What follows is written toward riding in Europe, but generally will apply in other countries.
Unless you are going to be there for a month, call one of the BMW, Yamaha, or Honda dealers, fly in, and rent from them. There are also independent shops in many big cities, such as Holiday bikes. You probably will need to do a Google search in that country's language. For example in Germany, Google the city name plus motorad meiten
Because of the tight streets in towns and wet slippery cobblestones rent in the 700-1000 cc size works great, but the 1200GS is the McDonalds Big Mac of rental bikes. Steer away from the Goldwings, 1200RT, cruisers, and similar. Ducatis and sport bikes are sexy for photos but put my knees and thighs in agony on long days.
Always photo EVERY inch of a rental bike before signing for it. Photo every inch again when checking the bike back in. I've had a rental shop AFTERWARD say that I dropped a bike and they still had my charge card number. This saved me.
I rent very few motorcycles that have enough air in the tires, so have it checked IN FRONT OF YOU before starting out. I take a pencil-type tire gage.
Do take the offered insurance.
Take along a good locking cable or you may have to rent one, and same for having your own riding gear. (Who wants somebody else's head lice anyway?)
Prepare to ride in rain EVERY day, regardless of the month, and you may be pleasantly surprised if it's not the case. It sure beats being underprepared, wet, cold, and miserable. Buying gear in Europe will cost double what it does in the US. In Asia it is hard to find gear which fits.
You are expected to split lanes at lights and don't be surprised to be abreast at a light with a couple scooters and bikes.
Lanes are narrower and the person with the furthest forward fender has right of way.
Sidewalk parking is generally legal. And is wonderful!
Paper maps can be a pain in the ass and navigation is almost entirely by the names of little towns. Take a GPS and don't forget a mount. Euro maps are easy to get free online. (GPS maps near military bases in at least one South American country go blank.) My RAM mount for rental bikes replaces one bolt for the handlebar clamp and has an eyelet on enough wire that I can get power off the battery. My kit includes a Leatherman tool, tywraps, and a 10mm wrench.
Speed cameras are everywhere in Europe these days. On the up-side, a lot of them are in the GPS databases.
It's illegal to pass on the right in Germany. They are not nonchalant about their driving rules.
The Dutch are the nicest people in the world and pull the slowest travel trailers, especially in the mountains.
Expect animals in the middle of the road and around every blind corner in less populated areas.
If a police officer waives you over, DO IT. They have zero mercy on those who don't and do have authority to shoot in some countries (Germany is one).
Most pull-overs are for speed or for random alcohol checks. One drink can put a person right up to or over the alcohol limit and Euro police are VERY serious about this. Limit the drinks to the end of the day.
IF you get pulled over, most police in Europe will take your US or Canadian license on a pull-over, usually you will get asked for your passport, and a few will ask for your International Drivers License. (Rare but still required, so get one at AAA in the US or CAA in Canada) Carry a few hundred Euros cash because you may need to pay the fine on the spot. I think it was in France (or Spain?) where they got me to pay on the spot, Germany had a full page citation when I last got pulled but that was now decades ago, and am not sure about other countries.
Speed that you can get away with depends on country and even where. You can get away with following fast traffic in Germany like in North America. France has few cops but little tolerance for speeding and you learn to expect a radar cop on every overpass. Europeans generally don't take an extra 5-10 mph like we take for granted in North America, most don't speed and a few fly. Brazilians? Good luck in keeping up!
Take too big of a camera and you won't stop to shoot photos, too little or rely on your phone and you can't get good enlargements when you get home. I use a Canon G10 and a waterproof point & shoot. The point & shoot goes in my lower left pocket and has a lanyard so I can shoot while riding and not worry if I need to drop it. The Canon has a huge CCD for great enlargements and goes in a breast pocket to use when I stop for a quick photo.
In addition to hostels and B&Bs, Eurocamp can be relatively cheap places to stay where if you have a sleeping bag you can rent an RV or fixed tent: http://www.eurocamp.com (They bought out the KeyCamp, too.)
Unless you are going to be there for a month, call one of the BMW, Yamaha, or Honda dealers, fly in, and rent from them. There are also independent shops in many big cities, such as Holiday bikes. You probably will need to do a Google search in that country's language. For example in Germany, Google the city name plus motorad meiten
Because of the tight streets in towns and wet slippery cobblestones rent in the 700-1000 cc size works great, but the 1200GS is the McDonalds Big Mac of rental bikes. Steer away from the Goldwings, 1200RT, cruisers, and similar. Ducatis and sport bikes are sexy for photos but put my knees and thighs in agony on long days.
Always photo EVERY inch of a rental bike before signing for it. Photo every inch again when checking the bike back in. I've had a rental shop AFTERWARD say that I dropped a bike and they still had my charge card number. This saved me.
I rent very few motorcycles that have enough air in the tires, so have it checked IN FRONT OF YOU before starting out. I take a pencil-type tire gage.
Do take the offered insurance.
Take along a good locking cable or you may have to rent one, and same for having your own riding gear. (Who wants somebody else's head lice anyway?)
Prepare to ride in rain EVERY day, regardless of the month, and you may be pleasantly surprised if it's not the case. It sure beats being underprepared, wet, cold, and miserable. Buying gear in Europe will cost double what it does in the US. In Asia it is hard to find gear which fits.
You are expected to split lanes at lights and don't be surprised to be abreast at a light with a couple scooters and bikes.
Lanes are narrower and the person with the furthest forward fender has right of way.
Sidewalk parking is generally legal. And is wonderful!
Paper maps can be a pain in the ass and navigation is almost entirely by the names of little towns. Take a GPS and don't forget a mount. Euro maps are easy to get free online. (GPS maps near military bases in at least one South American country go blank.) My RAM mount for rental bikes replaces one bolt for the handlebar clamp and has an eyelet on enough wire that I can get power off the battery. My kit includes a Leatherman tool, tywraps, and a 10mm wrench.
Speed cameras are everywhere in Europe these days. On the up-side, a lot of them are in the GPS databases.
It's illegal to pass on the right in Germany. They are not nonchalant about their driving rules.
The Dutch are the nicest people in the world and pull the slowest travel trailers, especially in the mountains.
Expect animals in the middle of the road and around every blind corner in less populated areas.
If a police officer waives you over, DO IT. They have zero mercy on those who don't and do have authority to shoot in some countries (Germany is one).
Most pull-overs are for speed or for random alcohol checks. One drink can put a person right up to or over the alcohol limit and Euro police are VERY serious about this. Limit the drinks to the end of the day.
IF you get pulled over, most police in Europe will take your US or Canadian license on a pull-over, usually you will get asked for your passport, and a few will ask for your International Drivers License. (Rare but still required, so get one at AAA in the US or CAA in Canada) Carry a few hundred Euros cash because you may need to pay the fine on the spot. I think it was in France (or Spain?) where they got me to pay on the spot, Germany had a full page citation when I last got pulled but that was now decades ago, and am not sure about other countries.
Speed that you can get away with depends on country and even where. You can get away with following fast traffic in Germany like in North America. France has few cops but little tolerance for speeding and you learn to expect a radar cop on every overpass. Europeans generally don't take an extra 5-10 mph like we take for granted in North America, most don't speed and a few fly. Brazilians? Good luck in keeping up!
Take too big of a camera and you won't stop to shoot photos, too little or rely on your phone and you can't get good enlargements when you get home. I use a Canon G10 and a waterproof point & shoot. The point & shoot goes in my lower left pocket and has a lanyard so I can shoot while riding and not worry if I need to drop it. The Canon has a huge CCD for great enlargements and goes in a breast pocket to use when I stop for a quick photo.
In addition to hostels and B&Bs, Eurocamp can be relatively cheap places to stay where if you have a sleeping bag you can rent an RV or fixed tent: http://www.eurocamp.com (They bought out the KeyCamp, too.)