AA Vans - Now Bike Friendly

LouSCannon · 05-05-2015, 09:04 AM

So, after a rather annoying and minor incident yesterday in deepest darkest Wales on the Scrambler (Sitting down enjoying a break in the sun and she rolls off the side stand, school boy error of not getting the angle quite right on a slope *sigh*) I had to call the AA to come pick me up (Only damage, broken clutch lever).

Made it clear on the phone, as you do, that the bike isn't fixable and could they please ensure they send straight for a low loader as opposed to what happened to me in the past, waiting for two hours for a van only to then wait another two for the truck.

Lo and behold a couple of hours later a van pulls up. Oh joy. Quick chat with the friendly bloke and turns out he's in one of the latest vans. Within is a fold out trailer for cars, but is also adapted to take most bikes (Massive heavy cruisers with big back tyres about the only exception). Takes a little faffing to fix the ramp on, but still much quicker then waiting for a truck.

Apparently the AA almost didn't make the investment, but over the next year or so all new AA vans will have this fitted. Thought it worth sharing.

damien666 · 05-05-2015, 09:47 AM

My dad will be happy, he's just getting to grips with a new to him, 1939 triumph t70 and working through it's quirks as he uses it.
Got to be better than just using a web of rachet straps on the back of a truck!

Dirty · 05-05-2015, 10:42 AM

Yeah my scoot was picked up by one of these last week. Took the chap a while to remember how it all works. It's bit like a meccano set crossed with a jigsaw puzzle and a rubics cube but once solved works brilliantly.

Mr Gazza · 05-05-2015, 04:59 PM

I would have ridden it home.

buzzbomb · 05-05-2015, 08:12 PM

[QUOTE=Mr Gazza;507948]I would have ridden it home...

One of those vans dropped a bike off at the store a few weeks ago, like Dirty said a cross between a meccano set and a jigsaw but that said very impressive...

uksurfer · 05-05-2015, 08:43 PM

i would have carried it home

Mr Gazza · 05-05-2015, 08:50 PM

[QUOTE=buzzbomb;507975]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr Gazza

I would have ridden it home...

Almost as if you don't believe me?..

Albie · 05-05-2015, 09:37 PM

[QUOTE=Mr Gazza;507984]

Quote:

Originally Posted by buzzbomb

Almost as if you don't believe me?..

Well you may well of tried but there is no prize for screwing a gear box up on a new bike for a lot of miles from wales to England especially if you have cover for breakdown.
Been there done that in the next town near to home on an Suzuki X5 but I had no money and no cover at 17.

06-05-2015, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr Gazza

I would have ridden it home.

Me too - cant beat a bit of buccaroo stamping a bike into first at the lights

05-05-2015, 06:57 PM

a significant improvement indeed, many yonks ago i had my bandit picked up by the AA, low loader an all.

he slipped getting it off at my house, dented tank and zaust, and i had to phone a bloody ambulance for chappy who done his leg in..

J.P · 06-05-2015, 08:19 AM

Glad you got home ok and that the AA have made the investment.
I've been on the back of a truck many times

Goofle · 14-05-2015, 06:28 AM

I had reason to call out the AA yesterday (non Monster related!) and we were discussing this. As said its going to be on the new vans, while some are now in service it will still be a couple of years or more before they all have a bike friendly trailer, as the newer vans (today's newer) get phased out.

14-05-2015, 02:41 PM

You forgot to mention that the gearchange was bent like a banana Jim, so you couldn't have ridden it home, clutchless or otherwise.

G ; )

cactus · 14-05-2015, 03:07 PM

Aboot time.

05-05-2015, 09:04 AM	#1
LouSCannon These must fit a Monster? Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Stockton Heath Bike: Multiple Monsters Posts: 1,036	AA Vans - Now Bike Friendly So, after a rather annoying and minor incident yesterday in deepest darkest Wales on the Scrambler (Sitting down enjoying a break in the sun and she rolls off the side stand, school boy error of not getting the angle quite right on a slope sigh) I had to call the AA to come pick me up (Only damage, broken clutch lever). Made it clear on the phone, as you do, that the bike isn't fixable and could they please ensure they send straight for a low loader as opposed to what happened to me in the past, waiting for two hours for a van only to then wait another two for the truck. Lo and behold a couple of hours later a van pulls up. Oh joy. Quick chat with the friendly bloke and turns out he's in one of the latest vans. Within is a fold out trailer for cars, but is also adapted to take most bikes (Massive heavy cruisers with big back tyres about the only exception). Takes a little faffing to fix the ramp on, but still much quicker then waiting for a truck. Apparently the AA almost didn't make the investment, but over the next year or so all new AA vans will have this fitted. Thought it worth sharing. __________________ "Sometimes it takes a whole tankful of fuel before you can think straight." Last edited by LouSCannon; 05-05-2015 at 10:48 AM..

05-05-2015, 10:42 AM	#3
Dirty Bockloks Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: London Bike: No Bike Yet! Posts: 4,601	Yeah my scoot was picked up by one of these last week. Took the chap a while to remember how it all works. It's bit like a meccano set crossed with a jigsaw puzzle and a rubics cube but once solved works brilliantly. __________________ Wounds heal, chicks dig scars, glory lasts forever Beware of eBay

06-05-2015, 08:19 AM	#11
J.P No more Monster... Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: London Bike: Other Not a Ducati Posts: 4,326	Glad you got home ok and that the AA have made the investment. I've been on the back of a truck many times __________________ J.JP ------------------------------- My Mum says, there's no such thing as Monsters.

14-05-2015, 03:07 PM	#14
cactus Registered User Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Dundee Bike: M900ie Posts: 299	Aboot time. __________________ Ripsnorting

05-05-2015, 09:47 AM	#2
damien666 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Leeds, West-Yorks Bike: S4Rs Posts: 497	My dad will be happy, he's just getting to grips with a new to him, 1939 triumph t70 and working through it's quirks as he uses it. Got to be better than just using a web of rachet straps on the back of a truck!

05-05-2015, 04:59 PM	#4
Mr Gazza Lord of the Rings Join Date: May 2013 Location: Norwich Bike: M900sie Posts: 5,848	I would have ridden it home.

05-05-2015, 08:12 PM	#5
buzzbomb Gold Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: widnes Bike: M1100s Posts: 780	[QUOTE=Mr Gazza;507948]I would have ridden it home... One of those vans dropped a bike off at the store a few weeks ago, like Dirty said a cross between a meccano set and a jigsaw but that said very impressive...

05-05-2015, 08:43 PM	#6
uksurfer Its all grey now Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: southampton Bike: M1200s Posts: 2,940	i would have carried it home

05-05-2015, 06:57 PM	#10
garry Guest Posts: n/a	a significant improvement indeed, many yonks ago i had my bandit picked up by the AA, low loader an all. he slipped getting it off at my house, dented tank and zaust, and i had to phone a bloody ambulance for chappy who done his leg in..

14-05-2015, 06:28 AM	#12
Goofle Registered User Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Powys Bike: M900 Posts: 334	I had reason to call out the AA yesterday (non Monster related!) and we were discussing this. As said its going to be on the new vans, while some are now in service it will still be a couple of years or more before they all have a bike friendly trailer, as the newer vans (today's newer) get phased out.

14-05-2015, 02:41 PM	#13
BluprintZ Guest Posts: n/a	You forgot to mention that the gearchange was bent like a banana Jim, so you couldn't have ridden it home, clutchless or otherwise. G ; )