Tours

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Basquing in the Sunshine

As we wind our way up through the narrow gorge, the rocky track sweeps to the right and opens onto a truly vast landscape. Below us, a tiny church squats on the valley floor surrounded by grazing cattle and wild horses, dwarfed by the soaring cliffs above.  Our route takes

Classic Roads

Ride one of America’s Most Scenic Roads—Ohio SR 78

There’s no shortage of beautiful motorcycling roads in the U.S. Yet, even in this gorgeous crowd, some are more scenic than others. Ohio SR 78 is one such road. This 105-mile-long strip of two-lane asphalt spans the distance between Nelsonville, OH, in the west and Clarington on the

Travel Guide Premium Content

Route 66: Birthplace of the American Diner

Long before fast food chains dotted our landscape, the American diner was the king of the open road. Nowhere was that more evident than along Route 66.  Known as the Main Street of America, Route 66 didn’t just connect Chicago to Santa Monica. It connected people to pie, pancakes,

Roundtrip Tour Premium Content

Arkansas: Total Eclipses

A total solar eclipse occurs somewhere every 18 months. Considering 70% of the earth is water, though, your chances of seeing one from dry land are pretty slim. You have to be in the right place at the right time. On top of that, you need favorable weather conditions, a

Events Premium Content

The Hard Road to Vegas—LAB2V

A bunch of riding friends and I had spent years talking about the famous LAB2V, an annual desert group ride between Los Angeles and Las Vegas that has been held since 1983. Among California dirt bikers and dual sport enthusiasts, it is legendary.  LAB2V (Los Angeles-Barstow-to-Vegas) covers 400 miles over

Destinations

The Small Town That’s Got It All—Maggie Valley, NC

Scenic rides, beautiful nature, nearby entertainment and restaurants, fascinating history… Maggie Valley, NC, really does have it all. This small town is situated amidst the gorgeous Blue Ridge Mountains, roughly 35 miles from Asheville, with easy access along US 19. Don’t let its size and relatively remoteness fool you—

Roundtrip Tour

Cable Ties Save the Ride!

How long do you think a rear tire would last if held together with four cable ties and some duct tape? A mile? Two miles?  What if I told you it survived for 126 miles and was still rideable?  To rewind a little, I had organized a Sunday ride for

Destinations Premium Content

It’s Okay to Ride to Okay, OK

Okay, let's go. But where? How about Okay, OK?  Okay! Why is this place called Okay, OK, though? And what is there? Is it okay for motorcyclists to visit? Well, Okay wasn’t always Okay. The first European settler, French trader Joseph Bogy, arrived in this part of

Travel Guide

10 of the Best Cities for Motorcycling in the US

If you ask 10 motorcyclists what the best cities for motorcycling are in America, you’ll get 10 different answers. Although it’s great that our country has such a buffet of excellent riding, it can also make it difficult to choose where to point your front wheel. It’s

Destinations Premium Content

Tucumcari Tonite! New Mexico’s Gateway to the West

There used to be a certain way to tell you’re approaching the New Mexico-Texas border on Route 66. As you rode on, every few minutes you would pass a sign reading: “Tucumcari Tonite!” Hundreds of these signs, each promising “2,000 motel rooms,” once enticed travelers on the Mother

City Escape

City Escape: Salem, Oregon

Let’s escape the city—the city of Salem, OR, that is. Twisties abound.  The Beaver State capital is located along the Willamette River in Western Oregon. This route leads you up and down, twisting through the valleys and foothills of the Cascade Mountains to the east and rich farm

Destinations

Adrian, TX—The Midway Point of Route 66

Reaching the halfway point of any ride is an event in itself—there will be more miles behind you than there are ahead. Whether that’s a good or bad thing depends on the ride, I suppose. On Route 66, though, you’ll reach that midway milestone in Adrian, TX.

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

Roundtrip Tour Premium Content

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

Destinations Premium Content

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

Shamrock Tour® Premium Content

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,