Inside the World of a Vintage Rides Tour Leader

Always moving, always watching, always ready. The Vintage Rides tour leaders are all in, humble, and super passionate about what they do. Three tour leaders. Three personalities. One shared goal: to take you on unforgettable motorcycle tours. Meet Harshvardhan, Tuk and François.

HARSHVARDHAN, aka ARCHOU

Age: 37

From: India

Leading motorcycle tours since: 2017

Lives in: Udaipur

Cool fact: He loves to sketch and drives his Willys Jeep around the Udaipur hills.

Best travel memory?

Man, so many… I remember this group from South Africa, some had climbed Everest twice! One guy even lost six fingers to frostbite, but he still rode with us! Their stories were wild. I’ve met some awesome people over the years, and a lot come back. They’re like family now.

Most beautiful road?

Himalaya’s roads. Every turn is a new feeling. It’s a crazy playground you never forget. In India, every area is special, like you’re changing countries every trip.

Dream motorcycle trip?

Riding on a frozen lake in Mongolia. Going over those huge, icy spaces in complete silence and freezing cold would be epic and a real test.

One thing every guide needs?

Patience.

TUK

Age: 39

From: Mongolia

Leading motorcycle tours since: 2017

Lives in: Ulaanbaatar

Cool fact: He used to be in the Foreign Legion. When stuff gets real, he’s your guy.

What’s the best part of your job?

After being in the Foreign Legion for ten years, I wanted to come home. Doing adventure tourism was perfect: being on the road, meeting folks. That’s me. I love the small groups, the motorcycle vibe, seeing Mongolia… Guiding motorbike tours in Mongolia just fits perfectly.

Favorite place?

I love the road between Ogii Nuur Lake and Tsetserleg. The tracks are wild, especially when it’s muddy or the rivers are high. Those trips make the best memories.

What do you tell riders?

Mongolia is gorgeous, yeah, but keep your eyes on the road! Stop to take pics, enjoy it, but stay focused on riding.

One thing every guide needs?

Always have a backup plan… or two or three.

FRANÇOIS

Age: 43

From: France

Leading motorcycle tours since: 2010

Lives: Everywhere and nowhere

Cool fact: He’s been around motorcycles since he was a kid.

What do you love about your job?

It’s a people job. It’s hard but so worth it. You learn a lot from others. Over the years, I’ve seen the usual mistakes and know what helps. Watching people get better and go further is amazing. A road trip is the best way to learn to ride.

Best trip ever?

No way to pick just one. But the Himalayas hit me hard. My first time on the Tibetan plateau, almost 15,000 feet up, looking at the Sarchu canyon. It was magical. I was with my friend Steven, who used to be a guide with Vintage Rides.

Best road memory?

During one of my Rwanda motorcycle tours, I was scouting near Volcanoes National Park when I suddenly heard a deep growling in the jungle. I stopped the bike, grabbed my camera… and a whole gorilla family calmly walked across the road right in front of me.

One thing every guide needs?

To love what they do.

At Vintage Rides, our tour leaders get a lot of support.

In Lyon, France, we have a tight team that helps get your motorcycle road trip ready, deals with problems, and is always trying to make our tours better.

In every country, our local teams share the same goal and welcome you whether you’re close to home or on the other side of the world.

Thanks to everyone who works hard so we can focus on what matters: giving you the best motorcycle trip ever