Motorbiking in Germany: What you need to know
When it comes to motorbiking in Germany, it’s not just the Autobahn that is a motorcyclist’s paradise. There are winding mountain roads, picturesque villages, and plenty of sweeping curves. Germany is a great place to ride a motorcycle. There are many scenic routes to take and plenty of rest stops along the way. The country has an extensive network of well-maintained highways and roads. But before you hop on your bike and hit the open road, there are a few things you need to know.
Getting a License
To ride a motorcycle in Germany, you must have a valid driver’s license. If you are from the United States or Canada, you can use your home country’s license for up to six months. After that, you will need to obtain a German license. To do this, you will need to pass a written exam and a driving test.
The written exam tests your knowledge of the rules of the road. The driving test is conducted on a closed course. Here you will be asked to demonstrate your motorcycle riding skills. Once you have passed both tests, you will be issued a German driver’s license with a motorcycle endorsement.
Picking the Right Bike
There are many different kinds of motorcycles to choose from when riding in Germany. If you plan on doing any off-roading, then you will want a bike with knobby tires and good suspension. For long-distance touring, a more comfortable cruiser might be better suited for you. And if you just want something to zip around town on, then consider getting a scooter or moped.
No matter what kind of bike you choose, make sure it is properly equipped for riding in Germany. This means having working headlights (with high beam and low beam settings), taillights, turn signals, brake lights, and reflectors. Your bike should also have mirrors on both sides so that you can see what is behind you while riding.
Lastly, all motorcycles must have third-party liability insurance before being driven on public roads in Germany.
Gear Up
In addition to picking the right motorcycle, it is important to have the proper gear when riding in Germany. By law, all motorcycle riders and passengers must wear helmets at all times while on the road. You will also want to wear gloves, long pants, long sleeves, boots that cover your ankles, and eye protection (either goggles or a full-face helmet). Wearing bright colours will help make sure that other drivers can see you while riding.
Following the Rules
There are a few rules that all motorcycle riders must follow when on the road in Germany. Speed limits must be respected, and always ride with headlights turned on. Drink driving is also strictly prohibited. If you’re caught riding with a blood alcohol content above 0.03%, you could face hefty fines or even jail time. It is also illegal to ride on sidewalks and most bicycle paths.
So, if you’re looking for an adventure on two wheels, then Germany is the place for you! With its wide selection of motorcycles, scenic routes, and friendly people, there’s something for everyone. So gear up and hit the open road—just make sure
Germany Road Laws
Insurance is required to ride your bike in Germany
The minimum type of insurance needed to ride your motorcycle in Germany is Third-party liability insurance.
Third-party liability insurance covers the cost of compensation to third parties for death, injury, or damage to their property. This means if you ride your motorcycle into someone else’s car, house, garden, or even another person – the insurance will pay out for this damage. Although third-party is the minimum requirement, I recommend comprehensive insurance if you’re going to be travelling to another country.
Comprehensive insurance covers you for loss or damage to your bike due to an accident, theft, or vandalism. The last thing you want is to exit your hotel in the morning and discover your pride and joy have been stolen. Suddenly you’re left unable to pay for a courtesy bike to get to work the month after.
Helmet laws
In Germany, like most other European countries it is a law that all motorcycle riders and passengers must wear helmets at all times whilst riding on the road. This also applies to scooter riders, moped riders, and anyone else riding two wheels in public.
However it is not enough to just simply wear any motorcycle helmet, the helmet must meet European standards and have a chin strap that fastens securely under the chin of the rider. If you are found riding a motorcycle, the helmet doesn’t meet the minimum legal requirements, or your chin strap isn’t done up, you can be fined.- it’s the equivalent of not wearing a helmet at all. You can usually find out if your helmet is legal for any EU country by looking at the tags attached to it and locating the ECE Regulation approval and the E number
Speed limits
The speed limit when riding your motorcycle in Germany is strictly enforced by police officers who can issue on-the-spot fines if you are caught breaking the speed limit. Generally speaking, most roads inside towns will have a speed limit of 30 km/h (18 mph), while highways and major roads will have a limit of up to 80 km/h (50 mph).
It is also important to be aware that some areas, such as construction sites or parks, may have lower speed limits which must be respected.
Autobahn Laws
Now you may be aware of Germany’s famous autobahns motorways. The vast majority of people, they’ll know that the German Autobahns are the place to go crazy. However, this is a common misconception that you shouldn’t get caught up in. The Autobahn does actually have a speed limit of 130kpm or 80 mph which most people outside of Germany are unaware of. The confusion comes from the fact that there are sections of the autobahn whereby there are no speed limits and these are marked by a circular white sign with four black diagonal lines. When you see a de-strict sign, you can go as fast as you want providing you exercise some caution. However, don’t be caught up in assuming all German autobahns are de-restricted and make sure you pay attention to the road signs!
Overtaking
Lastly, it is illegal to overtake other vehicles on the right-hand side so always remember to use the left lane for overtaking. If you’re from the UK or Australia, you’ll know that undertaking is illegal (hope’s basically the same in all European countries including Germany, it’s just the drive on the other side of the road. If you live in the US, you may not be familiar with undertaking laws since it’s not illegal in your count’s basically the practice of passing a slower vehicle on the curbside of the road.
If a slow car is hogging up the overtaking lane, you can’t undertake them and you also can’t aggressively beep your horn at them. However, a common practice we have in the UK is to flash your headlights once to quickly alert the driver that they should move over. In, I found that this wasn’t really an issue as the vast majority of drivers on the road have really good lane discipline.
Conclusion
Riding a motorcycle in Germany is a great experience for any motorcyclist. With its well-maintained highways and roads, scenic routes, and plentiful rest stops, Germany is perfect for long-distance rides. But before hitting the open road, there are a few things motorcyclists need to know such as getting a license, picking the right bike, and having the proper gear. Following these guidelines will ensure that riders have an enjoyable and safe trip while exploring all that Germany has to offer by motorcycle.
