Roadside service

[jasonworthing]

Curious to know if any of you guys have some kind of roadside assistance service that you have just incase of an emergency.

I picked up a nail in my front tire on my 'big ninja' a week ago or so, it was Sunday I was 20-miles between my home and destination, also it was kind of late. I had a hell of a time finding help (read I found 'no help') and I couldn't find anyone with a truck to pick me or the bike up (suburbanites with automobiles and 'settled' family folk w/ kids and wives, etc).

I was passing through a affluent part of suburban phila (Bryn Mawr) so fortunately it was safe to park the bike and leave it. I ended up getting a $70 cab ride to take me home to my car where I grabbed my tire repair kit. I drove back to the bike, fixed the flat, left the car, took the bike and waited til the following day where I could get a ride back to retrieve my car. I have roadside assistance and towing with both my cell phone provider and insurance but there was no support from them with regards assisting with a motorcycle (no motorcycle tire repair service or towing).

I figure that there has to be some service out there for those of us that ride alone a lot or take long distance trips. The idea that you could potentially be 100+ miles from home and have a mechanical failure that strands you in the middle of alien territory with no sure means to secure assistance for yourself and your bike seems strange. I've looked around and checked AAA since this incident but all I find are services that focus on the automobile and have no solutions for motorcyles. Do any of you guys know of any? What support 'contingecies' do any of you have for these occasions.

I've since ordered tire repair kits, slime, 'multi-tools' and CO2 cartridges to keep with the bike (lord knows where I can store it on the bike...so far I've been hauling a backpack, am I gonna have to get an ugly tankbag to put on my bikes??) so I'm probably covered if I pick up a nail in the tire but what about all the other things that can fail?

What solutions do some of you guys have?

[Max_NYC]

I am a member of MTS, Motorcycle Towing Services.

http://www.mtstowing.com/

[TRISPEED]

MTS sounds like a good deal. A fair price.

[DGA]

My motorcylce insurance (Progressive) has roadside assistance for a few dollars per month.

[Weasel Pete]

Nowadays, I call my best friend Mongo. He's got a truck, ramp and tie downs.

I had Cross Country for a free year when I bought my BMW. I never used it but some of the BMW guys I met said they were great.

A couple of my friends use AAA, but I think you need to pay a little extra for the mc service.

It's best to check with any service to make sure they service your area and actually handle motorcycles. In some cases, you should consider carrying your own tie downs or at least a set of soft ties. The services usually send out a flatbed and the driver doesn't know much about bikes and may only have chains to tie it down with.
Ever seen this?

[Stampy]

Mate I carry a small compressor and 2 tubeless repair kits!! And they are stored under the seat of my 06 S3. Must admit never had to use them though...... touch wood!

[805triple]

I have the motorcycle policy addition with AAA. On top of that, on longer rides (+200 mi), I carry a tire repair kit... just in case.

[Goffe]

Originally Posted by Stampy

Mate I carry a small compressor and 2 tubeless repair kits!! And they are stored under the seat of my 06 S3.

I GOTTA see that.

And personally, I also use the AAA RV level, and almost always carry tire repair stuff, regardless of distance.