650 Society Midwest Rally. Suggestions?

[desmoman900]

Looking for suggestions of cities (away from big cities) in the midwest to host a rally. The ideal situation would be:
1. Good route options.
2. Reasonably priced hotels.
3. Decent weather around August/September

I was looking at Hermann MO but I was told that it’s too touristy.
Your suggestions will be appreciated.

 

[GLJ]

Looking for suggestions of cities (away from big cities) in the midwest to host a rally. The ideal situation would be:
1. Good route options.
2. Reasonably priced hotels.
3. Decent weather around August/September

I was looking at Hermann MO but I was told that it’s too touristy.
Your suggestions will be appreciated.

If you want mid-west Baraboo WI. would not be a bad choice or farther north. Nice roads in WI. and there are a few members here who know the area.

 

[GLJ]

@desmoman900 I really didn't mean that as a joke. Don't know if you have ever ridden up there but there are a lot of nice roads and places up there. Late in August or early September there may be a lull between tourist and hunting season. Farther north than Baraboo may be better. Many years ago I road to Copper Harbor. Great ride nice road very twisty and scenic.

 

[Jim]

I was looking at Hermann MO but I was told that it’s too touristy.

More touristy that the Ozarks?!?
It's got a population of just over 2000. How touristy do you think it can get?

Fwiw, been there. It's a fabulous little German town. Not sure about the rides you can cook up in the area, but the town itself would be perfect for a rally.

 

[Jim]

Agree with Greg. Up around Baraboo is lovely country!!

 

[GLJ]

@gggGary, @Kevin Werner your thoughts?

 

[desmoman900]

@desmoman900 I really didn't mean that as a joke. Don't know if you have ever ridden up there but there are a lot of nice roads and places up there. Late in August or early September there may be a lull between tourist and hunting season. Farther north than Baraboo may be better. Many years ago I road to Copper Harbor. Great ride nice road very twisty and scenic.

Will keep it in mind for sure. I went there last year and I loved the area.

 

[mm1ut1]

La Crosse Wi might work. Great River Road is perfect to cruise and all the nice roads east. Read any Peter Egan column for an endorsement.

 

[motormike]

WildCat Mountain Rally... Labor Say weekend..... was the 650 Yamaha 650 rally before it was excommunicated... still going on. Last year.. 45-50 riders... based in Westby Wis,.... about 25 miles south of LaCross,,,,, great roads. Have a meal with the Nuns..... visit the Amish Walmart... get those buggy whips... water hand pump... that's a Amish school behind the Duk.... the event is in transition... some of the locations the event has used for years.. has either closed or change hours... the awards dinner is currently in the basement banquet room at the bowling alley..... catered. Tere's a morning riders meeting.... then some find adventurer on their own with others... there are a couple of group rides... I've been going down there for a few years..... This year because of a event at Davenport I can do only one day and attend the awards dinner. The " awards " are given to the " winner " and returned the following year... such as... smallest bike, best crash... Bone Head moment... best break down ..... etc etc ..... Wife and I on my Xs1.. Amish farm in the background....

 

[Kevin Werner]

@gggGary, @Kevin Werner your thoughts?

Just saw this thread. Ben and I are doing a mini rally of two (Ben and I, all others welcome) in the Wildcat Mountain area the second week of September. This is in the Mississippi valley and @gggGary confirms there are very good roads there. Ben is doing the ground work after I threw a dart at a map of the region. Lodging is reasonable and after school starts we should have fairly clear roads. We are both totally virgin to the area but other motorcycle rallies have posted routes/rides that we can explore. Curiously the region is approximately 1/2 way between Ben's Mankato estate and my pensioners abode. gggGary SOIR is not to far if we have a roadside catastophe. All midwest and nonmidwest riders are welcome to contact Ben or I to get details on our plans, join for a day or several days as you chose. This is a seat of the pants endeavor this year, As usual, I will be bringing up the back of the pack unless Matt shows up to herd me...

 

[desmoman900]

Just saw this thread. Ben and I are doing a mini rally of two (Ben and I, all others welcome) in the Wildcat Mountain area the second week of September. This is in the Mississippi valley and @gggGary confirms there are very good roads there. Ben is doing the ground work after I threw a dart at a map of the region. Lodging is reasonable and after school starts we should have fairly clear roads. We are both totally virgin to the area but other motorcycle rallies have posted routes/rides that we can explore. Curiously the region is approximately 1/2 way between Ben's Mankato estate and my pensioners abode. gggGary SOIR is not to far if we have a roadside catastophe. All midwest and nonmidwest riders are welcome to contact Ben or I to get details on our plans, join for a day or several days as you chose. This is a seat of the pants endeavor this year, As usual, I will be bringing up the back of the pack unless Matt shows up to herd me...

Keep us posted and make notes please.

 

[Mikey]

Just saw this thread. Ben and I are doing a mini rally of two (Ben and I, all others welcome) in the Wildcat Mountain area the second week of September. This is in the Mississippi valley and @gggGary confirms there are very good roads there. Ben is doing the ground work after I threw a dart at a map of the region. Lodging is reasonable and after school starts we should have fairly clear roads. We are both totally virgin to the area but other motorcycle rallies have posted routes/rides that we can explore. Curiously the region is approximately 1/2 way between Ben's Mankato estate and my pensioners abode. gggGary SOIR is not to far if we have a roadside catastophe. All midwest and nonmidwest riders are welcome to contact Ben or I to get details on our plans, join for a day or several days as you chose. This is a seat of the pants endeavor this year, As usual, I will be bringing up the back of the pack unless Matt shows up to herd me...

I might be able to make this one and I'll be in the back of the pack with you
Thanks for looking into this !!

 

[Kevin Werner]

I might be able to make this one and I'll be in the back of the pack with you
Thanks for looking into this !!

As the date nears, we can trade phone numbers for easier communication. Gary indicated that there is good riding there and a rally, https://wildcatrally.com/ has several routes on their site.

 

[jetmechmarty]

Ben and I are doing a mini rally of two (Ben and I, all others welcome) in the Wildcat Mountain area the second week of September.

Are you doing this in 2025? Is there a thread I've missed? I'm getting it in my head that I can ride there on an XS650 and I need to block dates and reserve vacation. If I wait for all of us to age out it's going to be too late. For me it looks like I just follow Big Muddy.

 

[gggGary]

Wildcat is less than 90 miles from the SOIR...

 

[jetmechmarty]

Well then. I want to do this. I offered the trip to my wife in which case it would mean a lot of days on a 45 yo XS11. I think she’s doubtful, but full of surprises.

 

[mm1ut1]

I should be able to make it.

 

[MikeyDeepXS]

Anything happening this fall?