Thatcham certified...

Hi

I've bought a Thatcham Category 2 immobiliser (Meta M53T). I would
prefer to install it myself as a) I'd take more time and do a better
job and b) it would be cheaper than paying someone else.

However, I'm wondering the insurance reduction (and maybe bike sell on
value?) for a "professionally" installed Category 2 device is large
enough to make it worth me getting a man in. Any rough ideas of what
percent discount I might get for a Cat 2 would be gratefully received?
I currently pay about £200 TPFT for a Fazer 600, which I guess is
quite low compared to what some have to pay, so I doubt it will be
worth it.

While on the topic, any ideas on how much it might cost for a man to
fit it, assuming I could find someone willing to fit a customer
supplied unit would also be gratefully received. Has anyone ever found
a friendly fitter who'll look over a user installation for a nominal
fee to check it's all in order and stamp the certificate?

cheers
Darren

 

Quite simply, if it isn't professionally installed then you won't have
a fitting certificate to give to the insurance company and therefore
no discount.

 

Cheers Ben, that's what I'd thought - However, I'm trying to balance
the cost of getting it installed with the benefit that doing so might
give me. E.g. if £50 installation buys me a a 20% insurance discount
it might be worth it, if there's a 5% discount and installation is
£100 it might not, If there's a 10% discount and a man will look over
a customer installation and stamp the certificate if it's all up to
scratch for £20, it again might be worth it. However, to avoid having
the LED fixed to the seat, the cables routed along the exhaust and
control unit perched on the fuel tank, I'd rather install it myself!

I was also wondering how attractive people might consider a
certificated installation when buying a bike - although I realise lots
of people don't hold with alarms/immobilisers anyway.

Cheers, darren

 

I've had dealer fitted alarms on my last two bikes and had no
problems. Only way to know if it's cost effective is to ask for
quotes now with and without the alarm (same as having no cert). In
the case of my GSXR the saving meant I'd need to have the bike alarmed
for 4 years before the alarm paid for itself (the discount was about
50 quid a year). I decided it wasn't worth it.

If I was buying a secondhand bike with an alarm, I'd want to see a
professional fitting certificate. Some people may be able to DIY, but
I reckon most couldn't, especially now that alarms are getting more
and more complex. Better to see a piece of paper with a dealers name
on it.