In Loupiac, between Sarlat and Rocamadour, Kevin and Jennifer rent out BSA Gold Star 650s, take guests out in a sidecar, and ride alongside motorcyclists through the roads of the Lot, Dordogne, and Corrèze. And at the end of the day, there's a gîte and secure parking for your bike.
You roll into the Dordogne Valley on your own bike. You know its riding position, its braking, the way it pulls out of a corner. But what if, just for a day, you rode something completely different? A big single-cylinder with a ’50s look, or a sidecar, where you sit in the chair while someone else handles the driving.
That's exactly what French Retro Ride offers, in Loupiac, in the Lot. A property with gîtes and guest rooms, a garage, and a small fleet of machines to rent or ride with a guide.
Who's waiting for you in Loupiac
Kevin and Jennifer made a life change to settle here, in a restored farmhouse with its own dovecote: La Maison Les Chandelles.. Kevin has been riding since 2003 and has put miles on just about every type of machine: adventure, supermoto, roadster, sportbike. He's the one who leads the rides and hands you his best roads.
The property is less than 30 minutes from Sarlat and Rocamadour, right in the heart of what locals call the golden triangle. From here, you can head out toward the Causses du Quercy, the Périgord château route, the Vallée de l'Homme with its cave villages, or the medieval villages of Corrèze.
On site, a showroom doubles as a welcome area. Couch, garage vibe: that’s where you jot down the good spots before heading out.
See the listing French Retro Ride
Riding a BSA Gold Star 650 for the day
The rental machine is the BSA Gold Star 650. A single-cylinder with styling drawn straight from the original Gold Stars, with smooth, forgiving controls. This isn’t a bike built for hammering highway miles. It’s a machine made for wandering back roads and enjoying the torque of that big thumper.
It's accessible from age 20 with an A2 license, new riders included. That's worth knowing if you're traveling with someone who's just getting started.
With every rental, you get:
a helmet and certified gloves for you and your passenger
a phone mount
third-party insurance for the bike
a full tank to start
Pricing: €70 for a half-day, €110 for a full weekday, €120 on weekends, with a 10% discount from 2 days onward.
The sidecar: riding in the chair
The sidecar comes with a driver: you climb into the chair (up to two passengers), and Kevin handles the riding :
2 hours: €119 for 1 to 2 people
Half-day: €279, through the golden triangle of Quercy or the Périgord château route
Full day: €549, through the Dordogne Valley, the Lot, and Corrèze
A picnic featuring local products can be added to the ride. Pricing isn’t listed upfront, so ask when you book.
For a rider, it's a whole different experience: you live the road without controlling it, and you finally get to actually look at the scenery. For the passenger who's been riding pillion behind you all year, it's a chance to have their own spot.
Riding with Kevin as your guide
Two options for those who want to keep their hands on the bars.
Full-day guided ride
Kevin leads you through a full day on the valley of your choice, or on a route you put together together. The rate is €350 for the day, for 1 to 10 bikes. Solo, that's a real spend. Split among a crew or a club ride, it becomes very reasonable.
A homemade packed lunch can be arranged as an add-on. Their site mentions riding a classic. If you want to follow Kevin on your own bike, ask when you book.
Twisty road initiation
The roads of the Lot and Dordogne twist and turn constantly, often with limited sightlines. If tight corners aren't your comfort zone yet, French Retro Ride offers a roughly 2-hour session to work on your positioning and start linking bends with more confidence. €75 per person.
They also offer a sidecar initiation, handy if you've just picked one up.
What if your passenger only has a car license
French Retro Ride organizes a 125cc weekend: a nearby riding school handles the 7-hour training required to ride a 125, while you spend the rest of the stay by the pool. You need to have held a full car license for at least 2 years. Pricing is on request.
It's a straightforward way to turn a passenger into a future rider without eating up your whole vacation.
Staying on site
The property can be booked in several configurations, whether you're traveling as a couple, a family, or a full crew:
La Chaumière: 8 people, 4 bedrooms
La Maisonnette: 4 people, 2 bedrooms
La Suite: 2 to 3 people, self-contained apartment
Guest rooms: six rooms, each with its own bathroom
The two gîtes can be combined to sleep 12, and the entire property can be privatized for 14, up to 17 at most. For a club or a big group of riding buddies, that kind of setup is rare in this area.
On site: a 6 by 12-meter pool with full southern exposure, a pétanque court, and table d'hôtes dining. The property holds the Qualité Tourisme label, pets are welcome on request, and ANCV vacation vouchers are accepted.
For your bike, parking is private, on the property, free of charge, with 16 spots.
French Retro Ride, 265 route de la Carrière, 46350 Loupiac.
Phone: 06 42 02 52 63. Email: frenchretroride@gmail.com. Website: frenchretroride.com
Rates taken from their website in November 2026. Double-check them when you book.
Why we're featuring this
On Bivo Moto, we list motorcycle-friendly accommodations where your bike sleeps safely. Behind some of those listings, there are hosts who go further than just offering a parking spot. Kevin and Jennifer are exactly that: at their place, the motorcycle is the whole point of the stay, not just how you got there.
If you're passing through between Sarlat and Rocamadour, their listing is on Bivo Moto. And if you're a host who also offers something extra for riders, reach out to us.
