Nail in the dark side coffin?

I just had this discussion with a poster in a thread in a Facebook Silverwing group. The other poster owns a scooter repair shop so he may have more exposure to this subject than the average rider.

I was unaware of this development in the dark side debate here in the US and it’s worth considering if anyone is currently running a car tire or considering doing so.

I've never considered dark siding but when I recently renewed my policy there was a section asking if I had made any modifications to the bike. It would have been interesting to see what would have happened to the quote if I had mentioned a car tyre on the rear.

It could be worth filling out an online form to see what happens.

Loosemarbles wrote:

It could be worth filling out an online form to see what happens.

It occurs to me that, knowing how quickly the Internet picks up any excursion into advertisements and so on, I should be very hesitant in filling in anything unnecessary on line for fear it may get into the 'wrong' hands.

Good point MikeO. I didn't mean complete the quote information to it's conclusion. Bennetts online procedure tells you immediately whether or not your modification will affect your quote and whether you need to contact them.

For instance, when I typed in that I changed my screen and that I had fitted pillion armrests it told me right away that I do not have to declare those particular items.

You could abandon the quote at that point with no harm done.
In reality it would probably be easier to call them and just ask.

Thanks for that.
I know most of us are very careful but it's so easy to slip up.
'Watching backs' is perhaps what friends do both in real life and on our forums.

Is this something we should be concerned or even care about here in the UK.

For a start we all know fitting a car tyre to a maxi scooter is illegal. You probably wouldn’t get insurance cover, and of course net telling your insurer gives them yet another excuse or reason to invalidate your cover.

Add to that any accident or collision involving your illegal car tyre shod maxi would likely result in prosecution. Or even if it's noticed by a passing police vehicle.

Presenting your maxi for the annual MOT with a car tyre fitted would mean a fail, and you'd still have to go back with a proper tyre to get it through it's MOT to be legally on the road.

As a final thought who'd actually fit a car tyre onto the rear wheel of a maxi scooter for you. I'm quite sure no bike dealership or a car tyre fitters would do the job as they'll be aware it's illegal too.

MikeO wrote: "'Watching backs' is perhaps what friends do both in real life and on our forums."

As I dislike group riding and having another rider constantly behind me in my mirrors is both distracting and irritating.

The Bern (Hi bud!    ) is the only member of this forum I've met in real life, so you can count me out.

As for forums, they're what you make them.

My 'watching backs' remark was a general observation and not about riding motorcycles, more about friends and acquaintences.