Sign 1: has your motorcycle gone down in Steveston, even at walking speed?
A tip-over in the Garry Point lot or a slide on a wet corner off Moncton Street can bend a lever, crack a mirror mount or knock the bars out of line. Even if it starts, have a mechanic check it before you ride. After a crash, ICBC says emergency services usually call a local tow company, and its page on getting a damage estimate explains what to do with the receipts.
A bike that went down carries a published $50 extra for the extra care loading it. Our guide to how motorcycle towing works shows each step.
Sign 2: can you still trust the brakes and tires on Steveston roads?
If the brake lever or pedal goes soft, or you see fluid on the caliper, don't ride it. Same with a tire that is cut, bulging or keeps losing air. Steveston Highway and No. 2 Road are fast and often wet, which is the worst place to find out.
A small puncture you can't plug is still a tow for most riders. The five checks before you call for a bike tow help you give us what we need in one call.
Sign 3: has a cable snapped or the chain come off the sprocket?
A clutch cable that snaps leaves you with no clean way to change gear, and a chain that jumps the sprocket can lock the back wheel. Neither is a roadside job. If the back wheel won't turn, the bike counts as one that won't roll, a published $40 extra, and we bring what it takes to get it up the deck.
Not sure any tow truck can carry a bike like that? Read can a standard tow truck handle a motorcycle.
Sign 4: is the bike leaking, smelling of fuel or showing a warning light?
Oil or coolant under the bike, a fuel smell, smoke, or a warning light that stays on after a restart are all reasons to stop riding. Park it, step away if you smell fuel, and call.
| What you notice | Tow or roadside? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Bike went down, any speed | Tow | Levers, bars or brakes may be bent |
| Soft brakes or fluid on the caliper | Tow | Stopping power is in doubt |
| Cut, bulging or flat tire | Tow | Unsafe to ride on |
| Snapped clutch cable or chain off | Tow | Can lock the wheel or the gears |
| Leak, fuel smell or smoke | Tow | Fire or slip risk |
| Clicks but will not crank after a long stop | Roadside first | Often just the battery |
| Ran out of fuel | Roadside first | Fuel can come to you |
Sign 5: does your motorcycle keep dying on the ride home through Steveston?
A bike that starts, runs a block and stalls again at every light on No. 1 Road will strand you somewhere worse next time. Two stalls in a row is enough reason to stop trying.
Lots of riders park at the Garry Point end of the West Dyke Trail and come back to a bike that coughs and quits. If it only clicks, a battery boost may be all it needs.
When is it a roadside fix instead of a motorcycle tow in Steveston?
When the bike is sound and only lacks a charge or fuel. A fuel delivery or a boost from our roadside assistance truck costs less than a tow, and we tell you on the phone if that is the better call.
Before the truck comes, read how to prepare your motorcycle for a tow and the motorcycle towing rules Steveston riders should know.
Signs your bike needs a tow in Steveston: the short version
Tow it after a drop, with brakes or a tire you can't trust, with a snapped cable or a chain off, with a leak or a stubborn warning light, or when it keeps dying. A flat battery or an empty tank is usually a roadside fix, and we will tell you so. Either way you hear the price before anything is loaded.
Motorcycle Tow Warning Signs in Steveston FAQ
Can I ride my motorcycle home after a small tip-over?
We would not. Even at walking speed a drop can bend a lever or knock the bars out of line, so have a mechanic check it first.
Is a dead battery a reason to tow my bike?
Usually not. A bike that is sound but won't crank after a long stop often only needs a boost, which costs less than a tow.
Does a bike with a locked back wheel cost more to tow?
Yes. A bike that won't roll or has a locked wheel is a published $40 extra, and we tell you before we book.
What should I keep after a motorcycle tow following a crash?
Every receipt. ICBC explains how towing and storage receipts are handled in its guide to getting a damage estimate.