jonah wrote:hi guys , im just looking at travel insurance for the Argon trip, I have the EU medical card , should I just get the standard solo travel insurance from one of the comparison sites or get the motorcycling travel insurance which covers for off roading ?
I can't advise as this has to be a) an individual choice and b) is entirely the responsibility of riders attending the HISS.
But, some things to take into account:
You should double check that you and your bike are squeaky-clean street legal and you carry all of your documents with you on the trails/roads.
In case of accident the emergency services will scrape you up sort you out, including the fire brigade taking your bike to a place of safety - don't ask how I know this :whistle: - but if you're not legal this will get horribly complicated if you have to be admitted to hospital as this then triggers a magistrate's full investigation- don't ask how I know this too :whistle: :whistle: - which can and will apportion blame in case of any damages claims, let alone criminal responsibility - I don't know about this though (thumbs)
Read the small print in specialist insurance; I've known some that slip in a 125 cc limit for 'off road' - which means 'off tarmac' as genuinely off road riding is off limits according to the law and you're in Shitsville if you go down that path* - including the above case of course.
In my experience conventional 'rescue' services on your insurance won't accept a call out to an off tarmac location - this is a curious point in Aragón where a lot of official 'roads' are in fact trails, and I've even had difficulty convincing my assistance that the wide, newly paved, and perfect major highway was not a
trail - and was left high and dry until a nice policeman happened to come along and 'rescue ' me!
- Nicepolicemen.jpg (34.97 KiB) Viewed 1246 times
So try to double check that your roadside assistance service has an English speaking service so you can explain. You should also try to check which operator your mobile phone uses when roaming: only Telefónica's 'Moviestar' is reliable and even then there are places where it doesn't work - including the camp site! NB the 112 emergency service works everywhere - but it
has to be an emergency!
More on the rescue that I've come across several times: try to make sure it covers for repatriation of your bike to UK if necessary, and if not then at least it will take your crippled bike to a mechanic of choice within Spain. OK, they have a point if all you need is a lift to the nearest workshop for some simple repair - there's a good one in Teruel - but be ready with the nearest or most convenient dealership of you own bike to hand, e.g. KTM in Zaragoza, if you need specialist repair. The assistance will take your bike there and deliver you back to the HISS site, and Polly and I will help you catch up with it - it's all part of the Adventure after all!
I'm saying the above because a) it has happened and we helped a guy get a brake master cylinder delivered to KTM Zaragoza** ahead of his departure for the UK - we all bodged a solution for him to get under way, safe in the knowledge that if it failed en route he would get carted there to sort it - we never did find out what happened!
And b) I've secured a service with my local mechanic in Tremp, i.e. the Pyrenees, who will provide secure storage at cheap long term rates while you go home and either repair yourself enough to come back later and collect it or arrange for it to be collected by mates or one of numerous Brits who run vans too and from the UK.
Tremp is both a short detour from one of the more popular border crossings used by men-with-vans and also has direct access to Barcelona airport by coach, or better still, taxis that run at the same times and charge the same, and who will drop you off at the airport for a few Euros extra.
Phew - I'm making this sound too dramatic, but better safe than sorry.
Regs
Simon
* 'path' is the operative word, legal trails are by definition 4.5 metres wide - in practce if a four wheeled vehicle can go, you can. I have all the details and small print in the guides and
all of my trails are legal - checked with the Old Bill (thumbs)
** be sure to know your bike's year, model and
especially chassis number, double checked. Bikes marketed in Spain are often from different series that those imported to the UK and the only reliable way is to have this double checked to order part from the national concessions - this sounds obvious but . . . . once again, don't ask how I know this :whistle: :whistle: :whistle:
