About 3 months after buying my Monster 821 Stripe I received a very nice letter from Ducati Italy, welcoming me to a very exclusive motorcycling family and attached to the letter was my personal Ducati Road Side Assistance card bearing my bike details and personal Ducati Code, great I thought, no need for extra roadside assistance cover with the AA or RAC, etc. Well yesterday while out on a really enjoyable ride along the Antrim Coast route I unfortunately picked a 6" nail in my rear tyre, the tyre deflated instantly but I managed to stop quickly and safely. I pulled out my Ducati card and dialled the number, 00800 33 22 88 77, as shown, but nothing, just a dead tone, so I tried 0800 33 22 88 77, it started ringing, great I thought until the automated service started. So I pressed the relevant buttons and finally a real person answered, "Chevron Assistance, can I have your registration number?" I'll make this bit very short, they didn't recognise my registration, nor my personal Ducati number, and so after explaining who I was, what I was riding, why I was calling and that I had make Ducati Roadside Assistance Card, I was put on hold and then cut off. This process was repeated 3 times and on the third occasion I was told, sorry we don't cover Ducati but please hold and I'll put you through and yes I was cut off again!! By this time I had been stranded in 24 degree heat for almost an hour, and so Ducati Roadside Assistance - what a fucking joke!! My next call was to Millsport Ducati in Ballymoney, and when I explained my predicament, their instant response was, where are you, we'll be there as soon as we can. Even though their normal delivery/service van was out on a job, the service manager and chief mechanic jumped into another transit van and came to the rescue, without any hesitation. Back at the showroom, I enjoyed a free coffee and relaxed well a new rear tyre was fitted and the bike was ready to go again within half an hour. What a fantastic, professional and courteous service, and no charge for recovery, cost of the tyre put on account, handed my keys with a smile and there you go. So a huge thank you to Millsport Ducati once again, their after sales service and their personal consideration for their customers is simply outstanding.
That Millsport service sounds fantastic, thumbs up to them. I always carry a crafty plugger and hand pump for those occasions when you need one, not always possible though if you don't have a bag with you.
Any time I call into Millsport I receive a welcome smile and a up of coffee. Great shop and great guys.
I feel your pain. I have a 959 and holed the radiator 50 miles from home but wasn't worried as I was covered by Ducati. I was so wrong. As no dealers were open late on a Sunday afternoon I was offered a taxi home up to 50 euro and my bike would be left in services overnight WTF. I complained to Ducati service (contradiction in terms) and was blown out. I manager to get home at my own expense and have since taken out separate cover. Love the bike. Breakdown is a bag of shite!!!
Having to leave the bike is not good eh, what cover have you taken out and would you recommend it? I'm looking at the moment.
My personal RAC covers everything i'm in or on. Never had to use is and Hope I never will so can't comment on their service, piece of mind though, better than nowt
Often the free cover isn't worth the steam off your piss, Ducati is no different. I have personal rac cover. Used it once for a failed stator on a cbf1000. Arrived in 30 mins.
Yeah, I took out RAC cover yesterday, it covers the bike and all other the family cars too, peace of mind.
Just make certain it's the proper get you home recovery, not the take you to the nearest bus stop version.
And make sure your covered for accidents as well, as I've mentioned before, they let my mate down badly in France after coming off in snow and breaking his leg. They told him he was covered for breakdown but not accidents, they would recover him but at a cost of a payment of £165 plus a £1 a mile, we were around 40 mile short of Millau and he wanted to get back to South Wales ?
Most polices exclude RTA. It's. It a breakdown. Your insurer should pick up the cost as part of a claim.
I'm with RAC, unfortunately they sub-contract their recovery in my area. When the fuel injection relay went on my Multistrada, response took over one-and-a-half hours - base was 20 miles away! RAC agreed this was poor and bribed me with 3 free months. I'll not be renewing with them after expiry.
Doesn't hep with bikes, its not like they can be towed by a roadside van, need a special trailer or truck. AA have just bought some more kit AFAIK and probably a better bet now
I have AA it covers any vehicle I am in/on. I gave up on RAC after it took them 4 hours to recover my broken down bike on the A4 3 years ago. I spent the time sat on a roundabout with the bike.
RAC and AA are like courier services - their effectiveness and service level seem to depend upon the direction of the wind. I dumped the AA following them leaving my doris and newborn on the M6 for 4 hours.
