Have any of you joined AMA (American Motorcyclist Association)? I did (cuz my bike has broken down a couple of times and I wanted to use their towing service). Well, I'm cancelling my membership tomorrow!

I broke down (again) on a ride this evening. This was my first time testing AMAs service. For starters, the 24-hour towing number isn't printed on the AMA membership card - clue #1 that they're not all that. I called my husband, he found a number online, and I called them.

Well, the person on the phone was so rude - I can't even explain! This post doesn't do it justice. Breaking down isn't fun, but I was actually in an okay mood - I wasn't on the hwy, I wasn't lost, I had AMA, and it wasn't dark yet.

The woman started by giving me flak for not knowing the "agent number" of type of membership I had - I just had the card to go by. Then she got snarky cuz I wasn't in front of a business or residence (sorry...didn't plan the break-down). She demanded a street address - I could only give her an intersection. Finally, she settled for the intersection, but refused to tow the bike to a local shop. They only tow to businesses if the shops are open. I was willing to take responsibility for my bike if left overnight, but she wouldn't budge. Fine, tow it to my home!

Then she told me she couldn't find a towing company and that she'd call me back. While I was waiting, I managed to start the bike. I managed to keep it running by switching the petcock to PRI, turning up the idle, leaving the choke halfway on, and keeping the throttle was constantly twisted. That made shifting and breaking tricky. I kept it at 4000 rpms even at lights cuz it would have died if I rolled off the throttle. Well, I made it to the shop, parked out of sight, locked the bike and got my husband to pick me up.

AAA has a "special/RV" option that includes bikes. Since I'm already an AAA Plus memeber, I'm going to just add on the RV/bike option. There's a local AAA-approved bike towing company that I've used before (on my own dime) and they're great.

Well, if you have a good AMA story, please share. If you haven't joined, don't bother.

Hey Veg, sorry to hear about your troubles. Just wondering though, what was the actual problem in the end? I had the same symptoms and I brought it down to a fouled/carboned plug. Now I carry 5 at a time  
Thanks, Simon

You don't see any links to the AMA here do ya?  There's a reason, they suck!  I am more then unimpressed with the AMA after hearing many stories like yours.

And yes, let the group know what the problem turned out to be.

Hi everyone,

My name is James and I'm an ex-AMA member.

I didn't renew my membership after the edmonson fiasco (the AMA had to pay a guy MILLIONS of dollars becasue they screwed him out of a racing deal.) And they keep harping about helmet laws (which IMHO are a GOOD thing) instead of more important things like getting lane spliting laws passed and, like Veggirl illustrated, improving their "services".

I am guessing intake manifold leak...
Mine did the same thing. Choke helps a little as well till you fix it, and surprisingly at high rpm it nearly was normal.
Cool.
Srinath.

I've never been a member. I've read the brochures and wasn't impressed enough to join and couldn't justify the membership fee. I had a freind who did join and I still didn't see any benefit between the two of us for the remaining two years of our freindship (I moved).

Quote from: JamesGI didn't renew my membership after the edmonson fiasco (the AMA had to pay a guy MILLIONS of dollars becasue they screwed him out of a racing deal.)

That story alone would leave a sour taste in the mouth of most people.  The AMA is a good old boy network and till somone comes in there with some vision it will continue to disappoint.

Well, I'm glad it's not just me I joined only for the towing service, and obviously that's a crock!

I talked to the "new" shop this morning and I'll let you know what the problem is when they find it. It's strange, my bike was accellerating like an automatic car (usually I leave intersections quickly and look around..."hey, where'd all the cars go?" But it's like I lost my torque (fuel prob?). I have to twist like crazy just to keep up with cars.

Then the jerky stuttering came back (like I was outta fuel). Damn! Anyway, I'm going to call AMA and demand a refund.

I thought the towing service was an extra fee (trying to remember from last year.)  Maybe I'm mistaken?

The only perk I've used the membership for (other than the Fasttrax organization requiring it to race last year & to get the supplemental insurance) was discount motel reservations & $1 off at the Cycle World shows.  Heck, I'm only 2 1/2 hours from the museum and haven't even visited it yet.

OH, maybe they should change the name to the American Made Motorcycle Association, because they'll bend over backward for HD.  The HD flattrack program would be nowhere without the AMA & someone please tell me which HD dealerships had a VT1000 (or whatever the roadracing HD was called) for sale?

You're correct: The membership is $40 but the towing is extra ($25?). There were a few rent-a-car coupons, in the membership package, but nothing you can't find in a local paper, or just by asking the rental place.

Quote from: Pam Gsomeone please tell me which HD dealerships had a VT1000 (or whatever the roadracing HD was called) for sale?

VR1000 And supposedly you could buy one in POLAND.    

So, I upgraded to AAA Plus/RV. I got to test their service out this afternoon after I lowsided (there's a separate post on that story). The AAA customer service guy was amazing - genuinely concerned for me. And the tow truck guy was equally nice...efficient, helpful, quick, free (well the upgrade was $24/year). I'm so happy - AMA will get a nasty letter from me soon. Beware the wrath of vegbiker

Thnaks for the tips on AMA. I have AAA on the cars and are more than pleased with it so I will add the bike on to that policy as well.

Like vegbiker, we have AAA with the moto add on.  We were paying for our cars already and to add on the motorcycle thing was pretty cheap.  We already used it to tow hubby's bike once so we've already got our money's worth for the year!  I just feel safer knowing that if I get stuck somewhere (whether bike or car) I can always call AAA.

I used AAA for a couple of years before I had my girl buy a pick-up. I think the fact that they are as big as they are helps getting a tow truck in a decent amount of time.

There is no excuse for the rudeness the operator showed you. I hope you do complain and something is done about it. If your job is to deal with people then you should be able to do it without pissing people off. When I waited tables I learned rule #1 The customer is always right and if you want more than $2.25 an hour you better be nice if you want that tip.

I am with James in the fact that I don't give a crap about helmet laws and I think lane splitting is a much better perk but the AMA is only about helping RUB's ride without brain buckets.

Quote
I am with James in the fact that I don't give a crap about helmet laws and I think lane splitting is a much better perk but the AMA is only about helping RUB's ride without brain buckets.

And loud obnoxious pipes too!

I broke down on I-580 a couple months ago. Called AAA and they were very friendly in helping me, the woman I talked to took care of everything and said there would be a truck in 45 minutes to help me out. They were early, and everything worked out in perfect harmony. I was really impressed, it was the first time I ever had to use my membership card. Good times, my friends.

Quote from: Pam G

Quote
I am with James in the fact that I don't give a crap about helmet laws and I think lane splitting is a much better perk but the AMA is only about helping RUB's ride without brain buckets.

And loud obnoxious pipes too!

What does one have to do with the other?