High-powered machines and older riders are often a fatal mix, writes Teresa Hunter.
THE Post Office has launched its first ever motorcycle insurance policy to cash in on the growing lure of the lonely road.
Motorcycle ownership is on the increase as growing numbers of middle-aged men splash out on sports bikes in an attempt to recapture their youth.
Elsewhere, the soaring cost of petrol and road taxes is driving motorists to swap four wheels for two in a bid to cut costs.
Norwich Union's underwriting strategy manager Nigel Bartram said: "There is a big surge in the numbers buying small bikes and scooters for their commute to work. This lets them save money not just on petrol but on parking."
But as rider numbers soar, so do accidents, which have pushed up the
cost of insurance and forced companies to restrict cover.
Co-operative Insurance Services, historically a big underwriter of motorcycles, now restricts cover to bikes worth less than £8,000. And, according to the AA, some companies require anyone who has not ridden for a while to take a new test.
The police are also concerned about accident numbers. A spokesman for the Association of Chief Police Officers said: "There is obviously little we can do to stop these people with disposable income from spending it on high-powered motorcycles, but we are doing what we can to stop them from killing themselves."
Worryingly, these two most at-risk groups comprise 70% of all riders. According to Bennetts, the UK's biggest motorcycle insurance specialist, 35% of its policies are taken out by middle-aged hobby riders, with a further 35% relating to commuters.
Bartram added: "We are seeing a big increase in those buying sports bikes for a hobby. They hit their 50s, have a bit of spare cash, had a bike when they were younger, think about buying a sports car and decide to get a fast bike instead.
