Motorcycle touring is a format of

tourism Tourism is travel for pleasure, and the Commerce, commercial activity of providing and supporting such travel. World Tourism Organization, UN Tourism defines tourism more generally, in terms which go "beyond the common perception of tourism as ...

that involves a

motorcycle A motorcycle (motorbike, bike; uni (if one-wheeled); trike (if three-wheeled); quad (if four-wheeled)) is a lightweight private 1-to-2 passenger personal motor vehicle Steering, steered by a Motorcycle handlebar, handlebar from a saddle-style ...

. It has been a subject of note since at least 1915. Motorcycle touring involves special equipment and techniques. A

touring motorcycle A touring motorcycle is a type of motorcycle designed for Motorcycle touring, touring. Although almost any motorcycle can be used for this purpose, manufacturers have developed specific models designed to address the particular needs of these rid ...

optimized for long range travel and luggage carrying capacity may be used. Special preparations involved include route planning for unfamiliar areas, packing tools that might be needed, finding food, making overnight stops, finding fuel in remote areas, and physical care of the rider's body. It may involve

camping Camping is a form of outdoor recreation or outdoor education involving overnight stays with a basic temporary shelter such as a tent. Camping can also include a recreational vehicle, sheltered cabins, a permanent tent, a shelter such as a Bivy bag ...

or attending motorcycle rallies along the way. Snow rider in Oarai

Some riders take touring to extremes with rides of thousands to over 100,000 miles or kilometers, and lasting years or decades (see Long-distance motorcycle riding and List of long-distance motorcycle riders). These long-distance riders may also join specialized societies such as the German Globetrotter Club and publish. Some notable works concerning such tours include ''The Gasoline Tramp or Around the World on a Motorcycle'' by Carl Stearns Clancy; ''India: The Shimmering Dream'' and other works by Max Reisch; '' The Motorcycle Diaries'' by

Che Guevara Ernesto "Che" Guevara (14th May 1928 – 9 October 1967) was an Argentines, Argentine Communist revolution, Marxist revolutionary, physician, author, Guerrilla warfare, guerrilla leader, diplomat, and Military theory, military theorist. A majo ...

; ''Fastest Man Around the World'' and other works by Nick Sanders; '' Jupiter's Travels'' by Ted Simon; ''Riding the Edge'' and ''Riding the Ice'' book and video by Dave Barr; ''Motorcycle Touring'' by Peter Thoeming and Peter Rae; the film ''Sjaak the World'' and the book ''Life on 2 wheels'' written by Sjaak Lucassen; the '' Long Way Round'' and '' Long Way Down'' book and television series by Ewan McGregor and

Charley Boorman Charley Boorman (born 23 August 1966) is a British television presenter, travel writer and actor. A motorbike enthusiast, Boorman has made four long-distance motorcycle rides with his friend Ewan McGregor, documented in '' Long Way Round'' (20 ...

; and '' Ghost Rider: Travels on the Healing Road'' by

Neil Peart Neil Ellwood Peart ( ; September 12, 1952 – January 7, 2020) was a Canadian and American musician, known as the drummer, percussionist, and primary lyricist of the rock band Rush (band), Rush. He was known to fans by the nickname "the Profe ...

. Motorcycle touring supports a large amount of commerce, not only the sale of motorcycles but also substantial amounts of equipment. Riding suits alone can cost thousands of dollars. By a 2014 estimate, over 40% of all street motorcycles sold in the United States were touring models. Some companies cater to tourists who need to rent a motorcycle. One mass-market magazine in the US, '' Roadrunner Motorcycle Touring & Travel'' is devoted to motorcycle touring as is ''Australian Motorcyclist Magazine'' in Australia. Brokers offers "motorcycle cruising", in which they arrange to bring owners with their bikes on board a

cruise ship Cruise ships are large passenger ships used mainly for vacationing. Unlike ocean liners, which are used for transport, cruise ships typically embark on round-trip voyages to various ports of call, where passengers may go on Tourism, tours k ...

from the United States to the Caribbean Islands, handling the requisite legal paperwork to ride in Bermuda and elsewhere. Starting in 2018,

Chicago Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...

-based Twisted Road and

Los Angeles Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...

–based Riders Share offer

peer-to-peer Peer-to-peer (P2P) computing or networking is a distributed application architecture that partitions tasks or workloads between peers. Peers are equally privileged, equipotent participants in the network, forming a peer-to-peer network of Node ...

rentals, allowing motorcycle self-tours nationally in the U.S.

Growth and popularity

Motorcycle touring has seen significant growth. This can be attributed to several factors, including: * The rise of adventure touring: There's a growing interest in exploring remote destinations and experiencing the thrill of challenging terrains on a motorcycle. * Increased accessibility: Advancements in motorcycle technology, touring gear, and the availability of well-maintained touring routes have made motorcycle touring more accessible to riders of all experience levels. * Growth of motorcycle touring companies: The industry has witnessed a boom in companies catering to motorcycle touring enthusiasts. These companies offer a variety of guided tours, ranging from luxurious road trips to off-road expeditions, accommodating different experience levels and tour styles. Motorcycle touring is a rapidly growing segment within the motorcycle industry. Several companies worldwide specialize in organizing motorcycle tours, offering a diverse range of experiences.

References

External links

{{Authority control Types of tourism

Growth and popularity

See also

References

Further reading

External links