AMA or AAA? Roadside assistance

[Diablo Rojo]

Which has better and more reliable roadside assistance for motorcycles?  Anybody had experience with both?

[Blunder]

I dunno, but some state AAAs don't support motorcycles. Ask Dante. If you're traveling the country I'd think the AMA might have the better deal.

[atadaskew]

When my VFR 750 stranded me, I had AAA with moto tow policy.  This was in SoCal, and they sent out a flat bed truck that did not have moto appropriate straps, nor did the driver EVER load a bike onto his flat bed before.  Really sucked.

[kevin_stevens]

BMW-K recommends Allstate Roadside Assistance above all others, and says you can get it without being a policy holder.  I've just started to look into it and don't have details, but maybe he'll chime in.

KeS

[Lawn Dart]

Neither.  RV RoadHelp.  It's AllState's version of AAA and it is, by far, the best option out there that I've seen for motorcyclists.  They will tow you to a licensed dealer shop, from ANYWHERE (yep, that includes the Haul Road in Alaska) at no upcharge.  Seriously, it's in the fine print.  


And to confirm, you don't have to have AllState insurance either.

[Diablo Rojo]

Neither.  RV RoadHelp.  It's AllState's version of AAA and it is, by far, the best option out there that I've seen for motorcyclists.  They will tow you to a licensed dealer shop, from ANYWHERE (yep, that includes the Haul Road in Alaska) at no upcharge.  Seriously, it's in the fine print.  


And to confirm, you don't have to have AllState insurance either.

Thanks! I'll check AllState out.

[sok61]

I have AAA Plus with RV service, which covers cars, motorcycles, rv's etc. They'll tow as far as you tell them to.  Had to use it once for my bike.  The driver had straps, but the flat bed surface was greasy, which made it difficult to strap down the bike.  My $0.02.  

[Mrs. DantesDame]

I have AAA Plus with RV service, which covers cars, motorcycles, rv's etc. They'll tow as far as you tell them to.  Had to use it once for my bike.  The driver had straps, but the flat bed surface was greasy, which made it difficult to strap down the bike.  My $0.02.  

As noted by Jeff N, check with your state. AAA Northern CA covered me, NJ won't

[jahoobob]

On a trip to northern Manitoba a couple of years ago my buddies FJR failed in a KOA outside of Detroit.  AAA sent a guy with and enclosed MC trailer to deliver him to the closest Yamaha shop.  The guy placed the saddle bags in the bed of the trailer and one got scratched and the tie downs rubbed paint on the fairings.  He still hasn't gotten any money for the repairs from the towing company and AAA won't do anything for him.  They jury rigged the ignition switch (there was a recall later) and we headed on.  Two days later we stopped for gas about 140 miles outside Thunder Bay and it wouldn't start.  AAA sent a flatbed with a dolly to handle a motorcycle.  They, AAA wouldn't pay the entire bill on the second haul 'cause they had to go more than the max miles to get to the nearest Yamaha shop.  We had to rent a car to drive from TB to Thompson, MB to catch a train to Churchill.  The shop allowed me to leave my bike in their locked yard and they did a great job of getting the FJR rigged again to get us home.  My friend canceled his AAA membership after that.  If I remember correctly the towing overages and repair to the bike cost him more that $700.

[falconati]

I have AAA Plus with RV service, which covers cars, motorcycles, rv's etc. They'll tow as far as you tell them to.  Had to use it once for my bike.  The driver had straps, but the flat bed surface was greasy, which made it difficult to strap down the bike.  My $0.02.  

Incorrect.  They will tow up to 100 miles.  I have this service and have used it more times than I care to admit.

I like the service, but I'd be really interested in the Allstate service if they will tow to any dealership...

[chornbe]

I dunno, but some state AAAs don't support motorcycles. Ask Dante. If you're traveling the country I'd think the AMA might have the better deal.

+1

I looked into this for our cross-country trip last year and ended up getting AMA/MoTow because of nationwide coverage and bike-specific service providers.

[Gary B.]

+1

I looked into this for our cross-country trip last year and ended up getting AMA/MoTow because of nationwide coverage and bike-specific service providers.

Same here. Luckily I can't tell you how good the AMA plan is.

[138742]

I have the AMA and have used it once. Well sorta.

I was heading back to school one night and saw two bikes pulled over a on small highway. I pulled over and offered some help as one had a flat tubed tire. Long story short, I called up AMA and the woman went to work right away to get a truck out to where we were. (Friends in your group are covered and I believe it covers cars too?) Anyway, I was on hold for a while and eventually just gave her my number as she could not find a tow truck, MC equiped to tow from MA to RI. ( we were a 5 miles from the RI border.) Eventually we gave up on the tow service and kept the bike a in local's garage. The AMA woman said it was something to do with policy of the tow companies not wanting to tow cross state lines. I don't know if she was jerking my chain and never actually checked back with them on that. It was 10 PM on a Sunday if that makes a difference.

She was kind, pleasant, and never gave up on calling companies. She insisted I call back with AMA to figure out why there was so much trouble, but I never followed up.

I guess it makes little difference no matter how kind the help is if it never comes.

 

[2006FJR]

I have AAA Roadside, AMA and Geico Insurance that also covers towing for the bike. I cancelled the AAA Roadside this week and will use the AMA if I run into issues moving forward.

[UHOH]

Have used "AAA RV plus" (an upgraded service category) for 4 or 5 tows and have been well satisfied.  
Recommend them: always competent people.   (Bonus = it also covers cars) will tow up to 100 miles free, extra @ $3.50/mi.  
one dispatched at 10PM weekday from 60 miles away to tow me 30 miles further away from his home.

I have the AMA and have used it once. Well sorta.
... Anyway, I was on hold for a while and eventually just gave her my number as she could not find a tow truck,
... It was 10 PM on a Sunday if that makes a difference.
She was kind, pleasant, and never gave up on calling companies.

that's why I chose AAA, wanted a service that already had contracted towers and didn't have to look for one,
since I ride remote roads n the PNW part of the country, sometimes solo. Don't know a thing about a NJ exclusion, though.

[Marcster]

Don't know a thing about a NJ exclusion, though.

I think that's based on where you live, not where you ride.  In other words, if Colleen still lived in California and broke down on her bike in NJ, they'd still cover it when she called the number on the back of her California AAA card.  Now that she's in NJ, she has a different card and they have fewer options (no RV Plus = no bike coverage).

------

And though I've never used it, I have towing service through Progressive, which is one of the reasons I went with them.

[Mrs. DantesDame]

I think that's based on where you live, not where you ride.  In other words, if Colleen still lived in California and broke down on her bike in NJ, they'd still cover it when she called the number on the back of her California AAA card.  Now that she's in NJ, she has a different card and they have fewer options (no RV Plus = no bike coverage).

Yes, that's how I understand it.

I have Geico now. One of today's "Things to Do" items is to research what kind of roadside assistance policy they have. I saw something about it briefly when we signed up

Otherwise, AMA or AllState just might be getting a call from me.

[hurtin]

What about this?

http://www.mtstowing.com/

[2006FJR]

Yes, that's how I understand it.

I have Geico now. One of today's "Things to Do" items is to research what kind of roadside assistance policy they have. I saw something about it briefly when we signed up

Otherwise, AMA or AllState just might be getting a call from me.

Please share what you find on Geico. They told me they would tow for free anywhere in the US?

[Gary B.]

AMA also covers all cars and trucks in your household.