Choosing the Right Motorcycle Type for Touring in Greece

Why Motorcycle Choice Matters in Greece

Greek touring emphasizes technical riding over speed or distance. Most quality routes follow secondary and mountain roads with frequent elevation changes, tight switchbacks, and varying surface conditions. You’ll spend more time navigating technical sections at 40-50 km/h than covering straight highways at 120 km/h.

This riding environment rewards certain motorcycle characteristics:

• Upright ergonomics reduce fatigue over 6-8 hour riding days across multiple days
• Adequate suspension travel (170-200mm) handles rougher mountain sections comfortably
• Moderate weight and manageable seat height improve confidence in technical terrain
• Sufficient luggage capacity carries touring gear without compromising handling

These requirements explain why adventure, adventure-touring, and crossover motorcycles dominate Greek rental fleets—they’re simply better suited to the conditions you’ll encounter.

Core Factors in Motorcycle Selection

1. Your Experience Level and Riding Skills

Experience matters more than any other factor when choosing a touring motorcycle for Greece.

Advanced riders (10+ years, extensive touring experience, confident with loaded bikes in technical terrain) :

• Can handle any bike in the fleet effectively
• Benefit from larger bikes’ comfort and capability on longer tours
• Manage heavy, tall motorcycles confidently in tight switchbacks
• Recommended: BMW R1300GS, R1250GS, Honda NT1100, Suzuki V-Strom 1050

Intermediate riders (5-10 years, some touring experience, comfortable with basic technical riding) :

• Capable on most routes with appropriately sized equipment
• Better served by mid-weight bikes when routes include challenging sections
• May struggle with 260+ kg loaded weight in very tight technical terrain
• Recommended: BMW F800GS, Suzuki V-Strom 800, Honda NC750X, NT1100

Developing riders (under 5 years, limited or no touring experience):

• Need lighter, lower, more manageable equipment while building skills
• Should avoid A-tier technical routes until gaining more experience
• Benefit significantly from reduced weight when learning to handle loaded bikes
• Recommended: Honda NX500, NC750X

Note: Honest self-assessment prevents problems. Overestimating your skill level leads to reduced enjoyment and increased mishap risk.

2. Physical Size and Comfort Requirements

Modern adventure bikes typically feature 830-860mm seat heights. Combined with 240-270 kg loaded weight, this creates real challenges for shorter or lighter riders.

If you’re under 175cm tall or under 70 kg:

• Prioritize bikes with seat heights under 830mm
• Choose models under 240kg loaded weight
• Accept that you’ll need skill to manage larger bikes if routes demand them
• Recommended: Honda NX500 (830 mm), NC750X (800 mm)

Physical strength alone doesn’t solve height/weight issues. Once a heavy bike leans past a certain angle while stopped, most riders cannot prevent a drop regardless of strength. Lower, lighter bikes reduce this risk significantly.

3. Riding Two-Up

All modern adventure bikes handle passenger weight adequately — even 750cc models provide sufficient power for two-up touring with luggage.

The real two-up considerations are comfort and ergonomics:

• Seat padding quality and dimensions
• Distance between passenger footpegs and seat
• Overall bike length and width
• Handlebar position affecting rider comfort when carrying passenger weight

Larger bikes generally accommodate two-up riding better, but this reintroduces weight and height considerations for the pilot. Balance these factors honestly.

4. Route Planning and Technical Difficulty

Your planned routes should influence bike choice, especially if you’re targeting A-tier technical terrain (tight switchbacks, steep gradients, very narrow roads with limited runoff).

For technically demanding routes:

• Lower weight and seat height increase confidence and capability
• Maneuverability matters more than straight-line comfort or power
• Consider that tip-overs happen most often in tight, steep switchbacks requiring first gear
• Going wider than intended on hairpins puts you at collision risk with oncoming traffic

For mixed or moderate routes:

• Most bikes in the fleet work effectively
• Prioritize comfort and touring capability over maximum maneuverability
• Focus on features that reduce fatigue over multiple days

Understanding Motorcycle Categories

Large Adventure Bikes (1000+ cc)

Models: BMW R1300GS, R1250GS, Suzuki V-Strom 1050

Characteristics:

• Best overall touring comfort and capability
• Excellent luggage capacity and wind protection
• High seat heights (850-870 mm) and heavy loaded weight (260-270 kg)
• Require confident handling skills in technical terrain
• Ideal for experienced riders on varied routes

Large Sport-Touring (1,000+ cc)

Model: Honda NT1100

Characteristics:

• Lower, more compact than adventure bikes
• Excellent road manners and comfort
• Slightly less suspension travel than adventure bikes
• Better suited to maintained roads than rough mountain sections
• Works effectively for riders prioritizing pavement comfort

Mid-Weight Adventure

Models: BMW F800GS, Suzuki V-Strom 800

Characteristics:

• More manageable weight than 1000+ cc bikes
• Lower seat height than larger adventure bikes
• Adequate power and comfort for extended touring
• Better maneuverability in tight technical sections
• Effective compromise for intermediate riders

Entry/Mid-Range Crossover

Models: Honda NC750X, NX500

Characteristics:

• Lowest seat heights in fleet (800mm for the NC750X)
• Lightest loaded weight (under 240kg)
• Adequate power for touring (though not excessive)
• Most manageable for developing riders or shorter/lighter riders
• Budget-friendly without sacrificing core capability

Common Mistakes in Motorcycle Selection

Choosing based on ego rather than skill level: Renting a bike you can barely manage creates stress instead of enjoyment. Honest self-assessment prevents this.

Prioritizing power over handling: Greece’s technical terrain rewards manageability far more than straight-line performance.

Ignoring loaded weight reality: Motorcycles handle completely differently with 30 kg of luggage aboard (including the weight of the panniers themselves). First-time touring riders consistently underestimate this impact.

Assuming seat height doesn’t matter if you’re skilled: Skill helps, but physics still applies. If you can’t touch the ground confidently at stops, problems eventually occur.

Selecting based on home-country preferences without considering Greek conditions: What works on your local roads may not suit Greece’s mountain terrain and technical riding environment.

Additional Practical Considerations

Parts availability: Adventure bikes dominate Greek sales, meaning parts and service availability is better than for other motorcycle categories. If something needs replacement mid-tour, you’re more likely to source it quickly.

Reliability: Modern motorcycles are reliable when properly maintained and not excessively aged. Focus on your rental company’s maintenance standards and fleet age policies rather than model-specific reliability concerns.

Budget: Budget limitations define your available range. Within that range, apply the factors above to identify your best option.

Next Steps

Compare specific models: Review detailed specifications, pricing, insurance deductibles, and included equipment on individual motorcycle pages.

Consider your routes: If you’ve already identified specific tours or destinations, factor in the technical demands those routes present.

Contact us for guidance: If you’re uncertain which bike suits your situation, describe your experience level, physical requirements, and planned routes. We’ll provide specific recommendations based on operational experience with thousands of riders in your situation.

Key Principle: The right motorcycle is the one you can handle confidently throughout your entire tour, not the one that looks most impressive or feels most powerful in the parking lot. Choose based on honest self-assessment and Greek touring conditions—not ego or assumptions from other riding environments.