Renting A Motorbike Abroad  

All opinions are mine and mine alone.

Everything You Need to Know About Renting A Motorbike Abroad  

Traveling abroad is always an amazing experience; it’s one thing to learn about other countries in school or see them on TV, but physically being in faraway places and experiencing different cultures broadens your horizons like nothing else. Traveling abroad gives you a deeper appreciation for the validity of cultures and practices that may have once seemed at odds with your own; it helps you see people for who they are, instead of just how they are different. It also gives you a sense of your membership in a global community that reaches beyond the boundaries of country, religion, or culture.  

While traveling abroad can be one of the best experiences of your life, it is not without its challenges. These becomes especially obvious when you travel to a place where you are unfamiliar with the language and customs. Traveling around your destination can be particularly challenging; navigating the terrain, understanding maps, and communicating with drivers often mean it is easiest to travel on your own, but there are often many other obstacles when it comes to operating a foreign vehicle. Cars tend to be heavily regulated and expensive no matter where you go, but luckily, motorbikes are a very popular and budget friendly alternative.   

Motorbikes are great because they come in a wide range of styles, from posh mopeds to the cheap dirt bikes, there’s a motorbike out there for everyone. They are almost always cheaper to rent than a car, and tend to be less regulated, so you don’t usually need to have a special license or pay extra for renters’ insurance. If you’re planning a trip to another country and are considering renting a motorbike, check out the tips below to help get you started.  

 Know Where You Want to Go 

 It sounds obvious, but one of the first things you need to do is nail down exactly where you want to go. Map out all the places you want to explore and do some research on what the enviornment is like. Is it an urban center? Is it in the middle of nowhere? Is the terrain flat and crowded, or rugged and uninhabited? These will all be determining factors in what type of transportation you use.   

Motorbikes do well in cities and urban settings, but the right bike can also travel fairly long distances. Knowing how far, and what terrain you will encounter will help you choose the right bike for your journey.   

Plan for Weather 

The one downside to motorbikes is that unlike cars or trains, they offer no protection from the elements. If you’re planning a trip or excursion with a motorbike, make sure you take the weather into account. Not only can it be miserable to drive in a storm, but it can also be dangerous.   

Before you set out, make sure you know what weather to expect. Take precautions to weather-proof anything you might bring with you and know where you can stop along the way should the weather become to dangerous. It might also be a good idea to bring a change of clothes, as even in the best conditions, it is easy to get dirty while riding.  

 Call Ahead  

Know where you want to rent your bike from. If you are already working with a travel agency, ask them if they can recommend any reputable bike dealers in your area of interest. You will want to at least have an idea of who you will rent from before you arrive, that way, you can more accurately budget your time and money.   

It is also important to make sure the bikes you are renting are reasonably safe. Riding motorbikes is not without risks – you don’t need to endanger yourself even further by riding an unsafe bike. While it is true that motorbikes tend to be less regulated than cars, a little internet research can help you find a rental company with reliable bikes.