Ride Norway

So – you want to ride your motorcycle to Norway?

You have seen all the classic images of Norway. Of the Geiranger fjord, the Atlantic Road, the Lofoten Islands and the North Cape with its midnight sun. And you wonder: “What if I took my bike there?”

Photo: Dean Marshall

Then you start worrying about everything from weather to costs, and in the end you dismiss the whole idea, even though you know you will regret that you didn’t follow your dreams.

Fortunately, you have stumbled upon this blog, which is here to tell you that it is far easier to experience Norway by bike than you perhaps imagined. Here you will find everything you need to know about how to ride Norway – even in the coldest depths of winter, if you are of the really adventurous type.

Come on over, and be amazed. Norway is truly motorcycle heaven!

Categories: Uncategorized | 4 Comments

Gazing into 2022

Posted on December 5, 2021 by HansP@RideNorway

2021 didn’t exactly end the way we hoped for. So here’s to 2022!

I’ve been a bit slow on the updates on this page, mainly because of other things in life keeping me busy. However, the info on this site is still valid and mostly updated, so it will hopefully work as the repository it was meant to be for riders who wants to ride in our wonderful country.

Although many of you were here last summer (send us your images!), 2021 didn’t become the year we hoped for. The latter part has been utterly disappointing pandemic-wise, and new restrictions have been popping up all over Europe. Let us hope next year brings better tidings so you can bring yourself and your bike over here as soon as the roads clear.

As they say: Whoever waits for something good, waits not in vain. So use the time ahead to plan your trip. We’ll still be here whenever the pandemic lifts, because our Constitution’s fathers in 1814 swore the Eidsvoll oath “United and loyal until the Mountains of Dovre crumble!”. In essence: It takes more than a mere pandemic to topple us. As promised, we still keep the roads in good order and the beer cold. Even if it is hard to predict, especially about the future: Here’s to better days in 2022! Happy holidays – see you next year!

Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: adventure, bike, motorcycle, motorcycles, norway, winter | Leave a comment

Riding Norway a la bourgeoisie

Posted on June 13, 2021 by HansP@RideNorway

Staying in tents is not your cup of tea? Then the Hub Riding concept may be just up your alley.

While tents and free roaming for many is an integrated part of motorcycle travel, quite a few of us are getting accustomed to a higher level of comfort. Yes – we are talking hotels. But in this case, rather special hotels. Not your average by-the-road motel or chain hotel. No, here we are talking of really special hotels at really special places.

“De Historiske” – The Historic Hotels – is a group of special, old and magnificently situated hotels in Norway. The group has created a new concept – Hub Riding – where they suggest a route for you as a motorcycle rider, and – lo and behold – the routes even interlinks the hotels in The Historic group. Of course it is a marketing and sales thingy. However, you are of course not obilged to stay at their hotels to enjoy the routes. If you choose to do so, The Historic Hotels are truly situated at wonderful spots, and each of them carries quite a history. We have stayed at several of them (typically after payday) and enjoyed the sites, the food and the differentness of these special places. Fun fact: The Hub routes are named after motorcycles, e.g. Route KTM, Route Ducati etc.

So if you have the funds to spend to enjoy Norway a la bourgeoisie, visit HubRiding.no to be inspired. Or have a look at the promo film.

Categories: bikes, norway, Routes | Tags: adventure, motorcycles, norway, touring | 5 Comments

When is Norway open for travel?

Posted on June 13, 2021 by HansP@RideNorway

It seems like the pandemic clouds are rolling back. But when is Norway open for riding?

Still hard to tell, but sign up over at Visit Norway to be the first to know: https://www.visitnorway.com/newsletter/

As promised, we have kept the roads in good order and the beer cold. You may at least shake the dust off your riding plans from last year and start looking forward to a riding experience only Norway can provide. Stay tuned!

Categories: Good to know | Tags: adventure, bikes, fjords, mc, motorcycles, norway, ride, ride norway, touring | 1 Comment

Can I go to Norway now?

Posted on August 22, 2020 by HansP@RideNorway

UPDATE 21 FEB 2021: The Corona virus is still roaming the world and will most likely not go away for a while. This, of course, has an impact on travel to Norway too, even for the 2021 riding season.

Norwegian health authorities are updating their travel guidance on a regular basis. The border control varies according to the transmission rates around Norway. Keep abreast with the current situation at the National Institute of Public Health. Breaching regulations or any imposed quarantine will invoke heavy monetary penalties and expulsion from Norway, and you are exposing other people to a serious health hazard – do NOT breach regulations! Motorcyclists are of course by default socially responsible and competent individuals, so you will not expose anyone to increased risk by not following guidelines.

Enjoy your planning, and stay safe!

Categories: corona, norway | Tags: corona, motorcycles, norway, travel | Leave a comment

Ride in your own country this year

Posted on April 16, 2020 by HansP@RideNorway

Spend your money in your own country this year and come ride Norway next season.

The Corona pandemic requires for you to spend your hard-earned cash at home this year. Other people depend on it. Welcome back to Norway next season! (Image: Sølvi Strifeldt)

Most countries have imposed strict measures in an effort to curb the Corona pandemic. Shops, restaurants and hotels are closed. This has an impact on people in your country and in your neighborhood, losing their jobs and income. Now they need your help. They need you to spend your money at home this year, to help save other people from bankruptcy. As motorcycle riders per definition are socially conscious people, I am sure you too will ride and spend your hard-earned money in your home country this year, and come over to ride Norway next year. We will warmly welcome you back in 2021. RideNorway.com will keep the roads in good order and the beer cold while we wait for you 🙂

Stay safe!

Categories: corona, Misc | Tags: bikes, corona, motorcycle, norway, pandemic, ride norway | 2 Comments

Wait for it, wait for it…

Posted on March 23, 2020 by HansP@RideNorway

Spend your Corona quarantine time wisely, and plan for better days. See you at the other end!

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(Image is shamelessly stolen from the Visit Norway homepage.)

Categories: Misc, Uncategorized | Tags: corona, covid-19, norway | Leave a comment

Planning time!

Posted on February 1, 2020 by HansP@RideNorway

Winter is about planning bike trips. Hardanger is where you want to go in May.

Ulvik in Hardanger. (Image: RideNorway)

May is a great time of year to ride in Norway. The trees are in full blossom and it is lush green wherever you look. The apple orchards of Hardanger in the West are in full bloom. The farmers usually present last year’s harvest in bottles of apple cider. They have been making cider in this area since the 14th century, so they know what they are doing. The scenery around the Hardanger fjord is of course out of this world. Our go-to place to stay is the small camp site in Ulvik, which we then use as a base camp while touring the area. Learn more by visiting this site. You can easily spend a whole week roaming around – and you will not regret it! Oh, and the Constitution Day is on 17 May, which is a Sunday this year, so you might as well take part in the – errr… – “warm-up” on Saturday the 16th. Calculate some 6 hrs effective riding time from Oslo to Ulvik. If you arrive in Kristiansand, expect the same. All roads are great, especially the Road 15, which takes you to sights such as Låtefoss. At this time of year, it is not too crowded with campervans, so it should be a pleasure to ride.

May is the month of apple orchard blooming in Hardanger. Be there! (Image: RideNorway)

Some of the roads leading to Hardanger is high enough to still have snow for you to bask in. (Image: RideNorway)

Categories: Routes | Tags: cider, hardanger, ulvik, western norway | 1 Comment

Happy 2020!

Posted on January 1, 2020 by HansP@RideNorway

What will you do? Where will you go?

A big shout-out to followers and readers of your one stop shop (although everything is for free) for motorcycle touring in Norway, RideNorway.com, wishing you an exciting 2020 with lots of great roads, nice weather and wondeful experiences on two (sometimes three) wheels.

See you around in Norway somewhere!

Categories: Uncategorized | 1 Comment

24 December: God jul!

Posted on December 24, 2019 by HansP@RideNorway

Thank you for following the countdown to Winter Solstice and the Jul Celebration – which in Norway is on the 24 December – on RideNorway.com. No list today – we just want to wish you all a fantastic Season’s Holiday, God Jul, and a Happy New Riding Year. Maybe we’ll see each other on the road somewhere in Norway soon!

Categories: Misc | Tags: god jul | 1 Comment

23 December: Top 3 fun facts about Norway

Posted on December 23, 2019 by HansP@RideNorway

RideNorway is counting down to Winter Solstice with trip planning tips and trivia!

23 December: Top 3 fun facts about Norway

We have our oddities and funny facts about this country too. Here are our top 3 fun facts about Norway:

C3PO at Finse. (Image: starwarsplaces.com)

1. The Battle of Hoth was filmed at Finse

In Star Wars – Episode V (film two in old trilogy, for the SW fans out there) – you would see the Rebellion HQ at the snowy planet of Hoth being attacked by the Empire. These epic scenes were filmed only a few hundred meters away from the railway station of Finse, a stop along the Oslo – Bergen train tracks. Legend has it that no taun-taun has been observed in the area since.

They have even provided proper stops inside the tunnel so you can take your photos.

2. The World’s longest road tunnel is in Norway

You know you want to ride it: The 24.5 km/15.2 mi long Laerdal Tunnel not very far from Bergen is the longest road tunnel in the world. It opened in 2000 after five years of construction, and pushed the Swiss Gotthard Tunnel down from the throne. A special ride indeed.

Huuuuuge structure!

3. The largest object ever moved by man was moved in Norway

The Troll A gas production platform is the largest object ever moved by humans. The platform is 472 meters high – of which 369 under water – and weighs about 656 million kgs. This huge structure is two times heavier than Empire State Building in NY City, and the underwater part of Troll is exactly the height of Empire State Building top floor. Troll A is mostly a concrete structure that contains reinforcing steel corresponding to 10 times the entire Eiffel tower.

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