The TRAVELER'S JOURNAL: August twentieth, looking for adventure, and whatever comes our way.

Though the Easy Rider image and lure of the open road remain big attractions, motorcycle touring is no longer just a youthful rite of passage. It's a pastime for many older, more affluent individuals. They ride solo or in groups, with the most popular format being mixed doubles. In fact, female riders are the fastest growing segment of the motorcycle market. The machines folks ride these days have also come a long way. Their Gold Wings and Electra Glides are equipped with a list of luxury features to rival the finest automobiles. Instead of traditional riding leathers, folks are decked out in Gore-tex and electrically-heated suits. But since skill and experience still count, most states require instructional programs before they license novice riders.

Finding a great place to ride is the easy part. Favorite domestic routes include California's coastal Highway One, the Ozark Mountains, Virginia's Blue Ridge Parkway, and the lonely roads of Minnesota's Boundary Waters. One well-kept cycling secret is Wayne National Forest in Ohio's southeast corner, known as "Little Switzerland."

The real Switzerland is also rich with great rides. In fact, when on a motorcycle most places in Europe, taking the shortest distance between two points is almost sacrilegious. The International Directory of Motorcycle Touring now lists over one hundred tour operators who organize trips on every continent but Antarctica. So you can tackle a trans-Sahara crossing without having been born to be wild.

FMI For more information: call the American Motorcyclist Association (800-262-5646) www.ama-cycle.org Whitehorse Press (800-531-1133 or www.whitehorsepress.com stocks over 1500 books and videos on motorcycling. Rider magazine (800-678-2279) is a monthly resource. The Motorcycle Industry Council (800-833-3995 or www.motorcycles.org publishes Straight Facts to initiate newcomers to the sport

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