Get an AA membership

[jimbo600]

We are talking about the "Automobile Association", not "Alcoholics Anonymous"

Well yeah Automobile Assoc' but the Alcoholic Anon' dudes weren't much help either.

[kave]

I carry a full tool kit for my bike as well as a puncture repair kit complete with mini C02 inflation cylinders to inflate my tire.

heaps cheaper than AA, and if you know your bike (ie you actually service it yourself) then roadside repairs are a sintch!

Ah, but if you leave your bike parked somewhere and come back to find that some retard cager has backed into your bike without seeing it, or if you get a stone through your radiator in the middle of nowhere, or an animal strike takes out your headlights in the middle of the night on country roads etc....
Sometimes you need a fix that a roadside kit wont handle, and for those occasions the AA is awesome. If I break down on the desert road I would like to know that I wont have to spend the night under the stars or leave my bike behind while I hitch-hike to somewhere safer.

In saying that, I am really keen to get set up with a puncture repair kit and I think it would be great to be able to provide running repairs on my bike if I ever needed to. Its just that I also know that there will possibly be problems that a spanner, some duct tape and a pair of pliers wont fix, and if those problems do arrive I am confident that the AA will fufill their side of the agreement, and make sure that the bike and I get home safely.

[klyong82]

I am with Swann Insurance too. Comes with free 3 tows a year plus other roadside assistance. Not had to use them yet but hope they are as good as AA. I do carry toolkits around and a puncture repair kit just for safety.

[YLWDUC]

If you haven't got another fvorm of roadside rescue, then AA is well worth it. I lost a cyclinder on a ride to work, arriving at a petrol station 10 minutes before it closed. Although I spent 15 minutes on the phone with AA, they agreed that I was entitled to a tow/pickup and delivery to the nearest motorcycle mechanic, which happened to be in Palmy about 45 km away.

They take a while, but eventually come round

[Renegade]

im with protecta insurance and this year they through in AA roadside rescue for car and bike.

[scootnz]

Standard AA membership will get your bike towed to the nearest AA agent, you don't need AA plus for that. I'm a 10+ year member (unlimited callouts per year), definitely worth it. It covers any vehicle you are driving/riding at the time, even someone elses vehicle. Signed up my partner to a (cheaper) associate membership, and he now uses it more than I do. He used to do it the hard way, getting friends to help, borrowing cars, trailers, etc, complicating what could be a fairly simple procedure to get a bike recovered.

[Nasty]

We have standard membership and whatever we are riding or driving gets dealt with ... bikes get towed .. cars get towed ... etc.

[Conquiztador]

You have convinced me. Where do I sign??

[Stickchick]

Hi ya who do you have as insurance ...mines with swann insurance and i havnt had to use it yet , hope not to

My insurance is with IAG

[carbacca]

swann is underwritten by IAG i think

i am with swann too, i saw they had the roadside assist as well but i didnt pay it any mind and went for AA while i am at it

another good thing about AA is you get points at BP...those of us who runs exclusively on ultimate 98 would find that useful

[Swoop]

im with protecta insurance and this year they through THREW in AA roadside rescue for car and bike.

That was hard to read!

You have convinced me. Where do I sign??

Here!

[Ixion]

But they specifically exclude motorcycles from the recovery benefit (unless its convenient to them)

From the AA Terms and condition

Specialist vehicles and motorcycles
Towing or recovery of vehicles that have been lowered or modified or are fitted with body kits will be on a best endeavours basis and may be subject to delays due to availability of suitable contractors. Any additional charges/costs for specialised recovery equipment or labour will be at the Member's expense.
The AA will provide vehicle recovery for motorcycles on a best endeavours basis and may be subject to availability of suitable contractors. If the Member chooses not to accept the attending tow truck, any other arrangements will be at the Member's expense.

And from experience AA mechanics know nothing about motorcycles and don't have tools to work on them

Apart from the fact that AA hate motorcycles with a mighty hatred, and lose no opportun ity to bad mouth us in the press.

EDIT: And it would appear that punctures on motorcycles are not covered

AA Membership exclusions
Service cannot be provided if:

• the vehicle is immobilised due to failure to carry a serviceable spare wheel and wheel changing equipment suitable to the vehicle

[kave]

But they specifically exclude motorcycles from the recovery benefit (unless its convenient to them)

From the AA Terms and condition


And from experience AA mechanics know nothing about motorcycles and don't have tools to work on them

Apart from the fact that AA hate motorcycles with a mighty hatred, and lose no opportun ity to bad mouth us in the press.

EDIT: And it would appear that punctures on motorcycles are not covered

Well, AA gave me no problems picking up my bike as a result of my puncture, and the towie was excellent.

[Mikkel]

Hmmm, I was just wondering if the AA membership is vehicle specific or if it's personal. I.e. if I'm a member will it cover both my car and my bike - or only just my car? I can just remember once locking the keys in the car (in a way so stupid you wouldn't believe, but that's another story) that they asked a LOT of vehicle specific questions to validate my membership.

[scootnz]

I heat seized my scooter just out of Masterton - was towed to Masterton to an AA agent. I didn't expect them to fix it (needed a new topend etc), but it was better than leaving it on the side of the road. Have had other tows for various problems - obviously punctures are a problem for motorbikes that can't carry a spare - I've had to change several on the side of the road but have a spare so it's not too hard.

I've never not been able to get a tow - you sometimes have to wait longer for a flatdeck tow truck, but you'd have to wait anyway if you have to arrange your own tow.

It's also useful for flat batteries and keys-locked-in-car too, for those who have to have cars as well as bikes.