NATIONAL MOTORCYCLE RIDE DAY AND OTHER MOTORCYCLE HOLIDAYS

National Motorcycle Ride Day is October 11, 2025, and has been observed on the second Saturday of October since 2015.

Dates in the future are as follows:

• October 10, 2026

• October 9, 2027

• October 14, 2028

• October 13, 2029

• October 12, 2030

• October 11, 2031

On August 15th, 2015, Chad Geer, currently Product Manager at Dunlop Motorcycle Tires, submitted National Motorcycle Ride Day to the National Day Calendar^®. This is the authoritative registry of "fun, unusual, and unique National Days."

In addition to honoring bike riders nationwide, many of whom enjoy their last rides of the season in October, the day honors John B. Dunlop, whose pneumatic tire debuted in 1887, revolutionizing cycling forever.

A fairly new day of observance, National Motorcycle Ride Day is quickly gaining traction because riders will take any excuse to ride!

In addition to riding, you can observe National Motorcycle Ride Day by using the hashtag #NationalMotorcycleRideDay and @nationalmotorcyclerideday across social media sites like Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly known as Twitter).

There's a lot to check before any ride. While your owner’s manual will provide specific information on proper tire pressure and suspension settings, here are a few additional items to add to your pre-ride checklist:

1. Check your frame for cracks and lifting paint, which may indicate signs of stress. You'll want to look carefully for cracks and breaks on any levers and pedals, as well as making sure that the mounts on your handlebars are tight.

2. Also, check cables for fraying and make sure there aren't any kinks. Confirm that your wire looms and ties aren't cracking, that you don't have any missing clips, and that none of your insulation is chafed, loose, or fraying. Your wires shouldn't be pinched or getting in the way of your steering or suspension.

3. Check your mirrors, lights, wheels, tires, brake, suspension system, throttle, coolant, fluids and oil, battery, and, obviously, your fuel.

4. When in doubt, refer to this handy (and printable) T-CLOCS Inspection Checklist for a full list of what to check and what to look for.

5. Lastly, don't forget to ensure you have adequate motorcycle insurance before you head out on the road!

Since National Motorcycle Ride Day is fairly new (2015 was its first year), the number of past dates is limited to:

• October 12, 2024

• October 14, 2023

• October 8, 2022

• October 9, 2021

• October 10, 2020

• October 12, 2019

• October 13, 2018

• October 14, 2017

• October 8, 2016

• October 10, 2015

National Motorcycle Ride Day isn't the only day dedicated to celebrating and appreciating the gift of motorcycling.

National Ride to Work Day (NRWD) occurs on the third Monday in June - which lands on June 16, 2025. NRWD was first held on July 22, 1992 and founded by Andy Goldfine, who is also the founder of the Minnesota-based biking safety apparel brand Aerostich.

The Congressional Motorcycle Safety Caucus and press sources reported that as of the early 2010s, NRWD was the largest motorcycle event, reaching upwards of one million participants. The event is observed in other nations, including Australia, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Slovenia, Israel, Turkey, Ecuador, Argentina, and the Philippines.

There's International Female Ride Day^® (IFRD), which attracts participants from over 120 nations and occurs on the first Saturday of May. This year, it will be on Saturday, May 3, 2025, and marks the 19th anniversary.

While most motorcycle holidays focus on celebrating the ride, May is nationally recognized as Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, a time dedicated to promoting safe riding habits and mutual respect between motorcyclists and other road users.

Led by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the month features public campaigns like “Look Twice, Save a Life” and encourages riders to gear up, stay visible, and complete safety training as peak riding season begins.

World Motorcycling Day is celebrated every year on June 21st, the summer solstice. No better day than the longest day of the year to dedicate to riding!

One of the beautiful things about riding is that each person who gets on a motorcycle joins a worldwide comradeship that transcends language, age, race, gender, sexuality, etc.

Any day where you take time to acknowledge that more formally is a day well spent. So, join your fellow riders and ride!