MANCHESTER, UNITED KINGDOM -- (Marketwire) -- 08/16/10 -- Snacks and drinks, a change of clothes and even a rabbit are amongst the items riders keep in the top box of their motorcycles, according to new research by Swinton Bikes.
The motorcycle insurance broker conducted an online survey of its customers, and found that many riders find their top box to be an indispensable part of their motorcycle, with a whopping 73% using it to store journey essentials. These include food and drinks (42%), a scarf or hat (12%) and mobile phones or mini laptops (9%). An astonishing 2% even admitted to using their luggage box to transport animals, with one customer admitting he used it to take his pet rabbit to the vet.
The research also revealed that motorcyclists use their top boxes almost every time they travel, with 92% of customers declaring that they put something in them for transportation every single day.
Anthony Aronin, head of Swinton Bikes, said: "It's great that motorcyclists are able to transport their belongings around in a safe way and the top box is just one of the many things that make the motorbike such an efficient method of transport. It is also useful to have a place to store items which otherwise would be stored in a person's pocket and increase risk of injury - phones, padlocks etc - and to have somewhere to store the helmet when arriving at a destination.
"However, we would strongly advise all riders to only keep manageable amounts of their belongings in their top box, and never exceed the manufacturer's recommendation; heavy loads are not safe and could be a danger on the roads to yourself and others. Make sure your belongings and the top box are tightly secured at all time to avoid the possibility of it falling off, and remember that safety is paramount. If you are transporting anything fragile or unusual, especially a pet, do be aware that you will need to purchase a special container.
"A few simple steps to ensure security and safety can help reduce accidents and reduce the need to make costly motorbike insurance claims."
Notes to editors
About Swinton
-- With 580 branches nationwide Swinton is the UK's largest high street
insurance retailer
-- Unlike many other companies in the financial services industry, Swinton
is committed to keeping its branches open for business, and part of the
community
-- Swinton provides a one-stop-shop for the insurance and related needs of
its clients, offering home, car, caravan, business, holiday, motorbike
and even classic car insurance
-- With a dedicated team of advisors on hand at every branch to search a
panel of insurers to offer quality cover at competitive rates
Contacts:
SKV Communications
Anoushka Done, Anna Asamoah or Mairead Rodden
0161 838 7770
www.skvcommunications.co.uk
