Great Motorcycle Routes - Worldwide

Bikers are always looking for the next great ride. A big part of that search involves finding new routes. The old, tried-and-true classics are terrific, like visiting an old friend.

But finding that new road is like finding a new love - full of passion and the excitement of exploring the unknown where every turn holds another breathtaking vista.

There are dozens of websites devoted to nothing but finding and sharing those spectacular routes. Awesome scenery, uncrowded stretches, quality roads, convenient amenities - restaurants, rest stops and motels, small stores - and many other factors go into the scoring. Out comes a list, often with reviews, photos and maps of just where to take that next trip.

Here are a few from around the world:

Best Biking Roads, www.bestbikingroads.com, has over 600 European routes and 37 in the U.S. No matter where you live you'll find something here that's close by or within a day's ride.

Clayton, www.clayton.co.uk/mcycle, focuses on the UK & Ireland. Beyond the routes, there's great information on local laws and other useful tidbits. The scenery is lush and green, and you'll read lots of helpful items about towns and villages along the route.

Ultrablade offers maps and routes - and lots of other great info - on the best places to ride in France and Spain. You can find out about renting a bike if you're on a European vacation, then set off around the Pyrenees for that once in a lifetime ride.

Nurburgring, www.thenurburgringexperience.co.uk, is different from the other sites. It's a commercial enterprise that offers bikers the opportunity to push their bikes and themselves to the limit along almost 23km (16.6 mi) of road. The route is designed for racing and has over 70 bends for that ultimate rush. If you live near Germany or want the ultimate experience on a vacation, check it out.

For the millions of riders in the U.S. there are several sites that list routes by state. Chock full of detailed reviews, they provide enough options to keep even the youngest biker busy for a lifetime.

www.MotorcycleRoads.com offers tons of photos and data about the routes listed. Most of those listed are contributed by visitors, so you know they've been on the routes themselves. Scenery, side-trips, amenities, it's all here.

www.MotorcycleRoads.us isn't affiliated with MotorcycleRoads.com. There are only so many great domain names, after all. But they, too, have a U.S.-clickable map that will lead visitors to any state. Dozens of routes are available in some, one or two in others. But the information is plentiful. You'll find route lengths, comments and color coding according to road type.

Pashnit, www.pashnit.com/motoroads.htm, focuses on California. But that covers a lot of territory and encompasses a very large biker population. The site has some of the best photos and offers reviews that have been vetted by biking tour guides who really know their turf.

Wherever you live or your vacation, there's a great route not far away. Finding one that has great scenery, adequate amenities, decent road conditions, and isn't too heavily traveled by cars or other bikers can be a challenge. Check out a few of these sites, and you're sure to find one you didn't know about. Then fill up the tank and go!

Great USA Motorcycle Routes