Check your holiday insurance - some companies cover motorbikes, some don't.
My holiday insurance gives me cover up to 125cc which is OK for scooters.

However, the bike will not be covered - hardly anyone else in Goa has insurance, so beware.

Make sure you get a bike which is registered for rental, and get an International Driving Permit before leaving the UK.

Thanks Max, i understand about the bike not being insured, so if for example i crash, id be liable to pay to get the bike fixed.
But say for example my travel insurance insured me, would this mean if i had an accident and needed medical attention, my insurance would pay?
And what about a pillion passenger? would they be covered if they also have travel insurance ?

thanks

Nicola

It's like white-water rafting or bungee jumping - would you do them without insurance?
My travel insurance lets me ride a bike up to 125cc but no rafting or bungee jumps.

Yes - your pillion passenger would need their own accident insurance.

My holiday insurance also covers me up to 125cc which is fine for Goa. It may be pretty standard as I didnt have to ask for it

If you are covered to ride bike, this would include wearing helmets, you wouldn't be covered if you weren't wearing a helmet, which can be a simple mistake in Goa as most riders don't wear helmets... Most bikes do have their own insurance and if they've got yellow/black plates then I do not see you being liable for any damages unless it was your fault. Road laws aren't the same as in the UK, so just be aware! I think your pillion passenger wouldn't need insurance to cover driving bikes (as they wouldn't be driving), but I'm not too sure... read your policy carefully, they like making little exceptions which might seem small but have a large impact...

Quoting from my insurance:-
‘My Insurance' shall not be liable for bodily injury, loss or expense due to:
"the insured person travelling on a motor cycle over 125cc unless a valid UK licence holder is held by the insured person of that machine and a secured safety helmet was worn at the time of sustaining bodily injury"

Now you may read this several ways but my interpretation would be that if you are riding a motor cycle under 125 cc , regardless of a licence or a helmet you WOULD BE COVERED.
It also says ‘travelling on', meaning the rider or pillion passenger??

It seems to put obligations on those motor cyclists riding bikes over 125 cc to wear a helmet and have a licence.

As with most insurances they are open to interpretation and the only way to clarify this would be to contact your insurance company or fall off your motor cycle causing bodily injury etc and make a claim??( little bit extreme)

I was quite surprised at the inclusion of this clause for motor cycles but it does seem rather open to interpretation. Perhaps someone else has had experience of this and could help.
I know that lots of us in Goa , including myself, ride motor cycles so I think the only way to clarify your situation would be to contact your Insurance Company and get it put in writing.

Rather safe than sorry