by Alan Liptrot

Created on: July 08, 2009

You chose a destination that you thought would suit you, you carefully packed your luggage and your maps, you meticulously planned the route, but still the holiday is a disaster. What more could you have done to ensure the success of the tour? Here are the top ten tips for motorbike touring.

YOUR BIKE

It sounds obvious, but you'd be surprised how many people set off on a long tour without making sure that their bike is in the best possible condition it could be. Having your motorcycle serviced before a long tour could save days of heartache, especially if you are planning a trip abroad. In some countries, garages aren't always as motivated as you are, when it comes to getting your bike back on the road. Sometimes, the whole holiday can be taken up waiting for repairs. Don't forget to carry spare bulbs.

YOUR CLOTHING

Make sure you have the right clothing. Even in summer months there is a possibility that mountain roads can be subject to inclement weather. It could be forty degrees or it could be less than ten, and it's a guessing game that you would be wise to avoid. This is when a guided tour with a luggage carrying back-up vehicle comes into its own. Another advantage of a back-up vehicle is the access to water if it does become very hot.

DON'T BITE OFF MORE THAN YOU CAN CHEW

Don't try and cover too much ground in one day. Many people who set out on their own, forget to allow time for refreshment stops. There's nothing worse than arriving at your planned destination in a state of exhaustion, then quickly eating and climbing into bed. A few consecutive days of this will see you wanting to ditch your bike and catch a bus. Be reasonable with your itinerary.

RIDE WITHIN THE LAW

Is it a race or a motorcycle holiday? Another downer that could happen whilst on tour, is being pulled by the local police and hit with a huge speeding fine, and in some countries I mean huge. Always, but always respect the traffic laws and speed limits, and this applies if you're touring in your own country too.

PLAN YOUR ROUTE SENSIBLY

When planning your route, make sure you go somewhere interesting. It's all very well spending the day on fantastic country roads, but when you wash up in that one horse town and you're sitting in bar all by yourselves, you'll wish you'd put a little more thought into the route. Again, if are travelling with a guided tour, someone else will have done all the homework for you.

WHEN ARE YOU GOING?

What time of year are you planning

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