TOP 10 TOURING NECESSITIES
Transcription
TOP 10 TOURING NECESSITIES
Getaway Plan 40 Willing Accomplices E ver go on a vacation and wish you’d brought your bike? The aesthetic appeal of a tropical paradise such as Hawaii, an exotic locale like South Africa, or the majesty of the Alps is obvious — but we motorcyclists think differently. Two-wheeled travel is in our blood, and it’s impossible to visit such a place and not wonder what it would be like to ride there. Getting you a two-wheeled vacation is the goal of this month’s Tours and Rentals Buyers Guide. International companies such as Edelweiss and Eagle Rider have built solid reputations by offering bike rentals and/or guided tours for years. But in recent times, dozens of small, independent, motorcycle-tourism businesses have cropped up all over the globe, and we’ve searched out as many as we could find and compiled them in the following pages. Because of the wide variety of offerings, the companies are listed in alphabetical order, so in order to find exactly what you’re looking for, you might have to peruse each and every one of these entries — but it’ll be worth it. You’ll discover homespun, personally guided tours of North America by folks such as renowned RoadBike columnist Fred Rau and adventure-loving couple Willie and Jungle Fuhrman, as well as tours to exotic places that Westerners have seldom seen with Explore Indochina Ltd. Here, you’ll find a place to rent a Harley to cruise Florida, a sportbike to shoot the Hill Country of Texas, or a Gold Wing to ride the Gold Coast of Australia. You can book a full-blown tour of places as local as California, North Carolina, New England, and British Columbia or as far flung as Greece, Spain, Morocco, and China. There’s a tour of Yosemite exclusively by and for women, and one through the Alps that’s designed for expert riders only. Got a thing for vintage motorcycles and the south of France? Check out the offerings from Classic Bike Provence. We all know that the saddle of a motorcycle is the only way to really experience travel. Plum riding spots like Andalusia, Alaska, Tuscany, and England — the motorcycling world is at your fingertips in the following pages. In putting this guide together, we’ve made friends and contacts from all over the globe, and it’s our pleasure to bring them all to you here. So gear up, fire up, and head out — it’s RoadBike’s Motorcycle Tours and Rentals Buyers Guide. 70 May 2008 n RoadBike n RoadBikeMag.com TOP 10 TOURING NECESSITIES 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 — George P. Blumberg Large Hefty or other kitchen garbage bags for temporary rain covers/waterproofing gear. Large, collapsible spatula for scooping flattened raccoons into the frying pan. Printed route map covered with laminated plastic so you can write on it and make notes. Pocket compass for quick direction checks. Old-fashioned AM/FM portable radio with extra batteries. Small, handy penlight with extra batteries. Rectangular plastic shaving mirror (useful for signaling). Couple of compact road flares. Twenty bucks wrapped in plastic and stuffed in shoe. Copy of The Original Road Kill Cookbook. AEROSTITCH 800/222-1994 www.AerostitchTours.com BALL O’STRING CUSTOM ADVENTURE TOURS 970/328-7347 www.BallOString.com Whether your journey leads you through the mountains of Alaska, off-road in South Africa, touring in Japan, or cruising South America, each day is filled with thrilling rides, fun, excitement, delicious food, and friendship. Aerostitch staff and guides are seasoned experts committed to providing an unforgettable experience. Willie and Jungle Fuhrman’s company specializes in luxury, guided, custom tours in Canada, Europe, and the northwestern US. For adventurers who appreciate travel by motorcycle (or exotic sports car), vacation destinations can include Alberta, Alaska, British Columbia, Yukon, Italy, and Spain. Where are Willie and Jungle headed in 2008? Alaska; Journey to the Edge of the Continent From $5,150 Colorado Mountain Tour $3,500 ADMO-TOURS 800/944-2356 www.AdMo-Tours.com BIKESCAPE MOTORCYCLE TOURS & RENTALS +61-2/9569-4111 www.Bikescape.com.au AdMo-Tours arranges rentals and vacation tours in more than 35 countries around the world, including rentals on six continents, dual-sport adventures in Mexico, Europe, South America, and Alaska, and dirt bike classes, rentals, and tours in California and the American Southwest. Established, experienced, and trustworthy. Bikescape rents touring motorcycles for self-guided motorcycle tours in Australia. BMW, Honda, and Harley-Davidson mid- to highrange touring bikes with unlimited mileage and full support services operate from a friendly-yet-professional depot. Bikescape also offers a full range of accessories to hire, from helmets, clothing, and panniers to GPS units. Chile/Perú Inca Tour From $5,290 Sydney’s Best: Wine, Mountains & Valley Tour From $1,076* ALOHA TOY STORE 888/883-1212 www.AlohaToyStore.com BIKE TOURS UK 44 (0) 115/846-2993 www.BikeTours-UK.com With locations on Maui, Oahu, and Hawaii, ATS rents a variety of motorcycles by the hour or day — many of them fully loaded with accessories — in addition to exotic, sports, and luxury cars; jeeps, scooters, Segways, and more. Free pick up and delivery is available. Adventure tours in England, France, and Spain, emphasizing challenging riding, not fancy hotels. The UK tour follows twisty back roads with cozy accommodations in country inns, while the Alps tours take you over exhilarating mountain passes. Use your own bike, or Bike Tours UK will source a rental for you. Kawasaki Vulcan Rental $69/three hours UK Tour $400* AZRIDE.COM 888/233-6371 www.AZride.com This company provides a wide variety of premium bikes for rent, from dualsports to Gold Wings, as well as guided and self-guided tours to Arizona, Utah, Nevada, California, New Mexico, Colorado, and Mexico. Customized tour planning is also available. BMW R1200GS Rental $79/day *Converted from foreign currency; price subject to change. BLUE STRADA TOURS 704/292-8801 www.BlueStradaTours.com This company offers all-inclusive road tours of the Carolinas, Georgia, and Virginia, as well as the Southwest. Participants will enjoy some of the most beautiful and challenging roads in the US, including Deal’s Gap and the Blue Ridge Parkway. New bikes, upscale lodging, and recommended local restaurants are featured. Charlotte-Indianapolis/US MotoGP Tour From $5,765 RoadBikeMag.com n RoadBike n May 2008 71 BOSENBERG MOTORCYCLE EXCURSIONS (011) 49/671-67312 www.Bosenberg.com CLASSIC BIKE PROVENCE LTD. 44 (0) 208 133-2672 www.ClassicBikeProvence.com Great rides in the heart of Europe. Alpine routes offer numerous upgrades and options. Rental gateways are available in Berlin, Frankfurt, and Munich, Germany; Bern and Zurich, Switzerland; and Milan, Italy. Bosenberg offers Aprilia, BMW, Ducati, Harley-Davidson, Honda, Kawasaki, KTM, Triumph, and Yamaha bikes. See the south of France in classic style! Tours are guided by a Brit with over 30 years of local experience. Bike fleet includes a 1960 Velocette Venom, 1973 Triumph Tiger TR6, 1976 Norton Commando, 1967 BSA Lightning, 1951 Sunbeam Deluxe, 1957 Matchless G11 600, 1980 BMW R65, and more. Autumn Colors & INTERMOT 2008 Tour From $3,375* Guided Tour $218/day; $950/five days* BOURNEMOUTH MOTORCYCLE HIRE LTD. 01-202/380-388 www.Motorcycle-Hire.co.uk COASTLINE MOTORCYCLE TOURS & RENTALS 866/338-0344 www.CoastlineMC.com Based in Bournemouth, Dorset, this UK company offers a nice selection of rentals, ranging from 501200cc, from sportbikes to tourers. All motorcycles in the 600cc-plus range are available for use overseas. Rent Suzuki SVs and GSs or Honda CBRs for one day to a full week. Book with this company and you get a motorcycle, accommodations, daily breakfasts, insurance, guide, chaser van and tools, luggage transfer, and more. The Best of Both Tour combines the Wild Canada West Tour and the Vancouver Island Totem Tour. Supply of bikes is limited, so book early. Suzuki SV650 From $148.49/day* Best Of Both Tour From $3,766* CALIFORNIA MOTORCYCLE TOURS 888/408-7631 www.CA-MotorcycleTours.com CMT offers 10 different dates for seven different guided tours through California and the West this year, all on brand-new 2008 Harleys. Most tours begin and end in San Diego, with one tour leaving from San Francisco and another from Seattle. Tour dates run from April through mid-November. COLORADO TOURBIKE RENTALS Peaks & Passes Tour $3,845 Yamaha FJR1300 Rental $1,015/week CHAPEL AUSTRALIAN BIKE TOURS +61-2/444-370-86 www.ChapelAustralianBikeTours.com CYCLEASE MOTORCYCLE/SCOOTER RENTAL & TOURS 800/742-2044 www.CycLease.com Chapel Australian Bike Tours offers a variety of high-end guided tours around Australia aboard Honda Gold Wings exclusively. Choose from halfday to five-day Getaway Tours, or one- to two-week Adventure Tours. Meals, accommodations, gear, insurance, and gas are provided. Chapel is located south of Sydney at Jervis Bay. This nationwide network of independent agents provides rentals in Florida, Wisconsin, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Nevada, Massachusetts, Arizona, and California, CycLease Motorcycle/ Scooter Rental & Tours features vintage and late-model Harleys, choppers, metric cruisers, sportbikes, and even scooters. Rates vary by agent. Sydney-Brisbane-Sydney Adventure Tour From $2,361* Rentals From $99/day 72 May 2008 n RoadBike n RoadBikeMag.com 866/337-7810 www.Tourbikes.com Family owned and operated and in its eighth year, CTR was created to provide quality motorcycles for accomplished riders to use while visiting and exploring Colorado and other Western destinations in the US and Canada. BMWs, Hondas, Yamahas, Kawasakis, Triumphs, and more are rented on a daily or weekly basis. DETLEF’S RENTALS INC. 775/416-6463 www.Detlefs-Rentals.com EDELWEISS BIKE TRAVEL 800/507-4459 www.EdelweissBike.com Florida’s Detlef’s Rentals offers late-model BMW and HarleyDavidsons for rent. Unlimited miles, helmet, rain gear, lock, car parking, luggage storage, and pickup from Sarasota/ Bradenton airport are included. Rentals available from one hour to two weeks (and more). 2008 special: pay for six days, get a seventh free. Edelweiss is one of the world’s largest tour companies. If you want to tour some of the greatest destinations on the planet in regions you’ve never seen in countries with foreign tongues, different cultures, and unfamiliar roads, you can’t go wrong here. Rentals $100/five days Best of Europe Tour From $3,540 DUBBELJU MOTORCYCLE RENTALS 415/495-2774 www.Dubbelju.com Big enough to provide excellent service, yet small enough to treat you like family, motorcyclist-owned Dubbelju has been renting BMWs, Harleys, Triumphs, and Hondas in the Bay Area since 1991. Rentals include unlimited miles, liability insurance, 24-hour emergency roadside service, lock, luggage, and touring suggestions. EXPLORE INDOCHINA LTD. Imagine sleeping in stilt houses made from the fuselage of crashed Phantom jets, crossing rivers in boats made from B52 fuel tanks, or seeking out old Vietcong command headquarters. Ride the backcountry of Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos; travel to places few Westerners have ever been. Group rates available. Triumph Scrambler Rental From $119/day Vietnam Trail Tour From $1,200 DUCATITOURS ITALY +39/333-6032-961 www.DucatiTours.com FRED RAU ADVENTURE TOURS DucatiTours Italy offers trips as far afield as Elba, Umbria, Liguria, Lazio, and the Apennines, with stops at the Ducati factory and museum, off-the-beaten-path scenic spots, and all the famous Tuscan landmarks. Race fans can take advantage of the Special Event Tours geared to coincide with MotoGP and World Superbike races. Not that we’re biased, but RoadBike columnist Fred Rau is now personally leading guided tours with his new company. Fred’s tours include the Route 66 Adventure, the Utah Adventure, and his twoweek New Zealand Adventure. All taxes, insurance, and unlimited mileage are included. Dozens of models available. Tour of Tuscany with MotoGP d’Italia $4,200* Route 66 Adventure Tour $1,995 (own bike); $2,695 (rental) EAGLERIDER 888/900-9901 www.EagleRider.com FUNTIME RENTALS In addition to the Harleys that made them famous, EagleRider also offers a huge selection of Hondas and BMWs (and snowmobiles and ATVs) for rent. They also allow one-way rentals or guided tours between franchise facilities all over the world. Bike rental includes unlimited mileage. Looking for a fun time? This company can hook you up with your dream ride for an hour, a day, or a week. Choose from Honda Nighthawks, Aero 750s, or Gold Wings. In addition, Funtime rents Harleys, ATVs, and dirt bikes. Free pickup from Phoenix’s Sky Harbor Airport. Rentals $345/three days Honda Gold Wing Rental $50/hour; $745/seven days *Converted from foreign currency; price subject to change. +84/913-093-159 www.ExploreIndochina.com 951/672-0239 www.FredRau.net 800/968-3393 www.AZFuntimeRentals.com RoadBikeMag.com n RoadBike n May 2008 73 GREEK MOTO ADVENTURES Take in the aromas, sounds, and tastes of ancient Greece by riding the majestic Peoloponnese region. Experience the birthplace of Western culture from your perch aboard a BMW R1200GS or F650, or a Honda Transalp 650. Four ten-day tours are scheduled through September. 718/810-6480 www.GreekMotoAdventures.com Two-Up Tour $2,470* GUZZI RENT AT AGOSTINI MOTOR BIKE TOURS +34 (0) 844/484-678534 www.MotorbikeAdventureTours.com Motor Bike Tours offers fully inclusive packages for guided tours of Spain’s Andalusia region with airport pickup, accommodations, food, and insurance. Or, if you’re a group who wants to go on a touring holiday of Spain, Portugal, or Morocco aboard your own bikes, MBT can provide logistical support and guides. Andalusia Tour $980-2,650* +39/0341-735-448 www.GuzzItalia.com/en MOUNTAIN TO SOUND MOTORCYCLE ADVENTURES 425/222-5598 Agostini, the world-famous Moto Guzzi dealership, is located in Mandello del Lario, Italy, on the shores of Lake Como, with the Moto Guzzi factory only a few minutes away. Rent a Guzzi and visit the MG museum, ride around the lake, or schedule a full tour in the Alps. Since 2000, Seattle-based MTSMA has offered self-guided tours including the Best of the Northwest, Northwest National Parks, and Tri-State Plus. They can help you plan your own custom tour of the Pacific Northwest. The rental fleet includes cruisers, sport-tourers, and touring bikes from BMW, Honda, Yamaha, and Triumph. Moto Guzzi Norge 1200 $1,150/week* Yamaha FJR1300 Starting at $143/day MOTO-CHARLIE 603/483-4813 www.Moto-Charlie.com NEW HORIZONS BIKE HIRE +44/7791-028-258 www.NewHorizonsBikeHire.co.uk With 25 years of experience in the region, Moto-Charlie leads Alpine tours each year in Switzerland, France, Italy, and Austria. BMWs, Hondas, and Aprilias are available. Control your costs by customizing your amenities. Tours are limited to 10 motorcycles or 15 people, whichever comes first. Not intended for novice riders. A rental company specializing in the north of England, NHBH is based in Manchester, within easy reach of the lakes, the peak district, Wales, and Scotland. It offers fully equipped touring bikes as well as performance bikes. The packages includes airport pickup, insurance, and unlimited mileage. Top 10-Plus Peaks Tour From $5,068 Honda VFR 800 V-Tec Rental From $795/week* MOTODISCOVERY 800/233-0564 www.MotoDiscovery.com Since 1981, MotoDiscovery’s tracks have covered the corners of Mexico and Central and South America, as well as Europe, Asia, and the subcontinent of India. MotoDiscovery touts its touring experience, service, and imagination in everything from challenging off-road expeditions to luxury motorcycle-riding vacations. Great Wall China Tour $4,895 74 May 2008 n RoadBike n RoadBikeMag.com www.MTSMA.com NORTHEASTERN MOTORCYCLE TOURS This summer and fall, ride through the superb mountains of Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and New York, or along the spectacular coasts of Maine, Nova Scotia, and Quebec. NMT’s motto is “gourmet food, gourmet lodging, and gourmet riding.” New England Fall Foliage Tour $2,295 single/ $4,495 dual/week 802/463-9853 www.MotorcycleTours.com NORTHSTAR MOTO TOURS Designed by women for women, this small, privately owned company offers guided tours of Northern California, and provides a comfortable environment where women riders can meet and share their experiences. Book any of their tours — North Coast, South Coast, Yosemite, or Tahoe — direct from the web site. 408/384-2472 www.NorthStarMotoTours.com SPORTBIKERENTAL.COM 866/704-RENT www.SportbikeRental.com This company rents bikes not only for the street (Ninja 250s to Ducati 1098s), but for the track as well. Choose from over 40 dates at California Speedway, Willow Springs, and Miller Motor Sports Park. More locations in Southern California, Nevada, and Florida are coming this summer. Tahoe Tour $935 Ducati 1098 $199/day OREGON MOTORCYCLE ADVENTURES 541/773-7433 www.OregonMotorcycleAdventures.com SPORT RYDER RENTALS 877/906-7368 www.SportRyderRentals.com Located about 80 miles from Crater Lake in southern Oregon, OMA rents Harley-Davidsons, Yamaha FJR1300s, and various dirt bikes and ATVs by the day, week, or month — plus, they offer guided (and self-guided) three- and six-day dual-sport trips across Oregon and throughout the Pacific Northwest. Feel like an aggressive Texas Hill Country blast? How about a more leisurely cruise, or perhaps a long distance run on a touring bike? A versatile sporttourer? Dallas/Ft. Worth’s Sport Ryder has one of the largest selections of rentals in Texas, including Yamahas, Suzukis, BMWs, Hondas, Kawasakis, and Ducatis. Suzuki DRZ-E $500/week Suzuki M109R $390/three days ROCKY MOUNTAIN MOTORCYCLE HOLIDAYS 888/299-5534 www.RockyMtnMoto.com UNICORN ADVENTURES 401/683-1429 www.UnicornAdventures.com A small but established company based in Whistler, British Columbia, RMMH caters to sport-touring enthusiasts from around the globe. The company provides guided adventures from the rugged Pacific coastline to the vast Southwest desert to majestic Rocky Mountain peaks, all aboard BMWs, Moto Guzzis, Aprilias, Triumphs, and more. BMW-sponsored tours cover the Mediterranean coast, the Pyrénées, the Alps, and Corsica. Groups or individuals, customized tours, and weekend getaways are all options. Unicorn also offers a 15-day excursion covering the wine regions of France. Multilingual guides, new BMWs, and a support van come with each tour. Coast To Kootenays Tour From $3,950 15-Day Wine Tour de France From $6,050* ROUTE 66 RIDERS 310/578-0112 www.Route66Riders.com WILDWIND 928/274-0602 www.WildWindMCTours.com Rent Harleys for up to seven days with this company. Their location in Marina Del Rey, California, is within easy riding distance of attractions such as PCH, Las Vegas, Death Valley, Route 66, and the Grand Canyon. The Frequent Renter Club lets you reserve a block of 10 days for $1,290. Drawing from years of experience, which includes travel through some 50 countries and most states, J. Joshua Placa combines an extensive background in motojournalism, travel writing, tour design, and itinerant barnstorming to offer the best of the Wild West. Specializes in day tours around Sedona, Arizona. FLSTF Fat Boy Rental $129/half-day Harleys and Horses Combo Tour $350 *Converted from foreign currency; price subject to change. RoadBikeMag.com n RoadBike n May 2008 75 RIDING SOUTH AFRICA s an American living and riding in South Africa for nearly two years, I’ve learned a few things about being safe and not sorry. There are four main things to keep in mind if you want to ride motorcycles in South Africa. First, you need to be legal, which is fortunately easy. I have had police officers check my US driver’s license at 10 standard check points with no problems — except that often a bored officer often will want to find out more about this foreigner: “Where in America? How long here? What bike is this? Where are you going?” Save yourself the trouble and make the chitchat. I procured an International Driving Permit through AAA in the US. It costs $15 plus a small photo and a few minutes of filling out a form. This document is written in several languages, so it might be handy if you’re crossing many international borders. It’s good for one year. Second, you need to be safe, which is slightly more difficult. The bikes’ controls are generally in the same place as in the US, so it’s less confusing a transition than automobiles, where steering wheels are on the right side. In South Africa, traffic flows on the left side of the road. Here, things get tricky at times. Just after buying my bike, I pulled up to a red light. When it turned green, I realized a pile of vehicles was coming right toward me! So I swung onto the side street, muttering, “On the left, on the left!” Speaking of stoplights, in South Africa they are called robots. Yes, robots. And gas is petrol, since gas means propane, which you don’t want to try to put in your bike. LRP means the fuel is leaded. Your tire is now a tyre, and your horn is now a hooter. Third, you need to know a bit about the scene. There’s a vibrant and active community of riders here, mostly white guys whose families have been here for generations. BMWs are relatively cheap, and the big R1200GS trailie (dualsport) is the best-selling motorcycle in the country. KTM also has a strong following because of all the great dirt roads and trails. All the Japanese brands are present, with their ranges of dual-sports doing well. There are plenty of gearheads here who want speed, so there are track days and superbikes crisscrossing the countryside, too. If you want good tar (paved roads), you can stay on them quite easily. Finally, you need to know where to go once you’re here. South Africa is often called the “World in a Nation” due to the diversity of its landscapes. There are coastal routes for well over 1,000 miles, from slick highways to sandy tracks, from Cape Town to Durban and beyond. The Drakensberg Mountains rise up out of the province of KwaZulu-Natal and continue into the Kingdom of Lesotho, with passes, twisties, and any other surface you’re after. Then you have the Karoo, a semi-desert inland from Cape Town, and an amazing number of game reserves and national and provincial parks, especially in the east. But don’t stop at South Africa. This is merely the beginning, and the launching pad for touring its neighbors — Swaziland, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia — and the rest of Africa. —Adam Jeske RB A TOURING SOUTH AFRICA MotoBerlin +27-11/465-0794 n www.MotoBerlin.com MotoBerlin offers rentals and tours throughout South Africa. Experience the country on a prime-condition BMW, or take a solo, self-guided tour of Cape Town. Accommodations can range from luxury lodges, comfortable country hotels, and B&Bs to backpacking and safari-style camping. Gear, GPS systems, and luggage are available as optional equipment. BMW F650GS Dakar Rental, $167.70*/day Schroeder BMW Bike Hire +27-44/801-7900 n www.BMWBikeHire.com The Southern Cape is the jewel of South Africa’s Western Cape Province, and Schroeder Biking provides BMW rentals and tours there. Schroeder owns its bikes and employs its own BMW-trained mechanics. Schroeder is affiliated with Lynn Schroeder BMW, the biggest dealership in the Southern Cape. Self-guided and custom tours available. BMW R1200GS Rental, $206*/three days South African Motorcycle Tours (0)21/794-7887 n www.SA-Motorcycle-Tours.com Tours and rentals based in Cape Town using only late-model bikes and quality accommodations in country lodges. Guided or self-guided tours from one to 15 days cover the most scenic and challenging parts of the country. It operates from October to May with an annual tour to Namibia. Seven-Day Garden Route. $2,125* 76 May 2008 n RoadBike n RoadBikeMag.com