Even if you only use your bike for adventure rides, you need to have valid two wheeler insurance to be able to legally ride it on Indian roads. Adventure rides are synonymous with a high risk of unforeseen damages, which is why opting for the right motor insurance is important.
The idea of riding a bike is different for everyone. While some use their bikes for practical use, such as their daily commuter, others approach the idea of bike riding as a hobby. Among the second category, there is a section of riders who like to experience new thrills and the feeling of adrenaline rush while riding their bikes through challenging terrain. However, regardless of the reasons for your riding, one must always have proper motor insurance coverage for their bikes in India. In this article, we will discuss the need for two wheeler insurance for bikes meant for adventure riding.
What is bike insurance?
Before jumping into the need for two wheeler insurance for adventure rides, let us take a brief look at what bike insurance is to have a better understanding of the concept. A two wheeler insurance is a policy that covers expenses arising due to damages caused to your bike by unforeseen events, such as theft and burglary, fire, accidental damage, natural and man-made hazards, etc. In addition, it can cover liabilities arising due to third party property damage, bodily injuries or death in an accident involving the insured vehicle. Hence, it is a very important tool that financially protects you against expenses that are a result of such events.
Do I need bike insurance for adventure rides?
Adventure rides usually mean riding your bike through challenging terrains and soaking in the thrill that it offers. Riding your bike on an off-road track or demanding roads, like that of Leh Ladakh, exposes you to difficult scenarios that are harder to navigate when compared to normal urban and rural roads. Hence, the chances of accidental damage to your bike stay quite high. Even if you may think that you have what it takes to properly handle the mixture of difficult roads and high-powered machinery, accidents can happen to the best of the riders. In addition, when going on adventure rides in India, it usually means finding yourself in some of the most unfriendly terrains where risks of natural calamities, such as earthquakes, floods, landslides, rockslides, etc., are high. These two pointers just scratch the surface level of the pool of reasons as to why one must equip their beloved bike with proper two wheeler insurance for adventure rides.
Here are some additional reasons why one must have proper bike insurance for adventure rides;
1. Legal requirement:
As per the Motor Vehicles Act of 1988, bike owners are required to have valid motor insurance with at least third-party coverage to ride their bikes on Indian roads. If your adventure ride involves riding on Indian roads, no matter how remote the location is, you are still required to have valid bike insurance coverage for it.
2. Helps cover expenses:
Accidental damages or theft can lead to unforeseen expenses that can be difficult to cover from one’s own pocket. Adventure bikes are generally expensive, hence repairing or replacing them can cost significant money. Comprehensive two wheeler insurance can cover such expenses, helping you get your bike back in shape without hurting your pocket.
3. Handles liabilities:
During your adventure rides, if your bike is involved in an accident that leads to third-party liabilities, the two wheeler insurance will take care of it ensuring proper compensation is made.
4. Protects against theft:
Adventure rides often bring you to unfamiliar locations. In such cases, the risk of bike theft increases. If your bike gets stolen and no trace of it is found after taking the necessary measures, the insurer, after taking depreciation into account, will offer you a lump sum compensation as per the bike’s Insured Declared Value (IDV).
5. Covers calamities:
As previously mentioned, two wheeler insurance can cover damages caused to your bike by natural calamities, like earthquakes, floods, landslides, etc. On top of this, it can also cover damages to your bike caused by man-made disasters, such as vandalism, strikes, riots, etc.
6. Offers comprehensive protection:
With comprehensive two wheeler insurance, some insurers make sure that your bike stays covered from fire & explosion damage, and through transit by rail, road, lift, inland waterway, etc.
7. Helpful add-ons:
With comprehensive two wheeler insurance, you have the ability to customise your plan by adding helpful add-ons, which can come in handy for your adventure rides.
Types of bike insurance for adventure rides
Here are the three main types of two wheeler insurance available in India;
1. Comprehensive two wheeler insurance
It is the most recommended type of two wheeler insurance policy offered in India. It offers extensive protection, covering both third party liabilities and own damages. You can also extend its coverage by opting for add-ons with this plan.
2. Third party two wheeler insurance
This plan offers the basic coverage required by the law, i.e., third-party liability cover and doesn’t offer any coverage for own damages.
3. Standalone own damage cover
It is a standalone plan that only covers own damages caused to the bike by an insured peril and doesn’t offer any type of third-party liability cover.
If you use your bike for adventure rides, opting for the comprehensive two wheeler insurance will make the most sense despite its higher price tag. It not only includes the third-party liability cover required by the law but also offers extensive coverage for your own damages and lets you include add-ons to increase protection per your requirement, which can come in handy for adventure rides.
Recommended add-ons for adventure bikers
The add-ons offered with comprehensive bike insurance may vary from one provider to the other. Here are some general add-ons that are highly recommended for individuals who want to secure their bike for adventure rides;
1. Roadside assistance cover:
With this add-on, you can avail of the emergency service offered by the insurer in the event your two wheeler experiences a breakdown in the middle of the road. It may include things like minor on-site repairs, emergency fuel delivery, tyre replacement, etc., which can help keep your adventure rides uninterrupted.
2. Engine protection cover:
An engine protection add-on covers damages to the two-wheeler engine caused by oil, water or lubricant leakages, water ingression due to flooding, accidents, failure of the engine, etc. Under the context of adventure riding, this can be highly beneficial.
3. Zero depreciation cover:
With this add-on, the insurer will settle claims without considering depreciation rates. This means the policyholder will receive the total amount for the damaged part during claims without being subjected to a deduction of the depreciation value.
4. Return to Invoice cover:
If your two wheeler is damaged beyond repair or gets stolen and can’t be recovered, the insurer will offer a compensation amount equal to the invoice value of the vehicle when you bought it.
Conclusion:
As you can see, it is essential and highly beneficial to have two wheeler insurance for your bike, especially if you go on adventure rides. This type of ride involves tackling difficult terrains and regions, where risks of damages caused by accidents, theft, third-party liabilities, natural and man-made calamities, etc., persist. Additionally, the availability of useful add-ons, such as emergency assistance, engine protector, zero depreciation, etc., with comprehensive two wheeler insurance makes it even more justified under the context of adventure rides.
Disclaimer: The above information is for illustrative purposes only. For more details, please refer to the policy wordings and prospectus before concluding the sales.
Angela Spearman is a journalist at EzineMark who enjoys writing about the latest trending technology and business news.
