South Africa Motorbike Essentials
Road trips are becoming an increasingly popular holiday choice due to the popularity of television programmes like Top Gear and Ewan McGregor’s ‘Long Way Round’.
McGregor’s programme in particular has inspired a generation of bike enthusiasts to don their leathers and set out on adventure holidays in unknown countries. This provides the opportunity to get to know a different culture and explore new surrounds like no other type of holiday.
South Africa has become a popular choice for travellers embarking on such a holiday, with its beautiful surrounds and fantastic driving roads making it the perfect location. However, it is not just a case of jumping on your bike and entering the country; as there are a number of things that you need to consider before setting off and a couple of laws that differ from our own.
Motorbike Insurance
There was once a time when motorcycle insurance quotes were relatively inexpensive. However, the crash of the financial markets and increase in the number of uninsured motorists on the road has lead to insurers not only pushing up premiums but also tightening their belts by reducing the additional features which are included in their policies.
This means that insurance cover for travelling in different countries is unlikely to be included in your policy. These changes have been made quietly by many insurers who have failed to highlight the changes to customers; leaving many road trip holiday makers as unwitting law breakers.
It is therefore recommended that you check your policy or phone up your insurer to see whether or not insurance for international travel is included. If it is not, then you can always purchase temporary insurance which covers you for this. This will normally work out cheaper than a conventional policy.
Breakdown Cover
Motorcycle breakdown cover is a must have for anyone who is considering international travel due to the difficulties that can be encountered when seeking roadside rescue in an country with which you are unfamiliar and communicating in a language in which you may not be fluent.
Having a sufficient breakdown cover policy in place therefore guarantees that you will not have to deal with these issues; providing you with peace of mind should you suffer reliability problems.
However do bear in mind that like with motorbike insurance, not all breakdown cover policies will cover you in different countries. If it is not included you can therefore also opt to purchase a temporary international policy.
Speed limits
You should of course always adhere to the legal speed limits in order to avoid potential fines and avoid taking unnecessary risks. If no speed signs are in evidence, bear in mind that the national speed limit on South African highways and other major routes is 75 mph, while the speed limit of rural roads is 60 mph. In built up areas such as housing estates the speed limit is only 35 mph due to the potential for children and other pedestrians running out into the road.
Other things that could potential appear in the middle of the road in South Africa are animals. You should therefore always drive carefully when passing animals that you spot near the side of the road.
Driving licences
Anyone who holds a driving licence which is printed in English that features a photograph and a signature will be legally able to drive in South Africa regardless of where they passed their test.
However, you may need to hold an international driver’s licence if you are planning on hiring a vehicle; as this is a prerequisite with some vehicle hire companies. This is something that you may need to check on before setting off if you are planning on hiring a vehicle.
Toll roads
Many of the major roads which link South African cities are actually toll roads. The cost of usage will vary from between R2.50 to R61.00 for each individual plaza, so make sure that you have either spare cash or at least a credit card handy to enable you to pay.
It might also be worth checking a map and planning out your journey before setting off in order to minimise your total expenditure, as you will have to pay the toll fee each time you use a toll road; of which there may be many on a particular route between destinations.
Posted in 
Tags: