With the holidays over, it’s time for riders to start thinking about attending their next motorcycle rally. We love to take advantage of all the different moto events offered locally, as well as throughout the country. During the year there are a range of events suited to many different styles of riding, spectating or just hanging out with rad bikes.

There are hundreds of rallies and events all summer—this is just the list of events that we can’t wait to attend in 2020.

1. The One Moto Show
Portland, Oregon—February 7-9

If you’re into custom motorcycles, then you know about The One Moto Show.  This custom motorcycle show is hosted by Thor Drake and the crew from See See’s Motor Coffee Company out of Portland, Oregon.  Just like the city, the show is an eclectic collection of custom motorcycles from some of the world’s best builders.  For ten years, The One Moto Show was housed in a cold Portland warehouse. With concrete slab floors and no heat, vendors quickly learned to wear thick socks, coats, and gloves during this frigid, “see-your-breath” event. This year, it’s all changing. Thor and the gang are moving the event to Oregon’s own Veterans Memorial Coliseum. There are three highlights to this show – custom bikes, flat track racing, and live music. We are looking forward to seeing our Portland Friends continue to up their game during this spectacular weekend.

SEE YOUR OPTIONS FOR RENTING A MOTORCYCLE IN PORTLAND

2. Mama Tried Motorcycle Show
Milwaukee, Wisconsin—March 13-15

It’s no wonder that one of our top ten shows is located in Brew city, Wisconsin, otherwise known as Milwaukee. Home to Harley-Davidson (as if you didn’t know), this town has oil in its blood, and the moto-culture permeates the city. The Mama Tried Show is a scaled-down version of The One. With custom bikes packed into a tight venue, builders flock to this show in their own “journey to Mecca.” Throughout the weekend you can also see flat track racing and even ice racing (if the lakes don’t thaw). If you need a reason to visit Wisconsin in the winter (and trust me, many people need this), it’s an event not to miss.  Milwaukee is a fairly cheap destination—often visitors rent an Airbnb for the weekend, go to the races on Friday and hang out at The Rave (Milwaukees major Rock Venue) for most of the day on Saturday.  Milwaukee is special to us because living in Chicago the show tends to be a reunion of the Midwest builders community.  This event always impresses everyone with a nice break from the cold, with its community, sausage, beer, and motorcycles.

RENT A MOTORCYCLE IN MILWAUKEE: CHECK OUT AVAILABLE BIKES

3. Dia De Las Motos
Los Angeles, California—March 21

Jay LaRossa is a moto-genius. He’s spent his life around bikes, riding, building and riding some more. A few years ago, he and some friends started the OG Moto Show, which was fun. For a while. But it lost its purpose on many levels. So Jay left and started his own show. The show that he wanted the OG to be all along. 2020 is the first year, so make sure you’re at House of Machines in March to see Jay, and the LA motos, in all of their glory.

RENT A MOTORCYCLE IN LOS ANGELES—SEE AVAILABLE BIKES

4. The Handbuilt Motorcycle Show
Austin, Texas—April 3-5

The Handbuilt Motorcycle Show is put on by the rad dudes (and dudettes) at Revival Cycles. They do an incredible job managing and assembling this show and really invite some of the best custom builders (and their bikes).  In recent years, BMW and other corporate sponsors have led to a broad array of beautiful bikes. This show is always held the same weekend as MotoGP at the Circuit of the Americas, and is often Like regarded as the biggest moto weekend of the year. In addition, this is the first show on our list where the weather is good enough that you can ride a motorcycle during the weekend.  Austin in April is fantastic riding weather—a perfect excuse to reserve a bike on Twisted Road while you attend the show.  Who wants to show up to a custom moto show in an Uber?

Side note:  Austin isn’t that far from Dallas where the incredible Haas Moto Museum lives. If you have the time, we suggest heading to Dallas before or after the Hand built Show. Buy tickets for all this stuff in advance as hotels book up quickly.

SEE BIKES YOU CAN RENT IN AUSTIN

5. Nowhere Moto Show
Joshua Tree, California, May 2-3

The Nowhere Moto Show is just  few years old. It’s remote. It’s a place that riders get lost just to be found. Think dirt, camping out, RVs, and live music. Triumph Bonnevilles and Harley Sportsters. You won’t find a Ninja here, but if it’s old-school cool or chopper retro, it’s at the Nowhere Show. And while you’re there, make sure you get a flash tattoo. Just to remember where you’ve been.

CHECK OUT BIKES YOU CAN RENT IN JOSHUA TREE

6. Isle of Man TT
Isle of Man, May 31–June 12

Who knows of the Isle of Man TT?  We’d venture to guess if you’ve made it this far down the list that you know what the TT is.  If you don’t, you should—it’s a circuit designed around public roads on an island in the Irish Sea off the coast of England.  Really? Really. Think of motorcycles whipping around European villages and you’ve got the idea.  This bucket-list event will allow all fans to see the high powered GP style bikes run time trial laps on this 15-mile long course.  The current record holder averaged 135mph around the entire course.  Watch a video featuring two of the best riders to race this course—Guy Martin chasing Michael Dunlop—and try not to look up the cost of a flight to Europe.

7. ROT Rally
Austin, Texas—June 11-14

Let’s start here. Do you know what the ROT rally is? Or better yet, do you even know what ROT stands for? Well if you’re from Texas, you really don’t have an excuse, but if you’re from any of the other 49 states in the nation, we’ll let you in on the secret. ROT is the Republic of Texas, and the ROT Rally is the biggest moto show in town. With headline music acts like Steve Miller Band, and hundreds of vendors (yes, hundreds) it’s got it all. Good food. Amazing music. A moto-parade through downtown Austin, tattoos, and demo rides. And 2020 is the 25th anniversary of this show. What else could you ask for?

CHECK OUT BIKES YOU CAN RENT IN AUSTIN

8. Born Free
Silverado, California—June 27-28

When we first heard about Born Free, we were told “get ready to stand around in the dirt,” which is...pretty accurate. Nestled in an old mining community in the Santa Ana mountains, Born Free invites some of the most accomplished builders to present during the show. This two-day event takes place in a field and got its roots with old-school choppers, but has expanded into other retro and classic styles. It’s a beautiful place to spend a weekend, especially when there are hundreds of bikes to admire.

SEE BIKES AVAILABLE FOR RENT NEAR SILVERADO

9. Springfield Mile Flat Track Race
Springfield, Illinois—September 5

Really any flat track event will do, but we list the Springfield Mile as it’s huge one-mile track has been home to some of the most epic flat track racing for some time now. Flat track racing is an incredibly visceral experience. Watching the racers slide big, powerful bikes around the track at 100+mph is something that changed me.  We’d recommend the experience to any moto fan. Usually entrance is cheap and you can grab a paddock pass that allows you to get up close and personal with the amazing machines and riders.

CHECK OUT RENTAL MOTORCYCLES NEAR SPRINGFIELD

10. Bikes, Blues, and BBQ
Fayetteville, Arkansas—September 23-26

We can’t think of three better words to describe heaven than Bikes, Blues, and BBQ. Going into its 20th year, this rally has given more than $2.5M in charitable contributions to benefit women, children, and the underserved members of the Northwest Arkansas community. The event takes place in the heart of the Ozarks, some of the best riding in the Midwest. Their website showcases 15 different area rides from 10-80 miles in length to allow you to truly explore this beautiful region.

CHECK OUT MOTORCYCLES FOR RENT IN FAYETTEVILLE

11. Barber Vintage Festival
Birmingham, Alabama—October 9-11

If there’s any reason to go to Alabama, this is it.  Barber Motorsports Park hosts a custom motorcycle show, huge swap meet, vendor area, and weekend long racing at the on-site track.  Barber’s facilities are among the best in the industry hosting a huge crowd in October.  The grounds themselves are a thing of beauty, but the world-class museum is why this event is on the list.  Attend the show, watch some racing, and leave pretty much an entire day (or more) to walk through the world record for largest Barber Motorsports Museum. The museum holds everything from turn of the century motorcycles, to a one of ten ever 1000cc BrittenGP bike, to a Lotus Formula 1 car mounted on the wall. There’s something for every type of gear head at the museum. Bring a camera!

CHECK OUT AVAILABLE MOTORCYCLE RENTALS IN BIRMINGHAM

12. Babes Ride Out, California Central Coast
October [dates to be announced soon]

In 2013, when Anya Violet and Ashmore Ellis started Babes Ride Out, they just wanted to get away. Go camping. Connect with other riders. That small gathering wound up being 50 girls – a healthy start. Now, seven years later, it has expanded. Babes Ride Out. Babes in the Dirt. Babes Ride Out East Coast. And most recently? 1,700 tickets sold. Pretty amazing.

This “girls-only” moto campout is about bonding. And friendship. And riding. And music. And riding. And drinking. Oh – and riding. The bands? Girls. The vendors? Girls. With female riding at the highest in recorded history – a whopping 19% – this event is a must for all women riders. Period.

CHECK OUT BIKES YOU CAN RENT IN THE CALIFORNIA CENTRAL COAST: SANTA BARBARA MOTORCYCLE RENTALS AND MOTORCYCLES FOR RENT IN VENTURA

So this may seem like a shameless plug, but we highly recommend traveling to somewhere you haven’t been and renting a motorcycle to visit the area.  On a number of trips we’ve taken recently, we take the chance to see which motorcycles are available in the area. Rent a Ducati Panigale in LA ? Yes, please.  Rent a BMW R Nine T in Austin? Of course.  It’s all rentable on Twisted Road.  Want to go to a place on the list?  Take the chance to see which bikes are available during the visit and you may be able to rent something truly unique that you wouldn’t normally ride (Harley LiveWire™ anyone?)

Hopefully you found something interesting in this list. And as always, be safe.