Let's go on a great American road trip!
Grand Canyon - Zion - Monument Valley- Route 66 - Death Valley- Goose Neck Canyon - Bryce Canyon - Winslow Arizona and many more...
IN A NUTSHELL:
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12 Days of riding the best of the American west, starting and leaving from Las Vegas and taking in highlights such as the Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, Zion, Bryce Canyon, old Route 66 Hoover Dam, Lake Powell, Million Dollar Highway, Mesa Verde, Moab and many more.
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Includes rental bikes with full insurance (zero excess in most cases) and break-down cover with choice of bikes available, from 600cc upwards.
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11 nights hotel accommodation on a twin share basis with option to upgrade to a single room
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Price from £3250 per person (flights not included) .
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Pillions welcome for additional fee
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Option to extend two days to take in Death Valley
IN DETAIL:
WHERE ARE WE GOING?
We're going to the best area for riding motorcycles anywhere in the world in my opinion. The scenery, the people, the riding. I've been across America on two wheels on four occasions now and I've always said that if you only have two weeks to ride America then the best thing to do is fly into Vegas, rent a bike and head East. And that's exactly what this trip is; a routing of some of the absolute best roads and locations I've visited on my travels across the States.
From the incredible Monument Valley, which we'll reach at sunset, to the obvious spectacle of Grand Canyon and then the iconic Route 66, riding the longest uninterrupted stretch from Kingman to Seligman which is a step back in time you'll never forget. We'll also hit Oatman up the hills, where wild donkeys roam the streets and there's a daily shootout at noon. We'll eat brisket in tucked away BBQ jaunts, we'll see the splendour of Bryce Canyon and Zion, with time to do some hiking if you like.
Then there's the hidden gems that you might not have heard of, such as Gooseneck Canyon, the Moki Dugway, Mesa Verde and the absolute gem of a road that is Route 12; arguably the best stretch of Tarmac anywhere in the world. I've carefully curated this tour to take it all in. To try not to miss a thing that'll leave you spellbound. I've also threaded in the corner of Winslow, Arizona, made famous by the Eagles song. It was a random throw in on the first Cowboy Ride of 2024 but the riders loved it. A timeless location that took people back to their youth. We also visit the bonkers sight of Meteor Crater just down the road. Then we've got Moab and Durango, incredible locations in Utah and Durango then take us off the main tourist scent and along desolate roads through endless red-rock landscapes, even alongside the shores of majestic Lake Powell.
The riding is manageable, no more than 200 miles a day, with option for smaller bikes making it an ideal journey for someone who wants to see the best of America without the big miles and big bikes that most organised tours force you to. I also encourage self navigation - is is pretty easy out here! That way you get to experience it in your way, at your own pace, knowing there's someone bringing up the rear if anything goes amiss. It helps build confidence as riders, as travellers, which is much of what my tours are about.
America sometimes get a bad rap. It gets dominated by its politics, but ignore that and just come and see it from its centre - its core - where it remains an absolutely terrific place to roam on two wheels. And this tour sees the very best of it.
HOW IT WORK?
We'll fly into Vegas, have a night in the town, then the next morning collect our nominated rental bikes and hit the road, heading east. We'll stay in hotels on a twin share basis, with single room supplement available. We'll ride manageable days - no more than 200 miles - stop plenty of times and either ride as a group or splinter off into smaller roaming packs; whatever suits you. There'll be a car for the luggage, allowing people to choose more manageable machines without having to worry about where to put their bags.
WHEN?
The tour starts Friday 25th April. Riders will need to be in Las Vegas by Thursday 24th April, with it recommended that you get there on Wednesday 23rd to give you a day to acclimatise. We'll pick the bikes up at midday on the Friday and drop them at noon of Tuesday 6th May for the 12 day tour. For those on the 14 day tour, we'll arrive back in Las Vegas at noon on Thursday 8th.
WHAT'S INCLUDED
Price includes bike hire, comprehensive insurance, accommodation from the Friday night on the road on a twin share basis (single supplement available) and all routing and guiding. Also included is breakdown cover and a luggage wagon.
The only optional insurance you might want to take is the liability insurance cover for $28.98 per day, which raises your third party cover to $300,000 up from the statutory legal amount of around $20,000, depending on the state. This is paid direct to Eagle Rider at bike pick up.
WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED
The price does not include your flights which you will make your own booking for. Budget between £500 and £800 for a return flight depending on the airport. There will be a nominated flight on the Wednesday out of a London airport, for people to book onto if they wish to travel with others on the tour, which will be met at Las Vegas airport with a shuttle ride to a nominated hotel. The hotel nights in Las Vegas are not included as some will require more nights than others depending on when you arrive. You do not need to stay at this nominated hotel but there will be a group meal on the Thursday evening before the adventure begins on the Friday, as well as a group night out at an Elvis tribute act; the best in Las Vegas! (meal and Elvis night not included).
You will also need to cover your fuel, which will be less than $20 a day, plus meals and drinks which depending on your tastes could range from $50 to $100 a day. You will also need comprehensive travel insurance that covers you for touring on a 125cc machine or above. For a quote, try Navigator Travel: www.navigatortravelinsurance.co.uk/motorcycle-travel-insurance/
TYPE OF RIDING
This all Tarmac route is intended to be suitable for all riding abilities although any riding in an overseas environment will take a moderate level of rider confidence and ability. The daily distance will vary from around 160 miles to 200 miles, allowing plenty of time to stop and see the sights. The roads are generally quiet where we'll be riding, with occasional traffic in towns.
If anyone wishes to hire an adventure bike (subject to the $2000 excess), there is option to ride some light trails along the way, including Valley of the Gods and the unbelievable Shafer Rim Trail.
WHAT YOU’LL NEED
You'll need a full motorcycle licence allowing you to ride an equivalent bike in the UK. Comprehensive travel insurance is a requirement of the tour with details of the policy needing to be provided prior to departure. You will need to take your own riding kit although helmets are rentable from Eagle Rider. You will also need a means of navigation, with a phone and Google Maps the easiest method. Eagle Rider also rent sat navs. Having your own navigation means that if you want to do your own thing, ride on ahead or take a different route then you can do. I'll always encourage people to make the trip their own and do it the way they want to do it.
COST
The base cost of the 12 day tour is £3250. This gets you your accommodation on a twin share basis, all routes and support along the way, plus a bike from the Category A options. This price includes the Zero Excess Protection on the road based bikes and for the adventure bikes the maximum insurance cover provided which reduces excess to $2000.
OPTIONS:
- Single Room Supplement - £675 for 12 day tour.
- Pillion Rider option - £800 for 12 day tour.
- Get married in Vegas - We can easily add this into the itinerary either at the end or beginning. You can be married by Elvis in Vegas for $400 and be on your way in ten minutes.
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BIKE CHOICE AND PRICING:
When it comes to bike choice pretty much all bases are covered. The base price of the tour includes those bikes from the first category (Band 1). Please note that all bikes are subject to availability. When applying to join the trip please give your top 3 in order of preference. Where there is over demand for particular bike, priority will go by the order of bookings.
BAND 1:
PRICE
£3250 12 day tour
£3650 14 day tour
- Triumph Tiger Sport 660
- Yamaha Bolt
- Yamaha MT-07
- Yamaha XSR900
- Triumph Bonneville (limited availability)
- Ducati Scrambler (limited availability)
BAND 2:
PRICE
£3650 for 12 day tour
£4100 for 14 day tour
- Yamaha Tenere 700 *
- Yamaha Tenere 1200 *
- Triumph Tiger 850 *
- Harley Davidson Heritage Softail Classic
- Harley Davidson Street Bob
- Yamaha Tracer 900 (limited availability)
BAND 3:
PRICE
£3995 for 12 day tour
£4600 for 14 day tour
- BMW R1250 GS *
- BMW R1250 RT
- Harley Davidson Pan America *
- BMW K1600 GTL
- Harley Davidson Street Glide
- Harley Davidson Road Glide
- Ducati Desert X (limited availability) *
- Ducati Multistrada V4S (limited availability)
PLEASE NOTE:
Those bikes marked with an asterisk (*) do not come with zero excess, but with a $2000 deductable for cost of damage and $5000 for theft.
Bikes are subject to availability and your rental agreement will be directly with the rental bike supplier, Eagle Rider. Credit or debit card details will be taken at the rental counter.
BOOKING:
To book on this tour a deposit of £250 is required to secure your place. Limited spaces available.
To make this payment please contact the Speed Shop using the contact box below. Payment will be by bank transfer. The deposit will be refundable up until December 25th 2024 and then non-refundable beyond that date. The remainder of the balance will be due by the 29th January 2024. Refunds on the remainder of the balance, minus the deposit are available up until March1st. Please take out travel insurance at the earliest opportunity in the case of any reason to cancel last minute.
In the message, also please state which band of bike you wish to ride as well as first to third ranking of bike choice.
Also state if you would like a single room and whether you will be riding with a pillion. If you'd just like to chat about the trip on the phone, to make sure if it's for you or answer any questions, please just message me your number and a convenient time to call.
Look forward to riding with you in the States!
Nathan and co.
THE COWBOY RIDE ITINERARY 2025
DAY ONE - The start of the adventure!
After a night in Vegas we’ll head to the rental location on the south side of town. There you’ll meet your steeds, saddle up and together we’ll head east. We’ve an easy day in store, avoiding the interstate as we skirt around Lake Mead and onto to the towering Hoover Dam. We’ll stop at the old mining town of Chloride on route to Kingman and start of our journey along the longest uninterrupted stretch of Route 66 the next morning. We might do Oatman this evening, or first thing the next morning, depending on how we’re doing; Oatman being the old town in the hills where wild donkeys roam. Our Cowboy Ride has begun.
DAY TWO - The best of Route 66
Following breakfast at an iconic Route 66 diner we continue east to Peach Springs and Seligman. The romance of the old Mother Road calls loudly out here. You’ll be free to ride your own pace; no turns for 90 miles, with an abundance of places to stop for photos and souvenirs. Seligman was the inspiration for the Pixar movie Cars where we’ll aim for lunch. It’s a great old town, kept alive by a determined barber not willing the town die with the arrival of the interstate nearby. Williams follows, our place of rest for the night, a vibrant, lively Route 66 town with some great diners, bars and memorabilia. We’ll water the horses and prepare for Grand Canyon in the morning.
DAY THREE - Grand Canyon beckons
As we roam north to the edge of this gigantic rim, we’ll stop just south at the IMAX theatre to see what all the fuss is about. It tells a great historic story of the people who lived there, the battles that were fought for supremacy of it, and the aerial views that are taken of it today. Afterwards, take a real life helicopter flight if you want to (not included), or just head to the rim and spend some time just taking in the place. You can’t rush through somewhere as vast as this with no take it in. Ride the rim road, take lunch in the café on the edge. We’ll then head South East, via Flagstaff and on towards Meteor Crater and the town of Winslow. For those who know it, ‘such a fine sight to see. It's a girl, my Lord, in a flatbed Ford. Slowin' down to take a look at me.’ For those who don't know the relevance, the cafe on the corner is a great place to sit and people watch.
DAY FOUR - A night by Monument Valley. The best place on earth!
Having seen the crater and stood on the corner at Winslow, we’re going to curl to the north, riding the Apache lands of Arizona as we bear down on Utah and our final destination of Monument Valley. Here we'll find the mightiest of sights you ever did see, the towering Three Mittens of red flaming rock, made famous by the cowboys of the silver screen, being chased by the Navajo. We're staying at the wonderful Gouldings Lodge, just a couple of miles down the road, allowing us to take in sunrise and sunset, both as splendid as the other. We're in the thick of the adventure now.
DAY FIVE - The unsung greats; Moki Dugway, Mexican Hat, Gooseneck Canyon.... Forrest Gump road!
If you thought yesterday was good, then expect that to be surpassed with some of the finest riding and scenery you’ll see out here. Pause to see where Forrest Gump stopped running – reenact the scene if you like – then we’re off to Mexican Hat and Gooseneck Canyon, the latter a lesser known attraction around these parts but that’s no bad thing. The most amazing curves in the river, causing deep ravines to look down upon, with few other people there to spoil the tranquillity. Then it’s up the hairpin bends (only if you fancy it) of the Moki Dugway, a dirt road carved into the cliff that leads you all the way to the top of the red cliff wave, threatening to wash across the desert. No better view to be found but up here. Then down we go, east to Bluff and a fantastic Navajo Taco at a café beneath giant red rock formations, then onto Cortez and the aptly named Retro Inn for the evening, a blast from the past that will give you an idea what it was to roll through here in the glory days.
DAY SIX: The foot of the Colorado Rockies; Durango, a great town to roam
A shorter day today; straight through to Durango if you like; a cowboy town in the foot of the Rocky Mountains, which is a great place to roam around; shops, bars, civilisation. Meanwhile, if you have the stamina to climb, then on route to Durango let’s head for the dizzy heights of Mesa Verde National Park, where ancient Puebloans civilisations lived in cliff top cracks, building stone houses and keeping heads low from prowling enemy. You can scrabble the rocks and investigate the old ruins. Best of all, it’s a great road to the top, then back down as we all reconvene in Durango at the bar for a well earned root beer or two.
DAY SEVEN - The Million Dollar Highway and onto Moab, home of Canyonlands and Arches National Park
Depending on the weather we’ll either back track slightly or head up on over the magnificent Million Dollar Highway, so called for the cost it was to make it, or for the value of the views that you get up there. Two rivalling folklores, but the same incredible road that carries you up the shadow of the Rockies, past the old (but still thriving) mining communities of Silverton and Ouray. We then swerve west, over wild baron landscapes, probably where bison once roamed, until we eventually drop down into the valley of canyons and incredible rock arches, with two nights in the adventure capital of Moab. We've two nights here so go off and water Arches National Park and Canyonlands, or lay low and recoup after a week on the road.
DAY NINE - The best is yet to come; Route 12, a rollercoaster of a road leading to Bryce Canyon
The road climbs out to the Interstate briefly, then shoots back south like a waterpark slide, gushing us through the valleys along which the wild rivers flow. We’re aiming for Route 12, arguably the best of all roads in America. It’s little known, doesn’t feature on too many tourist maps, but it’s a Tarmac rollercoaster for the soul, with epic views of tough, grey stone, different to what we’ve seen so far. We end up in Escalante, a one-horse town with a single street running through it. For the wilderness out here it’s a great place to water the horses and ready yourselves for the last epic adventures of America on two wheels. Zion, Bryce, Kanab… it’s all still to come. A long way to the bright lights of Vegas and journey's end.
DAY TEN - If you loved the cowboy films then you'll love this place; Kanab, centre of wild west universe!
We’re not far to Bryce Canyon National Park this morning, home of towering rock spires to better any cathedral. Take your time to visit the many viewpoints or wander down into their shadows and climb down to feel them for yourself. It’s a great, magical place to be, with our destination of Kanab the setting for many western movie locations. It’s not a long day today, giving us time to unwind in the evening and enjoy the BBQ brisket in the diner down the road. It’s not a fancy place, tucked behind the back of a Navajo giftshop, but pile your plates up and stick your napkin in your shirt because you’re going to need it tonight.
DAY ELEVEN - One final big ride, or take it easy and make your passage to the promised land; Zion
Two choices on this one. Take the easy road to Zion, a heavenly National Park which you won’t believe is real. I won’t say too much about the road to get there, I’ll leave that as surprise, but once the darkness of the tunnel comes to an end, you will really think you’ve found paradise. Do some hiking there, take in the sights, because in the belly of the valley we’ll be staying the night in the town of Springdale. Alternatively, for the mad heads, we’ve got a 200 mile loop on offer if you fancy it, taking in some incredible open landscape riding, across mighty iron bridges, through serpentine pine forest flanked roads, visiting incredible inland lakes, and eventually back around to Zion for our last group meal of the journey. Hi ho silver, Las Vegas awaits.
DAY TWELVE - Homeward bound, or on to Death Valley...
Well, this is it; back down to Las Vegas for a lunchtime drop off of the bikes. It’s a couple of hours on the freeway, or if you’ve still got it in you, we can take one last epic ride, this time through the Valley of Fire National Park that blesses us with calmness and time to reflect on the miles we’ve covered, as Sin City slowly loom into view. We drop the bikes off, breathe a heavy exhale, or, for the masochists, we take in two more days of riding in the depths of Death Valley, and all that that entails. Great to ride with you all. Yahoo.
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