AAA

[rodekyll]

How's the AAA work for motorcyclists?  Is it worth it for me on my shakedown cruise with this unknown quantity that is my trike?  How has it worked (or not) for you?

[ITSec]

It varies quite a bit, as the different regional AAA affiliates have different rules for motorcycles and sometimes don't always acknowledge the rules and benefits that may apply based on your home membership. AAA of southern California (which apparently includes Nevada), for example, makes you buy the RV membership to get motorcycle benefits. Other areas (like MN) let you get it through regular vehicle coverage or with a small add-on.

Given the traveling you're going to be doing, you may find some of the other benefits make it worthwhile, such as maps, motel discounts, etc.

Check into your insurance on the bike - lots of insurers are offering roadside assistance on motorcycle policies. I have that on my policy, and while I've only used it once, it was fairly prompt, effective, and no questions asked.

[charlie b]

It is one of the few with longer distance towing.  My insurance has towing, 10 miles.  That just means they will send a tow truck, you still may have quite a bill to pay.  Might also look at another of the RV roadside plans from SAMs club (not the store).  Also gets you discounts at many RV parks/campgrounds.

I agree that AAA has other benefits, but, I have never used it because of the cost.  Over $100/yr to me has not been worth it.  But, were I to be on the road as much as you plan I would probably buy it.

PS they also have some of the best road maps around.

[Farmer Dan]

I used "Bros Club" when I lived near Boston.  They pulled me out of a snow bank twice in one winter.  No charge LOL.

[canuck750]

I bought AAA (CAA actually) after my BMW RT blew its fuel hose disconnects in Arizona one winter, the towing bill made the AAA look cheap. And once I had a flat in Death Valley,  tore up the front tube in a KLR that could not hold a patch, the towing bill was an astronomical $800+!!

Expensive until you need it, for travelling alone far from home I thinks its well worth it.

[Daniel Kalal]

How's the AAA work for motorcyclists?

I've used them (AAA) twice for the bike.  Both times the response was prompt.  Both times they followed up a couple of times during the day to make sure that the truck had arrived and after that, that I had been left in a safe place after the tow.

[Shorty]

I have belonged for years. My local one allows for 5 events per years, with the towing range being determined by the rating of the service you buy. They pulled my Convert sidecar rig home a time or two.

[redrider]

I switched to the AMA plan. 40 bucks a year vs. over 100 for bike coverage. 50 mile tow allowance does not bother me.

[MGPilot]

In WA state, you need to get the RV level to have motorcycle coverage.

However, I joined AAA as much as anything under the (possibly wrong) belief that AAA participants would be vetted to some extent.

If I just call the nearest tow company, hard to know who I'd get. Any recourse for ineptness, misbehavior or attempts at cheating me would only be through the courts--hard to do when you're far from home. You might not like McDonalds menu, but you know what you're getting. AAA (like a lot of insurance/service contracts) seems expensive when you don't use them. But it does feel like a safety net when I'm on longer drives.

[Arizona Wayne]

AAA MC coverage varies from 1 state to the next.  Some states don't cover MCs at all.  I belong to AMA which covers ALL our vehicles and have used them 2X.   They are nationwide.   Get AMA.    1-800-262-5646

[Moto]

I've had AAA for a long time, paying extra for the RV policy that covers MCs in WI.

I second some of the rationales already given, especially convenience and quality of towing service.

The big time it paid off was after riding my crippled BMW R90/6 hundreds of miles in second gear, only to have it fail for electrical reasons 80 or so miles from my goal. The 100-mile towing coverage was most appreciated at that point, and the tow itself was prompt and professional.

Of course, in the long run I've paid more in membership than I've gotten back, so it's a debatable proposition.

[bigbikerrick]

I used "Bros Club" when I lived near Boston.  They pulled me out of a snow bank twice in one winter.  No charge LOL.

I Googled "Bros Club" to sign up for the free roadside assistance plan.....and all I found was gay man porn sites....Did I spell it wrong? 
Rick.

[Farmer Dan]

yea you spelled it wrong LOL

http://www.brosclub.org/hdmotorcycle.htm

[threebrits]

One thing I discovered helping a kid who rolled his car on a dirt road.  AAA would not come tow him because their towing service did not cover dirt roads.  This was a graded county road.  Which is how he flipped the car.  It had just been grated and he was driving on his "half of the road" on the pilings.  As I was driving him to town I had to further explain that the grader takes the wash boards OUT of the road - it doesn't put them in.

Not to worry - he is in school to become a pilot.   No graded roads there.  (His parents had USAA and they had towing service which includes dirt roads and they eventually got him out)

[bigbikerrick]

yea you spelled it wrong LOL

http://www.brosclub.org/hdmotorcycle.htm

Thank you Dan!
Rick.

[NC Steve]

yea you spelled it wrong LOL

http://www.brosclub.org/hdmotorcycle.htm

Their site states "Insurance program is not available for state NC"

Do you know if their roadside assistance program is offered separately from their vehicle insurance?

[Farmer Dan]

I don't know you'll have to call them and ask 

[Yeahoo Whoyah]

I switched to the AMA plan. 40 bucks a year vs. over 100 for bike coverage. 50 mile tow allowance does not bother me.

 :1:

[cruzziguzzi]

I've found a yuuuuuge problem with them here in the Phoenix area where motorcycles are concerned. If I call AAA - with whom I am otherwise VERY satisfied - for a motorcycle related though not motorcycle specific issue, I have waited ridiculous amounts of time and in fact given up on them.

One was a jump start before I was really aware of the Calvins shamefully low output in general and in relation to RPMs in particular.

The other was merely a pint, gallon... whatever of gas.

Seems (at least OUR local) AAA will only dispatch one of their hen's-teeth-rare motorcycle service contractors once the word "motorcycle" is used regardless of the requirement.


Todd.

[n3303j]

As of last year AAA didn't cover motorcycles in Massachusetts.
I've got an RV and a Good Sam membership for the discounts ($25). I bought their roadside assistance ($75) which covers towing anything I own to a facility capable of properly repairing my broken item. In both cases my home was the closest competent repair facility. So the bikes came home. When I high sided my T3 the police had it towed to impound. I had impound tow it to my house. Good Sam picked up both towing fees and the 2 day impound fee. Can't complain about that kind of service.

[Tom H]

The wife and I use AAA in Cali.. She is very satisfied with their service for the car, me not so much.

Both times I was broke down on the freeway. Both times I gave EXACT location, one time with a call box number. One time was a two hour wait on the side of the freeway the other was 3 hours. Both times the tow service said they couldn't find me. The 3 hour wait on the right shoulder that is a lane wide, the bike was almost hit 3 times by people trying to use the shoulder as a lane. The 2 hour wait I almost could have pushed the bike home (well maybe not?) in less time. But I couldn't get the bike off the freeway due to having to cross a 2 lane on ramp to get off the freeway. Wasn't going to try that!

Once the truck got there, the tow services were professional and polite. The 3 hour wait, the guy even degreased the bed so the bike wouldn't slip. Nice, but I was ready to get gone!

On the plus side, both tow services were looking into bike lifts so that a roll back would not be required. They both mentioned that the roll backs were in higher demand than a standard tow truck.

JMHO, YMMV.
Tom

[atavar]

FWIW if your cell phone is Verizon I have had great luck with their roadside assistance.  It is relatively cheap and they don't care what the vehicle is as long as you have your phone with you.  I have not had to use them for towing yet but they bring gas or jumps just fine.