Motorbike Broken Down? What to Do (and What Not to Do)

Breaking down on a motorbike feels very different from breaking down in a car. You're more exposed, you've got no shelter, and a heavy bike isn't easy to push. Here's what to do if your bike lets you down in Stockport, Manchester or on the motorway.

Get yourself safe first

• Pull over as far from traffic as you can, ideally into a lay-by, side road or car park
• Put your hazard lights on if your bike has them
• Keep your helmet and high-vis kit on until you're well away from the road
• On a motorway, use the hard shoulder or an emergency area, get behind the barrier and call for help from there

Don't try to fix the bike at the side of a busy road. Your safety matters more than getting going a few minutes sooner.

Common reasons motorbikes break down

• Flat battery: very common if the bike has been standing for a while, especially in winter.
• Puncture: don't ride on a flat tyre. It can damage the wheel and makes the bike very unstable.
• Chain problems: a loose, dry or snapped chain will stop you. Don't ride with a chain that's jumping or hanging low.
• Running out of fuel: easily done if the fuel gauge or reserve warning isn't reliable.
• Clutch or throttle cables: a snapped cable means the bike can't be ridden safely.
• Electrical faults: blown fuses or loose connections, often after wet weather.

What not to do

• Don't tow a motorbike with a rope behind a car or another bike. It's dangerous and very easy to drop the bike.
• Don't push a heavy bike a long way along a busy road.
• Don't lay the bike on its side to load it into a van. It can leak fuel and oil and damage fairings, levers and mirrors.

Getting your bike recovered properly

A motorbike needs to be carried upright and strapped securely so it can't move in transit. That's how we handle every bike at WM Recovery. Our motorcycle recovery service covers Stockport, Manchester, Cheadle, Bramhall, Hazel Grove, Marple and the M60, M62, M56 and M67, 24 hours a day.

We can take your bike home, to your dealer or to a garage you trust. We can also help with a jump start if it's just a flat battery. See our jump start service.

Broken down now?

Call WM Recovery on +44 7426 242 025. Tell us where you are and what's happened, and we'll get to you as quickly as we can.