I ran across a guy the other night with a flat on his bike. I won't go into the whole story, but it kinda got me to thinking. Over the last couple of years my riding style has changed a lot. I do a lot of long haul road trips now, and often find myself 1500 or more miles away from home. I've always had the attitude, "I have a cell phone and a credit card, I'll get home one way or another". I figure at worst I can rent a U-Haul and buy some tie downs at Wal Mart. That's all fine and dandy, but I still need to get off the road pretty quick. This guy was an AMA member, and had another AMA memeber he didn't even know, come pick him up, and even let him stay at his house that night. He was telling me that the AMA has a contact list of members to help each other out in emergencies. A pretty cool idea I think. I'd go pick someone up and help them whatever way I could if they were close to me. After talking to some of my other friends about it, they say HOG has a similar thing. I let my HOG membership expire a couple years after I bought my last new bike. Has anyone had a similar experience, or know anything about which association has the best roadside services? The 3 that come up the most from people I've talked to about it are, HOG, AMA, and AAA. Heck it might even be an idea for HDforums to have a contact list among ourselves. Just a thought. Any help or opinions on the matter would be appreciated. I'm gonna be taking a pretty long trip in August, and I'd like to be hooked up with something before then.

 

When I bought my 06 road king the salesman said that with my hog membership i would get free pickup if i got a flat/broke down and if i was somthing like 300 mles or more (dont know the exact number) from home they would put me up in a hotel.... I've never actually used this service (knock on wood) so i dont know how customer friendly the program actually is.

I've used AAA several times w/ my auto - not my bike but i would imagine the service would be basically the same (POOR). Every time i call AAA it takes several hours for a tow truck to show here in the baltimore area. Thank god last time i needed AAA it was when i got a flat at my house and could wait the 5 hours in the comfort of my own home and not out on the highway... thats right it took fu##ing 6 hours..... hell i'd rather not pay the membership and just pull out the credit card since tow company respond much faster to full paying customers. I had a tow truck driver tell me that if the driver gets a call from a full paying customer the driver will respond to that even if he is enroute to your house since they make so much more than what AAA pays them.

AMA -- no idea

 

HOG dropped us like a hot rock while in Austin this year at the ROT...buddy with a brand new RK lost his key and had a flat...they hung up on him after tellin him "youre on your own"....WTF...no HOG for me...altho your idea of an HDF network is a great idea...i'll start...ANY member down in the metro area, I got trailers, flatbeds, housing, food, & even a private bar to help with...start it up Terry

 

I did some more checking and here is what I have thus far. HOG is 45.00 annual dues. I'm not much of a patch or pin person, so I see no big deal in it for me. Included is towing up to 100.00 IF you are 100+ miles from home. You can only use this service ONE time per year. For an additional 20.00 a year you get all the same free benefits but can use it more than once, plus they pay the whole tow bill. If your call is for key, fuel, oil, ect. You pay for the cost of the parts or supplies, but the tow is free. For 30.00 a year it covers all of the above, plus up to 1,000.00 in travel expense IF your bike is under warranty, or if you are in an accident. AMA is 39.00 a year with basic towing included. For 25.00 a year you can get pretty much the same deal as HOG, but it also includes your vehicles, and trailers. From what I can tell, there is no restriction if your bike is out of warranty either. I didn't bother to check with AAA. Both HOG and AMA cover up to 2 bikes. From my previous experience when I worked for the Sheriff's Office, AAA ain't worth a s#@t. My main concern is getting off the road fairly quick. I can deal with all the other stuff later. I went ahead and joined HOG for a couple of other little benefits that I liked, and I joined AMA for the lobbying that they do for riders in Washington. I didn't opt for any of the paid roadside stuff because I think the call list idea is better. You never know if a tow company they call will have the right equipment to tow a bike, or when they will ever get there, etc. I think the list idea is really the best way to go. That way you know whoever is on the way to help will most likely care about your problem and know what they are doing. I also think it would be a great idea for the forum members. However, the only problem is going to be how to post the list, or how to find out who is on it close to you if you break down. I actually have my laptop with me most of the time, but many don't, so they wouldn't have access to the site. I'm sure there can be some way to figure it out. Any ideas?

 

I have been on HD's now for just 11 years - needed a tow twice. Last was about 3 weeks ago - 30 miles north of San Simon Ca / Hurst Castle area CA. I have had Road Amercia now for the past 7 years. Each time they have been great. Second time had to talk to a supervisor because the first operator did not think I had the top coverage (quickly corrected) - each time the tow was to the nearest HD shop that was open and it was MILES - I would not be with out it. Since then I have also found and bought Ride on http://www.ride-on.com/prod_mot.asp I will Never be with out this in my tires - I spent several hours on the phone and their testiomial page - talked to 4 riders who used the product - I am sold...

back to tow coverage - AAA will NOT tow a M/C unless you have RV/MC coverage and in CA that is not available - it is in most states, check yours. My first tow was from the top of Yosemite CA - my battery shorted out - found out real fast that a newer HD with a shorted battery turns into a 700 pound brick - got towed two hours back to my home - FREE with road America (nereast HD was closed, next was Modesto which was the same distance to my house - problem solved - also Road America has Coverage (motel/meals) if you have to stay overnight because of a problem - AAA does also - you have to read the small print - but it is worth a stamp to get your $$$ back.

My newest HD is two years old - When I bought the ext warr. I also got the Tire coverage (later that night I was having buyers remorse for the tire coverage) two years later - HD paid for my new tire, labor to install and my night at Holiday Inn - I got a check for $350 three days ago from HD - so NOW I am happy I got that coverage..

 

compile the list not on open forum...members print it out with phone #'s & locations before they leave on a trip

 

The camping forum that I belong to has the same thing with a list of folks you can call when you get in a pinch. I think its a good idea, even if it is simply because you need a Harley key to open the gas tank[]

 

I was a member of GWRRA (Goldwing Road Riders Association) for 24 years and they had a yellow membership book that listed every member and their phone numbers for those that run into trouble on the road.

I was hoping that some Harley Group would have the same thing.

 

I have used Motorcycle Touring Services, Inc. (MTS) for several years. They are 24/7 across the entire country and only dispatch tow vehicles that have motorcycle towing experience/equipment. Their prices range from $15/year(they get you a tow/you pay) up to full towing service. My insurance has a towing provision but leaves it up to me to get a truck. For $15/yr MTS is very comforting when you are stuck in the middle of nowhere. They once got me a tow from just West of Amarillo to Albuquerque...long,sad,expensive story. Anyway...Customer Servive;1-800-999-7064. Please use MTS#23823CS as a referral (I might get a referral fee). I'm in no way affiliated with these guys (were at opposite ends of the country) but will never travel on a bike without their # in my cell phone.

 

I have AAA and they have the best service IMHO I'm a gold plus member I pay 126.00 a year and I get 3 free tows and get free tows up to 200 miles from home after that it's a $35.00 flat fee.