Riding a bike is a passion. Any person who has been a biker and loves riding would understand the joy a road trip can bring on a two-wheeler. Regardless of the landscape, a long road trip on a bike allows you to explore the surroundings and offers an adventure that is difficult to match. However, a road trip has its perils.
Also, bikers planning their first long road trip tend to have many questions like which bike is best for road trips? Or, how do I plan my bike for a road trip? While we will leave most of the planning part to you, in this article, we will focus on protecting your two-wheeler before going on a road trip.
Apart from ensuring that you have a solid two-wheeler insurance policy, we will also offer some tips to make your trip a secure and memorable one.
Tips to Protect Your Two-Wheeler
Understand The Limitations Of Your Two-Wheeler
Before you take your bike on a road trip, make sure that you understand the machine completely. Remember, riding short distances within your area is different compared to a road trip. Right from the brakes to acceleration, make sure that you are aware of how much your bike can take. You wouldn’t want to be caught unaware in the heart of the Himalayas with your bike giving up on you!
Tyres
Depending on the terrain you intend to travel, your bike’s tyres can take a lot of beating. Hence, it is important to check that your tyres are fit enough to take you on that road trip. Also, make it a habit to regularly check the pressure of the tyres. Riding with a partially deflated tyre can damage it and also result in accidents. Hence, make sure that the tyre condition and pressure are perfect for a road trip.
Brakes
When you ride in your locality, you are aware of the turns and bumps that you can encounter. However, on a road trip, the terrain and roads are unknown. Hence, you might encounter a bump or a pothole at any turn. Sometimes, they can surprise you right after a turn. Hence, it is important to have your brakes in perfect shape. Therefore, get your bike’s brakes, brake fluid, and brake pads checked before embarking on your journey.
Oiling
Most bikers are guilty of not lubricating their bike chains regularly. The only time they lubricate the bike is when it starts making a noise. When you are planning a road trip, you must ensure that your bike’s chain is cleaned and oiled regularly.
Air Filter
In a two-wheeler, there is an intake system that provides air to the engine allowing it to combust the fuel. Unfortunately, small particles can clog the system over time, partially or fully. This can stall your bike without any notice. Hence, before you go on a road trip, ensure that you get the air filter cleaned and replaced if needed.
Documents
While this does not fall into the category of road safety, driving without proper documents can result in fines and a lot of hassle. Hence, before leaving, make sure that you take all the necessary documents like your driving license, the bike’s registration certificate or RC, PUC, and two-wheeler insurance papers.
Bike Insurance Policy
Whether you have a third-party bike insurance policy or a comprehensive one, it is effective only if it is in force. So before leaving on a road trip, make sure that you buy insurance for two-wheeler insurance online. If it is going to expire, then ensure that you renew it before you leave.
Renewal of two-wheeler insurance can be done online. You can visit the website of your insurer, choose a plan and add-ons, pay the premium, and your bike insurance will be renewed. The insurer will send the insurance documents to your registered email address.
You can also use the bike insurance premium calculator offered by reputed insurers like Tata AIG on their website to know the premium that you need to pay. This can help you compare premiums for the same set of features and buy the right insurance plan for your two-wheeler.
Summing Up
Remember, a road trip can be memorable, provided your bike does not give you a lot of trouble. The tips mentioned in the article above can help you prepare your bike for most kinds of road trips. However, if you are planning to ride in semi-off-road conditions with a city bike, then you might want to ensure that your bike is serviced well before you leave. Also, while road trips can be full of surprises, they carry risks too. Hence, ensure that your bike insurance plan is renewed with the required add-ons. Safe riding!
