You’ve heard of them all: the Pacific Coast Highway, the Three Sisters, the Tail of the Dragon, the Million Dollar Highway. These are some of the best motorcycling roads in America, but what makes them great? Could your local favorite ride compete with these legendary roads?

7 Things a Great Motorcycling Road Must Have

1. History– Many riders will tell you one of the best parts of riding motorcycles is the stories you collect along the way. So, why wouldn’t you want to ride a road that has its own tale to tell? Route 66 has fable after fable connected to its asphalt, and that’s one of the big reasons thousands ride this historic highway every year.
2. Traffic– You can’t experience a good road if it’s always filled with cars, trucks and other motorcycles. A clear road is a big part of being a great motorcycling road.
3. Ambiance– Sometimes the scenery along the road can make it worth the trip every single time. Take the Million Dollar Highway for example, where cliffs and rivers and forest just swallow you up. You can’t experience nature in a car like you can from the saddle of a motorcycle.
4. Distance– How long does the fun last on these great roads? If it has an exciting layout, does that layout last for five miles or fifty? Does the scenery stretch for hundreds of miles, or just ten? How long you get to enjoy the road is also another sign of how good that road is.
5. Surface– The road can be the prettiest or curviest on the planet, but if it doesn’t have the right surface for your ride, it’s going to be a miserable experience. Adventure bikes don’t have as much to worry about in this category, but sport riders and cruiser bikers need to pay attention to this important detail.
6. Twisties– No matter what kind of a biker you are, the fun is in the curves! Finding that road with the right number of switchbacks and bends can be tough. That’s probably why the Tail of the Dragon is such a valued road—318 curves in 11 miles is nothing to sneeze at.
7. Riding– Hearing about an incredible road means nothing unless you go out there and experience it. That’s what will really make a great motorcycling road stand out above the others. How often do you get out and ride your favorite road?

This was brought to you by the attorneys who ride at the Metier Law Firm—Remember that riding isn’t about the destination, it’s about the ride that takes you there.