Every rider has a bucket list, whether it’s written down or not. There are always new experiences to chase, new challenges to take on and new memories waiting to be made. Some take years to plan, while others are much closer than you might think.
If you’re looking for inspiration for your next adventure, here are seven motorcycle experiences we think every rider should add to their bucket list.
You don’t have to ride across Europe to experience the magic of motorcycle travel. Packing your bike, leaving your daily routine behind and spending a few days on the road changes the way you ride. You stop worrying about getting home before dinner and start enjoying the journey itself.
Whether it’s a weekend exploring Wales, a few days through the Ardennes, or two weeks in the Alps, a multi-day trip has a way of creating memories that day rides simply can’t. If you’ve never done one before, start small. You might be surprised how quickly one weekend turns into planning your next adventure.
One of the best investments you can make isn’t in your motorcycle, it’s in yourself. Maybe you’ve always wanted to try riding off-road. Perhaps you’ve considered a track day, or an advanced road riding course to sharpen your cornering, braking and observation skills.
Whatever you choose, learning something new builds confidence and makes every ride more enjoyable. It also opens the door to new types of adventures you might never have considered before.
You don’t need to become a mechanic overnight, but learning how to perform basic maintenance, like adjusting your chain, changing your oil, checking your brakes or replacing a battery, gives you a much better understanding of your motorcycle.
It also makes you more self-sufficient. Knowing how to deal with small issues on the road can save both time and money, and there’s something incredibly satisfying about looking after the machine that takes you on your adventures.
Whether it’s MotoGP, WorldSBK or the Isle of Man TT, watching motorcycle racing in person is a completely different experience from watching it on television.
The speed, the sound and the atmosphere simply can’t be captured through a screen. Even if you’re only a casual fan of racing, spending a day trackside is something every rider should experience at least once. Who knows? You might even find yourself planning your next race weekend before you’ve even made it home.
Some roads have earned legendary status among riders. Whether it’s the endless stretches of Route 66 in the United States, the famous hairpins of Stelvio Pass in Italy, the breathtaking scenery of Norway’s Trollstigen, the sweeping bends of Austria’s Grossglockner High Alpine Road, or Romania’s spectacular Transfăgărășan Highway, these are the roads many riders dream about.
Are they the only incredible roads in the world? Not at all. In fact, some of your favourite rides will probably be the roads you discover by accident. But experiencing one of these legendary routes at least once is something every rider should have on their bucket list.
Almost every rider has that one motorcycle. Maybe it’s the adventure bike you’ve always wanted for those big trips. Maybe it’s the sports bike you had on your bedroom wall growing up. Or perhaps it’s a classic you’ve admired for years.
Will it be perfect? Probably not.
Will it make you smile every time you open the garage door? Almost certainly.
This might just be the most rewarding experience of them all. Take a friend as a pillion. Encourage someone to book their first riding lesson. Invite a new rider to join you for a relaxed Sunday ride.
Motorcycling has given all of us unforgettable experiences, incredible friendships and stories we’ll be telling for years. Sharing that passion with someone else is one of the best ways to give something back to the community. You never know where their journey might lead.
The beauty of motorcycling is that there’s always another road to ride, another skill to learn or another adventure waiting around the corner. Some of these experiences might happen this year. Others might take a little longer. The important thing is to keep adding to your list and, more importantly, keep ticking things off.
At JUSTRIDE, that’s exactly what inspires us. We’re building the app to help riders discover new routes, plan adventures together and make more unforgettable memories on two wheels. If you’d like to be among the first to try it, you can pre-register and we’ll let you know as soon as the app goes live.
