I have 2 motorcycles. One is a NTV 600 Revere, the other a SLR 650. The NTV is 15 years old and the SLR is 8 years old. I insure both bike third party fire and theft for £154.00. I think this is a very reasonable price that I am quite happy to pay.

I am frustrated with the cost of petrol though. Both bikes will return 50 to 55 mpg which compared to a car and some sports bikes is better than average, but I travel approximately 15,000 miles per year which costs around £1300 each year in fuel. This figure is steadily rising as petrol prices increase.

As such I am considering selling the SLR and replacing it with the very uncool, but incredibly frugal Honda ANF 125 Innova. The Innova should return between 120 and 140 mpg, more than halving my annual fuel bill. The Innova is a much slower motorcycle than the SLR, cheaper to buy and run and most people would consider this to be a very cheap bike to insure. Not so.

My current insurance company inform me the policy I currently enjoy such cheap insurance with does not cover motorcycles UNDER 300cc. I would need to start a new policy. A new policy would mean I cannot transfer over my 4 years no claim bonus as I would still need this policy for the remaining NTV. To insure the quiet, gentle, slow and inoffensive little 125 would cost me £275!

No one can insure me for both the 125 and the NTV for less than £300. The NTV to insure on it's own is £140, the cheapest quote I have for the 125 is £190. I cannot quite work out how this can be.

I would welcome some kind of explanation. Please mail me at ren@lostsoul.org.uk If you know how these things are worked out.

Grrrrrrrr!!, I'm so frustrated. Being green and safe is expensive.