I've always suspected that my (at least personally) low insurance rates were almost a fluke, given the nearly disposable nature of sportbikes these days----tossing one down the road, claiming it as a total loss, and then purchasing another brand-new bike seems like an almost annual or semi-annual event for some guys. I would say in the neighborhood of 1/3 of the riders that I know have totalled a bike with full coverage on it. They are squarely on the plus side of the equation in terms of premiums vs. payouts. This is not the way insurance companies make money. Even worse, bikes are being totalled out for having what would have once been relatively minor damage, but a gouge in the frame nowadays is enough to bring the parts & labor cost well above the limit.
Physically riding and controlling a big-power sportbike down the road is almost certainly somewhat more difficult than riding a standard or cruiser, at least marginally. However, it is the WAY in which they are ridden, coupled with the delusions of Hayden-esque (or worse, Stunterz Xtreem) riding skill or aspirations, that results in bikes getting thrown down like gauntlets at an ultimate fighting convention, only with more attendant injuries and deaths.
I've been just as guilty as anyone, as I was lucky to live through my first two years of riding, let alone lucky enough not to crash. Maybe I'm still guilty when I'm currently trying to learn how to control rear-tire slides and "backing it in" when braking for turns at our favorite local deserted (but public, and still somewhat dangerous) riding spot. Then again, I have yet to ride over my head enough to cause a crash, knock on wood.
Interestingly, I haven't personally known anyone that has been severely hurt or died in all these crashes, though I've certainly heard of those people through the grapevine. Three this summer. One hit a post and one had a truck turn out in front of him. They died. The other was on the track, in a freak pit-lane accident. Although the value of the insurance payouts from these three might end up being the equal of a few dozen in which nobody was hurt bad. But the point is, it seems that there are scores of young guys that buy bikes, wreck them, and treat the insurance company like a sportbike vending machine.
I don't know if it would really help the bottom line enough to matter, but some things that might help would be to:
1)create different types of policies for different types of riders----those that would be willing to keep a bike that is operational but has cosmetic damage, like a scratch on the frame, in return for lower premiums, something along those lines
2) agreeing to not claim a bike that was wrecked on the track, or perhaps reducing or altering the coverage or damage limits if it is wrecked on the track (applicable to trackdays, and yes, I've heard of many bikes wrecked at trackdays and subsequently claimed)
3) stipulating in the policy that helmets and gear be worn or it would revert to reduced or no coverage for personal injury, or giving a choice between policies where gear is mandatory or optional
