It's a sunny day and the smells of the country are crisp.

There's the smell of cut grass . . . and there seems to be a hint of chardonnay wafting from a winery shed.

After decades of sitting in a car I'm finally on the road with the proverbial wind in the hair.

I'd like to say I'm riding with the poise of Steve McQueen in The Great Escape, tearing through the countryside and jumping farm fences, but I'm not within touching distance of the throttle.

This is a chauffeured tour with diehard bikies Steven and Martin Craig who have the motto "A Different Way Around" for their tour company Vicmoto Motorcycle Tours.

The Craigs are not the grease-stained, leather-jacket, long-bearded type of bikers but clean cut, courteous and professional riders who - unlike the reckless McQueen - play by the road rules.

The motorcycle newbies who sit behind them are assured of feeling safe under the helmets and full riding gear - including boots and gloves - that are provided.

The bikes are massive machines and their bulk provides confidence that they'll stick to the road and won't be blown over in the next wind gust.

Both Craigs have been riding for years.

"We love motorcycling due to the freedom it provides as you really feel like you have travelled through the environment as opposed to being cocooned inside a vehicle," Martin Craig says.

"It takes much more involvement in a journey - physically and mentally.

"You witness much more of the scenery without the constraints of a vehicle."

During the tour we are wired for sound, not the Led Zeppelin type of sound, but we can talk to each other through microphones attached to the helmets.

We can even communicate with the riders and passenger on the other bike, which is probably a good thing because many of the tours are booked by couples.