A great motorcycle tour is about more than the roads we choose. The motorcycle, tyres, riding gear and support behind the scenes are just as important. Together, they help you relax and get the most out of every day on the bike.
That’s why we invest so much time and resources in the things you may not always see in the photos from our tours. The latest BMW Motorrad GS models, carefully selected tyres, technical support and spare motorcycles are all part of the Ride Nordic experience. So are our support vehicles, equipped with tools and spare parts.
The goal is simple: you focus on the riding and the experience – we take care of the rest.
On our tours, you ride the latest models from BMW Motorrad – currently the BMW R 1300 GS and BMW R 1300 GS Adventure. All our motorcycles come fully equipped from the factory, enhanced with additional protection and carefully prepared for every tour.
With a range of suspension and seat options available, we can adapt the motorcycle to suit you as closely as possible. Fuel, motorcycle insurance and technical support are always included. Should something unexpected happen, our team will do everything they can to solve it quickly – with spare motorcycles available when needed to get you back on the road without unnecessary delay.
Read more about the models below and find out which one suits you best.
The BMW R 1300 GS combines power, a low centre of gravity and impressive agility, making it equally at home on winding asphalt roads, gravel and more technical off-road terrain. Its 1,300 cc boxer engine delivers 145 hp and 149 Nm, yet the motorcycle remains surprisingly easy to ride and beautifully balanced.
The electronic rider aids and different riding modes allow the motorcycle’s character to be adapted to both the terrain and your riding. The result is an exceptionally versatile motorcycle that works just as well for someone riding a large GS for the first time as it does for a rider with many years of experience.
Our R 1300 GS motorcycles are available with several different combinations of suspension and seats, giving us plenty of options to adapt the motorcycle to you.
With Adaptive Vehicle Height Control, the motorcycle can automatically lower itself at low speeds and when you stop, making it significantly easier to reach the ground. Once you are riding, it automatically returns to its standard ride height.
We also have motorcycles with sport suspension for riders who want additional ground clearance and suspension travel. Combined with our different seat options, we can offer seat heights ranging from approximately 800 to 890 mm.
We also have R 1300 GS models equipped with Automated Shift Assistant (ASA). The system operates the clutch automatically, while you can choose whether to shift using the gear lever or let the motorcycle change gears for you.
It provides a smooth and relaxed riding experience, while still allowing you to take control of the gear changes whenever you want.
The BMW R 1300 GS Adventure builds on the same foundation as the R 1300 GS, but with a larger fuel tank, increased wind and weather protection and a clear long-distance focus. It is a motorcycle built for truly long adventures – while retaining much of the agility and balance of the standard GS.
The 1,300 cc boxer engine delivers 145 hp and 149 Nm, while the electronic rider aids and different riding modes allow the motorcycle’s character to be adapted to both the terrain and your riding.
The Adventure is larger and heavier than the standard R 1300 GS, but also extremely stable and comfortable – especially during long days on the bike. If you enjoy the feel of a big adventure motorcycle, additional wind protection and long-distance comfort, it is hard to beat.
Our R 1300 GS Adventure motorcycles are available with different combinations of suspension and seats, giving us plenty of options to adapt the motorcycle to you.
With Adaptive Vehicle Height Control, the motorcycle can automatically lower itself at low speeds and when you stop, making it significantly easier to reach the ground. Once you are riding, it automatically returns to its normal ride height.
We also have motorcycles with Comfort Suspension, which lowers the motorcycle slightly. Combined with our different seat options, this allows us to accommodate a wide range of seat heights.
We also have R 1300 GS Adventure models equipped with Automated Shift Assistant (ASA). The system operates the clutch automatically, while you can choose whether to shift using the gear lever or let the motorcycle change gears for you.
It provides a smooth and relaxed riding experience, while still allowing you to take control of the gear changes whenever you want.
All our motorcycles are insured, with a maximum damage excess (deductible) of SEK 30,000.
If you prefer to remove this financial risk, you can add Excess Elimination when booking your tour. This reduces your excess for damage to the motorcycle from a maximum of SEK 30,000 to SEK 0.
Many of our riders particularly appreciate the extra peace of mind this provides. Knowing that a mistake or a simple tip-over will not result in a significant cost makes it easier to relax, focus on your riding and fully enjoy your days on the motorcycle. The price varies depending on the tour and is shown when you book.
The right protective gear is an important part of both safety and the riding experience. Full protective riding gear is therefore mandatory whenever you ride on one of our tours.
You must wear an approved full-face, adventure or motocross helmet that provides full facial protection, together with back, shoulder, elbow and knee protection, gloves and proper motorcycle boots. Flip-up helmets are permitted but must remain closed while riding. Open-face helmets that do not protect the face are not permitted.
On our tours that include gravel and off-road riding, we recommend sturdy motocross or adventure boots rather than standard touring boots. They provide significantly better protection for your feet and ankles if, for example, your motorcycle lands on your foot. Lighter motocross or adventure gloves also provide better control and feel during more active riding.
We also strongly recommend using a hydration system during the riding days, particularly in warmer destinations and during more physically demanding riding. Being able to drink regularly without having to stop makes a big difference during a long day on the motorcycle.
The right tyres make a big difference to riding enjoyment, grip and safety. That’s why we choose tyres to suit the character of each tour – and never compromise on their condition.
On our 100% asphalt tours, we usually ride on Metzeler Tourance Next 2, offering excellent grip on both dry and wet roads. On tours combining asphalt and lighter gravel riding, the Metzeler Karoo 4 Street can be a great middle ground, while on tours where gravel and off-road riding take centre stage, we use the Metzeler Karoo 4 for maximum grip on loose surfaces.
What they all have in common is that we choose the tyres to match the terrain and type of riding on each individual tour – rather than using the same solution across our entire tour programme.
We always make sure our motorcycles are fitted with tyres in good condition and with plenty of tread for the riding ahead. On our gravel and off-road tours, tyres are replaced frequently – sometimes even during a tour – to make sure you have the grip you need throughout your tour. It costs us a little more – but tyres and grip are the wrong places to cut corners. For us, it is simply part of giving you the best possible conditions, whatever the surface or weather.
On all our tours where we travel between different hotels, luggage transport is included throughout the tour. This means you can enjoy the riding without carrying luggage on the motorcycle – we make sure your bag is waiting for you when you arrive at the next hotel.
Riding without luggage makes a real difference. The motorcycle feels lighter, more agile and more enjoyable to ride, and you avoid carrying unnecessary weight during long days in the saddle. On our gravel and off-road tours, it also gives us greater freedom to choose more exciting and technical roads that we would rather not tackle on fully loaded motorcycles.
How we transport your luggage varies between tours. On some tours, we provide you with a 50-litre roll bag for everything you need along the way. On others, our support van travels with us and we transport your own bag. When we use the van, there is no specific size limit, but we ask you to limit your luggage to one bag per person.
When support works at its best, you hardly notice it. A worn tyre has already been replaced, your luggage is waiting at the next hotel and a technical issue is solved before it has a chance to affect your riding day. Behind a trouble-free motorcycle tour lies a great deal of planning, experience, equipment and people who are ready when needed.
On tours where we travel between different hotels, we have dedicated support vehicles and crew travelling with us. The vehicles serve as mobile workshops, luggage transport and an important part of our safety organisation. Depending on the tour, we carry spare motorcycles, complete wheels and tyres, spare parts, tools, fuel, satellite communication and extended first aid and medical equipment, including an AED (defibrillator).
But support is about much more than motorcycles and equipment. During long riding days, our team makes sure there are refreshments, water and extra energy available along the way. On some tours, we even set up and serve lunch in the middle of nowhere – far from restaurants and civilisation, wherever the day’s adventure happens to take us.
At the same time, our tour guides keep an eye on the group and remind riders when it is time to drink, eat or take an extra break. These may sound like small details, but during a long day on the motorcycle they make a real difference to energy levels, concentration and safety.
On tours with more demanding off-road riding, we also use 4×4 support vehicles that can follow us further into remote and less accessible areas. We adapt our support, equipment and level of preparation to the destination, the type of riding and how far we are from outside assistance.
Safety, of course, goes beyond what we carry in the support vehicle. First aid equipment also travels with our tour guides on their motorcycles, and our tour guides and support drivers receive regular training in first aid and emergency response. On our more remote tours, we further increase both our equipment and level of preparation.
All of this is there for one reason: so you have as little as possible to worry about and can focus even more on the riding, the experience and the adventure.