value of comparable bikes of the same age, then its classification may be of little consequence from an insurance perspective.

However, if your bike is becoming increasingly valuable, has been extensively modified or restored, or you want specialist features such as an agreed value, it is worth discussing your requirements with the insurer or broker before taking out cover.