Tours

Mar/Apr '18 Premium Content

Nebraska to Illinois: In the Tire Tracks of a Pioneer Part 4

Surely the Midwest will be easier to cross than the Sierra Nevada, the Great Basin Desert, and the Rocky Mountains, right? For modern interstate travelers, it’s a yawn fest of endless, unchanging miles tempered only by sagging eyelids and bladders about to burst. But when George Wyman came this

Jan/Feb '18 Premium Content

Classic Roads: Blue Ridge Byways

The Blue Ridge and Appalachians are often referred to as the “gentle mountains.” Over hundreds of millions of years geological forces have rounded their shoulders and smoothed out most of their hard edges. The area’s long geological history and high levels of annual rainfall have produced a rich patchwork

Jan/Feb '18 Premium Content

Brattleboro, Vermont Shamrock Tour®: Green Days

I’ve logged a lot of miles with my wife, Meredith, riding pillion, but I’ve never seen this before: she’s back there snapping photos of a straight, four-lane interstate, as if we’re riding God’s own highway. “What’s up?” I ask. “Well, it’s the most

Jan/Feb '18 Premium Content

Lonesome Wyoming: In the Tire Tracks of a Pioneer, Part 3

In May 1903, George A. Wyman left San Francisco with the then crazy idea of riding his motorcycle all the way to New York City. Into the Rockies East of Ogden, the sharp, rocky 9,000-foot peaks of the Wasatch Range look impenetrable, but the Weber River has patiently carved

Jan/Feb '18 Premium Content

Austria: Behind the Mountains

For the longest time, the high alpine valley of the Lungau sat in remote isolation, approachable only by treacherous pass roads. And the region’s old traditions and stunning natural appeal have been preserved very well. Two of the many reasons to travel there. It’s slightly decadent. Plenty of

Jan/Feb '18 Premium Content

Rural Tennessee: Chasing the Cumberland Curves

The Ducati Scrambler. I can’t think of a better bike for Cameron on this tour. I wanted a touring partner for the trip that I was sketching out to explore a small portion of the Cumberland Plateau. The route was going to be only 308 miles by Google’s

Jan/Feb '18

City Escape: El Paso, Texas

Wineries, missiles, and views—this loop north of El Paso is a great mix for a short getaway. This city escape begins with a ride through a peaceful wine and agricultural region. It then tracks through a small portion of the fascinating White Sands Missile Range (ID and appropriate vehicle

Jan/Feb '18

City Escape: Athens, Ohio

This City Escape features a loop from the Athens County Visitors Center’s “Ohio’s Windy 9” map. The Pioneer Pass offers rolling hills and leads through Wayne National Forest, Stroud’s Run State Park, and Gifford State Forest. As if that weren’t enough, a taste of the famous

Nov/Dec '17 Premium Content

South Carolina: A Revolutionary Tour

By 1780, America’s war for independence from Great Britain had devolved into a stalemate in the northern colonies. British forces controlled major cities on the Atlantic coast, and the Continental Army under George Washington largely dominated the expansive interior. To break the impasse, Britain launched its Southern Strategy: British

Nov/Dec '17 Premium Content

Kingsport, Tennessee Shamrock Tour®: Riding the Mountain Empire

Spanning from northeastern Tennessee to southwestern Virginia, there’s great touring country known as the Mountain Empire. And hidden within this region is the gem known as Kingsport, TN. This town serves as the starting point of what is now known as the Daniel Boone Wilderness Trail. In March of

Nov/Dec '17 Premium Content

Utah and Nevada: Tire Tracks of a Pioneer, Part 2

In May 1903, George A. Wyman left San Francisco with the then-crazy idea of riding his motorcycle all the way to New York City. More than 100 years later, I’m retracing his steps on an electric motorcycle. After riding from San Francisco to Reno, the journey continues. The 40-Mile

Nov/Dec '17 Premium Content

Guatemala: One Time Just Isn’t Enough

At Motorcycle Adventure Guatemala in Antigua, Grant and I rent two Honda Tornado 250s for nine days. The company offers great-looking tours, but we opt to save the money with a self-directed tour. Guatemala is a relatively small country. It’s less than half the size of my home state,

Nov/Dec '17 Premium Content

The Azores: Little Adventure

Selecting a location roughly 75-percent smaller than Rhode Island to test a prototype adventure motorcycle would seem to be a less-than-ideal decision. However, just as one shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, never underestimate the level of excitement that can be found in a small space. Juggling Time

Nov/Dec '17

City Escape: Spokane, Washington

Spanning two states and some of the most beautiful real estate in the nation, this Spokane, WA, City Escape is truly memorable. Best ridden in spring through fall, the route flanks the banks of miles of pristine lakes and rivers. Evergreens, water, curves, and views rule the day on this

Nov/Dec '17

City Escape: Annapolis, Maryland

This journey immerses travelers in Maryland’s colorful history and the tranquil ambiance of a landscape surrounded by water. The laid-back charm and coastal culture makes southern Maryland feel thousands of miles removed from the frenetic pace of nearby Washington, D.C. And there’s lots of fresh seafood to

Sep/Oct '17

City Escape: Colorado Springs, CO

This scenic loop west of Colorado Springs includes some great small towns and miles of tree-lined splendor. Some iconic mountains and rock formations are mixed in for good measure. The ride is best made from late spring through early fall. Rocky Mountain weather is, to say the least, variable, so

Sep/Oct '17

City Escape: West Palm Beach, Florida

Sep/Oct '17 Premium Content

California and Nevada: In the Tire Tracks of a Pioneer

In May 1903, George A. Wyman left San Francisco with the then-crazy idea of riding his motorcycle all the way to New York City. In the Beginning I stand at the intersection of Market and Kearny Streets in San Francisco. Tall buildings block the sun and reflect the noise of

Sep/Oct '17 Premium Content

Kansas: Finding the Forgotten Prairieland

In the 19th and early 20th centuries, Kansas was a major transportation crossroads: immigrant trails led pioneers west, cattle routes passed through from Texas, and a network of railroads bisected the state. This land was also home to many of America’s quintessential small towns. Most of Old Kansas has

Sep/Oct '17 Premium Content

Ligonier, Pennsylvania Shamrock Tour®: On the Road with Friends

It’s that time of the year again, our annual Touring Weekend. A memorial ride for my late father who, along with my mother, started this very magazine. He was riding a sidecar when a freak accident took his life—he was only 45. At the time, I was just

Sep/Oct '17 Premium Content

Germany: Down by the River

Germany is home to two famous rivers, the Rhine and the Danube. But it’s the underdog, the Main (pronounced “mine”) River, which connects some of the most beautiful motorcycling areas in the country. The Main meanders drunkenly between the most traditional and innovative beer brewing areas in Franconian Switzerland

Jul/Aug '17 Premium Content

Western New York: Exploring History on a Scrambler

Peel back the thin veneer of modern life and you will find layers and layersof history, stories of struggle and conquest, innovation and revolution. Turn your motorcycle into a time machine and immerse yourself in the past. Fun fact: there are more museums, historic sites, and historical societies in the

Jul/Aug '17 Premium Content

Arkansas: The Untamed Side of the Natural State

A tawny, striped face stares at me, unblinking. The Bengal tiger must weigh almost 400 pounds, and she is only a few steps away. I didn’t know there were tigers in Arkansas. Her name is Crysta and she is a permanent resident at Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge, seven miles

Jul/Aug '17 Premium Content

England on Enfields: Stay Left, Look Right

“Look for Big Al. Tell him Tall Paul sent you …” With a wave, these words end our first black cab ride in London. Who’d have thought our cabbie would know someone at the one Royal Enfield dealer in East London, where we are staying, on a trip that will

Jul/Aug '17 Premium Content

The Dalles, Oregon Shamrock Tour®: Exploring the Columbia River Gorge Area

The Columbia River Gorge’s breathtaking vistas owe its heritage to a series of geological cataclysms during the last ice age. A huge 2,000-foot-deep glacial lake had formed over present day Missoula, MT. The ice dam, impounding the glacial melt, gave way, sending a massive torrent of destruction down