Top 10 Most Expensive Motorcycles To Insure

Troy Siahaan
by Troy Siahaan

Recently, we published a story on the least expensive motorcycles to insure. In it, the bikes were broken down by category, knowing that consumers aren’t interested in a list entirely of small-displacement beginner bikes. We also kept the list to current models (2013 in this case) available in the United States.

This time we’re going the other direction. Here we have the Top Ten most expensive motorcycles to insure. Yes, we could have listed ten uber-expensive and super-rare motorcycles which cost a fortune to insure, but in the name of practicality this list is comprised of mass produced 2013 models the majority of folks can actually buy.

Again, we averaged quotes from different insurance providers to come up with our rankings. Our fictitious rider is a 30 year-old male, licensed for ten years, with a clean record living in Los Angeles. As always, shop around with your own and other insurance providers to get rate quotes tailored for you and your situation.

10. Harley-Davidson Ultra Classic Electra Glide

The only American motorcycle to make the list, Harley’s big boy, the Electra Glide, comes in at the tenth spot for most expensive bikes to insure. When you factor the amount of hard parts, especially chrome bits, that need to be replaced in the event of a crash, then it’s easy to understand its spot on this list.

8. Tie Ducati 848 EVO and Ducati Streetfighter 848

It’s no surprise the 848 EVO and Streetfighter 848 occupy the eighth spot, considering in the eyes of insurance companies the two are largely the same motorcycle. Factor in the fact they’re both sport (or sporty) bikes and the risk factor insurance companies look for goes up. As you’ll soon see, Ducati’s rank amongst the most expensive production bikes to insure, and these are just two of the four Ducatis on this list. The most of any manufacturer.

7. Ducati Diavel

While not a sportbike, per se, the name Ducati emblazoned on the side of the tank doesn’t help the Diavel’s case in the eyes of the insurance companies we queried. For a number of reasons, not least of which is its powerful 1198cc V-Twin engine, semblance of sporting intentions and the aforementioned name on the tank, insurance companies feel the need to charge more for this urban-cruising bad boy.

6. Ducati Panigale

Sportbikes have a prominent role on this list, and when you add an exotic example like the Ducati 1199 Panigale, insurance for them isn’t cheap. There was a wide variance in quotes between the different companies – the Panigale would have been the second-most expensive on this list if we only used the highest quote. Though we also found significantly lower rates, which helps bring down the average. But unsurprisingly, the technology-laden Panigale is Ducati’s most expensive motorcycle to insure.

5. KTM RC8R

Perhaps its relative exclusivity ranks KTM’s RC8R higher on this list than any Ducati. Despite not having electro-wizardy like traction control, ABS, ride modes, electronic suspension, etc., the average of quotes we found for the KTM put it right in the middle of this list. It makes sense: with parts that are more difficult to source in the event of a fall, costs to replace and repair these items go up. Just some of the many factors insurance companies consider when basing their rates.

4. Honda CBR1000RR

A recent report published by the National Insurance Crime Bureau stated that, in 2011, Honda was the most stolen brand of motorcycle. Not good news for current or potential Honda CBR1000RR owners. And assuming the owners had the appropriate coverage, insurance companies then had to pay out their customers to replace their ride. Also factor sportbikes in general are among the most expensive motorcycles to insure and liter-class versions even more so, and the CBR1000RR earns its fourth place ranking.

3. Suzuki GSX-R1000

Honda may be the most stolen brand, but Suzuki’s GSX-R line is consistently among the most popular sportbikes on the sales floor, and the GSX-R1000 is the most expensive of the three iterations to insure, and the costliest literbike to insure in general.

2. Kawasaki ZX-14R

If literbikes cost so much to insure, then it’s no surprise one of, if not the, fastest production motorcycle on Earth, Kawasaki’s ZX-14R, costs even more. Capable of sub-ten-second quarter-mile times and almost 200 hp at the wheel from the 1441cc engine, the ZX carries a high risk factor. And high insurance rates.

1. Suzuki Hayabusa

Obviously, if the ZX-14R was in the second spot, the Suzuki Hayabusa would be the only choice for the most expensive motorcycle to insure. The ‘Busa shares all the performance numbers (and risk factors) of the Kawi with a slightly smaller 1340cc engine, too, but has been around longer (since 1999, before the 186-mph gentlemen’s agreement for top speed among the manufacturers), giving riders more time to make mistakes on them. Thus, more insurance claims and one of the highest rates today. Like the ZX-14R, we found rates varying drastically between different carriers, though on average the Suzuki was marginally pricier to insure.

Troy Siahaan
Troy Siahaan

Troy's been riding motorcycles and writing about them since 2006, getting his start at Rider Magazine. From there, he moved to Sport Rider Magazine before finally landing at Motorcycle.com in 2011. A lifelong gearhead who didn't fully immerse himself in motorcycles until his teenage years, Troy's interests have always been in technology, performance, and going fast. Naturally, racing was the perfect avenue to combine all three. Troy has been racing nearly as long as he's been riding and has competed at the AMA national level. He's also won multiple club races throughout the country, culminating in a Utah Sport Bike Association championship in 2011. He has been invited as a guest instructor for the Yamaha Champions Riding School, and when he's not out riding, he's either wrenching on bikes or watching MotoGP.

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  • JaxWag3n JaxWag3n on Jan 16, 2014

    What about EBR's $46k RS

  • XXJunebugJo XXJunebugJo on Feb 18, 2015

    I'm actually surprised the zx14 is listed, only because my husband pays less for his 2012 zx14r than he did when he had a 2011 zx10r.

    • JGMF JGMF on Feb 02, 2017

      I know this was two years ago, but the zx14 your husband has, comes with traction control, and prolly has the ABS model which reduces accidents exponentially.

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