Whether you’re a newbie or a more experienced rider, there are some common rental motorcycle mistakes to avoid. A rental gives you an opportunity to ride whatever motorcycle you like and to explore—or maybe you’re looking at testing out a bike before you buy.
Read on to find out the leading motorcycle mistakes to avoid when you rent so you can enjoy a safe and enjoyable excursion.
Renting the wrong motorcycle
If you’re planning on riding your rental for a while—let’s say you’re sightseeing or taking a road trip—then you want to make sure to get a motorcycle that you’re comfortable with. You want one that you can spend hours on without any issue. If you’re an inexperienced rider, you should be sure to take the advice of professionals and rent a bike that’s safe and easy to use. It might be tempting to go for a fast, powerful motorcycle, but it’s more important to stay safe.
Neglecting insurance
If you’ve rented a car, you’ve perhaps balked at the high insurance cost. But know that when you’re selecting a bike, it’s crucial to get enough insurance. Many states will require that you secure insurance for your rental. But even in cases where they don’t, you want to protect yourself and purchase adequate insurance.
Overpacking
For those who aren’t very experienced with motorcycles, you might incorrectly assume that you can take everything you need along with you. You want to trim it down to the essentials and pack efficiently because you don’t want to overburden your motorcycle. Try to bring multi-use tools that can do more than one task, and be sure to test-ride the bike before you head out on a trip. This will allow you to see if the luggage is balanced equally.
Bringing the wrong clothes
Going on a motorcycle road trip means you’ll be exposed to the elements often. That means you need to pack for a range of weather conditions. You’ll also want to wear long sleeves and pants to protect yourself. Pass on any open-toed footwear, and don’t forget to bring your helmet.
Riding between cars
You may have seen other motorcyclists riding in between cars to snake through a traffic jam. While it’s tempting to gain a bit of time back by skipping the line, this is a dangerous and often illegal maneuver. The fact is that riding between cars puts you at risk for the small reward of avoiding a traffic jam.
We hope this guide on motorcycle mistakes to avoid is helpful. Here at Escape Eagles, we’re your family-owned and -operated, all-inclusive motorcycle rental and tour guide company. We offer tourists and locals alike the chance to experience the open road atop a powerful bike. We do it all to provide you with maps and assistance with your hotel reservations and route recommendations on your self-guided tour—and we offer fully guided tours for day trips upon request. Give us a call right now to learn more and book your trip!