Listen, we get it. You've been staring at your bike in the garage since November, daydreaming about open roads and wind in your face. The long Minnesota winter is finally loosening its grip, and you're ready to fire up that engine.

But before you kickstands up for that first glorious ride of 2026, focus on the part that can quietly wreck your season: making sure your insurance isn't still in winter storage mode.

Because nothing ruins a perfect riding day faster than realizing you’ve been riding uninsured for the past three weeks.

The Insurance "De-Winterizing" Most Riders Forget

Here's where things get serious. You probably called us last fall to drop your coverage down to "storage only" or "comprehensive only" to save money during the off-season. Smart move.

But here's the problem: If you fire up that bike and head out on the road without calling us first to restore full coverage, you're riding uninsured.

That means zero liability protection if you cause an accident. Zero collision coverage if you drop your bike. And zero ability to sleep at night knowing you just risked everything for one sunny afternoon ride.

Before Your First Ride, Call Us

It takes five minutes to reactivate your full motorcycle insurance policy. That's it. Five minutes stands between you and a financially catastrophic mistake.

We'll restore your:

✔ Liability coverage (protects you if you cause an accident)

✔ Collision coverage (repairs your bike if you crash)

✔ Comprehensive coverage (theft, vandalism, deer strikes, yes, deer)

✔ Uninsured motorist coverage (because not everyone carries proper insurance)

✔ Any added equipment / custom parts coverage (so upgrades aren’t a surprise gap)

Don’t assume your policy automatically switches back when spring arrives. It doesn’t work that way. You need to make the call.

The Minnesota PIP Trap That Catches Riders Every Year

Here's something most Minnesota bikers don't realize: No-Fault insurance (Personal Injury Protection or PIP) isn't required for motorcycles.

For cars, Minnesota mandates PIP coverage that pays your medical bills after an accident, regardless of who's at fault. Your car insurance covers you automatically.

For motorcycles? Nope. You're on your own.

What This Means for You

If you get into a motorcycle accident and sustain injuries, your motorcycle insurance won't automatically pay your medical bills unless you specifically purchased Medical Payments Coverage (Med Pay).

Without Med Pay, your health insurance becomes your first line of defense. And depending on your health plan, you could be looking at:

High deductibles before coverage kicks in
Co-pays for emergency room visits, surgery, and rehab
Out-of-pocket maximums that drain your savings

Here's the reality check: motorcycle accidents tend to result in more serious injuries than car accidents. You don't have a steel cage protecting you. Even a minor accident can mean significant medical bills.

The Solution: Add Medical Payments Coverage

Med Pay is relatively affordable coverage that pays your medical expenses after a motorcycle accident, regardless of fault. It works alongside your health insurance and often covers:

✔ Emergency room treatment

✔ Surgery and hospitalization

✔ Ambulance services

✔ Rehabilitation and physical therapy

✔ Funeral expenses (nobody wants to think about it, but it matters)

Most riders add $5,000 to $10,000 in Med Pay coverage. It's a small premium increase that could save you from financial devastation.

Don't Forget About Your Passenger

You finally convinced your buddy (or your spouse, or your riding partner) to hop on the back for a cruise around the lakes. Awesome.

But here's the question nobody asks until it's too late: Does your insurance cover guest passengers?

Most standard motorcycle policies include Guest Passenger Liability, but coverage limits vary. If your passenger gets injured in an accident you cause, they could sue you. Yes, even your buddy from high school who swore he'd never hold you responsible.

Make Sure Your Limits Are Adequate

Review your liability limits with us. Minnesota requires minimum coverage of:

$30,000 for bodily injury per person
$60,000 for bodily injury per accident
$10,000 for property damage

Those minimums won't cut it in a serious accident. Medical bills exceed $30,000 faster than you'd believe. We typically recommend significantly higher limits, especially if you regularly carry passengers.

Why Minnesota Riders Choose Independent Agents

You know what's frustrating? Paying insurance premiums for 12 months when you only ride for five or six months out of the year.

Minnesota's riding season is short. You shouldn’t be stuck with one-size-fits-all coverage when your bike is parked for months.

That’s where we come in.

As independent agents, we’re not tied to one insurance carrier. We shop multiple companies to find coverage that fits real Minnesota riding:

✔ Seasonal storage setups (when you want comp-only or reduced use)

✔ Flexible coverage changes (when spring hits early and plans change fast)

✔ Better limits that actually protect your savings

✔ Multi-policy discounts if you bundle with your auto or home insurance

You’ve built a lot. Your bike is supposed to be fun. Your insurance should feel just as dialed in.

Your Pre-Ride Insurance Checklist

Before you fire up that engine and hit the road, run through this quick checklist:

✔ Reactivate full coverage (if you dropped to storage-only)

✔ Confirm your liability limits (higher limits protect what you’ve built)

✔ Add/confirm Med Pay (because MN PIP doesn’t apply to motorcycles)

✔ Verify deductibles (collision and comprehensive)

✔ Confirm guest passenger protection (limits matter)

✔ Update modifications and accessories (so upgrades aren’t underinsured)

Five minutes now prevents a nightmare later.

Ready to Ride? Let's Make Sure You're Covered

The weather is finally cooperating. Don’t let a winter-set policy be the thing that ruins your season.

Give us a shout for a quick coverage review before you kickstands up. We'll make sure your policy matches your riding plans, your budget, and the realities of riding in Minnesota.

Because you didn't survive another brutal Minnesota winter just to risk everything on a technicality.

Shady Oak Insurance Agency : Independent agents who actually understand Minnesota riders.

Contact us today for a free motorcycle insurance review. Let's get you back on the road the right way.

Dust Off the Chrome: Your Minnesota Spring Motorcycle Survival Guide