How to Plan a Road Trip by Motorcycle: What Changes When You Swap the Car for a Bike

A road trip on a motorcycle needs the same plan as a car trip, with shorter days, less luggage and more room for weather. Plan each day in riding hours, not miles, with rest stops built in, and carry only what the bike is rated to carry. Then add the things a car hides from you: rain, heat, cold, fatigue and the rules that apply only to riders.

This page covers what changes when the road trip is on two wheels. To build the route itself, road by road and day by day, see how to plan a motorcycle road trip route.

Part of our motorcycle trip planning hub.

Key takeaways- Plan about six riding hours a day at most, with a stop at least every two hours.- Your load limit is printed on the bike's certification label, near the steering head.- A motorcycle is not shelter from lightning. A car with a hard top is.- Per mile, motorcycle deaths were almost 27 times car deaths in 2024. Gear and pace matter more than on a car trip.

Car vs motorcycle road trip: what changes

The rest of this page goes through each change and what to do about it.

Own bike or rented bike

Riding your own bike is simpler: you know its range, its controls and how it handles loaded. If you use a rental motorcycle, or fly in and pick one up, treat it as unfamiliar. Make the same safety checks you would on your own, find every control and work the throttle, clutch and brakes before you leave the lot.

You also need a license class that covers motorcycles. In California, for example, Class M1 covers any two-wheeled motorcycle.

California lets visitors ride on a valid motorcycle license from their home state or country. Check the rules in every state you plan to ride through.

Call your insurer before the trip and ask what your motorcycle cover includes, especially on a rented bike.

Solo, two-up or with a group

A car seats everyone in the same comfort. On a bike, each choice changes the plan.

• Two-up. A passenger makes the bike slower to respond and longer to stop. Ride a little slower and leave more space. Check the owner's manual for tire pressure with a passenger, and set the shocks for the extra weight.
• Group. Split groups larger than four or five riders, pick lead and drag riders, and brief the route and hand signals before you leave. In a staggered formation the leader rides in the left part of the lane and the next rider one second behind in the right part.
• Solo. Share your route and nightly stops with someone at home. Our checklist of what to check before you leave covers it.

What you can carry

In a car you pack what fits. On a motorcycle you pack what the bike is rated for.

The certification label near the steering head shows the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) in pounds. Subtract the bike's weight, the rider, any passenger and fuel, and what is left is your luggage allowance.

Where the load sits matters as much as its weight. Stacking it high or behind the rear axle affects steering and braking and can cause a wobble. With a heavy load, set tire pressure and suspension to the recommended settings.

What to bring is in our motorcycle trip packing list. How to load it is in how to pack a motorcycle for a trip.

Shorter days and more stops

In a car, drivers can swap and keep going. On a motorcycle, you are the only rider at the controls all day. The California DMV motorcycle handbook says experienced riders seldom ride more than about six hours a day, with a stop at least every two hours.

Plan to finish before dark. At night the handbook advises riding slower and leaving three seconds or more of following distance. Leave alcohol until the bike is parked for the night: as little as one drink can affect your riding.

Fuel stops come more often too. Look up your tank size and fuel use in the owner's manual and plan stops well inside that range.

Weather you ride through

In a car, rain is a wiper setting. On a motorcycle, long cold rides can cause chill, dehydration and fatigue, and numb hands make the bike harder to control. In heat, a jacket, long pants, boots and gloves help prevent dehydration and sun or wind burn.

Thunderstorms are the hard limit. There is no safe place outside in one, and an open vehicle such as a motorcycle doesn't count as shelter. Note a few buildings along each day's route where you could wait one out.

Pack a rain suit made for riding, since those resist tearing and ballooning at speed.

Navigation is different on a bike

Most car navigation apps assume four wheels. Google's two-wheeled routing list doesn't include the US, Canada or European countries.

Google's help page also advises riders of motorcycles under 125cc to turn on Avoid tolls and Avoid highways. Waze lets you set Motorcycle as your vehicle type for routing and arrival times.

You also can't glance at a phone the way a passenger can. Set the route before you ride, and save an offline copy. Our guide on how to choose a motorcycle trip planning app compares the options.

Road rules that only apply to riders

• Helmets. Seventeen states and DC require all riders to wear one, and three have no helmet law. Wear one everywhere and the patchwork stops mattering.
• HOV lanes. Federal law (23 U.S.C. 166) says motorcycles must be allowed in HOV lanes unless the authority certifies a safety hazard and the Secretary of Transportation accepts it.
• Lane splitting and other rider rules. Look these up for each state before you ride through it.

Is a motorcycle road trip riskier than a car trip?

Yes. The federal estimate for 2024 is that, per mile traveled, deaths on motorcycles were almost 27 times the number in cars.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) puts it down to bikes being less stable, harder to see and lacking an enclosed cabin. See the IIHS motorcycle fatality facts for the full data.

The planning answer is the same as above: shorter days, daylight riding, full gear and no alcohol. If this is your first trip, read how to plan a motorcycle road trip as a beginner.

Gear that replaces the car's roof

On a car trip your clothing is for the destination. On a bike it's your protection from wind, sun and rain. Leather Collection riding gear covers cowhide jackets, pants, chaps, vests, gloves and boots, made to order with custom sizes.

FAQ

What are some good motorcycle road trips in the USA? Start with our motorcycle touring destinations guide. For crossing the whole country, see how to plan a cross-country motorcycle trip.

Can you ride a motorcycle on the highway? Yes. Federal law also says motorcycles must be allowed in HOV lanes unless a safety exception is approved. Google does advise riders of motorcycles under 125cc to avoid highways in its route settings.

What is the highway death rate for motorcycles? Per mile traveled in 2024, motorcycle deaths were almost 27 times car deaths, according to the federal estimate quoted by IIHS.

What is the 12-second rule on a motorcycle? It's about how far ahead to look. We haven't found a primary source for 12 seconds. The California handbook says at least 10 to 15 seconds ahead.

What is the 70/30 brake rule for motorcycles? It refers to the front brake doing most of the stopping. Saskatchewan's rider handbook says the front brake gives about three-quarters of your stopping power, and to use both brakes together.