Q: What do you do that I could not do myself?
A: Owning and riding a motorcycle gives one the freedom to explore our great nation, that is why we ride, but many riders just do not have the time it takes to pull such a trip together. We know how much time it takes to research routes, find lodging, find great places to eat, and how to organize multi-day groups rides. We do all the “leg work” for you and will lead you while on the tour. We take away the worry of getting lost, not having a place to stay, finding a place to eat, and the concern of breaking down on the road. I know many spouses feel more comfortable when they travel with a group in an organized ride. Riding with a group is always more fun than riding alone; it is also much safer.  We make it possible for you to show up on your motorcycle, with your personal gear, and enjoy a great and safe riding experience without all the hassle.

Q: What is a typical day?
A: We will usually meet for breakfast around 8:00 AM and discuss the day’s ride. We will briefly cover the route, riding conditions, and group riding hand signals. “Kick Stands Up” at 9:00 AM but we will make a brief stop in about an hour for those of us over 50 that have to take a “bio-break”. We will ride about 2 hours and break for lunch. After lunch we will ride about an hour and take our afternoon “bio-break”. We will ride about another 2 hours before stopping for the evening.

Q: How many miles will we cover in a day?
A: We like to keep our days around 250 miles. We have found after many tours we average about 30 MPH over the course of a day. Between “bio-breaks”, gas stops, and lunch we average about 30 MPH for the day. So a 250-mile day is about an 8-hour day. It also gets us off the road before dark so we can avoid the critters on the road at dusk.

Q: What will  the be accommodations be like?
A: We like to choose places to stay that are clean, comfortable, secure, quiet, and biker friendly. I have traveled on business for many years and I am very “picky” on where we will stay. I am sure you will be very satisfied with the accommodations we choose.

Q: What should I bring?
A: Look at the suggested packing list here on our web site. Make sure you watch the weather for the weekend to have an idea of what to wear. I like to bring clothing that can be worn in layers in case it becomes colder than expected. I always bring my rain gear, chaps and polypropylene long underwear just in case the weather turns cold unexpectedly.

Q: What types of places will we stop for lunch?
A: We like to stop at places that are “off the beaten path”, that have great food and are biker friendly. I can assure you that we will not be stopping at a McDonalds or an Applebee’s!

Q: Can I have a beer, wine cooler, or mixed drink when we stop for lunch?
A: Absolutely not! If you drink adult beverages during the day’s ride you will be asked to leave the ride and you will not be given a refund. You can drink if you like after the day’s ride is finished. Drinks are not included in the tour cost; you are on your own for your drinks. We do not have a problem with social drinking, but we believe there is no place for any drinking during the riding day. We know some people think riding a motorcycle and bar hopping are synonymous; we are not those people!

Q: I am a newer rider and have limited group-riding experience. How are we going to ride so I will be comfortable riding in a group?
A: We do many things to make everyone as comfortable with group riding as possible. First, in our pre-ride orientation we will cover how we will ride as a group and group riding hand signals. We will follow established group riding practices and we will not ride above the abilities of any riders in the group. It is our objective to have a safe, enjoyable ride so it is imperative that everyone in the group follows the groups riding procedures and use the group riding hand signals. A copy of group riding practices and hand signals can be found here.  Helpful passenger safety information can be found here.

Q: How do you create the routes and will we be doing any riding on the interstates?
A: The routes are created from hours of studying maps, travel brochures, travel articles, and map routing software. I like to look for the “road less traveled” but I also look for routes that are safe with good paved surfaces and free from construction. I use the web to get updates on road construction so we can avoid construction if possible. I try to avoid interstate roads but sometimes that is the only choice so will use them as sparingly as possible. All the routes are ridden before they are finalized and can be changed if construction or road conditions make it necessary. We will make route changes also if we think we can enhance the riding experience. We do have a route on one tour where there is a short ride (1.3 miles) on a gravel road to reach the landing for a river ferry crossing. It is the only road to the ferry crossing so we have no choice but we take our time and it really is not a problem. Maybe we will get lucky and it will be paved before our next ride!

Q: What if my motorcycle breaks down?
A: It is imperative that you show up for a tour with a properly serviced motorcycle. When you fill out the tour application there are several questions on the riding condition of your motorcycle and service of your motorcycle. We understand that everything mechanical can break, especially ones with hundreds of moving parts like a motorcycle. All motorcycles on our rides will be covered by an emergency roadside assistance policy. We have made arrangements with Motorcycle Towing Services LC, (MTS), so you do not have to be worried about breaking down while on a ride with us. MTS will handle all towing and roadside assistance if we need them. We still require that all riders have their bike serviced at required intervals per the manufacturers recommendations and that all riders perform a T-CLOCS inspection at least one day before the start of the ride. If you are not familiar with a T-CLOCS inspection we will provide that information to you here and prior to the ride. It is not safe or fair to the rest of the group if you show up for the ride with a motorcycle that is not in safe riding condition.

Q: What if it is raining?
A: We ride rain or shine. We will adjust our riding style and we may adjust the route but rain is just something we riders just have to deal with. We will not ride if there is a possibility of icy conditions. In the rare event we must cancel a ride because of the weather, we will do our best to reschedule your ride.

Q: Can my group ride on its own?
A: Yes: you and your group can ride on your own if you wish. We will provide everyone route sheets for the day so if you want to go off on your own you can. You will be responsible for your own meals if you do not eat with the group at the scheduled stops.

Q: Can I book a “custom tour” for just my friends or co-workers?
A: Yes, we can create a custom tour to meet your exact needs. We can create tours for “Women Only” or team building tours for your co-workers or employees. We can also create self-guided tours where we would provide route sheets and lodging. Please remember that while we do not rent motorcycles, we can help you to find a motorcycle rental agent for a weekend tour.

Q: Have you ever thought about offering tours longer than three days?
A: Yes! Currently we are looking at offering a 5-day trip around Lake Michigan, a 2-week tour that would include The Black Hills, Yellowstone National Park, and The Tetons that would end up in Salt Lake City. We would fly home from Salt Lake City and “Haulin Hogs” Motorcycle Transportation Company would ship the bikes home. We are also considering a tour to the Tail of the Dragon and the Blue Ridge Parkway. We will also offer a trip in 2009 to Arizona Bike Week in March/April. The Arizona tour would include R/T airfare, Lodging and R/T shipping of your motorcycle. We are open to any suggestions to offer the kind of motorcycle touring our customers are looking for.