Hands up who experienced an instant front tyre deflation??
Discussion
That would be me on Monday night.
I'm telling you its not fun, luckily I was doing less than 20mph when it happend. I rode over something in the middle of the road filtering past traffic up to the lights at stockwell SW8. By the time I'd stopped it was 100% flat, I then had the difficult task of getting it out the way of heavy traffic and a light left hand bend to negociate too. I'm telling you it is really difficult to ride with no air in the front, I managed to control it enough to put it safely into the nearest bus lane.
Then my AA saga started, patrol arrived eventually, guy found the hole in the front quickly and then tried to temp plug it which of course it wouldn't. He then tried another two times and even tried to plug it with too rubber bungs which even I know ain't right! I told him I'm not riding it on that even if its not letting air out, he did then agree and admitted defeat. So I then waited for the recovery truck to turn up and I got recovered home with a still immobilised bike. 3 hours to get from SW8 to E14 in total.
Next morning I call them up having been promised they would recover me to a garage of my choice the previous night. I give them the details and the garage we need to go to. I get a call quickly from the patrol man saying he was 10mins away great I though. I'm called and told that he is outside I go down he's nowhere to be seen, I call him back he is at the correct road but in SE16????? Thats the wrong side of the river!! He then eventually turns up and guess what its a poxt patrol van and not a recovery truck. By this time I am NOT happy. He looks over the bike and says you'll need a recovery truck (no sh*t sherlock) so he orders one and I have to wait another hour for it to turn up. Eventually it does and we take another hour to do 6.5 miles to the garage. The garage then have a new front fitted and I'm back on my way in 15mins.
So 4 AA calls outs effectively to get me to a garage to fit a new tyre. The lack of communication and incompetence in the AA is rife. I think I shall be leaving when my membership is up. I think they must have a policy of trying not to send out recovery trucks at all costs. They also seem to have done the absolute minimum to offer cover to bikers. Anyone else have similar experiences?
Anyway I kept the bike upright and I now am back on the move with a new front tyre which is the main thing.
Does anyone know of any motorcycle roadside/recovery specialists (that cover london) that offer services based on yearly subscriptions like the AA/RAC?
I'm telling you its not fun, luckily I was doing less than 20mph when it happend. I rode over something in the middle of the road filtering past traffic up to the lights at stockwell SW8. By the time I'd stopped it was 100% flat, I then had the difficult task of getting it out the way of heavy traffic and a light left hand bend to negociate too. I'm telling you it is really difficult to ride with no air in the front, I managed to control it enough to put it safely into the nearest bus lane.
Then my AA saga started, patrol arrived eventually, guy found the hole in the front quickly and then tried to temp plug it which of course it wouldn't. He then tried another two times and even tried to plug it with too rubber bungs which even I know ain't right! I told him I'm not riding it on that even if its not letting air out, he did then agree and admitted defeat. So I then waited for the recovery truck to turn up and I got recovered home with a still immobilised bike. 3 hours to get from SW8 to E14 in total.
Next morning I call them up having been promised they would recover me to a garage of my choice the previous night. I give them the details and the garage we need to go to. I get a call quickly from the patrol man saying he was 10mins away great I though. I'm called and told that he is outside I go down he's nowhere to be seen, I call him back he is at the correct road but in SE16????? Thats the wrong side of the river!! He then eventually turns up and guess what its a poxt patrol van and not a recovery truck. By this time I am NOT happy. He looks over the bike and says you'll need a recovery truck (no sh*t sherlock) so he orders one and I have to wait another hour for it to turn up. Eventually it does and we take another hour to do 6.5 miles to the garage. The garage then have a new front fitted and I'm back on my way in 15mins.
So 4 AA calls outs effectively to get me to a garage to fit a new tyre. The lack of communication and incompetence in the AA is rife. I think I shall be leaving when my membership is up. I think they must have a policy of trying not to send out recovery trucks at all costs. They also seem to have done the absolute minimum to offer cover to bikers. Anyone else have similar experiences?
Anyway I kept the bike upright and I now am back on the move with a new front tyre which is the main thing.
Does anyone know of any motorcycle roadside/recovery specialists (that cover london) that offer services based on yearly subscriptions like the AA/RAC?
Write to them and complain because while it's possible that the cover you got fits your service agreement if you look at your contract insist that it isn't good enough to stop you switching to try another recovery service. I did this with the rac and they gave my 3 months membership free as an apology. I'm not suggesting you do it for the freebee but they need to know that their bike service isn't up to scratch and that people will leave unless it's sorted.
Writing to them is a good idea, I had thought about doing this but wasn't sure it would make any difference. I'll give it a go even though I'm not expecting a helpful response or any freebies.
Irritating thing is AA used to use SOS Motorcycles a few years ago to do motorcycle recoveries in london but now have dumped them I guess in order to save money. SOS are top the only problem is you have to pay for each and every call out which means that a couple/few callouts a year will cost far more money than a yearly fee to cover you just in case anywhere in the UK.
I was thinking of giving RAC a go, guess I've got nothing to loose. Also the RAC will recover you from an Accident unlike the AA.
I've had a rear deflate instantly through road debris too though I was going around 40mph at the time, again not nice feeling but a little easier to control than a front one now I've experience both. Given a choice I'd have one on rear in preference to the front any day.
Irritating thing is AA used to use SOS Motorcycles a few years ago to do motorcycle recoveries in london but now have dumped them I guess in order to save money. SOS are top the only problem is you have to pay for each and every call out which means that a couple/few callouts a year will cost far more money than a yearly fee to cover you just in case anywhere in the UK.
I was thinking of giving RAC a go, guess I've got nothing to loose. Also the RAC will recover you from an Accident unlike the AA.
I've had a rear deflate instantly through road debris too though I was going around 40mph at the time, again not nice feeling but a little easier to control than a front one now I've experience both. Given a choice I'd have one on rear in preference to the front any day.
Its scary... I've ridden on a flat front before and as you say it does nothing for the handling!!! AA farce sounds just like that - I'd do a big complaint and see if I could get discount on the next year... The only times I've had ro be recovered it always seems to take ages!
As an aside why not learn to change the tyre yourself (assuming you dont know already...!?!) Its piss easy and really does same time and hassle. I keep as spare inner tube and small levers on both my main bikes when I'm out. Never had to do a roadside repair in the county but done plenty when abroad - its really handy to know how!
As an aside why not learn to change the tyre yourself (assuming you dont know already...!?!) Its piss easy and really does same time and hassle. I keep as spare inner tube and small levers on both my main bikes when I'm out. Never had to do a roadside repair in the county but done plenty when abroad - its really handy to know how!
sjtscott said:
Does anyone know of any motorcycle roadside/recovery specialists (that cover london) that offer services based on yearly subscriptions like the AA/RAC?
I use NCI and as we're a three bike family I cover myself rather than the bike. This allows me to call them out no matter what bike I'm riding. Have always found them very resposive and they send bike minded recovery vans out rather than your average car dudette!!
Visit them here: www.ncionline.co.uk/
Glad to hear you managed to keep it together while bringing her to a stop! 
I have breakdown cover with nci. www.ncionline.co.uk
I've got the personal option so it covers me on bike, car and kit car.
I think they use SOS in London, it was an SOS guy that recommended them to me.
I have breakdown cover with nci. www.ncionline.co.uk
I've got the personal option so it covers me on bike, car and kit car.
I think they use SOS in London, it was an SOS guy that recommended them to me.
kiwi_uk said:
I use NCI and as we're a three bike family I cover myself rather than the bike. This allows me to call them out no matter what bike I'm riding. Have always found them very resposive and they send bike minded recovery vans out rather than your average car dudette!!
Visit them here: www.ncionline.co.uk/
Visit them here: www.ncionline.co.uk/
Touche!
sporelife said:
kiwi_uk said:
I use NCI and as we're a three bike family I cover myself rather than the bike. This allows me to call them out no matter what bike I'm riding. Have always found them very resposive and they send bike minded recovery vans out rather than your average car dudette!!
Visit them here: www.ncionline.co.uk/
Visit them here: www.ncionline.co.uk/
Touche!
Fantastic I think this is just what I'm after, I'll give these guys a go at my next renewal time.
BTW in response to being able to change tyres myself I have an R6 which uses tubeless tyres on an alloy wheel, you need specialist equipment to do this. I live in a flat in London with no garage so absolutely no chance of having any sort of workshop unfortunately. Even SOS motorcycles can't replace tubless tyres at the roadside, I phoned and asked them while getting annoyed with the AA on Monday evening.
Edited by sjtscott on Saturday 16th December 12:34
I carry a tubeless puncture repair kit. Actually, that's a lie: I carry one tubeless puncture repair kit and one tubeless puncture repair kit minus the all important rubber wedges that make up the bung as I flung them away not realising what they are... 
No idea what any of them are like as when I went to use it I discovered my earlier "error" however by the sound of things it wouldn't have been able to plug your puncture anyway.
Not quite sure why I posted this now; it's serving no useful purpose other than to show what a numpty I am.
No idea what any of them are like as when I went to use it I discovered my earlier "error" however by the sound of things it wouldn't have been able to plug your puncture anyway.
Not quite sure why I posted this now; it's serving no useful purpose other than to show what a numpty I am.
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