Getting it home…
Jun 21st, 2010 by Leo
So you go take a look at a bike and decide to buy it, how do you get it home? Before you ride it you’ll need to get plates and registration at the DMV. Not only that, even if you have plates, you’ll need someone to go with you to drop you off. If you’re around NY, the easiest way to get a bike home is probably to get a tow. ”But aren’t these tow services expensive?” Depending on the distance and availability, a good private tow service (in a pickup truck or van) can cost you just a bit more than cab fare…
So here’s my Bike Tow story: we were riding along Northern State Parkway when I lost the shift rod that connects the gear shift lever to the transmission [full disclosure, I was adjusting the lever and never fully tightened the bolts...the vibration while cruising the parkway managed to unscrew it...so it was my dumb mistake.] It’s an easy fix, so from the side of the road we called around all the Honda dealers we could find within 50 miles – no joy. No one had the part in stock. That means not only will I not be riding home, my bike will be out of commission for a few days until I get the part.
So I pushed my bike to a safe spot and gave Tony from TLT Towing a call. His fees start at $30 for a local pickup. I was about 20 miles from home, and it was an emergency tow so it was about three times that… Yes money doesn’t grow on trees, but it was actually cheaper than if I took a cab back home (to grab my tools) and come back. Not only did Tony tow my bike back, he made a couple of calls and found someone who had the part I needed… So twenty minutes later I was good to go. Thanks Tony!
Now from what I understand it’s the wild west out there for local towing and moving services. And not everyone can load and unload a bike safely (it’s easier to drop your bike walking it than it is to drop it riding). So do yourself a favor and find a decent tow service in your area. If you’re in NYC, jot this number down (TLT Towing, 212-300-7666) and keep it with your registration. Or if you’re thinking about picking up a bike, give them a call and see what it would cost you in advance so you know your options.
Do you have a tow service you recommend in your area? Share the wealth in the comments section!
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Tony is the man! He towed my bike when I bought it. He also came out with me to check a couple of bikes before I settled on the Vulcan. You’ll never meet a more helpful, friendly guy. In NYC and the Tri-State, TLT Towing is the way to go.
I second that. I bought a bike in jersey and he did the 5 hour trip last minute. Great guy, easy going and thorough. He helped me inspect my first bike, and made me feel confident in my purchase. A honest, good guy.
First of all I’d like to thank all you guys here for the wonderful words you wrote about me and my tow service. Believe me it was my pleasure to serve and help you guys out when you needed it the most. Like I explained to you guys when we worked together that GOD has given me a second chance and thanks to him I had the opportunity to meet & help you.
I hope these phrases written by my customers here show the rest of you guys out there that I try to the max to provide friendly , curtious , professional and most importantly honest service to everyone I come accross by.
My tow service name is TLT towing NYC and the number as posted before here is (212)300-7666. Please feel free to call or text me not only for service but also for any questions/advice you may need on a motorcycle or scooter. I will, for free, try to answer it and advise you the best I can with the years of knowledge that have with riding and dealing with bikes.
Thanks a million again and please always wear your helmet and please ride safe out there. TONY from TLTtowingNYC
Here I was, everything arranged for the pickup of my very first bike, all excited with a thought of finally getting into it… At the last minute I received a call from a guy who was suppose to tow it to my place that he had an emergency and can not help me. Luckily, I had Tony’s number. Not only shortly after he picked me up and we went together to get the bike, but he gave me loads of information, advices and just simple encouragement that are so valuable for a newbie, like me. Thank you, Tony
This guy tony had an ad on craigslist but he needs to be on st. Peters list. He saved my life with his road side assistance. he didn’t even charge me an arm and a leg. He stayed with me until we got my bike back on the road. He had the tools and the knowhow. He is also a guy I wouldn’t mind having a beer with. Use this guy. Got to me fairly quickly. Paul Honda cb500 ’72
Tony is great! Very helpful and prompt — even on a holiday weekend. As a new rider and owner, he towed my new bike to my house and offered a lot of great tips. Highly recommended! Will keep his card handy on the bike,
Just want to say thanks Tony! I found Tony on Craigslist and immediately he was of help when i called him asking about questions as i never owned a bike before. Tony helped me from the first step of buying a bike all the way to towing it back to my place. Hes extremely knowledgeable about bikes. He came with me to check out bikes, did thorough and complete inspections on them, test rode, and gave me his honest opinions. I felt 100% more comfortable bringing him with me to check out potential bikes. When i finally purchased one, he threw it right on the flat bed and towed it all the way to the city from new jersey. I already have passed his contact info onto my brother and someone who i work with that are also in the market and will be using his services. This is a professional service at half the cost.
I came to this blog to read what People said about Tony before I called him to Tow my Ninja and make some repairs. I thank everyone that posted their experiences with Tony because it helped me to make the right decision.
My experience was more than positive.
I called Tony to Pickup my Ninja and have some repairs made. He worked around my schedule and came by when it was a good time for me (which is late at night).
he kept me updated with the status of my repairs almost daily.
Once the repairs were made, he worked around my schedule for the drop off.
.
He was very reasonably priced and extremely competitive.
More than the money aspect, is his honesty.
I will use him again (although, i hope i never need to
He is Honest, reliable and a good person.
If you need additional info please email me at toekneesoprano@yahoo.com
Thank you again Tony, you are great!
Hi I am just dropping a line for praising Tony. I am a owner of a Harley Davidson Vrod which Tony helped bring from Allentown Penn to Manhattan
over the summer. Tony also towed my bike for winter storage to NJ. I have to say Tony is a proffesional and he knows what he is doing.
He is very personalble. He also gave me the best price for the deal. I would reccomend him to anyone. His number is 212-300-7666
if you have any questions of his reliability I as a motorcycle owner who is his customer can certainly vouch for him
thanks
The cold weather got to my battery and I knew I needed a tow to bring my scooter in for winter storage. I read the positive feedback here and gave Tony a call. He got back to me fast and arranged to pick up. He gives outstanding service, at a great rate and he deserves all the good press he gets. Tony, you’re a pro and a genuine nice guy. I’ll share your contact info with others. Thanks again for super help!!!
I called Tony this morning to see if he could help me bring home my first motorcycle, a Honda CB 350. This guy is a real pro! He picked me up exactly when he said he would. We drove over to get the bike, loaded it up, and went back home, easy. He’s super cool and awesome to talk to. This guy really knows his shit about motorcycles. He gave me all these helpful tips on how to maintain and register my bike. Tony’s the man. If you ever need to get your motorcycle anywhere or need any help on it, Tony’s your guy.
Thanks Tony, you deserve all the credit and respect you get.
Wow! i am at a loss for words about the great service i got today but here goes….Tony dropped a personal appointment to pick me and my stranded bike up with almost no notice and got to me 15 minutes early! he was inexpensive compared to others i called and boy does he know his stuff. i felt so safe the way he secured the bike and he is a cautious driver to boot. he even gave me a few tips about safety against theft and was very polite to me and my wife, a true gentleman. he is not affiliated with the big shops so no raising prices to kick back to “the man”. i promise you will finish feeling a tip is in order, no lie!
Top-notch service. I was hoping to look at this ninja 250 that someone was selling. Tony came on really short notice (I called him the night before and needed his help in the morning the very next day).. Came on time (early even).. And we were on our way.
It was a Sunday and it completely slipped my mind that most banks are closed – I couldn’t withdraw enough money for the entire bike purchase due to the daily ATM limits, so basically I was screwed.
Tony suggested that I check if there are any branches that might be open on Sunday mornings! There was one, about 1 mile away and guess what? He drove me there, got the cash, and now I’m a proud owner of the ninja!
Thanks Tony.
Great experience. Needed to pick up a new bike (to me) that wasn’t running. Called Tony, arranges pickup, and the next morning he was there!
Totally pro, great price (1/2 of any other place I called). Nice guy too!
Definitely can make a bad experience pleasant.
Well, I do not have a motorcycle (yet), but I will one day. I have a scooter…a Honda Ruckus and that is my summertime fun and transportation. I leave my car parked and only drive my car when it’s raining.
I called the Honda Dealer on Crossbay Blvd and asked them about there service, oil change inspection, and a new battery and not only was the price pricey, I was wondering how was I going to get my scooter there, approx. three miles. Because even with the battery tender my Ruckus wouldn’t start.
I heard about Mr. Tony through a friend and decided to give him a call.
Mr Tony came to my complex with his tow truck and loaded my scooter on his truck, quick and easy. What a relief and a connivence that was.
In a short turnaround, I had my baby back. New battery (started right up), a new New York State Inspection sticker, and last but not lease an oil change. Also, Mr. Tony wash my scooter. All for a great price! Who could asked for anything more. Well needless to say, Mr. Tony’s number is programed into my iPhone for emergencies and non-emergencies.
Thank You Mr. Tony
This is my first Motorcycle & I know nothing about Bike’s so I was a little nervous about going by myself & getting taken & not to mention how was I going to get it home. So I looked on the internet & Found Tony’s Add I was relieved called up the number & spoke to Tony. First I was going to get a Honda shadow 750 cause I was talking to a dealership from craigslist & the guy was like a 750 great beginner. I Asked Tony for he gave me Great advise I would have had such a problem if it wasn’t for him he told me it was too big for a beginner. looked around again found a great deal on another bike called Tony & set it up. He was Great on time professional right to work he checked out the bike & even got me a better deal on the bike. He explained to me in detail everything that was good & bad about the bike Great experience definitely recommend him for any body looking for a Motorcycle & needing a tow.
Tony was so very helpful. He came to meet me in long island and brought my bike home to newark. He was courteous, professional, and very reliable. I am recommending him to my friends and I recommend him to you! Thanks again Tony for all your help!
Tony’s Great Second time I needed his help with my Suzuki sv650s & he came threw in minute’s. Checked out my bike explained the issue’s in detail & away he went with my Motorcycle. So glad he’s out there to help don’t know what I would do with out his help probly get taken for a ride. Not to mention have to pay for a tow & Honest person to work on my bike with tony you get both. Can’t wait to get on the road Definitely recommend him he Genuinely care’s about fixing your problem & getting you out riding. Don’t waste your time & money with any one else not worth the aggravation.
Thank you again Tony
Not only Great Towing Service very good advice towards your first bike & existing bike also very handy. I Had a problem with my signal light’s & the oil on my bike tried to fix it myself it was a disaster called Tony asked if he new anyone that could help me. He took care of it himself & did a Great job very happy with the look & Definitely gonna have him work on some other extra item’s on my Bike
Thank you again Tony
Wow , nice reviews… I am in the process of purchasing my first bike and am totally new at this scene… I will def be giving tony a call
.
I was trying to figure out how to get the bike home with out plates and insurance all those nonsense… but finally I got that answer figured out… TLT TOWING, tony are you a 1 man team ? or do you have a several towing trucks going around ?
I read the great reviews for TLT Towing posted here, and gave Tony a call. I am really happy that I did. He picked me up in the city, at my office, drove me out to the dealership in Belleville , NJ , and dropped me and the bike off in South Brooklyn. All of that for a third of what the dealer was trying to charge. It was nice to do business with a trustworthy individual , especially after having spent so much time at the dealership trying not to get ripped off. He also gave me lots of tips for keeping and riding a bike in the city, which as a new rider, were greatly appreciated. And to top it off, he bought me a soda.
TLT TOWING was great. Went to NJ to pickup my Buddy 125 and in a flash delivered the bike to NYC. Tony, you are great. A true gentle man! Went well beyond just a transporting my bike, you treated it as if it was your own! Thanks! Would highly recommend TLT. Thanks again for helping me out.
G
Yesterday, and for the second time in 6 months, Tony from TLT came to my rescue! Both times he was able to fix my Vespa and save me the towing and more importantly the hassle of the repair shop. Thumbs up on Tony who is also a good guy too! Call him-you won’t be sorry!
Tony came and picked me up yesterday to help me pick up my first bike. He was very helpful and a cool and honest guy. He gave me a lot of tips and even helped me out as far as going to see people for parts and even insurance quotes. I highly recommend him because he’s a fellow rider and I am def. keeping his card and number on me at all times. Thanks again Tony!!!!
Tony towed my 2006 ZX-14 when it broke down on me on a hot sunny day. He showed up quickly, and brought it to my shop of choice. He strapped it down carefully, and it got to the destination with no damage. The price was very fair and I was very happy. I will only use TLT Tony for now. Not to mention he knows many bikers and MC clubs in the Tri-State area.
Every once in a while you run across someone in business who sincerely cares more about servicing the customer and doing a good job than the almighty dollar. After calling the towing service I actually pay a yearly fee for and waiting for them to find someone to bring my bike to the mechanic I was appaulled by the lack of knowledge this service showed by the towing people they offered to me. Also to mention, most people wouldn’t have been able to make it for hours to my location and the cost not only was unbelievable, but they wanted cash up front. A friend of mine gave me Tony’s number and I texted him. He answered within minutes, had a possible fix suggestion for my bike, and was able to be there when i needed him. He loaded up my bike and I rode with him to my mechanic. In the truck I learned a lot about this man’s character. Bottom line>> this is the person you want handling your bike. ..not only in a pinch, but whenever you require a tow. As a matter of fact.. Tony is a friend to the motorcycle community!!!
Tony towed my new scooter today. I was impressed by his punctuality and how quickly he responds to texts. Very professional and courteous… would definitely recommend!
I selected Tony’s service to transport my bike precisely because of all the positve comments I read about Tony on this site. With so many other riders singing his praise I figured he was somebody I could count on. My bike needed a new fuel pump so I couldn’t drive it to my mechanic. Another service I tried to line up – cancelled out on me at the last minute and said they would get back to me once their “emergency” was resolved. They never did get back to me. I then started to look for other services on the web and quickly found this blog about Tony & TLT Towing. As I said, it was the uniformly positive feedback from his customers that sold me on Tony.
He responded to my text within minutes and gave me all the dates that were good for him. When I got back to him with my best date and time he said he would be there. At the appointed hour Tony was in front of my Brooklyn home – precisely on time. He then in a most friendly, professional and trust-worthy manner delivered my bike to my mechanic’s shop – and all for a very reasonable price.
I totally recommend Tony for any motorcycle, scooter or cargo move. You will not be disappointed.
Very reliable , came on time, good rates, and Tony showed me what was wrong and what was needed to be fixed on my purchase. Very knowledgable about motorcycles. Would recommend to anybody and pretty friendly also , doesn’t just seem like a business transaction. Would call in a heartbeat if I need a tow again.
So I’ve been in the market for a new daily rider for a couple of weeks. I made arrangements with two other towing companies, one promptly canceled three times until I lost the bike, and the second was a horse’s you know what. Then I found TLT towing, and my faith in humanity has been restored.
Tony is professional, courteous, prompt, honest; the polar opposite of the rest of those shlubs with trailers on CL. TLT is the only towing company I will ever call again.
Having a professional like Tony to be there to help, made my fourth motorcycle purchase a breeze. I can’t thank you enough for making this day so simple.
Cheers,
Danny
Buying my first bike and Tony from TLT was an imense help. He showed me what to look for and even got me a better deal. He explained to me what needed attention and what the condition of the my R6 was in. Everything checked out good and I bought my 1st motorcycle. He loaded it up with care and the stuff he uses seems to be the best supplies around. Felt real confident that my new baby was in good hands.
I have to say that Tony made a nervous experience a real smooth and happy moment in a chapter of my life. Also his pricing was fair for the level of care and service that you are receiving.
Use his services, you will not be disapointed.
Andrew Cole
My bike was recently stolen and I was one of the lucky ones to have it recovered .Unfortunately I was unable to drive it do to the damage to the ignition .Called tony got his number from his ad on craigslist.He was at the prescient within a short time to provide a tow was super cool about everything even when it took the cops almost a half hour to finally release the bike to tony and I . Towed it about 40 plus miles for me was real professional and laid back . I would recommend Tonys towing to anyone .Props to a good guy trying to help people in jams .Thanks again Tony
All completely true – Tony is the man. Broke down on a Sunday on the BQE. Fuel line problem was dumping gas all over my engine. Had to ditch to Randalls Island at about 4pm. My insurance company with emergency towing wasn’t worth a DAMN – don’t even trust Progressive, we waited hours and nobody showed up. Found Tony and he took care of business for me, towed my bike to the shop no hassle. I have a big BMW 1200 and he was able to take care of it no problem. PROFESSIONAL PROMPT AND COURTEOUS. For the crap towing we get in this city, Tony should get a golden award. Keep his number in your cell!
I recieved excellent service from TLT today. Took my road test and passed it without a doubt. Got to practice on the scooter for about an hour before I was ready for the test. Tony provided me with great tips and everything I would need while riding. I’m happy I came to him, couldn’t ask for anyone better. I will most definitely do business with him again. Thanks a lot Tony, you’re the man! GOD bless you.
Broke down in my garage in the city on Saturday morning, 8am. Tony is there at 9am and loads my Duck in no time. Short time later we are at Gold Coast and he even offers to speak to the service manager, a friend of his, to try to expedite repairs. Great guy with phenomenal rates. His card now lies with my registration and insurance.
Another one for TLT.
I got a flat tire in the East Village at 10PM last night, did a ton of research online for towing, texted Tony at 2AM, got a reply at 8AM, and was towed to a great repair shop called Charlie’s Chop Shop in Astoria at 1PM today. For a great, and agreed upon beforehand, price.
There are a ton of guys out there who tow bikes on Craigslist, but based on this website I took a chance. Tony sent a partner of his (and I am sorry I forgot his name) who arrived pretty much on time– and we all know how bad Manhattan midday traffic is. He came with a big pickup truck and a ramp that was the whole width of the truck and secured to the truck for my bike’s ride ‘up’ to the truck-bed (not a cheap looking “foot wide” ramp like a crazy competitor who seems to be making noise on some websites uses) and my bike was secured ‘correctly’ into the bed of the truck. I felt that my bike was handled safely, securely and above all, with total care.
I have to say that I looked through all these positive comments, and as a typical born and raised New Yorker, I was totally skeptical. I took a chance and I will definitely be keeping this phone number. These guys really care about bikes and riders, and that’s hard to come by around here.
Very professional, he came to my house and he does great work, not a single complaint. I would recommend his services for all your motorcycle needs. Top quality!!!!
Tony from TLT towing did an amazing job with transporting my newly purchased vespa. He drove me to conneticut, inspected the bike and drove it to make sure it was ok to to buy. He drove myself and the vespa back to long beach and unloaded it carefully into the garage. Along the way he gave me lots of great advice about riding equipment and driving tips since I am brand new to all of this. He is professional, kind and knowledgeable. I would recommend him to anyone that needs a motorcycle tow!!!!
All props to Tony, who is obviously King…but: another cheap option is just to get Insurance with Free Roadside Assistance. My 72 Honda was breaking down regularly (once on the FDR…yikes!), and my Progressive guys always sent someone, no charge. Nor did my insurance go up. I got Progressive just because it seemed the cheapest for my bike — I definitely got the money I spent back on the free towing. I don’t know if they were faster than Tony — they took their time — and they didn’t repair it. But it was free.
Great tip! totally +1 for Progressive for bike insurance… good rates too.
Awesome awesome service. Tony is super nice and helpful. He helped me check out my bike and brought it back from CT. Totally reasonable rates, and good company. He offered helpful tips and good local vendors. Thanks so much again.
Tony is the man!
I had a bad experience with someone before I bumped into him online, and I was wary of another sheister.
How wrong I was.
This man was on time, came an hour early to prep me for the road test, and gave me a bunch of tips of what to expect. And his price was very reasonable.
Use his services; you’ll be glad you did.
I purchased my bike and i didn’t want to run the risk of getting ticketed for no tags, insurance, I wasn’t really feeling like having a felony. So, I decided to have it towed home. I called 3 other towing numbers before reaching Tony. It was a Sunday and he answered my call, quoted me a price and finalized all the arrangements in a matter of minutes. On the day of the move it was raining and I received a call from a guy who said he worked for Tony and he would be a little late. I communicated with Tony and he confirmed that this guy worked for him and apologized for him being late. My anxiety increased and I thought here we go…turns out Tony’s assistant (Rodrig) was great. He was courteous, professional, confident about securing the bike properly, he even pulled over to check and resecure the straps becasue he said in the rain the straps may loosen. He was careful with my bike and thorough. He wasted no time but he was safe, we had a great conversation and he even gave me some advice about the bike and the number to his friends Motorcycle repair shop close by in case I needed a mechanic in the future. I highly recommend Tony’s towing service!
By the way…
Be careful of some of the other tow services that advertise on Craigslist. I’m sure most of them are good. But there’s at least one guy out there who is…problematic.
From what I know, if you get a tow from your insurance company, great (if it’s included free in your policy). If you go with TLT, great (I haven’t heard one complaint about TLT in all these years – they’re good people). Or if your tow service is affiliated with the Bike shop you use to get work done…great. Or if your friend gives you a recommendation…
But otherwise, be careful about who you call for a tow service on Craigslist.
PS – I’ve also run into the guy that does “Man with a Van”, and he’s cool too. But it’s a cargo van, no ramp, so okay for scooters and furniture, but probably not larger bikes.
Peace.
Tony was excellent. Extremely professional. Towed my DUCATI and I felt very comfortable with the way he took care of my bike while loading, strapping and unloading. He put the kickstand up to make sure nothing happened to my engine case while we were on the road. Price was fair for the distance and bike. He was extremely cordial and gave me some tips on safety and riding in NYC. He rides as well so he knows what he’s talking about with anything related to bikes.
I would definitely recommend Tony from TLT motorcycle transport for anything anyone might need. Knows all the speciality shops and how to get everywhere.
Two words, USE HIM. You won’t be disappointed.