General questions about riding on tour...

How many motorcycles go on each tour? Between 8 and 14 bikes, including the leader and back-marker.  We deliberately keep to small groups as the tour experience is much better this way. 

How long do you ride for each day? Our ride duration is primarily dictated by your comfort in the saddle. When crossing country we tend to have set limits for both distance and time, being on tour isn't just about thrashing ourselves and mile-munching! Generally the longest riding days are from 8:30am until 6pm, but this is broken up with rest stops and lunch. As a general rule, our maximum distance to cover in one day is around 200 miles or around 6 hours' riding each day, not including breaks. If we are heading to a destination where we want to explore, our ride-time to get to that destination will be much less. 

At what speeds to you ride? We don't break national speed limits (not least the paperwork would be a nightmare!). We ride to enjoy the road, route, scenery and company. This is a holiday not a race! We try to get the balance right between wanting to get somewhere and enjoying the journey. If we're going through a town we may be quite slow to ensure we stay together. 

What types of roads do you ride on? We generally ride on quieter roads with less traffic which provide the best scenery, best riding experience and most enjoyment. The best comparison for UK riders is that we prefer A and B roads rather than the motorway network. We try to avoid motorways wherever possible simply because they're no fun.

Your tours refer to a Ride Difficulty. Can you explain? We want you to enjoy all aspects of the tour, including not being stressed about the difficulty of the roads. A headline rule of thumb is that you should be fine on all of our tours if you have around 3 years' experience riding the style of bike you're taking on tour. The absolute minimum we recommend is that you have previous experience riding your bike as you will be on tour (for example with the bike loaded up for weight with luggage and pillion) so you know the handling/ breaking/ balance of the bike. There is not any qualifying standard, this is only to advise on the roads to be encountered on each tour. If you have any concerns at all, please don't hesitate to simply contact us, using the link, by email or call us We will also advise on any practice you may wish to carry out beforehand if you wish. 

To help advise you on the ride difficulty, we have adopted the ski slopes rating to describe each tour to help guide you on what to expect. 

• GREEN. An easy ride that can be tackled by new riders and veterans. The day's riding duration wont be longer than 2-3 hours or less than 100 miles in total, which will be broken into half with a rest stop. The roads themselves will not be complex or daunting, just winding with beautiful scenery. no harder than riding out for a coffee or a HOG Chapter ride out.
• BLUE. A moderate day's ride. The difficulty is mainly due to duration in the saddle, not complexity of the route. This may include a full day's ride of approximately 200 miles or around 6 hours in total, split into 4 quarters with rest stops and lunch. We would recommend the rider has some experience on their exact bike to know the balance and handling of the bike when riding with luggage etc. a full day's HOG Chapter ride out, but on much more scenic routes.
• RED. A full day's ride with some challenging bits on the route. The route / roads could have drops as we swish through mountain passes and may have some switchbacks and tight turns. We recommend the rider to know the balance and handling of their bike. We would recommend with at least 3 years' experience riding for extended periods to not become tired and also know how to tackle switchback passes with the road camber issues on the inside of the turn. 
• BLACK. A full day's ride with switchbacks, turns and single lane roads. Black routes will be challenging both in time in the saddle and also the complexity of the road. The ride will be awesome, you'll be smiling like a Cheshire cat having earned a drink at the end and you will certainly have a sense of achievement. These types of rides need 3+ years of experience, instinctive knowledge of the bike's handling and experience on long rides with switchbacks to not get caught by fatigue. To situate this, a full day riding the Transfagarasan Highway or Grossglockner High Alpine Road we would consider a Black route. 

What do you do if it rains? Generally we will ride in (nearly) all weathers. If the weather is truly biblical we may pull over until the worst of the front passes and we may have the option to move off the beautiful passes which are now really challenging and either take a short-cut or hop onto an easier route- we have to balance the risk and enjoyment. We would far rather sitting in the warm wishing we were riding than riding wishing we were inside. We could experience all weathers and temperatures on our tours so we recommend you to bring waterproof and warm clothing as even in the height of summer the Alpine passes will be cool. As Grandad used to say, there's no bad weather, just inappropriate clothing!

Do you ride every day? With a couple of exceptions, We don't ride all day every day of the tour, this would miss the point about exploring new places. On the GREEN and BLUE tours, we shorten the distances so you have time to rest and explore the destination. In addition, on the longer tours such as The Italian Riviera, we deliberately plan in days where a ride out is optional- we stay in the same hotel for 2-3 days allowing the middle days to relax, swim in the hotel's pool or enjoy the spa, explore the town, city or local countryside. We do still plan and offer a ride out on these days if people so wish.

What system do you use to keep the group of riders together? We use the 'Buddy System'. Its a simple system and effective with small groups of riders. If you're unsure of the Buddy System, don't worry, it's easy to use, very intuitive and we will go over it with you. 

What happens if I become separated from the group? We ask that anyone riding with HD-Tours is on WhatsApp. Primarily because it is a very good way to set up a Group Chat for everyone on that tour and this allows us to pass information such as confirm timings for the next day etc. WhatsApp also allows you to "Share Live Location" in the unlikely event that any rider is separated from the group, which allows us to come and find you and bring you back into the fold. For the tours going to and from a Rally or Festival where the probability to become separate is higher, we will also ask everyone to subscribe (its free) to the "Life360" App. We can then set up a group ("family") which gives real-time tracking to the whole group. This allows everyone to see everyone else's location whilst using the App. 

Do you have a support vehicle? We don't provide a support vehicle for either luggage or recovery. Our tours are all about riding fantastic roads in locations that we don't want to continually have to wait for a car to catch up. We are relatively self sufficient. 

What happens if I break down/ something goes wrong? We will always try to support you, please don't worry! We always carry essential tool kits and common spare bits to keep you on the road. Bulbs, fuses, puncture repair kits, battery jump-start cables, zip ties, duct tape, tools, emergency engine oil and emergency fuel are always carried by us. 99% of all problems are bulbs, tyres and battery related. Please bear in mind that we aren't qualified Service Engineers, so if we can't get you going, ultimately you and your motorcycle may need to be recovered by your own Recovery Insurance. We will always keep you company and support you in any breakdown. We would never abandon you at the side of the road.

What documents do I need for a European motorcycle tour? You will need to carry the following documents on you:

1. Vehicle Registration Documents. In the UK this is known as the V5C document or 'logbook'. If renting a motorcycle, you must have a copy of the rental agreement. The rental company will know what documents you must carry, please so ask them to make sure. We can advise you as well. 
2. Valid insurance certificate. Please confirm with your insurance company that you are insured for the Countries we are entering.
3. Valid driving permit. A UK Driving Licence covers all locations that HD-Tours visits, international riders will need to carry a valid driving licence (International Driving Permit or other) for the country/countries you're visiting
4. Passport. Please ensure that it is has at least 3 months remaining after the end of the tour.
5. Valid tax and MOT certificate. 
6. European breakdown cover policy documents.

What additional insurance policies should I get? We recommend you have/ take out the following insurance policy covers:

• Foreign motorcycle insurance. Most UK motorcycle insurance policies include foreign vehicle insurance to the EU, but it may be qualified or limited. We advise that you speak with your insurance policy provider to ensure that you have the correct vehicle insurance in place. Harley-Davidson Insurance does cover all countries in Europe that we would lead you. 
• Foreign breakdown cover. If you already have UK breakdown cover this may be included, if not this is easy to obtain at a small charge. Harley-Davidson Insurance does include breakdown insurance in all countries in Europe that we would lead you.
• Travel Insurance. We only hope that you have the best and most enjoyable time on tour, but can only advise taking out travel insurance for your peace of mind.
• Health Insurance. You may decide to include or exclude health insurance as part of your travel insurance policy. For UK residents, we recommend you obtain a GHIC (Global Health Insurance Card), which gives you access to all EU healthcare. If you have an EHIC, this remains valid until its expiry date.

Does HD-Tours supply the back-marker (sweep / tail), or is somebody nominated from the group? HD-Tours always provides the back-marker. Your job is purely to enjoy yourselves...

Do you ride in staggered formation? Yes, if possible we ride in staggered formation as this shortens the overall group length front to back whilst still giving a safe reaction distance. We ride with a recommended 3-second gap between the bike in front (offside to offside, nearside to nearside). In urban areas we will ride quite slowly to keep everyone together and always try to stop at traffic lights as staggered/ double file to close up to each other. The only exception to this rule is at motorway tolls, where only one motorcycle must enter the 'magnetic detection area' of the tarmac at a time.

Do you stop in cities for sightseeing / shopping whilst riding? Depending on the Tour, yes. On The Italian Riviera and French Wine Country we deliberately include time to explore, see the local sights, visit a museum, go wine tasting (when we've arrived!). We also sew in optional ride outs on our longer tours, allowing you the choice to explore the local countryside a bit more and return to the same hotel, or spend the day relaxing by the pool, in the spa etc.  We do also enter towns or cities to stay overnight which give greater options for a meal and a drink. We should always have time at the end of the day to wander around the local area as you wish, although we wouldn't really classify this as 'sightseeing' or 'shopping'.

Which motorcycle helmet safety laws do I have to obey? Throughout the whole of Europe, wearing an ECE Certified motorcycle helmet is the law. Please see our advice on the matter in our Guides section. If you want to clarify anything in particular, please contact us.

What motorcycle clothing safety laws do I have to obey? This is a real can of worms! There are a multitude of differing legal minimum requirements regarding motorcycle clothing across Europe, so we have tried to produce a useful guide to condense it all down into one answer. The conclusion is that the following motorcycle clothing covers all EU Countries: ECE Helmet, long-sleeved jacket on the body, long trousers covering your legs, wearing full-fingered gloves and ankle boots, carrying a hi-vis vest. We beg of you to wear appropriate clothing with full coverage whilst riding (dress for the slide, not the ride). Please consider that at just 30mph, 1mm of skin is abraded away by tarmac every second in a slide, now look at your fingers, hands, knees, elbows. We want you to enjoy your tour and want and be able to come on many other tours in the future...

Are there any road safety laws that I need to know? Europe has a few 'unique' road safety laws that may catch out the unwary, such as carrying hi-vis safety vests and having a 'UK' sticker on your number plate. We will advise on any unique or additional road safety laws and road signs applicable to your tour.

I don't ride a Harley-Davidson, can I still come on the tour? HD-Tours is set up as a tour operator for Harley-Davidson motorcycles, so we may permit one non-Harley-Davidson bike on each tour. Please enquire before you book your tour. 

Do I have to worry about any low emission zones on tour? France has introduced clean air laws in certain cities, which demands that every vehicle (including motorcycles) display a Crit'Air sticker. It is highly unlikely that any HD-Tours tour will enter any such clean air zone, although we cannot guarantee against any municipality adopting the law without our knowledge. For peace of mind we do recommend that you apply to the French authorities for a Crit'Air sticker. The application costs 4.91 EUR, the sticker will be sent to you in 5-10 days and is valid throughout your ownership of the vehicle, so its payable only once. Failure to display a Crit'Air sticker could incur an on-the-spot fine of 135 EUR. You can follow the link HERE.

Questions about booking and paying for a tour...

How do I book a tour? On the page for the tour that you want, find the "BOOK THIS TOUR" and complete the online form. 

How do I know if there are places available on a tour? Each of our tour pages clearly shows if places are still available. You won't be able to book a tour if it is full, although you will be able to register for a waiting list availability.

When is the closing date for booking a tour? We close availability for a tour roughly 2 months prior to the start date, although there may be a short-notice vacancy due to cancellation. We do therefore have a waiting list for availability which has priority before any further open advertising. We recommend booking as early as possible to secure your place. 

When do I need to pay for the tour? We require a £400 deposit paid at the point of booking a tour to secure your place with the balance paid in equal instalments at 6, 4, 2 months prior to the tour. All payments are made online through the booking system.

Why is the deposit non-refundable? As soon as you pay your deposit, we start to pay for costs on your behalf, for hotels, rail/ ferry bookings et cetera. These payments we make are non-refundable to us, so if you cancel your tour with us, we are often unable to recover the costs ourselves.

Are you able to hold a place on a tour for me if I am unsure if I can take part? We do understand that working out time off/ away from work and other commitments may be difficult, but I'm afraid we can't simply hold places without a deposit, as this would deny other people the chance to book a tour. We can only recommend placing a deposit to secure your place. 

Questions about hotels...

What types of hotels do you use? All our hotels used are 3 Star or 4 Star hotels. We prefer wherever possible to use smaller hotels with character, not 500+ bedroom, multi-storey buildings.

Do the hotels have double beds or twin beds? Most hotels offer either double or twin beds, if you have any specific requirements, please let us know and we will do our best to accommodate them (apologies for the pun). We do place a high priority on hotel comfort so we can all rest at the end of a great day. Please be aware that the actual bed arrangement may be subject to the hotel availability.

I want to share a room to reduce the cost, is this possible? One of the booking options available is to share a room with a friend who is another rider, where each of you benefit from a reduced cost for your tour. Please note that in this circumstance, we will not pair people who do not already know each other. If a single person does book the option to share a room with another, each individual must confirm the other person with whom they're sharing the room. 

What's not included in the price of the tour...

Additional Hotel / Room Charges. The hotel costs for your stay overnight are included in the tour, including any tourism taxes. We do not include any additional hotel/ room purchases that you may have charged to your room. When you check out of a hotel, please do pay for any additional room charges you may have signed to the room as these costs are not included. If we have to settle any additional hotel or room charges on your behalf we will recover the costs from you and we will have to charge an additional £20 administration fee. 

Motorway and Toll Road charges. There are too many variables and constraints beyond our control to make this possible. Some riders may already have an account with electronic transponder, vignette or other. Many toll booths will only accept one card transaction per vehicle (to stop fraud),  making it impossible for the Tour leader to swipe everyone through. If cash, the Tour leader would have to carry a bag loaded with coins with every bike patiently lining up at a single barrier whilst the leader fumbles around trying to feed coins into the machine in turn. For these reasons we a) try to avoid toll roads and b) don't include their cost in the tour price.

Fuel. I know, I know, Grandmas and egg-sucking lessons spring to mind. Just avoiding embarrassment. 

Speeding fines, on-the-spot fines and parking tickets. We hope this is obvious really. The tour leader will not break road speed limits on the tour whilst leading you. Our aim is to provide you with a wonderful tour on amazing roads taking in beautiful scenery and enjoying your holiday with great company. We're not replicating the Isle of Man TT.

Lunches, most evening meals, snacks and drinks. All breakfasts are included in the tour price. As you will see on each tour, included in the price is at least one evening meal together for which we pay for the meal and the first drink for everyone. All other drinks, snacks, lunches each day and other evening meals are not included.