A motorcycle can match a car in speed, but provides a sense of freedom to get around both in cities and the countryside. Motorcycling allows you to be immersed in your surroundings as you travel so that, much like cycling, you are, "in the scene, not just watching it anymore, and the sense of presence is overwhelming" as Robert Pirsig wrote in Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. On a motorcycle you can cover vast distances in a day, at speeds as fast as the freeways allow. Adventure touring motorcycles combine swift road speed, and cargo and passenger capability with some limited off-road ability, greatly expanding the potential scope and range of a trip, recreating the epic rides made famous in Ewan McGregor's The Long Way Round or Neal Peart's Ghost Rider.
You can explore a region on a rental motorcycle, or explore a city on a rental scooter, avoiding the need to ride or ship your own bike to your destination. But motorcycle touring requires detailed planning, careful packing, and a degree of personal resourcefulness beyond driving. The inherent risk of travel on two wheels must be given serious thought. Only experienced riders should attempt a trip far from home or lasting more than a day. Novice riders should develop their skills and get miles under their belt exploring their local area before attempting touring.
Types of motorcycle riding
- Urban motorcycling, usually with a motor scooter or other light vehicle. Renting a scooter can be useful when you are in another city or at a resort without your own vehicle.
- Motorcycle touring on long road trips
- Offroad motorcycling
- Motorcycle sport
- Motorcycle taxi
The touring motorcycle
Adventure touring motorcycles
Rental
Motorcycles
Scooters
Laws by country
| | | | Jurisdiction | | Lane splitting allowed? | Helmet required? | | Afghanistan | | | No | | Albania | | | Yes | | Andorra | | | Yes | | Angola | | | Yes | | Argentina | | | Yes | | Armenia | | | Yes | | Australia | | Legal in all states up to 30km/h | Yes | | Austria | | | Yes | | Azerbaijan | | | Yes | | Bahamas | | | Yes | | Bahrain | | | Yes | | Bangladesh | | | Yes | | Barbados | | | Yes | | Burundi | | | No | | Belarus | | | Yes | | Belgium | | Yes | Yes | | Belize | | | Yes | | Benin | | | Yes | | Bhutan | | | Yes | | Bolivia (Plurinational State of) | | | Yes (except child passengers) | | Bosnia and Herzegovina | | | Yes | | Botswana | | | Yes | | Brazil | | | Yes | | Brunei Darussalam | | Yes | Yes | | Bulgaria | | | Yes | | Burkina Faso | | | Yes | | Cambodia | | | Yes (except passengers) | | Cameroon | | | Yes | | valign="top" | Canada | Alberta | | Yes (except practicing Sikhs wearing turbans) | | valign="top" | Canada | | British Columbia | | Yes (except practicing Sikhs wearing turbans) | | valign="top" | Canada | | Manitoba | | Yes (except practicing Sikhs wearing turbans) | | valign="top" | Canada | | New Brunswick | | Yes | | valign="top" | Canada | | Newfoundland and Labrador | | Yes | | valign="top" | Canada | | Northwest Territories | | Yes | | valign="top" | Canada | | Nova Scotia | | Yes | | valign="top" | Canada | | Nunavut | | Yes | | valign="top" | Canada | | Ontario | Not authorized or legally referenced for motorcycles (The Highway Traffic Act may make motorcycle lane splitting potentially illegal per Section 130 if driving carelessly and Section 154 if not driving in marked lanes. ) | Required. Highway Traffic Act, Section 104 | | valign="top" | Canada | | Quebec | No for motorcycles, mopeds, or bicycles between two lines of vehicles moving on contiguous lanes (Highway Safety Code, Section 478) | Yes | | valign="top" | Canada | | Prince Edward Island | | Yes | | valign="top" | Canada | | Saskatchewan | | Yes | | valign="top" | Canada | | Yukon | | Yes | | Cape Verde | | | Yes | | Central African Republic | | | Yes | | Chad | | | Yes | | Chile | | | Yes | | China | | | Yes | | Colombia | | | Yes | | Comoros | | | Yes | | Congo | | | Yes | | Cook Islands | | | Yes (except child passengers) | | Costa Rica | | | Yes | | Côte d'Ivoire | | | Yes | | Croatia | | | Yes | | Cuba | | | Yes | | Cyprus | | | Yes | | Czech Republic | | | Yes | | Democratic People's Republic of Korea | | | Yes | | Democratic Republic of the Congo | | | Yes | | Denmark | | | Yes | | Dominica | | | No | | Dominican Republic | | | Yes (except passengers) | | Ecuador | | | Yes | | Egypt | | | Yes (except passengers) | | El Salvador | | | Yes | | Equatorial Guinea | | | Yes | | Estonia | | | Yes | | Eswatini | | | Yes | | Ethiopia | | | Yes | | Fiji | | | No (except child passengers) | | Finland | | | Yes | | France | | Yes | Yes | | Gabon | | | Yes | | Gambia | | | No | | Georgia | | | Yes | | Germany | | Yes, but only when other traffic is stationary | Yes | | Ghana | | | Yes | | Greece | | | Yes | | Guatemala | | | Yes | | Guinea | | | Yes | | Guinea-Bissau | | | Yes | | Guyana | | | Yes | | Honduras | | | Yes | | Hungary | | | Yes | | Iceland | | | Yes | | India | | | Yes | | Indonesia | | | Yes | | Iran (Islamic Republic of) | | | Yes | | Iraq | | | Yes (except passengers) | | Ireland | | Yes, at low speed | Yes | | Israel | | | Yes | | Italy | | Yes, but only on the left and only where there is no solid white lane line/centre line. However, all rules are widely ignored | Yes, although widely ignored in Sicily | | Jamaica | | | Yes | | Japan | | Advanced stop line (Japanese: 二段停止線) attract motorcycles, mopeds, and bicycles to lane split (Guidance marking (Japanese: 指示標示) number 203-2 (Japanese: ２０３の２) (dead link: January 2023)) | | Yes | | Jordan | | | Yes | | Kazakhstan | | | Yes | | Kenya | | | Yes | | Kuwait | | | Yes (except child passengers) | | Kyrgyzstan | | | Yes | | Lao People's Democratic Republic | | | Yes | | Latvia | | | Yes | | Lebanon | | | Yes | | Lesotho | | | Yes | | Liberia | | | No | | Lithuania | | | Yes | | Luxembourg | | | Yes | | Madagascar | | | Yes | | Malawi | | | Yes | | Malaysia | | Yes | Yes | | Maldives | | | Yes (except child passengers) | | Mali | | | Yes | | Malta | | | Yes | | Marshall Islands | | | Yes | | Mauritania | | | Yes | | Mauritius | | | Yes | | Mexico | | | Yes | | Mongolia | | | Yes | | Montenegro | | | Yes | | Morocco | | | Yes | | Mozambique | | | Yes | | Myanmar | | | Yes | | Namibia | | | Yes | | Nepal | | | Yes | | Netherlands | | | Yes | | New Zealand | | Yes, but not advised for learner riders | Yes | | Nicaragua | | | Yes | | Niger | | | Yes | | Nigeria | | | Yes | | Niue | | | Yes | | North Macedonia | | | Yes | | Norway | | | Yes | | Oman | | | Yes | | Pakistan | | | Yes | | Palau | | | Yes | | Panama | | | Yes | | Papua New Guinea | | | Yes | | Paraguay | | | Yes | | Peru | | | Yes | | Philippines | | | Yes | | Poland | | | Yes | | Portugal | | Yes | No | | Qatar | | | Yes | | Republic of Korea | | | Yes | | Republic of Moldova | | | Yes | | Romania | | | Yes | | Russian Federation | | | Yes | | Rwanda | | | Yes | | Saint Kitts and Nevis | | | Yes | | Saint Lucia | | | Yes | | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | | | Yes | | Samoa | | | Yes | | San Marino | | | Yes | | Sao Tome and Principe | | | Yes (except child passengers) | | Saudi Arabia | | | Yes | | Senegal | | | Yes | | Serbia | | | Yes | | Seychelles | | | Yes | | Sierra Leone | | | Yes | | Singapore | | | Yes | | Slovakia | | | Yes | | Slovenia | | | Yes | | Solomon Islands | | | Yes | | South Africa | | Yes (Article 298 of the National Road Traffic Regulations, 1999) | Yes | | Spain | | | Yes | | Sri Lanka | | | Yes | | Sudan | | | Yes (except passengers) | | Suriname | | | Yes | | Sweden | | | Yes | | Switzerland | | | Yes | | Syrian Arab Republic | | | Yes (except child passengers) | | Tajikistan | | | Yes | | Taiwan, Republic of China | | No for motorcycles larger than 250 cm<sup>3</sup> on national or provincial freeways or expressways (Article 20 of the http://www.freeway.gov.tw/english/Print.aspx?cnid=1094&p=522); advanced stop line attract motorcycles up to 250 cm<sup>3</sup> to lane split (Article 174-2 of the Regulations on Establishing Traffic Signs and Indicating Lines | Yes | | Thailand | | | Yes | | Timor-Leste | | | Yes | | Togo | | | Yes | | Tonga | | | Yes | | Trinidad and Tobago | | | Yes | | Tunisia | | | Yes | | Turkey | | | Yes | | Uganda | | | Yes | | Ukraine | | | Yes | | United Arab Emirates | | | Yes | | United Kingdom | | Yes (Highway Code Rule 88) | Yes | | United Republic of Tanzania | | | Yes (except passengers) | | valign="top" | United States | Alabama | No for motorcycles except police officers on duty (Code of Alabama, Section 32-5A-242, Operating motorcycles on roadways laned for traffic.) | | valign="top" | United States | | Alaska | No for motorcycles except police officers on duty (/doc/{@1}/hits_only 13 AAC (Alaska Administrative Code) 02.427. Driving motorcycles and motor-driven cycles on roadways laned for traffic.]) | | valign="top" | United States | | Arizona | Yes for motorcycles with two wheels under considerable conditions to filter since September 24, 2022 (Arizona Revised Statutes 28.903. Operation of motorcycle on laned roadway; exceptions.) | | valign="top" | United States | | Arkansas | Not authorized or legally referenced for motorcycles | | valign="top" | United States | | California | Yes for motorcycles with two wheels | Required. California Vehicle Code Section 27803 | | valign="top" | United States | | Colorado | No for motorcycles except police officers on duty (Colorado Revised Statutes Section 42-4-1503. Operating motorcycles on roadways laned for traffic.) | | valign="top" | United States | | Connecticut | No for motorcycles except police officers on duty (General Statutes of Connecticut Section 14-289b. Operation of motorcycles.) | | valign="top" | United States | | Delaware | Not authorized or legally referenced for motorcycles | | valign="top" | United States | | District of Columbia | Not authorized or legally referenced for motorcycles | Required. Washington DC Municipal Regulations, Rule: 18-2215 | | valign="top" | United States | | Florida | No for motorcycles except police officers or firefighters on duty (Florida Statutes, 316.209 Operating motorcycles on roadways laned for traffic.) | | valign="top" | United States | | Georgia | No for motorcycles except police officers on duty (Georgia Code § 40-6-312. Operating motorcycle on roadway laned for traffic.) | | valign="top" | United States | | Hawaii | No for motorcycles except police officers on duty (Hawaii Revised Statutes §291C-153. Operating motorcycles on roadways laned for traffic.) | | valign="top" | United States | | Idaho | Not authorized or legally referenced for motorcycles | Required if under age 18; Idaho Statutes, Title 49, Chapter 6, Section 666 | | valign="top" | United States | | Illinois | No for motorcycles (625 ILCS (Illinois Compiled Statutes) 5/11-703) | | valign="top" | United States | | Indiana | No for motorcycles as a vehicle may not be driven or operated in a manner that deprives another vehicle of the full use of a traffic lane (Indiana Code 9-21-10-6 Traffic lanes; restrictions on use.) | | valign="top" | United States | | Iowa | No for motorcycles or motorized bicycles (Iowa Code 321.275 (4) (dead link: January 2023)) | | valign="top" | United States | | Kansas | No for motorcycles except police officers on duty (Kansas Statutes Annotated 8-1595 (dead link: January 2023)) | | valign="top" | United States | | Kentucky | Not authorized or legally referenced for motorcycles | | valign="top" | United States | | Louisiana | No for motorcycles except police officers on duty (Louisiana RS (Revised Statutes) 32:191.1) | | valign="top" | United States | | Maine | No for motorcycles except law enforcement officers on duty (Maine Revised Statutes Title 29-A, §2062 (5), (6)) | | valign="top" | United States | | Maryland | No for motorcycles except police officers on duty (Maryland Transportation Code Section 21-1303. Operating on laned roadways.) | | valign="top" | United States | | Massachusetts | No for motorcycles (General Laws, Chapter 89, Section 4A) | | valign="top" | United States | | Michigan | No for motorcycles, mopeds, low-speed vehicles, or electric personal assistive mobility devices except police officers on duty; (Michigan Vehicle Code Section 257.660 Electric personal assistive mobility device, low-speed vehicle, or moped; operation; limitations; applicability to police officer; regulation by local government; prohibitions; regulation by department of natural resources.) also no for bicycles per 2006 Law (2006 Michigan Compiled Laws Section 257.660) until legalized by 2010 Law (2010 Michigan Compiled Laws Section 257.660) | | valign="top" | United States | | Minnesota | No for motorcycles except police officers on duty (2013 Minnesota Statutes, 169.974, Subdivision 5) | | valign="top" | United States | | Mississippi | Not authorized or legally referenced for motorcycles | | valign="top" | United States | | Missouri | Not authorized or legally referenced for motorcycles | | valign="top" | United States | | Montana | Yes for motorcycles with two wheels to filter no faster then 20 miles an hour (32 km/h) to overtake the stopped or slow-moving vehicle no faster then 10 miles an hour (16 km/h) since October 1, 2021 | | valign="top" | United States | | Nebraska | No for motorcycles except peace officers on duty | | valign="top" | United States | | Nevada | No for motorcycles or mopeds except police officers on duty (NRS (Nevada Revised Statutes) 486.351 Unlawful passing; driving abreast.) | Required. Nevada Revised Statutes, Title 43, Chapter 486, Section 486.231 | | valign="top" | United States | | New Hampshire | No for motorcycles except police officers on duty (Revised Statutes, Section 265:121: Driving Motorcycles on Roadways Laned for Traffic.) | | valign="top" | United States | | New Jersey | Not authorized or legally referenced for motorcycles, discouraged by official motorcycle manual (State of New Jersey - Motor Vehicle Commission: Manuals: Motorcycle driver manual revised in July 2012, pages 12 and 13 of 19) | | valign="top" | United States | | New Mexico | Not authorized or legally referenced for motorcycles | | valign="top" | United States | | New York | No for motorcycles except police officers on duty (Laws of New York: Vehicle and Traffic Law, Section 1252 (b),(c)) | | valign="top" | United States | | North Carolina | Not authorized or legally referenced for motorcycles | | valign="top" | United States | | North Dakota | No for motorcycles except police officers on duty (North Dakota Century Code, Section 39-10.2-03. Operating motorcycles on roadways laned for traffic.) | | valign="top" | United States | | Ohio | Not authorized or legally referenced for motorcycles | | valign="top" | United States | | Oklahoma | No for motorcycles, motor-driven cycles, motorized scooters, motorized bicycles, or electric-assisted bicycles except authorized emergency vehicles (Oklahoma Statutes, Section 47-11-1103D.) | | valign="top" | United States | | Oregon | No for motorcycles or mopeds except police officers on duty (Oregon Revised Statutes 814.240) | Required. Oregon Revised Statutes 814.269 | | valign="top" | United States | | Pennsylvania | No for motorcycles except police officers on duty (Vehicle Code Section 3523) | | valign="top" | United States | | Puerto Rico | No for motorcycles except law enforcement officers on duty (9 L.P.R.A (Laws of Puerto Rico Unannotated) § 5296. Use of any vehicle, carriage or motorcycle.) | | | | valign="top" | United States | | Rhode Island | Not authorized or legally referenced for motorcycles | | valign="top" | United States | | South Carolina | No for motorcycles except police officers on duty (South Carolina Code of Laws Section 56-5-3640) | | valign="top" | United States | | South Dakota | No for motorcycles except police officers on duty (South Carolina Codified Laws Section 32-20-9.2, 9.3, 9.4) | | valign="top" | United States | | Tennessee | No for motorcycles except police officers on duty (Tennessee Code § 55-8-182. Operation of motorcycles on laned roadways.) | | valign="top" | United States | | Texas | Not authorized or legally referenced for motorcycles | | valign="top" | United States | | Utah | Yes for motorcycles other than autocycle under considerable conditions to filter since May 14, 2019 | | valign="top" | United States | | Vermont | No for motorcycles or motor-driven cycles except police officers on duty (23 V.S.A. (Vermont Statutes Annotated) § 1115) | | valign="top" | United States | | Virginia | No for motorcycles (Code of Virginia § 46.2-857. Driving two abreast in a single lane.) | | valign="top" | United States | | Washington | No for motorcycles except police officers on duty, (Revised Code of Washington) | Required by law; Revised Code of Washington, 46.37.530 | | valign="top" | United States | | West Virginia | Not authorized or legally referenced for motorcycles | | valign="top" | United States | | Wisconsin | Not authorized or legally referenced for motorcycles | | valign="top" | United States | | Wyoming | No for motorcycles or motor-driven cycles except police officers on duty (Wyoming Statutes § 31-5-115) | | Uruguay | | | Yes | | Uzbekistan | | | Yes | | Vanuatu | | | Yes | | Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) | | | Yes | | Vietnam | | | Yes | | Yemen | | | No | | Zambia | | | Yes | | Zimbabwe | | | Yes |
See also
Related Wikipedia article: Motorcycling