Your motorcycle can provide you with a great way to travel and see the world with little hassle – so pack a tent and head for the hills. To ensure your trip is as pleasant and smooth running as possible ensure that you plan effectively and take the necessary precautions.

Before you go

Ensure you have comprehensive breakdown cover and make sure it extends to cover the country you are travelling to if you are choosing to ride your motorcycle abroad.

Try to always carry a mobile phone with you for emergencies and ensure that you charge it before you leave. Having a phone on your person could save you walking long distances to an emergency phone should the worst happen. Make sure that you have enough fuel to get you to the next stopping point – running out of fuel on an open road could cause endless problems.

On the road

Stay safe by making sure you abide by the rules of the road and stick to the speed limits. Leave enough time to arrive at your destination so that you do not feel the need to rush.

Make sure you wear the correct clothing; even in extremely hot weather your body will still require adequate protection from the road. Make sure you have planned enough stops into your trip and be aware of your own limits – if at any point you feel tired it is best to pull over. Make sure too that you have enough to eat and drink in order to keep your energy levels high.

Transporting Luggage

Don’t try to carry too much luggage on your journey as it can cause problems for your bike. Remember also to have space available on the way there as you may decide to bring things back from your travels.

Make sure your bike is not unbalanced before you set off and spread any weight you are transporting evenly. Ensure also that tank bags and pannier luggage is adequately secured.

Take extra care when packing your rucksack and avoid placing anything sharp within it as this could cause you damage if you are unfortunate enough to be involved in an accident.

Avoiding a Breakdown

Make sure your bike is well maintained and check the condition of your bike before embarking on a long journey. Check the tread and pressure of your tyres before setting off. Tyres that do not have an adequate thread and are too worn are a major cause of accidents and as such illegal to ride on.

Do simple checks on your bike before you leave:

• Change the oil and the filter
• Check all gauges, signals and lights
• Make sure the throttle and break cables and correctly aligned
• Check the levels of your fork oil and fork seals
• Make sure the lube drive chain is correctly positioned

Make sure too that you have the correct tools with you in order to fix any minor problem should they arise on your trip. Carry a flat tyre repair kit and make sure you know how to use it.