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5 Daring Motorbiking Routes & Finding the Right Gear

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Motorbiking across the world and swearing by a checklist of daring biking routes in different parts of the world is a true biker’s passion. Biking while on a trip is not at all a new tradition, but surely it is a growing one. While passionate bikers will always be passionate about biking, there are many new adventure travelers who have now started to bike their way to their next destination always looking for new routes as they progress from one trip to another.

But serious motorbiking requires serious biking gear. While this post introduces you to our top five picks of biking routes around the world – to start with here are our quick notes of some basic biking gear you should procure before you head out on this list.

  1. First and foremost you need to dress up right for motorbiking. Research shows that while on a motorcycle, a rider hits 50 mph or more, on the highway, he/she may exceeds 85 mph. Your skin, bones and organs were not designed to withstand impacts at those speeds and hence you need the right gear to protect you while you ride. Then there are problems associated with abrasion and weather conditions as well. What do you need?A helmet, leather gloves, a motorcycle jacket, boots and pants. Please note not any type of gear can be used for biking and hence you should only buy well researched and trusted motorcycle apparel. 
  2. No matter which brand of motorbike you use, you will need a variety of OEM Motorcycle parts from a trusted seller to maintain your motorbike.
  3. Other musts? – A rain suit or rainy weather. A tail-bag or a tank-bag for storing your stuff while you hit the road. Want to cut-off all that sound from the wind? – try using earplugs. Planning for frequent breaks and stops – having motorcycle locks for your tires is highly recommended!

And now you should be ready to go! Here is where we suggest you should start from…

The roof of the world, TIBET

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For all those bikers who love thrilling routes combined with breathtaking beauty – Tibet, also known as “The roof of the world” – is a complete motorbiking adventure. Spread across 3,500 kms from Lhasa to Kashgar – many tours on this route include mesmerizing views of the Himalayas including a sight of mighty Mount Everest. Even better, some bikers start their journey from Kathmandu, Nepal all the way to Lhasa and further – to include some cultural intake of Nepal and a fun ride through the village markets that come along the way – before it all becomes wild and daring.

 Route 66. The Mother Road, USA

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A biking route that takes you back into history is U.S. Route 66 – established in 1926 and recognized as one of the original highways in the U.S. Highway System. Spanning over a distance of 3,940 km, its roads connects Chicago, Illinois, through Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona before ending at Santa Monica, California. While lots of famous personalities have claimed to have passed this route over decades, Route 66 is also a darling of popular culture being the main inspiration behind the song “Get Your Kicks on Route 66”, and Route 66 television show in the 1960s.

As the legend goes – the route which once supported the economies of the communities through which it passed, later underwent many improvements and realignments with the growth of the new Interstate Highway System and officially removed from the United States Highway System in 1985. Today Route 66 is designated as a National Scenic Byway of the name “Historic Route 66” – making it even more special for bikers to get hold of its original map and crossing it turn by turn to complete their journey.

Ruta 40. The end of the world, ARGENTINA

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What if your biking trip is a never-ending vacation and a truly – exploring while on the road – kind of experience? If this fits your style, then Ruta 40 (also knowns as RN40) is your route of choice. Ruta 40 is the longest road in Argentina and one of the longest national highways in the world.

Running north to south spanning over 5,140 kms – the route starts from Cabo VĂ­rgenes (Santa Cruz) up to La Quiaca in the Puna highlands, next to Bolivia. Along the way the route runs parallel to the Andes, connecting the desolate South Atlantic Ocean at Cape Virgins: the southernmost tip of continental Argentina, in Patagonia. 

It bridges 236 rivers and gives access to 18 National Parks. Apart from giving an unbelievable view of the mighty Andes it also gives access to 13 great lakes and salt flats.

Istanbul to Anatolia, TURKEY

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If you didn’t know it already – then you must know that Turkey is a bikers paradise and motorbiking has become an increasingly common way of exploring the country. One of the most famous and scenic routes for motorbiking stretches up to 2,980 kms from Istanbul to Antolia (the asian part of Turkey). Although, there is much to read about and be aware of about bike rentals and safety on this route as in most cases the bike rental cost can be higher than other modes of transport within the country.

But don’t give up on this route just yet, as the circuit is more than exotic and offers a chance of passing through culture, history, the beauty of black sea and the Taurus Mountains turn-by-turn.

The Tremola Road over Gotthard Pass, SWITZERLAND

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Feeling out of the box and daring? Why not try a less travelled biking route? The Tremola road in Switzerland is a serpentine road on slopes of the Val Tremola created with the construction of the Gotthard Pass road. It snakes up as a light colored ribbon from Airolo to the Gotthard Pass. The road climbs 300 metres altitude around 24 bends over a distance of four kms. A train route and tunnel has long since replaced this ancient 18 mile cobblestone road that once allowed carts and stagecoaches to traverse cross over the Swiss Alps. However, the old drystone walls still exist in places. Not exactly a biking -friendly route due to its snaky architecture – but definitely an adventure! 


 

CategoriesTRAVEL PLANNING
STREETTROTTER

StreetTrotter is a Travel, Culture & Lifestyle blog, inspiring people everyday with real stories to look good and travel even better. Founded in 2012 by Shraddha Gupta, Founder & COO, this space is all about experiencing new things in life, be it a daring mountain trek, a frugal backpacking trip, a runway look made local, or simply anything that scares you enough to live a little more deeper.

    1. STREETTROTTER says:

      Well, I highly doubt that will ever happen. I don’t mind being the pillion passenger though! 😀

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