Bike breakdown/recovery - recommendations
Discussion
I had AA and RAC.
Phoned the RAC after I hit the kill switch without realising. Wasn’t a member (free cover ran out the week before!). Joined at the side of the road. Realised what I had done a few minutes later! Rephoned them to cancel the recovery and they refunded my membership. Joined later for the normal price and not the ‘ha you need us’ price!
Then had AA when my clutch went on Easter Sunday. Phoned them up. Few minutes later get a phone call from the driver asking if it’s just the cable or clutch itself. Explain it was the clutch. Says he won’t be able to help and arranges for the local recovery garage to come and get me. 20 minutes later they turned up.
I like the AA/RAC as if they can’t get to you they’ll get a local garage I’ve noticed.
Phoned the RAC after I hit the kill switch without realising. Wasn’t a member (free cover ran out the week before!). Joined at the side of the road. Realised what I had done a few minutes later! Rephoned them to cancel the recovery and they refunded my membership. Joined later for the normal price and not the ‘ha you need us’ price!
Then had AA when my clutch went on Easter Sunday. Phoned them up. Few minutes later get a phone call from the driver asking if it’s just the cable or clutch itself. Explain it was the clutch. Says he won’t be able to help and arranges for the local recovery garage to come and get me. 20 minutes later they turned up.
I like the AA/RAC as if they can’t get to you they’ll get a local garage I’ve noticed.
T5R+ said:
Try AutoAId. They send a specialist motorcycle mechanic and van.
I’m with autoaid although never had to use them. You get personal cover including any car or bike you are riding plus spouse cover thrown in for a very decent price.I used to be with RAC but the few times I had to call them for admin stuff resulted in a ridiculous wait on the phone which made me think needing them in a breakdown wouldn’t be good either.
not a fan of green flag took nearly 2hrs this january for a puncture - it was cold and boring
the idea of using local garages for a quick respnse is not the case, they just use nationals who are clearly up to 2hrs away
i'd have repaied myslef had i been able to find the object that casued it
the idea of using local garages for a quick respnse is not the case, they just use nationals who are clearly up to 2hrs away
i'd have repaied myslef had i been able to find the object that casued it
I have green flag, it covers wife and me for all our vehicles, with no age limits.
I've used them a couple of times, the wait varies.
Years ago I had AA and my car died, the wait time they promised was so long I got a mate to pick me up and got a garage to get the car next day.
It was maybe 8 pm and they were saying something like 'last orders', I was only ~10 miles from home.
TBH, I think waits of a few hours are going to happen, it's a backstop get-u-home service not the Tour de France support crew.
If you're expect them to get you to airports on time, that's a big ask.
I just want to know the backstop is there, and I think the price is OK for that.
The AA were good when we had a problem in France but that was years ago.
I've used them a couple of times, the wait varies.
Years ago I had AA and my car died, the wait time they promised was so long I got a mate to pick me up and got a garage to get the car next day.
It was maybe 8 pm and they were saying something like 'last orders', I was only ~10 miles from home.
TBH, I think waits of a few hours are going to happen, it's a backstop get-u-home service not the Tour de France support crew.
If you're expect them to get you to airports on time, that's a big ask.
I just want to know the backstop is there, and I think the price is OK for that.
The AA were good when we had a problem in France but that was years ago.
Every co. will have good and bad reviews
I'm with RAC as they have fewer stipulations on age / commercial vehicles etc I've got relay for myself and 3 family members for £99 (£25 ea) which is hard to beat IMO
AA were always pretty good too IME
It just isn't realistic to expect a sub 30 min call out every time
I'm with RAC as they have fewer stipulations on age / commercial vehicles etc I've got relay for myself and 3 family members for £99 (£25 ea) which is hard to beat IMO
AA were always pretty good too IME
It just isn't realistic to expect a sub 30 min call out every time
My bike died on me at 1-30 this afternoon. Called the AA, first guy turned up at 3, he couldn't fix it and didn't have the means to recover me back home 10 miles away. So sorted out another vehicle that could, ETA 4-15. 5pm I'm still waiting so call them to find out I'm not on the system, but they'll make me a priority and have someone there by 7pm. Second patrol turns up with means to recover me home, but he only had 30 mins left on his shift so he couldn't do it. Arranged recovery via one of their "trusted" partners and eventually got home at 9-10.
I wouldn't rate the AA if today's experience is anything to go by.
Problem is they all seem to be as bad as each other.
I wouldn't rate the AA if today's experience is anything to go by.
Problem is they all seem to be as bad as each other.
Amused2death said:
My bike died on me at 1-30 this afternoon. Called the AA, first guy turned up at 3, he couldn't fix it and didn't have the means to recover me back home 10 miles away. So sorted out another vehicle that could, ETA 4-15. 5pm I'm still waiting so call them to find out I'm not on the system, but they'll make me a priority and have someone there by 7pm. Second patrol turns up with means to recover me home, but he only had 30 mins left on his shift so he couldn't do it. Arranged recovery via one of their "trusted" partners and eventually got home at 9-10.
I wouldn't rate the AA if today's experience is anything to go by.
Problem is they all seem to be as bad as each other.
That is pretty poorI wouldn't rate the AA if today's experience is anything to go by.
Problem is they all seem to be as bad as each other.
Generally I know what's gone wrong so I can say "the rectifier has taken out the battery so unless you have spares I need recovery, not a mechanic"
Whenever I've done this they have always sent a truck / trailer straight away which saves a lot of time (both AA and RAC)
Obviously not much help if you don't know what's wrong
KTMsm said:
That is pretty poor
Generally I know what's gone wrong so I can say "the rectifier has taken out the battery so unless you have spares I need recovery, not a mechanic"
Whenever I've done this they have always sent a truck / trailer straight away which saves a lot of time (both AA and RAC)
Obviously not much help if you don't know what's wrong
Without getting it back home I was a bit limited as to what I could check. I'd just filled up with fuel, turned the ignition on and pressed the starter and clocks died, no lights, no start, not even hazard lights. First thought was main fuses, then secondary fuses. All intact and that was as far as I could check at the roadside. It's currently sitting in my shed and I'll dig into it tomorrow. It's really odd as I'd been out pretty much every day this week and put 300 odd miles without any issue at all.Generally I know what's gone wrong so I can say "the rectifier has taken out the battery so unless you have spares I need recovery, not a mechanic"
Whenever I've done this they have always sent a truck / trailer straight away which saves a lot of time (both AA and RAC)
Obviously not much help if you don't know what's wrong
Anyway, back to the topic.....yep, pretty poor service from the AA, nothing wrong with any of the guys who turned up, but as an overall experience it was a bit of a clusterf
k!I've used AA and RAC in the past, and moved to RAC years ago as they provided recovery after an RTC (the sort of RTC which you might not want to make a claim for) - something neither do now, and I suspect no one may do so you're at the whim of the insurance company.
Haven't had to call them for years in anger though, but renewal up shortly.
I am most likely to be using my bike (and car, which needs flatbed for any sort of recovery) "out of hours" so always wonder about recovery to the dealership to get fixed - neither my bike or car I would like to leave on the street overnight/weekend outside either dealer given where they are.
Just had a look at Auto-aid and it looks encouraging though.
Haven't had to call them for years in anger though, but renewal up shortly.
I am most likely to be using my bike (and car, which needs flatbed for any sort of recovery) "out of hours" so always wonder about recovery to the dealership to get fixed - neither my bike or car I would like to leave on the street overnight/weekend outside either dealer given where they are.
Just had a look at Auto-aid and it looks encouraging though.
I've been with Start-Rescue for a fair few years. have used them four times in total and in all but one instance they have been great and sent out vans from BikeSOS in the London/Kent area as they deal with local recovery firms rather than their own fleet. The one time I needed to call in Essex the local company didnt arrive for 10+ hours and were absolute clowns!
I had previously been with the RAC who were dreadful on both occasions that I needed them with sending out vehicles incapable of loading a motorcycle despite being told that is what was needed rather than an attempted toadside repair, and for 3-4 hour wait times.
I had previously been with the RAC who were dreadful on both occasions that I needed them with sending out vehicles incapable of loading a motorcycle despite being told that is what was needed rather than an attempted toadside repair, and for 3-4 hour wait times.
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