'AA' will lay your bike down

[PeteMun]

Since I just got my first bike and am a member of 'AA' with the "AA PLUS" I thought I would call them to see if my membership also covers motorcycles. They said yes but there vehicles are not equiped for towing motorcycles. They said they would have to lay the bike on its side as they cant use strops ?? WTF ! trailering a bike on its side would dent it & fuck it right !?!

Has anyone here used AA or towed a bike on its side I just cant picture how to do it :oi-grr:

[The Lone Rider]

I have used AA to be rescued.

Story was, AA had to contact a local garage a town back. He rang me, asked me the problem. He said he'd have to be awhile as he has to get a trailer.

Shows up with an MX trailer, ALMOST the correct length for my bike but still bit short. Took us ages to get it on, guy didn't know how to strap them down properly so I had to tell him. His bike ramp was also borrowed and was hard to use.

He then took me back to the town his garage was at and he went out on another call out, came back. Asked me if I wanted to have a tow back to Christchurch.

End of story.


Took me 6 hours total to get back to Christchurch when I was 40 minutes away.

Cost me $250 to get towed back into Christchurch from his garage. I have basic AA membership and that only covers being picked up and taken back to their garage (not to where you live). Then it's up to you to either pay them to give you a ride back or you can store it at their shop and arrange something yourself.

Trailer... well I guess I just got lucky he had a trailer. Barely suitable trailer.

[Nasty]

They stropped mine standing up ... did you ask the call center - because they asked me where my spare tyre was ... and that in itself should tell you how much of their brain they use.

[Mikkel]

Called AA, told them my bike wasn't running and convinced them that nothing could be done at the roadside. They sent a proper tow truck and we put the bike on the flatbed. Was fine, the guy took me and the bike home. No worries whatsoever.

I believe you are entitled to have your vehicle taken either to your home or to a place where it can get fixed.

[crazyv]

Had a breakdown on SH1 (Auckland) -- They only have a couple of AA Trucks for the upper north Island (its contracted out)

Anyway he arrived with a descent sized truck with ramp big enough to tow another small truck in! No problems getting the bike up top as he had done it a few times before. It was tied firmly (upright) and taken back home.

This happend back in Nov 2008 (I think)

[suckingair]

I've used them, once I told them it was a bike they sent out a flat deck tow truck. Had a chat to the towie and he actually transports the police bikes, so it was real fast. Had good strops and cushions to stop them from rubbing against the bike.

[Squiggles]

Never had a time when they didnt have a flatbed come get me... It may pay to say that its a bike, and only a flatbed/trailer will work for towing it...

Unless its something like a flat battery, you're better off asking for a tow straight away straight away(sometimes they'll want to send someone out to you = double time when they cant "fix" the bike)

[vifferman]

I've had several call outs to the AA with a bike, but only once had to have it taken away. Unfortunately, it was a Friday night, and I had to wait over 2 hours so I could get from Ponsonby to Birkenhead ( a 15 minute drive)!
The guy turned up in a flatbed, put the bike on no trouble at all.
Think about it: if you can strap your bike down on a trailer or on a ferry, then a truck's no problem. All you need is something to wedge the front wheel against, and some tie-down straps, which are both things a towie should have.

[GSXR Trace]

Haven't had to use them yet, but i signed up for AA Plus, cause that will get you back to your city, without extra charge to you, rather than simply back to closest town and then you having to pay your way hoem from there. But from the sounds of things the towies know what they are doing, and the call centre is clueless. All I can say is that if they turned up and told me to lie my bike down on the truck id tell them to take a hike. Id camp out and wait for someone i knew to come pick me up!

[pritch]

Haven't had to use them yet, but i signed up for AA Plus,

There was a recent thread hereabout which suggested that for bikes the more expensive AA membership option was the way to go.

Meantime I'll stay with HRCNZ which offers a bike specific breakdown service, even if I do hope never to have to avail myself of that facility.

[Warr]

If its only a tow you are after...
How much for AA Plus ?

Membership to Honda Riders Club (http://www.hondaridersclub.co.nz/Default.asp?PageId=40) costs $50 / year including .
I think some insurance's have towing included also :)

Honda Rescue Gold includes

* Jump start available for 12 volt machines where the battery is easily accessed
* Emergency fuel supply – up to a maximum of 5 litres
* Transport to the nearest Honda dealer in the event of a mechanical breakdown
* Provision of accommodation and emergency transportation
* Vehicle Repatriation
* Accident, theft and collision advice
* Emergency message service

[UberRhys]

Since I just got my first bike and am a member of 'AA' with the "AA PLUS" I thought I would call them to see if my membership also covers motorcycles. They said yes but there vehicles are not equiped for towing motorcycles. They said they would have to lay the bike on its side as they cant use strops ?? WTF ! trailering a bike on its side would dent it & fuck it right !?!

Has anyone here used AA or towed a bike on its side I just cant picture how to do it :oi-grr:

I have had 2 incidents involving call outs from the AA, one was on my regular membership. They came and collected me from SH27 and took me back as far as they could back to Matamata (I was heading north and the closest 'major centre' was Matamata).

The second was on the gf AA Plus membership. This time it was by Tahuna and they took me all the way back to Auckland no charge. Sweet as bro :-)

Both times it was on the back of a flatbed truck and they had stops to lock down the bike standing up. When touring I keep a set packed with tools incase of these types of emergencies as you never know what the towie has in his truck. Also when you cross the strait they don't always have enough strops (or they run out) and the last thing you want is for pride and joy bouncing round the hold of the Interislander...

[PeteMun]

Cheers all, I didnt think them laying the bike down added up ! Now Im :calm: about the situation.. I'm meeting family in wellington in september so i'll get them to bring some extra strops..


If its only a tow you are after...
How much for AA Plus ?

$150 for the first year and it goes down from there.


Membership to Honda Riders Club (http://www.hondaridersclub.co.nz/Default.asp?PageId=40) costs $50 / year including .
I think some insurance's have towing included also :)

Honda Rescue Gold includes

* Jump start available for 12 volt machines where the battery is easily accessed
* Emergency fuel supply – up to a maximum of 5 litres
* Transport to the nearest Honda dealer in the event of a mechanical breakdown
* Provision of accommodation and emergency transportation
* Vehicle Repatriation
* Accident, theft and collision advice
* Emergency message service

Thanks for that I had never heard of the honda riders club before, i'll have a looky..

[PeteMun]

They stropped mine standing up ... iddyou asked the call center - because they asked me where my spare tyre was ... and that in itself should tell you how much of their brain they use.

Thats hilarious :lol: they also mentioned to me they can help if I look my keys inside :(

[rosie631]

If its only a tow you are after...
How much for AA Plus ?

Membership to Honda Riders Club (http://www.hondaridersclub.co.nz/Default.asp?PageId=40) costs $50 / year including .
I think some insurance's have towing included also :)

Honda Rescue Gold includes

* Jump start available for 12 volt machines where the battery is easily accessed
* Emergency fuel supply – up to a maximum of 5 litres
* Transport to the nearest Honda dealer in the event of a mechanical breakdown
* Provision of accommodation and emergency transportation
* Vehicle Repatriation
* Accident, theft and collision advice
* Emergency message service

Pretty sure Harley have a similar sort of thing. Anyone on here know for sure? Have been meaning to look into joining up.

[martybabe]

Pretty sure Harley have a similar sort of thing. Anyone on here know for sure? Have been meaning to look into joining up.


Yes they do.
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I was an AA flatbed driver in the UK and they carry special gizzmos for sticking on top of the bed for bikes but it's a right pain in the arse to assemble. Quite safe and easy to tie any bike down on top, no problemo.

[rupert]

I've not used the extra aa membership for a bike but i did for a car. I got stuck in the North Island. The person who sold me the membership upgrade told me it included the trip back over the straight because the vehicle was to be taken back home, also that I'd get a hire car (but it turned out to be one or the other) - and a few other completely eroneous things - and had no printed information to give me. So, I got some more mixed messages up North - local AA also didn't have a clue - so talked to Wellington eventually. So, AA ended up doing the decent thing and covered all of the promises their office staff had given me: paid for rental car to get back and organised the car to get back to Chch, using my prepaid car ticket for the ferry. Downside was that it took around three months to get the car back to Chch. I'd bought another car by then. So, if it involves the Straight, you are on our own (this was when the scheme was in its first year and the staff didn't have a clue what it was all about) - they made it quiet clear after that (but still a distinct lack of fine print available when I checked this year - so maybe interpretation of the this membership grade will still be up to the local office).

[_Shrek_]

Since I just got my first bike and am a member of 'AA' with the "AA PLUS" I thought I would call them to see if my membership also covers motorcycles. They said yes but there vehicles are not equiped for towing motorcycles. They said they would have to lay the bike on its side as they cant use strops ?? WTF ! trailering a bike on its side would dent it & fuck it right !?!

Has anyone here used AA or towed a bike on its side I just cant picture how to do it :oi-grr:


1- the person who told you that doesn't know their job

2- have used them to pick up our bike, but make sure you tell them it's a bike & to bring a trailer & (strops if you don't have any)

[nico]

They stropped mine standing up ... did you ask the call center - because they asked me where my spare tyre was ... and that in itself should tell you how much of their brain they use.



hahahah i know where MY spare tyre is but i aint telln :bleh:

AA pift bastards hung up on me cus i wasnt over 25 trying to insure a v8

how rude

[YellowDog]

I have never heard anything so outrageous for a so called professional vehicle recovery company:

"You lay own my bike? I smasha your face!"

[HungusMaximist]

Had my bike towed by AA. I had normal membership. When speaking to the operator I made it EXTREMELY CLEAR and Doubley sure that I was a on bike and I needed a flatbed towie with EXPERIENCE.

[barty5]

They stropped mine standing up ... did you ask the call center - because they asked me where my spare tyre was ... and that in itself should tell you how much of their brain they use.

Should have told them thats half the problem my keys are locked in the boot with the spare.:bash:

[rosie631]

I would try one of the specialist bike outfits that do this sort of thing if I were you. I used AA once. When I was about 18 and was travelling round the north island on my own. Joined up with AA just in case I broke down in the middle of nowhere and i didn't want to end up stranded. That's exactly what happened and the fuckers wouldn't come out because I wasn't close enough to any of their offices!! FFS it was precisely because I was so far away that I needed help. Never been an AA member again.

[Warr]

I'm pretty sure my Kiwibike Insurance has some road-side recovery included.
Makes the most economic sense as policy was very attractive

Kiwibike Contact Details

PO Box 8009
37 King Street
New Plymouth
Phone: 0800 629 253
Fax: 06 7594112

[PeteMun]

I'm pretty sure my Kiwibike Insurance has some road-side recovery included.

Oh I just had a look at my kiwibike contract and it has road side assistance included well thats nice. Im through Swann but didnt get anymore info like phone numbers ect - how awesome. I'll ring them when I get a chance

[retro asian]

If you don't have AA Plus, you still get a discounted rate on the tow.

Got my car towed from Auckland City to the shore for about $30 I think....


So personally, I would pass on the AA Plus upgrade.

[celticbhoy]

On my last bike the chain came off over the Rima's so called AA. Waited for over an hour but flatbed towie came from featherston and said as I was on that side of the hill(about two corners from summit!) He had to take me back that way! Had to pay him $70 to get to hutt instead. He knew what he was doing strapping it down and his only remark was that they have normally already been laid over when he gets to pick them up on the hill!!! LOL

[MarkH]

If you don't have AA Plus, you still get a discounted rate on the tow.

Got my car towed from Auckland City to the shore for about $30 I think....


So personally, I would pass on the AA Plus upgrade.

Ahh, but what if you broke down in Wellington? Might cost a bit more than $30 to get a tow to the shore then!

[ynot slow]

If you don't have AA Plus, you still get a discounted rate on the tow.

Got my car towed from Auckland City to the shore for about $30 I think....


So personally, I would pass on the AA Plus upgrade.

No good if away from home,our car blew a top tank in Napier,we managed to get to Hastings and ended up towed to Norsewood(staying at pub),next day needed tow to Palmy,end result $320 towing,$385 radiator.Since getting the bike I grabbed plus cover,(as I think kiwibiker insurance covers crash only not breakdowns).

Current membership is up for renewal,thinking of dropping plus cover as hopefully an 07 bike is more reliable than an 86 model lol.

And as a heads up,I thought of renewing online,decided to do it via creditcard and set up renewal debit using the cc,the print said will automatically renew prior to renewal date,and payment will be processed then,checked up on the phone and queried the fact my aa points credit hadn't shown as discount,the guy said it would show on statement with credit for aa points.I asked will the creditcard payment be done the day before expiry date of membership(30-05-09),no it will go through tomorrow,so said please reverse it and I'll pay it closer to time to get maximum free credit on card.

[quackquack]

So what does AA plus cost.

[ynot slow]

So what does AA plus cost.

Adittional $45 on top,does give better cover.Tow home if over 100km from home,go to their website to see,www.aa.co.nz.

[Slyer]

Motorcycle reviews, interesting.
http://www.aa.co.nz/motoring/blogs/redline/Pages/default.aspx
Check out previous months as well.

[klingon]

I've been an AA member for years so I get their long-time-member-discount thing. The good thing is it doesn't just rescue you, it rescues any vehicle you're travelling in, even if you're a passenger. So I have kept up my AA membership even when I haven't owned a car and it has always been worthwhile.

As a plain AA member I have had two occasions when I've needed help with the bike. Both times I was on the side of the road and my bike wouldn't start. Both times the AA mechanic did his best to get the bike started, couldn't do it and I was on my own from that point onwards. First time a friend trailered it home from Clevedon (45 km, no problem). Second time a different friend trailered it home from Kawakawa (225 km - more of a problem!)

I realised I was repidly running out of friends, so I enquired about AA plus. Turns out because my partner is already a member of AA plus I could upgrade my membership for $25. Should have done it years ago!

And it's not just for old bikes either. My partner has used his AA plus membership twice in the three years he's had it. Once for some kind of failure of electronic wizardry, another time for a puncture. Both times he's been delighted with the service and it has saved him heaps of money. (And both times the towie used a flat-bed truck and tied it down properly.)

[PeteMun]

So what does AA plus cost.

All up is $150 for the first year and goes down every year from there.. If you use your AA card at BP and some other places you can use those rewards to lower next years price even more.