Deciding to go on a motorcycle tour is easy. But just before booking, many riders find themselves asking the same question: Are my riding skills good enough for this trip? It is a question we hear regularly. The good news is that you do not need to be an enduro expert or rally rider to join one of our motorcycle tours. At Motor2Travel, we organise guided motorcycle tours in Africa, Asia and South America, with the focus on travelling and exploring. Our aim is not to ride the most difficult off road routes possible. We want to show you a country as it really is, through its landscapes, culture and people.
Gravel roads and unpaved tracks are sometimes part of the journey, but only when they help us reach some of the most beautiful regions, not because we are looking for the toughest obstacles. Motorcycle riding is also a matter of confidence. Quite often, you are capable of more than you think.
As a motorcycle tour operator, we determine the difficulty level of our motorcycle tours ourselves. This rating is not decided from behind a desk. We know our routes from first hand experience and understand what riders can actually expect along the way. At the same time, we stay in close contact with our local partners and guides, who know the current conditions on the ground. We also take the experiences and feedback of our participants into account.
When determining the difficulty level, we always look at the tour as a whole. This includes factors such as the type and condition of the roads, the amount of off road riding, the type of terrain, altitude, climate, the length of the daily riding stages, traffic and the motorcycles used on each tour.
However, a difficulty rating is never set in stone. Especially on our motorcycle tours in Africa, Asia and Latin America, conditions can change at short notice. A period of heavy rain can quickly turn an easily rideable dirt road into a challenging section. Roadworks, landslides, road closures or unexpected diversions may also mean that we have to take a different route from the one originally planned. That is why we do not rely solely on distances and off road percentages. We combine our own experience as a motorcycle tour operator with the latest assessments from our local partners and guides. This allows us to rate the difficulty of a motorcycle tour as realistically as possible.
For us, a difficulty rating is therefore not simply about how much off road riding a tour includes. The more important question is: what does this motorcycle tour actually demand from a rider under real world conditions?
After more than 20 years of organising motorcycle tours, we could probably write a whole book on this subject. Because age, years of riding experience and riding ability do not always go hand in hand quite as much as you might think.
Take, for example, the very experienced motorcyclist who looked at his rental bike and wondered whether such a small motorcycle could really be the right choice for him. A few days later, it wasn’t the motorcycle that had reached its limits, but unfortunately the rider who ended up on the ground. Even years of riding experience cannot always prevent a fall.
And then there is the other side of the story: riders with hardly any off road experience who decide to take on a Level 5 motorcycle tour. On the first day, they approach the first unpaved section with plenty of respect. A few days later, they are right in the middle of it with a big grin on their face. And at the end? Rider and motorcycle both in one piece, plenty of fun along the way and a little more confidence to take home with them.
Of course, we have also seen the opposite. Someone overestimates their riding ability and ends up covering more kilometres in the support vehicle than on the motorcycle. Nothing dramatic, but still a shame, because that is not what you booked a motorcycle tour for. But don’t worry: the vast majority of our riders are surprisingly good at judging their own riding ability. And that is exactly what it comes down to: choosing a motorcycle tour that suits you, being willing to challenge yourself a little along the way and, above all, enjoying the riding and the journey.
To help you decide before booking which motorcycle tour best matches your riding skills, we assign every tour on our website a difficulty rating from Level 1 to Level 5. The difficulty of a motorcycle tour cannot be determined by the amount of off road riding alone. Under certain conditions, a tour with 20 percent gravel can be more demanding than a route with a much higher percentage of off road riding. Several factors play a role, including climate, altitude, road conditions and local traffic.
At Motor2Travel, however, you will not find Level 1 or Level 2 tours. Our motorcycle tours take you through Africa, Asia and Latin America and therefore always require a little more from the rider than a standard motorcycle tour on familiar European roads. Even when a route is mainly on paved roads, unfamiliar traffic rules, riding on the left, busy or unpredictable traffic, different road conditions, major changes in altitude, climate or longer riding days can make a journey more demanding.
That is why our easiest motorcycle tours start at Level 3. This does not mean that these tours are difficult. It simply means that you should be confident handling your motorcycle and be prepared to ride in conditions that may be different from those you are used to at home. At Levels 4 and 5, additional factors come into play. These may include a higher proportion of off road riding, gravel, sand, unpaved roads, water crossings, high altitudes or other conditions that require more riding experience and motorcycle control.
The route is mainly on paved roads. Occasionally, we ride on easy gravel roads or unpaved tracks. The off road sections generally make up no more than around 0 to 20% of the route. You do not need extensive off road experience for a Level 3 motorcycle tour. However, you should be confident handling your motorcycle and comfortable riding on loose surfaces from time to time.
At Level 4, there is more off road riding. You may encounter gravel, sand, rocky sections and, on some motorcycle tours, water crossings. On certain routes, altitude can also be an additional factor. Good motorcycle handling skills are important, and previous off road experience is recommended. If you have only ridden on paved roads so far, we recommend taking an off road training course on a lightweight enduro motorcycle before your trip. Even a single weekend of training can make a significant difference.
On our Level 5 motorcycle tours, riding on unpaved roads plays a larger role. Depending on the destination, you can expect dirt roads, gravel, sand, occasional water crossings, higher altitudes or changing weather conditions. These tours are manageable for confident motorcyclists with experience riding on unpaved roads. If you have previously ridden almost exclusively on paved roads, we recommend taking an off road training course on a lightweight enduro motorcycle before your trip.
Most importantly, you should feel confident and comfortable riding on unpaved terrain.
Not every motorcycle tour has to be technically demanding. Perhaps you are planning your first long distance motorcycle trip, or you simply prefer a more relaxed riding experience. Several of our tours combine a real motorcycle adventure with mostly well maintained roads, while still giving you the freedom to discover a country away from the usual tourist routes.
Our motorcycle tours through Vietnam take place mainly on paved roads. There may occasionally be unpaved roads or gravel sections, but these do not define the character of the trip. If you enjoy winding roads, Vietnam has plenty to offer. These tours are therefore also a good choice if you are planning your first guided motorcycle tour outside Europe.
Our motorcycle tours through Indonesia also follow mostly well maintained roads, taking you through a wide variety of landscapes and regions. Off road riding experience is therefore not required.
Our motorcycle tour through Peru also takes place mainly on well maintained, paved roads. Winding mountain roads and major changes in altitude shape the riding experience here. Peru is therefore also suitable for riders who want to discover South America by motorcycle without needing off road riding experience.
If you enjoy gravel and unpaved roads, there are plenty of options to choose from. On our motorcycle tours through Colombia, Nicaragua, Rwanda and Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania, off-road riding plays a much bigger part in the journey.
On our motorcycle tour through Colombia, around 50 percent of the route is off-road. The roads alternate between tarmac, gravel and unpaved roads. It is precisely this mix that allows us to reach regions that would otherwise be missed when sticking to the usual main routes.
In Nicaragua, around 50 percent of the route is also off-road. You should be prepared for unpaved roads and changing surfaces. Off-road experience is an advantage, but getting to know the country and its people remains the main focus of the journey.
On our motorcycle tour through Rwanda and Uganda, around 50 percent of the route is also off-road. Alongside tarmac roads, we ride on gravel and unpaved roads through rural areas.
Kenya also offers a mix of tarmac and unpaved roads, with around 50 percent of the route being off-road.
With around 85 percent of the route off-road, Tanzania is one of our motorcycle tours with the highest proportion of unpaved roads. Being comfortable riding on gravel and unpaved roads is important for this tour.
A common mistake is to judge the difficulty of a motorcycle tour solely by the amount of off-road riding involved. Two of our tours show clearly why this doesn’t always work.
In Spiti Valley, we ride mainly on paved roads, with around 20 percent of the route on unpaved roads. What makes this motorcycle tour more challenging are factors such as water crossings and the altitude. Some of the mountain passes are over 5,300 metres high. So you need more than good motorcycle handling skills. You should also be able to cope with the particular conditions that come with a motorcycle tour in the Himalayas.
Our motorcycle tour through Patagonia also takes place mainly on paved roads, with around 20 percent of the route on gravel. Another challenge here can sometimes be the wind. Anyone who has ridden a motorcycle in strong crosswinds knows that even a paved road can become quite demanding.
On our Sri Lanka motorcycle tour with Dylan Wickrama, road and trail conditions can change from year to year. The actual amount of off-road riding therefore depends partly on the conditions at the time. One important point: if you prefer not to ride a particular off-road section, this tour offers the option of taking an alternative paved route.
Another advantage of our motorcycle tours is the choice of rental bikes. On many of our tours, we use lightweight enduro motorcycles between 190 and 450cc. These bikes are much easier to control on gravel and dirt roads than heavy adventure bikes. Your luggage is transported in the support vehicle, so you ride without heavy panniers or bags. This keeps the motorcycle light, easy to handle and more comfortable to ride, both on paved roads and gravel.
No matter which motorcycle tour you choose, you are never on your own. Our tours are accompanied by experienced tour guides, and a support vehicle with a mechanic. If a section of the route feels too difficult for you, or if you are not feeling well on a particular day, we will work together to find a suitable solution. The team will support you through more difficult sections. On some tours, the mechanic can take over your motorcycle for part of the route, or you can travel a section in the support vehicle and get back on your motorcycle later. There is no need to put yourself under pressure or ride a section if you do not feel confident doing so.
If you are planning a motorcycle tour with a higher proportion of off road riding, we recommend doing some off road training on a lightweight enduro bike beforehand. Even a single weekend can help you feel much more confident and give you a better feel for handling a motorcycle on loose surfaces. And besides, off road training is great fun and can improve your riding skills for future motorcycle tours.
Most importantly, though, our motorcycle tours are not competitions. It is not about being the fastest rider in the group. It is about discovering new countries together, meeting local people and arriving at the hotel at the end of the day with a smile on your face.
Just get in touch with us. We know every one of our routes from first hand experience and will give you honest advice. If we think a particular motorcycle tour doesn’t yet match your riding skills, we’ll tell you. And we’ll be happy to recommend a tour that suits your current level of riding experience.
That way, you can set off on your next motorcycle adventure knowing you’ve chosen the right tour for you.
Over de auteur
Motor2Travel develops and organizes adventurous motorcycle tours worldwide. Since 2006, they guide tours across the globe, using their experience to connect travellers with countries, cultures and local communities beyond the beaten track.
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