In Reply to: JBR - Monday 13 August posted by Balibabe on Thursday, 30. August 2007 at 17:22 Bali Time:
re your travel insurance comments - Sorry if I seem confused but your comments really seem to contradict each other but then maybe your were not fully aware of the facts.
In one of your other posts you made a big deal about travel insurance being so important(of which I fully agree with)& suggest no one travels without it or being properly covered & being sensible that you said you didn't want any of the drunken yobo's touching the young man whose knee was injured & said his treatment cost $7500 Oz.Nice to hear a good samaritan story.I am sure the young man was very grateful to have you looking after him.
I am wondering if you are fully aware that as a person who has never ridden a motorcycle before = not having an Australian motorbike licence = not being allowed to legally ride a motorbike in Oz = not being allowed to legally ride a motorbike in Bali.
Forget the fact about the Bali Polisi asking for funds for the policeman's ball at every corner - they are nothing compared to if you have an accident & the problems you will have.
Do you realise that your own travel insurance would not have covered you if you have a motorbike accident & if you were injured how many $1000's you could have been up for in medical bills.People lose their houses & life savings by getting themselves into this sort of pickle.
Everyone needs to know & understand the implications that IF you only have an Aussie car licence & your licence is not endorsed for you to ride a motorbike in Australia that the insurance companies will use it as a loophole.You are not covered by your travel insurance - full stop,no questions,no complaining.
Also be very careful reading travel insurance policies,even if you are a licenced motor bike rider at home.Many policies do not cover motor bikes - only cars.Presuming you are covered is not good enough,if you think you will ride a bike in Bali & are a properly licenced to do so in Oz - ask questions before you hand the money over for your travel insurance.It's too late to ask after the money is paid.
We almost got caught one time before I read the fine print & specifically asked about motorbikes & was told "No,sorry,we only cover cars".We took travel insurance with another company who clearly said they did cover people who were licensed to ride motor bikes in Oz & were eligible to hold an International bike licence.
Before any one comments re the size of engines in Bali,this has nothing to do with the fact that motorbikes in Bali are under a certain CC engine & that in Oz technically in certain states you can ride/drive motorbikes under a certain CC with your car licence.It does NOT work that way with travel insurance ! They will use it as an out.
This issue is a pet peeve of mine.I make no apology if I seem blunt or to the point on it.Way too many people are taking the risk of riding a motorbike in Bali with absolutely no thought to the consquences to themselves or their family if they have an accident.Many maybe are not fully aware of it or presume that their travel insurance will cover them under their car licence or because of the fact that the motor bikes are under a certain size CC engine.
If this post of mine assists even one person,makes them aware of the situation,or even makes them rethink riding a motor bike in Bali as an unlicensed & therefore uninsured driver/rider then I will be happy.
It's a simple fact,if you are not licensed in Oz to ride motorbike & have an accident in Bali riding one then you are stuffed as far as your travel insurance is concerned. I do not wish to cause any arguments by this post,I just hope it makes more people properly assess the risks that they are taking & if it's really worth it.