Welcome to Vineyard Riders: The best Northern California and Napa Valley Wine Country motorcycle tours!






			How do I choose and reserve a motorcycle? Can I use my own motorcycle? What if my motorcycle breaks down during the trip? How much riding experience do I need to ride on this tour? Can I keep up or go faster? This tour sounds like something I’d enjoy, but I don’t ride motorcycles. Can I still participate? Are there shorter tours available? What’s included in the tour package? What is not included? What should I bring? Do you offer trip insurance? What weather and riding conditions should I expect? How many bikes are in a tour? How far do we ride each day? Where will we stay on the Tour? How do I reserve my spot in the tour I want? How do I cancel? Can you put together a custom tour for individuals or groups? Can you help with travel arrangements in addition to the tour?

1. How do I choose and reserve a motorcycle?

VineyardRiders.com works with several motorcycle rental companies in San Francisco and Sonoma County. We work with Eagle Rider nationwide, so we can arrange motorcycle rentals for you in most major cities throughout the United States- click here for locations. Click here for your choice of Harley Davidson, BMW, Honda, MotoGuzzi, Triumph, Ducati or Yamaha model choices. The price of the motorcycle rental with unlimited miles and helmet (if needed) is included in the tour package cost from VineyardRiders.com.

You may also choose to add higher insurance coverage or rent riding gear from Eagle Rider when you pick up the bike. Let us know if you are interested in these options.

2. Can I use my own motorcycle?

Absolutely. If you need to have you motorcycle shipped to San Francisco for the tour, see our shipping links on our home page for a Motorcycle Shipping quotes.

If you are riding your own motorcycle, simply show up for the first night orientation dinner specified in the tour itinerary.

3. What if my motorcycle breaks down during the trip?

Eagle Rider provides 24 hour road service as part of their rental agreement. We may be able to haul your motorcycle in our chase vehicle/trailer to the next stop where Eagle Rider or you can arrange for repairs or a replacement.

If you are riding your own motorcycle and it breaks down, you are responsible for repairs and any variation to trips costs caused by the associated delays. See our home page for motorcycle towing insurance. Again, we may be able to haul your motorcycle in the chase trailer to the nearest repair shop.

4. How much riding experience do I need to ride on this tour?

You must be at least 21 and should have at least 1 year of experience riding a 450cc or bigger bike. This should include carrying a passenger if you will be riding with a passenger for this tour. In other words, you need enough experience to ride through varying road and weather conditions for 1500 miles in a week.

5. Can I keep up or go faster?

While we prefer everyone to stay together with the group, More experienced faster riders can ride in the front of the group with the lead tour guide. Slower riders can ride towards the back of the group with the sweeper and chase vehicle.

For those who prefer to ride alone at their own pace, maps and suggested riding routes with evening destinations and target arrival times will be provided.

6. This tour sounds like something I’d enjoy, but I don’t ride motorcycles. Can I still participate?

Absolutely. We can help with car rentals or you can choose the shopping cart option to ride in the chase vehicle (NORCAL Tour only) for yourself or a family member or friend.

7. Are there shorter tours available?

Yes. We’ve now added 1, 2, and 3 day tours using local motorcycle rentals or you can ride your own bike. These tours are available guided or self guided. Both 2 & 3 day tours include hotels or hotel/meal packages. See our 1, 2 & 3 day Tour link at the bottom of the Home Page or 2008 Tour Page.

8. What’s included in the tour package?

The NORCAL Tours include all hotel accommodations (Saturday through Friday), an orientation dinner, all ground transportation from the time you arrive at SFO until you depart SFO, dinners and breakfasts each day, motorcycle rental and insurance, all park entrance fees and bridge tolls, a chase vehicle with enclosed trailer to haul your luggage and golf clubs or a motorcycle in case of breakdown, ability for passengers to ride in the chase vehicle when needed, maps, itinerary, tour guides, and travel services. All 7 day tours also include a wine tasting tour in an antique fire truck.

The WINE COUNTRY Tours include all hotel accommodations (Saturday through Friday), the Saturday night orientation dinner, the Friday night farewell/thank you dinner, all breakfasts, ground transportation from SFO to the first night hotel and to the motorcycle rental shop and back, a chase vehicle with enclosed trailer to haul your luggage and golf clubs from the SFO hotel to and from the Wine Country hotel, maps and itineraries, and tour guides, and travel services. All 7 day tours also include a Safari West tour and a wine tasting tour. In addition, you can book extra excursions (see the shopping cart).

The 7 day tour ends on Saturday at 4pm. We provide transportation back to the SFO hotel where you spent your first night. Contact us if you would like us to add the Saturday night after the tour in the same hotel at our discounted price. Contact us if you would like us to help with extended vacation planning.

We now have 1 to 3 day tour packages, both guided and unguided. See the link to these tours on the bottom of the tour page for what they include.

9. What is not included?

Transportation to and from SFO is not included. See our travel link to book air fare.

For the NORCAL Tours, lunch, gas, and alcoholic beverages are not included.

For the WINE COUNTY Tours, Sunday through Thursday lunches, dinners, and alcoholic beverages are not included. There are 15 award winning restaurants, movie theaters, shopping, night clubs, and activities within walking distance to the Wine Country hotel. This tour is designed for you to experience whatever night life you desire. We will provide maps to all walking distance hotels, entertainment, and activities.

The WINE COUNTRY Tour is designed to allow you to choose how you want to experience Sonoma County on excursion days. Although the excursion costs are not included in the basic tour price, we can help with choices, reservations, and payment when you reserve the tour. All fuel costs and excursion day transportation costs are not included. You will be able to ride your motorcycle to many of the excursion choices. Transportation will be provided as part of the excursion price for those excursions involving the consumption of alcohol.

If you are not interested in a mid week excursion option, we can schedule a ride that day for you.

10. What should I bring?

Passport, valid drivers license, credit cards (ATM or DEBIT cards are recommended), cash for gas, lunches, souvenirs/wine purchases/gambling/evening activities, etc.

Personal heath insurance information or purchase trip health insurance confirmation.

We highly recommend you bring your own motorcycle helmets and riding gear (jacket, riding pants or chaps, boots, gloves, and sun glasses) so that you know you will be comfortable.

Also bring a camera and back up batteries or charger, and a back up memory card or lap top to down load your pictures (I filled 2 memory cards in one day).

You’ll need comfortable riding clothing for temperatures possibly ranging from 40 degrees F to 110 degrees F. Although we only schedule these tours during summer, you should be prepared for a rare light rain.

For the WINE COUNTRY Tours, bring comfortable casual clothing for evenings out and good walking shoes for the excursion days.

If you bring your own motorcycle please be sure it is has been recently serviced and is ready for a 1500 mile ride. Also bring your confirmation of motorcycle insurance and any towing coverage if you have it.

If you play golf, bring your clubs.

11. Do you offer trip insurance?

See the AIG insurance link on our home page for trip insurance options. Or click the link to the left.

12. What weather and riding conditions should I expect?

Although we schedule these tours for the best riding weather of the year, California weather, especially in the Sierras and along the coast can be unpredictable. Normally the weather will be in the 70’s to 90’s. But we see occasional rain in the summer, and frequent fog along the coast. The tour guide may change which roads we take to avoid extreme weather or extreme unsafe riding conditions.

On the NORCAL Tour, we will travel from sea level to about 9,000 feet during the week. It is not uncommon to see large snow banks on the sides of the road when crossing Mt Lassen, but the roads should be clear. It is typical to see over 100 degrees in the upper central California valley. Be prepared to adjust your riding gear accordingly.

13. How many bikes are in a tour?

The intended tour group size is 8-10 bikes for the NORCAL Tour and 8-12 bikes for the WINE COUNTRY Tour. In some cases we are forced to limit tour group size simply because of the limited number of rooms in the hotels in the remote mountain regions. We also try to keep the groups smaller for safety.

We reserve the right to cancel a tour that has too few bikes. If a tour is cancelled, you can transfer your deposit to another tour or receive a full refund.

14. How far do we ride each day?

The NORCAL Tour covers approximately 1500 miles in 7 days, so we average just over 200 miles per day. This equates to 4-6 hours in the saddle, so there is plenty of time for breaks, lunch, and picture stops.

15.Where will we stay on the Tour?

Besides being your tour guides, the owners of VineyardRiders.com are also licensed travel agents. We have negotiated very competitive rates at above average hotels (Marriott Courtyard, Tahoe Mount Bleu, Sofitel, Hilton, Hyatt, etc.). All hotels have restaurants within walking distance. See the tour tabs for details and the home or travel support pages for links to the hotels.

16. How do I reserve my spot in the tour I want?

At the tour page, click the tour of your choice. At the bottom of the page, Click here to book your tour. Read the “Terms & Conditions” & “Waiver & Release” page. Click Continue to Tour Booking to agree to the Terms & Conditions and Waiver & Release. This will take you to the shopping cart page. Select “Deposit” and answer the questions from the pull down menus, then enter your credit card information. You can also call us so we can process your credit card over the phone, wire transfer funds, or send us a check.

A $500 deposit is required when you reserve. The remainder of the balance is required in full 60 days prior to the trip date.

Overseas customers must pay by wire transfer.

17. How do I cancel?

Your money can be refunded up until 60 days prior to the tour date. Refunds cannot be provided after the 60 day cutoff date. Click here for Trip Cancellation insurance to protect your investment.

18. Can you put together a custom tour for individuals or groups?

Yes. Please contact us for both guided and unguided custom tour services.

19. Can you help with travel arrangements in addition to the tour?

Yes. If you would like to extend your stay, we can reserve hotels at our discount rates. We can help with airfare. If you want to spend an extra day touring San Francisco, we can help with everything from car or motorcycle rentals to excursion, concert, or ball game tickets. Visit our Travel Booking Engine or contact us for assistance.

Contact us at jerry@vineyardriders.com or call at 707-483-7363