11. Tubeless tyres are your best bet on a long trip. They are getting more and more popular these day and all for good reasons. They rarely if ever deflate suddenly, are easy to fix in the field and can be run with puncturing debris stuck in the treads by periodically topping up the tyre pressure. Even then, do carry a tubeless tyre repair kit along with a means of inflating the tyre with you and fix the puncture when it happens.

12. If your bike is shod with tubed tyres, always carry a spare tube even if you have puncture patches. Before hitting the road, check the expiry of those puncture patches and adhesive. In case of sudden deflation of a tyre while riding at speed, never brake the punctured wheel. The tyre will jump the rim and you get thrown off the bike.

13. As a ritual, check engine oil, brakes, control cables, chain tension and lights each day before starting. Engine oil level can easily be overlooked during a long trip and if ignored, it can spell disaster for your motorcycle. Apart from its usual job, engine oil also helps the engine with heat management which is paramount during those long jaunts. We have done our fair share of long rides and our choice, Castrol POWER1, has always made sure that the engines of our motorcycles were being properly pampered while we focussed on the road ahead. 

14. Crosswinds are a very real threat. When riding in a strong crosswind, crouch to make yourself as small a target for the wind as possible. Tuck in your arms, narrow your shoulders, bend your back, slide back on the seat to get your head close to the tank and grab the tank with your knees. In short, shrink. And turn into putty. Relax your body and retain a firm yet the resilient relationship with the bike. Let your body move a bit with every gust and absorb its energy on its own without shaking up the bike. And watch for sudden changes in the wind force due to static (trees, houses) and moving (cars, trucks, buses) windbreaks. They stop the wind as you pass them and it comes back in force suddenly when you are past them.

15. Puddles are fun only when you stay upright! When riding through deep water that submerges the exhaust pipe, keep the bike in first gear and those RPM’s up. If the engine stops, water will enter the tailpipe and maybe enter the engine. Do not attempt to re-start the engine as the water inside can severely damage it.