2026 Small Bike big Adventure in the Wisconsin Driftless Region, August 30-September 4.

 

Small Bikes Rule!

 For the past 6 years, Coloradans Ben Foster and Todd Wallis have organized a US version of Italy’s Motogiro d’Italia, with very simple rules: Pre 1973 bikes, smaller than 350cc, with 1,000 miles of exploring country roads over 5 days.

Earlier editions stayed in Colorado’s Western Slope; the 2024 ride moved to South Dakota’s Black Hills and Badlands, and 2025 went to the Arkansas Ozarks. The 2026 Wisconsin edition was held in the Driftless region, through quiet farmlands with beautiful two-lane roads. Old, smaller bikes typically meant lots of parking lot maintenance in the evenings, bringing the riders together to help and offer advice (criticism). The theme of the parking-lot-repair-comment was ‘If that was me, I wouldn’t do it like that…’



The bikes on the ride were as varied as the people. Besides the usual group of Hondas and Ducatis, we had Puchs, Bultacos, BMWs, Moto Guzzis, an Ariel, Harley Aermacchis, Benellis, a couple Suzukis, one Yamaha, a Bridgestone, Dave Roper on his Horex, Wards Riversides, Allstates, a BSA, a Victoria Bergmeister and even a Greeves. For a look at the bikes in the parking lot, check the first-day video here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khDzFYwhmqA



 

Check Corey Levenson’s photo albums here: https://coreylevenson.smugmug.com/Things-with-Wheels/2026-SBBA-Ride-in-Wisconsin

Five days of slower paced rides on country backroads, accompanied by 50 like-minded friends: It doesn’t get much better than that. All these folks came from different parts of the country with different backgrounds and likely different opinions about the world around us. But those differences didn’t matter, and in fact, didn’t even come up, as we were brought together by the joy of riding these old girls through the quiet countryside, and recounting the adventures in the evening parking lot gatherings.

Organizing 5 days of rides, the sag support, hotels, mechanical support etc. is a herculean task. Many thanks to Ben and Todd for their efforts to ensure a smooth event. Maybe we can do a mini version in Texas one day!

Link to short ride video through the corn fields in Hillsboro WI: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1y7QhwJIrw

Mark Scott

 

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