I know a lot of folks love and support the AMA. I
used to be one of them. Member for more than 25 years. Used their tow service in Cody on 4th of July 2013 when the rear Metz delaminated. Excellent service in 2013. Also used them 1 or 2 times locally for cages...
I put off making this post for a long time, knowing the blowback.
Had a flat on the Valkyrie on a Saturday last August. About 100 miles from home. Called AMA. They said it would take a while - maybe 2 hours, being Saturday afternoon. I said OK, I'll wait, no other choice, but please tell the tow driver it is somewhat urgent, as I was stuck on the shoulder of a blind curve and was getting zoomed by traffic.
In the meantime, I turned down at least a half dozen offers for assistance. A nice lady that lives nearby offered to go get a trailer and store my bike, a group of bikers (~20) blew by then pull off the road - the leaders cirled back and asked if I was OK and did I have a phone. A guy with a trailer stopped and offered to emty out his construction supplies to get my bike in... "
Thank you very much, everyone, I'm waiting for the AMA to show up - the Calvary is on the way!"
AMA
NEVER di show! When I finally got back a hold of the AMA dispatcher hours later, he said there HAD BEEN a tow dispatched, but he (the phone operator) called the tow off off because "
It would take too long and it was an emergency". He decided it would be much better to leave me stranded all night than have me wait 2 hours, which I did anyway. Thanks a lot, AMA!.
Like clockwork, I started getting letters, emails, and phone calls to renew my membership, like I knew would happen.
After many discussions about their sorry lack of service and my refusal to send them additional money, they told me they would reimburse me for towing if I provided receipts (no receipts exist, I was bailed out by friends - it was a
LONG day).
One of the friendly characters that happened by after I was roadside about 3 hours was on a small shiny HD. I didn't take they guy seriously at first (his bike was
too clean, he was carrying a grocery bag, and his sunglasses had white frames!). But he stopped to talk and was real nice. Said if I was still there when he came back the other way, he would help me out. Thanks, buddy, I expect to be recued by AMA any minute now...
An hour later, "
Hobo" came back around. We made it to his place (~2 miles) and hung out in his garage as spell talking motorcycles and such, turns out he was originally from my old stomping grounds.
He had to leave, but said I could help my self to his beer in the garage fridge, here is some weed, whatever I liked, help myself. I could go right in his house if I needed facilities. Great guy! My new friend, "
Hobo"!
Eventually, Lulu got off work, drove over to get me (just before dark), we drove all the way home to get a trailer, went
back to B F Nairobi, rescued the Valk (Hobo was not there) and made for home.
I spent a lot of time trying to resolve things with AMA. I asked AMA to give me a 3 year membership for the price of 2 years, "
No way!".
AMA can bite me.
