Breakdown services
 

I had a punctured tyre a year ago now and i needed recovering. So i had to join on my dads RAC membership. However, the membershp with the RAC expired a few days ago.

I called them out 3 times in during the year with mixed satisfaction.
Twice i was recovered on sunday which meant the bike had to be taken home rather than to my local garage. This meant i incurred extra charges to get my bike taken to the garage.
The last time a motorbike specialist was set out who repaired the bike there and then so i could use it which was good.

I have had a look online at RAC and the AA to compare their services and prices etc but you cant really judge how good they (and other companies) are at dealing with motorbikes.

So what i am wondering is....

what breakdown services people on the site are members of?
what are their experiences purely for motorbikes?
whether people know of any good deals at the moment?

Any help and advice is much appreciated.

As I have a new bike I have Suzuki Assist - which is AA.

I also have AA cover through my bank account.

I can do something to combine them (or suspend the Suzuki one - not sure of details) but havent sorted that out yet

Haven't had to use either, when my ignition went it was quicker to push it to the Dealers than wait for call-out etc :)

Have a look at NCI, they specialise in motorbike breakdown services and they can cover you not the vehicle so it doesn't matter what car/bike you are in/on if it breaks down the vehicle is covered.

I've used them a number of times and they have been pretty good.

seconded for nci.. so happy infact i took out my europe cover too. :D

I am just looking a NCI.

Whats the difference between vehicle registered and personal membership?

If you're looking for the cheapest try AutoAid 01277720700. You call out any service and get a full refund for what it costs. £32 p.a.

Don't bother with the AA, got a puncture "repaired" by them, The guy told afterwards that i'd need a new tyre as it was a temporary repair. Went to get a mushroom fitted but couldn't do it as the AA had made the hole too big... only had 400 miles on the tyre... THANKS!

I'm guessing here but personal membership I think covers you not the vehicle, so it doesn't matter what car or bike you are in or on, if it breaksdown they will come out to you. If your cover is classed as Vehicle Registered, it covers the actual bike so you are screwed if you are riding anything else and break down.

I've called out NCI a number of times including after an accident just to move my bike to where I want it and they have been good. A lot of breakdown companies don't (or didn't anyway) cover recovery after an accident. When I had my last accident and the bike was totaled, it was taken away to some garage. When I could, I gave NCI a ring and told them where the bike was and where I actually wanted it. They then just moved it. Easy.

A friend of mine had a puncture in her CBR and because Green Flag were too busy (it was a Saturday), they sent out a local garage with van and the bloke was somewhat 'rough' with the bike and nearly dropped it! :( :(

I quite like the AA as I have never had a problem with them.....

Lol, I've also had a bad experience with Green Flag. A few years ago Green Flag cover came free with the car I bought. I broke down on a dual carriageway about 2 miles from junction 15 of the M4 at about 11pm. I called Green Flag and gave up after a couple of hours as when I rang them they said they couldn't find me :shock: So they just left me there, I was by myself too. Not impressed.