hello all

i normally go for RAC motorcycle cover, it's about £100 (GB Pounds) a year, for my bike in europe-zone-1, but I've just found out that they give you a max of 2 breakdowns per year....

anybody knows of a better cover?

Have a look at NCI and also when your insurance comes up carole nash policies come with european cover so factor that into your insurance quote.

I would never use the Rac again after they left me at the side of the road in winter a few years ago - when my ignition key snapped in the seat lock - stating they dont recover after owner misuse -or lost keys.(I had the full recovery cover over £ 100.00)
(i had not misused or lost the key the key had jammed and the very end had snapped off) The recovery fellow who was an agent tried to work it with his control that it was an ignition system failure (the key being an intricate part off the ignition system) - but as I had told the control it was a snapped key they ordered him to leave me.( which he did not - he took it on his own risk to get me and the bike to a services area where at least i could get a warm up and hot drink while arranging alternate fix) - but told me this happens a lot with AA/RAC who he thought were the worst - he recommended Green flag/ national breakdown who he reckoned were a lot more customer friendly) A mate was also left by either RAC/AA for having a puncture and only having recovery to a garage within 10 mile level of cover - as there was no garage within 10 mile they left him on a motorway in the snow. I now use carole nash with built in cover but have nevr used them abroad but did use there recovery last year and it seemed very good. They got me home 200 mile late at night again in the winter.

Hi diegeoo
I have also been left at the side of the road by the RAC for not displaying a tax disc bike was taxed but not displayed.
For europe I use the Motorcycle Action Group cover, it costs £20 to join the MAG and £50 for a years brekdown cover you are only coverd for one bike but can change bikes when you like (just phone them before the trip) they also cover bikes in europe that are more then 10 years old. I have never had to call them out but as they operate through the MAG I think they should be ok.

Ps
Did you get your forks sorted ?
I think I have seen you a few times in n london on a blue TTRE with pannier racks usually going the opposite direction to me Im sure we will catch up one day.
john

Edit 6sept09
Well I found out the hard way my breakdown cover for europe does not cover Poland or alot of other countries in Europe, so make sure you read the small print before hand

How many breakdowns do you have in a year? Just wondering because I've only had one in 33 years and it was on a 21 year old motorcycle at the time.

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- If motorcyclists claim to be individuals, why then do so many of them ride in packs?

i've used the carole nash cover twice last year, cant fault it either time. both times were in the Uk though so no experience of euro recovery.

Sorry to flow against the tide but I can't recommend the RAC enough.

On the trip to Russia this year I got to experience both RAC and AA cover outside the UK.

Had my rear bearing fail in a tiny little village in Northern Poland. RAC have an international centre in France, and they managed to get a truck out to me within a couple of hours - despite my having no Polish and not really being able to tell them very much information about exactly where I was. Got taken to the nearest Honda Dealer (85km north) and also booked into a local hotel - which I was taken to by the truck after the bike had been dropped off - the hotel was paid for by the RAC and I was on my way again the next morning. Zero fuss.

Here's the video update from the mornig after in the taxi. (organised by the RAC)

Qik | Matt's bearing update

Stace, my travel companion, had a total electronics about 100kms south of Riga. He was with the AA. They didn't have a centre on mainland Europe and it turned out they used a third party company to sort the details out. Stace spent well over an hour on the phone to 3 different departments all telling him different things, and then had to argue with them for the hotel cover.


So, I guess it boils down to what you need if for. If it's just cover for the UK alone, then there's so little difference between all the major players (ask me about being left at the side of the M1 for 3 hours at -5 degrees by the AA) - but if you actually want proper Europe wide cover - go with the guys with a proper European managment centre.

m

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thank you all guys, for all your opinions and advice.

I went for RAC in the end... and luckily no need to use it yet!
(I used it also last year, and had a break-down in france, which they sorted brilliantly, my only concern is that they give you a max of 2 recoverys per year, is that normal?)

i am in italy at the moment, and my trip in the fog, rain, snow, ice and cold has been brilliant so far... i'd recommend to everyone to experience the cold wintry riding, especially in the alps... challanging, phisically demanding, but fantastic (will post some photos here soon, once i get back to london).

happy new year to everyone!

P.S.
John Bolla, yes thank you, I have sorted the front forks seals... it turned out that that mec in kings X had put the wrong seals on, as he wouldn't bother to wait for the original yamaha spare parts to arrive(!)
and yeah... it was likely me with panniers on a blue TTRE in london...
what bike were you on, the TTR or the XT... next time you see me, wave and let's stop for a chat

I cant comment on quality but I got European cover added onto my insurance policy for £50.

Seems worthwhile for that money although i haven't read the small print. fingers crossed I will never have to use it though.

Carol Nash, as the guys say it's included in the price, I have used it 5 times in the last 6 years all in europe. Can't be beaten. Once for a bike that I wrote of in the mountains of Spain, the gave me all options i.e. hire car for the rest of my trip, fly me home, drive myself back to the ferry, took the hire car and carried the other 5 riders luggage for the next 10 days, chasing them around the Spanish twisties with tyres squeeling.
On another occasion my wife blew our TVR up halfway round the Nurburgring and they came and recovered it and we got given a BRAND new Golf GTI for the remainder of our 3000 ml tour of northern Europe

Pete

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Ebike added European Breakdown to my fully comp for an extra £50 although they won't give this for bikes over ten years old, so this'll be the last year with them then.