PIDCOCK TRAVEL CLUB

TOURING TIPS

What to take with you
Riding Gear
Casual Clothes
Toolkit
Sat Nav/Maps
Documentation/Licence/V5/Insurance Cover Note.
Insurance and Breakdown cover. (Medical and Bike)

Insurance & Breakdown

It’s important to make sure that you have the right cover before embarking on a motorcycle tour and this guide covers the basics to get you set. Full details on all the below are provided in the tour packs we send out before the trips.

MOTORCYCLE INSURANCE

All riders on tour must have valid insurance for themselves and their pillion riders in the countries that we ride through. Most UK insurers cover you for short trips by default, but please check before you depart.

BREAKDOWN COVER

We recommend that all customers have breakdown cover for their motorcycles. This must cover repatriation of both them and their motorcycle in case of accident or breakdown. Ideally it will also include replacement with a rental vehicle if not fixable within 24 hours so that you can continue your tour.

TRAVEL & MEDICAL INSURANCE

We also highly recommend that you take out travel insurance that covers cancellation of your holiday in case you can’t make the tour due to accident, illness or redundancy before departure. This should cover you for medical treatment in the countries you visit and must cover you whilst riding a motorcycle. Not all providers cover this so please check.

Preparing your bike

It’s important to make sure that you have the right cover before embarking on a motorcycle tour and this guide covers the basics to get you set. Full details on all the below are provided in the tour packs we send out before the trips.
  • Engine/Service

    Check on when your next service is due and take into account the mileage of the tour you are about to embark on. Consider getting a service done a little earlier if your bike is close to it’s next service or your bike stands for much of the year unridden. Problems are much easier to sort at home than they are at the roadside! Drop into your local dealer and get them to give your bike a “pre-tour” check.

  • Bulbs

    Spare bulbs should be in your toolkit and are a legal requirement in many countries.

  • Battery

    Electrical and battery issues are common. Charge your battery on an Optimate or similar when not using your bike. Make sure you test the battery before you go. If you don’t have the tools then your dealer will happily test it for you.

  • Brakes

    Ensure you have plenty of wear left on your pads and that your discs are in good condition.

  • Tyres

    Make sure you have plenty of tread on your tyres before any tour. Ensure you haven’t got any nails or foreign objects lodged in the tread. Tyres of a particular size aren’t always the easiest to source when away.

  • Screen

    Touring screens are by no means essential, but they provide some much-needed relief on longer days, depending on your riding position.

  • Number plate

    To avoid being stopped by Local Police, make sure that your number plate complies with the legislation.

  • Chain/Driveshaft

    Make sure you know how to adjust and clean your chain. Some bikes are trickier than others to work on, so if in doubt get your dealer to help you and make sure the chain is set right before the trip.


    If you have a shaft drive bike, then there is less to maintain but make sure the fluid levels are topped up.

Rider Information

You will have access to Special exclusive offers, as a guest on our Tours, for a wide range of:
  • Motorcycle accessories and clothing.
  • Deals on tyres
  • Luggage (Pannier sets, Tank Bags, Roll Bags)

Contact us today for more information

Get in Touch

Terms & Conditions

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1.1Withdrawal rights before the beginning of a tour.

1.1. Withdrawal rights of the traveller due to changes: If the Pidcock Travel Club is forced to substantially change a significant part of the tour or if Pidcock Travel Club has to increase the Tour price by more than 5%, Pidcock Travel Club shall contact the traveller about this immediately in a clear and comprehensible manner by Letter or e-mail and the traveller may agree to the change or withdraw from the contract, without payment of any compensation, but with a return of any Deposit already paid, within 14 days upon notification of the change. 
If the traveller does not make a declaration within 14 days, this shall be regarded as approval of the change. 
In case of withdrawal from the contract for the tour, the traveller may agree to another tour as a substitute, if Pidcock Travel Club can offer this. Otherwise, Pidcock Travel Club shall refund any and all payments made to date within 14 days from the declaration to withdraw. 
If the changes to the contract for the tour, or the tour offered as a replacement, result in a reduction of the quality or the costs of the tour, the traveller shall be entitled to a Pro-Rata price reduction.

1.2. Cancellation:

1.2.1. The traveller may withdraw from the contract for the tour at any time before the beginning of the tour without giving reasons. 

1.2.2. In the event of cancellation by the traveller, the following compensation lump sums shall be chargeable:
90 - 70 days before the beginning of the journey Loss of Deposit.
From 70 - 60 days before the beginning of the journey 50% of tour cost 
From 60 days before the beginning of the journey 100% of tour cost 
No-show 100% of tour cost 
It is recommended taking out a travel cancellation insurance. 

1.2.3. For the calculation of the cancellation fee, the date of receipt of your declaration to Pidcock Travel Club shall be decisive.

1.2.5. In case of non-compliance with the payment deadlines, Pidcock Travel Club shall be free to cancel the contract at the expense of the traveller.

1.3. No-show: If the traveller fails to appear on the departure date because he is not willing to travel or if he misses the departure because of negligence caused by their actions, 100% of the travel price may be retained.

1.4. Withdrawal right of Pidcock Travel Club:

Pidcock Travel Club may withdraw from the contract for the package tour before the beginning of the package tour for full reimbursement of all payments made for the package tour, but without payment of any additional compensation, if

a) Fewer persons than the minimum number of participants specified in the contract have registered for the package tour and the declaration to withdraw reaches the traveller 20 days before the beginning of the tour for journeys of more than six days, seven days before the start of the tour for journeys between two and six days, 48 hours before the beginning of the tour for journeys of less than two days, or

b) If Pidcock Travel Club is prevented from fulfilling the contract due to unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances and the declaration to withdraw is received by the customer immediately, but at the latest before the beginning of the tour.
If Pidcock Travel Club decides to carry out the tour, even if the number of participants falls below the minimum number, the traveller shall accept minor deviations from the catalogue of services. Unless otherwise stated, some services, originally included in the tour, could be withdrawn, if the number of participants falls below the minimum number.

1.5. Reimbursement: In the event of cancellation, Pidcock Travel Club shall refund to the traveller within 14 days, payments already made. The traveller shall not be entitled to any further claims for compensation for damages.
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