Be an easy rider all over the world

MORE bikers than ever now ride for leisure, with an average age of 45, says the British Motorcyclists' Federation (BMF). Bikes aren't just for boys either - the BMF says 40 per cent of motorbike tests last year were taken by women. A smattering of UK companies offer tours abroad, mostly operating Easter to November: . Motorbike in Mongolia with HC Travel (01256 770 775), riding remote caravan roads through Genghis Khan's old empire of grass steppes and the Gobi desert. Stay in yak felt tents, dining on lamb and soup with fermented mare's milk on guided all-inclusive tours (maximum eight on MBW F650s). Next trip 1-14 July, pounds 2,895.

Flights through Trailfinders 020 7938 3939) to Ulan Bator from pounds 639.

. Take your own bike; MCI Tours (0161 941 2121) has trips including Eastern Europe from 14-25 August, taking in Vienna, Prague and Budapest (pounds 699).

Prices include return ferry crossing, hotels and some meals; distances between stops can be up to 500km.

. Cruise the American Dream down the former Route 66 from Chicago to LA, through eight states, 4,000km of roads and three time zones on the back of a Harley Davidson. Hemmingways (0870 742 2673) tailor- makes trips at pounds 100 per day bike rental for two (lodging from pounds 25 a night); a seven-night tour taking in the Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, St Louis costs pounds 1050pp, including accommodation but not petrol. Flights from pounds 214, Trailfinders (020 7937 5400).

. HC Travel (as before) arranges guided tours for groups of six in Peru: off-road through the Great Ica Desert's moonscape terrain, past villages to Cuzco. Train it to Machu Picchu, leaving the bikes in Cuzco, before picking them up and heading for the Amazon rainforest. Two weeks and 1,650km on a Honda XR600 costs pounds 2,620 (pounds 2,230 non-riders travelling pillion or in support vehicle) for lodging, food, bike hire, fuel and excursions (26 April- 7 May).

Journey Latin America (020 8747 3108) has flights to Lima from pounds 512 via the US.

. Rocky Mountain Motor Cycle Holidays (0800 085 8804, www.

rockymtnmoto.com), takes you along twisty forest-fringed roads surrounded by glacier-capped mountains from Canada's British Columbia to Alberta and back. Tours (10 riders max) on Triumph bikes are from five nights (approx pounds 1,170 rider/pounds 460 passenger) to 11 nights (pounds 2,677/pounds 1,087) including accommodation, meals, but not petrol.

Vancouver returns from pounds 351 through Bridge the World (0870 444 1716).

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