PDA

View Full Version : Will the AA take me home?

andyb
15-11-06, 12:24 PM
Following on from my earlier post, I work 23 miles from home and as the reg/rec is buggered I'm sort of stuck. I'm charging the battery as we speak but I don't think its going to get me home. I have two choices

1. Ride as far as poss then phone the AA and hope my house is closer than the local garage

2. Call the AA when I finish work as see if they will take me home

I dont want to end up in a garage as I can fix the problem myself for far less money. Oh yeah I have Option 200 which is Roadside and Relay but it does say that they will take me to the nearest garage or home if nearer. Just wondered if anyone has experience?
Baph
15-11-06, 12:32 PM
Most recovery places will take you to your home, the nearest garage, or your appointed garage on route home, then drop you at home (if it's outside business hours).

I'd reckon they would do, but you'll be needing a bike trailer if you want to take the bike home, obviously.
Tris
15-11-06, 12:37 PM
I think you have 2 choices after giving it a good coat of charging

1) Leave work early and run with your lights off. You might be lucky and get home or at least be closer to home than any garage if it stops.

2) Leave work late and run with the lights on. When the bike dies they'll have to take you home as all the garages are shut!

When my bike did this I called the recovery up who cleaned all the connections and then jump started it. Told me to run for 20 miles or so with the lights off to fully charge the battery. I then ran it the 150 miles home no prob.

Good luck though
hovis
15-11-06, 12:44 PM
IF THE RECTIFIER IS TOAST THE BATTERY IS FULLY CHARGED SHOULD GET YOU HOME

I THINK
Baph
15-11-06, 12:50 PM
IF THE RECTIFIER IS TOAST THE BATTERY IS FULLY CHARGED SHOULD GET YOU HOME

I THINK

1) Stop shouting.
2) If the rectifier if fubar'd, you'll be good for 8 miles before the battery is flat (applies specifically to pointies, curveys don't have FI, so may run a little longer, but not that much).
Grinch
15-11-06, 12:50 PM
Also some recovery companies will not take you from work as they say you can lock it up there and arrange a fix. So make sure your about a mile away.

You can normally say that you don't want a garage as your going to arrange for a mobile mech to come to your home.
andyb
15-11-06, 12:54 PM
thanks guys, I think I'm going to ride as far as I can then if it does stop by the time they come out to me it'll be past 5.30 anyway!
northwind
15-11-06, 01:02 PM
Careful though, if it goes flat it'll probably cut out at the worst possible time, and you might lose the lights too... Quite hairy that.
Baph
15-11-06, 01:05 PM
Careful though, if it goes flat it'll probably cut out at the worst possible time, and you might lose the lights too... Quite hairy that.
From experience (this is how I know a pointy lasts 8 miles without a reg/rect), the engine died because there wasn't enough power to fire the FI, this left a few volts in reseve for lights (which I wasted, pushing the bike with the hazards flashing in broad daylight :()

Again, pointy specific, the curvies don't have the FI to draw power, so yes, they could just dump you with no lights.

Safe riding mate!
gettin2dizzy
15-11-06, 01:25 PM
if its pointy you can't turn the lights off!
Viney
15-11-06, 01:32 PM
Never had a problem getting relayed home. I had my car relayed form Bristol to my house(bromley) once after a clutch faliure.

Relay is realy.
M65
15-11-06, 01:54 PM
I Told me to run for 20 miles or so with the lights off to fully charge the battery. I then ran it the 150 miles home no prob.
Good luck though

And I thought my commute was bad!! :shock:
Supervox
15-11-06, 01:56 PM
IF THE RECTIFIER IS TOAST THE BATTERY IS FULLY CHARGED SHOULD GET YOU HOME

I THINK

I'd think again if I were you !!

If the reg / rec is fried (like my VFR one was until today when I fitted a new one :D ) it means that the battery won't charge correctly (mine was charging @ 11.5 V with lights - 12.5 without).

I'm surprised that an SV only gets 8 miles - my VFR got me 38 !!

ANDYB - If your commute does not involve much in the way of traffic you might be ok to get home. If it does involve traffic then you can help by winding the idle speed up to max & just try to keep the revs as high as possible without destroying the engine !!

As for RELAY - well I'm with the RAC & on 3 occasions they've taken me (and the bike) home - I thought that was the definition of the cover ?
andyb
15-11-06, 02:05 PM
Thanks again guys, my commute involves a ride @ 60mph for 30mins so hopefully I'll be able to get most of the way home. I'm thinking of asking the missus to follow me home then if I do get stuck she can sit behind me with the hazards on!
hovis
15-11-06, 02:26 PM
IF THE RECTIFIER IS TOAST & THE BATTERY IS FULLY CHARGED SHOULD GET YOU HOME

I THINK

I'd think again if I were you !! WHY??????

If the reg / rec is fried (like my VFR one was until today when I fitted a new one :D ) it means that the battery won't charge correctly (mine was charging @ 11.5 Amps with lights - 12.5 without).

I'm surprised that an SV only gets 8 miles - my VFR got me 38 !!

ANDYB - If your commute does not involve much in the way of traffic you might be ok to get home. If it does involve traffic then you can help by winding the idle speed up to max & just try to keep the revs as high as possible without destroying the engine !!

As for RELAY - well I'm with the RAC & on 3 occasions they've taken me (and the bike) home - I thought that was the definition of the cover ?
Baph
15-11-06, 02:29 PM
Hovi5, with the engine using the battery (spark plugs at least), plus lights. It uses power from the battery. Without the reg/rect, the charge is not put back into the battery. It's only a matter of time.l

Supervox, I'm not sure why it only got 8miles, but it was brand new from the dealer, and they'd forgotten to plug the Reg/Rect in, so I know it definately wasn't working. Could of been a partially charged battery I suppose, but I still like to think of it as having a shorter range than a longer one.
hovis
15-11-06, 02:51 PM
Hovi5, with the engine using the battery (spark plugs at least), plus lights. It uses power from the battery. Without the reg/rect, the charge is not put back into the battery. It's only a matter of time.l

Supervox, I'm not sure why it only got 8miles, but it was brand new from the dealer, and they'd forgotten to plug the Reg/Rect in, so I know it definately wasn't working. Could of been a partially charged battery I suppose, but I still like to think of it as having a shorter range than a longer one.

i know....been there done that.

what im saying is if he charges the battery,it should get him home
Supervox
15-11-06, 03:03 PM
Original Quote :-

IF THE RECTIFIER IS TOAST THE BATTERY IS FULLY CHARGED SHOULD GET YOU HOME

I THINK

Later Quote :-

IF THE RECTIFIER IS TOAST & THE BATTERY IS FULLY CHARGED SHOULD GET YOU HOME

I THINK

Spot the difference ???

In your original you didn't use the "&" - this little word changes the whole meaning of the sentence !!

If the battery is fully charged then you're probably right - it should last the journey home - especially the sort of journey that has been described.
hovis
15-11-06, 03:29 PM
IF THE RECTIFIER IS TOAST THE BATTERY IS FULLY CHARGED SHOULD GET YOU HOME

I THINK

1) Stop shouting.sorry......mother was vacuming
2) If the rectifier if fubar'd, you'll be good for 8 miles before the battery is flat (applies specifically to pointies, curveys don't have FI, so may run a little longer, but not that much).
andyb
15-11-06, 03:44 PM
Thanks for all the help guys, don't know what I'd do without you! Ive charged the battery at work today so hopefully I should be OK.

Thanks again your all great :D

Andy
hovis
15-11-06, 03:52 PM
Thanks for all the help guys, don't know what I'd do without you! Ive charged the battery at work today so hopefully I should be OK.

Thanks again your all great :D

Andy

if its not too dark try using side light( the little one in the middle so why its called a side light ???)

if you have a pointy ignor what i just said & everything else i say & have said :shock:

but as your avator is a curvy im guessing thats what you have
:wink:
Baph
15-11-06, 03:55 PM
if you have a pointy ignor what i just said & everything else i say & have said :shock:
Sound advice :thumbsup: Wait, there's a paradox in there. D'oh!
Ter
15-11-06, 07:38 PM
Insurance with Carol Nash'll take you home all the way*!

I found out today after CCT failed!!

* 33miles

:roll:
Tris
16-11-06, 07:11 AM
Did you get there safely????

We need to know :D :D :D :D
svrash
16-11-06, 08:20 AM
No, that's why i cancelled my AA membership and joined the RAC, less conversation involved for a recovery too :wink:
andyb
16-11-06, 09:47 AM
Morning guys,

Haven't got the internet at home so couldn't post. I got home OK on just the battery!!!
the_runt69
16-11-06, 10:01 AM
The AA took me home when the bike failed (or was filled with diesel by mistake if the truth be known) so should do.

H
kwak zzr
16-11-06, 02:48 PM
the AA wanted £65 over the phone to get me home when i had my accident :? they said it wasnt a breakdown :? i wont be renewing in may :wink: