Riders often spend their whole trip on the west coast and never see how different the north feels. Up here the roads run longer and straighter, the traffic thins, and the bridge to the mainland is within easy reach.
This guide covers a northern day out: the quieter roads, the old town side and the bridge, plus how to plan the ride so you do not end up on a fast highway by accident.
Why ride north at all
The north is the antidote to the crowded beaches. Traffic is lighter, the roads connect easily, and you can cover real distance without constant stops.
It is also where the island shows its working side: small towns, markets and stretches of coast that tourists rarely visit.
If you want a ride that feels like travel rather than a beach crawl, the north delivers it.
The change becomes clear within a few kilometres, as the road opens out and the constant stopping of the beach strip gives way to a steady, even pace. The old town rewards a slow walk, with its shophouses and small cafes best taken in on foot rather than from the saddle.
The old town side
The old town on the east side of the island is a natural first stop on a northern ride. The streets are narrow and full of character, with shophouses and small cafes along the way.
Parking is tight here, so look for a marked space and walk the last stretch rather than circling.
It is a good place to start the day with a coffee before the roads open up to the north.
Allow time to walk a little once you park, because the old town is best seen slowly and on foot rather than from the saddle. Northern fuel stops are spaced further apart, so topping up early is simpler than searching for a station later on.
The quieter northern roads
Past the old town the roads stretch out, passing rubber plantations and small communities. This is where you can settle into a steady pace and enjoy the riding for its own sake.
The surface is generally good, but side roads can be narrow, so watch for locals turning without much warning.
Distances feel larger here than on the coast, so plan your stops rather than assuming the next town is close.
Distances here look modest on a map but feel longer on the road, so build a couple of planned stops into the day rather than hoping to find them. A short break in one of the small towns breaks the ride nicely and shows how the island works away from the beaches.
Reaching the bridge
The bridge to the mainland is the landmark of a northern ride. It is a thrill to cross, with open water either side and a sense of leaving the island briefly behind.
Traffic on the bridge moves quickly, so hold your line, keep your spacing and resist the urge to slow for the view.
Decide before you reach it whether you are crossing and coming back or simply riding past, because the decision is easier made early.
The crossing itself is short, so decide in advance whether you are turning back or riding on, and you will meet it without hesitation.
Staying off the highway by accident
Some roads in the north feed into faster through-routes, and it is easy to join one without meaning to. These roads are not a good place to be surprised.
Check your route at each junction rather than following the flow of traffic, and turn off early if the road ahead looks like a highway.
The slower parallel roads are usually just as quick for the distance you are covering, and far more pleasant on a bike.
Checking your route at junctions takes only a second and keeps you off the faster roads, which are no place to find yourself by surprise on a scooter.
| Section | Feel | Watch for |
|---|---|---|
| Old town | Narrow, characterful streets | Tight parking and pedestrians |
| Open northern roads | Long, quiet and relaxed | Side roads and slow turns |
| The bridge | Open and fast-moving | Holding your line and spacing |
| Return south | Busy later in the day | Building coast-bound traffic |
Stops and services on the way
Fuel and food are easy to find in the northern towns, but they are spaced further apart than on the coast. Top up when you see a station rather than waiting for the next one.
Small roadside stops here are often the highlight of a northern day, with simple food and shade in the middle of long rides.
Carry water. The northern stretches offer less shade and fewer chances to stop than the beach roads do.
Small roadside stops along the northern roads often serve the simplest and most welcome food of the whole trip, in the shade of a tree.
Riding north: the bridge, the old town side and quieter roads
Related guide on this topic.
Timing the ride back
The return south can be the busiest part of a northern day if you leave late. Plan to head back before the afternoon traffic builds towards the coast.
If you have crossed the bridge, give yourself time for the crossing and for the ride back inland before the light goes.
An early start makes all of this easy, and leaves the northern roads to you before anyone else is out.
An unhurried start leaves room for stops, and it means the ride back can be as calm as the ride out rather than a rush ahead of the traffic.
- Treat the old town as a natural first stop before the roads open up.
- Keep a steady pace on the long northern stretches and plan your stops ahead.
- Check your route at each junction so you never join a highway by accident.
- Fill up whenever you pass a station, because services are spaced far apart.
- Start early and turn back before the coast traffic builds in the afternoon.
A northern ride shows you a side of the island most visitors never see. The roads are quieter, the distances real, and the bridge makes a satisfying landmark.
Plan the route, stay off the fast roads, and the north becomes the calmest and most rewarding day of your trip.
