Maine motorcycle events, charity rides and bike nights

Spring (May): The season opens late, with blessing of the bikes events and the first group rides once mud season ends. May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, and the Distinguished Gentleman's Ride runs worldwide each May.

Summer (June to August): June is rally month in New England, with Laconia a few hours away. Through the summer, charity rides run most weekends, often along the coast, and bike nights run weekly at dealers, shops and restaurants.

Fall (September and October): The best riding weather of the year brings foliage rides in the mountains and fall charity runs, then the first toy runs collecting gifts for kids.

Winter (November to April): The riding calendar sleeps. For the weather behind it all, see the best time to ride in Maine.

Near Rockland, the Owls Head Transportation Museum keeps a big collection of early aircraft, cars and motorcycles, and it holds events through the warmer months. It makes a good destination for a US 1 day: ride up the coast, see the machines, eat lobster in Rockland and come home by the peninsula roads. Check the museum's calendar and hours before you go.

A lot of Maine's riding calendar is charity rides: memorial rides, fundraisers for local families, veterans' rides and toy runs. Many are traditional poker runs, where riders pick up a card at each stop and the best hand wins a prize, with the entry fees going to the cause. Read what a motorcycle poker run is if you've never done one.

Most charity rides are posted by local clubs, shops and organizers, often only a few weeks ahead. Watch the events map, ask at your shop, and RSVP so organizers can plan food and stops.

Bike nights in Maine are spread out, from the Portland and Lewiston areas to Augusta, Bangor and the coast towns. Dealers, shops, diners and bars host them on a set weeknight through the summer, and they're the best way to find people to ride with.

In Rippin', open Meets, set your area, and the nearest bike nights, meets and rides show first. Tap RSVP so the host knows you're coming, and start a group ride so your crew is on one live map on the way there.

Any rider can post an event for free. Shops, clubs and organizers who host a lot can use Organizer Pro ($8.99/mo) for unlimited and recurring meets, official events on the calendar and recurring ride plans. A lobster shack, general store or shop on a good riding road can become a poker stop, so every rider who stops gets dealt a card. More on motorcycle events in Rippin', and the Maine motorcycle rides hub covers roads, laws and regions.