Setting out on a motorcycle tour either by yourself or with your buddies can be a lot of fun. There are, however, a lot of things that you need to bring with you on a motorcycle tour. One cannot just blindly set out without preparing—a motorcycle is not a car and thus requires a little more preparation. If you do not set yourself up properly, your motorcycle trip could start badly, or conversely could just come to a premature end. It’s crucially important that you prepare!
In this article, we are going to tell you what the six essential items that you must have before riding your motorcycle on the road and taking it out on a trip are. By preparing and taking the time to set yourself up, your motorcycle adventure will be just that, an adventure!
Here are the six essential items you must have before taking your motorcycle out for a trip.
A license
Hey, what a minute! Before we get into accessories and things you should bring with you, have you got your motorcycle license yet? You shouldn’t ever set out on the road without a license. If you do, even if you are a competent driver, you can put yourself at risk of arrest and license suspension. Driving without a license is a fineable offense, and in some places, an imprisonable offense. Do not risk yourself, or other people, by driving without a license on your motorcycle.
A map
Now, with that out of the way, let’s move on, shall we? If you are hitting the road for a motorcycle adventure, you will need a map. Unlike cars where you can just set your phone up and follow the directions through a satnav application, a motorcycle requires you to stop and look at a map or application to see where you are going. You will need a good-quality map that is easily read and that displays all the shortcuts. You will also need a map that is up to date. Many maps do not display new roads (or ones that are no longer there, for that matter). You can also get a GPS navigation unit that connects to the handlebars of your bike, but some people prefer not to use them.
Bluetooth headset
We live in a world centred entirely around technology. There is very little that we do, as humans, that does not require some form of technology or some use of technology. A Bluetooth headset enables you to speak to your friends and family while out on the road without having to stop and turn your bike off. These headsets are seldom expensive and can be a great addition to your on-the-road to nowhere, motorcycle kit.
Emergency GPS messengers
No more are the days where you crash your bike in a remote part of the country and are forced into waiting for somebody to find you. Now, you can bring along pocket-sized emergency GPS messengers that, with a press of a button, put you in touch with emergency services and broadcast your location. These devices are a must-have and should be in your pocket at all times. They can be the difference between life and death.
Evacuation insurance
If you do end up crashing your motorbike, you will need evacuation insurance. Evacuation insurance is, essentially, insurance that pays for you to be evacuated from your destination to the nearest hospital, which if you are in the middle of nowhere, can be very far away. Evacuation insurance is a great investment to make if you are an avid motorcyclist and just want to ensure that you are safe on the road, no matter what. Give evacuation insurance some thought before you do venture out on your road trip. It could save your life one day.
Flat repair
Finally, we come to our final suggestion: a flat repair kit. If you are in the middle of nowhere and get a flat tire, you can be in just as much danger as if you had crashed your bike, to begin with. The reason for this, simply, is that America is a very remote country, with thousands of miles of dense woodland and countryside. Being stuck out in the middle of this countryside with no signal can be life-threatening. A flat repair kit will enable you to get your bike up and running and get you moved along to the next town as safe as possible.
Motorbikes are great, fun, and a safe way to get outdoors, pandemic considered. We hope that when you take your next trip, that you will take the suggestions made here into consideration and keep yourself safe. Thank you for joining us today.
Featured image: iStock
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