Sometimes I think we’ve all fallen into the same trap.

When it’s time to plan a European motorcycle tour, we automatically look towards the Picos de Europa, the Alps, the Dolomites or maybe the south of France. These routes are brilliant. There’s no arguing with that.

But every now and again I find myself staring at the map, wondering what I’ve been overlooking.

Having lived there for a short time in the past, Germany keeps popping into my head. I’d never toured there on a motorcycle, so I did something about it.

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Why Germany?

Not because it’s trendy. Not because everyone is talking about it.

Quite the opposite.

It feels like the country that quietly gets on with being brilliant while everyone rushes past on the way to somewhere else.

I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve spoken to riders who’ve travelled through Germany without ever really stopping to explore it. The motorway becomes a means to an end. A few hours later they’re in Austria or Italy, and Germany becomes little more than another metaphoric stamp in the passport.

I can’t help thinking they’re missing out.

Experiencing Germany’s Diverse Landscapes by Motorcycle

What appeals to me most about Germany is that it never feels like one place.

Ride for an hour and the scenery changes.

You leave a forest behind and suddenly you’re following a river through vineyards. Keep going and rolling hills become mountain roads. Before long you’re parked in a market square that looks as though it’s barely changed in a couple of hundred years.

It doesn’t feel repetitive.

It keeps giving you reasons to carry on.

As riders, that’s exactly what we want. Roads that make you think, “I’ll just see what’s around the next corner.”

Then another.

And another.

Before you know it, you’ve forgotten what time it is.

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Not Every Great Road Needs a Famous Name

There’s something I’ve noticed over the years.

We spend our time chasing famous roads, which can be great. We’ve all seen the videos. We’ve all read the magazine articles. However, everyone seems to be heading for the same handful of places. Germany feels different.

Of course, there are roads people recommend. The Black Forest and B500 deserves its reputation. The German Alpine Road is stunning. The Moselle Valley is packed with beautiful riding.

But the real joy isn’t ticking off famous routes.

It’s finding your own.

One of those quiet roads where you barely see another vehicle. The sort of road that makes you smile inside your helmet because you weren’t expecting it to be that good.

I love to put adventurous routing into my Garmin sat nav and see where it takes me from town to town. You get to see the routes, towns, villages and roads that many will miss as they blast down the autobahn.

Those are the rides that stay with you.

The Journey to and from the UK Is Part of the Adventure

One thing I really like about Germany is how easy it is to build a proper road trip around it.

Instead of racing across Europe, I’d make the ride part of the holiday.

Cross briefly into France to get to Belgium, head through the Ardennes, spend some time in Luxembourg, then you can drift into Germany.

Straight away, you’ve turned a travel day or two into part of the experience.

I was recommended a few places to try on my route by Simon at the Reel Riders Podcast, from his list I managed to get to Givet (FR), Houffalize (BE), Dinant (BE), and the stunning roads around La Roche-en-Ardenne (BE).

Simon also recommended Bastogne (BE) for the museum, plus Durbuy (BE) and Spa (BE).

For me, the Ardennes alone is worth taking your time over. Quiet roads, flowing bends and little villages that seem made for coffee stops. However, taking in just some of the above means that by the time you reach Germany, you’re already in touring mode.

Here are a few shots from my route to and from Germany.

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More Than Just Riding

A great motorcycle tour isn’t measured by the number of miles you cover.

It’s about the places you remember afterwards.

Germany seems to understand that.

One minute you’re carving through woodland. The next you’re wandering around a medieval town with a bakery on one corner and an old church on the other.

You don’t feel guilty for stopping.

In fact, it feels like you’re supposed to.

That’s one of the things I love about touring. Some of the best memories happen after you’ve taken your helmet off.

Easy touring, less stress

Let’s be honest.

Nobody enjoys spending half the evening searching for somewhere to stay.

Germany makes life easy.

Whether you like family-run guesthouses, campsites, hotels or apartments, there’s plenty of choice on the likes of Booking.com and Air B&B. On my most recent trip, we actually staying just outside the busiest towns on most days. It’s usually cheaper, quieter, parking is easier and safer, plus you’re back on the good roads within minutes the next morning.

Simple things really. But they make a difference when you’re living off the bike for a week or two.

Germany Doesn’t Shout About Itself

Maybe that’s why so many riders overlook it. It doesn’t have to convince you it’s beautiful. It simply is. It doesn’t rely on one famous mountain pass or one iconic photograph. Instead, it gives you hundreds of miles of roads that make you want to keep riding.

Some leading to towns where you’ll end up staying longer than you planned because you’ve found a great little restaurant and the hotel owner has just recommended another road for tomorrow morning.

That’s touring.

Not rushing from one famous location to another.

Just enjoying the ride.

Final Thoughts – Why I think Germany Deserves a Place on Your List

I’m not suggesting Germany is better than France, Italy or Switzerland.

That’s not really the point.

Every country has something different to offer.

What surprises me is how rarely Germany gets mentioned when people are planning a motorcycle adventure.

For me, that’s exactly what makes it so appealing. There’s still a feeling that you’re discovering something for yourself. And because the country is so varied, one trip is never really enough. You finish one tour already thinking about the next route.

I like destinations that leave me wanting more.

Germany feels like one of those places.

So the next time you’re planning a European motorcycle trip, don’t just look towards the usual names.

Slide the map a little further east.

You might discover that the best part of your next adventure has been hiding there all along.