Oxfordshire holidaymakers should take great care when hiring a motorbike abroad, a leading travel insurance provider has warned.

Primary Direct points to its previous claims experience as evidence that this can be an area fraught with risk.

Motorcycle accidents feature high up the insurance provider's summer claims tables, particularly in the European holiday islands and Greek mainland, where small moped and motorcycle hire is a common and cheap way to explore.

The company's research shows that one in five of all 16 to 35-year-olds have hired a motorcycle when on holiday, seeking the thrill of riding in the sun. This in itself is one of the problems, with the desire to feel the wind in one's hair and the sun on one's back being responsible for riders going without the necessary helmets and protective clothing that can prevent death and serious injury in the event of an accident.

Added to this, there is the problem of the poor maintenance of some motorcycles. Hire firms often turn bikes around from one hire to the next almost immediately, doing few safety checks.

Primary Direct's Helen Dwyer said: "The first rule is to thoroughly check the motorcycle before you get on it. Test the brakes before you leave the hirer's premises, inspect the tyres and make sure there are no obvious defects. Make sure that you have a helmet and it is unblemished. If it is dented or scraped, it is no good to you as a source of protection.

"Ask to see proof of the hirer's certification as a hire facility and his safety certificates - they should adhere to safety standards and procedures in their country of operation. Then, make sure you get a full briefing on how to ride the bike and have a thorough understanding of its controls. If you are not a bike rider in this country, don't think that you can suddenly become an expert overseas, where road maintenance is often poor, roads twisty and other drivers erratic."

Holiday hire tips:

*Check that you have the relevant insurance cover. This means that if you do come off the bike, you can claim back the cost of your treatment from your Insurer.

*Check that your policy will cover you for a "hazardous/sporting activity" like this - many won't.

*Make sure that you also have insurance for the machine itself - your travel insurance won't pay for damage.

*Don't assume the E111 form will pay for your medical treatment - in many resorts there are only private clinics and the E111 doesn't cover private treatment.

*Never ride after drinking alcohol, even if you feel you are under the limit - this would invalidate your travel claim.