Have you decided to rent a motorbike and full motorcycle gear in another country? Here are all the tips on how to do it the right way!
Everything You Need to Know About Renting a Motorcycle in Croatia
The spring season is coming, and many of us are already checking the best hotel deals and cheap plane tickets and planning well-deserved days off. Since you are on our blog, your vacation plans include motorcycle riding. You may wish to ride a motorcycle along the coastline on the Adriatic Sea, or you may be looking for a more adventurous type of ride. Some camping is also on your mind. If you plan on traveling light with your backpack on, you will need a motorcycle and the entire gear for your perfect vacation. So, let’s see how to make the most of renting a motorbike and do it all stress-free!
How to Prepare for the Moto Trip
When you are preparing for an adventure in another country that involves renting out vehicles and possibly camping, you need to check the main things:
- Laws of that country
- Cultural differences you might encounter
When it comes to laws, firstly, please check laws regarding your driving licenses and other types of IDs you may need. Also, check the laws regarding how many days you can stay on your tourist visa. These laws may differ from country to country. As for Croatia, it is now in the Schengen Zone, so you are most likely allowed to spend 90 days there without a visa. Now, as for the laws regarding renting out a motorcycle, you must own a motorcycle driving license and be older than 21. Also, if you plan camping in Croatia, read more about the laws regarding camping sites, cooking on those sites, or lighting fires. Of course, if you need anything cleared up regarding these laws, feel free to drop us an email.
Now, about the cultural differences, that’s the easy part. Croatia is a popular tourist destination with very welcoming and friendly folks. The majority of Croatians speak excellent English, and many speak Italian or German languages as well. People in Croatia are used to tourists from all corners of the world and will not judge you if you can’t find your way with every local custom. Feel free to order whatever you wish in local restaurants and ask for directions or help; you will only feel welcome. Also, Croatia is one of the safest countries for female travelers or solo travelers in general.
Since we covered the main stuff, now the honorable mention goes to the logistics: check the proximity of the international airports to your desired destinations. Take a look at train schedules, bus routes, or taxi fare prices. Luckily, with all of the above-mentioned things in mind, you are not going to have a lot of problems in Croatia. The country has multiple international airports, good train connections between the cities and affordable ticket prices. Also, if you feel more adventurous, you can reach many Croatian cities by boat from Italy or Greece.
How to Choose a Proper Motorcycle
Choosing a proper motorcycle when renting isn’t always as simple as it might seem. First, you are probably used to your motorcycle and can control it perfectly. You know everything you can expect from it. Also, maybe that’s the only motorcycle you have ever ridden. Perhaps you have owned it for ten years and ride it every other day. Also, maybe you are doing minor repairs on it on your own. So you know it like the back of your hand. But now, you need to choose a completely new motorcycle to ride during your vacation. So, let’s see how to do it right!
Your Height Plays a Role
Let’s start with the basics. Choose one suitable for your height to feel comfortable on your motorcycle and in total control. The general rule of thumb is to multiply your inseam measurements by 0.885 to determine the ideal seat height for you. Okay, so how do you measure your inseam? To measure your inseam correctly, wear tight-fitting clothes, pick up a measuring tape, and, if it helps, stand in front of a mirror.
Now, measure the distance from just below your crotch to the floor. If you are not sure if you can do it correctly on your own, ask for somebody to help you. Also, we would like to add something here. This is, as we said, a general rule of thumb. The best test ever, of course, is to sit on a motorbike and see if you can comfortably reach the ground from it.
Your Experience Matters a Lot
Now let’s move on to another important, maybe even more important, point, and that is your experience. For how many years have you been riding a motorcycle? How often do you ride it? Do you ride it mainly in the city or the outback? What is the horsepower of your current motorcycle? These are all essential questions you need to ask yourself when picking the right motorcycle. Now, more importantly, these are the things you should tell the Rent-a-GS team when choosing the ideal motorcycle for you. Our team will help you choose the right one based on your experience, habits, and skill level.
Your Goals – City or Countryside Ride?
Since we have covered the most critical safety concerns, let’s move to more fun ones. So, what is your goal during the vacation? Do you want to take a five-hour ride and make a jaw-dropping video of the Croatian coastline? Do you wish to rent a motorcycle for a week to camp out in the woods and explore all the natural beauties of Croatia? Maybe you need a convenient vehicle to easily and quickly visit all the monuments and museums you want. All of these things can strongly influence the choice of an ideal bike. Some motorbikes are better for city rides, some for off-road excitement. So don’t waste your time. Just drop us a text with your wishes and preferences, and we will tell you which would be the best companion for your journey.
How to Choose Proper Equipment
Your motorcycle gear needs to provide safety, fit you comfortably, and keep you mobile. Of course, you might want to consider some other less critical factors. So, let’s cover everything!
1. How to Choose a Proper Helmet
- Safety – always Google reviews and ratings of helmets
- Fit – look for those that fit your size.
- Weather Conditions—Some helmets are better for cold weather, others for hot weather, and some have visors especially designed for foggy or rainy weather.
2. How to Choose a Proper Jacket or Moto Pants
- Safety – check if the jacket and pants have the proper protectors
- Fit – take your measurements and compare the size with your jacket and pants
- Mobility – wear jackets and pants that will not restrain your motions.
- Weather Conditions – pick the jacket and pants that are right for the season
- Storage – if you wish to carry some stuff with you on your rides, check how many pockets the jacket or the pants have
3. Think About Additional Equipment
- Bluetooth Set – think ahead. If you need speakers, you can rent those, too.
- Repair Kit—It’s not a bad idea to bring a repair kit, especially if you plan to go on a longer ride.
- Camping Gear – if you wish to go camping during your rides, you can rent full camping gear
Are You Planning on Having a Passenger?
Now that we have explained how to choose the perfect bike for your needs, which questions to ask, and which information to give, we have also explained how to gear yourself up perfectly! There is only one thing left to cover. Are you planning on having a passenger on your rides? Well, if you do, that changes a lot!
As you already know, a motorcycle passenger is nothing like a passenger in a car. While the passenger in the front car seat has only a few straightforward safety rules, a motorcycle passenger must be educated and skilled in motorcycles. So, if you plan on riding with your friend, partner, or sibling, here’s what you should know and ask.
How to Educate Them About Safety
Your passenger can either be an experienced one or someone going for a ride for the first time. Now, if they have experience, things are much simpler – they already know how to behave during the ride; you need to use the knowledge you already have to help them choose the perfect gear. Also, you need to give them some new instructions if they are, for the first time, riding on the back of the motorcycle with more horsepower. Also, if you decide to rent a motorbike from us, you can leave this short lesson to us.
However, if we are talking about an inexperienced passenger, they would need a bit longer prep before sitting behind you on a motorcycle:
- They should know how to hold themselves properly to motorcycle handles.
- They should know in which direction to lean when you enter the curves.
- They should know how to maintain their focus during the ride.
- They should know not to distract you during the ride.
- They should know how to put on all of their gear correctly.
Of course, this doesn’t cover the entire lesson on being a motorcycle passenger, so we encourage you to inform us if you plan on riding with a newbie. We will gladly give all necessary instructions!
Call Us and Have the Best Motorcycle Adventure in Croatia
We hope you now have a clear picture of all the steps you should cover when renting a motorcycle and motorcycle gear, especially in another country. If there is anything you want to ask that we haven’t covered here, don’t hesitate to email or call us. All consultations are free and can be solely educational. As you might guess, we love to talk about motorcycles! So feel free to chat with us, ask us anything you like, and maybe we will gear you up for a ride of your life someday!
