Not every rider who comes to Transylvania brings a motorcycle. Maybe you are flying in, maybe you do not own an adventure bike yet, or maybe you simply do not want to trailer one across half of Europe. Either way, you need a well-prepared bike and someone who knows which roads are worth riding. In Cluj-Napoca, the city MotoExperience calls home, that is exactly what Outlandica does: adventure motorcycle rental and tours, run by two local riders.
The riders behind Outlandica
Outlandica was founded by Cristi Rosu and Tudor Stupariu, two friends from Transylvania who have spent years racing and travelling on motorcycles, from the dunes of Morocco to remote villages in Vietnam. Cristi, who designs the routes and tours, has finished Red Bull Romaniacs and stood on the podium at Carta Rally and Dinaric Rally. Tudor is the rider behind the KRANKiT YouTube channel, where he publishes short films about off-road riding and exploring.
Cristi and Tudor, the founders of Outlandica. Photo: Outlandica
The company grew out of their own trips. After renting poorly maintained bikes and worn-out helmets abroad, they set out to build the rental they had always wanted to find: serviced bikes, clean gear, final prices with no added fees, and route advice from people who ride these roads themselves.
The fleet: six adventure bikes, from A2 to 890
The fleet covers light and mid-weight adventure motorcycles. The prices below are the lowest daily rates listed on Outlandica's website at the time of writing (September 2026). They apply to rentals of seven days or more; shorter rentals cost more per day.
One of the CF Moto adventure bikes in the Outlandica fleet. Photo: Outlandica
- KTM 390 Adventure (373 cc, A2 licence) — the most approachable bike in the fleet, at its best on mountain passes and the occasional gravel road. From 70 EUR/day.
- CF Moto 450MT (449 cc, A2 licence) — 185 kg, 21/18 tubeless wheels, crash bars, engine guard and hand guards. The founders call it their go-to bike for the backcountry. From 80 EUR/day.
- CF Moto 800MT (799 cc) — the street tourer, with cruise control and the lowest seat in the fleet at 825 mm. From 90 EUR/day.
- CF Moto 800MT-X (799 cc) — a versatile all-rounder for long trips, mountain roads and, in experienced hands, high gravel tracks. Tudor liked it enough to buy one for himself. From 100 EUR/day.
- BMW F 800 GS (895 cc) — rented for road and touring use only. From 110 EUR/day.
- KTM 890 Adventure R (889 cc, 103 hp) — the flagship, with fully adjustable suspension and 240 mm of travel, aimed at experienced riders. From 130 EUR/day.
Every rental includes VAT, unlimited mileage, mandatory RCA third-party liability insurance, a vibration-damping phone mount, USB charging, a tubeless puncture repair kit, an under-seat toolkit and a first-aid kit. Off-road riding on legal gravel tracks and unsealed mountain roads is allowed on the KTM and CF Moto bikes, within each bike's scope. Helmets, jackets, gloves, rain suits and luggage can be added to the booking.
Tours: from the Apuseni backcountry to the high passes
Outlandica's tours are built on roads the founders ride themselves.
A summit stop in the Romanian Carpathians. Photo: Outlandica
- Apuseni Backcountry — a four-day loop from Cluj-Napoca with three full riding days in the Apuseni Mountains, their home range: quiet mountain tarmac, gravel and forest roads, rocky climbs to viewpoints and remote villages. Rated beginner to intermediate, 150–250 km a day on the CF Moto 450MT, guided by the founders themselves. The bike, fuel, accommodation and riding gear (if you need it) are included. At the time of writing it costs 1,250 EUR per rider, with a minimum of four riders.
- Bucovina Highlands and Maramures — two new tours listed as coming soon: an alpine route based in Vatra Dornei on the edge of Calimani National Park, and a mixed-terrain ride through the wooden villages of Maramures.
- Self-guided or fully guided — self-guided trips include the bike, GPX routes, a day-by-day roadbook, accommodation suggestions and 24/7 phone support. Fully guided tours add a lead rider, a support vehicle for your luggage and pre-booked accommodation, with groups capped at eight riders.
- Custom tours — routes built around your dates, skill level and preferred terrain, with at least four weeks' notice.
Even if you ride your own motorcycle, their free route guides to the Transfagarasan and the Transalpina are worth reading before you go. They cover opening dates, the last fuel stops, the weather at 2,000 metres and what to do if you meet a bear on the road.
The Transalpina, Romania's highest paved road. Photo: Outlandica
Booking and practical details
- Base: Cluj-Napoca, about 20 minutes from Cluj International Airport by taxi, Uber or Bolt. Open daily, 09:00–19:00.
- Season: May to October, with June and September as the sweet spot. The high passes are usually open from June until late October, depending on snow.
- Licence and age: a category A licence held for at least two years (A2 is enough for the KTM 390 Adventure and CF Moto 450MT); minimum age 21.
- Minimum rental: two days.
- Payment and deposit: a 50% advance paid through a secure card link confirms the bike, and the balance is due at pickup. A 1,000 EUR deposit is pre-authorised on a Visa or Mastercard card (no cash) and released once the bike is checked at return. The RCA insurance does not cover damage to the rented bike itself; that is handled through the deposit.
- Contact: WhatsApp is the fastest way to book; phone and email are on the Outlandica contact page.
What stands out
Outlandica is run by people who race enduro and rally, and the offer reflects it: the bikes meant for dirt come with crash protection, the routes are ones the founders have ridden themselves, and off-road riding on legal tracks is allowed. For anyone visiting Romania on two wheels, Cluj-Napoca is also a practical base: the Apuseni start within an hour of the city, and the Transalpina and Transfagarasan are a day's ride away.
See the fleet, tour dates and availability at outlandica.com.
Bringing your own enduro bike?
If you are heading into the Apuseni on your own enduro bike, prepare it before you go. Rocky climbs and long gravel days are hard on tires, protection and consumables.
- IRON GRIP hard enduro tires — our own tire range for technical terrain: TRX front, XC95 and TRX Extreme Soft rear.
- OEM parts diagrams for KTM, Husqvarna and GasGas — find the exact part number for your model and year.
- Enduro/MX gear — helmets, boots, goggles and body protection.
Planning a road trip over the high passes instead? Browse our street gear.