Breakdown cover

[pw20]

My Hondacare is about to expire on my Varadero. Do any companies specialise in bike breakdown cover or are they all much the same?

[Boris]

When I last renewed my insurance Swinton bikes offered me what seemed at the time a good deal. You may find better elsewhere though

Breakdown cover and recovery service by Swinton from £28.90

[fw750x]

Hi PW20 Make sure you check the SMALL print on the breakdown cover you get.Last year i got a puncture in the rear wheel about 45 miles from home,So i rang my mate to get the breakdown cover phone number as i had left the card in the house "we are insured with the same insurance company".An hour later the breakdown guy arrived and told me you know you are only covered for 20 miles recovery.So after 20 miles i took the bike of his trailer and asked to park it in a drive way of a house and got the bus home.The recovery guy offered to take me home the extra 25 miles but it was going to be around another £50 .I went back in the firms van and brought the bike home it was a sunday so no chance of getting a puncture fixed .I always carry tubes/levers/pump/and a tin of tire weld NOW which got me home a few weeks ago after a front wheel puncture .Francis

[StumpyFingers]

I have breakdown cover on my bike insurance but I also have AA membership, It means I can at least get the Bike where I need it to be.

[nomad]

i've always used the AA and been a member for the last 25 years and so far i've had 1st class service from then on 2 or 4 wheels
on bike ins i usually try to get breakdown/euro cover included foc
gives me a backup to the AA

[pw20]

Thanks for all the advice, I'll make sure I read the small print.
Incidentally I phoned Hondacare to try & renew for a further year but they said they didn't extend cover past the first 2 years. This contrasts with my car where Toyota send letter after letter asking me to renew.

[royster]

i have been a member of the AA for years and swear by it, one policy where i am covered not the bike so i can use it in my car on both my bikes and when i am in somebody elses vehicle, if somebody breaks down i hop on theirs and say i was riding it for lift home

euro cover was extra last year so i used the freebee i get with my insurance but thankfully didnt need it

hope this helps

[Whealie]

Lessons from bitter experience.

The AA have very few drivers with bike knowledge and even fewer with bike trailer capability. That can mean very long waits, especially on sunny weekend days.

They also do not repair punctures on tubed tyres (may not affect the Varadero but a waste of space for a spoked wheel).

Caroel Nash included European break-down in their mainstream quote - and it works abroad and in the UK - I have tried it. They use a number of smaller firms sub-contracted but I have had a puncture repaired in the roadside.

Some of these contractors are a bit woo and a bit wheeyyy!. They'll try to take you to their mate's garage to get yourself fixed as they probably get backhander.

They might not have exactly what you need on board - such as the right spare tube or any electrical connectors or a soldering iron.

Also, if you call them, you have to wait for them to come out, even if you realise the problem or someone else helps you fix it. Because they are contractors they will be paid anyway and if you don't use them but breakdown again later, you will then be refused any help because you wasted their time.

If they come and confirm you are now up and running that is not a waste of their time.

[winxp-master]

Also, if you call them, you have to wait for them to come out, even if you realise the problem or someone else helps you fix it. Because they are contractors they will be paid anyway and if you don't use them but breakdown again later, you will then be refused any help because you wasted their time.

If they come and confirm you are now up and running that is not a waste of their time.

i was not aware of this, nice to know that...