Top motorcycling destinations and scenic routes
Top motorcycling destinations and scenic routes
Challenging highway routes for motorcycle trips
A great motorcycle route asks for more than scenery: it needs road surface, corner sequencing and enough remoteness to make the ride itself the point rather than simply transport between stops. The destinations that have built reputations among riders tend to deliver on all of those at once.
The routes here range from legendary mountain passes with decades of motorcycling history to long desert and coastal highways where the appeal is distance and solitude rather than tight technical corners. Some suit a weekend. Others need a proper multi-day itinerary.
Weather windows and altitude affect almost every route on this list and many of the best passes are only fully open for a few months of the year. Local mechanics along the busiest routes are generally well used to helping touring riders.
Lists by region
State/Prefecture in Japan
Hokkaido
Volcanoes, powder snow and fresh seafood
Cape Soya, at the northern tip of Japan, marks the end of many rides. Straight roads cross wide farmland and open marsh with very few cars. Biei's Patchwork Road rolls past fields in lavender and green in July. Ferries carry motorcycles across the strait from Honshu each summer.
Region in Germany
Black Forest
Dark woods, lakes and hilltop villages
The Schwarzwaldhochstrasse runs about 60 kilometers along a ridge between Baden-Baden and Freudenstadt. Curves and forest views make it a classic German biker route. Riders can stop at Mummelsee, a small lake with a legend of water spirits. Cafes in the villages serve Black Forest cake and strong coffee.
Country
Bhutan
Himalayan monasteries, dzongs and trekking trails
Chele La Pass, at 3,988 meters, is one of Bhutan's highest roads. Prayer flags cover the pass and mountain views open toward the Himalayas. Foreign riders must join a guided tour with an approved operator. Dochula Pass on the road to Punakha has 108 white stupas.
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