South Australia has a huge amount to offer for motorcyclists. From ocean-hugging roads to mountain twisties, there's pretty much anything for any style and level of riding within a short distance of SA's major cities.Â
Here's some advice on where to thrash your engine and warm up your wheels in this giant catchall area.Â
Where is the best place to enjoy motorcycle rides in South Australia?
Take your pick of location, the state has a diverse range of motorcycle rides suitable for a wide range of experience levels.
Immerse yourself in nature along narrow winding roads, escape the congestion and forget about everything. We have all the information on the places you have been dreaming of.
Â
Echunga to Strathalbyn
Echunga is located around 34km southeast of Adelaide; a small town with a distinct old-style architectural feel. If you start out early morning to avoid traffic and police, it's a 21km twisting path through to the town of Strathalbyn.
This route is popular with riders because the road quality is superior – a boon for a road where you'll expect to be holding tight turns with an average speed of around 50kph.
A great characteristic of this ride is that it's consistent; the turns don't tighten up dramatically from one bend to the next. A smooth challenge suitable for a bike of any size.
With this under your belt, you'll be ideally placed for some of our next suggestions.
Â
Adelaide Hills
It's a safe bet that any road which moves inland from the coast will be a great ride and the Hills surrounding Adelaide are no exception. If you're the type of rider who prefers a road less travelled, you'll be well-catered for here.
Truth be told, there are so many great riding experiences in this area that I'd never have the time to try them all, let alone blog about them! If you're in the region and want to stay roughly on the same stretch and still enjoy a diverse set of roads, Adelaide has you covered.
The Australian Motorcyclist Magazine's article has awesome detail on the whole riding experience of this trip, including important tips on rest breaks and interesting stops along the way.
With that said, I specifically recommend two areas in the region. First, rip through the roads going through Strathalbyn and Macclesfield. Finishing in Macclesfield, you will find yourself in a quaint town of little more than 800 people, where the upper reaches of the River Angas have resulted in a beautiful and relaxing landscape.
From here, you'll have to check out Strathalbyn Road. A long straight connected from Macclesfield to Aldgate, and more on the B33 State Route, it's a prime opportunity to open up and hit the limits of your ride.
Â
Sedan Hill Road
Don't you love speed limits? Cough.
Starting off near the small town of 82km northeast of Adelaide, the Sedan Hill Road is about as quintessential a riding road as it gets. If you've got a beast of an engine underneath you, you need to hit this one.
Coming in at the shorter end of the spectrum at only 18 km, the hilly corners in the first half open up to a set of two straights that encourage nothing more than a wild and serious adherence to the local speed limit.
A benefit of the Sedan Hill stretch is that it's easily accessed from a variety of different directions. No problems getting to this one, wherever your road trip has taken you thus far.
Â
Epicurean Way
I mentioned wine and I mention it again. The Epicurean Way is a road trip offering that acts as a connection to the four main wine regions: McLaren Vale, Barossa, Clare Valley, and the Adelaide Hills. This is a big stretch of road – it's hard to pin down just what's best in terms of turns.
I recommend the Epicurean Way towards the end of your trip, although it's certainly large enough to be a week's worth of riding by itself.
The scenery, as is common in all of Australia, is jaw-dropping. Areas like the Barossa Valley are stunning to ride through and you have a guarantee of perfect weather. It's the reason there are so many lovely wineries around, many of which offer tasting experiences and planned tours of their grounds. A close to my suggestions, then, on a more relaxed note.
Now you're done caning your ride on the aforementioned bends, this diverse area offers a way to bring it down a notch and have more than a few drinks along the way – just mind your levels if you've got a ride back to your hotel.
Great Ocean Road
Cruising from Adelaide through Victoria is one of Australia's best rides and allows you to explore the length of the Great Ocean Road.
Hope on the motorbike and leave the city of Adelaide, head straight to the coast and make your way through some historic coastal towns. Wind your way along on the coastal roads with the country changing as you get further away from the city, open up the bikes and explore the sights.
Crossing into Victoria you will soon discover the beauty of the Great Ocean Road. This is a ridiculously fun road for anyone on a motorbike, you are in for plenty of twists and turns along this stunning coastal road.
Wind in and out of flowing bends for hours and you will discover why tourists call this one of the best stretches of motorcycle riding in the world.
What to wear when you're riding a motorcycle?
Riding a motorcycle comes with some risk and we recommend wearing a full set of protective gear every time you get on the bike. Below is a list of essential products to wear:
Helmet
Potentially the most important piece of gear you will wear, protect your head at all costs and buy a solid helmet, you will thank yourself for it.
Gloves
Crucial for abrasion resistance, your hands instinctively hit the asphalt in a crash to brace your body so make sure they have the best protection possible.
Motorcycle Pants
Protective motorcycle jeans and jackets come in plenty of styles depending on your preference. Ranging from leather to denim, make sure you are covered head to toe with a strong fabric built for abrasion resistance, it will literally save your skin. Reinforce key impact zones like the knees and hips with armours for impact resistance.
Motorcycle Jacket
Â
What to pack for your motorcycle rides?
Packing the right gear on your ride can be the difference between having a great time or a shocker, below we have listed some essentials you need to bring on every ride.
Water
Hydration is the key to any ride, especially in Summer. Staying hydrated can prevent a long day of suffering. Make sure you pack extra water on any trip.
Sunglasses:
Riding through the country can get glary, you want the option to put these on underneath your helmet. Be kind to your eyes and keep a pair of sunglasses on you.
Spare Gloves:
Depending on the conditions and how hard you are going, hands can sweat a lot sometimes leaving the gloves drenched. A spare set of motorcycle gloves could give you that extra bit of grip on the handle.
