However, motorcycle accidents and other traffic collisions abroad are a big concern for The Foreign Office. They recently released figures for road accidents in Thailand and as many as 9,205 deaths occurred on the roads in 2011, compared with just 1,901 road deaths in Britain over the same year. Motorcycles are noted as a big concern by The Foreign Office, as very little in the way of physical protection is available for people on motorcycles and scooters.

This article will outline some of those safety concerns and will offer advice for how you can have fun and ride a motorcycle or scooter safely abroad.

Have A Licence

Whichever country you are visiting, make sure that you have an adequate driving licence. In some places you may be ok with your UK driving licence; however some countries may want you apply for international drivers permit.

Have The Right Insurance

Make sure that your travel insurance policy covers hiring vehicles abroad. Some may be limited to just scooters for example, so make sure that you compare deals to get the right policy for your needs, including quality accident cover, should you face a medical emergency on your travels.

Do Your Research

Research the driving laws of the place you are visiting beforehand and makes sure you are aware of any differences to laws, road conditions and the conduct of other road users there. You may not be fully prepared for the reality of the roads in India, for instance, but at least it won’t come as complete shock to you when you first get out there.

Check The Rental Company

Always hire your motorcycle or scooter from a reputable dealer by checking that they are officially licenced to rent out vehicles.  Seek out the names of some good hire companies in the area you are visiting before your holiday. Also make sure that you have their contact details with you at all times when you are out and about on your bike.

Choose The Right Vehicle

When selecting your motorbike/scooter for hire make sure that it is an appropriate choice for your level of experience. You may want the biggest and fastest bike available, but these should only be hired by people who have full motorcycle licences at home and years of experience. If you have little experience on a bike then you should start with a small one of 50ccs or 125cc. A 50cc scoter will reach a maximum of 30 mph and will really struggle with hills. A 125cc goes to 60mph at top speed and has a bit more power behind it, allowing you to cruise up and down slopes with a passenger on the back.

Wear A Helmet

Always wear a helmet and protective clothing when you are hiring a motorcycle abroad, even if the law doesn’t stipulate that you need to wear one. Your safety should be your number one priority, even if you stand out amongst other road users.

Inspect the Bike/Scooter

Some hire companies may stipulate that the vehicles must be returned in ‘pristine condition,’ this means that before you leave, examine the bodywork for any scratches and dents to avoid getting caught out and charged for damage you didn’t cause.

Braking Properly

One of the things you will quickly need to get to grips with when hiring a motorcycle/scooter abroad is braking safely. Do not snatch the front brake too hard or too quickly because doing so may cause the front wheel to lock and throw you off the side or over the front of the bike. Squeeze both brakes gently to come to an even standstill, but on the whole, drive slowly and carefully, especially around corners.

Watch Other Road Users But Don’t Copy Them

Give other road users plenty of space and be on your highest alert when riding in a foreign country. You are not immune from danger because you are enjoying yourself on holiday, so don’t try to keep up with locals or imitate their bad driving habits.

Take Notice Of Your Environment

If the weather is very hot, take regular breaks and keep yourself hydrated. Similarly, if the heavens open and you are facing heavy rain and poor visibility, it is advisable that you skip hiring motorbikes for the day, for your own safety.

Be Prepared Should The Worst Happen

Motorcycles account for only 1% of Britain’s road traffic, yet 22% of all serious accidents and fatalities involve a motorcycle or scooter.  This is because bikes offer less physical protection and are harder to spot by other road users. However, this doesn’t mean that motorcyclists are to blame for all of those accidents. Motorbike accident compensation can be awarded to those affected if you encountered negligent drivers around you, objects in the road and other hazards. So don’t assume that because you were on holiday, protection and compensation isn’t out there because a good injury solicitor may be able to help you.

Hiring your own motor vehicle abroad is an invigorating experience that can make your time away even more memorable.  But make sure that it is memorable for the right reasons by making sure that you maintain your safety when driving abroad.

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Benefits of Motorcycle Trailer

Get known about types of trailers for transportation of Motorcycles

Many a times, various conventional kinds of motorcycle trailers are used to conveniently load a bike on the typical trailer and then it can be properly loaded onto the transport truck. However, some of the efficient trailers can be used to tow to a powered vehicle to transport various utilities and goods. This kind of trailer is best suited if the pickup truck happens to lack the presence of couch. Some of them are used to tow to the automobiles such as mini trucks and various SUVs. Also, some small size of enclosed motorcycle trailers can be used to tie various utilities and luggage at the rear side of your usual bike. These are available in market with a categorical carrying capacity for each of them and you can purchase one depending on the power and efficiency of your motorbike.

Crucial Factors that affect the rate of these trailers

There prevail several factors that affect the rate of the enclosed motorcycle trailers. Some of the crucial factors on which the cost of these trailers depends are the carrying capacity, the size and the material, with which they are built. You can pay a less price for purchasing a wooden trailer to transport your motorcycle while a purchase of a metal trailer may cost you a considerable amount of money. The trailers that have metal make are mostly made-up of aluminum with distinct metal fabrication and are known to be explicit aerodynamic structures. Moreover, you can even opt for a rail trailer in case you possess more than one bike and need to transport them in a single journey. The enclosed motorcycle trailers are sure to provide greater safety for your motorcycles during the transportation however they will definitely cost you greater charges than the open trailers. The rate and various details of these trailers are properly available on the web and you can choose your choice of trailer among many by using the internet.

Ensure presence of essential tools to tow the trailer

Prior to purchasing of the enclosed motorcycle trailer to carry your motorcycle from one location to another, ensure you possess all the essential equipments for towing. Ensure that you have an efficient tool for hooking the trailer to the powered vehicle.  This is because, it is essential to ensure that the trailer is perfectly hooked to the transport truck or any other automobile, or else it can make the existing enclosure slide when it is in motion during the journey. On unleveled roads, this negligence can even make the motorcycle fall. Also, you need to drive carefully during the turns on the roads and consider other vehicles that are running behind you in order to prevent the occurrence of the accidents.

The enclosed motorcycle trailers are regarded as the safest than any other kinds of trailers and hence preferred by several people.

By John Smith

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Step-by-step procedure on How to Mount a Motorcycle Saddlebag

Mounting motorcycle bags on your bike is not a simple process. Your knowledge of geometry will come in handy while mounting the saddlebag, because you got to do a bit of precise measurement to figure out where to position the mounting brackets. So here are the simple steps:

–          First, you should figure out the point where you are going to affix the saddlebag. Lift the saddlebag towards the part of the bike where you are going to mount bag. In your mind, try to imagine how the saddlebag would look on your bike once it is mounted. Likewise, find out if it would fit well in the chosen space, and will not handicap your movement while you are mounted on your bike.

–          Mark the points where you are going to bore holes for the bolts of the brackets. Moreover, make sure that your measurements are precise. Double check the distance of the markings to make sure that you are going to drill the holes in the right places.

–          Afterwards, drill the necessary holes, and attach the brackets to the marked places. Once the brackets are in place, affix the motorcycle saddlebags using the bolts. Tighten the bolts to make sure that the bags are firmly attached to the brackets.

Yet, there is no other way to test the strength and durability of the newly mounted bag except by filling the motorcycle luggage with all necessary things and accessories which you would like to place inside the bag. Likewise, double check the attachment to make sure that the bag will not fall out.

Lastly, there are various sizes and designs of leather saddlebags from which you could readily choose the most suitable for your bike. Choose the one which will definitely fit into your motorbike. You can either buy these saddlebags from your nearest bike accessories store, or you may opt to buy the item online.  Price of a saddlebag may range from few bucks to several hundred bucks depending on the style, design, and durability of the item.

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