Ride the World: Famous Biker Road Trips Every Rider Must Do — Full Guide with Gear, Budget & FAQs
Ride the World: Famous Biker Road Trips Every Rider Must Do — Full Guide with Gear, Budget & FAQs
Six countries. Six legendary roads. These are the rides every serious rider puts on the list — and the gear, the budget, and the insider knowledge to actually do them.
There are roads you ride every day, and then there are roads that define you as a rider. The routes in this guide sit firmly in the second category. Every serious rider keeps a mental list — roads they have heard about at rallies, seen in films, read about in rider forums at 2am when they should be sleeping. Route 66. The Stelvio. The North Coast 500. These are not just roads. They are rites of passage. This guide exists to help you move every single one from the list to the memory.
Why These Six Routes? The Standard Every Bucket List Ride Must Meet
There are thousands of motorcycle routes worth riding. These six are in a different category entirely — and the reason comes down to three factors that separate a great road from a legendary one.
First: the road itself must be extraordinary. Not just scenic — genuinely, unmistakably exceptional. The kind of road that stops you mid-corner to look at what is in front of you. The Stelvio's 48 hairpin bends. The Great Ocean Road's cliff edge above the Southern Ocean. The NC500's single-track wilderness roads that feel like riding off the edge of the map.
Second: the route must carry cultural weight. Route 66 is not just a road — it is the entire mythology of American freedom on two wheels. The Pyrenees carry a century of motor racing heritage. The Black Forest circuit has been ridden by generations of European tourers. These routes mean something beyond the tarmac.
Third: the route must be achievable. Dream lists only matter when the dream is possible. Every route in this guide has been completed by solo riders on a reasonable budget, with commercially available bikes, without expedition-level preparation. Difficult enough to feel like an achievement. Accessible enough to actually do.
"There is a moment on every great road when you stop thinking about riding and just ride. These are the roads where that happens most often."
Royal Bull Rider CommunityAU Australia — Great Ocean Road: Where the Land Ends and the Ocean Takes Over
The Great Ocean Road does not ease you into it. Within the first 30 kilometres out of Torquay — the birthplace of global surfing culture — the Southern Ocean appears below the cliffs with a force that physically changes how you breathe. This is a road that exists in a constant conversation between land and sea, and you are right in the middle of that conversation, at speed, on two wheels. There is nowhere else on earth quite like it.
What makes the Great Ocean Road a must-do for every rider — beyond the obvious visual drama — is its accessibility and variety. Unlike the Stelvio or the Pyrenees, it does not demand advanced technical skill. It rewards attention and patience: the ability to stop, look, and absorb what is in front of you. The reward for that patience is the Twelve Apostles at dawn, the Otway rainforest in the afternoon mist, and a pub full of surfers and motorcyclists in Lorne by evening.
Must-Do Moments on the Great Ocean Road
Gear Up — Australia Specific
Budget Breakdown — Australia (7–10 Days)
Riding Australia?
Coastal wind and variable weather demand proper leather protection.
US USA — Route 66 & PCH: The Roads That Made Motorcycle Culture
If you ride a motorcycle and you have not been on Route 66, you have not yet had the conversation with yourself that Route 66 forces every rider to have. The Mother Road — 3,940 km from Chicago to the Pacific in Santa Monica — is the full-length autobiography of American freedom mythology. Every mile carries a different chapter: the industrial Midwest giving way to the vast Oklahoma plains; the Texas panhandle dissolving into New Mexico mesa country; Arizona desert opening into Californian coast. It is not a road. It is an education.
The Pacific Coast Highway — particularly the Big Sur stretch between San Francisco and Los Angeles — belongs in an entirely different emotional category from Route 66. Where Route 66 is horizontal and epic, the PCH is vertical and intimate: the road hugs ocean cliffs, disappears into sea fog, and reappears with the Pacific spread out below you like something you did not expect to find at the end of a curve. Riders who have done both describe Route 66 as the journey and the PCH as the arrival.
Must-Do Moments on Route 66 & PCH
Gear Up — USA Specific
Budget Breakdown — USA Route 66 (14–21 Days)
Route 66 Calls for the Full Biker Kit
The vest. The jacket. The chaps. America's biker identity is yours to wear.
ES Spain — The Pyrenees Circuit: Europe's Most Underrated Motorcycle Country
Riders who have not been to Spain on a motorcycle tend to think of it as a warm-weather touring destination — pleasant roads, good food, easy. They are wrong, in the best possible way. The Spanish Pyrenees deliver some of the most technically demanding and visually spectacular mountain riding in Europe — passes that rival the Alps in challenge but come without the Alps' traffic and tourist congestion in peak season. The combination of the mountain circuit with the Costa Brava coastal road and the vast, empty interior of Castilla-La Mancha creates a riding country with more variety per kilometre than almost anywhere on earth.
Must-Do Moments in Spain
Gear Up — Spain Specific
Budget Breakdown — Spain (7–10 Days)
Spain's petrol network thins dramatically in the Pyrenean interior — never let your tank fall below half before a mountain section. Spanish siesta hours (14:00–17:00) mean fuel stations, restaurants, and attractions close — plan rest stops accordingly. The DGT speed camera network covers all main and many secondary roads — adhere to posted limits throughout.
IT Italy — Stelvio Pass: The Road Every Rider Talks About
There is a moment on the Stelvio Pass — somewhere around bend 24 of the 48 numbered hairpins climbing from Bormio — when you look down at the road you have just ridden and up at the road still to come, and you understand exactly why this is called the greatest motorcycle road on earth. At 2,758 metres, surrounded by the Swiss and Austrian Alps, with the switchbacks laid out below you like a hand-drawn map of every rider's dream — the Stelvio does not just meet its reputation. It exceeds it.
Italy's riding extends well beyond the Stelvio. The Dolomites Sellaronda circuit — 55 km looping four mountain passes around the Sella massif — is the Dolomites' own answer to Stelvio: less technically extreme, arguably more beautiful. The Amalfi Coast (SS163) trades altitude for drama of a different kind: cliff roads above the Tyrrhenian Sea, colourful villages hanging from impossible gradients, and the kind of Mediterranean light that makes every photograph look like it was professionally shot.
Must-Do Moments in Italy
Gear Up — Italy Specific
Budget Breakdown — Italy (7–10 Days)
ZTL (Zona a Traffico Limitato) restricted zones in Italian city centres operate automatic camera enforcement. Entering a ZTL results in a fine that arrives at your home address weeks after your trip. As a foreign rider, avoid all ZTL zones in Rome, Florence, Milan, and other major cities entirely. The Stelvio itself is not a ZTL — but the towns you route through to reach it may have restricted areas. Check before you enter.
48 Hairpins. The World's Greatest Road. Full Leather Only.
Stelvio rewards riders who show up properly equipped.
DE Germany — Black Forest & Romantic Road: Precision Roads for Precise Riders
Germany is the most technically well-organised motorcycle destination in the world — and that is both a compliment and an invitation. The road surfaces are immaculate. The signage is comprehensive. The fuel network is reliable. The Autobahn sections between destinations allow for efficient transit. And then the B500 Black Forest High Road delivers 62 kilometres of sweeping forest curves that remind you why organisation is only the beginning of a great motorcycle country, not the whole story.
The Romantic Road — running 460 km from Würzburg in the north to Füssen in the Bavarian Alps — connects medieval walled towns, Baroque churches, and river valleys through a corridor of Germany that has remained visually extraordinary for centuries. Neuschwanstein Castle at the southern end — the fairy-tale spire above a Bavarian mountain lake — is the single most photographed building in Germany. Arriving on a motorcycle, on your own schedule, at your own pace, is the correct way to see it.
Must-Do Moments in Germany
Gear Up — Germany Specific
Budget Breakdown — Germany (7–10 Days)
UK UK — North Coast 500: Scotland's Wild Answer to Route 66
The North Coast 500 was only formally named in 2015. In the decade since, it has become one of the most talked-about motorcycle routes in the world — not through marketing, but through the reports of riders who completed it and came back fundamentally changed by what they found. Eight hundred and thirty kilometres of Highland road circling the most remote coastline in the British Isles. Roads that feel like they were designed for a motorcycle and belong to no one else. Castles that have been ruined for five hundred years. Whisky distilleries that have been going for three hundred. Sea lochs that mirror the sky. And on a clear evening in June, daylight until 11pm at the top of Britain.
The NC500 is not technically the most challenging route in this guide. But it may be the most emotionally demanding — because what it asks of a rider is the willingness to be truly alone in a truly wild landscape, without a safety net of tourist infrastructure at every turn. That is not a warning. For the right rider, it is the reason to go.
Must-Do Moments on the NC500
Gear Up — Scotland Specific
Budget Breakdown — NC500 Scotland (5–8 Days)
The NC500 corridor is fully booked from June through August most years — particularly the west coast section around Applecross, Torridon, and Durness. Book accommodation a minimum of 6–8 weeks in advance for summer travel, 3–4 weeks for May and September. Arriving without a booking in peak season on the NC500 means sleeping in a car park — this is not a coastal resort circuit with surplus accommodation.
Scotland's Wild Roads Need Serious Gear
Rain. Wind. Cold. 830 km of pure riding. Show up ready.
What Every Rider Needs in Their Kit — The Non-Negotiable List
Six countries. Six different climates. One truth: the riders who have the best experiences on any of these routes are the ones who show up with the right kit. Not the most expensive kit. The right kit. Protective. Layerable. Practical for both riding and living in the towns and villages along the way.
Riding Gear — Protection First, Always
A full-grain leather jacket is the foundation of every kit on every route in this guide. For women riders, the women's motorbike jacket — cut for a riding position rather than a fashion silhouette — provides the same level of protection in a proper women's fit. Add leather riding chaps over your trousers for leg protection on longer stages, and a leather vest as a mid-layer wind block that also carries the identity of serious riding culture.
For cold-weather routes — Scotland, the Spanish Pyrenees above 1,800 metres, German Black Forest in early morning — a shearling or fur-lined jacket used as a warmth layer transforms the experience from uncomfortable to exceptional.
Luggage — Travel Light, Travel Smart
For routes up to 14 days, a quality leather duffle bag strapped securely to the rear seat is the right choice over a full pannier system — lighter, more flexible, and easier to carry off the bike into accommodation. For documentation, maps, and electronics, a compact laptop bag worn across the body keeps everything accessible at stops. Women riders spending time in cultural towns will find a handmade leather tote bag the perfect off-bike companion.
Off-Bike Culture — Dress the Part
A quality flannel shirt works everywhere in this list — Scottish pub, Bavarian biergarten, Route 66 diner, Amalfi café, Spanish tapas bar. It packs small, it layers under or over a jacket, and it communicates the right identity at every stop on every route.
Frequently Asked Questions — World Biker Road Trips
Which of these six routes should I do first as a new international traveller?
Germany's Black Forest and Romantic Road circuit is the most accessible first international motorcycle trip for riders from any country. The road surfaces are exceptional, English is widely spoken, fuel and accommodation are reliable and abundant, signage is comprehensive, and the traffic behaviour is predictable. The Black Forest itself delivers world-class scenery without requiring technical riding skill. From Germany, the Romantic Road adds cultural depth. It is a complete trip and a perfect foundation for tackling the more demanding routes — Spain, Italy, Scotland — in subsequent years.
What is the best time of year to ride the North Coast 500?
May and early June offer the best combination of long daylight hours, manageable traffic levels, and open roads — without the peak summer congestion of July and August. The NC500 corridor is typically fully booked from late June through August, and campervans significantly impact road flow in peak season. May riders experience the Highland wildflower season, exceptional light conditions, and roads that still feel genuinely remote. September is a strong second choice — fewer visitors, autumn light, and most services still open after the summer season.
Do I need an International Driving Permit to ride in Europe or Australia?
For most non-EU riders visiting EU countries, an International Driving Permit (IDP) is required alongside your home country licence. This includes riders from the USA, UK, Australia, and Canada visiting Spain, Italy, and Germany. For Australia, an IDP is required for foreign riders. Within the EU, a European licence is valid in all member states. For the UK (post-Brexit), an IDP is required for UK licence holders visiting EU countries, and for EU licence holders visiting the UK. Always obtain your IDP from your national motoring authority before departure — they are not available at borders or airports.
Can women riders do these routes solo?
Every route in this guide is completed regularly by solo women riders — including all six destinations covered here. The practical considerations are the same for all solo riders: book accommodation in advance, carry a communication device, plan fuel stops carefully, and always tell someone your planned route and check-in schedule. Women-specific riding communities — including solo women rider forums, Facebook groups for female motorcycle travellers, and the Women ADV Riders network — offer route-specific advice from women who have done exactly these trips. The gear recommendation for women is the same principle as for men: fit matters — use properly cut women's riding gear rather than sized-down men's equipment.
How far in advance should I plan a Route 66 motorcycle trip?
For a full Route 66 end-to-end during peak summer season (June–August), plan and book 3–6 months in advance. Accommodation in popular stops — the Wigwam Motel in Holbrook, the Blue Swallow in Tucson, anything near the Grand Canyon — books out months ahead during peak season. If you are shipping your own bike to the USA rather than hiring one, factor in 6–8 weeks for bike transport logistics plus customs clearance. For a spring or autumn Route 66 trip (April–May or September–October), 8–12 weeks of lead time is typically sufficient for the route itself.
What size bike is best for the Stelvio Pass?
The Stelvio is rideable on virtually any bike — it has been completed on everything from 125cc commuters to fully loaded adventure tourers. That said, the ideal is a mid-weight machine: 600–900cc, with good ground clearance and responsive handling on tight hairpins. Very heavy touring bikes (full-spec BMW K1600, loaded GoldWing) manage the Stelvio but require more effort through the tighter hairpin sequences. Very small bikes complete the pass but may struggle with the thin air at altitude reducing engine performance. An adventure bike (Africa Twin, GS 850, Versys 1000) in its natural habitat handles Stelvio without difficulty and manages the gravel sections at the summit area comfortably.
What leather jacket is most versatile across multiple international routes?
A full-grain cowhide leather jacket at 1.0–1.2mm thickness with a removable thermal liner is the most versatile option across all six routes in this guide. The liner adds meaningful warmth for Scotland, Spain's mountain passes, and Germany's Black Forest mornings, and removes cleanly for the Amalfi Coast and warm Australian sections. CE-rated armour at shoulders, elbows, and a spine protector pocket are non-negotiable for riding protection. Royal Bull's men's leather jackets and women's motorbike jackets are built on exactly this brief — full-grain leather, CE armour pockets, touring-ready construction.
Which route has the best food and culture along the way?
Italy wins on food — comprehensively and without serious competition. The combination of mountain rifugio cooking in the Dolomites, fresh seafood on the Amalfi Coast, and the espresso culture that exists at every petrol station and village bar makes Italy the gastronomic destination of the six. Spain is a close second — the tapas culture keeps costs low and quality remarkably consistent across rural towns. Scotland's Highland pub culture — local whisky, freshly caught seafood, and the specific warmth of a bar full of riders and hill walkers at the end of a long day — is its own distinct and entirely compelling experience.
The Ride Is Waiting. The Gear Should Be Too.
Route 66 or the NC500. Stelvio or the Great Ocean Road. Every legendary ride starts with the right kit. Full-grain leather. Built for riders who cover real miles.
Shop Best Sellers New Arrivals