Taking a Motorcycle Trip
through the Carolinas

Motorcycling through the North Carolina mountains

If you've ever wanted to take a motorcycle trip through the Carolinas, no time's better than now.

In the first half of this article, we'll cover what your motorcycle should be equipped with prior to taking your journey, so that you're well prepared for anything that might come up, both expected and unexpected, along the way.

In the second half, we'll provide recommendations for what to see on your motorcycle adventure, including some eclectic stops that may not be mentioned in mainstream tourism guides. So for a trip unprecedented in free spirited fun, but also planned for so that you avoid unnecessary problems, be sure to follow some of the suggestions provided below.

Preparing for the Trip

No matter how well you maintain your motorcycle, there's a big difference between driving it around town or to work and taking it on an extensive trip across two states.

The first thing you'll want to do is make sure the tires are inflated and don't have any damage. If you haven't replaced your bike's tires in a while, you may want to get them checked professionally before you go.

Same goes for oil and brake fluid levels, as these are issues you don't want to be stuck with while you're in the middle-of-nowhere South Carolina with no gas station or motor stop for miles.

Also, if you plan to do a lot of night touring, considering installing some motorcycle HIDs. HID headlights are up to 3x brighter than conventional headlights, and on top of that, they provide for a better visual range at night, both peripheral and straight ahead. Plus, you can customize the color of the lights as well, so if you want to make a statement on your bike trip, this is one big way to do it.

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What to See

The Carolinas, both North and South, are spectacularly diverse states.

For day touring to some less visited places, try starting in the big collection of colleges in central North Carolina. Duke University and Chapel Hill both have incredibly green campuses with many old trees and unique architecture, while Elon University not too far from those two is a hidden gem known for beautiful brick buildings and well-maintained gardens. In fact, if you're doing some night touring during the winter months, consider a stop at Elon's luminary lighting every Christmas season, which precedes the lighting of the entire campus. With your bike's new HIDs installed, you should be able to navigate even on the dark roads leading to the town.

For your South Carolina half of the trek, you won't want to miss the coastal drive, especially as palm trees begin to sprout up as you travel further south. Myrtle Beach is again a great night stop, especially if you want to avoid heavy day traffic, while Charleston down by the harbor day or night is great for a casual bike drive.

And here's a tip: if you want to stop by the town made famous by Andy Griffith, the real Mayberry is a beautiful little town in the mountains in North Carolina known as Mount Airy. And certainly don't miss viewing Pilot Mountain on your way in; few mountains have a geographical structure so endearing and unusual that it screams to be seen.