The US is known as the land of opportunities. However, for motorcyclists and adventure lovers, it is the true land of freedom and adventure. In most of the world, motorcyclists are either restricted or they are considered a very substandard part of traffic. In Asian countries, you will either find Scotty, scooters, and Vespa or standard Japanese style motorcycles.
This means that motorcycles are just limited to the daily commute. On the contrary, if you move towards the European countries, you will hardly see any motorcycles. The majority of the population either own a car or if they are trying to be environmentally friendly they will get a bike. In America, there is a motorcycle culture where people like to join motorcycle groups.
These motorcycle groups come together and arrange various adventurous trips. The motorcycle culture in America is so different that bikers here have a very distinct style. They like to wear leather, shiny helmets, and sunglasses.
To further jazz up the motorcycles, these motorcyclists modify their motorcycles according to their styles. Some like to add up leather tassels, others change the seat and wheels whereas some even alter the handlebars. These changing trends truly translate the spirit of Americans’ passion for motorcycle and motorcycle rides.
In a country that celebrates motorcycles and motorcyclists so much that there are lodges that are reserved for riders, one truly thinks where they can go if they want a motorcycle-friendly vacation.
There are so many holiday destinations and routes that are famous among motorcyclists. Apart from holiday destinations, there are road trip routes that are famous among motorcyclists as well. Some of the best camping spots are reserved for motorcyclist campers. Some resorts offer a complete natural camping experience to the motorcyclist as well
. In addition to all these things, you also need to get in touch with experts and motorcyclist groups so you can ask for recommendations e.g., for motorcycle luggage and motorcycle gears. No matter what you want, there is a perfect solution for that.
What do You need To Know About Motorcycle Road Trips?
When we think about road trips, we usually think about cars or a four-wheeler. Even if we try to specify it for the motorcycle, we think about the fatigue and just short distance tours that will hardly take a few hours. However, contrary to the common belief, things are changing now. Motorcycle manufacturing companies are now manufacturing designs that can help the riders ride for longer hours without getting tired. Apart from this, you can simply change the seat or learn to adjust according to your seating posture, another very important tip is to stop your motorcycle after every two hours and walk for five minutes. This will help you move your lower limb and the body circulation will be regulated. Apart from this, you need to plan your road trip and think about every aspect of the trip before you hit the road.
Some of the basic things that will save your time include the details about the rules and regulations about motorcycle riding in your desired destination. Apart from this, you need to know about the weather so you can pack accordingly. Another very important thing is to know about the safety gears that will help you avoid any possible accident or minimize the impact of the road accident. There are so many groups on social media that can help you with the road trip plan. These groups will not only help you with the planning but also suggest to you the route that will be better for you.
Some of the Best Destinations for Road Trip
As an American, trust me we have hit a jackpot when it comes to motorcycling routes and road trip destinations. There are so many amazing places you can discover, even if you don’t want to rely on just one place, there are so many routes that are so much better than even the camping destination. Most people keep talking about Arizona and how beautiful it is. However, all the basic routes around Arizona are equally beautiful. Even if you choose to go to Alaska you will be surprised.
For the beginner deciding on the destination is pretty hard. However, once you start riding more often you will get more suggestions and your bucket list will even start flooding. As a beginner, if things are getting quite daunting, we have some easy ideas that can help you plan your next road trip. Some of these road trip routes are quite famous, however, there are so many other hidden gems that you can explore.
Bangor, Maine, to Seattle, Washington
What Route to Take: The Great Northern on U.S. Route 2
We are starting our list with a hidden gem that only a true adventure enthusiast will love. Most people are just familiar with a specific part of route 2 and most of it is still considered abandoned. If you are just hitting off for a life full of adventure, start with route 2.
This route will help your ride across the whole top border of the US and you will be surprised how much beauty you will discover on the way. You can explore Columbia Plateau as well as Apostle Islands National Lakeshore.
Some of the other fascinating places that you will explore on your way include Glacier National Park where you can enjoy nature in its true spirit. Although this route is great there is just one thing that you need to be careful about, if you are traveling during the pandemic and especially during the lockdown, avoid taking the route through Canada because of the ban on recreational trips.
Chicago to Los Angeles
What Route to Take: A Whiskey Road Trip on Route 66
If you have ever asked for a trip recommendation, you will always hear about route 66. Route 66 is also known as the mother of all routes and so, it is no surprise that motorcyclists love it. This American beauty is around 2,000 miles long and covers a big chunk of land as well. While you are riding along route 66, options are endless, you can be your boss and keep riding.
Start from Chicago and lead towards the city of angels. On your way, you will be able to stop by some of the best craft distilleries including one of our favorite Few Spirits in Chicago. Some of the other distilleries that you can explore include Red Fork Distillery in Tulsa and one of its kind Still 630 in St. Louis. We know most people love whiskey, but go easy on yourself. You are on a road trip and you don’t need to get drunk.
Big Sur to Mono County
What Route to Take: A Literary Road Trip via Northern California
For someone who is in love with books, nothing gets better than a Literary Road Trip via Northern California. We know that riding a motorcycle means you need to find some easy routes but this route is to satisfy your adventurous soul. This road trip might give you nostalgia about some of the best authors and that is exactly what you need. Writers like Amy Tan, Jack Kerouac, and Maya Angelou have talked about this place. You can explore some of the best landmarks including Café Trieste.
The story behind this café is that some of the most famous writers have used this place as a meeting place so you will be able to learn a lot of things from their perspective. For a young writer, this road trip will be a very enlightening experience and you will be able to see things from a different perspective.
Phoenix to the Grand Canyon
What Route to Take: The Ideal Arizona Road Trip
As we mentioned earlier, Arizona is heaven for motorcyclists. Most motorcyclists even start their passion journeys by hitting off Arizona from their list. This trip is almost 240 miles long and yet it will allow you to explore America in the best way possible. You can enjoy hiking, biking, and beautiful sceneries as well. Most people stay on the way to Camelback Mountain hiking and take pictures. If you like hiking, you will have plenty of other opportunities as well including Cathedral Rock and red rock.
San Juan Scenic Skyway Road Trip
What Route to Take: An Adventure via Southwestern Colorado
This is an ideal trip route if you are not afraid of the forests and various towns on the way. This whole trip is almost 232 miles long and you can take the start from San Juan Scenic Skyway. From there you will be able to start this fascinating journey and enjoy mining towns along with craggy peaks as well. The best thing about this route is the stops and small motels on the way. This route is not abandoned so after every few hours you can stop, grab a bite and enjoy your time as well.
There are so many spots for refreshments that you will be able to enjoy different flavors as well. If you like liquor there are some breweries on the way as well.
Denver to Montrose
What Route to Take: A 420-Mile-Long Road Trip via Colorado
We know that most people might not expect this on our list but we think this is one of the best spots to visit. This trip will take around one week and you will be surprised how much you will be able to explore within this time frame. You can enjoy fishing in Colorado’s largest reservoir as well as a stop at Crawford or Aponia for a little time.
If you are into nature, you can also visit national parks. Most people do not like this route, others have never thought about it so you will be able to enjoy solitude and some alone time as well.
Some Tips to Help You Plan the Perfect Road Trip
Planning is very important because, without proper planning, you will either pack too much or too little. Planning will not only include the destination that you will go to but also the route that you will take. Additionally, you will also need some help with the packing so it is very important to pack according to the destination and weather.
Safety Gears
Safety gears are very important no matter what route you are taking. The safety gears will help you ensure your safety, avoid accidents and minimize the impact of accidents as well. One of the best things is to wear gloves, a jacket, a helmet, and a windshield. If you don’t like wind shields you can only use sunglasses. However, there are a few counties where it is very important to have a windshield.
Know the Rules
Every state and every county has different rules for motorcyclists. Some states will allow you to ride without a windshield whereas others will only let you ride if you have a windshield. Few states have a required length and height for the handlebars and a few others have limitations for the mufflers. After deciding the destination, make sure you go through the rules and regulations of the state you will be visiting.
Keep Some Money
We know this is a very basic tip but most people in America rely on plastic money. There is no doubt it is a good way to keep your money because you will only use what you need. However, keeping some cash is very important. Few gas stations will only let you pay in cash or have a limitation to the transaction amount. In this condition, you will need some cash with you.
Backup Power
Most of us rely heavily on technology for navigation but one of the very important things that you will learn with the help of a road trip is going manual. Apart from the GPS, you will also need a compass and map. Another very important thing is to keep a power bank with you so that you can charge your phone and other gadgets.
Pack Light
Packing is the key, if you pack too much, you will get tired very easily. Unlike a car where you will only be loading everything and you don’t have to support it with your body, the motorcycle is a little bit different. One of the best solutions for easy packing is to get saddlebags. However, you can also rely on backpacks and duffle bags if you want.
Technology Is Good
Technology has made our life easier but there are so many different things that will help you make your journey easier. Rely on the technology as much as you can. You can ditch the earbuds and use some headphones or earbuds to cancel the noise and enjoy some music. Apart from this, there are so many different apps that can help you locate your nearest mechanic and petrol pump. These apps are specially designed for people who want to go on adventurous road trips.
Keep Something to Eat
While you are on the road, you need to keep something with you to eat and drink. If you are traveling in the summers, keep energy drinks with you because you will sweat a lot and lose your energy. Apart from this keep an energy bar with you or a bar of chocolate so you do not face hypoglycemia.
Weather appropriate tips
While selecting the motorcycle jacket, get something that is weather-appropriate. In the winter season, get something thick and chunky. On the contrary, summer gets something that is light and has ventilation as well. Another very important thing is that while riding in winters, use the heat of the engine to warm your hands. However, don’t put your hand directly on the engine because you might burn yourself.
