This list of the top 10 bike countries was inspired by Rough Guides Ltd, a British publisher of print and digital guide books founded in 1982. If you’ve not seen any of their books, they look very much like Lonely Planet’s publications.
Last May, the Rough Guides website unveiled its list of the most beautiful countries on Earth. It wasn’t just their own editorial opinions (which could possibly be influenced by advertisers). The list was voted on by its travellers and readers to make it a properly objective exercise.
After all the votes were tallied, New Zealand came out on top, “a destination famous for having more sheep than people and a nation where you’re never more than 90 miles from a beach,” the summary read.
Note that the voting did not specifically include motorcycling, but once you look at the countries which got gongs you’ll see that they are not just beautiful but mostly also major motorcycle destinations.
“Joining New Zealand in the top spots are Italy, which came in second this year, dropping from the top spot in 2023, followed by Canada, Switzerland and France rounding out the top five. The United Kingdom, Norway, Australia, Greece and South Africa filled out the top 10, showcasing just how geographically diverse the world’s beauty can really be.”
Let’s take a closer look at their choices – from a motorcycling point of view.
01 NEW ZEALAND
“Almost everything you’ve heard is true”
Most of us know quite a lot about Unzud, whether we’ve been there or not. Just keep this in mind: almost everything you’ve heard about the South Island is true. The roads really are spectacular, the change of scenery outrageous and there’s the Classic Motorcycle Mecca’s amazing museum way down south at Invercargill.
The best way to enjoy the place on a motorcycle is to just go and ride.
Oh, and the North Island is actually good, too, and even has the Southward Car Museum at Paraparaumu, which has some truely unique motorcycles.
Kiwis do have an odd way of fixing their roads with rectangular patches of tarmac, which they then leave for the traffic to roll flat, it’s true, and they’re a bit sensitive about Australians (you can buy a T-shirt that says I Support NZ and Any Team Playing Australia). But when they make something, be it motorcycle luggage or wet weather gear, it works!
SUMMARY
Getting there: Flying is relatively cheap from Australia; keep an eye on sales by the various airlines.
Finding a motorcycle: You can take your own quite easily with the help of Get Routed (getrouted.com.au),
which is run by friends of mine. Renting is easy as well from Te Waipounamu (motorcycle-hire.co.nz), South Pacific Motorcycle Tours (motorbiketours.co.nz), and Paradise Motorcycle Tours (paradisemotorcycletours.co.nz) all in Christchurch. Come to think of it, they’re all friends of mine too. Tell them I sent you. There are numerous other rental agencies.
Language: A peculiar kind of English which swallows vowels instead of consonants. Easy to get used to and amusing until you do.
The Bear’s secret tip: Learn a few words of Maori.
02 ITALY
“While much of Italy is beautiful, much of it is also dull”
The boot in the Mediterranean has far too many motorcycling regions to cover in one visit. I’ve just spent two weeks in and around the Dolomites and I could easily have spent as long again. The best idea is probably to choose a region – the alpine lakes, the Apennines, Cinque Terre, Tuscany, Sicily or Sardinia or one of the many others and just concentrate on that. You’ll be keen to make a visit to the next region soon enough.
The scenery is not the only attraction in Italy with food, the wine and all of the many cultural offerings competing. Unfortunately, Italy suffers particularly badly from tourist overcrowding and even the shoulder seasons are busy, busy. A lot of the most harrowing traffic consists, sadly, of motorcyclists. Be aware of that and try to spend as much time as you can off the beaten track.
Do your planning, too. While much of Italy is beautiful, much of it is also dull. Avoid the autostrada. One, it costs money. Two, it’s polluted. Three, you’ll find yourself forced to choose between the oily, slow truck lane and the overly fast car lanes.
SUMMARY
Getting there: Qantas has seasonal services to Rome but you’re probably better off looking at flying into Milan, which has lots of connecting airlines. No doubt some of you will make an Italian adventure a side-track of a European trip.
Finding a motorcycle: Milan also has numerous rental agencies but I don’t know any of them personally.
Language: Italian is easy to pick up as long as you have hands to wave. Just about anyone in the tourism industry can be expected to speak a little English or understand what you are trying to say.
The Bear’s secret tip: Drink your coffee quickly, because it will be lukewarm.
03 CANADA
“It’s just waiting for motorcyclists to marvel at the roads”
The place consists of a forested, lake-laced west and an everything else east, with nothing in between. Or so I understand; I only know the west. This really does consist of beautiful countryside just waiting for motorcyclists to marvel at the roads and pretty towns. Accommodation is not cheap, be warned, but on a bike you can just about always head onwards to find somewhere cheaper. Consider staying at youth hostels; once you’ve checked in at one, you are automatically a member.
I could not think of a better way to explore western Canada than on a motorcycle, following the many lakeside roads with their natural corners. Note that motorcycles do not have the right to head to the front of queues for roadworks or ferries, but otherwise they’re popular enough.
SUMMARY
Getting there: Qantas flies to Vancouver where our old friends EagleRider are waiting to serve you, but see below. Also, Alaska Airlines will happily fly you from major Qantas destinations LAX or SF to Portland, where MotoQuest has an office.
Finding a motorcycle: I have used and like MotoQuest and would say that it’s worth starting a ride through western Canada in Portland, into the US, just so you can use one of their bikes. But that’s just me.
Language: Here in the west they speak English. Slowly.
The Bear’s secret tip: There are small breweries in many towns, and they offer not only brews but good tucker at good value in interesting surroundings.
04 SWITZERLAND
“The cops have a reputation for being unsympathetic”
It is sad, but it’s unavoidable. At least one of the world’s 10 most beautiful countries has to be relatively unsuitable for motorcycling, and Switzerland is it.
One reason is that the Swiss appear to be set against motorcyclists. Consider: speeding is not a violation of a traffic code but a legal offence. If you fail to comply there is a good chance that an international warrant will be issued and you will have to go to court in your home country.
If you want to use the motorway you need a ‘Vignette’ which costs 40 Francs. This is valid for a calendar year (unlike, say, Austria where there are no daily, weekly or monthly vignettes) and must be affixed to “a clearly visible part of the vehicle that cannot be removed”. If you have no vignette, the fine is 200 Francs plus the cost of the vignette.
Other penalties are heavy too, motorcycle regulations are extensive and the cops have a reputation for being unsympathetic.
Maybe this is just me and other riders love the place, but note: you see a lot more Swiss-plated bikes outside the country than in it.
SUMMARY
Getting there: Ride across the border from another country.
Finding a motorcycle: Bring one from somewhere else. Just kidding, maybe. There are plenty of rental agencies but I do not know any of them.
Language: There are four endemic languages – German, French, Italian and Romansch. Nearly half the population also speaks at least some English.
The Bear’s secret tip: Oh, look, I just don’t like the country for its uptight attitudes. Is that a tip? No, I guess not. How about that they don’t really make cuckoo clocks, that’s done in the Black Forest.
05 FRANCE
“Less crowded than you would expect and more typically French”
Like Italy, France presents the problem of offering entirely too much beauty. Let me try to be useful by restricting myself to two regions I consider not only particularly beautiful but also accessible and not especially overcrowded.
The Alpes Maritimes down in the south-east is beautiful, like the rest of the Alps, but its scale is somehow smaller. You don’t get so many massive mountains but what you do get is prettier. Lots of small mountain roads with wonderful views.
At the opposite end of the country, Brittany fills the north-west with hills, greenery (lots of nature parks) and impressive coastlines. Both of these places are less crowded than you would expect and more typically French, as well. Both also offer terrific riding.
SUMMARY
Getting there: Qantas has seasonal flights to Paris, but you’re far better off looking at cheaper airlines that fly via Asia.
Finding a motorcycle: Rentals are easy to find, especially in Paris. Since insurance and registration of large-capacity motorcycles is expensive, rental charges are high too. Consider renting in Germany or Italy.
Language: Yeah, well, French so you’d better learn a bit – except in the south-west, where English is at least understood because the local religion is rugby. Yes, there is a town called Notre Dame du Rugby.
The Bear’s secret tip: Stay in small hotels in small towns. Not only will they be comfortable and good value, they will also almost universally offer outstanding versions of local cuisine. Probably booze as well. Live a little.
06 UNITED KINGDOM
“The food is actually not as bad as it’s often claimed”
I really don’t understand how you can lump a place like the UK into one destination. There is so much variety that you could arrange four or five fortnightly trips and never cross paths once. The best thing to do is decide where your interests lie and base yourself around that. Mrs Bear and I did that when we were living there and put together trips like northern Scotland, highland Wales, motorcycles (the National Motorcycle Museum), the Lakes District, etc.
Accommodation choices are reasonable with pubs, campgrounds, B&Bs and small hotels common in tourist areas. Food is actually not as bad as it’s often claimed. Stick to local specialties and be surprised – sometimes positively. I was surprised how good haggis could taste.
SUMMARY
Getting there: Fly into Birmingham or Manchester if you can as London’s airports can be a nightmare of queuing. Otherwise there are ferries galore. Eurotunnel Le Shuttle claims to be the fastest direct route between the open roads of the UK and the Continent. Ticket prices are usually around half the price of a car (be still my beating heart), and this price covers the cost of the motorcycle, rider and pillion.
Finding a motorcycle: Everybody and their dog will rent you a bike. The choice is so large that the internet is your only friend.
Language: Many varieties of English vie for attention, some pretty smooth and others totally incomprehensible. Speak slowly and listen the same way.
The Bear’s secret tip: Avoid London (and in particular Heathrow Airport). Crowded, expensive and London’s streets are not really suitable for motorcycles as it’s too easy to get lost in the labyrinth.
07 NORWAY
“Avoid the temptation to ride north to the Arctic Circle”
I’ve been there a couple of times and would be happy to go back any time, provided it’s summer. Well, not high summer because the roads are full of camper vans; kind of the extended shoulder seasons. Back roads can be frost-broken and the police keen to catch international criminal speeders, but the place is just entirely beautiful. Up above Trollstigen, which you should ride despite its notoriety, there is a valley that just grows strawberries.
Avoid the temptation to ride north to the Arctic Circle. I am told that the road is long and dull, the air is cold, the expenses are high and the acquisition of a photo in front of that silly sculpture is pointless. Stay around the fjords and the countryside between the west coast and Oslo.
SUMMARY
Getting there: Ferry. There are several from Denmark, but I’d choose the one from Kiel in Germany to Oslo. It’s like a floating liquor shop so you can stock up to avoid high booze prices once you land.
Finding a motorcycle: Bring one from Germany or wherever. Scandinavian bike prices are high, so rental costs are as well.
Language: Norwegian is a lot like Danish and Swedish. That doesn’t help you, does it? Almost everybody along the coast speaks English because they used to raid the place and needed to communicate.
The Bear’s secret tip: Norway used to be a poor country, so its roads were narrow and snaked their way across the mountains. Now it’s rich so it has tunnels and stuff – but the old roads are still there. Everyday traffic uses the new roads, leaving the old mountain roads to us motorcyclists.
08 AUSTRALIA
“Just get out there!”
You all know what a beautiful country Australia is, so just get out there and ride. You shouldn’t need advice, should you?
SUMMARY
Getting there: There’s a good chance you’re already here.
Finding a motorcycle: You probably already own one. Or two.
Language: Really?
The Bear’s secret tip: Stop it.
09 GREECE
“Close to a perfect motorcycle country”
With its Mediterranean climate and broken geology Greece represents something pretty close to a perfect motorcycle country. Add the relatively low prices and limited traffic (outside Athens and Saloniki) and you’re still closer. It is also one of those places with local and cheap little bike shops. Fill up when you can, though, because many of the small petrol stations have closed along with the small villages.
Personally I can live without either raki or retsina, but there is plenty of other choice for drinks, including some nice small-brewery beers. Being Australian you will probably be familiar with the food, but don’t expect it to taste exactly the same as at home. It will almost invariably taste considerably better.
SUMMARY
Getting there: You can ride to Greece from anywhere else in Europe these days, and all the routes are nice. You can also fly into Athens and rent easily and conveniently.
Finding a motorcycle: EagleRider is there, as are any number of other agencies mostly based in Athens. Greece is a very popular place to rent motorcycles, so you should be able to get a reasonable price.
Language: Not everyone speaks English but Greeks are fluent at hand gestures, facial contortions and vocal sound effects to serve as communication.
The Bear’s secret tip: Stay away from the mega-touristed islands. Central Greece or the Peloponnese offer empty roads and villages, wonderful views and cheap accommodation with little old ladies who have a room to rent and whose cooking, using the produce of their own gardens, is just sublime.
10 SOUTH AFRICA
“I’d prefer to see the place with an organised tour”
South Africa is a stunningly beautiful place, and I don’t just mean the Garden Route or Franshoek. The Little Karoo is a wonderful place to ride, for example. Many tourist activities are open to you, although I guess seeing some of the Big Five from a motorcycle would not be advisable. But all in all I think I’d prefer to see the place with an organised tour.
SUMMARY
Getting there: Fly into Johannesburg, then fly on to wherever you want to go.
Finding a motorcycle: Rentals are limited but generally well-priced in both Jo’burg and Cape Town.
Language: English is a common alternative to Afrikaans.
The Bear’s secret tip: Meet everyone with an open mind and a small-caliber handgun. No, not really, although many white South Africans will be packin’ heat, so ride on a guided tour.
