Had a crash? Here’s how Orange Spokes Claims handles your bike repair or replacement — from independent inspection to settlement, in plain English.
You’ve had a crash. Now what?
First — we hope you’re okay. Once the dust settles, one of the biggest questions is: what happens to my bike? Here’s exactly how Orange Spokes Claims handles it, step by step, with no nasty surprises.
An Independent Bike Mechanic Assesses Your Bike
We don’t leave it to the insurer to decide the fate of your bike. OSC arranges for an independent, qualified bike mechanic to inspect your machine and produce a full written report. This isn’t a quick once-over — it’s a proper, detailed assessment that carries real weight with insurers.
The mechanic looks at every affected component, documents the damage, and gives a professional opinion on whether the bike can be safely repaired — or whether it’s beyond saving.
Repairable or a Write-Off? Here’s How It’s Decided
The mechanic’s report determines one of two outcomes:
If it can be repaired — a full repair schedule is drawn up, covering every damaged part and the labour to fix it. Your bike gets put back to the condition it was in before the accident.
If it can’t be repaired — or if the cost of repair exceeds the bike’s value — it’s declared a write-off and you move to replacement. This can also be determined by assessing the welds on your bike. Sometimes after a big impact, hairline cracks can appear in parts of your frame especially where it is welded. We need you to get back on a safe bike and not one that creaks and may then snap.
For carbon bikes, the decision is straightforward: carbon frames are replaced automatically after an accident. Carbon damage isn’t always visible to the naked eye, and riding a compromised carbon frame is a serious safety risk. We don’t take chances with that.
Replacing Your Bike — What You’ll Actually Get
This is the part riders sometimes find frustrating, so we want to be upfront about it.
Your bike is replaced at its current market value at the time of the accident — not what you paid for it. Bikes depreciate, just like cars. So if you bought a £2,000 bike five years ago, it might only be worth £400 today. That’s what your settlement will reflect.
It’s worth keeping this in mind when if take out an insurance policy — and considering agreed value cover if your bike is worth a significant amount to you.
Helmets: Replaced After Every Accident
No debate here. If you were wearing a helmet in the crash, it gets replaced — full stop. Helmets are designed to absorb a single impact and should never be reused after one. OSC covers a like-for-like replacement automatically.
Damaged Accessories and Kit
Crash damage doesn’t stop at the frame. Lights, computers, bags, pumps, pedals — if it was on the bike and it got damaged, it’s included in your claim. We make sure your whole setup is accounted for, not just the bike itself.
The Bottom Line
Getting back on the road after a crash shouldn’t be a battle. OSC is in your corner — with independent expert assessments, clear decisions, and a process that’s built around riders, not red tape.
Had an accident? Get in touch with Orange Spokes Claims today. [Start your claim →]