In this article, we highlight some of the best locations you can choose for a motorcycle tour in 2020. Before that, we are going to explore why motorcycle tours are so popular and such a rewarding holiday experience.
What is so great about motorcycle tours, what are the benefits, and why is motorbike touring so popular?
Biking has often been seen as a masculine hobby but that simply isn’t the case. The only people that bikes discriminate against is those with bad backs, pregnant women, and young children. Otherwise, be you a 4-foot tall tiny lady, or a hulking 7-foot tall cage fighter, bike touring is a perfect choice for a holiday. In fact, the number of female riders on motoring tours is growing every year (read more here).
Here are just a few of the reasons why you should consider a motorbike touring holiday.
There are Some Brilliant Bike Routes All Around the World
Some places in the world offer a great driving or riding experience. The feeling is enhanced when you are on a bike. Imagine riding in places like Route 66 in The USA, The Great Ocean Road in Australia, The Romantic Road in Germany, the Cape Town Circuit in South Africa, Switzerland, Fjordland in Norway, and the Yorkshire Dales and Moors in the UK.
The great thing is that the experience differs every time. For example, contrast the experience of driving in the UK or USA with places like China or India. The views, smells, weather, light and sounds are all totally different.
You See More on a Motorcycle
Have you ever been on a car journey with a kid who insists you look out the window at every dog, rubbish lorry and cow? You look out the window to see the view as you drive your car. Imagine that everywhere you looked was out the window with no roof, door or pillars to block the view.
On a bike (with the exception of being able to swivel your head around like an owl) everywhere you look is unrestricted. Your entire 180 view is your window. Perhaps this is one of those things you have to experience to actually understand but touring on a bike feels so much better than in a car because you feel more like you are “In” the scenery rather than watching it pass by through a window.
Go it Alone or As a Couple
The great thing about biking is that you do not have to do it alone. There is a romantic element to having your partner wrap his/her arms around for you for hours as you cruise through the countryside. An alternative is using a sidecar which is great for inexperienced riders or nervous passengers as the sidecar provides stability. If you are both hardcore then get your own bikes.
If you are a solo traveller then guided motorbike tours are a great option. A group of bikers all book onto the same tour and share evening accommodation and meals. You can be a sociable as you like – make friends find people to spend the days riding with or just meet the group for a chat in the evenings. These group tours are great as they provide a feeling of security that you can’t get if travel alone or as a couple.
DIY Or Touring Company
You can create a do-it-yourself holiday; book flights, hire a motorbike, get the right insurance, arrange roadside assistance, plan your route, book all your overnight stays, visas for entry into countries and passes for national parks and monuments. However, this can be quite time consuming and complicated and only possible for bikers with experience.
The much simpler option is to find a company that runs established tested guided tours. They will provide the bikes with all the necessary insurance and roadside assistance. They will have timed the tours and arranged suitable overnight stops and identified the best routes and places to visit. You might also have access to an experienced guide who can make sure you get the most out of your trip.
It’s Better For The Environment
If you’re concerned about your impact on the environment when you travel, a motorbike tour is much greener than a road trip by car, campervan, or motorhome/RV. They use less fuel than cars and have lower emissions. They also put less pressure on the transport infrastructure because they are lighter.
Of course, walking or using a non-motorised bike is even greener but it is impossible to cover anything like the same amount of distance. In addition, only the fit and healthy could consider this type of holiday. If you want to cover large areas then you need to use motorised travel and a motorbike is then the greenest option.
There is a Great Deal of Freedom
When you bike, you get a great deal of freedom in terms of where you go, how long you spend in each location and also where you stay. Some people say you get the same feeling from a camper van, but have you ever tried finding a safe space to park in a tough city or a legal place to park out in the country?
When you ride a bike, you can hop off, lock it up, and camp out if you wish. You can pick out a B&B as you pass through a town or park your bike in a multi-storey car park in a city and grab a hotel. Camper van owners do not have things so easy.
See Tourist Spots More Efficiently
If you are biking around busy or very popular tourist destinations, then you can plot out your route and cut through the traffic much faster than if you use a car or public transport. It is much easier to find a parking spot if you only have a bike than if you are in a car and you don’t have to queue for hours for a taxi.
