Despite the sun shining and the clear blue skies, the roads are still wet, and the sound of motorcycles is missing. The 1st of December has arrived, and it is now officially winter.
Despite winter’s arrival, the desire for motorcycling-related activities still burns brightly, and I’d guess that most of us are spending the dark months tour planning, ready for next year.
Whereas this is both pleasure and pain, the pleasure of motorcycles and the pain of looking at the calendar only to see it typically will be five full months before departure, I started wondering about what type of motorcycle tours riders are planning.
Roll Your Own
I have, for years, rolled my own tours. Motorcycling is a singular, isolated and solitary activity for me. I enjoy the solitude that comes with pulling my helmet on and the concentration that blocks out thoughts from the real world.
All of that works right up to the point that I remove my helmet, and then I’m looking for another motorcyclist to share the experience with.
I don’t think I’m alone in this, which is why we have Biker Hotels/B&Bs and tea stops that attract bikers.
Riding through Slovenia and wondering where to stop for a bite to eat, I picked the Café/Pizzeria because three motorcycles were parked outside.
They were Czech, and despite having very little in the way of a shared language, the international symbols for awesome roads, bad coffee, and good pizza proved that the joy of motorcycling is a common bond that doesn’t need a spoken language.
Tailor Made
Perhaps the most popular tours are tailor-made. Pick any popular biking destinations, and all you need to do is show up; everything else will be taken care of.
Hotels organised. Routes planned. Coffee and fuel stops at preplanned locations, and even a guide to show you the way.
Tapping into someone else’s knowledge takes some of the guesswork out of the touring. Some argue that things going awry is all part of the experience. Others, I’d argue, don’t want problems to solve.
There are no guarantees that the route they have planned will meet your requirements, but providing you are not booking a green lane tour and riding a Gold Wing, a good packaged tour will choose roads that we all enjoy – fairly open, sweeping bends and easy hairpins.
Naturally, if you pick a tailor-made tour of the Alpine Passes, then hopefully you have a good idea of what to expect.
No Filter
And now we get to the trips for the adrenaline junkies—those who are looking for the full-on experience. None of the Western World, solve anything with a credit card and a mobile phone for them. If there aren’t problems to solve, then the trip wasn’t worth it.
Having never been on one, I can’t comment directly, but after spending a few hours on the forums, here are the names that often appear, a very brief summary of what they offer, and a guide price. Sorry about it being in US Dollars, but it seems to be the popular currency.
| Ride Expeditions — Example price range: $3,000–$6,500 |
| Destinations: Peru, Mongolia, Indonesia, and other global routes |
| Highlights: High-quality guided adventures with motorcycles included, support crews, and immersive off-road itineraries |
| Vintage Rides — Example price range: $2,500–$5,500 |
| Destinations: Peru, Mongolia, Indonesia; tours across Asia, Africa, and South America |
| Highlights: Stylish, culturally rich itineraries; motorcycles provided; renowned Andes and Mongolian steppe expeditions |
| MotoQuest — Example price range: $4,000–$7,500 |
| Destinations: Peru (Machu Picchu, Andes, Pacific Coast) |
| Highlights: Well-reviewed South American itineraries; motorcycles, guides, and logistics included; paved and mixed-surface routes |
| PeruMotors — Example price range: $2,800–$6,000 |
| Destinations: Peru (Andes, Machu Picchu, Nazca Lines) and wider South America |
| Highlights: Largest BMW-focused operator in Peru; guided and self-guided options with bikes provided |
| Outback Motorcycle Adventures — Example price range: $3,500–$7,000 |
| Destinations: Australian Outback (Simpson Desert, Uluru, Northern Territory) |
| Highlights: Rugged off-road expeditions; motorcycles included; 6-day to multi-week remote desert rides |
| Adventure Riders Indonesia — Example price range: $1,800–$4,500 |
| Destinations: Bali, Lombok, Sumbawa, Flores, and other Indonesian islands |
| Highlights: Guided off-road trails through volcanoes and jungles; bikes provided; cultural immersion |
| Uventure Tours — Example price range: $3,000–$6,000 |
| Destinations: Indonesia multi-island (Bali, Lombok, Flores, Sumbawa) |
| Highlights: 10–12 day exotic routes; motorcycles included; unique experiences like whale shark stops and volcanic rides |
| Motorcycle Mongolia (Ride Mongolia) — Example price range: $2,800–$5,500 |
| Destinations: Mongolia (Gobi Desert, Altai Mountains, Central Steppes) |
| Highlights: KTM and similar enduro/adventure bikes supplied; authentic nomadic experiences with ger camps; challenging off-road terrain |
| Trapp Tours — Example price range: $3,000–$6,500 |
| Destinations: Outback Australia (Cape York, Simpson Desert, Red Centre) |
| Highlights: Long-running operator; motorcycles provided; routes for varied skill levels across remote regions |
How Many?
For those of us who like hot showers and comfortable beds, group sizes on “Euro Tours” vary, but six to ten are the most popular.
The only issue I’ve had with this is how others ride. Everyone has their own style, and I once spent six days in the Picos with perhaps the most accomplished rider I’ve met.
He was an ex-diplomatic copper and had spent 10 years riding around London with the blue lights flashing. Fast, safe and riding well within his limits, and frustratingly welded to my number plate.
His idea of an easy ride was my idea of committed. Every time I looked in my mirrors, he was there. If I were thinking about an overtake, he had already seen it and had pulled out, waiting for me to go.
It was safe and well-judged riding from him, and I was impressed that he trusted me enough to ride so tightly. Yet, from my perspective, came the pressure of someone always in my mirrors.
I’ve also been on group rides where I’ve seen people riding in the middle of their lane, never changing position or reacting to traffic. They were close to their limit, and an overtake from me was going to put pressure on them. I don’t think they were aware of where I was; they were maxed out keeping in touch with the rider in front.
For others, group riding is a pleasure. I can’t find it, but to use a well hackneyed phrase, “It’s me, not you”.
Early Tour Planning
Planning early does have its advantages. If it is summer in Picos, the delights of Germany, Austria and the Alpine Passes or the ever-delightful Scotland, there is a deal to be had.
One forward-thinking Gent – according to his Facebook post – scored a collection of single cabins, on the Plymouth to Santander ferry, for under £400 a head.
And on that note, I’m off to see what deals I can unearth.
One Response
I’m in the DIY camp. I love to plan and organize my own trips. In fact I was doing just that before wandering off to FOLV. It was uncanny, because day2 of my trip will include Žaga – the place where the first phono was taken – coming from the lesser-known Val Resia.
I don’t feel the need to share my adventures, so I’m perfectly fine without a group. Talking with bikers at a rest stop, sure, but riding with anybody else, no. In fact, I actively dislike riding in groups: at best they are a distraction, at worst a safety hazard.