This is not the first time I've heard negative things about Carol Nash. I'd be interested to turn this side of the original post on its head: has anyone needed assistance and been looked after really well with an insurer? If Carol Nash aren't great, who is better?

glad you are both ok - how about a mention of the boots, gloves, helmets and armor - be well! ... Michael

Apologies for very slow response - per my reply to Mollydog I kinda abandoned this post. But incase you're still here, detail below and apologies again for my poor posting!

Me:

Boots - were (are - I'm still riding in them) TCX gortex adventure style (like cheap Sidi rain)! Held up and stayed on no probs.

Gloves - thin Klim leather short summer style gloves (sorry dont have name to hand) one seam popped but otherwise all ok. Replaced with a matching pair.

Helmet - Spada MX style lid with goggles (personal pref for long journeys). Budget and took a whack but my sweed was fine! Replaced with same.

Here:

Boots, Gloves - Rukka - slide damage but held up. replaced due to wear but no complaints - they did their job well.

Helmet - Shoei - great protection, tiny mark after impact, replaced for safety but looked as if nothing had happened.

Bradden
Sorry to say that Patrick aka Mollydog died December 3 2018 of pancreatic cancer.
Hence the R.I.P

If I was going to use vented tops and bottoms it would most likely be from knox . The dianese kit u were using , I'm going to guess that it's ce cert is plus only . Alot of textile kit struggles to obtain an A rating some manage AA , its abrasion resistance will always be less then leather but its rip resistance will be higher .
My astar top is only A cert but upgraded by level 2 shoulder , elbow and chest armour .
We stock alot of manufacturers where I work and have just taken on a certain Dutch brand too.........if anyone wants an impartial opinion on something they are looking at buying they can always pm me .
Current fave jacket is the new version of the astar Bogota
Level 2 armour , excellent vents and a clever inner wproof liner.......goes inside or out , bit like triumph used to do and the price is a steal..........not an advert but well worth a look if u don't have Klim money

Hi Chris thanks for the comments and feedback.

Would be interested in looking at the bogota kit (or equivalent) particularly for my otherhalf as she is petite and of course struggles to find bike kit that fits...
All other recommendations appreciated. Just googled the jacket and it looks good, though the multi layered element of many jackets is essentially a waste for us as we already have insulation and waterproof layers from other active pursuits that we prefer to wear under a single skin outer (such as the klim dakar - which contrary to popular belief are actually very affordable - literally on a par with many other pieces of kit).

Ref the dianese kit, it literally blew apart. Stitching torn and fabric shredded. There was no part of the product that suggested suitable integrity or a 'performance within limited expectations'. It's frightening to see and frankly incredible injuries weren't a lot worse. We contacted dianese to see if they'd be interested to see it and they literally couldn't give a shit. Each to their own but never ever again.

Hi Braddon....if the kits for ur good lady then I would def go down the knox route.......they do female size specific kit . If u look it up on their website u will see that together with the kit u already have u will pretty much b doing what they offer as a layering system . We sold alot of it and I'm struggling to think of any returns re faults etc . I don't wear it as its close fitting and shows my man bump!!
At the mo I'm only aware of the Bogota being in men's sizes , certainly by us anyways .

:'( thanks for the heads up and apologies for any apparent insensitivity - I just didn't click re the RIP.

Carole Nash are merely a broker - the "middle man" type of business that has sprung up in the UK.
Shame doesn't enter into the business model.


There is a sticky thread from a few years ago that brings together some experiences of UK vehicle insurance.

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...eriences-63707
Nowadays, it tends to be buried among many other sticky threads in that section of the HUBB.

__________________
Dave

Insurance in UK reminds of a story told me by one of the Monroe brothers in San Francisco. I spent many a pleasant hour at their shop, a Triumph, Ducati dealer (and several other bikes over the years, including CCM!)

Pat Monroe tells the story of the trip he and his brother made to the UK in the mid 1960's.

Business at their shop was booming, so the two thrifty Irishmen decided to splurge (a very RARE thing for these two Master Cheapskates)

They had arranged with the Triumph factory (Meriden in those years) to buy two new bike's at dealer's special wholesale price. Plan was to ride around for a month, then ship them home.

So they pick the bikes up at local dealer in London and when doing the paper work, Jim Monroe (the smarter brother) asks about insurance.

The manager gives them a quizzical look "Insurance?", he says "There is no insurance for bikes."

For all I know, maybe you lot didn't have it for cars back then either? But good things come to those who wait!

Point is:
Seems UK insurers have learned the evil ways of grave robbing that USA insurance companies have perfected since the 1930s.

Now, in USA, insurance is required by law and you can't register your bike without proof of insurance. (in most US states)

Hearing the Monroe's story was a shock at the time (mid 1980's) ... NO INSURANCE! It DID NOT exist
(at least not for motorcycles). Both Monroe brothers both have now transitioned to higher ground. RIP, Jim and Pat.

I insured my Triumph with Bennett's when in UK (2003) but no claims made. After I sold it I cancelled remaining policy (had 9 months left on it) ... and they mistakenly PAID MY REFUND TWICE!

First time I hit the road on two wheels was '67 and there certainly was a need for bike insurance then. I can still remember the pain of paying for it out of my 50p a week Saturday job (no minimum wage back then ).

I suspect the dealer's response was more engineered towards an easy life than strict conformity with the law (i.e. - two foreigners, I'll fob 'em off, they'll believe anything). It's always been possible to register new vehicles here without insurance - the two processes are not connected, so the bikes could easily be sitting there with number plates and ready to go without any insurance co involvement.

As for current insurance 'practice' ..... I'm right in the middle of insurance renewal season and every single renewal letter / email that's come in has used the 'inertia quote' approach. I did the house insurance a few days ago and the 'valued long time customer' quote was twice as much as the same policy from the same company as new business. Presumably it must work or they wouldn't do it but I've long wondered about the 'ethics' of an industry that works by a combination of fear, ignorance and inertia.

This is merely a failure to properly translate the dealer's comment. What he meant was "I don't have to deal with your insurance in order to sell you a bike." This is very different from "There's no insurance," or even "Insurance is not mandatory."

I've heard similar in the US in several states where, at least at the time, registration was independent of insurance. Here in Washington I can register any vehicle I want without insuring it, but if I venture out onto a public road and am caught without proof of insurance all sorts of dire consequences ensue. Back in Massachusetts, the registration document itself was filled out by the insurer, in their office--you then took their documentation to the state office to pay, record your registration, and receive your plates. But as far as I remember, dealers themselves bore no responsibility for this part.

What was the topic again? Oh: reviewing equipment.

Mark

I guess you were in the UK in 1965? So you know what the policy for insurance was for motorbikes back then? The point of the story ... from what I heard, was that insurance companies at that time in UK, did not cover motorcycles. !!!

I have NO IDEA if that is factual, but that's how Jim Monroe communicated the story.

Apparently the brothers went into an insurance office on the high street to verify and were told the company did not offer insurance for bikes and insurance was not required by any law at that time and ... point was, no one bothered with it. Go figure Remember, 1965.

I'm well aware how various states may require proof of insurance and some not. In California it was a ON/OFF battle for years.

So, you could register your bike without having to prove insurance. Yes, of course you'd be in big trouble if you had an accident without it, but our DMV did not require proof, nor did Police if you were pulled over.

All changed now ... yet legally, you always were supposed to have insurance! (WEIRD!)

For about 20 years now it's the law here and you have to have insurance to register any vehicle and must show proof of insurance to Police if pulled over.

When I was in UK riding a bike I bought there (2003), all I had to prove it was mine was the "Log Book". No annual registration card, and the log book did not even have my name on it. I have a feeling that all may have changed by now?
Bike had a tax disc on it, guess that was all that was required.

I was also fascinated by the UK driver's license. A funky little piece of paper that was hardly legible. Tiny print, thin paper. My friend never even carried his with him! He said no one did! In the US they might shoot you for not having I.D.!