Getting safe on two wheels
A stopped bike is harder for other drivers to see than a car. Push it as far off the road as you can, onto a verge, lay-by or side street. On a motorway, get behind the barrier and keep your high-visibility kit on. Do not stand beside the bike in a live lane to tinker with it. If you have a pillion, make sure they are safe too.
Quick checks before you call
Several common 'breakdowns' are really a switch or a setting. It is worth checking:
- The engine kill switch on the right handlebar is in the run position.
- The side stand is fully up — many bikes cut out if it is down in gear.
- The bike is in neutral, or the clutch is pulled in, when starting.
- There is fuel in the tank and the fuel tap (on older bikes) is on.
- The battery is not flat — dim lights or a clicking starter are the giveaways.
When recovery is the right call
If the bike still will not start, has a puncture you cannot fix, a broken chain, a clutch or gear-change failure, or any crash damage, do not ride it. A snapped chain can lock the rear wheel, and damaged brakes or forks are not worth the risk. Motorcycle recovery takes the bike home, to a dealer or to a workshop.
How a bike should be secured
Bikes need different handling to cars. A front-wheel chock holds the bike upright, and soft-tie straps go around strong points such as the lower yokes or footpeg frames. Straps should never be hooked over fairings, mirrors or handlebars, which can bend or crack. That is how we secure every bike we move — sports bikes, tourers, cruisers, scooters and trikes.
Tell the operator what the bike is, whether it has luggage or a top box, and whether the steering lock is on. If the keys are missing, say so, as it changes how the bike is moved.
Booking motorcycle recovery
Our office is in Walsall and takes calls 24/7. Share your location and the bike details, and you get a price before anyone is dispatched. For breakdowns further away, we arrange the job with the nearest vetted partner driver. Recovery also covers planned moves: a non-running project bike, a track-day return or a dealer delivery.
Punctures and chains
A slow puncture on a tubeless tyre can sometimes be plugged at the roadside with a proper kit, but a plug is a get-you-home repair, not a permanent one, and a damaged sidewall cannot be repaired at all. On chain-driven bikes, a chain that has jumped the sprocket or snapped should not be refitted and ridden without checking the sprockets and the chain itself. If you are not sure, it is safer to have the bike collected than to risk the rear wheel locking at speed. Recovery can take the bike straight to your usual workshop or dealer.
Frequently asked questions
What should I do if my motorbike breaks down?
Get off the road, keep your kit on near traffic, check the kill switch, side stand, fuel and battery, and call for motorcycle recovery if it still will not start.
How do you stop a bike getting damaged in transport?
We use a front-wheel chock and soft-tie straps around strong points like the lower yokes or footpeg frames, never over plastics, mirrors or handlebars.
Can you recover a crashed motorbike?
Yes. Tell us about the damage on the call so the driver can plan how to load it safely.
Do you move non-running bikes?
Yes, including project bikes, track bikes and dealer deliveries, as planned bookings.
Need help now?
We take calls 24/7 and give you a price before anyone is dispatched.
Call 03300 435121