Planning a motorcycle tour in somewhere on the planet for 2010 - need input

[Tim]

My bud Dave and I are contemplating a trip, somewhere outside Can/US to rent bikes and do a week long ride, probably 1 year from now.

Looking for suggestions on good spots anywhere on the planet. Just saw this Top Gear vid that makes me want to go to Romania

So give me your thoughts / recommendations / links. Looking for cheap airfare from Toronto, reasonable accomodations / food there and ability to rent bikes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2-RJJfV8VA

 

[lonelywolf8588]

I went to New Zealand and rode around most of the coast for a week. Greatest trip ever. The plane ride sucks though.

 

[Tim]

Yeah, NZ may be a bit of a trek and prohibitively expensive. I'm fine with spending money to get somewhere if the cost is offset by super cheap acommodations / bike rental.

Japan would be fun... but I'm guessing expensive all-round. Spain and Portugal are pretty good.

 

[Holiday]

I'm actually thinking about doing a cross-Canada trip sometime soon. I've been all over Canada and it's a beautiful country. I suggest the Rockies around Alberta & B.C. Also as a fan of http://www.targanewfoundland.com/ (Targa Newfoundland), I'd think a trip along that course would be sweet.

 

[Tim]

A cross country trip would be nice to do, but frankly would take too long, and the middle parts would be boring as shit. I've driven every mile between Victoria and Montreal at least once in my car, and while BC would be a nice area to explore on a bike, getting to BC from Toronto would take a week.

 

[dielectric]

It seems almost mundane to suggest after that Romania vid, but Italy is big on bike tours. Rent a couple of Monsters for a week and go on a guided tour. That's my "someday" trip.

Or, you could do the Che Guevara / Motorcycle Diaries trip. That is, if you like crappy roads and guerillas.

I read an article, maybe in Cycle World, about a bunch of guys renting Royal Enfields and riding through India. Should be cheap once you get there, just don't drink the water.

 

[Tim]

I'm not big on the guided tour bit. They charge too much and I'd rather be free to go where / when I feel like.

Going to look into Italy as well.

 

[supercafe]

whats up,

sounds like your planing an awesome trip,
i think it would be awesome to take a trip to newfoundland to the targa,
watched it on the t.v once or twice, was going to go with my mustang. just never got there,
but a bike ride there to watch would be great.
any one wants to go let me know, i'm in..
any way, good luck figuring out the trip,
later.

 

[JRK5892]

Tim... i have seen and been to alot of sick places in my life... by far the best VERY VERY BEST place i have ever been to and wanted a bike was Greece (peloponnese)
My wife has a house in Ligourio, about 1 mile away from the Epidauros theater (the theather is actually built on parts of her families land) you can pack to camp out, it is a country wide law that you can camp out anywhere you want... it is unreal you see people just camped out on the ancinet ruins and at ports... was great!

It was amazing!!! i will never rent a car there ever again. BMW offers packages that will meet you at the airport and provide you with a bike, GPS, and full tank! We are looking at renting BMW RT or LT's next time we go. you need a bike that can handle the roads, hell a GS would be GREAT but they are just too tall for me. A RT or the LT woudl give you and passanger great comfort and allow you to really rock the turns, not to mention storage

I rode very little while there (only on scooters) her cusin offered me his yamaha 08 FZ1 but i did not feel comfortable taking it out wihtout any insurance (i was nervous to be honest, i had no way of fixing or covering anything that went wrong, rental is the way to go)

it was amazing man... we are going back next june or august to tour greece on the bikes (or at least that is the plan)

here are some pics of our trip, Stork cafe is right up the street form her house and that is a HUGE spot for the power bike tour, when we where there it was a just adverage day with about 150 sport bikes in front!

ancient ruins

best sign in the world for beach

if you can go anywhere in the world... go to Greece. hell let me know maybe we will go with you. she has houses and family all over the place.

my "hot wip"

 

[JRK5892]

I guess i should add i have been to allmost all 50 on the bike (except alaska, washington, Maine, oregon, cali, NY, Vermont, and new hampture) and including Hawaii. I have even rode rode germany, Mexico, St martin/kits, and even a few miles in Akita Japan

i would trade it all for a bike in greece

 

[Tim]

Greece is now at the top of the list

 

[fugue]

Hey Tim,

I spent 2 weeks this summer riding in the Alps (6 countries worth). Depending on your budget/schedule I can make some suggestions. Spent much of my time on roads similar to the one in the Romanian video. Message me if you want more info.

 

[miob]

You'll have to ignore all the advice above, my advice is best


Go to Norway. You will not regret, I promise you that. Even if it rains, even if it's cold, Norway should be on top of everybodys list. The scenery is absolutely fantastic, people are friendly and the roads are of excellent quality.

If you can not live with a few drops of rain during your trip I'd recommend the (north) Slovenian Alps, the Italian Dolomites and the Austrian Alps. They're very close to eachother, so you can do all of them in one trip (of a few days). The Dolomites are also very close to Venice, so that could also be a nice daytrip.

 

[Darmstro]

ICELAND!

I've always wanted to rent a dual sport and tour that island.

 

[JRK5892]

that sounds awesome! Tim you got me jelous planning this sucker out! My brother and i are going to do some serious riding this summer once our baggers are completed... but the Norway trip sounds cool!

the prices that i have found are not too bad either man!!!
http://www.edelweissbike.com/OUT/NTCE.pdf

 

[Tim]

Not a big fan of the guided tour idea. Frankly, I think I can do it cheaper than $3000 for 6 nights.

In Spain for example a week's bike rental is $600 or so, and then figure $250 a day for hotel/food. So $2000-$2500 for a week, and I think that's being generous for hotel/food.

Will have to check out Norway and Iceland Japan is in the back of my mind as well.

 

[Tim]

Tokyo airfare is about $1100 taxes in, and $130 a day for bike rental (CB750).... possible

 

[4eyes]

8) Scotland and Greece have always been on my "Bucket List". Now Greece is at the top!

 

[cholland_]

Iceland is one of the prettiest places I've ever had the chance of going. Never thought about doing it on bikes, but I've always wanted to go back and do a circle of the island.

 

[boomshakalaka]

wow, I always new greece was a pretty cool place that Id like to visit some day, but it wasnt near the top of my list.. now it definitely is!

You posted that top gear episode, so Ill counter with one myself

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1zfuBgCUqY

The only time Ive left the continent was to go to thailand this past summer. I did not get a chance to explore any of the surrounding countries, or much outside of bangkok, but I definitely got the S.E. Asia bug. I really want to go back, and doing a motorcycle rental trip would be awesome. Also everything is really cheap there.