Motorcycle breakdown: what to do when your bike stops

Safety first

• Switch on the hazard lights and pull as far off the road as you can.
• Get away from traffic: on motorways and fast roads, stand behind the crash barrier.
• Make yourself and the bike visible, for example with a high-visibility vest, especially in the evening or in poor light.
• If anyone is hurt or there is danger, call 112 straight away, the emergency number across Europe.

Flat tyre

With tubeless tyres a plug repair kit plus a small CO₂ cartridge or compressor will often get you slowly to the nearest tyre shop. With inner tubes a roadside repair is harder: better call roadside assistance. After an emergency repair, ride gently and have the tyre checked as soon as possible.

Dead battery

If the bike has a manual gearbox and you find a slope or someone to push, try a bump start: second gear, clutch in, push, then release the clutch quickly. Otherwise you need jump leads or a portable jump starter and another vehicle. If the battery keeps going flat, have the battery and charging system checked.

Out of fuel

It happens more often than people admit, especially in the mountains and on Sundays, when fuel stations are scarce. A small approved fuel can or a friend with a hose can save you, but the real fix is to fill up before remote stretches.

What to carry under the seat

• A tyre repair kit and a way to inflate the tyre.
• The bike’s basic toolkit, some duct tape and cable ties.
• A small torch or your phone light.
• Your insurer’s or motoring club’s roadside assistance number, saved in your phone.
• A charged phone, ideally with a power bank.

Who to call

For a breakdown with nobody hurt, call the roadside assistance included with your insurance or a motoring club. For a crash, an injury or danger, call 112. And often another rider helps: motorcyclists are happy to stop and lend a hand.