How many AMA members here?

[randy]

Thanks to Planedick for bringing this up, I've often wondered how many of us are active in the AMA. I've been a member on and off since '78. How about you?

Originally posted by planedick:

The bigger and better one is the AMA (American Motorcyclist Association) and I highly recommend everyone here join. Great magazine too and free roadside assistance with towing and only $40/year...

And then there's the discounts on hotels, car rentals, campgrounds, etc.

For those interested in finding out more go here:

http://www.ama-cycle.org

For the record, NO, I am not a recruiter! But I do believe in what the AMA does for us in regards to protecting our riding rights and the larger the group, the more clout we carry with the State and Federal government.

[XJOK2PLAY]

Good info, guys.
Ironically, Bohn was just talking to me about joining recently.
His been a member for a while, and had to have his bike towed once while on a trip out in the middle of nowhere.

He had nothing but great things to say about them.

He was very impressed with the care they took, & their equipment to haul the bike they used.

Thanks for the link. I'll be checking them out.

[Crazcnuk]

Here it is the Alberta Motor Association, but I have also been a member off and on since the early 80s.

I've never had them tow any of my bikes, but I've had my car(s) towed a few times.

Got hit in an intersection in Spruce Grove, and they towed the car to Wildwood, for me, about 140kms. No cost.

Engine went in the Camaro in Edson, had it towed to Hinton (85kms). No cost

My brother bought a VW beetle, for parts, in St Albert once. We took the plate off of his beetle, put it on the 'new' one, pushed it to the curb, then phoned AMA and had it towed home. Used MY AMA, since I have Plus, I can have any car towed, not just my own.

I've had them come out and open a couple of cars, including a VW beetle, when I locked the keys in. For Beetles (old style) you can't use a coat hanger or similar tool, they actually have to pick the lock.

One time, when my brother got his F-250 Lariat stuck in a field, he called me to come pull him out. He wasn't sunk in, the top 2" had thawed and he just couldn't move w/o sliding sideways. Unfortunately, he didn't tell me before we got there. I had to go down into the ditch, then up the approach to get around a road block. When I went up, the car slid right across and down the other side.

It was a 1979 Chevy Bel Air. 4 door, limited slip, etc. The car ended up 50ft down an embankment, sideways. The AMA truck that came out was an OLD 1 ton 4x4 p/u that couldn't have weighed a lot more than the Chevy. Just a young guy driving, and I thought he would have to get a bigger truck. However, he just ran out the cable, snugged it up, then drove the truck until it sunk up to the axles. Then he winched the car up 10ft or so, then, backed out of his holes, moved forward, sunk to his axles again, rinse and repeat. It was neat to watch.

[MrOzz]

I am not. But after reading a little bit on their site I think I might just join.

Thanks for the info.

Ozz

[Larrym]

Roadside Rescue Vehicle

I'm not an AMA member. I do have AAA on the vehicle below:



The bike rides in the back as I travel to different roads in various states. Last year I did 7 states. The boxes contain most of the tools/parts needed for repairs. I also have a manual winch with ramps which allow me to get the unpowered bike up in the truck.

Most of my riding is less than 2 hours away from my starting point. I figure that if I have a breakdown then I'll park the bike, get a ride back to my truck, and pick up the bike myself.

I don't know how many times the AMA roadside assistance will provide a "free" tow. My setup allows for multiple tows/rescues if needed.

If I didn't have this setup then I would definitely have the AMA or AAA version of roadside assistance/towing.

[CatatonicBug]

I have roadside assistance with my bike insurance, but I honestly don't know the details of the coverage. I know AAA has a limited distance they will tow, and a limited number of calls you can place per year (I over-used it on my VW bug in high school). AAA costs over $75 a year, and more if you add other family members. I decided that it was too much to pay for a service I no longer used and dropped it many years ago. I may look into the AMA thing, but it depends on whether I will benefit much from it.

[Silent]

13 yr AMA member. Took a break for a few years so my numbers 111###. Kinda surprised me when I started seeing peoples numebrs in the milions Good organization to belong to

[xs11jack]

Off and on

I too am a on again off again member, I gave it up a couple of years ago when money got tight. Now I am thinking of joining again. Look to set the record straight I go the mag for the articals not the pictures!!! Really, I admire the things AMA does for the biker. member or not, if a bike piece of law is going thru your state government, they are there to represent us.
Jack

[Rasputin]

Here it is the Alberta Motor Association, but I have also been a member off and on since the early 80s.

I've never had them tow any of my bikes, but I've had my car(s) towed a few times.

Got hit in an intersection in Spruce Grove, and they towed the car to Wildwood, for me, about 140kms. No cost.

Engine went in the Camaro in Edson, had it towed to Hinton (85kms). No cost

My brother bought a VW beetle, for parts, in St Albert once. We took the plate off of his beetle, put it on the 'new' one, pushed it to the curb, then phoned AMA and had it towed home. Used MY AMA, since I have Plus, I can have any car towed, not just my own.

I've had them come out and open a couple of cars, including a VW beetle, when I locked the keys in. For Beetles (old style) you can't use a coat hanger or similar tool, they actually have to pick the lock.

One time, when my brother got his F-250 Lariat stuck in a field, he called me to come pull him out. He wasn't sunk in, the top 2" had thawed and he just couldn't move w/o sliding sideways. Unfortunately, he didn't tell me before we got there. I had to go down into the ditch, then up the approach to get around a road block. When I went up, the car slid right across and down the other side.

It was a 1979 Chevy Bel Air. 4 door, limited slip, etc. The car ended up 50ft down an embankment, sideways. The AMA truck that came out was an OLD 1 ton 4x4 p/u that couldn't have weighed a lot more than the Chevy. Just a young guy driving, and I thought he would have to get a bigger truck. However, he just ran out the cable, snugged it up, then drove the truck until it sunk up to the axles. Then he winched the car up 10ft or so, then, backed out of his holes, moved forward, sunk to his axles again, rinse and repeat. It was neat to watch.

I have also been an AMA member for a few yrs now (5 or 6), And I have had similar experiences as Craz has had. I have my son covered as an associate member and that has been a great asset as well as he is (soon to turn 21) covered when I can not be there in person. As far as the AMA you guys are talking about here, I have of course, no experience.

Keith, I just want to let you know of an experience we have had. If the AMA membership you have is not for recreational vehicles it will not cover your motorcycle here. Motorcycles are considered as recreational and the towing bill is staggering. We had a motorcycle towed from just outside Innisfail to Red Deer and the bill was almost $800. Something for ya to check out.

[Crazcnuk]

AMA (Alberta) has RV coverage which will cover your bike, or at least it used to.

I don't have that, I have AMA Plus, though which covers any vehicle (car or truck) that I happen to be riding in, so if a buddies car dies, i can have it towed too.

I've never needed bike towing. None of my ancient bikes has died anywhere that i couldn't easily get a freind out with a truck or trailer.

I am working on a trailer design to haul my bike(s) around behind my neon so that I don't have to rely on gas guzzling pickups to move bikes around.

[fredintoon]

- - - I am working on a trailer design to haul my bike(s) around behind my neon so that I don't have to rely on gas guzzling pickups to move bikes around.

Hi Craz,
if that little flatbed trailer of yours don't have a tilting tongue, convert it so it does; bolt an 8 foot length of 6" channel up the middle and she'll do.

[Crazcnuk]

That was exactly what I was looking at. I have the trailer I pulled to your place. It's rated at 1,000lbs.

I think if I run that 6" channel up the middle, onto the tongue, a foot or so, it should balance properly.

To make it so I can load it myself, I was thinking of putting the channel on a slide, so that I could pull it back, to stay down on it's own, then slide it forward once the bike is on the trailer.

Just have to get around to it.

[HobbyMan]

well, not involved unless you are talking Academy of Model Aeronautics

[planedick]

Also free

The AMA road service also covers all the vehicles in your immediate family. They will tow for 35 miles before charges apply.