Motorcycle Trip Planner

This motorcycle trip planner estimates in a few seconds how long your journey will take, the breaks you should plan and your fuel budget. Enter the distance, your real average speed, your motorcycle's fuel consumption and the price per litre: the tool works out your riding time, the total time including breaks and the cost of the fuel.

How to read the results

Riding time is the time spent in the saddle, without stopping. It is an estimate based on a constant average speed: in reality, going through villages, roundabouts and fuel stops always stretch a journey a little. Treat the result as a floor, not as a promise of arriving to the minute.

The "recommended breaks" line applies a simple, widely shared road safety rule: stop roughly every 2 hours. On a motorcycle, fatigue sets in faster than in a car (constant concentration, wind, vibration, cold or heat), so there is nothing to stop you stopping more often, especially in difficult weather. The total time factors in those 15-minute breaks: that is the figure to give the people waiting for you at the other end.

On the budget side, the calculation is straightforward: distance multiplied by consumption per 100 km, multiplied by the price per litre. To fine-tune this item on a long trip, our motorcycle fuel cost calculator lets you compare several price and consumption scenarios.

What values should you enter for a realistic estimate?

Average speed is the field that catches people out most. It is not the speed you ride at, but the distance divided by the total time in motion. A few useful orders of magnitude:

• Motorway: 100 to 110 km/h on average once tolls and slow-downs are counted.
• Main and secondary roads: 60 to 80 km/h depending on the terrain and how many built-up areas you pass through.
• Mountain roads or small twisty roads: often 40 to 60 km/h, even at a good pace.

As for fuel consumption, most road bikes sit between 4 and 6 L/100 km. An adventure bike loaded with luggage, a hard riding style or a strong headwind can push that figure up by 1 to 2 litres. The most reliable approach is to work out your real consumption over your last two or three fill-ups: litres added divided by kilometres covered, multiplied by 100.

Common mistakes to avoid when planning a motorcycle trip

First mistake: overestimating your average speed. A 350 km route on small roads is not done in 3h 30: at an average of 65 km/h, allow around 5h 30 of riding, excluding breaks. Better to arrive early than to ride tired to hold to an unrealistic schedule.

Second mistake: forgetting your tank range. Many motorcycles hit reserve between 180 and 250 km. On a route crossing areas with few filling stations, scout out the fuel stops in advance instead of relying on luck. It is a habit to build in right from route planning, as when you put together a motorcycle road book for a weekend or a long trip.

Third mistake: planning distance without thinking about the pleasure of the road. A shorter leg on a winding route is often worth more than a long, monotonous transit. If you are looking for inspiration, our overview of motorcycle routes in France and our ride ideas by region can serve as a starting point.

Frequently asked questions

Why a break every 2 hours on a motorcycle?

Because fatigue degrades your reflexes well before you feel it, and on a motorcycle it comes on faster than in a car. The riding position, the wind, the noise and the constant vigilance tire both body and concentration. A 15-minute break every 2 hours lets you drink, stretch your legs and set off again clear-headed. In strong heat or rain, bring the stops closer together.

What average speed should I enter for my trip?

Start with 80 km/h for a mixed route, the value suggested by default. Go up towards 100 or 110 km/h if the route is mostly motorway, come down to 50 or 60 km/h for mountains and small roads. If you know your real times on similar journeys, use them: they are always more accurate than a theoretical estimate.

Is the fuel cost shown reliable?

It is as reliable as the values you enter. The calculation itself is exact (distance multiplied by consumption, then by the price per litre), but real consumption varies with pace, load, terrain and wind. Allow a 10 to 15% margin on the budget shown, and bear in mind that the price per litre changes from one station to the next, especially on motorways.