Midwest Motorcycle Museum Tour [ M3T ]

[troy]

This is an idea I've had for a few years now: A multi-day dualsport/adventure ride making a large loop to take in the area motorcycle museums. While the museums will no doubt be interesting, for me personally, this is more about the ride for sure. The museums are a good destination excuse!

Kansas Motorcycle Museum
@Marquette, KS


Twisted Oz Motorcycle Museum
@Augusta, KS


Route 66 Vintage Iron Motorcycle Museum
@Miami, OK

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This map gives you an overview of the tour's area.
That is not the actual route because I will avoid Interstates and major Highways. This is not a minivan road trip! The fastest highway route = 630 miles round-trip. In order to make this an "adventure ride", the route will easily end up being 1,000 miles or more.

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The rough plan is 4 days.

DAY 1: Ride from the KC metro to Marquette. Tour the Kansas Motorcycle Museum. Enjoy dining & lodging in Lindsborg.

DAY 2: Ride from Lindsborg to Augusta. To "kill time", this route will "get lost" in the Flint Hills on the way to Augusta. Tour the Twisted Oz Motorcycle Museum. Eat. Sleep.

DAY 3: Ride from Augusta to Miami, OK. We'll find the minimum maintenance roads along the way. In Miami, tour the Route 66 Vintage Iron Motorcycle Museum. Eat. Sleep.

DAY 4: Ride from Miami, OK back to the KC metro.

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I like to eat. I really like to eat breakfast. While my budget is limited, going "cheap" is not a requirement for my travel. If/when I do this adventure, I will be "on vacation". :-) For me, part of the value in this adventure will be supporting these local folks--the folks who run the museums, the restaurants, the motels, and the gas stations.

So consider 3 nights of lodging--even crappy motel lodging isn't exactly "cheap". I don't plan to pack peanut butter sandwiches or survive for days on trail mix & beef jerky. I will try to find restaurants for 3 meals a day, and I usually will not be in a hurry.

By definition, this will be an "adventure". As I usually do, I'll have a plan, and most likely things will go pretty much according to that plan. However, if I end up in Nebraska, well, that's how it goes. If YOU end up in Nebraska, that will have been your own choice. Following me or being anywhere near me--on a motorcycle or otherwise--is inherently dangerous. Kids, do not try this at home. Riding with Troy may cause anal leakage or sudden death.

WHEN? That is a good question. THIS Fri - Mon (Feb 17 - 20) could work great with Mon being a holiday. Only problem is I have not planned the details yet, and I have lots of work today. HOWEVER, I might be able to force this to happen on my end if others wanted to make this happen last minute and were willing to chip in on the planning. Things to do include calling the museums to confirm hours during our 4 days. Research lodging options. Could research dining options, but usually just stumble onto stuff. The biggest time drain is creating interesting gravel & dirt routes.

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If in the St. Louis area, these would be fun:
The MOTO Museum
Mungenast Classic Automobiles & Motorcycles Museum
The Surdyke Harley-Davidson Classic Motorcycle and Car Museum

Here are some other Midwest motorcycle museums that are a bit too far away to work into this tour:
National Motorcycle Museum @Anamosa, IA
St. Francis Motorcycle Museum @St. Francis, KS
Seaba Station Motorcycle Museum @Warwick, OK

[ajayhawkfan]

I would have been up for that trip this weekend if I was not on a plane heading to Charleston, SC.

[troy]

I would have been up for that trip this weekend if I was not on a plane heading to Charleston, SC.

I know. Why do you think I try to plan this when you are out of town?!

Ha! Actually, I know if there's one guy who'll go riding at the drop of a hat, it's you. I figured you were a shoe-in (or ADV boot-in)...and more than that, I was hoping with your vast knowledge, you'd throw out a few primo sights-to-see along the general path.

I do hope to at least fire up a motorcycle this weekend. I doubt I'll make this 4 day trip happen this weekend unless many details miraculously work themselves out while I'm working today.

[ajayhawkfan]

If you make it to Lindsborg stay at the Swedish Country Inn. I do have some neat places to check out not far from there. It is an area I have been around but never on a bike.

I'm looking at a trip through KS as well. Hitting the 5 places run by the National Park Service. Nicodemus, Brown Vs Board of Education (Topeka), Fort Larned, Fort Scott and Tall Grass Prairie (Cottonwood Falls). I have been to all of the location but it has been years.

[KC]

I did a similar ride a few years back except it was only to Marquette and about 500 miles less. You have to check out Coronado Heights that it not to far from there. Definitely a worthy pit stop and a good lunch stop if packing peanut butter sandwiches and jerky.

[Harvey Mushman]

My wife and I visited the Kansas M/C Museum probably 10 - 12 years?? ago when Stan Engdahl was still alive. Stan and his wife sat right inside the front door and would give you a personal tour of the place if you asked, (you really didn't need to ask, LOL). Having Mr. Engdahl relive stories of the many trophies he won racing was really cool. Lot's of pics on the wall from back in the day. They had alot of neat old pinger dirt and dual sport bikes on display as well as alot of flat track bikes/stuff.

There is/was another smaller museum so to speak I believe on the other end of the same street that Stan said to be sure to visit before we left town. You should ask about it if you go. I think the place was an old M/C shop years ago. Inside there was a small showroom floor with lots of M/C pics, banners and old sales related signs, many from the British bikes. There were a couple old H-D's maybe one Indian and probably a dozen at least of old Norton, Triumph, BSA flat track bikes there to see. Near the back of the room was an old retail counter and a loft above it where at that time, the owner lived in. There was a barber shop chair on wheels near the center of the room where the owner would sit and engage people as they came in. It was like stepping into a M/C shop from the early 60's maybe. Very cool vibe. .

[Hank Moody]

So Troy did you go on the ride???

[troy]

No. Want to go?

I just pulled up to Sean's house in Illinois. We take off in morning on a 2 day back road adventure.

[ajayhawkfan]

Have a good time. Ride somewhat safe.

[Creekside]

"I did a similar ride a few years back except it was only to Marquette and about 500 miles less. You have to check out Coronado Heights that it not to far from there. Definitely a worthy pit stop and a good lunch stop if packing peanut butter sandwiches and jerky."

That's cool! I need to go there now!