The 6 Best Places to Travel on a Motorcycle

Motorcycles, while fun and exhilarating to ride, are notoriously dangerous and occasionally difficult to insure. While a liability insurance requirement is standard with regular vehicles, it's not a standard requirement for motorcycles. However, regardless of whether or not it's required, it's a wise preventative choice.

Motorcycle insurance will ease the monetary impact of any damage to your bike. Remember that motorcycle insurance rates will differ from car insurance rates, and you may have to do a comparison between insurance companies to find the best coverage. Finding a good insurer can be difficult, but doing your homework to find a reputable company is worth the effort. 

With the peace of mind that insurance brings, you'll be able to enjoy your motorcycle rides more completely. Below, you'll find some of the most beautiful and enjoyable places to ride in the world.

#1 - California Highway 1 through Big Sur

This drive follows California's central coastline along the path where the mountains meet the sea. Tight curves, gentle hills, open straightaways, and scenic overlooks make this route deserve a place on any motorcycle enthusiast's bucket list. 

Several expansive bridges provide an additional thrill of suspension above the deep canyons and creeks. Highway 1 lends itself to a breathtakingly beautiful view that is hard to beat.

While you would think that any road positioned along the California coast would experience a high traffic density, Big Sur is surprisingly open and free from gridlock. The majority of the route is undeveloped and owned either by the government or private entities committed to maintaining the undeveloped beauty of the area. 

Just be careful as you're cruising that you don't find yourself being pulled over for speeding. If that happens, you'll have to find out who has the cheapest auto insurance after a speeding ticket.

#2 - Great Ocean Road, Australia

Similar to California's Highway 1, the Great Ocean Road road is cut into the mountainside along the coast. This route is popular and often becomes congested, but early and late in the day, you can enjoy the natural beauty of the Great Ocean Road without having to deal with an excessive number of other travelers. 

One of the most popular sites along the journey is the Twelve Apostles, one of the natural wonders of the world. Stacks of limestone stand in solidarity in the sea just off the coast. 

The nearby towns along this route each have their unique characteristics and to fully appreciate the ride, you'll need to spend some time enjoying the local vibe in these towns. 

#3 - Black Mountain Pass, Wales

If you're looking for a narrow road that twists, winds, climbs, and drops through the Welsh countryside, this is the route for you. It's gotten wildly popular in the last few years, so early mornings and weekdays are the best times to go if you want to ride an open road. 

The hairpin turns and steep ascents add challenge for motorcyclists, but they also offer panoramic views of the verdant hills and valleys. There's a good chance you'll encounter sheep and wildlife on the road, so travel with caution.

This road transports you from the sprawling, rolling countryside right up through the grand and majestic mountains. One minute you'll feel like you're in Wales and the next, you'll wonder if you've traveled to the Alps. 

#4 - E39 Bergen to Alesund, Norway

The 262 miles of this route wind along the fjords between the mountains. There are several ferry crossings along the way which are like built-in breaks from riding. The scenery from the boats is spectacular, and getting on and off with your motorcycle is easy.

You can ride the entire route in one day, but it's grueling if you're not used to putting in long days. If you plan to stay somewhere along the way, make sure to book a room before your trip because lodging options fill early during the peak season.

Halfway through this route rests the town of Utvik. The quaint town is everything you could ask for from a rural Norwegian center with bed and breakfasts, cafes, and outdoor adventure opportunities. It's a great place to rest and break up the journey.

#5 - The Mae Hong Son Loop, Thailand

Compared to other beautiful motorcycle routes in Asia, this one has comparable scenery but superior road conditions. This route loops through and around the mountains of Thailand and features many excellent stopping points along the way.

Every bend in the road reveals a new awe-inspiring panoramic view of the rich, green vertical landscape. River valleys cut through the mountains and offer panoramic views.

If you're interested in an immersive experience of Asian culture, this route will give you what you're looking for. You'll pass numerous temples, some of which are open for tours. You'll likely ride through some town where no one speaks English, so be prepared with various modes of communication.

#6 - Marrakech to Dades Gorge, Morocco

The desert mountains outside of Marrakech feature stunning rock formations and bare mountainside views sprinkled with remote oases along the way. The road conditions are not good, but it's worth taking your time to maneuver through the more difficult terrain so you can enjoy the unspoiled grandeur of the Sahara. 

The harrowing road of Dades Gorge is built into and on sheer cliffs. The thrill of this ride can be intense, and if you're afraid of heights, you may want to reconsider this leg of the journey. 

From the top, however, the views of the road are spectacular and you'll want to stop and capture the moment with a picture.

Final Preparation Tips for Your Motorcycle Trip

A little planning turns a good trip great and helps you enjoy the journey to the fullest. You should plan your route and your stopping points so that you don't end up exhausted and stranded with no place to stay. 

Another critical step of planning needs to be reading up on the driving laws of the countries you're visiting. You'll want to know their licensing requirements and driving laws. You should only ride after you've secured an insurance policy and the rules regarding insurance coverage are different in each country. 

It's up to you to ensure you have the right coverage.

Build up your riding muscles by planning several day-long rides near home before you embark on your epic journey. You can also do exercises that target muscle groups that are prone to fatigue after a long day of riding. The motorcycle row exercise strengthens shoulder and lower back muscles and is a great way to build up endurance. 

Learning some basics of the language spoken in the country you visit will help avoid communication frustrations and get you what you need along the journey.

There are superb riding opportunities within a day's drive of anywhere. If you can make a trip to one of the bucket-list destinations, take advantage of the opportunity But if you can't, go out and enjoy the rides waiting in your own neck of the woods. 

There's beauty everywhere, but you have to get out to find it. 

Melanie Musson is a motorcycle insurance specialist with the car insurance comparison site, CarInsuranceComparison.com. She and her husband have traveled extensively by motorcycle and her experiences have brought her to the opinion that the world is best taken in while on a bike.