Worldwide Bucket List Destinations

[vgazer]

The wife and I recently traveled from Paris to Switzerland and back on a motorcycle and had an absolute blast (sadly not on my ST, but on a rented R 1250 RT). Now we have this itch to travel to more places in the world by motorcycle but are obviously overwhelmed with all of the choices.

Has anyone crossed off anything from their motorcycle bucket list or would like to share a pipe dream? I've got Japan, SE Asia, Scandinavia, and a few others on my list.

I'm in the States and will likely do more travel here when I get older. I would like to see the world before it ends here soon.

 

[regder]

I love Europe, but I have found the more you visit, the more it feels like an amusement park designed for tourists. Very hard for an outsider to scrape past the tourism focused surface and see the natural beauty of the countries. Of course, if you get away from the big cities and tourist sights, things change for the better.

SE Asia is awesome. It has the same tourist focus in the major centre's, but I found it's much easier to get away from. I have been to Thailand, rented a Bonneville to ride from Chiang Mai to Pai. Rode all over Bali on a Yamaha T-Max. Bought a Honda XR150 in Vietnam planning to ride south to north with possibly a return south through Laos and Cambodia, but crashed shortly after and broke my leg, returned the mostly undamaged bike back to the shop.

Have to say Bali is absolutely amazing. Super touristy everywhere, but most things are dirty cheap ($5/day scooter rental cheap), and everything is just gorgeous.

Definitely want to go back to Vietnam and finish my trip, Eastern Europe is supposed to be gorgeous without a lot of the price gouging of Western Europe. Central and South America are full of beautiful countries I really want to visit, but after seeing the drivers in Colombia, not sure I want to do it on a bike.

 

[EricV]

Machu Picchu was a nice adventure. We flew in to Lima, then caught a hop to Cusco. Rented Honda 400 Falcon dual sport bikes and hired a guide from the same shop.

A memorable ride to through small towns, cobblestone streets, dirt roads and awesome paved sections between towns. The route took us over epic high passes, water crossings that moved cars and road construction. We got the full monty of conditions. It had rained the nine days before we got there, so a couple of the water crossings were quite challenging.

The last section into Santa Maria, the town where you either start hiking or take the train, was all dirt and because of construction delays we were chasing the sun and on the most challenging section.

We knew we missed the train that day so it was a race with the others on the road to get to town and get rooms. We lost to a tour bus, so got rooms at the second best hotel in town.. No hot water, but we had running water and en suite bathrooms. After the guide found secure storage for the bikes, we all found some dinner.

The train is an experience itself! Bends so tight they go onto sidings, switch the track, then reverse up the next section, then repeat a few times before going the rest of the way to Agua Caliente, (Machu Picchu City).

The experience will be remembered forever. Machu Picchu was very interesting and cool too.

We explored a lot of Cusco afterwards and there is a lot to do and see. Riding in Peru was great and not stressful.

 

[ballisticexchris]

My worldwide “bucket list” is going to be right here in the USA. I did all my worldwide travels in my 20’s. I have no desire to travel outside this country other than maybe Canada. Most of us have no clue as to how awesome and beautiful it is right here.

 

[Boris]

The USA and Canada is moving up the list and I,m feeling more and more drawn to a road trip there. Never been to either.

NZ was on the bucket list, went on a 1200 mile South Island road trip last year, really enjoyed it, but it wasn’t the magical/must do destination I’d anticipated. I left feeling a little bit disappointed.

Australia, done a fair bit of the East Coast, Cairns, Brisbane, Gold Coast and the surrounding areas, including inland along the same areas. Australia really got me, a stunning place. I can’t speak highly enough of it! Lots lots more to see and I will return. If only they’d built it nearer to the UK!

Europe - done lots and lots of it, visited all of the Western Europe countries, by bike (except Portugal) and its stunning/spectacular/beautiful in so many areas and in so many ways. Done a fair bit of Eastern Europe, but lots more to explore.

Next on the list - Norway and the Baltic countries! Then Romania and Bulgaria.

Any of you from across the pond, if you’re planning on visiting Europe, there’s lots of us over here that are well travelled in Europe, just ask, advice/tips are free.

 

[TSRBrad]

Three words... Isle of Man.

 

[cyclemike4]

I am enjoying seeing the US very much. I never had the opportunity to travel when i was younger and seeing my own country is amazing. there are so many places i would love to ride to around the world but reality is if i can explore the US and Canada i will be doing good! Still want to go to Alaska and have that on the radar.

 

[Checkswrecks]

I was born a wanderer and have been very fortunate. Probably my most memorable was our 2-up trip to Norway which began in Goteborg, Sweden. It was my one experience with a tour company (Edelweiss) and I can see why people pay the premium but everything else I set up on my own.

Ridden most of Europe and still enjoy the Pyenee for just being more laid back than the Swiss Alps, although Alpine grandeur is pretty spectacular. French Alps, Italian, and Austrian also are a bit more laid back than the Swiss, although when one on one the Swiss are super. Hotbikes in Toulouse rents off their used bike line. Spain and Portugal are great and the people are wonderful although the thievery stories are certainly legit. Taking time to ride down the coast of Italy and back on the spine was great in a different way.

I've enjoyed the heck out of Ireland and England want to spend more time just wandering in both.

A lot of places it's more fun to rent a scooter than a motorcycle, especially in Asia and in cities. During the 787 investigation I went to Taiwan a lot and rode rented scooters and motorbikes a lot around the north half of the country. During the Asiana 747 recovery we rode borrowed scooters around Pengu which was also a blast. Not quite bucket-list-worthy in the spectacular way of mountains but the Taiwanese are really welcoming, there are many beautiful spots, and it's worth doing it if you are there. btw - Don't stop or take photos around nuclear power plants or anything military when outside the US. DAMHIK

Japan scenery is bucket-list when away from metro Tokyo, especially up north with good weather. Fortunately, a GPS can now take you places that used to require a paid guide.

Bucket-lists MUST include scootering around beach places like Thailand, the Caribbean, and in Asian cities. Get away from the coast and motorcycles are better but we sure do enjoy scooters on the beach.

On my own yet to do list in no order:
New Zealand
Australia
Used AirBnB and rented cars in South Africa and would like to go back on bike.
Croatia and Eastern Europe
Morocco
China. Sounds strange, but they are booming and after exploring Dalian and Beijing I'd really like to get a guide to see more.

Having just retired, I am looking forward to more wandering around the US and Canada because we really do have more than our share of bucket list places. Already ridden all 50 States and most Provinces but now have the luxury of being able to do things without the need to rush home. Thinking about Tuk and the Arctic next summer. Been to Alaska many times but never got a photo next to this sign.

 

[EricV]

My worldwide “bucket list” is going to be right here in the USA. I did all my worldwide travels in my 20’s. I have no desire to travel outside this country other than maybe Canada. Most of us have no clue as to how awesome and beautiful it is right here.

I agree that there is much to see in the US. I tell my wife that every time she wants to spend $$$$$ to go somewhere outside the US. But the question was what destinations would you share with others to go see? Think about your past travels and share what stood out as particularly spectacular or places in the US that you have a desire to go see. Sharing those is what this thread is all about.

In the US, I still want to spend more time in the NE. Traveling up the coast, say from Rhode Island to Madawaska. I've ridden in 49 states already and explored much of the Western US, but am still looking forward to more time exploring the Eastern US. Heading to HI in Nov to spend a week on Maui. Will be doing some riding there, just to check off the box for that last state.

 

[EricV]

We went to Egypt and while it was educational and the people were friendly, it was a little depressing as the ancient history of the area has dominated the modern world and almost held them back from doing anything on their own to hold up as an achievement. We were part of a scooter around Egypt event, The scenery was a lot of this:

Sure, you got to see many famous landscape features..


And the coast of the Red Sea

But nothing grows in their deserts. No bugs, no plants, nada. The highlight of that trip was crossing the Nile river valley at dawn in a hot air balloon.



The line of desert and irrigated land is vividly sharp. Beyond the flood irrigation from the Nile, nothing grows.

 

[ballisticexchris]

Ok so maybe Egypt would be cool!!

 

[EricV]

Ok so maybe Egypt would be cool!!

Cross Egypt Challenge is what we did. Most, including us, were on Sym 150cc scooters. Personally, that was way more fun than on the larger motorcycles, and significantly cheaper too. Got in a couple of days early to poke around on our own, then did the event. Hit Paris for 4 days on the way back, which was very fun too. I'd go back to Paris again. Too much to see in a short trip. The same CEC group does other events in other regions. Cross India Challenge High passes and Honda scooters or Royal Enfields.

The event cost is not bad, but the airfare about doubles it all depending on how you do it and how far ahead you book.
Paris from the top of the Eiffel Tower.