If you're getting ready to explore a few--or a few thousand--on your motorcycle, you might find these road trip tips helpful:
• Pack Up
Put together a kit with tools for simple repairs and first-aid supplies, making sure to include a tire gauge and a spare key. Invest in good storage bags that offer plenty of room for essentials but won't weigh you down. Bring a small towel to dry the dew off your bike each morning and glass cleaner to keep your windshield free of bugs and road grime, and don't forget your rain suit and sunscreen.
• Inspect Your Motorcycle
Use the Motorcycle Safety Foundation's T-CLOCS method to inspect your bike: check Tires, Controls, Lights, Oils and fluids, Chassis and Stand to make sure everything is working properly before you hit the road. Check on these things regularly during your trip, too.
• Plan Your Route
Although it can be tempting to hit the road without a destination in mind, planning a route will ensure you'll stay well fed and gassed up. If you don't have GPS, get up-to-date maps and go online to get a list of hotels or campgrounds near your route so you can find a place to crash for the night.
• Have A Backup Plan
Consider getting Roadside Assistance coverage so that help is just a phone call away in case you break down.
You might also want insurance coverage that will pay up to $500 for lodging, transportation and food if your bike breaks down or if you have an accident more than 100 miles from home. Most Progressive Insurance customers can get both kinds of coverage for just $15 a year.
• Renting A Bike?
You might already be covered. If you're planning to rent a bike for your road trip instead of riding your own, your current motorcycle insurance might already protect your rental. Ask your agent or log in to your policy online to find out if coverage for rental bikes is provided under your current policy. If your rental isn't covered, you may want to get insurance from the rental company.
• Learn more. For more information, visit http://motorcycle.progressiveagent.com.
