MCN Compare helps 89-year-old Fred return to riding
You would expect an unblemished riding record of almost 70 years combined with racing experience to be an insurers dream, but for one octogenarian it was anything but, as he struggled to find a policy for his new bike.
Fred Martindale, 89, had raced BSA Bantams and was on the road at around 20-years-old, and has ridden Tritons, Kawasaki triples and even a Honda NSR250.
His riding stopped seven years ago as he took care of his wife before she sadly passed away, an event that would prompt Fred’s son, Stuart, to get him back on two-wheels.
“To try to give him some focus, I bought a couple of old Kawasaki AR125 project bikes, which we restored,” said Stuart.
“I rang around for an insurance quotation for my father, based on his restored bike and was given a figure of under £300, which I thought was reasonable.
“However, after having a knee replacement the kickstart was really difficult for him, so I thought I’d treat him to a new bike.”
Stuart purchased an AJS 125 Cadwell as Father’s Day gift, but insuring his dad for his new bike became problematic. On paper, Fred is a safe bet – a blemish free licence, no offences, no medical conditions and no claims.
“Because he hasn’t had bike road insurance for about seven years, no one would offer him a quote as he’s 89 years old.”
So, Stuart turned to the MCN Compare insurance comparison site to see if it could “make his dad’s dream come true”, and it did.
MCN Compare put Stuart in touch with providers, Adrian Flux, who quickly sorted out cover for Fred.
Now, thanks to Stuart’s determination, Fred can finally enjoy his gift and has reignited his passion for motorbikes.
Stuart’s commitment in trying to find a policy highlights how important it is that insurers consider more than the standard criteria, particularly when it comes to age.
