There are roads and there are motorcycle roads. Planning spectacular motorcycle trips start with finding the best routes, Mbike collected some less-known trips that will thrill you and test your skills. The key element is to find the right mix of bends and staggering scenery.
What makes a good biking road? First of all, lots of bends. But not just bends: twists and turns so you can get your knee down and your heart rate up. Then, a smooth surface and good visibility is a must. No-one wants dodging potholes or suffering a very sore bottom at the mercy of uneven surfaces. Little traffic is also important, so at the summer you can forgot the the Transfogarasan Highway or the Dolomites in Italy. Here are a few tips for you:
1. Granada to Cabo de Gata, Spain
While the Alps grab all the attention when it comes to motorcycle tours in Europe, the hills of Spain and France offer a very different but unique experience. You will see varied terrain, desert, untouched rural coastline on the same trip. Cabo de Gata to Grenada is a rather short ride but it’s well worth it: you can enjoy the changes of landscape, culture and climate over the course of its mere 130 miles or 220 kilometers.
2. Saranda to Vlora, Albania
An Eastern European gem, a very nice mountain route along the Mediterranean Sea with not many bikers. This route is best accessible from Corfu or from Ionnina, Greece, but there’s a ferry from Durres of Bari, Italy. It is definitely a ride through culture, scenic beauty and endless attractions. The country has an extremely turbulent history but the people are friendly and gas is not a problem.
3. Bar to Sarajevo, Bosnia
The Balkans is never boring: you can see almost everywhere the signs of the Yugoslaw Wars of the early 1990s. The journey from Bar to Sarajevo features a stunning coastline (the tour is accessible from Italy) which leads up to the UNESCO city of Dubrovnik. The route takes you to the inland to the city of Sarajevo – the city where the first World War (and the 20th century) began. The route is 250 miles long and it is tackled only by the most confident bikers.
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4. Agiofarago Gorge, Crete
It’s a special tour this one. Crete is the largest Greek island which forms a significant part of the economy and cultural heritage of Greece while retaining its own local cultural traits. It has a dusty, one-of-a-kind scenery with peace and quiet. It is an unbelievable isolated route which will you leave in a state of ecstasy. Crete is mountainous, and its character is defined by a high mountain range crossing from west to east, formed by five different groups of mountains. In Crete, they lack a lot of sign posts on the roads, so make sure you read about speed limits before you go!
5. Bodom circle, Finland
This is one of the little known Motorcyclists’ paradise. The route starts in Bodomintie and takes you through a roller coaster of sceneries until you reach Gunnarsvagen. It’s basically an old road going around Lake Bodom surrounded with old village houses, cafes and even a motorcycle museum.The road has a very nice profile, but doesn’t allow extreme high speeds due to several junctions and village houses. Combine this route with the Bodom circle and Kunnarla – Takkula ‘survival route’ and have a nice afternoon.
6. A2, Northern Ireland
The 60-mile A2 is an incredibly bike-friendly route along the coast. Besides, County Antrim is one of the most beautiful counties in Northern Ireland. The route hugs the coastline for 100 miles and on a clear day you can see Scotland. An important note: if you are inexperienced, stick to the speed limit since much of the route is lined with unforgiving stone walls. Hills, valleys, Northern Ireland’s rugged natural beauty at its best, with the odd hair-pin thrown in!
7. Ardennes, Belgium
It’s not a coincidence that Spa is famous of its thrilling Formula-1 races. The weather is unpredictable and the Ardennes is always a good place to test your machine – just like the Germans experienced it in the second World War. For a motorbike tourists, this region unites many qualities: few large towns, less traffic, excellent road quality and magnificent landscape. The tour begins in the village of La Gleize which is known for its King Tiger tank just outside the World War II museum. It is a mix of fast and slow, sharp corners on a smooth surface. The Ardennes offers green countryside, twisty turny roads, scenic rivers, pretty villages and easy access from the ports. In Belgium it doesn’t get much better than this.
Don’t be afraid to explore the smaller routes along the way, just don’t forget: take a map or a smartphone for when you get lost an wherever you end up, just remember to ride safely, keep an eye out for hazards and stay within the law.
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