One of the best ways to tour America is on a motorbike. Before you do book one and go off on your travels, here are a few important things to think about.
1. Whether you are doing a one-way trip or a round trip
Some of the smaller, independent motorcycle hire companies insist that you return the vehicle to the same branch that you hired it from. That’s not an issue at all if you are planning on staying local or you are doing a longer ride that you can loop back on, but if you were planning to go much further afield or doing a coast to coast tour, or you are planning to make a road trip from Las Vegas to San Francisco. Before taking out a hire bike, check that you can return it to other branches or whether there is a surcharge for a one-way trip.
2. Whether you are doing a solo tour or are carrying a pillion passenger
Motorbikes that are designed for carrying pillion passengers as well are usually bigger and bulkier, to allow for more comfort and storage space. However, what bike you go for depends on where you are going. Harley Fat Boy’s look amazing for fair weather cruises with your buddy, but if you’re going high into the mountains you’re going to want to look for something a little bit more built for touring, such as a Honda Goldwing or a Harley Electra Glide.
3. How long you are considering riding for
You need something that is going to hold all of your luggage and be comfortable, and on many bikes, the saddlebags just don’t cut it for a longer journey. Again, we recommend Goldwings and Electra Glides because they are built for those sort of trips. They have a good sized top box as well, perfect for carrying that spare helmet or that camera for those once in a lifetime snaps.”
4. The insurance that you need take out
To be able to ride a motorbike out on a public road, you have to have basic liability insurance. That is non-negotiable, but you can take on further coverage to protect you and your passenger. You can buy insurance that covers the bike should you damage it, with a small excess fee, and additional public liability insurance in case you injure someone else. Your hire company may be able to offer this or point you in the right direction. You also need to consider what sort of legal advice you may need should you have an accident or damage the bike www.aitkenlaw.com/motorcycle-accidents can give you more information.
5. Whether you have the correct license and documents to prove that you can ride the bike
Lastly, there is little point in going to a rental shop to hire a bike if you don’t have the appropriate documentation. You need to take your license with you, and the vast majority of hire companies insist that the rider is 21 years old or over.
No comments:
Post a Comment