Roadside Assistance Plans

[CT Dharma]

What plans are people using for Roadside Assistance? I am a Lifetime Member Plus with the AMA and currently am enrolled in their Roadside Assistance Plan BUT find it very limiting and cumbersome. You are only allowed five vehicles to be registered which doesn't work for my eight registered vehicles [cars and bikes]. And you can't change the vehicles registered online, you have to contact the AMA. Not understanding the logic of the five vehicle limit as one can only drive/ride one vehicle at a time.Looking for a better alternative.

[Cam3512]

I’ve been carrying AAA “Plus RV” for years.  With the upgraded membership they will flatbed a motorcycle.  100 miles of towing 4X a year.  And you’re covered with whatever car or motorcycle you’re in or on.  Little less than $100 a year.

[Ncdan]

+1 for AAA. Definitely worth the small yearly fee.

[kingoffleece]

I have the AAA plus also.

[Moparnut72]

AAA for me too.
kk

[Perazzimx14]

Has anybody with AAA or any other motorcycle roadside assistance eve used it and what was the experience? I've read a lot of horror stories where people tried to use roadside assistance while on a motorcycle and as soon as the towing company hears motorcycle they decline.

I guess if you run out of fuel there is a good chance you can get some delivered but if the bike requires a tow its anyone's guess.

[smsw]

I now carry a tire plugging kit, w/ gummy worms & glue etc., a small compressor, a small jump battery kit, and a small bag of tools.  I've tested all of these things at home.  Years ago I was an AAA member.  In 55 years of driving cars and bikes, I've used the tire plug kit twice (once in my driveway on my car, once on the side of the interstate for another biker) and the compressor once (that other biker).  I confess to buying Conti tires for my T3 because of their roadside assistance program, but again did not use it.

So, considering over half a century of driving with never needing roadside assistance, I've pretty much decided to forego paying for it.  However, to make up for not having it, I do worry about needing it.

[Dr. Enzo Toma]

Has anybody with AAA or any other motorcycle roadside assistance eve used it and what was the experience? I've read a lot of horror stories where people tried to use roadside assistance while on a motorcycle and as soon as the towing company hears motorcycle they decline.

I guess if you run out of fuel there is a good chance you can get some delivered but if the bike requires a tow its anyone's guess.

Yes. My AAA membership is shared with my dad and years ago he got a puncture on a tube type tire on a Harley-Davidson when we were about an hour's ride from home. Called AAA, provided vehicle info, reiterated that it's a motorcycle and a flat bed should be requested, and maybe just over an hour of waiting and a local tow company truck showed up with a flat bed, helped load and secure the bike, gave my dad a lift, and brought the bike back to his house.

I've also used AAA a few times with cars & SUVs. The worst part of it is the wait for a tow truck to show up. If you have a disabled vehicle on the shoulder of some roads police may hassle you and give a deadline of that the vehicle needs to be moved within XX minutes or they'll have a different tow service move it at your expense.

[Moparnut72]

In Cali if the CHP calls for a tow the rate is set by the state and it is quite high, more than a tow company would charge. Most tow companies now have flatbeds due to the number of all wheel drive vehicles on the road. I had a buddy who had a AAA contract. I filled in if he got behind and on holiday weekends etc. We also had a unit much like a receiver carrier that we used on the wheel lift on the wrecker. Actually it was much easier than strapping down a bike on the flatbed. AAA wouldn't allow us to go off road back then even though we did it anyway. Back then a person who needed a tow could call us directly now they have to go through dispatch so they would know where you are. This was many years ago so I don't know about the rules today.
kk

[Tom H]

I have AAA and have mixed feelings on it. I have used it 4 times. Once for a jump start when my HD was having starting issues and 3 times to tow my bikes.

Jump start was pretty quick. About a half hour or less. AAA couldn't figure out where I was even though I told them the address of the HF that I was at. The driver called me and I explained it to him.

Now 2 of the times I needed a tow due to engine failure (Loop cam gear exploded on one and a dropped valve on the other) I was not a happy camper. A 2 and a 3 hour wait time to get the flatbed there while sitting on the shoulder of a freeway. The 2 hour they claimed they couldn't find me even though I even gave the exits and closest mile marker and landmarks.  The 3 hour was due to a big wreck up they freeway and CHP took priority of all tow trucks from what I was told. Other than the wait, the FWY got backed up and there were some idiots blasting down the shoulder and came close to hitting my bike. I was not happy.

3rd time I was a wreck that broke my clutch lever. Bike was rideable, but without a clutch and in my condition, I was not going to try to ride it home. The flatbed showed up in about 20 minutes if that long. I think it was quick since I told AAA that I was in an accident. I was happy for the response time.

In reading other threads about this, slow/poor service is not just limited to AAA. HD's tow, AMA, Tow coverage through your Ins. Co. all can be good or bad.

Hope this helps,
Tom

[Moparnut72]

In my area if you use any other roadside service other than AAA that service will call our local AAA to do the tow. Our local AAA is very good no matter the situation but if you live in an area with other choices I wonder if you will get the same speedy service as I think they would take care of their members first.
kk