Going into Europe...

[Benno]

I may be riding to Austria next weekend. I'm terrified of breaking down and being absolutely screwed!

Is it possible to get European breakdown cover - if so with who, and how much does it tend to cost?

Also, anything about the bike I should patch up/check up on before I go on such a long trip? It's got its MOT on Monday, hopefully it will pass so I can actually do this.
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I'm autistic. That means I'm smarter than you.

[Clutchy]

Just got back from a euro trip...

European cover is widely available, and fairly cheap, was £30 for the full year (added on to my current cover I got with my insurance) greenflag I think it was.


If you don't already have cover then you can get a quote off of the RAC or AA website, you put in where you are going and for how many days and it will give you a price and a level of cover.

The good thing is, if you break down and it's serious then they will just carry you and your bike plus a passenger back to the UK as part of your plan. It also includes a load of other stuff depending on the cover you choose, such as £500 towards spares.

I'd recommend doing a full service around 2 weeks before you do, that way any problems that may have arisen from the new parts you've just put in such as a faulty brand new spark plug, will rear its ugly head before you're 2000 miles from home.
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Malaguti F12 Phantom-Dead, Suzuki AY50- Dead, NRG power DD LQ, CBR125.
*33 BHP restriction up on 10/12/14* Current bikes/car: SV 650 S/ MKIV GOLF
Guide to pass your test with no lessons!

[Marmaduke]

Or they'll take you to a garage that can charge whatever they want because if you don't agree to repairs your recovery ends there.

I never bothered, most of them won't repatriate if your vehicle is worth less than whatever they value the cost of repatriating it being, which of course they can just pull out their ass.

And good luck finding anyone that covers a bike over 15 years old. (Unless your on a classic insurance policy which includes it e.g Carole Nash)
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Current: '03 Tuono RSV1000, '05 Van Van, '91 Zephyr 550
Previous: Multistrada 620,Bandit 600,Kawsaki ER-5, BMW K-75

[J.M.]

Depends on the age of the bike.

My 2004 GS500F with 26k miles that constantly breaks down is around £40.

My 1997 XJ600 with 10k miles that has never really gone wrong is unquotable.

So I'm not getting cover when I take the XJ to Spain... I'm taking gaffer tape, zip ties and tools.
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2004 R1 & 2018 XSR900

[Lyam]

i broke down twice last time, the guy came out and jumped the battery then fucked off, i put it into 1st ad it cut out, great! luckily there was a car garage nearbye who jumped started it and increased the idle speed so it wouldnt cut out and checked the battery and told me it was KAPUT then gave me directions to a place that had a battery and didnt ask for a penny but i gave them 15 euros for saving my ass anyway.

2nd time the immobiliser wouldnt disarm and had to be picked up from the service statio and the guy towed me out and back to his garage explained it was mos likely because of the telephone mast which it was and that in future if i ca just push the bike away from the mast.

[Musketeer]

Im going in July and still undecided whether to get Breakdown Cover or not. It's 11 year old carbed bike and not much to go wrong. I get single trip cover quotes of £150 (RAC) and £230 (AA). No chance they will bring the bike to the UK as the "market value" is less than the cost.
Haynes manual and tools me thinks.

[weasley]

When first I went to Germany on my 14 year old Thundercat I used this crowd. Well, I paid them but never used them as the bike was faultless. Next time I went I had Carole Nash insurance, which includes European breakdown cover.
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Yamaha XJ600 | Yamaha YZF600R Thundercat | KTM 990 SMT | BMW F900XR TE

[J.M.]

[Polarbear]

The AA repatriated my daughter and her ancient Citroen saxo when the bonnet flew open and smashed the windscreen. They arranged a hotel for the occupants etc. It certainly cost a damn sight more than the car was worth.
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Triumph Trophy Launch Edition

[Kradmelder]

is this for real? people wont go to Europe without mama to look after them? Travel insurance in case you get a dead battery??? Then buy another firkin battery, or go buy whatever part. Its Europe! everything is available!

I go all over Africa with nothing. Just a tool box and a box of common spares. You make a plan when things go wrong because all you need is inside of you. Europe is a piece of cake. services and help everywhere. What sort of tame house hat nonsense is this? wont travel because for fear of breakdown, and in the most civilised, safest and services available place on earth.

Did Stanley and Livingstone consult the british motoring association before going across Africa? Did General Gordon check trip advisor and his insurances about possible coverage if the mad Mahdi and his 10 000 screaming kaffirs launched an assault? Did he worry about what snails would do to his guts? No because he had guts.

Once again the difference between the old school Englishmen, who weren't ruled by fear, and the welfare state pom who needs a nanny state come across

What you want to do? pack your nanny state, NHS, benefits and all in your panniers? make sure there is a bobby on every corner and a state supplied medic in case you stub your toe or get an ingrown toenail?

It is amazing to see how white british people have degenerated from exploring empire builders that took risks, to tame house cats who want to ensure a meal and kitty litter is available every night. the social safety net rules over everything. Without it a man wont leave his home. Fark me, I want to puke.

I would die of boredom and self hatred if I had to live like that.
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2011 KTM 990 Dakar
2009 BMW 1200 GS

[Kradmelder]

in northern Ghana we travelled like this. did our own services, pumped our own kerosene, no landing strips, carted drums around where we land, and even filled the bakkies with kerosene when no diesel was available. and you weak sisters wont go to Europe without insurance??? Its a farkin embarrassment as to what white people have sunk to.
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2011 KTM 990 Dakar
2009 BMW 1200 GS

[FireStorm-X]

I do hate to disagree with not having breakdown cover it is fine if your bike brakes down and it is something that you can fix, but if it is not something that you can fix and you are miles away from a garage, then it can be very expensive being recovered and taken to a garage ?

When my turbo went on my cage on the motorway had run without any problems for over 4 years it cost £380 to be recovered and taken home from the motorway, so that I could repaire it if I had cover would have been free well £79 for breakdown cover. (Garage price for replacing turbo £1500, cost me £600 to replace, so I don't use garages if I can help it)

So it is simple to me breakdown cover is important, don't need it to take me to a ripoff garage, but need it to get me home if I need parts to fix it at home.

Getting a Big Bike at the end of the month, insurance sorted and breakdown cover sorted already as I plan on taking it on motorways.

P.S. if you brakdown on a motorway, do you think you would just get your tools out and start stripping and repairing your bike ? Sure the cops would love that
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Lexmoto Street 125 (sold) - Kawasaki ZR7S

[Walloper]

[Walloper]

[Marmalade]

I use ADAC.

More in this thread in touring section. https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?p=3592509
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