| You chose a country that you thought would suit | | | | more thought into the route. Again, if are |
| you, you carefully packed your luggage and your | | | | travelling with a guided tour, someone else will |
| maps, you meticulously planned the route, but still | | | | have done all the homework for you. |
| the holiday is a disaster. What more could you | | | | WHEN ARE YOU GOING? |
| have done to ensure the success of the tour? | | | | What time of year are you planning to take the |
| Here are the top ten tips for motorbike touring. | | | | tour? Bear in mind, especially if you are travelling |
| YOUR BIKE | | | | to a mountainous region, that even when the sun |
| It sounds obvious, but you'd be surprised how | | | | is shining on the coast, it can snowing in the |
| many people set off on a long tour without | | | | mountains. In summer, you're probably going to |
| making sure that their bike is in the best possible | | | | be fine if you remember to carry the right gear, |
| condition it could be. Having your motorcycle | | | | but be careful in spring and autumn, or you may |
| serviced before a long tour could save days of | | | | just have to pack a snow shovel. |
| heartache, especially if you are planning a trip | | | | DRINKING? |
| abroad. In some countries, garages aren't always | | | | I know that you've been set free and are |
| as motivated as you are when it comes to | | | | determined to enjoy yourself, but believe me |
| getting your bike back on the road. Sometimes, | | | | (here speaks the voice of experience), it's no fun |
| the whole holiday can be taken up waiting for | | | | crawling to your bike with a raging hangover, a |
| repairs. Don't forget to carry spare bulbs. | | | | mouth that feels like a monkey slept in there and |
| YOUR CLOTHING | | | | a splitting headache. For your own sake and the |
| Make sure you have the right clothing. Even in | | | | sake of the people you are travelling with, go |
| summer months there is a possibility that | | | | easy on the booze. |
| mountain roads can be subject to inclement | | | | HOW ARE YOU? |
| weather. It could be forty degrees or it could be | | | | We've talked about the condition of your bike, but |
| less than ten, and it's a guessing game that you | | | | what about you? You owe it to yourself to feel |
| would be wise to avoid. This is when a guided | | | | as well as you can during your tour. I'm not talking |
| tour with a luggage-carrying back-up vehicle | | | | about launching into some kind of marathon |
| comes into its own. Another advantage of a | | | | training before you embark on your trip, but the |
| back-up vehicle is the access to water if it does | | | | better you feel, the more you'll enjoy yourself, so |
| become very hot. | | | | if it means shedding a few pounds, it's well worth |
| DON'T BITE OFF MORE THAN YOU CAN CHEW | | | | it. Besides looking after yourself, it's also a good |
| Don't try and cover too much ground in one day. | | | | idea to keep an eye on your travelling |
| Many people who set out on their own, forget to | | | | companions during the tour. It's always worth |
| allow time for refreshment stops. There's nothing | | | | asking how someone feels, especially if you know |
| worse than arriving at your planned destination in | | | | them well and feel they're not quite on the ball. |
| a state of exhaustion, then quickly eating and | | | | DON'T FORGET YOUR CAMERA |
| climbing into bed. A few consecutive days of this | | | | You're in an incredibly beautiful mountain pass, the |
| will see you wanting to ditch your bike and catch | | | | high peaks have a coating of pure white snow |
| a bus. Be reasonable with your itinerary. | | | | punctured by the most graceful pines you've ever |
| RIDE WITHIN THE LAW | | | | seen, and guess what; you forgot you camera. |
| Is it a race or a motorcycle holiday? Another | | | | This scenario is not as uncommon as you might |
| downer that could happen whilst on tour, is being | | | | think. Before you set off, and I don't mean in the |
| pulled by the local police and hit with a huge | | | | hour leading up to departure, make a list of all the |
| speeding fine, and in some countries I mean huge. | | | | things you're likely to need on your trip. I know |
| Always, but always respect the traffic laws and | | | | you want to travel light, but you can always |
| speed limits, and this applies if you're touring in | | | | cross things off the list, but you can't magic them |
| your own country too. | | | | out of thin air once you've started. |
| PLAN YOUR ROUTE SENSIBLY | | | | FRIENDS |
| When planning your route, make sure you go | | | | This could be the most important one. Go with |
| somewhere interesting. It's all very well spending | | | | friends who'll understand when you get lost, tired |
| the day on fantastic country roads, but when you | | | | or irritable. Better still go with a specialised tour |
| wash up in that one horse town and you're sitting | | | | company. |
| in bar all by yourselves, you'll wish you'd put a little | | | | |