The summer is coming, group travels by motorcycle is one kind of backpacking tourism that are preferred by many young people. Due to the characteristics of the trip is moving by motorcycle on the road around 300-1.000km, so good and thorough preparation is the best way for successful and safe travel.
1. Preparation for motorcycle
– Should check and maintenance entire motorcycle. Specifically, oil change before and after travel, review mirror, change tire in case of old motorcycle tire is punctured three holes, brake is not too deep nor too hard.
– The common motorcycle is the best, such as Jupiter, Future, Wave… Due to they are popular so it is easy to find the shop for repairing, do not use too old or weak one.
– Set of tools for repairing motorcycle is indispensable: it includes tube opening spark plug, some common keys, two head screws, spark plug brush, some quick patches, mini bike pump, new tires,…
– You should fill the petrol as soon as you can because you do not know exactly whether a petrol station is or not in front of.
2. Preparation for riding motorcycle
– Helmets: necessarily, to protect ourselves and also avoid troubles with traffic cops. You should use sealed glass helmets to reduce dust in the wind for driver while riding.
– Raincoat: Rain can happen any time along the way, especially it often heavy rain in the mountain but no shelter. We should keep raincoat at site to easy find such as motorcycle basket or compartment of backpack.
– Should wear shoes and clothes in duffel because they will reduce the risk of scratching if we fall from motorcycle. The shoes is not only keep legs warm, but also be safe when propping leg on the ground, braking quickly, avoid spikes plugged into feet, do not wear high heels and sandals. Always carry 1 pair of slipper for go bath or when it is raining… In the summer, you should wear T-shirt inside and jacket outside, the jacket will help balance the body’s heat.
– Should wear gloves, noting that choose type of thick, well-aired and cheap. Wearing gloves is not only for anti sun, but also help driver less much hand fatigue.
– Should tie carefully, normally, two people have two backpacks, one is kept at the centre of motorcycle and once be kept at the behind of motorcycle, should not wear backpack on the shoulder, it will reduce healthy of driver, except camera and personal items. Each backpack should not exceed 5kg in weight, remember to bring a flashlight, personal knife, cell phone, battery charger, memory card, battery of the camera. Each member should prepare personal medicine bag to avoid dependence in general medicine of the group.
– Fast food: bubble vitamin C, chocolate, (Snick bar is easy for carrying and not melt) or cheese (there is kind of good cheese of dry and much energy), ginger candy (good for cold region), drinking water is bought at each stage, rope coils (for pulling motorcycle in case of motorcycle in the mud).
– We also can not forget ID card, motorcycle certification and drivers license. Especially cash. We should not take much cash, just 100,000 – 150,000 VN dong /day (including money for petrol). The remain is kept in bank card or own pocket, not in purse.
3. Organization of riding
The best way is each 4-5 motorcycles for one team. Each team should have an leading person who has experience or understanding of road. Other members do not go pass this person. When meet T-junction, the leader stop and tell the next motorcycles the way. The last person will carry sets of tools for repairing motorcycle.
Before departure, we should understand exactly the road. It means that you know the town will pass, because if there are someone who stray away from the group, they could ask local people.
Another important thing: the distance between motorcyles is at least 6-10m, because in case of unfortunate, if previous one is falled or fail of tire, the nex one will not crash each other. Two motorcycles should not go together (in parallel) because it would be difficult to avoid, limit talking to other one on the way.
Each motorcycle should get a map (marking the road with red color pen) and detail schedule, cell phone number of each member, leader, contact person at destination in order to get information and take the initiative to contact in case of unwanted situation.
4. How to riding motorcycle on the road
When going at night, should not turn on the head lamps, should use regulation lamp, especially the lamp is too light, it could make dazzle to person who is going to the opposite direction, causing danger to others.
When riding the motorcycle, safety is the most important. Thus, we must keep to the Law on traffic when going on the road.
