Riding to South France without breakdown cover

[EuropeanNC30R...]

M1ke and myself are heading down to the South of France in a couple weeks for a 8-day biking holiday, ending up in the French Alps. We're gonna be riding 3000 - 3500 miles.

Mike's got a 14 year old CBR250, I've got a 13 year old VFR400.

We've been disagreeing lately on whether or not to get European breakdown cover.

I'd be interested to hear any views or opinions?

[Flip]

Maurice, I wouldn't go down the road without breakdown cover, I would cover my back if going abroard.

[tgabber]

I'd say it depends on what it would cost you and how well maintained and serviced your bikes are. It doesn't cost anything to get some quotes.

I've just renewed my annual insurance and got UK and European breakdown cover as an extra for 49 quid. Mind you my bike is only 3 years old.

N.B. I didn't answer the poll cos I wasn't sure I could work out the double negative... does Yes mean Yes or No?
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"It's all about dislocating expectation"
Kawasaki KMX125 -> Aprilia RS125 -> Kawasaki ZZR600

[EuropeanNC30R...]

Erm, 'yes' means its a good idea go without, sorry about any confusion

[M1ke]

Just to give the full story here...

I have had a quote for £79 for break down cover for 7 days in france. This seems extreamly steep. I spoke to my dad about it and he has told me not to bother if its that expensive.

He has told me if I break down and it minor then I can fix it my self there and then. But if it serious like the engine seizes then he said he will come over and pick me up in his ford galaxy (big enough to get my bike in). Obviously if i were to break down it would cost more in the long run for him to pick me up, but its a risk I am willing to take.

[Sparks!]

Definetly get it if your going abroad!

But for UK, I'm not so sure...

I don't actually have breakdown cover, but my bike is almost new and has never had a remote problem with it (cept for the rider ) but the ZXR scared me a few times..

It cut out due to a petrol problem on the motorway, the pipes to the engine had become un-full due to excessive use and I was left on side of the road at night, with no mobile, in a country ish area, with an owl...

Lesson learnt: sell the damn ZXR, and always carry a mobile with credit on!
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Current Toys: 06 Yamaha WR250F | Nissan 350Z GT | Tech 4 Homes

[Shaun]

I think you're very stupid if you go without breakdown cover, £79 isn't that much really considering the service you would get if you did breakdown in the middle of nowhere in a foreign country!

[Flip]

Even if it's £80 at least you have peace of mind and it's one less thing to worry about on your holiday. Hopefully the bike will be fine and then you can bitch about wasting money.

[tgabber]

It does seem a lot of money for just 7 days cover. I reckon if you shop around you could get cover for a whole year for that sort of money. (Might have to pay a bit more given the age of the bikes)

I wouldn't be too scared of going without cover, if, as you say you're competent with minor repairs yourself. The very worst that can happen is you have to write off the bikes and hitch-hike home, and given their age they can't be worth that much. Hope you've made the effort to brush up on your French though.
____________________
"It's all about dislocating expectation"
Kawasaki KMX125 -> Aprilia RS125 -> Kawasaki ZZR600

[EuropeanNC30R...]

To be honest, I'm the party that wants to get breakdown cover. There's no way I'm going to write off at least £1500's worth of bike for the sake of saving a few quid

[Shaun]

I knew you were the sensible when Maurice, where Mike is actually the skin flint who would sell his mum if the price was right.

[M1ke]

If it was £80 for a years break down cover including in the uk I would jump at the deal. But for 7 days it seems far far too high. I was thinking it would be like £10

My brother has been into europe several times and never bothered with breakdown cover. You could say he has been lucky or what ever, but the secret is to make sure your bike is fully serviced before you leave. I have done 15000 miles on the bike since I got it and it hasn't let me down once.

[M1ke]

[EuropeanNC30R...]

Wouldn't you rather go without having to rely on your parents to rescue you from any trouble you get yourself into?

[tgabber]

so what sort of spares kit are you two taking?

I'll start you off with:

Puncture repair kit
spark plugs
throttle and clutch cables
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"It's all about dislocating expectation"
Kawasaki KMX125 -> Aprilia RS125 -> Kawasaki ZZR600

[Shaun]

OK, so you break down in the middle of nowhere, just going to sit around for a couple of days until your dad comes to find you? Push your bike back to the hotel or where ever it is your staying?

It just makes a lot more sense to get breakdown cover Mike, yes its £80 but it will save you a lot of money and time wasting if you do break down.

[mr.z]

[craigT19]

Maurice you may as well take it with you, it doesn't cost you any extra, just ring your insurer and let them know your going (you need to for your insurance to be valid anyways) and provided you with a good company the brake down cover that came with your policy will cover your trip as long as your in an EU country....which france clearly is.

Just don't forget to get your E111 and your travel insurance (mine was £16) as there is no state health service in france.

Regards
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Bikes owned :- 2001 nsr125, 1999 zx6r, 2006 yzf-r1, 2009 xmax 250, 2012 yzf-r1, 2015 MT-07
Current bike : - 2016 MT-10
BCF member pops. sadly missed 1945-2003

[McJamweasel]

https://www.internationalbreakdown.com/Euro_Cover.htm

12 months UK and european cover for £92.
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BCF: Be yourself, just don't be an arse.

[EuropeanNC30R...]

Craig do you remember who you got your travel insurance through? Carol Nash quoted me £34 the other day

[craigT19]

post office mate

i walked in...filled in 1 form, they stamped it...and i was insured
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Bikes owned :- 2001 nsr125, 1999 zx6r, 2006 yzf-r1, 2009 xmax 250, 2012 yzf-r1, 2015 MT-07
Current bike : - 2016 MT-10
BCF member pops. sadly missed 1945-2003

[Flip]

Another reason to get cover is, do you know enough French to phone for assistance, exlain the problem, where you are etc?

Also M1kes' dad may take some time to get there!

[billy whizz]

I think you need to look at French road law, they have a similar attitude to breaking down on their motorways as we do and it goes something like this "if you cant get it moved off the side of the road, we can!" and as their junctions can be 30 km apart good luck trying to push it Besides for them to remove it will cost you a shit load more than £80, but hey give it a go after all you will be on holiday!
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Here comes the summer!

[Kickstart]

[tintin]

Get the cover - it's not worth the worry, especially if you have a crash and need to be flown home. It's all too easy on the wrong side of the road to get a bit carried away and have an off.

Years ago I dropped my bike at the Bol D'or when faced with a French car coming the wrong way down a one way track. A bike firm turned up and took the bike off to another town saying they would repair it, the French bloke said his insurance would take care of it. The next day when I went to pick the bike up the shop was shut but I tracked it down to a car recovery compound. They wouldn't let me have the bike back until I paid for the tow. Luckily I had a credit card, but I still had to drive back from the south of France with no back brake or footrest (I had to use the pillion peg). Once back in England the French insurance company refused to pay for anything and my insurance company didn't give a stuff.

Get the cover it's peace of mind...
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The older I get the better I was