Direct Asia Motorcycle Insurance | Which Types of Motorbikes are Covered?
What are the popular types of motorcycles insured by DirectAsia?
Reading time: 4 mins
There’s nothing quite like being able to feel the wind in your hair on top of a motorcycle. Maybe you just got your motorbike license and you’re looking to buy your first bike? Or you want to get a two-wheeler for commuting to work, or perhaps you’re gearing up for an amazing motorcycle road trip soon – either way, finding the right bike can be a challenging task.
You’ve probably been to a few dealerships to check out the latest models or scoured the internet looking for what’s available in Singapore. The amount of motorcycles available in the market is staggering, and even if you have a basic idea of what look you want, there are various types that are suited for different uses. To begin, you should know what are the important factors to consider when buying a motorbike.
The next question of course would be about your motorbike insurance. You’ll have to pick an insurer, check the cover types, and confirm your eligibility – that’s a lot to think about – but it’s definitely crucial to get your bike insured. So, if you don’t know where to begin, here’s a guide of the popular types of motorcycles available in Singapore that are covered by DirectAsia’s motorcycle insurance, no matter the make, model, or if it’s a class 2B, 2A or 2 bike.
Cruiser
If you can picture a Harley-Davidson, you know what a cruiser is – long and low with a V-twin engine (i.e. it’s got two cylinders arranged in a V). Though they may be faster than almost any sports car, cruisers are not about outright performance. Instead, they’re designed to look cool while chugging lazily along. Most are Harleys, but plenty of other manufacturers have at least one in their range.
Some options in Singapore: Harley Davidson Road King Special, Harley Davidson Forty-Eight, Honda VT1100 Shadow, Suzuki VZR1800 Boulevard Intruder, Keeway Cruiser 250
Other things to consider: The low seat on a cruiser means you’ll have to raise your hands to the handlebar, which could get tiring during long rides.
Scooter
Scooters haven’t changed much since the very first Vespa. If it’s got small wheels, a floorboard for your feet and an automatic gearbox, it’s a scooter. They’re a great mode of city transportation, with loads of storage under the saddle and no gears or clutch to worry about – you just twist and go. Several manufacturers sell bigger versions – maxi scooters – that can hit far higher speeds and handle motorway travel.
Some options in Singapore: Vespa GTS 150, Lambretta V200 Special, Yamaha Xmax 300, Honda CBF150, Piaggio X10 350, SYM GTS 200
Other things to consider: The scooter’s small wheels are made for incredibly quick steering. But this could also make the scooter very unstable at higher speeds. Plus, small wheels transmit bumps and jolts to the rider much more severely than larger ones.
Street Bike
Street motorcycles are motorcycles designed for being ridden on paved roads. They are made with metal to be sturdy and stable. Street bikes also have more rounded and smooth shaped tires, to ensure there is more grip with the road. The seats on street bikes are positioned further back to enable for a longer ride and a relaxing posture so you can relax at traffic lights.
Some options in Singapore: Yamaha MT-15 Xabre, KTM 1290 Super Duke R, Ducati Monster 821, Honda CB400 Super 4 Spec 2, BMW K1200R
Other things to consider: Street motorbikes have more traction from their tires, so, when taken off-road, the brakes will quickly lock up the tires since it is on a low traction-surface. In other words, this bike is not ideal for cruising on dirt roads or off the beaten path.
Sports Bike
The sports genre of motorcycles is clearly meant for speed and agility with a more forward-leaning design to cleanly swerve along corners while riding. So they’re the perfect ride for smooth straight suburban roads or curvy racetrack ones. One of the largest differences with a sports type motorcycle, compared to other motorcycles, is its weight. They are generally one of the lighter motorcycles made from a lot of aluminum and lighter materials to increase the side-to-side maneuverability. The seat height is usually higher than other bikes to be able to lean the motorcycle farther down without scraping the foot pegs.
Some options in Singapore: Honda CBR150R, Hyosung GT125R, Kawasaki EX300 Ninja, KTM RC390, BMW HP4 Race, Ducati 959 Panigale, Honda CBR1000R Fireblade,
Other things to consider: Shorter riders may be on their tiptoes with the taller seat height. And the downside could be the riding position, which puts lots of weight on your wrists and cramps your legs – not great for long journeys.
Sports Tourer
Sports tourers are lighter and considerably more comfortable than sports bikes. They’re a compromise, but a good one. These adventure bikes are marginally less capable around corners, yet can give the impression that you might be heading off on a daring global adventure. It’s ideal for quick trips with friends or a longer road trip you may have been thinking about. It will hold quite a bit of extra gear and will allow you to put on a lot of miles over a long weekend. The engine size is also a little larger, for extra power to cruise the highways across the country.
Some options in Singapore: Kawasaki ZG1400GTR Concours, Yamaha FJR1300, Honda CBF600, KTM 1290 Super Adventure, Ducati Multistrada 1200
Other things to consider: Although they have larger fuel tanks, sports touring motorcycles suffer from poor fuel efficiency. Touring motorcycles typically weigh more than street-style bikes. And this added weight requires greater fuel to keep it running. Another issue that you may face with a sports touring motorcycle is poor maneuverability. Unlike street or cruiser motorcycles, these bikes are designed more for riding on long, open roads, and not so much for maneuvering through the rush hour traffic.
Conclusion: Keep calm and twist that throttle
No matter what type of motorcycle rider you are (regardless if you’re a 2B, 2A or 2 motorcycle rider), or what type of motorbike you’re looking for, it’s important to check on the comfort design of the bike, seat height, traction of the tires, fuel economy, luggage options, overall style and most importantly the noise and air pollution that it may cause.
The other crucial thing to consider are the main factors in buying the right motorbike insurance. Ask yourself; what are you planning to use your new motorbike for? Do you plan to ride it out of Singapore - be it to Malaysia or Thailand? This should help you decide what coverage and extra options you may need. Once you’ve made up your mind, you can get a quick motorcycle insurance quote from DirectAsia, or call 6665 5555 for assistance.
