Zurich's lakefront is one of the most pleasant urban shorelines in Europe, and the Alpenquai, in the district of Enge, is a stretch of it where the city opens up to views across the water to the Alps. On a clear day, especially when the föhn blows from the south, the peaks of the Glarus Alps seem close enough to touch. Under the water off this shore, archaeologists have found the remains of prehistoric villages built on piles along the lake edge, and several of Zurich's shore sites were inscribed in 2011 among the prehistoric pile dwellings of the Alpine lakes. You will see nothing of them from the promenade; they lie in the mud of the lake bed, preserved by the water.
The lakefront from Enge south is a ribbon of parks, bathing places, sailing clubs and promenades, busy with joggers, walkers and swimmers on summer evenings. The arboretum is a quiet park with old trees, and the Mythenquai continues south towards the Rote Fabrik, an old factory turned cultural centre. The Enge district itself is a mix of offices, villas and apartment buildings, with the Rieterpark and the Museum Rietberg, which houses one of the best collections of non-European art in Europe, on the hill above.
Riding in Zurich is not a pleasure. Traffic is dense, speed limits are low, and there are many cameras and strict enforcement; Swiss fines are very high, and serious speeding can lead to licence loss or worse. Trams and cyclists add to the complexity. The good news is that motorcycle parking is generally easy in designated areas. To use Swiss motorways, you need a vignette, which covers a full calendar year.
The real riding starts outside the city. South along the lake, roads lead to the Sihl valley, the Zug lake and the hills above, and further to the passes of central Switzerland. East, the Pfannenstiel ridge has nice curves and views over the lake. Zurich has fuel stations everywhere, but they are often small and crowded. Food is expensive but excellent: try Zürcher Geschnetzeltes, sliced veal in a cream sauce with rösti, or a sausage from a stand. On a hot day, a swim in the lake from one of the public baths is a fine way to cool off.