RAC/TheAA/Greenflag - Relay/Long Distance Recovery Question

madcat2k1 · Trackday Trickster Joined: 23 Mar 2007 Karma :

Bit of a stupid/odd question here, but I got a new bike that is *cough* 350 miles away and I don't feel like spending a bomb hiring a van, then paying all the fuel costs to collect it and bring it back.

So I've got a week or so before I have to "collect" it. Me being stupid I went up by train, made ad eal with the guy, payed him and said I'd collect it asap. Got full receipt, all that.

Anyway I did all that before I even figured out how I'd collect the bastard. Now I don't have any breakdown cover or anything, but I was thinking, how easy is it (if I get the cover that supports the relaying and stuff to home) to get them to come out and bring the thing back without making it look like I'm trying to use 'em as a "delivery service".

Any tips?

I mean like, surely they ain't going to do that with a brand spanking new account I set up with them and pay first initial fee?

Should I like, fake a breakdown? I know they probably don't know shit about motorcycles, but what I don't want is them turning around and taking it to a local garage or something. I guess if I did it at like 3am in the morning in the middle of nowhere I could say "I need to get back home now damn it!!!!" then they'd have to take me back because there wouldn't be any easy way back home instantly, then they'd have to take the bike back with 'em too, right?

Never done this before so dunno how it works.

TIA.
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Mr Hammers · World Chat Champion Joined: 10 Jul 2008 Karma :

Can't help on the breakdown, never had a policy but i know people that have done similar with a car...they only had to wait 24hrs before it was valid and they never asked any difficult questions, so i'd guess it would work. Sure someone here will clarify it shortly though.

i bought a Triumph chop once from Liverpool and got it home on the train, but that was quite a few years ago when travelling by train was affordable, but it might be worth looking into.

Is there any particular reason why you can't just ride it home?
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madcat2k1 · Trackday Trickster Joined: 23 Mar 2007 Karma :

Ste · Not Work Safe Joined: 01 Sep 2002 Karma :

It's surprising how easily the keys can be lost when you're at someone's house or if you've stopped at a petrol station or services nearby. Wink

madcat2k1 · Trackday Trickster Joined: 23 Mar 2007 Karma :

Cigaro · World Chat Champion Joined: 28 Mar 2007 Karma :

Why don't you just get cover, and then ride it back - then you know that if it breaks down, you're covered, and if not, you've no worries.

Kickstart · The Oracle Joined: 04 Feb 2002 Karma :

Hi

I would agree with TheBassJunky. Ride it back. It should take it fine, it will be far quicker than waiting around for a long distance recovery and no need for any fraud.

If it does break down (hopefully very unlikely) then you will still have the recovery option.

Remember that some recovery operations will move you from vehicle to vehicle for the journey home (a relay). And also a 350 mile journey in a slow recovery truck could well put them over any driving hours rules, hence likely a split in the journey anyway.

Where are you picking the bike up from.

All the best

Keith
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kawakid · World Chat Champion Joined: 15 Mar 2005 Karma :

Van hire??
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madcat2k1 · Trackday Trickster Joined: 23 Mar 2007 Karma :

chris-red · Have you considered a TDM? Joined: 21 Sep 2005 Karma :

I'm fairly sure most breakdown services won't pick you up for the first month.
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madcat2k1 · Trackday Trickster Joined: 23 Mar 2007 Karma :

Bofh5 · World Chat Champion Joined: 25 Oct 2007 Karma :

Penzance thats where i come from so i know what you mean about the travelling. Its a day just to get out of cornwall Wink

Have you thought about a courier service? Might not be as expensive as you think.

Cheers
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madcat2k1 · Trackday Trickster Joined: 23 Mar 2007 Karma :

Cigaro · World Chat Champion Joined: 28 Mar 2007 Karma :

Is there no-one you can borrow a car+trailer off?

madcat2k1 · Trackday Trickster Joined: 23 Mar 2007 Karma :

TheDonUK · World Chat Champion Joined: 20 Feb 2006 Karma :

Im going to be trying this tomorow,

I have a hornet sitting at a friends garage on one side of london with the head off, and it needs to be on the other side of london...

So im gonna call the AA, tell them i broke down near my friends house, he took the head off to see if there was anything he could do, but alas no, so i would like it recovered to my mates "garage".

I have done similar in the past, you have to make sure the person on the phone knows you want recovery, I have stated clearly before what was wrong, it wasent fixable by the side of the road, and could they send a recovery vehicle... Yes yes no problem...

So i guy appears after 45 mins without the ability to tow bikes and tells me what i know (your engine is fucked) and that i will have to wait an hour or so for someone to tow me...