Hi there,
I’m planning a road trip in the American West in July 2025 with West Forever, which was highly recommended to me.
Has anyone done this route recently and could tell me a bit more about:
- the stages (easy or not/the stops)
- hotels
- restaurants to recommend
- things to prepare for
- must-see spots
This will be my first time in the U.S. and my first group road trip, so I have tons of questions, and your advice would be invaluable.
Thanks in advance!
Like you, I’m looking for recent info about riding motorcycles in the United States.
W.F has an excellent reputation.
We went in September 2018 with All Ways On Wheels, which unfortunately no longer exists. We did the American West, and I think about it every single day.
So happy this forum is back up!
Il n'est de plus beau sourire, qu'un sourire qui nous est rendu........
Hi there,
We took our first trip to the American West by motorcycle back in 2012 😇.
I organized everything myself using guidebooks and websites (including VoyageForum). It was an amazing discovery trip.
We started in LA, then went to San Diego, Palm Springs, Kingman, Holbrook, Chinle, Moab, Torrey, Las Vegas, Furnace Creek, Ridgecrest, and back to Los Angeles.
Since then, we’ve returned to the U.S. six times, but by car—the last time was just a year ago. Riding a motorcycle there is a completely different experience, given the long distances and mostly straight roads. With limited carrying capacity, we now prefer traveling by car. The cost of renting motorcycles also seems exorbitant.
We save our motorcycle trips for Europe, where we ride our own bike.
As for planning the trip, with the help of the internet, if you have a little time to organize it and some basic English skills, it’s relatively easy.
Our entire route and hotels were programmed into my GPS, which guided us door-to-door with all the interesting points pre-saved.
A credit card will cover all your reservations and purchases—just make sure it’s well-funded 😉. Going through an agency definitely simplifies the trip, but it also comes with constraints if you're traveling in a group. You’ll need to coordinate with all the other participants, and the pace is often faster without much chance to catch your breath.
You can also draw inspiration from an organized tour and create your own road trip.
Happy planning!
All of that is true.
We’re hesitating about hitting the road again with an agency. There’s the unknown with other participants, sure... but mostly it’s the security of having a support vehicle that carries the luggage (not really necessary, though 🤷♂️) and, more importantly, the water supply in some spots 😅 (though CamelBaks solve that issue). The real value is the guide’s local knowledge, language skills, and their great tips.
I think if we go back with 2 bikes (or max 4 people), we’ll try to go solo because the main issue is often getting along with the group.
We know several groups who’ve traveled with W.F. (won’t name them since ads aren’t allowed here, haha 🤫😉). I’ll look into it and come back with a full report 🕵️♂️
Il n'est de plus beau sourire, qu'un sourire qui nous est rendu........
Riding in July, it might get a bit rough... Expect temperatures that can be tough to handle on two wheels. Up to 50°C in Death Valley, and generally around 40°C in the southern part.
The only reasonable temperatures (around 30°C) will be at the Grand Canyon, Tioga Pass, and San Francisco.
After riding the West Coast up, down, and all around, you might sometimes miss the car’s AC 😉
As for the itinerary suggested by the tour operator, I find it a bit light.
With 15 days, Palm Springs isn’t a priority, nor is Joshua Tree—it’ll be way too hot for biking.
Arriving in Los Angeles and leaving from San Francisco is usually what you’d do in 3 weeks.
If I were you, I’d plan the trip myself instead of going through a tour operator. It’s more work, but at least you can schedule rest stops and avoid riding non-stop every day.
That said, it depends on the spirit of your trip—is the goal mainly to ride, or to visit the parks as much as possible? Los Angeles? San Francisco? Las Vegas? Your points of interest...
Another downside of biking is that you won’t be able to take dirt roads. There are tons of them in the U.S., especially to explore Monument Valley...
In September, I helped a motorcyclist who’d skidded on sand and was lucky I came across her—she was far from any signs of life. Result: a helicopter in the middle of the desert, a broken collarbone, wrist, and ribs. End of vacation. So avoid dirt roads on a bike... it’s risky.
I’m sure many here can help you plan an itinerary.
Hi there, this is my 6th trip to the West, the last one in April 2024. I organized everything for a group of 9 people. For Harley rentals, I went through a peer-to-peer rental site—it was perfect and 3 times cheaper than EagleRider. To be honest, I managed to pull off an amazing 15-day road trip for less than 5,000 € per couple. That includes ESTA, airport parking, flights, motorcycles, gas, hotels or Airbnb stays, and the America the Beautiful Pass. We stayed right by the Grand Canyon and at Goulding’s Lodge in Monument Valley. Pure bliss. I started booking 10 months in advance. Skip the agencies—it’s super easy to do it yourself!
Thanks for your really interesting reply!
Did you rent your motorcycles from private owners? Could you tell us more about it?
What insurance did you take out for the bikes?
Thanks in advance for your response
Il n'est de plus beau sourire, qu'un sourire qui nous est rendu........
Hi Chantal,
I rented the motorcycles from private owners through ridershare.com. You sign up and choose the bike that suits you. You have a choice of 3 insurance options. I went with the premium coverage. A rough price for 15 days is 1700 € including tax. For a brand-new Electraglide. You can even find cheaper options! There’s a huge selection of bikes. No worries—the bikes must be serviced before departure.
The only catch is that you have to do a loop, meaning, for example, you pick up the bike from the owner and return it to the same owner. If you start your road trip in Las Vegas, you’ll come back to Las Vegas.
Hope that answers your questions! 😊
Later,
Hi there,
I agree with Patoch—it’s super easy to organize the trip yourself. Personally, I don’t even book accommodations... though that’s off-season, of course.
I also agree about the summer temperature issue.
As for renting a bike from Eaglerider, the rates have become "outrageous" with full insurance. In autumn 2023, a bike for 32 days was 9,500 €, while a car for the same period was 1,500 €—the choice was obvious.
I assume West Forever has the same problem. Plus, I had a really bad experience with them a few years ago.
I’m not familiar with peer-to-peer rental sites, but they must be solid. The only downside is needing to loop back to return the bike.
Hi Philippe, great to see you again!
Renting motorcycles between private individuals is super easy—you choose your insurance and roadside assistance, and everything is straightforward. The bikes are mandatory to be serviced and maintained, with invoices required to be on Riders.Share.com. You’ll find a huge selection of motorcycles, all brands available.
I’ve already rented 4 bikes: 3 HDs and 1 Honda Goldwing. Had a flat tire upon arrival in Vegas on the last day, but the roadside assistance was top-notch.
Bikes for less than 1700 € for 15 days, including all the insurance perks. And you often end up making friends with the owners 😊
I can offer referral discounts up to 25%.
so glad to be back on VF after all those issues...
no more motorcycle trips for us—Harley-Davidsons are too heavy for me, and my wife has trouble getting on. Now we stick to road trips by car in the US. I still ride a Guzzi California a bit here in France, because in June 2023, the Route des Grandes Alpes with my wife on the Electra Glide HD was sometimes *very*—too—complicated... Out of all the bikes we passed, I think I only saw one or two others!
But a US road trip by car has its own charm.
Our next adventure is planned for September 2025 or spring 2026: Vancouver + Vancouver Island and a road trip from Seattle to Boston...
And you?
If you’re passing through Andalusia in March or April, you’re more than welcome!
Have a great day
Hi,
It's nice, but not heading to Andalusia in March-April 😄. For now, the motorcycle stays our thing. A new road trip project is brewing in my mind: a loop from Denver \ Denver, taking in the mystery roads of the West. 2026 or 2027. Since 2010, when I caught the bug, I’ve never managed to cure it—even by going every two years. 🤪 Take care!
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Bonjours à vous tous.
Je suis à la recherche de camping autour de BOLZANO ( sud Tyrol), période début septembre.
je serai en moto avec une petite toile de tente.
J'ai pu constater que les prix de certains camping étaient exorbitants.
Si vous avez parcouru les dolomites en motos ou autres et que vous avez campé, je suis preneur de tout renseignements sur les lieux et prix où je puisse me poser pour une nuit ou plusieurs.
Merci à vous tous et faites de beaux voyages.
I just realized I’ve been registered on VoyageForum since... March 28, 2012 😊. Yet, I’ve barely participated until now.
August 1, 2026, will mark a somewhat special milestone: 5 years on the road.
We left Switzerland on August 1, 2021 with a simple idea: let chance decide our direction. We placed a bottle of wine on a world map, spun it... and it chose our first destination.
A year later, when we arrived in Morocco, we faced a new choice: continue toward Africa or head to Asia. This time, a tarot card game made the decision. Since then, we’ve tried to keep this journey as open to the unexpected as possible.
Today, that adds up to about 120,000 km, 46 countries, and over 1,800 days on the road—mostly by motorcycle, but also by sailboat, train, bus, hitchhiking, or on foot when adventure calls.
Our guiding thread isn’t just the motorcycle, but service exchanges. Instead of simply passing through countries, we try to stop regularly to lend a hand to the people we meet. So far, that’s about 600 days of volunteering.
Over the years, we’ve:
renovated a house in Croatia
made earth bricks in the Moroccan desert
helped sail a boat through the Greek islands
looked after houses, dogs, horses, a camel... and lots of other animals
worked at a street art festival in Morocco
created videos for local associations and projects
worked the grape harvest on the Tibetan plateau
been accredited as "media" for the World Nomad Games in Central Asia
Some of the moments that have stuck with us the most include six months in China, a night spent on the Great Wall, the Pamir Highway, the Silk Road, three months in Taiwan, and the incredible encounters in the mountains of Central Asia.
We travel on Falkor, our lucky dragon—a 2014 BMW F800GS that’s been with us since the start and is starting to have some great stories of its own.
While we share our adventure on Instagram, Polarsteps, and YouTube, that’s not why we’re here. The forum’s rules about promotion are clear, and I totally get them. If I’m finally taking the time to write, it’s mostly because after five years on the road, I thought our experience might be useful to other travelers.
Happy to chat about:
preparing for a long motorcycle trip
visas and borders
the Silk Road and Central Asia
riding in China (with or without a motorcycle)
volunteering and service exchanges while traveling
gear, daily life on the road... or just the unexpected moments that make long-term travel so special
Looking forward to swapping stories and hearing about your adventures too! 😊 Greetings from Thailand, and happy to chat! ✌️
Hi there! My daughter and I are heading to Malta and I’d love to rent a scooter. Does anyone know any good places to rent from and what the budget would be for a week?
Hello, I’m retired and planning a roughly 3-week motorcycle trip (1200gs). The dates aren’t set in stone yet, and everything’s open to discussion—I’m pretty flexible with the planning.
I’d like to ride from Mahajanga to Morondava, sticking as close to the coast as possible—using roads and tracks—in September 2026. If you’ve got any suggestions, let me know! 😉
hi
planning to ride through Rajasthan on a motorcycle in January 2027 and I’d love to hear about the road conditions.
I’ll be riding with a buddy on a Royal Enfield that I’ll rent in Delhi.
Thanks for your tips!
hi there
I’m planning a 3-week motorcycle road trip in Rajasthan, renting a Royal Enfield in Delhi in January 2027.
I’d love to get some tips on a fun itinerary and hear your thoughts on the roads up north.
I’ve ridden a motorcycle in southern India—Kochi to Madurai—about 10 years ago.
Thanks for sharing your experience, and I’m all ears for any great tips you’ve got!
Best regards
hi there
I’d like to ride the RN 12 by motorcycle in September.
I’d love to know the main challenges—I ride a 300cc and do enduro in France.
Thanks for your tips!
I’m planning a motorcycle road trip to Armenia and Georgia in September 2026 or May 2027. I’m looking for one or more riders (male or female) who’d like to explore these countries with me.
Along the way, we’ll visit Cappadocia, the capitals Yerevan, Tbilisi, Sofia, Skopje, and other cities—we can finalize the route and roadbook later.
This trip requires experience with long motorcycle journeys, as we’ll cover around 7,000 km over 5 or 6 weeks (or more, depending on sightseeing and time spent).
I don’t expect dozens of applicants, since motorcycle riders are few and far between on this forum, but I’m putting this out there anyway.
I’m starting to think about a trip that’s really close to my heart: Algeria by motorcycle, specifically the southern part of the country. It’d be for January 2025, and I’ve got two main questions:
Is it possible for an individual on a motorcycle to travel freely, outside of any organized tour, or does the regulation require some kind of supervision in the Algerian Sahara region?
Is the Hoggar massif accessible by road or by (rideable) tracks?
Beyond the official recommendations, I’m really looking for your firsthand experiences.
Thanks so much for your answers, and sorry if my questions are a bit newbie!
Hi, I’d like to take a 15-day "break" to get away from the surrounding hustle and bustle.
Why not explore the Peloponnese!
I’m not particularly drawn to museums, ruins, or monuments.
I want to experience local life—small villages, seaside spots, beaches, and the interior if the landscapes are extraordinary.
Ideally, coming from Athens, I’d take a bus or train to get as close as possible to a starting point, then rent a scooter (125cc) to explore by taking secondary roads or even coastal paths. I’d stay in 2-3 places for a few days each to discover their surroundings.
Do a loop.
What do you think would be the ideal itinerary?
From Athens, the best option would be to take either a flight or a bus to Kalamata. Rent a scooter and head either west or east. Is there a tertiary road (very lightly trafficked) or a path where I can ride slowly, take it easy, and enjoy the scenery without being bothered by traffic? I’d like to go all the way to Monemvasia, still hugging the coast. I need to find a way to avoid returning to Kalamata to drop off the scooter and catch a flight—maybe a small town where the train stops so I can head back to Athens.
Thanks in advance for your tips.
I want to rent an off-road style motorcycle to get around the coast during my trip to Ecuador. I’m only finding options in Quito. Do you have any suggestions for me?
Hi there,
I’m planning a sidecar trip to South America for 4 or 5 months at the end of this year.
I’m looking for info on shipping my vehicle by sea—possibly to Uruguay or another destination, as I haven’t finalized anything yet.
How do you get visas for the countries I’ll be crossing: Uruguay, Argentina, Bolivia, Peru, and Chile? Are they e-Visas, obtained at the border, or through embassies?
Where can I get vehicle insurance?
Lastly, if any bikers want to join us (my partner and me), we’re open to that possibility too.
Patrick
I’ve got 15 days off in June and I’m pretty undecided about where to go for a motorcycle road trip. Two strong desires are pulling me in different directions: Corsica or Norway.
Corsica has been a dream of mine for a long time: legendary roads, stunning landscapes, a unique vibe, and the perfect mix of sea and mountains. At the same time, I’m wondering if 2 weeks might be *too much* for Corsica—risking feeling like I’ve seen it all too quickly, especially on a bike.
Since I also have an extra week free in May, I could use that specifically for Corsica. Maybe splitting it into two trips would make more sense? If so, which routes or regions would be the most interesting to plan for a 7-day trip?
On the other hand, Norway is *super* appealing. The landscapes look incredible, totally different from anything I’ve experienced, and it’d be a real “wow” trip. I know 15 days is still short for such a vast country. Getting all the way to the North Cape seems pretty much impossible in that time, but I’m curious about what realistic routes could be planned.
So I’m wondering:
Is it better to save Norway for next year, take 3 weeks off, and do it *properly*?
Or are 15 days enough for a first amazing taste of the country?
I’d love to hear about your experiences—whether it’s Corsica (ideal duration, routes) or Norway (what’s realistic in 2 weeks on a bike).
Thanks in advance for your thoughts!
Hello,
I'm thinking of buying a used small motorcycle to travel around the country for a month and a half.
I've done this in other countries without putting the registration in my name—is that possible in Guinea given the apparently frequent checks, or do I have to go through the paperwork?
Thanks.
Hello,
My dream is to ride Route 66 by motorcycle. I have a disability—while I’m not in a wheelchair, my walking mobility is reduced.
The ideal scenario would be to have a motorcycle driver and ride as their passenger on an organized trip.
Are there any guides or services like this offered by travel agencies?
Thanks for sharing your experiences!
Hello,
I’ve got a plan with a friend to go on a motorcycle road trip in 2028 or 2029, starting in Santiago de Chile and ending in Ushuaia, for about a month.
Has anyone done a trip like this before, and what’s the best time of year?
I’ve heard there can be quite a bit of wind depending on the season.
Thanks for any tips!
Cheers,
PA
I'm seriously considering heading to Nepal to do some nice motorcycle loops... my goal is also to do the Kailash Yatra round trip from Kathmandu, in a small group with a guide, in May '26... but here's the thing—I'm solo! So if you're up for sharing a similar adventure, hit me up... Cheers, Frankoys
It's all in the title: I'm heading to Krabi soon and want to rent a scooter for a few weeks, but after reading comments about all kinds of scams, I'm reaching out to ask where and how (read: *the right way*) to rent one.
Thanks for your tips and advice.
Hello everyone! Like every year, a winter migration is on the horizon (revised plan): this time, it’ll be Dakar, or even Abidjan, via Morocco, Mauritania, and Senegal.
Looking for an experienced motorcyclist or pillion rider—small build preferred—on a GSA 1250 with a comfy seat and luggage setup, available from early November to late December 2025. I’d like to plan the trip together (important to me) to make sure we’re on the same wavelength.
Don’t hesitate to get in touch!
Didier
Looking for travel companions to ride from France to Senegal by motorcycle.
I’m Paul, 37, and I’ve already done a bit of riding in Morocco.
For now, I’m solo, riding a 1998 SUZUKI DR 650 with some basic gear to keep things smooth. I’ll have a tent so we can do a few nights under the stars.
We’ll need to coordinate departure dates—"ideally in November."
I’m currently checking out routes to take. Any tips would be welcome! :)
I’m heading to Vietnam and Laos with a buddy next week for a month.
We’re thinking of renting motorbikes, especially to do the Ha Giang Loop. We don’t have an international license, just our Belgian one. Is that enough? If not, is it risky?
In November, we’re planning to do the Ha Giang loop and the RC4 by motorbike without a guide. 😎
We’re looking for a decent place to stay/rent in Ha Giang.
If anyone has any info, we’d be really interested.
Hello! We’re planning a motorcycle trip that will include a visit to Auschwitz-Birkenau in June 2026.
We’re unsure (still debating) whether we should stay at a hotel on-site and get to the memorial with an Uber (leaving our bikes at the hotel) and book a guided tour, or base ourselves in Kraków and take a tour that includes transport.
One thing’s for sure—we’d prefer a guide in French since we don’t speak English 😅.
Could you share your experiences or advice?
I understand we need to book online rather than on-site.
Thanks in advance for your replies!
Hello,
Next October we’re planning to ride the Ruta de la Plata by motorcycle—a historic Spanish route that runs from Gijón to Seville, also known as the N630.
Has anyone here already ridden it?
Unfortunately, I’m worried that parts of the N630 may have disappeared or merged with the A66 motorway, forcing us to ride long stretches of highway, which we’d rather avoid.
Thanks in advance for any tips or details about this route!
Hi there!
I’m currently planning a 9-day route starting from Marrakech with my husband. We land on the morning of June 13th—so soon! 😊
And we’re flying back to France on June 21st at 9 PM!
We’ve rented two Royal Enfield 450s.
This is our first motorcycle trip in Morocco. I got my license two years ago with the dream of taking this kind of trip, and here we are! ✌️😍
In France, we usually ride between 300 to 400 km per day on roadsters. We’re not used to off-road tracks, so we’re looking for easy ones 😅—especially for me 😅.
For Morocco, I’ve planned stages of 200 to 300 km per day.
Here’s the idea:
Day 1 (departure at noon): Marrakech - Tizi n Test - Tafingoult (165 km - 4h15)
Day 2: Tafingoult - Amzarkou - Telouet (200 km - 4h34)
Day 3: Telouet - Ait Benhaddou - Ouarzazate - Boumalne (200 km - 3h30) (+ Vallée des Roses maybe)
Day 4: Boumalne - Dades Gorges - Agoudal - Todra Gorges - Tinghir - Goulmima (291 km - 6h)
Day 5: Goulmima - Midelt - Cirque Jaffar - Agoudim (280 km - 4h45)
Day 6: Agoudim - Imilchil - Aghbala - El Ksiba (280 km - 4h45)
Day 7: El Ksiba - La Cathédrale - Zaouiat Ahansal (212 km - 4h20)
Day 8: Ahansal - Ouzoud Waterfalls via R 302 (188 km - 4h22)
Day 9: Ouzoud - Marrakech (160 km - 2h43)
End of the trip 😮.
What do you think?
We haven’t booked any hotels—is that a problem? We were thinking of deciding day by day based on our progress.
Can we take our helmets with us in the cabin, or should we pack them in the checked luggage surrounded by clothes to avoid damage?
