AMA MoTow strikes again

[HaulinAshe]

Many of you probably know about my recent rounds of discussion with Rob Dingman and AMA, about why Lifetime Members must pay for MoTow coverage while regular members do not. Well...

Today my '07 died about an hour from home. Something electrical, something very strange. perhaps ground spider failure, but more likely a dead fuel pump or fuel pump relay. I have YES on that bike and the ONLY dealer I would trust to go inside my bike was about 45 minutes away from where I sat.

So I whipped out my cell phone and dialed the 800# on that AMA MoTow sticker that's been on my front fairing since I bought the bike new. Every single year I've paid for that coverage, despite my differences with AMA. This year was to be my last, but on March 17, 2010 I paid AMA $35 on top of the big chunk I paid for LifeTime Membership.

The nice lady on the phone couldn't find me by anything listed on that sticker. So I gave her my full AMA number and she pulled me up. "Your account is inactive Sir. We can provide emergency services to you, but they will be billable services. Would you like to do that?"

NO!!! I would like to get my hands around somebody's throat at AMA and squeeze a little satisfaction out of them.

I wound up calling an old motocross buddy who lives in that area. He came right out from dinner with Mom and helped me load the fat girl on a trailer. We parked the bike at his house and he drove me home. There's no substitute for real friends, especially those who truly understand a motorcycle.

Wonder how Mr. Dingman and his paid Public Affairs assassin will respond to the next letter I send???

 

[LDRydr]

Oh boy, this ought to be good....

 

[RadioHowie]

There's no substitute for real friends

Granny Howie always told me " a friend will help you move furniture. A REAL friend will help you move a body (or I guess, a motorcycle)"

 

[Greg E.]

AAA RV plus..that's the ticket. Will move your bike 100 miles, no fuss.

 

[johnny80s]

I dumped my membership. Those guys are idiots.

 

[ShinyPartsUp]

That just blows. No other way to describe it. I guess the AMA better move faster on their computer upgrades they have been crowing about doing.

Sorry man.

 

[Gramps]

Sorry to hear your bike went dead Jeff.

After your original thread on your problems with AMA, I too sent them 3 emails on the subject asking for a response.

I got nothing back. Really pissed me off, so I didn't renew my membership.

I'll just use my insurance which has towing as part of the policy.

 

[GalaxyBlue]

The part i find strange about this, Is that the FJR is probably the most reliable bike on the road, Or at least one of them.

AMA should be MORE than willing to accept our money because the odds of us needing a tow is slim. I am sure there are people who abuse this, And that is why they are being ****** nozzles over this.

Little do they know how much of an impact that senile old fart Jeff has on this riding community!

AMA... This is YOUR battle to lose. Make the right choices and take care of your core members and supporters before they all leave. <_<

 

[Bungie]

AMA should be MORE than willing to accept our money because the odds of us needing a tow is slim. I am sure there are people who abuse this, And that is why they are being ****** nozzles over this.

Last year (year before..?) I stopped at this pie shop near Meaford and their was this gathering of older HD riders (I think the youngest was probably in the upper 60's). Anyway, one of the HD's fell over. Like the guy on the Laugh In tricycle. 'Cept he wasn't moving when it happened. The HD was heavily festooned with all manner of chrome whore lures and, no doubt weighed something approaching a metric ton - as did his wife, who caused the tip over when boarding the HMS chrome whore. But it didn't go all the way over, Crash bar caught it.

So me and about 4 other guys run over and to help him lift it up.

"No. I'm fine, I'll call HOG and they'll send a tow truck".

"Bud, theirs 4 of us!"

By this time he's got his phone out and hitting the speed dial for HOG.

I took a look at the crash bar on the upward side... yup, just as I suspected. Explains having HOG on the speed dial! Betcha' he's on a first name basis with the dispatcher.

 

[charismaticmegafauna]

I know a guy who was dual-sport riding in the desert with his buddy when he got a flat rear tire on his BMW F650 GS (old-style). He whipped-out his cell phone and called the BMW-club 800 number and a truck came to him and hauled his bike out to a shop that fixed the flat.

So..., it works for some (I guess...?).

 

[LDRydr]

"No. I'm fine, I'll call HOG and they'll send a tow truck".
"Bud, theirs 4 of us!"

By this time he's got his phone out and hitting the speed dial for HOG.

Slightly OT, but the Roadside Assistance that can be had through HOG is supplied by Road America. A Road America package can be purchased by anybody through the Motorcycle Riders Foundation (no membership required) for $29.95 a year. It's a pretty good deal if you can't afford to go the AAA route, and you hate AMA. LINK

 

[blassoff]

I too sent a letter to the AMA (actually an email and I asked for a response). I got nothing in return.

I've been an AMA member since I started riding 6 years ago cause I thought it was important.

I usually wait for the International Motorcycle Show in either Washington or NYC to renew (usually get a discount and other goodies at the show).

This year, no AMA. So I asked Mr. Dingman how the AMA could miss being represented at the largest motorcycle venue in the country. Know what he said?

Me neither, no one responded. Maybe he'll be at Americade again this year and I can ask him a question.

As for me....ROK is my bestest friend. Riders of Kawasaki offers a membership with road side assistance and free towing up to $250 for $39.95 a year. If your a member of an associated group (I belong to the Concours Owners Group too), the annual fee is just $19.95 a year.

Whadda deal.

My AAA membership already costs me like $170 a year for me. the wife, and two kids. I think the "plus" service would set me back like another $100 or more, so I passed.

Is there anybody who's actually happy with the AMA? Bueller....Bueller

 

[Burnspot]

I used to have MoTow a long time ago, but went with AAA when the RV addon wasn't so expensive. Dropped AAA this year (now way too expensive...for the crappy customer service you get) and went with the Allstate club (signed up via KOA's website); hopefully, I won't need to test it, but all reviews have been decent so far.

 

[wheatonFJR]

MTS

 

[LDRydr]

As for me....ROK is my bestest friend. Riders of Kawasaki offers a membership with road side assistance and free towing up to $250 for $39.95 a year. If your a member of an associated group (I belong to the Concours Owners Group too), the annual fee is just $19.95 a year.

Road America is the company providing the service for Riders of Kawasaki, too. See my above post.

 

[dcarver]

I wanna read the letter!

 

[beemerdons]

There's no substitute for real friends

Granny Howie always told me " a friend will help you move furniture. A REAL friend will help you move a body (or I guess, a motorcycle)"

I am your REAL FRIEND, RH! So, when are we making the road trip to Owosso to move that body? Sorry, I don't move furniture.

ON TOPIC: Right now I'm overlapping on the AMA Tow Coverage and the AAA RV Plus Plan I just signed up for last month. Knock on wood, I won't need either one; but I can call both until Labor Day.

 

[RadioHowie]

Granny Howie always told me " a friend will help you move furniture. A REAL friend will help you move a body (or I guess, a motorcycle)"

I am your REAL FRIEND, RH! So, when are we making the road trip to Owosso to move that body? Sorry, I don't move furniture.

Don, I doubt it would be necessary. The old pimpledik in Owosso is so decrepit now, by the time you get there, wouldn't be much left but a greasy stain.

His only hope is the preservative powers of alkeehaul.

 

[Deacon51]

I'm a AMA member and I have been for 24 years. I do not agree with the AMA on all issues. BUT I do agree with them on many. I'm thankful for the actions they take in the halls of congress and in court rooms across the US. I'm glad I'm a member when I read about the AMA taking action to keep public riding areas open, to defeat motorcycle bans on public roads, and to change laws that allow a cage drives that kills someone on the road the ability to get away with a $65 fine for failing to yield the right of way. I like to think they my membership gives them a little extra clout.

And speaking of my membership, for $39 bucks a year I get a 10% discount at bike bandit and at my local dealership. That more than covers the cost. On top of all that I **Should** have the AMA Tow service. Granted, I have never needed to place that call, and after this post I'm not sure they would be answer it. But, I'm not a member for the tow service. My insurance company also has a tow service that I already paying for anyway.

Yeah, the mag is thin and not very good.

Okay, they seem to be having a little leadership issue right now.

Sure, they have screwed up American road racing.

But still, when the Sierra Club ask congress to close massive chunks public riding land or some city decides to ban motorcycles from parks or the EPA tries to outlaw power commanders and mini-bikes, it's nice to have the AMA around.