The unluckiest postcodes in the UK to ride your motorcycle

We've been analysing data from a large UK based motorcycle insurer and have presented their findings from last year, which include the unluckiest places to ride and unluckiest motorcycles to ride. Plus, whilst on the subject of unlucky, we also list the worst areas for motorcycle theft. 

Here’s what we found out from 2018 non-fault insurance data:

The unluckiest postcodes, which suffer the highest rate of non-fault accidents (%):  

Over half of the motorbike accident claims in Dartford, Rochester, Canterbury and Truro weren’t the rider’s fault, making these four places the unluckiest postcodes outside of London. On the flip side, the Scottish town of Galashiels has the lowest rate of non-fault accidents (26%) – just two-fifths of the rate in the unluckiest postcode. 

Postcodes with the lowest rate of non-fault accidents (%):  

Across 16 years, the data shows that the unluckiest month for bikers to ride is September. I wonder if people have still got the summer riding hat on, despite falling road temperatures and wetter conditions? 

What’s really spooky is that January sees the fewest accidents. Perhaps there are fewer people riding at this time, as they pack their bike up for the long winter? 

Owners of different makes of motorcycles also experience varying degrees of fortune when it comes to who is at fault for accidents.  

The unluckiest manufacturers who suffered the highest rate of non-fault accidents (%):  

The data reveals that French motorcycle manufacturer Peugeot is twice as unlucky as KTM, with a smaller quarter of KTM bikers not at fault of their claims.  

Manufacturers with the lowest rate of non-fault accidents (%):

Manufacturers with the highest & manufacturers with the lowest rate of non-fault accidents (%):

The worst area for motorcycle theft in the UK

So, what about the place you’re most likely to have your motorcycle stolen? 

Without further ado, it’s Greenwich... which has been ranked the worst borough in London for motorcycle theft by Bike Rated.

They discovered that out of the 33 boroughs across the city, 11.4% of all motorcycle and scooter thefts reported in the last 12 months were in Greenwich.

London’s four worst boroughs are Greenwich, Barking and Dagenham and Wandsworth, which combined contribute 29.6% of London’s total reported motorcycle thefts.

Over 27,000 motorcycles and scooters were stolen last year in the UK (2018). That’s one in seven vehicles stolen in the UK, of which motorcycles only make up 2% of all vehicles on the registered on Britains roads. 

It comes as no surprise that London is the worst for motorcycles crime, but what about the other counties across the UK? 

Per capita, Bristol is the worst county for motorcycle theft, so bad that there are active vigilante groups trying to combat the problem. 

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