Breakdown recovery

[Ichy]

Is autoaid still highly recommended? It seems like a really easy way of covering all of our vehicles with one, pretty cheap, policy but am I missing something? We have 3 cars and anything between 2 and 4 bikes, from what I've read they are all covered. Has anyone had any bad experiences with them?

It probably seems like overkill since I already have Breakdown cover as part of my bike insurance, (no idea who but the Ebike wouldn't let me take it off the fully comp insurance package) and my main vehicle is a company car so that is covered as well. I just can't be bothered with being messed around should a vehicle need recovery rather than a simple repair.
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https://www.metacafe.com/watch/1972097/how_to_behave_on_a_forum/

[Moo.]

I think the only downside to this is the fact that you have to have the money to pay upfront (which is then reinbursed.)

Apart from that, im seriously tempted to do this too!
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A2 Passed 18/6/10

[keggyhander]

I had an experience last night that's convinced me to cancel my AA and go with AutoAid.

Coming back to Sheffield from Bridlington, my mate broke down at Howden with an electrical fault. The bike started fine at the petrol station 2 miles further back but had now cut out and the battery was dead. Ergo, it wasn't charging.

He rang up the AA and told them it needed recovering and taking to Sheffield and the operator told them recovery would be out to him within the hour. This was 7:00 pm.

An hour and a half later an AA (non-recovery) van turned up. I literally facepalmed and said, " We asked for recovery."

The young man said, "Oh we always send a van out first. Too many people try it on."

I said, "What, so if I ring the AA with something that needs a part ordering, that you'll waste time sending a van that can't do anything, and then waste more time waiting for the recovery wagon?"

"I don't make the rules, sir", was his reply.

He was so clueless he had to be told what to do, ie test battery voltage, then see what voltage was running over the battery when it had been jumped. A couple of the other lads mentioned the reg/rec, to which the AA guy suggested tapping it with something. Looks were exchanged all round.

He then started messing around with the reg/rec wires. At this point the bike was running, but then as he was messing around, we thought the bike backfired just before it died. What the noise actually was, was all six battery caps blowing out and the hydrogen exploding.

It was at that point, two hours after the original call, that he said the vehicle would have to be recovered. No shit. He said the nearest available AA lorry was three hours away, so a local contractor would be sent "within the hour". Then he got my mate to sign some paperwork and he just fucked off. Two hours and ten minutes later, after several calls, the actual AA lorry turned up. Ten minutes later, the bike was loaded and were on our way. This was 11:10 pm

While we were waiting for the recovery wagon I mentioned this forum to the rest of the lads and told them about AutoAid. They all said it sounded superior, just as long as you can guarantee the money.

How much money do you need to have reserved?

[.....]

Take out a credit card, don't use it and keep it in your wallet just for Autoaid?

[G]

Similar with RAC.

Try to get to talk to the bloke in the van coming out to it, to explain the horrible sounds which are big end bearings on their way out.
No cigar. He eventually turns up, listens to the bike for a second and orders a truck.

Bad feedback, so RAC person calls me and asks me about it later. After explaining, they say terribly sorry, not the policy, should have been able to talk to driver.

Similar situation a couple of years later, but this time I've got a lift home and arranging to get it picked up in my lunch time.
It takes some time, but I insist on talking to the van guy. I explain it's an electrical problem, I've traced the basics and it's not going anywhere. I only have an hour's lunch break. If he wants to come and look at it, he'll have to wait with the bike and keys until a flatbed comes along as I have to be back at work.

Oddly enough, they decided to send a flatbed straight away.

[Ichy]

[keggyhander]

Good call on the credit card. Mine is completely clear at the mo. I'll just use it for that.

[daesimps]

It seems the bikes weren't at all happy yesterday. I too had a breakdown.

Went for a rideout and got 30 miles from home before as I was coming out of a bend the revs started rising and falling and the "urgent service" light came on. Pulled the clutch in and the revs were bouncing from 3,000 to 6,000. Pulled over and turned her off but then she wouldn't restart. Eventually she started and ran for about 20 seconds at 6,000 rpm before she died again and now won't restart.

Recovery truck got me home as all the dealers were shut. The recovery people said once everywhere's open again they'll come and take the bike to the dealer for me. I've no idea what's wrong or how expensive it will be but I hope not too much as the car insurance is due next week

To add insult to injury the wife was going out with the girls on their bikes for "a couple of hours". I rode with her to their meeting point and was going off on my own. I broke down 1 mile after leaving her. She arrived back at 20:30 having had "a great day with fantastic weather and some brilliant roads"

The recovery used came with my bike insurance. They sent out a local guys from SOS Motorcycle. The guy took one look and said "recovery it is then as there's no point trying to diagnose that". He was very professional and I was home less than 1.5 hours after breaking down.
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If it ain't broke, fix it till it is!

[Moo.]

[daesimps]

Yep - my previous bike broke down in September 2010 due to failed alternator. It was SOS who Carole Nash used then too. They transported me and my bike from the Euro Tunnel back to the dealer in Leeds.

They've been brilliant on both occasions. Little things have impressed, like the camera in the back of the van relaying pictures of the bikes into the cab so you can keep an eye on it and be sure it is OK. According to the drivers it also uploads to HQ so if someone breaks into the van to nick a bike or steals the van they have their mug shot.

I'm not sure if there's a policy you can get from them direct - I've just used them twice due to coincidence of who my policy has outsourced to at the time.


Dae.
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If it ain't broke, fix it till it is!

[andyscooter]

few years ago i broke down

had piaggio assist so phoned them

they sent out a bloke in a van eventually three hours after i phoned the first time

i knew the problem couldnt be rectified by the roadside so told them this

he had no way of towing a bike took one look at the bike said he couldnt fix it and couldnt tow a bike and went off
phoned piaggio assist again explained the problem and they said they would send someone
after another two hours the same recovery company turned back up
phoned piaggio assist again and
got told that was the person used in that area and couldnt send someone else as they had no register recovery besides that one company

so phoned my local mechanic who i knew had a van he came out within an hour
within another hour i was home and had cancelled my contract with piaggio assist
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gilera runner vxr200 (chavped)
if its spelt wrong its my fat fingers and daft auto correct on my tablet

[andy_uk]

[Rob W]

Do they have an age limit on bike's they'll cover? I've just read through the policy document and key facts pdf and didn't notice a mention of it.

I was thinking about getting breakdown cover with my insurance, but when I read the small print they wont cover anything over 15 years old, which I thought was a bit shite.
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TS50 > Senda 125 > ZXR400 > CB-1 > GSX-R1000 > Bandit 600 > ZXR750 H1 > GSX-R750 SRAD > '98 RR-W Fireblade > T595 Daytona > Hornet 900 > '04 Fireblade > GSX-S1000F (x2) > '23 XSR900

[Rob W]

[Rogerborg]

AutoAid has no limit on age, or indeed just about anything else. They just cover any "motorcycle" - even though they don't realise it, and think they only cover 150cc+. Since you pay for the recovery first then claim it back later, the actual policy document should see you right.
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Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike