Bikes
Choosing The Right One
One of the biggest decisions you’ll make before joining the Paris Dakar Challenge is what motorcycle to ride. The route covers approximately 4,500 miles through Europe and Africa, including mountain tracks, desert pistes, remote gravel roads, rough tarmac and sections of soft sand. Your bike needs to be reliable, comfortable over long distances and capable when the road disappears.
You are welcome to ride your own motorcycle or, if you are travelling from overseas, take advantage of our PDC Motorcycle Package. Whichever option you choose, the most important thing is bringing a bike that gives you the best chance of enjoying the adventure.
Our Recommended Bike – Honda CRF300 Rally
After completing the 2026 Paris Dakar Challenge with a fleet of Honda CRF300 Rallys, we can confidently say that in our opinion this is the best bike for the trip by a considerable margin.
The CRF300 Rally proved itself exceptionally reliable throughout the expedition. It handled everything from the Atlas Mountains to the Sahara and the beaches of Dakar while remaining comfortable on the long road sections linking each country together.
For this type of adventure it offers a combination that is difficult to beat:
- Lightweight and easy to manage off-road
- Comfortable over long distances
- Extremely reliable
- Low fuel consumption
- Excellent range
- Simple and easy to maintain
- Strong enough for rough terrain
- Forgiving for less experienced off-road riders
While many adventure bikes can complete the route, if somebody asked us to choose one motorcycle specifically for the Paris Dakar Challenge, the Honda CRF300 Rally would be our choice every time.
PDC Motorcycle Package
Many of our riders join us from outside the UK and need us to provide a bike for them. Shipping a motorcycle across the world is impractical. Others simply don’t want the hassle of buying, preparing and selling a bike in the UK. To help solve this problem, we offer a limited number of PDC Motorcycle Packages.
These include:
- Fully prepared Honda CRF300 Rally (with upgraded YSS shock)
- UK storage before the expedition
- Pre-trip servicing and preparation
- New chain and tyres where required
- Expedition setup and inspection
- Priority CRF300 technical support during the trip
- Post-trip buy-back option
Unlike a rental bike, the motorcycle belongs to you. At the end of the expedition you can:
- Keep the bike
- Sell the bike privately
- Use our guaranteed buy-back option (subject to normal wear and tear conditions)
Availability is limited and details may vary from year to year, so please contact us for current pricing and availability.
Riding Your Own Bike
Many riders choose to complete the challenge on their own motorcycle. If you already own a suitable adventure bike and enjoy riding it off-road, this can be a great option. Your motorcycle must be:
- Road legal and insured
- Mechanically sound and not too old
- Capable of sustained long-distance riding
- Suitable for rough tracks and unsealed roads
Big Bikes vs Small Bikes
The adventure bike market these days is dominated by bigger bikes such as a BMW GS, Africa Twin and Yamaha Tenere. In all honesty however this is mostly just successful marketing – they are great bikes, but for most riders they are not ideal for a real adventure like this.
The biggest issue is soft sand where weight quickly becomes your enemy. For expert riders with strong off-road experience, this may not be a problem. For most riders however, a large adventure bike can turn enjoyable challenges into impossible or dangerous ones.
We generally recommend lighter motorcycles – think minimum 250cc and maximum 650cc. If you want to bring a bike bigger than 650cc then you can – but you should be confident you can handle it on the kinds of terrain we will sometime encounter.
If you are unsure which bike to bring, please contact us and we will happily discuss your options.
Mechanic Support
Our support team includes experienced mechanics and a fully equipped support vehicle. While every rider remains responsible for the condition of their own motorcycle, we are there to help whenever possible.
Support includes:
- Mechanical assistance during the expedition
- Basic repairs where practical
- Recovery arrangements when required
- Advice on spares and preparation before departure
So far no bike on the Paris Dakar Challenge has ever failed to complete the trip because of mechanical problems. If you do have issues with your bike, we will do everything we reasonably can to get it sorted for you and get you back on the road.
Maintenance
Whether you ride your own bike or one of ours, you’ll be responsible for basic daily maintenance — it’s essential for your safety and the bike’s reliability. We’ll provide clear guidance on what to check each day, including:
- Chain lubrication and tension
- Tyre pressures
- Oil and coolant level
- Brake checks
- Light and indicator checks
Our staff will also perform regular checks of their own, but riders are expected to take primary responsibility for their machine’s condition. We’ll be there to help — but ownership of the ride, and the responsibility that comes with it, is part of the experience.
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QUESTIONS?
Whether you're a seasoned rider or new to off-road biking, don't let doubts hold you back; our team is here to answer all your questions and support you every step of the way. Contact us today to learn more about how you can join this unforgettable adventure.