anyone ever read what you're actually covered for?

[JimS_99]

I've been a Harley rider for about the past 45 years, joined HOG in 2005 when I bought a new Heritage. Before that I had mainly radical home made choppers. I put lots of miles on each riding season, riding independantly from clubs & others - I guess I'm a loner. I have no need for HOG club rides & family events, pins, patches, or fly and ride BS. All I want is coverage in case I have a roadside breakdown and need towing to a dealership and some way of getting back home if my bike is down at a dealership for an extended period of time. When I joined HOG I thought I would be fully covered for this - was I ever surprised when at work today I actually read the coverage pamphlet.

I just renewed for 2008 and read the pamplet that came with the renewal and was surprised to read that all a FULL MEMBERSHIP Standard Coverage gives you $100 towing coverage for ONE TOW PER YEAR - nothing else, if your tow costs more than $100 you're SOL and on your own to cover the balance of the bill. I called HOG Roadside Assistance and questioned them about this and they told me that I would need to upgrade to a HOG Ultra Package to get travel expense reimbursement coverage. After reading the coverage it says that the Ultra Package coverage only covers "mechanical breakdown as the result of a warranty covered component" or "your warranty covered motorcycle is disabled as the result of a collision". My bike being 3 years old isn't covered under warranty anymore so in reality any HOG package doesn't do anything for me besides offering $100 towards 1 tow per year, I told this to the lady I was talking to and she said that then it's about time that I upgraded to a new bike!! I think it's sorta expensive to buy a new bike just to get towing coverage!!!!!!!!!!!!

Is there anything out there that covers a motorcycle in the event of a breakdown? Something similiar to AAA coverage for a car. Does anyone actually ever read what their HOG coverage gives them? Maybe pins, patches and club gatherings are very important to HOG members and they all have new bikes so they don't care?

I do know that I made a mistake this year by renewing my HOG membership, I won't make the same mistake next year.

[jerry34208]

AAA Plus - RV

It's their top tier coverage. $120/yr and 100 miles of towing up to four times a year. Covers nearly anything you are in or on. Owned borrowed or rented.
Motorcycles, Motorhomes etc.

[JimS_99]

Thanks for the AAA tip, I'll cal them tomorrow morning and see what it all about. I'm already a AAA Plus member @ around $75 a year.

[blckgnx]

I also use the AAA Plus service and have been very happy with it. Also gets you a discount at a lot of the camp grounds, and occasional motels. It didn't cover getting us home on one break down, however it did get us a super deal on a oneway rental to get us home.

[ktwillys]

the coverage is different for each state.... CA or OR you get motorcycle coverage with a standard package...

colorado.. you have got to have the RV plus....to get the bike covered...

[Divertim]

I have progressive and they covered my towing when I broke down. They will tow up to 150 miles.

[JimS_99]

I called AAA Saturday morning and spoke to a girl there, she said that to get motorcycle coverage you need RV coverage, this is an additional $30 over the cost the cost of AAA Plus bringing the cost to around $120 a year - this is all exactly as Jerry34208 stated in his above post. I signed up for the RV coverage.

The part that confuses me is what AAA Plus RV actually covers you for with regard to motorcycles. The girl I spoke with wasn't really sure but said she will send me a brochure detailing the coverage. I looked at the AAA website and RV coverage mentions covering motorcycles, but then it also says that this coverage applies only to 4 wheeled legally registered vehicles. I called AAA again and sopke to someone a second time and this person also couldn't explain this, again they said they would send me a brochure. Nobody I could find at AAA could really give me a good explanation of what is covered with regard to AAA Plus RV and motorcycles. Neither AAA representative could tell me how the motorcycle would be towed, I was told it might be just layed down on a flatbed (I hope not!). I also asked whether RV coverage would get me a loaner bike or car or pay my hotel expenses, the way the website brochure reads this only applies to 4 wheeled wehicles. Again, nobody could answer my questions they all refer me to the brochure.

I'm saying this because I saw it happen, I work for a state government DOT and was on scene with a disabled motorcycle last summer, the guy with the bike had AAA RV coverage and he called a towing company, when the company arrived they planned on just laying the bike on it's side on the flatbed - this was a Gold Wing, the guy with the flatbed had zero experience towing motorcycles, the bikes owner complained and was forced to sit on the bike and hold it up while it was on the flat bed. Last I saw of the bike or guy was them slowly going down RT81 with one mad guy sitting on his bike holding it up on the back of a flatbed.

I have a feeling that motorcycle coverage with AAA Plus RV may or may-not be beneficial in the event of a motorcycle breakdown but it's better than nothing, way better than HOG coverage which is next to zero coverage. In my opinion the best thing is to carry a credit card with enough of a balance on it to cover towing, hotel expenses for several nights, repairs and transportation home or to the hotel/campground and back again to pick up the repaired bike - and remember to keep good documentation of all your expenses. It might be a long drawn out uphill battle getting reimbursed from AAA or HOG.

[hoghead_90]

I too have Progressive Insurance on my bike, and they cover towing + road side assistance. I'm also a HOG member, and turn a bill into each.

[TwiggyAZ]

We're with Progressive also. Last time DH's stator went out, we called a dealership in the area and they came and towed the bike, no charge, and most will do that if you are in the area. I have been towed once, and when I talked to the towing company, I told them to make sure they sent something that towed motorcycles, and a person who knew how, otherwise, I wouldn't have let them. I'll pay for a tow myself before I let someone lay the bike down. But Progressive has been great for towing IMO.

[gbinman]

My bike is insured with Formost (owned by Farmers Ins) and towing is included. I stripped a starter. I called them and they sent a tow. It was a flatbed and the operator used straps to hold the bike upright. I never even saw a bill. No complaints.

[D-Rock]

Why wouldn't a towing company have a flat bed with tie downs. There is plenty of motorcycles on the road and for a towing company to say all they can do is put your motorcycle on it's side of a flat bed is BS! How hard is it to carry a couple of tie downs. Even a moron can figure that sh$t out.

[JamieWG]

How many times per year do you actually need to be towed? Do the math and you might find it is cheaper to just pay for your own towing bill instead of sending money off to some organization that may or may not cover you.

[R T]

I have Gieco insurance and towing to the nearest bike repair shop is $7 per year. Never needed it so can't comment on the service.

RT

[DueceDog]

I just signed up for AAA RV insurance this year. When I was talking to the rep I asked how the bike would be towed. I was told that I needed to be sure to tell them it was a motorcycle when I called. They would send a flatbed that had the proper equipment for transporting motorcyles.I was also told that, depending on the location, they might send out a van to pick it up.
We have two cars and the bike so the added $30 or so a year for the RV coverage is worth it.

[hjdistl]

Originally Posted by JimS_99

I've been a Harley rider for about the past 45 years, joined HOG in 2005 when I bought a new Heritage. Before that I had mainly radical home made choppers. I put lots of miles on each riding season, riding independantly from clubs & others - I guess I'm a loner. I have no need for HOG club rides & family events, pins, patches, or fly and ride BS. All I want is coverage in case I have a roadside breakdown and need towing to a dealership and some way of getting back home if my bike is down at a dealership for an extended period of time. When I joined HOG I thought I would be fully covered for this - was I ever surprised when at work today I actually read the coverage pamphlet.

I just renewed for 2008 and read the pamplet that came with the renewal and was surprised to read that all a FULL MEMBERSHIP Standard Coverage gives you $100 towing coverage for ONE TOW PER YEAR - nothing else, if your tow costs more than $100 you're SOL and on your own to cover the balance of the bill. I called HOG Roadside Assistance and questioned them about this and they told me that I would need to upgrade to a HOG Ultra Package to get travel expense reimbursement coverage. After reading the coverage it says that the Ultra Package coverage only covers "mechanical breakdown as the result of a warranty covered component" or "your warranty covered motorcycle is disabled as the result of a collision". My bike being 3 years old isn't covered under warranty anymore so in reality any HOG package doesn't do anything for me besides offering $100 towards 1 tow per year, I told this to the lady I was talking to and she said that then it's about time that I upgraded to a new bike!! I think it's sorta expensive to buy a new bike just to get towing coverage!!!!!!!!!!!!

Is there anything out there that covers a motorcycle in the event of a breakdown? Something similiar to AAA coverage for a car. Does anyone actually ever read what their HOG coverage gives them? Maybe pins, patches and club gatherings are very important to HOG members and they all have new bikes so they don't care?

I do know that I made a mistake this year by renewing my HOG membership, I won't make the same mistake next year.

If the only reason you Join HOG is for towing then you are wasting your money.

Just FYI
https://members.hog.com/website/util..._mem_chart.jsp

I end up paying $5 a year for my HOG membership. Really less. I take an approved Motorcycle Safety Course every year and then turn the receipt into HOG with the Safe Rider Skills form filled out and and get a $45 certificate I can use at the dealer. Plus I get a discount on my insurance because of taking the course so I am ahead of the game every year. Plus it is good toe have the constant refresher courses.