Planning on taking a long trip has changed my perspective on a couple of safeguards that I typically don’t use or see as necessary. Insurance and AAA.
In Florida, insurance isn’t required and, up until this point, I have not had it on the bike. The law does require you to have health insurance – I suppose the assumption is that you would hurt yourself more than anything else in the event of an accident.
Moving from state to state and putting 5000 miles on the bike increases the risk and possibility for accidents. Add that to the murky inter-state laws that govern a non-insured bike traveling across state lines and it makes sense to pick up a policy.
The next coverage I am considering seriously for the first time is AAA. Being on the road for an extended time, it seems prudent to have roadside assistance at the ready for the inopportune running out of gas in the middle of nowhere. There is the possibility of getting roadside coverage via the insurance policy (though I don’t think it will come with as many perks as a AAA membership.
To some it might feel like I am taking the adventure out of a trip, others will look at the fact that I don’t have motorcycle insurance day-to-day and think I am insane. I suppose it is all about balancing risks and what you are willing to tolerate.
What do you think? What have you done on your trips? What kind of coverage would you not leave home without?
