Insurance when abroad

I'm hoping to make a last minute trip to Italy, hire bike, trundle
around, come home. Unfortunately standard medical insurance doesn't
cover this (not surprisingly) and I'm finding it difficult to find
someone who will provide cover when not riding my own bike. Has
anybody done this and, if so, what did you do? Or do you just assume
you're not going to fall off?

Oh, BTW, I've made 2 trips to Italy this year. Bike hire shops do exist but
are scarce. Like most elsewhere in the Med, scooter hire is available on
most street corners. Unless you are planning on going up an Alp or two, a
scooter is more practical anyway...

Thanks Wessie. Appreciate it. I'll give them a go (direct-travel).
I'm actually planning to hire a Guzzi Breva and am talking to CIMT
about a last minute deal. It's expensive but will (hopefully) be more
fun than a car. We'll be going up to Lake Como from Milan and staying
there FOC then using it as a base to explore the area.

Any tips or warnings since this will be my first Continental trip?

I had a hire car on my last 2 trips to Italy. I've ridden my own bike there
several times too.

As far as driving/riding is concerned: don't hesitate is the best advice.
Take care on the Milan ring road. Speeds are much higher than the M25 and
lane discipline is mental in comparison. In reality, there are very few
accidents. Get your head around their mindset and you'll be fine. It all
looks very chaotic but it works.

Petrol is widely available even in rural areas. The pumps are often
unmanned. The machines take cash so make sure you have small denomination
notes as you won't get any change for that 50 Euro note. The machines have
a card reader too. A few years ago they rejected UK cards with a magnetic
strip. Chip/PIN cards work fine in shops but I don't know if the pumps have
been brought up to the same spec.

I don't know the Como area so can't offer advice about there. If you think
you will make it as far east as Lake Garda then let me know, as I know
parts of that area very well.

Useful stuff ta.
I doubt we'll be venturing that far east but there's always a chance.
Are there any 'must-see' type places in that area?

The SE corner is a bit tacky: lots of campsites, man made beaches etc.
Malcesine is lovely. There's a cable car that takes you to the top of a
mountain, although there is a road up there too.

The northern end of the lake is great too. Super restaurant in Torbole
across the road from the harbour. Goethehaus IIRC - bike parking bays right
outside.

The western side of the lake has some superb roads that climb to some
spectacular viewpoints.

North of Lake Garda you get into the Dolomiti Alps proper. We found some
super roads on a circuit from Riva-Molveno-Madonna di Campiglio-Riva. Some
of the passes were around 2000m above sea level.

We liked our base resort of Limone too. Very little modern development in
the town itself. Most of the big hotels are on the outskirts. Watching the
sun set behind Monte Baldo on the other lake shore whilst slurping far too
much Prosecco was a highlight.

AFAIK, BUPA (who I'm with) has no restrictions. In any case, if you've
got an E111 card, you'll be OK.

As Wessie says it's the getting home bit which the EHIC doesn't cover
you for. Insurance sorted now but I'm going to try really, really hard
not to crash in any case!

loads of firms will cover you. Easiest to arrange is from
wording is there too. This is the key phrase on p37
"you travelling on a motorcycle over 125cc, unless the rider holds a valid
licence which lets them ride a motorcycle of more than 125cc;"

In the High St, policies from Nationwide and the Post Office have simialr
wording.

Then there's Churchill, Carole Nash and a groups search...

Insurance when abroad - hired bike