Dear biker friend.
As of 12 Feb 2023, this site will no longer be operational. I am simply shutting it down after some 10 years of service. It has been a site with hopefully useful info from bikers, to bikers, all for free. Now it is time for someone else to pick up where this site left it. I wish you all happy travels – especially to Norway 🙂 – and perhaps we will see each other on the road somewhere, sometime.
So long, all!
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 – or rather a repository of tips, tricks and routes – 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!
German musician-goes-motorcycle-traveller Marc and his trusty Honda Dominator goes to Nordkapp this year.
Marc’s incredible talent in video making first makes you wonder if he has a camera crew following him. But no. This is all the handiwork of this talented guy. With a keen sense of storytelling, aided by a drone and his 33 year old Honda Dominator, he is single-handedly documenting his great journey through Norway (and a bit in Sweden) on his way to the North Cape.
Marc is a musician pulled off his career by the covid pandemic, when all shows and gigs were cancelled. As he explains on his web site, he got into motorcycle traveling just to have something to do. But lo and behold: He has made himself a brand new career! In the time of writing this, he is close to 40.000 subscribers on his YouTube channel, which covers travels to Iceland as well as his endeavours in Norway.
Being a great storyteller, he lets you in on his impressions and insights in Norway motorcycle travel, and he keenly depicts the great people he meets underway.
If you ever needed more inspiration for going to Norway: Check out Marc’s YouTube channel as well as Instagram images. Oh, and you can support his great work by buying his merch. It’s cool and aids his possibility to make us more great videos.
Safe travels, Marc!
It’s hard to challenge Western Norway when it comes to sheer beauty and wonderful motorcycle roads.
In early June 2022, the Norwegian Moto Guzzi Club called for its annual Spring Rally, this time – as it has been done every 5th year for the last 40 years or so – at Oldevatn Camping. Olden is in the vicinity of Loen, Stryn and everything that is good about Norway. Somewhat touristy cramped in the peak season, but I was lucky enough to be there ahead of the bunch.
The more famous sightseeing in Olden is the Briksdalsbreen Glacier. It takes a good half an hour to walk up to the tongue of the glacier, but it is well worth it. Unfortunately, this glacier too is subject to global warming in the sense that the tongue is receeding – but it is still visible and you should go there if you can while in Norway.
Coming from the Oslo area, I chose to ride over the Strynefjell Mountain Range to get there. It’s a good 6 hours ride if you choose the fast lane E6 – as I did getting there – but again: It is worth the ride. Besides, the Rokken Guzzi crew has none above nor beside when it comes to sheer hospitality and – it must be mentioned – great, home brewed farmhouse ale.
So do not linger – Western Norway is waiting for you!
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!
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.
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!
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!
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!
Spend your Corona quarantine time wisely, and plan for better days. See you at the other end!
(Image is shamelessly stolen from the Visit Norway homepage.)
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 LÃ¥tefoss. 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)
Ride Norway 