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what happens when your motorcycle is towed

What Happens When Your Motorcycle Is Towed

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When you’re riding your motorcycle, it can feel like you’re invincible and that the ride will never stop. But like all vehicles, motorcycles will, at some point, need to be towed. Whether it’s because they had a break down or are illegally parked, motorcycle towing differs from car towing in some important ways.

Specialized Motorcycle Equipment

If you need your bike towed or moved, it’s tempting to grab a couple boards and call your friend with a pickup. Even if nothing goes wrong, your bike will still get some damage while it rattles around the back of the truck. But this setup can easily lead to your bike getting a lot of damage by falling off the ramp or out of the truck. Even worse, it could lead to severe injuries if the bike falls on someone.

It’s a lot easier, safer, and less damaging to your bike to call a service that has specialized motorcycle towing equipment. Specialized equipment can vary from hydraulic beds to flat beds to ramps to winched motorcycle holders. The best equipment allows your bike to be easily secured on flat ground into special holders that will keep it upright and stable. Once your bike is in place, it will be lifted or winched up onto the truck. It’s the best way to keep your bike secure and minimize the chances of damage.

Why You Should Avoid Standard Tow Trucks

Standard slings, hooks, and wheel locks can be used to securely hold a motorcycle in place. Some tow trucks even have adapters that allow them to grab the front wheel of the bike. But this is not the best way for your bike to be transported. That equipment is made for holding two wheels that are connected to a sturdy base. You simply won’t get good results with the single wheel of a lighter motorcycle.

Motorcycle forums are filled with stories of people who had their motorcycles towed by standard hooks or slings. Whether the towing was ordered by the owner or a non-consent towing, the common thread is a bunch of small damage to the bikes. Stick to motorcycle towing companies to avoid this damage.

Check Your Roadside Service Coverage

If you spend a lot of time on the road, it’s simply prudent to have roadside coverage. This is commonly offered through auto clubs or your insurance. That being said, just because you have it for your car doesn’t mean that you have it for your motorcycle. Make sure to carefully review your terms to see whether the towing or roadside services include motorcycle coverage.

If they don’t, that doesn’t mean you have to risk it. Motorcycle-specific roadside services are available. Even if you have coverage elsewhere, these are still worth the money since they only use towing companies with the right equipment.

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