Nurburgring Has Implemented a Ban on Motorcycles During Tourist Laps

      Nürburgring/Adobe. (Edited)

      After years of tourists on cars and motorcycles racing closely around the Green Hell, the Nürburgring is effectively prohibiting bikes on the renowned Nordschleife. This decision is being framed as a safety measure, which is reasonable, but it poses a setback for the sport-riding motorcycle community, as a significant opportunity for performance riding has now vanished. This marks the end of an era.

      Motorcyclists will now only be allowed to ride the 21-kilometer Nordschleife (the lengthy track that most people associate with the term “Nürburgring”) under the supervision of trained guides during training sessions and courses, rather than having unrestricted access. Only four such days will be scheduled for 2025. The Nürburgring’s Grand Prix track, a 5.148-kilometer loop located at the same site, will remain accessible to tourist cars and motorcycles. As detailed on the ‘Ring’s website, the combined length of the long version along with the Nordschleife totals approximately 25 kilometers.

      My days of riding sport bikes are likely over, but I know several individuals who have aspired to a thrilling lap on the ‘Ring on two wheels, and they are going to be quite disappointed by this news. Judging by the comments on the Nürburgring’s Facebook announcement, a significant number of bikers are frustrated about being regarded as “second-class citizens,” as one commenter put it (translated from German).

      From a practical standpoint, all riders will likely gain much more from a Nordschleife experience in a structured training context rather than riding recklessly on their own. However, the limited availability and costs of these courses may prevent many potential riders from experiencing it altogether.

      That said, while a large part of me dislikes opposing vehicular freedom, it’s easy to see why this decision was reached. The risk-to-reward ratio of allowing anyone to ride a motorcycle on the ‘Ring is much less favorable compared to cars. An accident that might only result in minor damages to a car could be fatal for a biker. While a car can spin into the grass and continue, a biker who goes off is far more likely to necessitate emergency services. Additionally, there’s the financial element. Nürburgring regular and motorsport writer Dale Lomas put it succinctly on his blog Bridge to Gantry today:

      “This change is not solely about safety. It’s about money AND safety. Naturally it is. The Nürburgring, like most racing circuits, operates as a business. (It’s quite astonishing to realize that for nearly 75 years it was a nationalized state facility for the public good). However, like any business would, it’s shifting away from the disordered, unpredictable nature of open sessions to a more controlled, regulated model. This isn’t the first move in that direction, and I doubt it will be the last.”

      I don’t believe the ‘Ring will be entirely off-limits to tourists in the near future, but honestly, that insight from Lomas has me considering that if driving the Nordschleife is on your bucket list, you might want to pursue it sooner rather than later.

      If you were planning to ride the Nordschleife or want to clarify how you can do so under these new regulations, you can check the Nürburgring’s official announcement about the bike ban on their site in both English and German.

      Have you ever experienced the Green Hell? Share your story with me at [email protected]