How do I insure bicycles as a full time RiVer?

[Wayfaring Stranger]

I've been on the phone all day trying to get insurance on our Cardinal 5th wheel and the contents and the bikes. The first two are easy. They are suggesting the bikes are only covered if they are stolen from inside the camper, and are not covered if they are stolen at a trail head of any place outside of the camper.

Most of us own bikes and there must be insurance to cover them. Our bikes are expensive, worth about $8000 a piece new. I think $10,000 is what all three are worth used, so that is what National General would provide but they could not confirm they cover a loss of bikes outside the camper.

Help me find someone to insure our bikes, no matter where they get stolen.

Thanks.

[bikendan]

I keep mine in the covered truck bed. Had a bike stolen out of it and it was covered by my truck's insurance.
Sounds like you have ebikes. Not many regular bike cost that much.

[NoviBill]

Google "Bicycle insurance", my bikes don't need insuring, but many people I ride with have $10k bikes and have specific policies. A quick search found: https://simplebikeinsurance.com/

Just biked the Southern Tier - https://anunbalancedbalance.blogspot...hern-tier.html

[Wayfaring Stranger]

I just got off the phone with National General Insurance, who claim to be the best RV insurance company.

First they asked me if the bikes were electric. If so, they don't cover them. Next they said my three bikes would be covered, but only if they were within 50 feet of the 5th wheel when they were stolen. So if I put the bikes in the truck and go to a trailhead and ride them, and load them up and drive back to the RV park and stop for lunch, and the bikes get stolen, I was told National General will then only cover 25% of the loss.

But I told them I was a full-time RiVer and the insurance I want is suppose to be like homeowners insurance. They agreed but said they cover bikes differently. I want insurance that covers our bikes if they are stolen anywhere, not just within 50 feet of the RV.

Does anyone have insurance that they know covered their bikes no matter where they are stolen?

[CNYCamper]

My situation is different than yours in that I do not full-time and own a sticks and bricks house. But I did run into a major problem trying to insure our 2 E bikes. I suggest you try Markel Insurance (they do deal directly with the public - google for contact info.).
I did end up getting my Homeowners carrier to include physical damage on the bikes on an all risk property floater endorsement, but Markel was willing to write these if needed. I did place the liability insurance for the bikes with Markel as my Homeowners carrier refused.
The Markel people were very easy to deal with.
If your bikes are E bikes Markel has a special program for these.

[007matman]

2-second Google search..

https://simplebikeinsurance.com/?gcl...EaAsBAEALw_wcB

[CNYCamper]

Originally Posted by 007matman

2-second Google search..

https://simplebikeinsurance.com/?gcl...EaAsBAEALw_wcB

This is the Markel program I referenced in post #5

[Wayfaring Stranger]

Originally Posted by 007matman

2-second Google search..

https://simplebikeinsurance.com/?gcl...EaAsBAEALw_wcB

Not what I'm looking for. As a full-timer, insurance companies offer a type of home owners policies that should cover bikes, rather than seeking bike only policies like you linked to. National General does offer such insurance, but they have specific clauses where the bike must be stolen while it is within 50 feet of the camper, otherwise they only cover 25% of the loss.

I'll probably settle for the above policy to get started and keep looking for someone offering coverage for the bikes no matter where they were stolen.

[Wayfaring Stranger]

Originally Posted by bikendan

I keep mine in the covered truck bed. Had a bike stolen out of it and it was covered by my truck's insurance.
Sounds like you have ebikes. Not many regular bike cost that much.

Nope, not e-bikes. Carbon fiber Pivot brand mountain bikes. I secure them with motorcycle chain and locks. I've had attempts made to steal them but they only scratched the hardened steel chains.

Once we get settled into the RV park in Phoenix, I'll probably lock them to the landing gear at night. I just can't let them get stolen when we have them away from the camper, or we will only get 25% of the loss coverage.

[NavyLCDR]

Originally Posted by Wayfaring Stranger

Not what I'm looking for.

It may not be what you are looking for, but it may be your only option. I think the Rolling Stones said that best in a song. This is from State Farm:
https://www.statefarm.com/insurance/...ravel-trailers

Covering what’s inside your travel/camping trailer
Items such as jewelry, cameras, bicycles, fishing equipment, golf clubs, and even the things that make your travel/camping trailer feel like home may need extra protection. Ensure they’re also covered with a personal articles policy that goes beyond your travel/camping trailer policy.

https://www.statefarm.com/insurance/...rticles-policy

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by Wayfaring Stranger

Nope, not e-bikes. Carbon fiber Pivot brand mountain bikes. I secure them with motorcycle chain and locks. I've had attempts made to steal them but they only scratched the hardened steel chains.



Once we get settled into the RV park in Phoenix, I'll probably lock them to the landing gear at night. I just can't let them get stolen when we have them away from the camper, or we will only get 25% of the loss coverage.

Well, those are very high end MTBs. Those are beautiful bikes, very envious. No wonder you want them insured.

[Wayfaring Stranger]

Originally Posted by NavyLCDR

It may not be what you are looking for, but it may be your only option. I think the Rolling Stones said that best in a song. This is from State Farm:
https://www.statefarm.com/insurance/...ravel-trailers

Covering what’s inside your travel/camping trailer
Items such as jewelry, cameras, bicycles, fishing equipment, golf clubs, and even the things that make your travel/camping trailer feel like home may need extra protection. Ensure they’re also covered with a personal articles policy that goes beyond your travel/camping trailer policy.

https://www.statefarm.com/insurance/...rticles-policy

Only because we had our home burglarized some years back, do I now know that insurance salesman are much different then dealing with insurance claims adjusters. Even after being talked into "replacement value" insurance, they still decided the plasma tv we paid $4500 for was only worth $500. I explained to the adjuster that if I had a Mercedes stolen from us, I do not want to hear you are buying me a Kia and then telling me its essentially the same, it has four tires and a steering wheel.

So I was suspicious when they used the words; "covering what's inside your travel / camper trailer. I kept asking if the bikes were only covered if they were "inside" the camper, and they would not answer. Finally, I called the number someone here listed for National General and they told me the bike would be covered if they were within 50 feet of the camper, and they would be covered at 25% of value if they were outside of that range, like at a restaurant parking lot. Now I just need to discern what they think a bikes value is that originally cost $7500, but is 6 years old. That is usually where they get you and say they feel it's only worth $500. But I might be able to intercede and get quotes from bike shops saying it's worth more.

[Wayfaring Stranger]

Originally Posted by bikendan

Well, those are very high end MTBs. Those are beautiful bikes, very envious. No wonder you want them insured.

We did not buy them new, so we saved several thousand dollars. I look forward to riding my favorite trails in north Scottsdale once we get settled at the RV resort in Phoenix. Here in Nebraska, just outside Omaha, we mostly rode on paved trails that circle man-made lakes. It's really beautiful watching the Canada geese flocking on the lakes. We even saw a large pelican I thought escaped from the zoo. It turns out they actually do live in this area.

[campers302]

Originally Posted by Wayfaring Stranger

We did not buy them new, so we saved several thousand dollars. I look forward to riding my favorite trails in north Scottsdale once we get settled at the RV resort in Phoenix. Here in Nebraska, just outside Omaha, we mostly rode on paved trails that circle man-made lakes. It's really beautiful watching the Canada geese flocking on the lakes. We even saw a large pelican I thought escaped from the zoo. It turns out they actually do live in this area.

Self insure.

Put aside 50, 75, 100 a month in a separate account or what ever just for bike replacement.

If they get stolen you will have monies to replace, if not you have saved on the insurance premium which would never replace the true value of the bikes.

If they don't get stolen you have a windfall to spend as you see fit.



WIN WIN SEEMS TO ME.

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by Wayfaring Stranger

We did not buy them new, so we saved several thousand dollars. I look forward to riding my favorite trails in north Scottsdale once we get settled at the RV resort in Phoenix. Here in Nebraska, just outside Omaha, we mostly rode on paved trails that circle man-made lakes. It's really beautiful watching the Canada geese flocking on the lakes. We even saw a large pelican I thought escaped from the zoo. It turns out they actually do live in this area.

We sold our house on Camano Island and are having a house built in SW Phoenix. There are tons of trails to ride in the area. So I hopefully will get in better shape riding my road bike and MTB there.

[aircommuter]

Originally Posted by bikendan

We sold our house on Camano Island and are having a house built in SW Phoenix. There are tons of trails to ride in the area. So I hopefully will get in better shape riding my road bike and MTB there.

From the coast to the 🌵. That’s a big change.

[dalford]

Originally Posted by campers302

Self insure.

Put aside 50, 75, 100 a month in a separate account or what ever just for bike replacement.

If they get stolen you will have monies to replace, if not you have saved on the insurance premium which would never replace the true value of the bikes.

If they don't get stolen you have a windfall to spend as you see fit.



WIN WIN SEEMS TO ME.

He said his bikes are $8000 each…(x2) hmmm at $100 bucks a month in about 15 years he could replace his bikes…

[Reverse_snowbird]

You could do what our friend who has a motorcycle did. He had GPS tracking put on his bike in a concealed location. It wouldn't stop them from being stolen, but it might help you recover them.

[Paulie1138]

While in the Scottsdale area, go to Brown’s Ranch or McDowell Mountain Park. There are a lot of great rides with spectacular views. Do try to avoid the weekends at some of the parks, as there are a lot of big races going on this time of year. Have fun!

[Steeljag]

Originally Posted by dalford

He said his bikes are $8000 each…(x2) hmmm at $100 bucks a month in about 15 years he could replace his bikes…