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Ride through South America – Top 3 Unbelievable Routes

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South America travel article by: Ron Marshall

Adventure riding got you down? Anyone confined to the pristine roads and mild off-road riding in their homeland is often looking to push the boundaries of adventure and themselves. For those who want to step it up a notch, hose down your Husqvarna and fasten up your Fox boots, South America will take you for one hell of a ride.

Colombia – Mountain Curves & Coffee Country – Route 40

Not the cocaine economy and Escobar entitled narco-state it once was. Colombia has some of the most pristine riding, stunning landscapes, and inviting riding in South America. To top it all off, Colombians are motorcycle crazy.

All roads lead out of Bogotá, and you can easily make your way through to nearby Salento in the wax-palm-lined Cocora Valley. The ride is roughly 300-kilometers on route 40, with peg-dragging roads that pass some of the worlds most sought-after coffee beans.

From Salento, take your ride just up the road to the cobblestone streets and café-lined square in neighboring Filandia. Real adventure bikers will first explore the countryside, then spend the night at the infamous Steel Horse Filandia. The front yard at Filandia is a regular mix of international license plates where riders from across the world are welcome.

  • To ride in Colombia, you can literally FedEx your motorcycle into Bogotá or hire from a company like Motolombia in Cali.
  • Don’t believe what you heard about Colombia. Ask anyone who’s ridden a motorcycle there, the response will be considerably more positive than you’d imagined.
  • Colombia is a vast mountainous region, make sure to check the season and altitude of where you plan to ride before assuming hot-hot-hot.

Brazil – Dirt Roads & Amazon Jungle – BR319

The most widely used adventure motorcycle in Brazil is the Honda Tornado, something similar to the Honda CRF250L, then the BMW GS line of bikes. Brazilians are equally as crazy about life on two wheels.

For a real adventure ride, make your way through the infamous BR319 road en route to Manaus in the Brazils Amazon region. The road runs through some of the most impressive stretches of the Amazon rainforest that can be accessed by motorists, with lurking Jaguars and lacking fuel stations. You’ll want to be well prepared for the 870-kilometer ride from Porto Velho up into the Amazons metropolitan hub.

The ride will offer up everything from dust in August, to complete road washouts in February and March. You can venture deeper into the rainforest depending on the season. The road is a bikers Pilgrimage for anyone with a longing sense of wilderness adventure.

  • A one or two-day ride could be six or seven in the wrong season. As for fuel, food, and water, pack what you need.
  • Flying or shipping a foreign motorcycle directly into Brazil is more red tape than you’ll want to deal with. Rent, or start in nearby Lima Peru, Montevideo Uruguay.
  • On the way, ride into the Pantanal. The worlds largest wetland. Picture a 20-kmph, self-guided motorbike safari with optional river cruise for you & the bike, incredible!

Chile – Patagonia Mountain Range – Carretera Austral

With the far north of Chile holding the majestic Atacama Desert, and the center offering up wonderful wine regions and horse-riding landscapes. The real riding though, is through the world-renowned Patagonia.

For anyone who’s a moto-camping aficionado, you and your ADV bike will fall in love with Patagonia. You can ride right into the Torres Del Paine National Park for a few days of getting in touch with your inner hiker. Then later slip away unnoticed into the endless rivers and remote regions around Coyhaique for some trout fishing right off the backside of your saddlebags.

From here, crank up those heated grips and ride further into the Tierra del Fuego region of the very south. Anyone looking to ramp up their road trip can cross the border into the most Southerly city in the world, Ushuaia Argentina.

The #1 motorcycle related activity in Ushuaia you ask?! Buy a sticker for your panniers.

  • A country that runs on longitude, the far north and far south are very different at any time of year. Pack cold weather & rain gear, any other riding will be a welcome bonus.
  • Chile has arguably the best paved roads in South America. If you’re looking for off-track riding, download Wikiloc
  • You can fly your motorcycle into Santiago or ship it to nearby Valparaiso pretty easily. For a short trip, look into someone like Compass Expeditions to hook you up.

Wherever you ride in whatever part of the planet, there has likely been thousands if not millions on that road before you. It’s easier, safer, and more memorable than even the best YouTube video or stories you’ve read. Stop dreaming, start riding, and for some of the best adventure motorcycle roads on the planet, South America has you covered.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Motorcycle News, News

5 most dangerous routes for motorcycles in the world

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(Contributed post)

We all get tired of tackling the same old city routes on our motorcycles. City streets are boring and they don’t challenge the capabilities of the machines we ride. Unleashing their potential requires challenging routes that will trigger our primal instincts and get our adrenaline pumping.

If you are an adrenaline junkie or a travel addict, then you may want to challenge yourself with the world’s most dangerous routes. Narrow passes, sand and hairpin turns will test your physical and mental abilities to the limit. All these routes are only for seasoned riders. However, once you have conquered them, you can consider yourself a truly experienced traveller and upload your photos to all social media, your travel landing page template or frame them and put them on the wall. It is really something to be proud of.

Brace yourself, here are the most dangerous routes for motorcycles in the world.

1.    Bolivia – North Yunguas RoadYvonne Everett Road of Death dirt bike learning

If you are up for a roller-coaster ride without much in the way of safety, then North Yunguas Road is for you.  Also known as Bolivia’s death road, this place is extremely dangerous due to high cliffs that drop hundreds of metres at every turn. Nearly 300 motorists and cyclist were killed almost every year on this road until 1994. You should be extra cautious if you are afraid of heights.

2.    China – Guoliang Tunnel RoadGuoliang Tunnel Road dangerous

How about riding through a mountain? Sounds fun, but it’s also hazardous. The Guoliang Tunnel Road was opened to traffic in 1977. It’s only 1.2km long and 4m wide. The road was built through the Taihang Mountains heading towards the village of Guoliang and it’s now a big tourist attraction with lots of traffic to negotiate.

However, don’t be fooled by all the fuss, the road is still a dangerous place to ride. You need to be 100% focused on the road and you need to be experienced.

3.    Australia – Canning Stock RouteCanning Stock Route dangerous

The Canning Stock Route in Western Australia is regarded as the most remote road in the world. The road is 1850km long with sand and bulldust to challenge riders. There are no fuel or water stops along the way so you have to carry your own which makes it particularly difficult for motorcyclists. 

4.    Sichuan – Tibet HighwayDangerous Tibet highway

This road is an excellent chance to explore Tibet with your motorcycle. It’s also considered one of be the world’s most risky roads because of its rugged nature, extreme weather and altitude. The 2142km road runs from Chengdu in Sichuan to Lhasa in Tibet.

You would need approximately 14 to 15 days to complete this road. However, the ride is an incredible adventure as you will be passing 14 mountains with heights ranging between 4000m and 5000m.

5.    Pakistan and China – Karakoram HighwayDangerous Karakoaram Highway Pakistan

This road has an amazing history as it was once a part of the famous Silk Road network of trading routes. It’s 1200km long, has altitudes over 4000m and is a great way to explore the amazing mountains of both countries.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Motorcycle News, News

Touring South Africa in safety

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Riding South Africa is safe, but you may have to pay the cops $2 for a “drink” if they pull you over for a random licence check, says Brisbane rider Jim Hulme (pictured). The 69-year-old has just returned from an eight-day bike 2900km motorcycle tour of the north-east of South Africa with friends and says he can allay people’s fears of travelling the magnificent country. Here is his story:Jim Hughes South Africa

Safety and security

Think South Africa and you immediately think personal safety and security.

There are people on the roadside wherever you go, stealing goods or going places, so care is needed.

However, in the two weeks I was there, staying with friends in Cape Town for sightseeing and recovery from jet lag, and then friends in Pretoria followed by the bike tour, I did not experience any personal safety concerns.

South Africa is like Australia in many ways including climate, culture and friendliness, and most people speak English. Black South Africans were courteous and friendly and everyone was interested in Australia.

Five people with luggage on four BMWs and one Harley headed off on a route designed by my host.Jim Hughes South Africa

Accommodation

He also arranged all the accomodation specifically avoiding the typical city tourist stops, to give us a better appreciation of the rural landscape.

The accommodation ranged from basic, similar to an old Aussie pub with creaky floors, to exquisite but inexpensive lodging.

As a foreigner, the food, drink and accomodation was incredibly cheap. The Rand was converting at about 10R = $A1 so a beer cost $2, a latte $2.40, “a policeman” $2 (read on!) and meals $7-14. I need to add that the meals were typically generous portion sizes.

While the accommodation was booked by my local host, the rates were cheap by Aussie standards.

Jim Hughes South Africa
Cedar Garden B&B

However, I noticed that the same places quoted via Tripadviser were charging at double the prices so direct bookings would be the way to go and avoid letting the venue know you are Australian.

South Africa roads

The roads across the north-east are very good quality, but there are some toll roads and you need a swipe credit card or cash to get through those.

Even rural highways are good quality but sometimes peppered with serious sized potholes that need to be avoided.

The speed limit is mostly 120km/h even on many rural roads and high-speed touring is possible as the police seem to allow about 10km/h over the limit before they are interested.

There were some speed checks mostly on the tollways, but we also had two random licence checks where the police were mostly likely looking for theft or cross-border smuggling.

In one of these checks, a policeman asked my host to buy him a drink. We offered $1, but he said it would cost at least $5. After some negotiation he accepted $2.

Corruption exists in many levels of government it seems.

Stunning scenery

Jim Hughes South Africa
Sandstone columns in the countryside near Bethlehem in Free State

While the scenery out of Pretoria is flat and agricultural, most of the country is amazingly hilly and scenic.

We stopped at Castleburn Resort at the southern end of the fabulous Drakensberg Mountains and it was stunning with thatched roof buildings, immaculate lawns, lakes and a mountain backdrop.

Jim Hulme South Africa
Castleburn Resort

Direct flights from Australia are available on Qantas from Sydney or on South African Airways from Perth. All international flights land at Johannesburg and there are many South African domestic flights available to connect to Cape Town including British Airways and South African Airways.

I didn’t have to rent a bike but an online search shows Samatours, a Pretoria-based tour business offers reasonable rates for self-guided tours. Fully guided tours on a BMW F 800 GS costs $A140 a day plus accessory charges at samatours.co.za for a seven-day-plus rental.

I highly recommend a ride in South Africa. Australia will seem over-regulated when you get back!

Jim Hughes South Africa
Jim and Nelson Mandela

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

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Touring New York City by Motorcycle

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(Sponsored post)

Each year, tens of millions of tourists visit New York City to take in the sights, experience the city’s melting pot culture, catch a Broadway show, visit one of the world’s leading museums, shop on Fifth Avenue, walk through Central Park, and so much more. In fact, there’s so much to do in New York City at all times that even if you lived there your entire life, you’d never be able to see or do it all. Still, that’s no reason not to try to do as much as possible! With so much to do in one city, you’d be missing out on a lot by sticking to just one or two areas. And that’s where traveling by motorbike comes in to help you see and do more.

Perks of Touring New York by MotorcycleNew York motorcycles

Over the years, motorcycles haven’t really been the transportation method of choice for New York visitors or residents, even though there are many benefits to choosing motorcycles over other options. In a congested city like New York, traveling by motorbike will inspire you to check out all of the five boroughs — instead of just Times Square, which is where tourists usually stick to — and unlock a world of excitement. You’ll be able to walk across the Brooklyn Bridge or Highline, visit the Natural History Museum, and catch a Yankees game, all in one trip. It’s also cheaper than taking cabs everywhere, and more scenic than traveling around by subway.

Looking for more sights to check out? Here are a few other places you should visit when touring New York City by motorcycle:

Coney Island

Traveling by motorcycle might take you about the same time as traveling by subway, but it’ll be a far more pleasant experience — and more scenic! You’ll get a nice shot of the Manhattan skyline as you head into Brooklyn, and you’ll get to see how the neighbourhoods change. Once in Coney Island, you should set some time aside to lounge on the beach, hit up the amusement park (including the Cyclone, one of the oldest wooden roller coasters in the US), and stop by Nathan’s for one of their world-famous hot dogs.

Flushing, Queens

New York CityPhoto by Kimia Zarifi / The Unsplash License

Getting to Flushing by taxi or subway can be nearly impossible sometimes — many taxis won’t leave Manhattan, and there are frequently long train delays or other issues. Luckily, you can avoid all of this when traveling by motorbike. Flushing is home to some of the best Chinese food you’ll find in New York. You’ll also find plenty of other great food in the area (and nearby) such as Mexican, Greek, Thai, Japanese, and so much more.

If you’re looking for more food options, head to the Queens Night Market nearby where you’ll find food from more than 80 countries. There’s also live music and plenty of art to check out. When you’re done, head to the Queens Museum for visual arts exhibits or Flushing Meadows Corona Park for a stroll.

The Met Cloisters

Located in Washington Heights’ Fort Tryon Park along the Hudson River, this is a must-visit museum for medieval history lovers. The museum features art and architecture from medieval Europe, in additional to beautiful gardens. The Met Cloisters also features rotating art exhibits and numerous events, including concerts.

The Bronx ZooNew York City

Photo by @gebhartyler / The Unsplash License

Once you arrive here, you’ll forget you’re in New York City. This zoo is one of the largest zoos in the the US at 265 acres. Millions of people from all over the world visit the zoo every year to see the zoo’s extremely diverse collection of wildlife. It’s so big in fact that you’ll have a difficult time seeing the whole place, so it’s best to pick a few areas that you want to focus on and stick to those. If you’re able to, try scheduling a trip to the Bronx Zoo on the same day as a ball game in Yankee Stadium since they’re in the same borough.

There are just a few of the sights you should check out with touring New York by motorcycle. If you really want to make the most of your trip, be sure to plan out your visit and routes ahead of time so you don’t miss anything!

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

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Legendary 10% discount for our readers

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Indian-based motorcycle tour company Legendary Moto Rides is offering Motorbike Writer readers a 10% discount on their three 2019 Himalayan tours riding the highest motorable roads in the world.

To score the discount, just type in the code “MBW10%” when making a booking. Riders can save from about $A330 to $A450 with the 10% discount.

The tours are the Ladakh Trans Himalayan Sky Adventure, the Grand Ladakh Ride to the Tour of the World and Himalayan Heights.

All are ridden on traditional Royal Enfield Classic 500 motorcycles.Legendary Moto Tours Himalayas Royal Enfield Classic 500 10% discount

Legendary tour with MBW

If you would like to tour with me, I plan to take the middle option; the Ladakh Trans Himalayan Sky Adventure tour from June 23-July 6. There are three more dates for the tour in July and August.

Prices before the special 10% discount are $US2650 for riders, $4750 for a ride and pillion and $US2290 for a car passenger.

The cheapest are the Himalayan Heights tours in June, August and September.

Prices start at $US2390 for the rider, $US4000 two-up and $US1800 car passenger.

There are three Grand Ladakh tours in July and August.

Prices before the discount are $US3300 for a rider, $US5800 for rider and pillion and $US2700 for a car passenger.

If you want some privacy, add $US395 to the prices for all tours for a single room.

Costs include just about everything except your flights and even include a farewell dinner with “unlimited beer”. Now that’s value, especially the way some of us Aussies drink!

Altitude sicknessLegendary Moto Tours Himalayas Royal Enfield Classic 500 10% discount

All tours include riding the Khardung La Pass which is the highest civilian motorable road in the world at 5606m above sea level.

I’ve ridden to the top of Pikes Peak in Colorado at 4302m and felt like I had a slight hangover and feet of lead.

An extra 1.3km straight up should really be a challenge.

Legendary Moto Rides spokesman Bharat assures me that riders will have time to acclimatise.

“In Trans Himalayan we start from Manali (altitude 3979m) and slowly slowly we go on high altitude so we get habitual with altitude and do not face any altitude sickness,” he says.

“Other High Himalayan Heights Motorcycle Tour we need one day complete to get acclimatised or maybe two days.”

Click here for tips on riding in high altitudes.

Apart from literally taking your breath away, riders will see ancient monasteries, deserts, snow, waterfalls and colourful local villages.

Along the way they will stay in hotels or “glamping” tents.

Legendary Moto Tours Himalayas Royal Enfield Classic 500 10% discount
Glamping

Legendary Motor Rides tours include accommodation, most meals, all ground transfers from arrival to departure, motorcycle hire, fuel, English-speaking road captain and staff, first-aid medical kit, refreshments during rides, luggage support vehicle, plus all fees, taxes and permits.

Exclusions: International flights, domestic flights to and from Leh if relevant ($US250 extra), lunch, personal medical insurance (compulsory), bike damage, extra drinks, visa fees and items of personal nature such as tips, laundry and alcohol.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com