Breakdown Cover

[rac3r]

I think it's about time I bought some breakdown cover. I've never done this before so bare with me

So far the cheapest it £28 but that's the 'if we can't fix it we'll leave you there' cover. If I add the relay it goes up to £70

Can my parents add me to their car policy?

Anyone recommend where to look?
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Bikes : 2006 CBR125R - 2004 Monster 620ie - 2004 ZX-6R B1H - 2005 Monster S2R 800 - 2011 Street Triple - 2009 Streetfighter 1098 - 2014 ZX-6R 636

[Ingah]

Right here:
https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=195950
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-- Ingah

[ms51ves3]

I'm on a family policy with my parents (for four people in a household). Costs about £100 a year and that brings me home. It also brings me home if I'm a passenger in another vehicle.

Through GEM.

[rac3r]

Ah right, thanks for both replies
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Bikes : 2006 CBR125R - 2004 Monster 620ie - 2004 ZX-6R B1H - 2005 Monster S2R 800 - 2011 Street Triple - 2009 Streetfighter 1098 - 2014 ZX-6R 636

[Polarbear]

Is your insurance due? carol nash policies come with breakdown cover
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Triumph Trophy Launch Edition

[FURBAR]

I'm with IC insurance, recomended on bcf ..

30 quid no excess ... will take me home late in the day, so i hope to breakdown then ...
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Fuk um !!

[rac3r]

[FURBAR]

[rac3r]

[BelleBot]

I'm with Britannia Rescue for both the car and bike. Not had to use it for the bike, but I've used it twice with the car, once with a tyre puncture and the other time because I was ill (head injury and concussion) and couldn't drive myself home.
No problems at all, they've been fantastic both times. It's about £70 a year for both vehicles including home start, they use local garages so always fairly quick to respond.
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Current Bike: 2004 SV650S
Old Bike: 1989 Honda CB-1 - crashed

[Stowelly]

not sure im a fan of the breakdown service ive received from the RAC, besides the 3 hours it takes them to get someone who can transport a bike, the method in which they attach it with those massive ratchet straps have left me with a bent handlebar (only became apparent a month or so later), the guy even stopped off on the dual carriage way as he could see the bike bouncing about in the rear view!!

also, has anyone had a bike recovered where they havent had to help the guy push it up the back of the truck and hold it etc? can imagine that someone not as strong would be no help at all!

[Marmalade]

AA for £7 a month and if they can't fix it i get a hire car for 2/3 days for free and they take my bike/car home
Also have ADAC cover for european use, does also cover uk but might as well use AA while i'm here. This is 77 euros a year
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Nobby the Bastard: How yo tell the difference between the actual japanese and her just screaming because she's had live fish stuck up her arse? [url=https://www.nicks-shop.co.uk/bcf-goodies-15-c.aspGet BCF stickers and things here[/url] Reflective helmet stickers - Legal requirement in france - Clicky

[Pernig]

Using IC breakdown for £30 also here. Never had to use it but not heard any bad reviews.

I also have basic AA that comes with my bank account for use in other people's vehicles and used them loads of times. Had them make up clutch cables, jump start cars with failing electrics etc. Always had good service from them. Not afraid to get their hands dirty unlike what others have said to me about RAC in the past.
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H100 Breaking for spares

[Stevie GooGs]

I would be very very careful when taking it out, we had ours through the bank and it was recovery but they did not say at the time it was only 10miles then you pay per mile, i live in the highlands so its about 60 miles from Inverness to Ullapool. I have now went with AA full cover as before they tried to charge us £200 for getting home.
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Current: 2019 Yamaha T7 -> 2015 KTM Superduke R | 2000 Yamaha R1 Past -> 2009 KTM 990 SM -> 2005 kawasaki ZX10r -> 2000 Honda CBR 600 FY -> 2002 Honda XLV 125 Varadero
Bike Pics! -> My Photography Website

[kawakid]

Had bad experience with one of the cheaper ones. That left me stranded for 2 hours in a car in - 7C . With a 4 month old baby.

The pickup driver who came, was fine, he showed me his phone and when he got the call from them ie 20 minutes earlier.

Ever since i've had the full works with the AA and have been good the 2 times i've needed them on the bike. Snapped throttle cable & cracked engine casing (U-turn fail).

Saying that I also get free bike breakdown with Carole Nash. So i'm doubly covered. Won't go anywhere without it.
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I've a twin and a 4.

[Kickstart]

Hi

Make sure that any cover you get will cover you in the event of an accident. The AA will charge you if it is recovery following an accident rather than a breakdown. Their view is you should claim on your insurance. Can't say the idea of losing no claims or paying a few hundred pounds for recovery appeals if (say) the bike is knocked over in a car park and the brake lever snaps.

Used to be with the RAC. Despite a so called priority service it still took them 4 hours to get to me when the 1200 cam chain jumped a tooth (despite a personal call handler, a shift change meant they forgot I called them).

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[tutton]

Its all swings and roundabouts really,
a few weeks back the ccm wasnt chargin itself, got to where i was going 12 miles away parked up, and battery was dead flat, walked to the nearest bike shop got quoted 59+vat for a battery so decieded recovery it was, rung them up told me it would be a hour before they there, fair enough i thought, 5 mins later i get a call from the rac man telling me hes sitting next to my bike waiting , jumped the bike and followed me all the way home.
dunno where id be without recovery
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Past: '05 Peugeot XPS '99 Aprillia RS125 '94 FZR600R
Current: '02 ZX636 A1P '51 CCM R30

[Tonka]

I used my 'all singing and dancing' AA cover for the old off-road bike, having got it down to the nearest road first of course!

It was a bit of a faff tbh, as they tried to fix it and failed, so then had to get a recovery truck. That meant a double wait and they struggle a bit with 3rd party recovery vehicles, as apparently most don't like to recover bikes. Yes, I had to help the bike onto the loader and it was ratchet strapped within an inch of it's life, but no damage was done.

However, when all said and done I wasn't complaining, as taken home eventually safe and sound! I've never had a problem when recovered in the car either, but I had specialist Landrover recovery for those occasions, not had to use the AA yet!
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'The core of a man's spirit comes from new experiences'
Suzuki SV650S (Clean); Yamaha XT250 Serow (Dirty)

[panrider_uk]

Been with the AA Since about 1980.

Used them when the Silverwing had a puncture, twice for the car and when the drive belt snapped on the scoot.

Excellent service every time and I'm covered for any vehicle I'm in.

Costs more than some but worth it for peace of mind and quality of service. IMO.

Mark
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Current bikes: Honda ST1100 Pan European. Moto Guzzi V85 TT Travel

[Kris]

I can only say good things about CallAssist, a company that provides European breakdown through my insurance company.

Recently smashed my Pan up in the South of France and was flown home and had the bike shipped home FOC after the event. Mine was a single vehicle accident etc, so no-one else to blame.

Definately worth making sure this is covered by your breakdown company - I had travel insurance too but was informed this was void after the accident. Insure&Go have a policy booklet which on page 17 states that any motorcycle over 125cc is not covered...

Cunts
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NSR125RR - ZXR750H1 - ZX9R E1 - GSF600S - GSF600SK3 - VFR400-NC30 - SV1000N - ST1100-R - CBR900RR-R - GSF1200SK5 - GSF600SK1 - VFR1200FA - GSXR1000K2 - ZZR1400 D8F
www.prisonplanet.com

[mr rip]

I went with IC insurance for my Saracen cause it's a Q plate & no other bugger would touch it

& I got the free brake down cover with that

most of the other break down recovery places I looked into won't touch anything lower than 150cc or more than 15 years old which rules out all of my bikes one way or another
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never criticise a man until you've walked a mile in his shoes, then when the muck hits the fan you'll be a mile away & you'll have his shoes

[nasty]

I've got mine through Carol Nash, some people have a negative opinion of Carol Nash based on their own experiences but I've had no issues.
Breakdown cover through them covers everything including recovery following an accident which some of the better known breakdown companies dont.
They used SOS Motorcycles for the one and only time I've had to call them and the guy turned up within around 35 minutes, it was pissing down and we couldn't get the bike to run so in the back of the van it went and he took me home as I said I would fix it myself (I knew what the problem was but the guy couldn't have done anythign about it in the rain, would of made the problem worse LOL)
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ZX6R F3

[MattEMulsion]

Like with most things in life you get what you pay for - If you only pay for the cheap basic cover or get it free with an insurance policy/bank account then you will be most likely getting the minimum level of service. That will be roadside assistance and inclusive recovery of around 10 miles distance. After that it is usually possible to pay the extra and be recovered to wherever you want but if it is more than a few miles it is going to get costly. Plus the excess mileage charge that you pay is roughly doubled because the recovery vehicle still has to return back to its base after dropping you at home.

So the sensible option if you travel large distances is to make sure that your breakdown policy is more comprehensive and includes recovery back home from wherever you are. Obviously this is going to cost you more in the first place but will 'pay dividends' if you have to make use of it and be recovered a trek home. Often with a more comprehensive policy you will get home start too and other benefits.

Another factor to bear in mind is that arrival times are largely dependant on the time of year and the location in which you breakdown rather that the breakdown club itself. Lots of them use local garages/contractors so whichever club you are in, you could still end up with the same person coming to your assistance. Bear in mind that late Autumn around to the early Spring is the peak time of the year and when the really cold weather and bad conditions arrive then most breakdown clubs are really busy.

Even though you may know what is wrong with your bike it doesn't mean that every other 'home mechanic' does, hence why they are often reluctant to recover things without attending with a technician first. They always go for the cheapest option so you will just have to grin and bear it. This also cuts down on people trying to pull fast ones - People who are non-members pretending to be 'their mate' who is, or people who want to get unroadworthy vehicles transported across the country for free. Yes it does go on, I have seen it mentioned on this site a few times when people have bought a bike 200 miles away from home and can't/won't ride it home and it has been suggested to use some breakdown cover to do it for free.

Lastly check the summary of the cover that you are getting because some policies do not cover accident recovery. They are essentially breakdown policies and some choose not to tow you if you have smashed your vehicle up or if they do, then it is from the side of the road only. Don't expect them to drag your vehicle out of a ditch and across a field for 'free', expect to have to pay an additional charge.
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Yamaha YZF-R6

[Shay HTFC]

I'm with IC breakdown too for 29 quid all in.

So far I have been recovered about 3 times, including once from the Scottish highlands to Yorkshire without ever being charged anything extra or mad to feel unwelcome. My Scotland recovery was due to me crashing (which was clear) and they recovered me no questions asked.

I cannot recommend them highly enough.
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Full Motorbike License - GS500E '95

[DMan]

Asda are doing cover (via Brittania) for £74 which includes Home Start, Roadside repair and onward travel to choice of destination (without need to go to local garage first). Dont cover accidents as said by others, but I guess you pays ya money and takes the risk. Just the point of taking onward to destination/home makes it one of the better ones at this price IMO.
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2001 Hornet 600 - "Faster than yellow" Blue; Current: 1998 Yammy FZS 600 "Fazer" Black
You show me how to control a wild fucking gypsy and I'll show you how to control an unhinged, pig-feeding gangster.