Motorcycle Breakdown cover

Its normally included in all the Major Classic bike insurance policies as std, Peter James, Carol Nash etc. I pay Peter James £95 pa to cover 3 classic bikes and breakdown is included.

Carole Nash includes one in their policies...plus free DNA ID kit.

Les

Is the cover supplied by Peter James adequate, any restrictions ??

Its not different to the others, unless you are a lawyer can anyone know if any insurance going to work in a future situation. No complaints of inadequate cover are to be found using google on Peter James, I have never made a claim to know.

Carole Nash restricts you to 4 recoveries a year but it does include Europe.

Odd that comprehensive insurance plus breakdown recovery is cheaper than RAC breakdown cover and, if I remember, RAC wouldn't cover older vehicles travelling beyond these shores.

Maybe not so surprising? The RAC offers coverage on any vehicle, from moped to Rolls-Royce, to people who might cover 25,000 miles a year (= 100 miles/day, 5 days/week, 52 weeks/year).

Classic bike insurers are covering bikes only (presumably cheaper to recover), and machines which they can be confident will cover far lower mileages.

Previously Gordon Johnston wrote:

Carole Nash restricts you to 4 recoveries a year but it does include Europe.

Odd that comprehensive insurance plus breakdown recovery is cheaper than RAC breakdown cover and, if I remember, RAC wouldn't cover older vehicles travelling beyond these shores.

I just did an online quote for UK and Europe breakdown recovery for 1 vehicle (car presumably) RAC: £257.98 - and they won't cover older vehicles. I get the same for my 1951 Land Rover plus comprehensive insurance for £110. No contest.

Newer cars should very rarely need recovery. With classics there is always a real or imagined uncertainty of failure to complete a journey. Having said that, my BSA A7 has never let me down in 40 years of use and abuse, including hols beyond there shores. Can't say the same for my 99!

I've no experience of Peter James, but I have of Carol Nash.

A few years ago in Spain, the rear Dymag wheel on my T160 split between 2 spokes (not repairable, not drivable) and a mate's gearbox layshaft bearing collapsed on his Norton. Carol Nash arranged for a recovery truck to pick us up on the day of departing, and it all went perfectly, so although it's a lousy thing to happen at least we got back home ok, with no worries about having to leave the bikes in Spain. When we got to Santander we just pushed the bikes on the ferry and off at Portsmouth.

Very pleased with the service.

sam

I have 3 bikes insured with Peter James and had to use the breakdown service when I accidentally refuelled my BMW with diesel I always use Esso Supreme unleaded (no ethanol) and normally use the same garage who only have 3 pumps unleaded,diesel and Supreme unleaded.I pulled on to a pump in Leeds to top up, saw Supreme grabbed the pump and put 10 litres in. When I rode away bike died, strange! looked across at pump and horror,Supreme Diesel. Phoned breakdown number, yes, no problem we'll send out mis-fuelling unit. Van that came was AA. Very professional drained diesel ,disconnected fuel line in tank and sucked diesel out, ran petrol through fuel pump in tank then put £10 of petrol and a can of fuel additive in tank, no charge. Luckily didn't have to pull plugs and bike started up after long crank. Only downside I had to wait 4 hours for van as he was extremely busy sorting out other hapless idiots like myself, including the guy who had just put £20 of petrol in his diesel car on the same pump. Good service.

I suppose it depends on one's interpretation of "newer" (I suspect most people on this forum might differ from the average RAC member). There's also the question of recovery after accidents, not to mention call-outs for flats (tyres, batteries).

My biggest call-out was when, years ago, I went MZ racing. Race transport was a CitroÃ?n CX Safari (with a roof rack one can get two Ducati Pantahs on board ... ).

On this particular occasion the CX was supplemented with a three-bike trailer as I'd committed to transporting another racer's bike and gear to Pembrey.

We got as far as halting at the lights at the foot of East Hill in Wandsworth. Pulling away there was a loud noise from the front end and a sudden lack of forward motion.

Getting out to investigate I discovered that the front suspension had undone itself and the offside wheel was jammed under the wing. The RAC thus had to tow my Safari plus trailer back to my CitroÃ?n fangler at Clapham (who had, in an uncharacteristic lapse, omitted to tighten everything up properly after some work a few days earlier)

Previously Gordon Johnston wrote:

Newer cars should very rarely need recovery.

My last bike breakdown was about 10 miles from home. The AA sent 3 vehicles , the last one had to build a trailer up on the spot but even then had difficulty in accomodating a bike with mudguards.The kit is designed only for bikes with a plastic styling trim that directs muck and stones into the radiator.I would have been better off with a basic van and ramp.

Carol Nash... I have used them for years never a problem (yet).4 bikes and 1 car on same policy. I did break down in the car and the recovery turned up in 45 mins but the guy was worse than useless so I told him to get lost (I didn't use those words) and fixed it myself, I dont 't hold Carol Nash responsible for the idiot however. The cost for this cover everythig included fully comp recovery etc about £800 p.a.