Minn-Max, Minnesota Maxiscooter Riders

Not to hijack my own thread, but I encourage anyone interested in an organized maxiscooter riding group or club to look for opportunities to start one. The formula to success in my experience is Population, Planning, Promotion, Patience & Persistence.

• Population - There obviously needs to be others in the area that might be interested in riding. For example, Outlook, Montana (population 82) might not have an overabundance of maxiscooterists eager to form a club.
  
  Planning - a little goes a long way. Start by organizing a ride by picking a place, setting a time, and figuring out a fun route.
  
  Promotion - Once you've decided on a ride, you need to let people know about it. Hit every maxiscooter related forum and YahooGroup. See about getting up a flier in local motorcycle dealers and accessory shops. Have some cards with contact info and leave them on any maxiscooter you run across.
  
  Patience & Persistence - it will take time. If the turn out is small or nonexistent for your first ride, don't sweat it. Do it again and again.

Minn-Max started out by leaving notes on a couple of Honda Reflex scooters in June 2001. The three of us got together and went for a ride. I enjoyed it so much I decided to pursue the idea further. First I setup a YahooGroup, scheduled a group ride, and got the word out. Only two people showed. In July, I did it again, four people. In August I scheduled a planning meeting at a local coffee shop, seven people came out. For 2005 we averaged eleven maxiscooters per ride and have over thirty-five local riders who join us at least occasionally. 2006 looks to explode that number by a 50% increase or more, thanks to the fact that maxiscooters are really catching on with folks.

It does take dedication and a bit of effort, but if you like group riding it is definitely worth it.

The first of our thirteen 2006 group rides for Minn-Max, Minnesota Maxiscooter Riders was held on Saturday, April 22nd, and was great. As is tradition, we started with a shorter ride, just 60 miles. The weather cooperated with temps in the low 60s, warm for April in Minnesota. The turnout was the best ever for a season opener ride with 16 scooterists on 16 scooters. The numbers break down as follows:

• 1 - Aprilia Scarabeo 150
  1 - Honda Helix
  5 - Honda Reflex
  3 - Honda Silver Wing
  1 - Kymco People 250
  2 - Suzuki Burgman 400
  2 - Suzuki Burgman 650
  1 - Suzuki Burgman 650 Executive

We usually have two group rides a month, so if you are going to be in the greater Twin Cities area of Minnesota and would like to join us, we'd love to have some Majesties on the ride.

For details on Minn-Max and our complete ride schedule, please visit www.maxiscooters.org.

- Adam D. -

The 2006 riding season for Minn-Max, Minnesota Maxiscooter Riders has come to a close. It was a great year of wonderful rides with terrific people. A big thanks to all the ride planners and leaders, and to everyone who joined us on our rides. We held 14 rides and averaged 13 maxiscooters per ride. We also set a new maximum turn out of machines on a single ride with 19 back in August.

While the cold weather does bring an end to our organized riding activities here in the North Star State, it doesn't end our enjoyment of all things maxiscooter. Our typical "winter schedule" includes a meet-up on the Saturday of the Cycle World International Motorcycle Show, which will be on February 4, 2007. We also hold our annual planning session, usually later in February or early in March, though the exact date for 2007 has yet to be set. This winter we expect to also add to our calendar a covered-dish social sometime in January.

Of course, many Minn-Max'rs will continue to be active on the web through the colder months, participating in discussions here at MajestyUSA, on our own forum, and many other maxiscooter sites. Even in a snowy state like Minnesota scootering is a year round hobby.

For pictures from previous rides and general information on Minn-Max, please visit www.maxiscooters.org.

- Adam D. -

2007 is already shaping up to be another banner year for Minn-Max, Minnesota Maxiscooter Riders.

The lucky number of 13 maxiscooterists turned out for our meet-up and lunch at the Minneapolis International Motorcycle Show in February. This included Iron Ranger down to say "hi" and promote the June rally "up Norte".

Our pre-season planning session took place earlier in March with a record number of 25 Minn-Max'rs in attendance. It was held right in the showroom of Scooterville, a shop dedicated to scooters both big and small. At the session we decided on where we go for on our 10 scheduled day rides and also on our annual overnight ride. Of course if this year is like 2006, you can pretty much count on another 6 to 10 "pick-up" group rides during the riding season here in the North Star State.

As always, all maxiscooterists who are willing to ride safely are welcome on our rides. If you are going to be in the area, be sure to check out more details on Minn-Max and our ride schedule at www.maxiscooters.org

- Adam D. -

Minn-Max, Minnesota Maxiscooter Riders has been off to a great riding season so far. Our first ride in late April was attended by 16 people on 16 maxiscooters. Our early May ride had 20 people on 19 machines tackling the winding roads along the Mississippi River. For both events the weather was fantastic with temps above average, light breezes, and beautiful skies.

With our third ride coming up this weekend, the weather looks a bit iffier. Rain is in the forecast for Saturday and temps on the cool side. A final decision has yet to be reached for this 190-mile trek, but it seems likely we will have to postpone it. As always, word about this will come out on our website and through our YahooGroup. Still this is often a favorite ride, so it is likely to have a good turnout whenever we do it.

We usually have two rides a month, so if you are going to be in the greater Twin Cities area of Minnesota and would like to join us, we'd love to have you.

For details on Minn-Max and our current ride schedule, please visit www.maxiscooters.org.

- Adam D. -

Ah the joys and trials of success...

Our Chippewa Falls Expedition group ride on Memorial Day went off without a hitch and was well attended (18 people on 16 machines), but June has presented some challenges to our schedule. In fact, for a first time in the seven summers Minn-Max, Minnesota Maxiscooter Riders has been around, we ended up canceling rides for reasons other than weather.

With many of our regulars attending "The Iron Range Super Scoot Rally" up north in our state and the original leader of the second group of riders with a mechanical issue, we were unable to field enough leaders knowledgeable on the planned route for our June 9th ride and had to cancel.

Our June 23rd Ride Leader unfortunately had to cancel his ride too. In this case it was due to a plethora of construction projects blocking the scenic roads in the area.

Still, things like these won't stop most Minn-Max'rs from riding. We were well represented at the Super Scoot Rally up norte early in the month. We had a group of seven pre-ride the June 9th route so it will be ready for a fill-in ride later in the season. And we have had individual members use our forum to organize a number of pick-up rides with four, five, even as many as a dozen folks in attendance on the various Saturday's of the month.

July's first event will be our annual overnight ride. This year we're heading down the Mississippi River to Prairie Du Chien, Wisconsin for the weekend of the 14th and 15th. Usually a slightly smaller group, it is nonetheless a delightful ride through some amazingly scenic countryside.

If you are going to be in the greater Twin Cities area of Minnesota and would like to join us on a ride, we'd love to have you.

For details on Minn-Max and our current ride schedule, please visit www.maxiscooters.org.

- Adam D. -

Well the 2008 Minn-Max, Minnesota Maxiscooter Riders riding season final started in earnest last month as our unusually cold spring delaying it significantly for most. As mentioned in an earlier post, in order to keep ride participation size safer and more manageable, this year we are foregoing the unlimited number of participants twice monthly rides. Instead we are primarily using pick-up rides with a few meet-up destination rides thrown in so all can take part. So far, so good!

May has already seen 8 pick-up rides with groups varying in size from two to eight machines. We had a well attended breakfast meet-up, something that is likely to become a monthly event. There was a contingent of us that attended a dealer's open house and demo day. And last Saturday saw our first of three pre-planned destination rides. The turn out was just 13 people on 12 machines, but that seems to be more the fault of the predicted afternoon thunderstorms than anything else. (I did have the joy of riding through hail on Saturday.)

We have also seen this year an invitation for a ride in June with multiple pack leaders involved so a larger number of participants can be involved. There has been planning for a posse of folks to link-up to head north for the Iron Range Super Scooter Rally. There are already more pick-up rides in the works and three of us have organized a long weekend event for folks in July.

Yes, our season started late this year, but we hit the ground rolling and the fun is just beginning!

As always, folks in the area are encouraged to join in on a ride. For details on Minn-Max, please visit www.maxiscooters.org and check out postings in our forum.

- Adam D. -