So I got the privilege to join Skuli and his amazing adventures for the second time with my dad and... read more
So I got the privilege to join Skuli and his amazing adventures for the second time with my dad and... read more
I have been on an offroad tour in Iceland with Ride with Locals in 2022 which was fantastic. So... read more
I just finished a six-day trip with the guys from Ride With Locals. It was motocross/enduro on brand new 701 Husqvarnas and KTM 690's. Honestly, it was a blast! All aspects of the journey were exceptional. Because it was completely back-country for the duration of the trip with Ride With Locals providing everything but personal safety gear and weather gear, I was curious as to how it would all pan out. Here's what I found as the trip unfolded: the bikes were well-maintained, the trails had lots of variety and were an absolute thrill, the major focus of the trip were the trails, the meals were five-star--fresh food cooked up each night by the guide/chef, the accommodations (four cabins, five nights out there) were clean, comfortable, private to the group and all but one had shower facilities. Basically, all of my "tactical" concerns were taken care of.
Here's the important thing about this company: the guys that own the company are the guys that are riding the bikes and doing the guiding. Talk about ownership! Let me give you an example of how well these guys took care of me: the skills level of the group ranged from a novice (me) who had accumulated a lofty fourteen hours on a Husky 501 just before showing up for this trip to a guy who has been moto-crossing all his life and can never get enough of it. I have to say that both types of riders were fully accommodated on this trip. Being a bit short (30" inseam) I was asked right away if I wanted to ride a lower bike (ie. a KTM 450). Being curious about how the 701 handled, I opted for the Husky--for the first two days. As soon as I had had enough, the guys brought out a 450 and even changed out the seat for a lower one. The other end of the skills spectrum did not need any extra mods; they got their fill of speed and thrills.
As we were Averaging almost 200 klicks per day, Skule, Olaf, Gudjun quickly became more than just guides: they were genuinely interested in making sure that we were getting as much out of our trip as we could. And we thoroughly enjoyed their good company on the trails and in the camps.
I'll be back this time next year for six days of thrills and great company!
If you want a enduro adventure this is the one. They take you to Places that are Amazing, from hot steaming mountains to the black sands of the Glacier. They cater for all levels of riders from beginners to experts. Go and experience the real Iceland Adventure on a enduro bike with riding with locals great job guys.
I hired a guide from Ride With Locals for a one-day offroad adventure when riding around Iceland on my motorcycle. These guys run small group enduro tours with bikes and support included, but also arrange custom and private tours on request. Skúli and Guðjón arranged a great day for me where we visited several beautiful spots, and we rode gravel roads and backroads in the Fjallabak nature reserve to Landmannalaugar. The guides really know the Highlands well, and know how to plan a good adventure! I appreciated the patience of the guides, as I´m a beginner on gravel and offroad - and they adapted the ride to my skills and my bike. And they guided me through my first river crossings! If you love motorbikes and want a true adventure in Iceland I would really recommend getting in touch with Ride With Locals to arrange the perfect trip for you. In addition to riding with skilled moto guides, you will also be in great company.
If you love riding and want to experience Iceland there simply is not better way to do it than Ride with Locals.
Ride with Locals is owner operated (we had Skuli and GoodJohn as guides, they were tiptop) and the care and attention they put into every aspect was obvious.
The motorbikes we rode were almost new and very well maintained. They were Husqvarna 701's and were a perfect balance between power and maneuverability. They're fitted with 3 small dry bags that allowed me to carry my drone and some warmer weather gear safely. Our main bag rode along in the chase truck that met us every night.
Each night we stopped at a mountain hut which was warm, clean and had hot showers. The food the guys cooked was awesome (lamb steaks with a delicious sauce, for example) and they made sure we had energy bars, Gatorade, and sandwiches during the day.
The star of the show, of course is Iceland. This was where you really felt like you were doing something special. Skuli and GoodJohn tailored the ride to our riding level and we were able to see things and do things that I doubt 1% of visitors to Iceland get to do, superjeeps and all. Both guys know the place like the back of their hand and had detailed GPS maps of every little track in Iceland. We crossed countless streams, climbed a glacier pass, rode through grassy fields and lava plains, the variety was astounding.
We felt like we were riding with old friends that were dying to share their beautiful country with us. Simply put, it was a life experience. I can't say enough good about it. 😊
My dad, my brother, and I rode 300km with Skuli and Olaf to some of the most incredible spots on the south side of the island. True to the name, we were really "riding with locals". They knew every back road and short cut, even re-routed when a river was uncrossable. If you're an avid motorcycle rider and want an incredible experience touring the dirt roads of iceland, seeing incredibles sights, riding some stellar bikes, you have to ride with locals.
We started with the guides from Selfoss, and drove to a trailhead where we unloaded the bikes. The riding in the area was just amazing. Every corner that we turned opened up amazing scenery. We rode on their Husqvarna 701 enduro bikes, and they were new and well maintained, so we had zero issues with reliability. We stopped along the way and shot lots of photos. Our guides were really fun and we had a great day of riding. We plan on going back next year to ride in the West Fjord area.