[Tomo Owain]

Hi all, i am wondering about doing a 612cc conversion on my electra efi 500 (UCE engine). However I find myself unable to find a quote on insurance for such mods. Can anyone who’s done these mods enlighten me on costs and possibly recommend insurance brokers/companies. Thanks in advance for the help.

[AzCal Retred]

Ummm...how would they know? They'd have to use a burette and show up willing to measure the displacement. The 500 can speed you along at 85-95 MPH or so, that's extra-legal territory anyway. Another 10 MPH will just scatter the stray "rapid-unscheduled-disassembly" bits another 25 yards or so further along the tarmac at full chat. Seems like if they actually wanted to know machine potency they'd sponsor a dynamometer run?

[Tomo Owain]

So only declare things like a exhaust and air filter, just seems like asking for trouble in the event of an accident. Wouldn’t a inspector notice the mods and void your insurance if a claim was made? Or is it something that they could miss?

[SteveThackery]

Ummm...how would they know? They'd have to use a burette and show up willing to measure the displacement.

I think you would get away with it, EXCEPT when there has been a death or serious, life-limiting injury. Those are the sort of circumstances where an insurance company might be looking at million dollar payouts. In those circumstances you can be sure they will look really hard for reasons not to pay out. That might include getting engineers' reports on the vehicles involved: looking for inadequately maintained vehicles, illegally modified ones, etc. If found out, you could well be looking at bankruptcy (because you'll be liable for the compensation, not the insurance company), jail time, and a lifetime of gut-wrenching guilt.

In summary, you will almost certainly get away with it. But it isn't entirely risk-free, and especially if there has been a death your bike might be subject to some close scrutiny.  Those vehicle engineers are not naive - they know to look for big-bore conversions, hot cams, etc.

[Tomo Owain]

Thanks, thought as much. Then I’m back to the original question of insurance brokers who would insure a modified bike. Any recommendations?

[johno]

Depends what country you are in.....

[Tomo Owain]

Depends what country you are in.....

I’m in the UK

[AzCal Retred]

Here's a place to start.
https://www.gocompare.com/motorbike-insurance/motorbike-modifications-and-your-insurance/

The 612 kit itself is invisible. Build a Q-Ship, enjoy the greater midrange. Leave the carb/EFI & exhaust externals alone, rejet/retune as needed. If you get classically T-boned in an intersection by Grandma or Grandpa nobody will care that you have $3500 worth of 612 kit in there except the wrecking yard that sells it on, and how would they know anyway?

If you plan to go fast, buy a 600cc or larger sportbike with real brakes, real geometry, real frane strength, real suspension. The RE UCE's are still 1960's tech built in India, NOT something to explore traction and cornering load limits with. They ARE a ton of fun and a window to the past if ridden within their envelope. The $2500-$3500 dropped into the engine would buy you a very competent, reasonable condition used 130 MPH sportbike.

[johno]

Thats the thing, in the UK, any modification not declared will void an insurance pay out even if it is 100%no fault incident. I would rather than use online quote systems contact the insurers directly by phone also look at specialist insurers that deal with custom Motorcycles not just the likes of Bennets etc listings are normally found in the back sections of motorcycle magazines and MCN etc.

[MowgliB5]

I don’t see the point in going bigger with a Bullet engine.
The gain isn’t worth the hassle in my opinion and at the end of the day the Bullet is bit of a loveable slow walrus.
Just enjoy it as is!!!

[AzCal Retred]

The 612 (103mm) crank with a stock 6.5:1 CR forged 84mm piston yields a 570cc tractor motor with a fuel-friendly CR of about 7.5:1. The Hitchcock's crank is a quality piece. You'd have a bulletproof, sidehack worthy engine. A $3500 engine, but a good'un.  MowgliB5 has a good point. FWIW I feel a nice forged slug is a good stopping point. Maybe an alloy barrel too if you live somewhere where it gets over 45C in the summer.

[Silverback]

The cost and power return seem prohibitive to me.  I would look for a good low mileage interceptor or wait for the classic 650 to come out. Its rumored to be out in 2025.

[longstrokeclassic]

Where it ends up going pear shaped is when a third party is either maimed or killed.
Then there will be a great deal of interest taken in any undeclared changes to avoid any chance of your insurance company paying out any money. They’ll pay it out but recover the monies and the additional costs involved afterwards. 
Also if you increase the capacity enough to fall into a higher VEL class you’ll also have to deal with HMRC for ‘tax’ evasion 

When I more than doubled the RWHP of my iron barrel 350 the insurance premiums after fully declaring all modifications more than tripled.   Can’t recall who I ended up insuring it with.

[Guaire]

Hi Tomo - See if Hagerty does business in the UK.

Also, buy one of these. It's a UK magazine. See if there are advertisers in there.
https://www.classicmotorcycle.co.uk

Regards,
Bill G.

[TrianglePete]

  I hope all of you remember that the stock 500/535 UCE engine comes with 350 cams.

check the part #s     

Pete     US spec.