Useful Info

No.  Eastern Washington, eastern Oregon, and parts of eastern British Columbia are all desert with very little rain.  Our Banff and the Icefields Parkway and Yellowstone and Glacier Tours get you into the desert-like Eastern areas on the first or second day, so you will be away from the threat of rain very early and for the majority of time in your tour. For the California Coast and Yosemite tour, it can rain along the coast of Oregon, but once you get into California, the chance of rain is almost nonexistent.  Idaho and Montana are also dry.

All of your hotel stays are included in the cost of the tour from Day 1 to the last day of your tour.

Most of the hotels you will stay in are 4-star hotels with all the amenities you would get at hotels with similar ratings in Europe or in Canada and the US.  Occasionally, some of our destinations at the end of the day are in a small Old West town or remote area.  In this case, we choose the hotel that is the best in the area.

You need a valid motorcycle driver’s license issued from the country, state, or province in which you reside.  The United States and Canada require that you have a passport and are traveling well before the expiration date.  Your passport and drivers’ license is required to cross the border into and out of Canada.  If the border authorities request it, or if you are stopped by the police for any reason, you will need proof of insurance (see below for more information on insurance).

Yes, airport transfer is included in your tour.  We will also arrange for transportation between your hotel in the Seattle area and our nearby garage.

In May and June the mountains are stunning because they are still snow-capped.  Most of the high mountain passes have been cleared of snow by May.  There will be less tourists on the road and in the National Parks during this time as well.   There will be more tourists on the road in July, August and September.  On the positive side, there is very little chance of rain in the summer.

If you are coming from overseas, it is best to arrive a few days before your tour to get accustomed to the time difference.  We can book you extra days in your hotel.  Seattle and the surrounding area are great for sightseeing.

You could do that, but you will most likely miss some of the best roads and sights that someone who has lived and ridden here for years can give you.  Additionally, you will spend much of your free time researching and booking hotels, only to be potentially disappointed, or to find them full.  We visit and handpick each of our hotels.  And we book them well before the summer tourist season, so you are always assured a room when you arrive.   We also give you GPS data and route booklet descriptions of the best sights, restaurants and rest stop cafes along the route, so you don’t have to spend your vacation time searching for the information.   No tour company will give you more detailed information in your route booklet than we do.   In the end, researching and preparing all this on your own will be time-consuming and probably not save you much money.  We do all the preparation work for you.  You just ride.

The Orientation Dinner on the first day of your tour is included in the price of your tour.  The hotel will frequently include breakfast in your stay. Your GPS and route booklet contains restaurant information for breakfast, lunch and dinner for every day of the tour.  We  provide you with several choices for each meal, from casual to fine dining, as well as the best regional and ethnic choices, wineries and breweries, so you get a different taste experience each night.

Our days vary from 100 miles (160 km) to 280 miles (450 km) per day.  Most days average about 180 miles (290 km) per day.

We recommend that you have ridden for three years and can ride a minimum of 250 miles (400 kilometers) per day for several consecutive days.  You must be competent and comfortable operating a large displacement, modern motorcycle for up to 8 hours per day, several days in a row, in a variety of different riding conditions including congested city traffic and twisty mountain roads.  Touring in the Western United States may mean long stretches of road with few towns or services available, often in isolated areas.  You should be prepared to ride harder, longer and farther than you might at home.

By law, Washington, Oregon, California, British Columbia and Alberta require motorcycle helmets be worn when riding a motorcycle.  In order to rent a motorcycle from us, we require that you bring your own helmet, or buy one here.

Insurance in the United States can be confusing to understand.  Insurance in the US is divided into three parts: liability, comprehensive, and collision.  Liability Insurance pays if you hurt someone while riding the motorcycle.  Comprehensive Insurance pays if the motorcycle is damaged or stolen.  Collision Insurance pays if the motorcycle damages another vehicle.  Insurance companies in the US will only insure the rider.  So the insurance can only be applied for and paid for by you (not us).  To cover you for Liability, Comprehensive and Collision Insurance, our Insurance Company will charge you directly as follows: $1000 deposit for the motorcycle (called a deductible) and $15 per day for every day you ride the motorcycle.

If the motorcycle is returned undamaged, the Insurance Company will return your $1000 deposit.  If the motorcycle is returned with minor damage, you can choose to pay us directly for the repairs and the Insurance Company will return your $1000 deposit.  If the motorcycle is returned heavily damaged, you will lose your $1000 deposit and the Insurance Company will pay for the repairs.

You will not receive a refund of your $15 per day fee.  It pays for your insurance.

Additionally the insurance provider will cover the rider for $500 in medical payments in case you are injured.  Passengers are not covered for medical payments.  We recommend that you purchase travel heath insurance for you and your passenger in case you need medical attention in the US.

It is important to layer your clothing for different climates, as our tours may go through cool high mountain passes on one day and warm valley lowlands on the next. Rain in the mountains can occur unexpectedly, so you should bring a rain suit. Information on what to pack will be sent to you in your tour information packet.

We can store your luggage securely at our office while you are on tour.

Taxes are included in the cost of your tour.