Bike & Motorcycle Travel Q&A

• Wear a DOT, ECE or SNELL-certified helmet, plus an armoured jacket, gloves and proper boots. Gear is the one part of this budget not to trim.
• Take a recognised rider training course before a long trip, even if you already hold a licence.
• Build up. A few day rides, then a weekend, then a week — fatigue is the risk that beginners underestimate most.
• Check the forecast every morning. Rain, crosswinds and cold do more to end trips than traffic does.
• Confirm your licence is valid in the country you are riding in, and that your insurance covers the engine size you will be on. An International Driving Permit is required in many places.

Gentler routes to begin with

• Europe: the Loire Valley, Tuscany's secondary roads, Ireland's Ring of Kerry.
• USA: the Blue Ridge Parkway, or the quieter sections of the Pacific Coast Highway.
• Asia: the Mae Hong Son loop out of Chiang Mai, or Vietnam's Ha Giang loop with a guide.

One caution about the popular Asian loops: they are beautiful and they are also where inexperienced riders most often get hurt. If you have never ridden on gravel or in mountain traffic, hire a guide or ride pillion for the first day.

Protection

• Helmet: full-face or modular, replaced after any impact.
• Jacket: waterproof shell with CE-rated armour at shoulders, elbows and back.
• Trousers: textile or Kevlar-reinforced with knee and hip armour — jeans are not protection.
• Boots with ankle support, and all-weather gloves with knuckle protection.

Carrying and fixing

• Waterproof soft panniers or a roll bag; dry bags for anything that must stay dry regardless.
• Tyre repair kit, small compressor or pump, and a tyre pressure gauge.
• Basic tool roll: hex keys, spanners, screwdriver, pliers, cable ties, duct tape.
• Spare fuses, bulbs and levers on older bikes.
• First aid kit, and a foil blanket if you are riding anywhere remote.

Electronics

• Vibration-damped phone mount or a dedicated GPS, plus a hard-wired USB socket.
• Bluetooth intercom if you ride with a pillion or in a group.
• Offline maps downloaded for the whole route, not just the day ahead.

Tools

• Kurviger — strong in Europe and built around scenic, winding roads.
• Calimoto — curated motorcycle routing with an offline mode.
• REVER — community routes with elevation and surface information.
• Google Maps — fine for checking fuel stops and accommodation, weaker at knowing where bikes may not ride.

Rules of thumb

• 200–300km a day on interesting roads is a full day. Motorway distances can be higher; mountain distances should be lower.
• Plan fuel every 150–200km and fill up earlier than you need to in rural areas.
• Have a shorter alternative for each day, so bad weather does not force a decision at the roadside.
• Book accommodation with off-street or secure parking, and confirm it when you reserve rather than on arrival.

Where to park

• Hotels and guesthouses: many have a courtyard, garage or gated area. Ask before you book, not after.
• Campsites: usually allow bikes next to the pitch and are often fenced.
• Attended, CCTV-covered car parks in cities, rather than a street space around the corner.
• In much of Asia, accommodation simply expects you to wheel the bike into the lobby or yard overnight.

How to secure it

• A disc lock with an alarm is a visible deterrent and takes no space.
• Add a chain through the frame to something immovable — most thefts are lift-and-go.
• A cover makes the bike anonymous and less interesting to passers-by.
• Take the tank bag, GPS and phone mount off, and leave nothing in an unlocked top box.
• Park where there is light and footfall.

Before you leave

• Fresh oil and filter, and coolant checked.
• Tyres inspected for tread, age and damage — replace anything marginal now rather than abroad.
• Brake pads, discs and fluid checked.
• Chain cleaned, lubricated and correctly tensioned; sprockets inspected.
• All lights, indicators and the horn tested.

Every morning, two minutes

Tyre pressures, chain slack, oil level, lights, and a quick look underneath for drips. Almost every roadside breakdown that strands a rider was visible days earlier.

Carry

• Puncture plug kit and a compressor or CO2 canisters.
• Chain lube, cable ties, duct tape and electrical tape.
• Spare fuses, bulbs and a clutch or brake cable for older bikes.
• A multi-tool with the hex sizes your bike actually uses.

Save the phone numbers of dealers along your route before you go, and check whether your breakdown cover extends to the countries you are crossing. Rider forums for the specific region are the fastest way to find a mechanic who knows your model.