New rider question... how much insurance?

[countfunkula]

I'm shopping around for insurance on my new 2006 Monster 620. I've got a couple of quotes, but I'm unsure on how much coverage is really necessary. What's a good amount to have for comp, collision and liability? I don't want to overpay, but I also don't want to have too little.

Thanks!

[jsanford]

My college advisor was killed by an unlicensed motorcycle operator while out on his bicycle.

Pretty extreme, I know. But when considering motorcycle coverage, don't think that motorcycles can't be as deadly as a car.

What I do to reduce costs is keep a $1000 deductable, and keep my MSF certifications current.

I bought through a broker, who explained all the coverages and how they worked in my state. I asked a lot of "what if..." questions to understand what situation would be covered by which coverage.

The Monster was a tough bike to find a policy for--it's almost three times the cost of my BMW, even though the BMW has fairings, more horses, and higher displacement.