The AA, worthwhile being a motorbike member?

[Oakie]

Hi
Anyone out there ever joined and used the AA for motorbike problems? Is it worth the $80 a year? (and hey ... that's the Automobile Assn, NOT Alcoholics Anonymous before anyone asks).

[crashe]

I'm a member of AA and in the past my card has only been used for call out's for cars etc....

But I was told they will do stuff for m/bike's.

But when you ring up for help, you have to state thats its for a m/bike as only a certain amount of them actually know about m/bikes.
So the wait time could be longer than what you would normally wait.

Hope that helps you out with your question.

[dss3]

FOr what it's worth i'll share my experiences with them. I have used them a number of times for car breakdown issues, and they have allways been exceptional. I have used them when bike has broken down and they were very good for towing bike back to home for me. HOWEVER, I have had very bad experiences with using them for mechanical issues on bikes.

One time the guy stuffed the started on my TL winding it over and over untill it overheated. Turns out the reason it wouldn't start was knackered spark plugs.

Another time a guy turned up and was just rough as, pulling and fairings, undoing fuel lines with petrol spilling everywhere... generally pretty shite.

my 2c anyway.

_daryl

[XP@]

The AA WONT pick you up from the camp site at the Cold Kiwi.

In the UK, I had to wait for 3 pickups to come before they could carry my bike.

[FEINT]

They sometimes have deals on membership. My g/f paid $45.00 for 1 years membership. I have never had any callouts for motorbikes, but they are real good when it comes to car callouts and FREE TOWING.

[Goddess of Goof]

I have never had any callouts for motorbikes, but they are real good when it comes to car callouts and FREE TOWING.

I've used them for flat battery situation and vehicles not starting - (cars) they've been really helpful. And it was great to have my teenagers also on my card - knowing they could call AA anytime and get assistance. Have used my membership card for strangers stuck in carparks with flat batteries, said it was my friend's car and I was driving it .... blah blah and sweet as. They've come and fixed it for free - Random Acts of Kindness accumulate Karma. OOOOOh yes, Heaven has a parking place for ME !! Oooops, Zed's online and he will lecture me about the correct meaning of Heaven....

I've never used them for the bike, however I've heard that they are really helpful and will put your bike on the truck and you in the cab to return home no problems. Hah, wouldn't let an AA guy near my bike's engine though - unless satisfied he was a qualified guy......
Another friend of mine told me that her elderly was in a prang and after all the cops arrived, and the irate motorist she pranged, was left in a bit of a shakey and tearful state.

The AA guys drove her home, put her car in the garage, took her inside, made a cup of tea for her, and phoned her family to tell them to call in after work.

Now, thats what I call going beyond the call of duty, truly impressive.

I reckon its worth the $80 just to get the bloody car going when its pouring with rain, and you'll be late for where you're going and you left the door ajar and the battery is flat HELP ! It gets cheaper the longer you belong too.

[Lou Girardin]

I think you have to be over 60 and not expect them to actually be a drivers lobby group.

[FlyingDutchMan]

I've had the odd time when my bike crapped out. First time the fuel pump died - got myflatmate to pick me + the bike up. Second time I ran out of fuel on top of the port hills - lucky though - I managed to coast the 8km downhill to the closest servo. Third time I the rear tyre went flat... 6km out of Palmerston (Dunners way). Incredibly lucky that time - the very first vehicle I flagged down was towing a motorcycle trailer. He gave me + the bike a lift down to Palmerston were a mate lives. Then the last incident the bike hydrolocked in Tekapo. Ended up leaving it with the local mechanic for a week, came back and fixed it myself. After 6hrs of work (drained 13 litres of crap out of the sump, 1 litre of petrol out of the exhaust cleaned the carbs, oil filter, fresh oil etc...) it started first time.

I know more about my bike now than AA guy ever would. The only way I can see them helping me now is by taking my bike somewhere.

[Wolf]

Handy for turning up with a tank of gas or a jump start but I think their insurance side is up the creek - they discriminate against motorcycles - can't insure your bike through AA unless you have a car insured through them. WTF's up with that? At the time I asked I only had the bike, now I would be disinclined to insure through them even though we have a car - just on principle on account of them being discriminatory in favour of cagers.

And as a motorcycle is technically an "Automobile" - it moves under its own power - perhaps they should either provide the same advantages to motorcyclists or change their name to "Car Association".

[Ixion]

..
And as a motorcycle is technically an "Automobile" - it moves under its own power - perhaps they should either provide the same advantages to motorcyclists or change their name to "Car Association".

AA is controlled almost entirely of dreary old old old people, bald men wearing walk shorts and socks, and women in horrible polyester frocks. They hate motorcycles, and no way will you ever see the AA take any positive initiative for bikers.

If you're insured with State, they have a breakdown service for $20 per year. Don't know anyone who's tried it with a bike, but they don't exclude them.

[Waylander]

Anybody know anything about AMI? Do they do bikes aswell or is that add there just for show?

[Blackbird]

I see you ride a Honda. Honda Rider's Club have a rescue service as part of the $35 members fee. Can't tell you how good it is because I haven't had need of it yet.

Geoff

[Slim]

Insurance is a whole other story, guys. We're talking about Breakdown Service here.


I'm an AA Plus Member & I've probably had more than my money's worth out of them for the bike than the c@r. If you want free drop-off of petrol and your bike taken home if you're anywhere in the country, you need to spend the extra dollars & get the "Plus" - it's worth it. Check out http://www.aa.co.nz/membership/MainMenu for the differences between standard & Plus membership.

You definitely need to reiterate to them when you call that it's a motorbike, but they've got lots of mechanics that know about bikes too - there's at least two in the Tauranga area & I've had good service from one of them. I wouldn't trust them to take off all the plastics though! Spend the time between calling & them arriving to remove the plastics yourself, like I do.

[Oakie]

Anybody know anything about AMI? Do they do bikes aswell or is that add there just for show?

AMI for Motorbike Insurance you mean? Mine have been insured with AMI and have never had a problem with a claim (duhhh, the one claim I've made). Some clown backed into my FXR150 and knocked it off the side stand. $1285 damage just falling over! AMI took care of the whole thing quickly and efficiently.... (just as they have this very day for the cell phone that went through the wash ... doh!)

[Ms Piggy]

Hi
Anyone out there ever joined and used the AA for motorbike problems? Is it worth the $80 a year? (and hey ... that's the Automobile Assn, NOT Alcoholics Anonymous before anyone asks).

Hey Oakie - join Honda Riders Club. It's only $35- and you get free towing, pretty much the same as AA...last year (as those close to me will recall), I had to be towed 4 times in total and it didn't cost me a cent!

http://www.honda-motorcycles.co.nz/Club.htm