Linet Dsouza's Blog: Read This 3-Point Checklist Before Opting For A Bike On Rent

Traversing the various parts of India one place at a time has been my passion since childhood. My dad had a government job that kept transferring us from city to city, which meant I never had any steady friends at school, but it also meant that my little brother and I got a chance to explore new places every couple of years. And as I grew up, this quality stayed with me. Recently, I shifted to Chennai for work. My flatmate and I were pretty new to the city, and particularly South India. Though she did not share my willingness to start exploring the sights and sounds of Chennai in the beginning, later one, she joined me. After we settled down in a one-bedroom apartment, the routine was pretty much the same. We worked for a leading IT consulting giant on weekdays, while Saturdays and Sundays were reserved for unwinding over food and drinks at the local pub and various local sightseeing tours. After covering the maximum of the city's hotspots, from Marina Beach to San Thome Basilica, it was time for us to explore the city's outskirts. So, on one of the weekends, we girls decided that we should go on a road trip to Mahabalipuram. But how would we go there? We considered the multiple options: bus, car or bike. Of the three, riding a bike seemed more exciting. And so the urge to get a bike on rent in Chennai overpowered the options of renting a car or travelling by bus.

Let me tell you, the road to Mahabalipuram was so lush with greenery that it raised my expectations of how beautiful the destination would be. We had checked the online map before and during the journey to help us with accurate driving directions to the temple town of Mahabalipuram. Since both of us were habitual riders, we kept taking turns riding our trusty, rental ride for the journey – Honda Active 110cc. The ride was super smooth, for the driver as well as the pillion. Since this temple town was only an hour and a half away thanks to the East Coast Road or the ECR route, we reached by 9.30 am after leaving our home at around 7.45 am. We had breakfast at one of the quaint little cafes that served us amazingly fluffy and soft pancakes with maple syrup. After downing it with a pot of coffee, we proceeded to explore the various touristy spots. From the Krishna's Butterball – a huge rock held by mysterious forces that rests on a slope – to The Shore Temple, we covered them all and returned back to Nungambakkam by 9.00 pm.

The company we rented our bike from was really professional. Their salesperson also explained us the terms and conditions very well. I am glad I found this company through Justdial, who made the search easy for me in an unknown city. However, while enquiring with multiple establishments providing bikes on rent, I realized no two establishments have the same rules and regulations. So for 'wanderlusters' like me who want to take a quick local trip on a rental bike, here is a quick checklist that you ought to give a look through.

3 Points To Check Before Renting a Bike/Scooter

Charges
Know how much rent you are paying for the rental duration. The rental charges will be different for a day trip and an overnight trip. It may also be different for a local trip and an outstation trip. If the rental company provides a contract, make sure you read it carefully and not miss any hidden charges through an oversight. Also ask if they deliver the vehicle with a full tank.
Bike Insurance
This may seem unimportant at first, but you will realize its importance if at all the rental bike is stolen or meets with an accident. It should not happen that an unfortunate event takes place, leaving you to cough up lots of money. The contract may make a mention of the accidental coverage and third-party liability, thus, another valid reason to read the contract carefully. If there is no such formal contract, make sure you check the bike's insurance papers.
Test Run
Take the bike or scooter for a quick run down the street. This is a must to ensure that the brakes, both the front as well as the rear ones, are in perfect working condition. They shouldn't be too soft, nor should you have to squeeze overtly hard to make the bike stop. You could raise a red flag on the spot if you feel some inconsistency in the braking.
Secondly, a test drive is also important to see whether the bike is riding straight. If a previous accident has bent the forks or the frame of the motorcycle, it may pull you on one side of the road. And last but not the least, check the headlights, taillights and the horn.