Tours

Shamrock Tour® Featured

Tombstone’s Marshalls—A Fist Full of Days with Dad on Gold Wings

“There’s a feeling I get when I look to the west and my spirit is crying for leaving.” The line from “Stairway to Heaven” weighed heavily on my heart as I waited to board the big bird to Tucson, AZ, for another visit with my dad. The miracle of

Travel Guide

5 Reasons to Plan Your Next Ride to Billings, MT

When you find yourself perched atop millions of years old sandstone bluffs encircling a buzzing city below, with views of rolling plains and snow-capped Rocky Mountain peaks on the not-so-distant horizon, you’ll know you’ve made it to Billings, MT. Although this one view alone is worth a visit,

Classic Roads

Pennsylvania SR 144: A Beguiling Backcountry Byway

My first assignment for RoadRUNNER was a 2003 roundtrip in Pennsylvania with the magazine’s founder, Christian Neuhauser. SR 144 was part of that journey and I’ve been drawn back to ride it again several times. It’s a ride that has never disappointed. The tarmac twists and turns,

Classic Roads

Simply a Nice Ride—Indiana SR 450

Motorcyclists flock to certain roads because there’s a new famous sight and attractions behind every bend. Others, meanwhile, are more understated—they’re simply a good ride. Indiana SR 450 is one of these roads. This calm strip of two-lane begins just north of Shoals, IN, roughly 80 miles

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Gran Canaria, Spain: A Biker’s Island Paradise

Gran Canaria was the first place my wife, Liz, and I rode abroad on rented bikes. We chose it as a winter escape from clearing mountains of snow in our home in Austria. The island almost ruined any other location for us, as the roads, riding, scenery, climate, people, and

Destinations

Arcosanti—Arizona’s Unique Arcology Experiment

Nothing caps a motorcycle ride quite like a unique destination at the end of the road. And when it comes to those, you can’t get much more unique than Arcosanti, AZ. Or does the world’s first town built according to the principles of arcology sound like something you’

Destinations

Haas Moto Museum—Collecting Stories

As motorcyclists, we tend to get wrapped up in numbers. How much horsepower? How much torque? What's the top speed?  Although these certainly are important metrics, I bought my first bike because of how it made me feel. It made me feel alive. It was dangerous and cool.

Accommodations

Summer Camp for Adults: Fontana Village Resort & Marina

If you’ve ever wanted to go to summer camp as an adult, you’re in for a treat. That’s exactly how I felt the last time I stayed at the Fontana Village Resort in North Carolina. Tucked away in the heart of the Great Smoky Mountains, the Fontana

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Shamrock, TX—The Small Irish Pit Stop on Route 66

The Texas section of Route 66 isn’t particularly long, stretching only around 180 miles across the Panhandle. Along this near-straight alignment, the largest (and only major) city you’ll pass is Amarillo. The second-largest city is Shamrock. And it’s a strangely Irish place. Despite its rank as the

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The Crooked Roads of Floyd, Virginia

It was a typical Tuesday night, kicking back after a long day in the photography studio, when I got the call. Josh’s voice said, “I’ve got something for you.” No further details were necessary. I knew it meant a ride—better still, riding and taking pictures documenting our

Destinations

A Motorcyclists Guide to Fontana Dam, NC

Fontana Dam, NC, is a hidden gem for motorcyclists exploring the scenic byways of the Appalachian Mountains. Nestled along the border of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, this small but historically significant town is not just a gateway to nature.  It’s also a prime spot for two-wheeled adventurers

Roundtrip Tour

Northeast U.S.—Pilgrimage

When I started riding in the ‘90s, I quickly learned about the top motorcycle gear brands. For textiles, it’s Aerostich. For leathers, you go for Vanson. Both are vaunted American brands that I was proud to wear. Two Vanson jackets still sit in my closet, one purchased during a

Destinations

Where Honest Abe and Route 66 Meet—Lincoln, IL

Illinois is today widely known as the Land of Lincoln in recognition of the former president’s contributions both to the state and the country. However, one place in Illinois —along Route 66 — has carried the name of Lincoln well before his presidency. During his break from national politics, Lincoln

The Great American Road Trip

Part 1: Historic Route 66 Begins

There's a road that stretches across the Heart of America, a thread of pavement and promise that has captured the imaginations of travelers for nearly a century. For Caleb, Florian, and me, it was a road we'd always dreamed of riding in its entirety—all 2,

Travel Guide

Where We Stopped on Illinois Route 66

One of the best parts of traveling Route 66 is the abundance of quirky and unforgettable roadside attractions. Here are a few of our favorite stops along the Illinois stretch of The Mother Road, from our summer 2024 tour The Great American Road Trip leading up to the route’s

Travel Guide

10 Things to Do In and Around Billings, Montana

Billings Brew Trail Billings has an incredible beer scene, and any evening after rides can be spent at one of the many breweries on the Billings Brew Trail. We tried our best, but I don’t think we hit every watering hole in town. All the bars were within an

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The Road of Legend—Going-to-the-Sun Road

Motorcyclists who like mountains shouldn’t miss out on tackling the Going-to-the-Sun Road. Its remote location, challenging switchbacks, and majestic views are the essence of mountain road riding. Going-to-the-Sun Road is the only paved road traversing Glacier National Park in Montana. Over its approximately 50-mile length, it crosses the Continental

City Escape

City Escape: Telluride, CO

Telluride, CO, is a popular adventure riding destination, thanks to its location in the San Juan Mountains and proximity to other locations, such as Moab, UT. This City Escape, however, demonstrates that even street riders can have fun in this area. Being paved in its entirety, this route can in

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City Escape: Los Angeles, California

The little-known village of Santa Paula, CA, sits just east of the more familiar Ojai and Ventura, and is twice as charming. It’s home to a fascinating history of the local oil business and a bronze statue that honors two heroic motorcyclists. This tour starts and ends at the

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DIY Throttle Therapy in the Pyrenees

Seven men. Eight days. 1,587 miles through the grand Pyrenees of Spain and France.    Not only did we hit many of the most popular and twistiest high mountain roads and passes we could plan for, but also numerous off-the-beaten-path single-lane roads (occasionally barely paved or not at all). It

Destinations

The ‘Most Recognizable’ City in the US—Zanesville, OH

What’s the most recognizable city in all of the U.S.? If you were to ask Amelia Earhart, that would be Zanesville, OH. Her opinion was due to the city’s unique bridge spanning the Muskingum River. But before we get to that, let’s take a brief look

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Ecuador: From Misty Mountains to Sandy Beaches

This once-in-a-lifetime opportunity was too good to pass up. I had the chance to join Ecuador Freedom Bike Rental’s “Cloud Forest, Coast, and Craters” guided motorcycle tour. Not only was this tour going to pile everything Ecuador has to offer into seven action-packed days, but it also came with

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Aging Men in the Wild

It was time to get the band back together. Finally, a reunion ride! Our first group rides were around Los Angeles, CA, consisting of all-day loops out on the Angeles Crest Highway, Angeles Forest Highway, Big Tujunga Canyon and Little Tujunga Canyon. That is, when we weren’t carving Malibu

Inconvenient Iron Butt

1000 Miles on the Blue Ridge Parkway

The distance between Cherokee, NC, and Waynesville, VA, is 476 miles if you travel along the Blue Ridge Parkway. Make it a round trip ride and your total comes to 952 miles—only 48 shy of a grand. Most riders take three or four days to complete this ride at

Travel Guide

8 of the Most Interesting Attractions Along Illinois Route 66

Illinois marks the eastern terminus of Route 66. Simply riding the Mother Road through Illinois makes for an unforgettable trip back to the golden age of American motorism. But the road itself isn’t everything. The fun, entertaining, and occasionally delicious pit stops you find along the way elevate the