Insurance for the bike and self.

Travel Insurance.
Travel insurance for myself while travelling was not a problem. Any number of online insurance companies are offering cover. It is a must have. The policy I paid for provides for my medical evacuation back to Australia, should I need it, amongst other benefits.

Global Territory Insurance for the bike.
As we all know Australian Insurance companies will insure our vehicles BUT the coverage does not extend to international travel. If you want insurance cover the bike needs to be covered by 'Global Territory' insurance for international travel. That insurance provides normal comprehensive covering theft and damage.

Searched the Internet looking for Australian companies that offer that sort of cover. Even rang the Insurance Council and asked - as far as I have been able to find out no Australian insurer does it.

Found a couple of companies in USA that provides that type of motorcycle insurance. The company I decided to go with had a link on the 'MotorcycleExpress' website. The duration of the cover is for a maximum 24 week period and once again is not cheap. This 'Global Territory' insurance is not valid in USA though. The contact person was Gail Goodman.
USA comprehensive insurance also needed.
Separate USA motorcycle insurance is required. The same company offers full comprehensive motorcycle insurance for 'non resident aliens'. The duration of this cover can be for a period as short as one week.

Primary Liability insurance for certain countries.
Just to complicate things in some countries, such as Mexico, Argentina, Belize, Colombia, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, you have to have local insurance. It is called 'Primary Liability' insurance. It does not matter if you have other insurance, such as Global Territory insurance, that covers your bike - you must have local insurance to be covered in the event of an incident. There are many online companies that offer that insurance.

Motorcycle trailer problems!!!
Applied online for Mexican insurance only to be refused. The reason why I was refused was because I was intending to tow a motorcycle trailer. I spoke to CEO of MotorMexico, Alan Kohl, and he was very helpful. Apparently it is standard practice throughout Central and South America not to give insurance cover to motorcycles towing a trailer or attached to a side car.

Not to be put off I applied to BajaBound insurance. A customer service officer, Yara, went to great lengths to get insurance for me. After several days of emails she found an underwriter who agreed to insure the bike even if I was towing BUT they would not cover the trailer OR any damage the trailer caused. So if a car hit my trailer and I was at fault I would be up for the cost of repair for the damage to the car. In Mexico apparently the police attend accidents and you have to pay the wronged party immediately or go to gaol.

Decided not to tow a trailer thereby taking the problem out of the insurance while in Mexico.

Marine Insurance
The first insurance I had to pay was the Marine Freight insurance - hope the ship doesn't sink. Marine insurance seems to exclude every possible way a ship could possibly sink.