Bike Trip Checklist: RC, PUC, Helmet and What Else You Actually Need

Documents — check these the night before, not the morning of

• Valid driving licence (the actual card, not just a photo on your phone — some checkpoints want the physical document)
• Registration Certificate (RC) of the bike
• Valid Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate
• Insurance — check the expiry date, it's the one people forget most often

Bike condition — a 10-minute check that prevents most breakdowns

• Tyres: tread depth and correct air pressure, both wheels
• Brakes: front and rear, test them before you're on the highway
• Lights: headlight and taillight both working — you may be riding before sunrise
• Chain: lubricated, not visibly dry or rusted
• Fluid check: no visible leaks under the bike

Gear

• Your own ISI-marked helmet, properly fastened, not just worn loose
• Riding gloves and, ideally, a jacket with basic protection

If anything on this list feels uncertain — an expired PUC, a brake that doesn't feel right — sort it out before the trip, not during. Most group trips have a WhatsApp group specifically to flag issues like this in advance; use it.