Motorcycle Tours Italy: Umbria's Best Riding Secrets

Skip the Stelvio crowds and head to Umbria, where Italian motorcycle tours get seriously practical. Here's what you need to know for riding Italy's Green Heart.

Timing matters. May and September give you perfect riding temps (15-25°C) and near-empty roads. June works too, but avoid August when Italians vacation and prices spike. Most hilltop towns close shop 1-3pm, so plan lunch stops accordingly or pack snacks.

The roads you actually want: Start with the Bocca Trabaria pass from Gubbio toward Urbino. The hairpins are tight but well-paved, with minimal traffic on weekdays. The lake road around Corbara offers sweeping curves with lake views, perfect for warming up your tires. Pro tip: avoid GPS shortcuts through those "white roads" unless you're on an adventure bike. They're gravel and sketchy when wet.

Bike choice matters here. Umbria's tight medieval streets and winding backroads favor nimble middleweight bikes. A Ducati Multistrada handles the variety perfectly, while a BMW R 1250 GS gives you the confidence for both paved passes and the occasional gravel detour. Even the Ducati Monster or BMW F 900 R work beautifully on these twisting routes.

Fuel up smart. Gas stations get sparse between towns. Fill up in Perugia, Spoleto, or Todi before heading into the hills. Many stations close Sundays, and self-service pumps often reject foreign cards. Carry €50 cash minimum.

Where to actually stop: Park outside medieval town walls (free) rather than wrestling cobblestones. Montefalco's lower parking area is a 5-minute walk to the center. In Assisi, use the Mojano lot below town. Your knees will thank you after a day in the saddle.

La Dolce Strada's guided motorcycle tours handle the logistics like fuel stops and parking, plus our Italian guides know which back roads avoid the rough patches. Learn the routes that work, not the ones that look good on a map.

Explore our Umbria motorcycle tours with riders who know these roads by heart.