| Who
can join in on NorthStar Moto Tours?
NorthStar Moto Tours welcomes all
women riders, regardless of age, race, creed, sexual orientation,
or motorcycle brand. If you're a woman who rides, you're in the
right place!
Are men allowed on the tours?
At this time, we are focused on providing
an environment where women can get together and enjoy the motorcycling
experience with other like-minded women. We understand that some
women may wish to share the experience with someone special of
the male persuasion. If there is enough demand, we will designate
a tour as "OPEN" meaning that men will be welcome as
well as women on that particular tour. (Such tours will be clearly
designated on the Reservations page.)
What's included in my tour?
Included in your tour is everything you'll need to relax and have
a great time: 3 nights hotel reservations, meals, itinerary with
planned routes and a completely guided tour of some of the most
spectacular motorcycling in the world! Also included in the tour
price is a chase vehicle with trailer which can be used to haul
any extra gear you may bring, as well as you and your motorcycle
in case of a breakdown. A motorcycle is not included -
you can use your own or rent one for the tour. (We recommend Dubbelju
in San Francisco where NorthStar guests receive a 10% discount
on their rentals, but we're happy to assist you with your arrangements
in any case!) You'll have to pay for your own drinks, souvenirs
and anything not listed in the details for each tour. Please contact
us using the Contact link to the left with any questions prior
to booking a tour to make sure all your questions are answered.
What kind of accommodations should
I expect?
You can always expect a clean, comfortable
hotel with all the amenities you'll need to enjoy your trip. Wherever
possible, we'll use smaller, boutique places that enhance the
experience - like a great bed and breakfast. For those comfortable
with using a more objective rating, we'll use 3 star accommodations
with a smattering of 4 star wherever possible, according to the
following scale:
Three-star establishments place a
greater emphasis on style, comfort, and personalized service.
They generally feature on-site dining room service, a pool and/or
fitness center, a gift shop, and may provide baggage assistance.
Conference rooms for meetings and extended services for business
travelers are usually offered. Guestrooms offer more extensive
amenities and more careful attention to decor and comfort.
Four star establishments usually offer
a fine-dining restaurant, lounge, and room service with extended
hours. Service features usually include baggage assistance, concierge
service, and valet parking. A conference center with up-to-date
technology and full business services are usually offered. Public
spaces and guestrooms are thoughtfully designed and constructed
with high-quality materials. Guestrooms generally offer stylish
furnishings, high-quality bedding and bath products, and a wide
array of amenities.
Can I share a hotel room with someone
else?
Of course. And sharing a room is a
great way to save on the overall cost of the tour! All reservations
are automatically booked at the private room rate. What happens
next, depends on what you tell us about your room preference in
the notes section at checkout:
1) If you'd like to share a room
with a specific person, fill in the Comments section in the
checkout page telling us you'd like to share a room with a specific
person and be sure to include that person's name in the note.
The person you're travelling with should do the same. When both
orders have been received, we'll mail each of you a check for
the difference in cost between a the Shared and the Private room.
2) If you'd like to have your own
private room, simply book the tour and you're all set!
3) If
you'd like to share a room with another tour guest at random,
please put a note in the "Comments" box telling us that
you'd like to be paired at random with someone. We'll pair you
with the first available guest that also wishes to share a room
at random. We'll mail you a check for the difference in cost if
and when we're successful in pairing you.
What about meals?
In most cases, we've chosen hotels
with nice continental breakfasts, so we'll use those with a few
exceptions. Dinner will be held at a nice selection of restaurants
that have been chosen for their great atmosphere and even better
food. And we'll always have lunch in a super-scenic location.
If you have any dietary restrictions,
please let us know in advance and we'll do our best to accommodate
you.
Do you have a chase vehicle?
Yes as well as a trailer to tow bikes
and extra gear. It will be available on all of our tours to tote
any gear/luggage for you, provide any mechanical assistance or
tows, and offer any other help that may be needed.
Do you rent motorcycles?
YES! (Sort of) NorthStar customers
enjoy a 10% discount at Dubbelju
Motorcycle Rentals in San Francisco! Dubbelju has offered
a great selection of motorcycles to riders in San Francisco for
17 years and we are delighted to work with them to bring you the
best touring experience possible.
We are very happy to help you with
the arrangements and we offer complimentary pick up/drop off service
so that your rental will be waiting for you the morning of departure
and we'll gladly return it for you at the end of the ride. Please
don't hesitate to contact us for further details.
What do I need to bring?
We've taken care of almost everything,
but there are still some things you may want to bring, and here
are some ideas. Of course, we welcome any questions you may have!
Gear: your riding gear is an integral
part of your riding experience. So please give careful consideration
to the gear that you bring with you. We have some suggestions
in the section on riding gear farther down on this page, but of
course questions are always welcome!
Clothing: You should probably bring
some clothes other than your riding gear in case you want to get
out, walk around and explore a bit.
Camera: While your tour guide will
be snapping photos along the way (and you'll get a CD with the
pictures at the end of the tour!), you'll want to be sure to bring
your own to capture any personal memories to bring home.
Money: While hotels, meals, and some
attractions are included in the cost of your tour (see tour description
for details), any incidentals that you can't live without (i.e.
alcoholic beverages, spa services, souvenirs, etc.) are not included
so bring a little spending cash or credit card.
What kind of riding gear is required?
California has a helmet law so all riders must wear a helmet while
riding. However at a minimum we recommend helmet, jacket, gloves,
boots that cover the ankles and long pants.
Our tours can take you from the coast
(which can be very cool) to the central valley (which can be very
hot) or up into the Sierra Nevada mountains (which can be either
hot or cool!). Some of the textile suits available today are ideal
with zip-out linings and ventilation. They're ready for anything
California has to offer. If you don't have one of those, that's
perfectly fine - just prepare to dress in layers and you'll be
comfortable under any circumstances. We're happy to make specific
recommendations to fit your situation, so please contact us for
more info!
Rain just usually isn't a problem
out here in sunny California, but should inclement weather present
itself on a ride, we have rain suits to fit over your leathers.
If you have one that you prefer, please feel free to bring it.
Is a motorcycle license required?
Yes! A valid motorcycle license is required in the state of California.
Is previous riding experience required?
Yes. Although our tours are not technically
difficult, you'll cover more than a hundred miles per day on roads
that wind their way through mountains, redwood groves, along the
coast or through the city streets of San Francisco. It's paradise
for experienced riders, but it's no place for complete beginners.
How do you know if you're an experienced rider? That's a question
with a different answer for everyone. Of course, the decision
is yours. But we recommend a minimum of 2 years or 10,000 miles
of experience.
Can I use my own motorcycle?
Of course. However, you will be responsible
for getting the motorcycle to the starting location on time, and
you'll also be responsible for getting it back home.
Please keep in mind that we cannot
be responsible for your bike if it breaks down. And although you'll
still have full access to the chase vehicle, please understand
that we won't hold up the tour to wait for the repair of your
motorcycle. Please click
here to send us an email for some suggestions on preparing
your bike for the tour.
How many riders will be on a tour?
Our tours operate with two tour guides,
one lead and one sweep. In addition to those two, we like to maintain
a maximum of 8 riders. Under special circumstances we might make
room for up to 10 riders.
I only see weekend tours. Do you
also offer longer tours?
Currently we only have weekend tours
available through our Tours page. We plan to expand and offer
longer tours in the future, based on demand. But we're also happy
to plan a longer tour to fit your schedule - please contact us
for details!
Do you offer custom tours?
Yes! Drop us a line and we'll be
happy to talk about putting together the perfect tour for you!
If your question wasn't answered
here
Please drop us an email and ask!
We want to make sure you have all the information you want, and
we're more than happy to answer any questions you might have.
Please click on the button below to send us an email!
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