Don’t Get Hooked
What Every Motorcyclist Should Know
Before Authorizing A Tow

Wade “Butch” Glenn’s 900 Ninja suffered $1,800 in bodywork damage when it was picked up by a tow truck — for a $130 water pump breakdown repair. “I was a young sailor stuck between El Paso, Texas, and Van Horn,” says Butch, of Escondido, California. “I called Triple A and they said, ‘We don’t do bikes,’ but I told ’em I was in the middle of the desert. They sent a truck, insisting I sign a damage waiver because it wasn’t equipped to handle motorcycles. He slung the bike up on the towing arm, where it dangled and banged all the way back, smashing the gas tank, fairing, and side covers. I paid the $118 towing charge when he dropped me off.” That experience led Butch to think of a better way to handle motorcycle towing. Today he runs Glenn’s Cycle Tow, moving bikes with a system he designed himself.

Joe Jones’ bad-enough accident on his ’96 Gold Wing turned utterly horrible when the tow man totaled his bike. Says Joe, “While the paramedics were working on me, I watched the tower mangle my motorcycle. He put a metal winch hook through the bike’s wheel, and, yakking with a friend of his, his back turned to my bike, he starts winching it up. The engine caught the edge of the bed, and the winch pulled the front forks off. He says, nonchalantly, ‘Uh, your bike’s a total.’ ” Like Butch, Joe thought of a better way, and now operates Bike Tow in Vista, California.

Towing horror stories are rampant. I’ve heard of a Hayabusa that, tied loosely to a flatbed in only two places, bounced off the bed and onto the highway. Then there was the Ninja that was tied down so tightly the fork seals blew. It goes on. And the fees are horror stories in themselves.

“Odds are,” says Harriet Cooley, executive director of the Towing and Recovery Association of America in Alexandria, Virginia, “riders don’t consider what kind of tow truck to call, what kind to refuse, or how they’ll be charged.” Ms. Cooley says there are about 40,000 US tow operators and 100,000 tow drivers. Others in the industry estimate that only 30 percent of them have motorcycle equipment and know-how.

Long before trouble appears, you should be ready to ask questions about a towing company’s equipment, the driver’s experience, and the rates. You should already have thought about how straps can be routed through your fairing to tighten down on the motorcycle’s hard parts rather than ruining bodywork. And you should know the provisions for breakdown services under your motorcycle insurance, or the roadside member benefits in your riding club or national roadside plan.

Breakdowns, Accidents & Impounds

When your bike simply breaks down, the tow can be handled by several kinds of machines. One is a motorcycle trailer with a channel/chock arrangement for the front wheel; another is a flatbed (also called a rollback) with one of several cycle carts/dollies available; and a third is a tow truck with a special adapter on the truck’s stinger (hydraulic arm) to clamp the cycle’s front wheel.

Motorcycles are towed on their suspension components, not kickstands. First, the bike is put in gear on the kickstand. Ratcheting nylon straps are then attached to the front forks and tightened until the bike sits straight. Additional straps are attached and tightened near the rear of the bike. The suspension should be compressed slightly to keep the bike from hopping on the carrier. And no straps or chains should go around the bike, compressing the seat or bodywork.

When your bike has been in an accident, the tow can be handled by a rollback, trailer, or tow truck. Obviously, if the front wheel is destroyed, you can’t use a system to clamp the wheel. However, a badly wrecked bike can simply be laid onto a trailer or rollback and secured. With a tow truck, the bike can be tied to the wheel-lift crossbar (to prevent swinging) and then picked up by the boom.

Attitude is important here. The tow operator may feel the bike is already totaled and may carelessly manhandle it. And at accident scenes managed by police, the tendency is to pull the motorcycle, lying on its side, across the pavement to clear the scene as fast as possible. See if you can reason with the police and/or tow operator before your bike is abused.

If a bike is impounded, towing it requires moving the bike with locked forks, using go-jacks under the wheel. You won’t be around to witness this tow, and there may be a lot of damage, because those bikes are often snatched in a hurry.

When you get “hooked up,” will you get financially hooked? Fee structures differ throughout the country, and with hookup fees, unhook fees, preparation and special service fees, accident cleanups, and vehicle storage, the costs can mount unmercifully. Rates vary across the country. According to Gene Wagner, founder of Motorcycle Touring Services, “We get the best rates we can from the towers we contract with in our network. I’d say the lowest rates are in the South, and the highest are in California and New England. They generally range from $65 to $100 per dispatch/hookup, and from 90 cents to $7 per mile.”

Notably, only 25 states regulate towing fees, and that’s only for nonconsensual tows (those directed by police at accidents, tows from private property, and tows on roads with designated towing companies). Consensual tow rates, where you call your own truck, aren’t regulated anywhere in the US. So, before your bike gets hooked, ask how much it’ll cost and be prepared to negotiate.

What are the chances you’ll need help? According to Geoff Sundstrum of AAA, about 26 percent of motorcycle owners in the US have some kind of roadside assistance plan. And of those with coverage, 28 percent have had to use it.

We all hope we don’t need a roadside rescue. But in case you do someday, this article might help keep you and your bike off the hook. A little homework done now will go a long way. RB

Top Causes Of Breakdowns

#1 Electrical (battery) 50%

#2 Tires 25%

#3 Mechanical (includes running out of gas) 15%

#4 Road Hazards 7%

#5 Accidents 3%

Provided by Gene Wagner, CEO of Motorcycle Touring Services

What Every Motorcyclist Should Know

• If you belong to a motor club or have towing insurance or warranty coverage, know what costs are reimbursable.
• Check your insurance against your motor club to see what benefits are duplicated. Find out if you can apply both types of protection against one incident, to get full reimbursement if one is only partial.
• In the event of an accident/breakdown, tell the tow truck dispatcher you need motorcycle equipment and someone experienced. Describe your bike and accessories — luggage, fairings, windshield, antennas, etc.
• Ask that all charges be outlined before you agree to a tow. Get an estimate in writing.
• Don’t sign any repair authorizations. It’s illegal in most places for a towing company to require this. Clearly tell the tow driver not to repair the motorcycle; you have the right to have it repaired by the shop of your choice.
• Don’t sign any “designated representative” form that gives the towing company the right to represent you to your insurance company.
• Before the tow, you and the tow operator should walk around the motorcycle and note any damage.
• Don’t agree to a cash-only payment arrangement. In most states, tow truck drivers are required to accept major credit cards.
• Be sure to get an itemized bill — you’ll need it for insurance reimbursement.
• In assessing motor clubs, check their response time and dispatching capability. (You don’t want to talk with voice mail.) Try calling various clubs as a test before choosing one to join

The Right Way

Matt Pandolfi of United Towing in Branford, Connecticut, does 400 tows a month, including 60 motorcycles per year.

Matt centers the bike in the Condor dolly…

…and then secures it with PowerTye tie-downs.

He winches the bike until it’s almost level…

…and then secures the strap to the rear wheel, tensions the strap, and levels off the bike.

Motorcycle Manufacturer Roadside Service

Manufacturers may offer roadside assistance as a club member benefit, as part of a warranty, or as part of a sales package on certain models. When they do, service is provided through national organizations such as MTS, Cross Country Services, and Road America. Here’s a rundown of the plans some OEMs offer.

Ducati

Ducati Road Assistance through MTS provides a tow of up to 100 miles to the nearest authorized dealer. They offer flat fix, lockout, dead battery, and fuel delivery services. You must be riding a Ducati, and you are not allowed to call a tower outside the plan. Service is provided at no cost as part of the two-year limited warranty, and follows the bike. Info: http://www.ducatiusa.com.

Honda

A one-year Honda Rider’s Club of America membership, including roadside assistance by Cross Country Motor Club, is provided at no charge with the purchase of any motorcycle or scooter. Towing is provided to the closest Honda dealer or repair facility, regardless of mileage, at Honda’s determination. Emergency gas, dead battery jump, locksmith service, and tire repair are also included. You must be riding a Honda to get the benefits; otherwise, the club will dispatch a tower, but you’ll have to pay for it. The benefits are offered nationwide and in Canada. $39.95 per year after the first year. Info: hrca.honda.com.

Kawasaki

A free one-year membership in Riders of Kawasaki (ROK) is included when you buy an ’05 street bike. Roadside assistance services, provided by Road America, include towing to the nearest service facility or any location requested by the covered ROK member up to the benefit limit, including Hawaii, Alaska, and Canada. You can call any towing company, provided it is cleared through Road America. The service includes key assistance; oil, fluid, water, and gas delivery service; battery jump; and flat tire assistance. After the first year, a basic membership is $29.95; premium is $39.95. The plan covers all the Kawasakis you own. Info: 800/661-RIDE, http://www.kawasaki.com.

Moto Guzzi

Moto Guzzi offers roadside assistance by Road America for two years after the purchase of a new motorcycle. The service includes lock-out assistance, extrication from a ditch, battery jump, flat tire service, and delivery of fuel, oil, and fluids. Towing is to the nearest qualified service facility or any location requested. One disablement for the same cause during any seven-day period is allowed. The benefit limit for each occurrence is $100. Info: 678/238-0902, http://www.motoguzzi-us.com.

Suzuki

Roadside coverage is included when you buy a Suzuki Extended Protection Plan, the cost of which varies by model (about $630 for a Boulevard C90, extending coverage by three years). The plan is offered in all US states except Hawaii. Customers are reimbursed up to $50 for towing the bike to a Suzuki dealer, with $20 per day for up to six days for a rental vehicle. Info: 800/828-RIDE, http://www.suzukicycles.com.

Triumph

A Riders Association of Triumph membership includes a 40 percent discount on roadside assistance by MTS. As long as you have a Triumph motorcycle with a valid VIN number, you can join for a $15 associate or $30 full membership. Roadside service is included in both, but full membership also gets you Torque, a glossy quarterly magazine. It’s an individual, not a household, membership. Info: ratamerica@triumphmotorcycles.com, http://www.triumph.co.uk.

Yamaha

Roadside coverage is provided for the Royal Star or Royal Star Tour Classic at the time of purchase. It’s good for five years (the length of the factory limited warranty). The program covers only your bike, but a friend can be riding it. Coverage is limited to $50 per incident for a tow, flat tire, fuel delivery, lockout, or jumpstart, with four incidents per year max. Trip-interruption benefits are $500 for disablement occurring more than 100 miles from home, and up to $100 per day for food/lodging. Info: 800/962-7926, http://www.yamaha-motor.com.

Insurance Roadside Provisions

Check with your insurance agent about a roadside service provision. You’ll often find that for a small amount you can add roadside assistance to your motorcycle policy. Here are two examples.

According to Audrey Hanken of Bikeline/Markel American Insurance Company, about half of their 100,000 motorcycle policyholders opt for the $16 roadside benefit, which includes 24-hour emergency towing and road service, up to $100 per occurrence, covering emergency fuel delivery, key service, battery jump, and tow.

Also included is trip-interruption reimbursement for food/lodging if you’re over 100 miles from home.

Shannon Radigan of Progressive Insurance reports a similar program, minus the trip-interruption feature, at an $8 per year cost over the basic motorcycle policy.

There’s no minimum distance requirement. “You can be 10 minutes or 10 hours from home,” she says, stressing, “It’s a sign-and-drive policy, where you need not pay out of pocket. The transaction is directly between the service provider and Progressive.” If you want your bike towed by someone outside the Progressive network, you simply submit the invoice for reimbursement.

Note: We checked with Geico to see what they offer, and here’s the word from the gecko. While there’s currently no roadside assistance program for Geico customers, they can purchase a towing/labor option for about $7-10 per year, which entitles them to be reimbursed for towing up to $50 per incident. However, Geico is working on structuring a roadside assistance program for the future.