OK - I know that twofish has a thread going about 'roadside assistance' in general, but there is a negative post in his thread regarding roadside assistance that is included with HOG membership.

Quite frankly - and I'll probably get flamed for this - the HOG roadside assistance is the only reason I am a HOG member.

If the HOG roadside is useless, then I might as well spend that money on beer.

Anyone with good/bad experiences with HOG roadside assistance??

Thanks

 

Unfortunately, bad. Been a Sporty owner for a while... and when I got a Dyna I decided to get HOG membership - specifically for the roadside assistance. Not less than three months in - a piston pin came loose in the middle of North Philadelphia. I was stuck in a shady neighborhood and called it in - just as it was getting dark. They told me the amount it would cost, which was basically just like any other towing service, fine I said, but I figured Harley would arrange everything else. Two hours went by and they called me back and said they couldn't get a hold of any towing facilities and were still trying... no-one was picking up the phone they said. Repeated inquiries by myself during the situation eventually dwindled since my cell was giving out and no more change for the pay phone. The manager called me back two hours after that and told me I was out of luck as they were unable to get assistance. He apologized enough times but that didn't help me get home.

I had to call in a favor and have a friend pick me up in the middle of the night by then and cart the bike home.

The situation left a bad taste in my mouth, but I didn't pursue it - and figured I'd let the membership expire naturally. Not worth my effort to get all indignant and cancel it or whatever. As far as I am concerned it is less than useless.
So, that's my experience with it.

 

I used it (roadside assis) on a Saturday Afternoon. Broke a clutch cable, couldn't fix it despite tools. Called R.A. #, they located a local tow truck, called me back in 45 min and the tow truck appeared 1/2 hr later. No $ out of my pocket. Despite the time I waited, it was worth it. Suppose it depends on where you are, what time it is, and how many companies are contracted in your area.

 

I've had good service form them. It's worth the extra $20/year. The rest of the HOG membership - especiall th elocal HOG - is useless.

 

I'm like you Glide. I only have it for the RA and I've never used it. I dont even know why I got it really cause my Geico plan covers towing as well.

 

About 6 years ago the ole lady and I were up running the back roads of Wisconsin, the sporty I was on blew a hole in its piston, and we were stuck on the side of a road about 75 miles outside of Wausa......I phoned the local Harley in that town, they sent out an enclosed trailer, and picked up the scoot, and dropped us off at a local hotel. Had to wait about 1 1/2 hrs for them to get out to me since they had about 75 miles to run, gave us some time to relax, and for me to cool down over my bad luck. RA picked up the bill.....easy deal....

Respects,
Ed

 

my daughter and I were on an overnighter to the ozark mountains when I had a rear blowout in the middle of nowhere. I have the $20 per year roadside assistance. called the 800 number and they made arrangements to get me picked up by a shop out of joplin mo. I was about 60 miles from there. the shop picked me up within 2 hours (Cycleconnection HD Joplin MO) and stayed late to get me back on the road. The roadside assistnacew paid for itself that day and was relatively hassle free.its the only reason I am a hog membere too. if you are ever in Jopplin. this is a great dealer!

 

Well I had a good experience. Went out to lunch with some buddies (1-1/2 hours away from home) and after lunch I could not turn the bike on. The selector switch did not turn from the "lock fork" position. It was jammed. I called Harley roadside assistance. I had to wait for a flatbed for 2-1/2 hours and did not get to the Harley dealership till 5pm, but the service manager was really cool. He took the bike in the shop and told me to hang out in their waiting area. In less than an hour, they had me all fixed up and did not have to pay a dime. Everything was under warranty and RA paid for the towing.
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I've had overall similar positive experiences as those listed above. There was one time that I knew I needed to get my bike to the dealer first thing the next morning as that night coming home I picked up some nasty shrapnel in my rear tire. I made it home and called HD Roadside first thing to make arrangements. I was told that their policy is you call and "an hour later" someone would be at my house, so I would have to wait and call in the morning.

The next morning I got up and called at 6:30 AM, hope to arrive at the dealer by 8:00 or so. At 10:00 I called HD Roadside back and inquired as to the fact why I was still stranded at home - they said the tow truck was running late and it would be another hour or so. Needless to say that I arrived at the dealer a little before 1:00 PM. The guy that came to pick me up was on a huge flat bed wrecker which wasn't really set up to haul a bike and I wasn't to happy with the way he secured it. After one of he big, metal ratchety things on the strap came off the bars and slammed into my tank, I asked him if I could just tie it down myself.

I don't know how you guys lucked out and got a real bike trailer from the dealer come get you...

Long story short, my transport was 100% paid by HD and I was back on the road that same afternoon.

 

Hubby and I were out on a cruise with about 6 other bikes on a nice summer Saturday. Hubby had a tussle with a bee, and looked up, road was curving and we were going straight. Long story short, we were lucky and ok, but the bike was not. This was about 2:00ish. We called H.O.G. for some towing assistance. We send our friends on. We say "Assistance is on the way....we'll be ok." We waited. We waited. And we waited some more. Around 4:00ish we called back. They were having a hard time finding someone to come and get us. It was starting to thunder. We decided the bike was “ok” enough to ride about 2 miles up the road to a store. Surely they could get someone to come and get us from that point. We called again after we got to the store. We waited. We waited. The store closed. We called. We waited. Around 7:00ish here comes this totaled out 2-door Jeep Cherokee with a tire strapped to the top pulling what looked like an old used boat trailer with a couple of metal strips welded up the middle. Banjo music starts playing. Out jumps the dirty old man, that was as wide as he was tall. Shirt unbuttoned, nice stitch work all the way up his chest, from who knows what. Big wad of ‘baccer in his mouth. Out jumps his little co-hort. About 12 or 13 best I could guess. Big wad of ‘baccer in his mouth…. “you folks the ones that need a lift?” says the dirty little fella. Hubby and I looked at each other, and reluctantly say “yeah”. By this time it had rained and the pavement was wet. Big dirty fella said “well, can you pull it up to the trailer and we’ll push it on up”. Hubby and I look at each other, look at the boat trailer transformed into a motorcycle trailer, look at the wet pavement, and then look at the Ultra sitting there broken and saying “please don’t try and put me on that piece of junk”. I said “no way.” Hubby says “I think I can ride it up on it”. I say “no way, where you going to put your feet when you get up there???” Dirty little fella spits backer juice and misses my feet my about 4 inches. After the day I have had I’m thinking I can take him if he spits again and hits my boots. Never killed anyone before, but he is pretty small. So we ponder the situation and send the Deliverance boys on their way. There was no way I was getting in that Jeep with no back doors and no way to make a quick get-away if needed, even if we could have gotten the Ultra on the trailer. So another long story short, we flagged down a biker that got his enclosed trailer and brought us all the way home. That’s how good Road Side Assistance was for us.