Frequently Asked Questions

The 54-40 Rally is a 4-day (or 2-day) scavenger hunt-style motorcycle rally running July 21-25, 2026, starting and finishing in Wallace, Idaho. The rally covers the Pacific Northwest territory, generally speaking west of I-15, north of I-80, and south of Alaska—the region that was once contested in the "Fifty-Four Forty or Fight!" dispute between the U.S. and Britain.

The 4-day rally runs Tuesday through Saturday (July 21-25), giving you the full experience. The 2-day rally starts Thursday morning (July 23) and finishes Saturday at noon (July 25), perfect if you can't get away for the full week but still want to experience the challenge.

Any street-legal motorcycle in good mechanical condition will work. Most riders choose touring bikes or adventure bikes for comfort and fuel capacity, but the rally is open to all bikes. Just make sure you can handle long days in the saddle and have adequate fuel range (or auxiliary fuel) for remote areas.

No, but it helps. If this is your first multi-day rally, make sure you're comfortable with: loading waypoints into a GPS, navigating long distances, taking documentation photos with a rally flag, managing fuel and rest, and riding solo for extended periods. The 2-day rally is a great way to get your feet wet!

Your rally flag is a numbered flag you'll receive during the rider meeting that must appear in all of your bonus photos to prove you were actually there. It's how we verify you're collecting your own bonuses.

Contact your scorer immediately. If a road is closed or a location is inaccessible, we need photo documentation from you showing the closure from all reasonable approaches. Screenshots from traffic apps will be rejected and mocked mercilessly.

There will be one or two bonuses only reachable by dirt roads, but they've been scouted by a dirt-nervous rallymaster, so if she can get there, you probably can too. Otherwise, every bonus will be reachable by at least one completely paved route (allowing for unpaved parking areas, naturally). Since routing is a primary rally rider skill, it's up to you to scout and plan your route accordingly. Some bonuses will require a short walk or hike from your motorcycle, and those bonuses will be marked as such. Some bonuses will require you to spend a period of time at a location, and the length of time will be noted. There may also be bonuses available in national or state parks.

Yes! Many bonuses will be included in British Columbia, both on the mainland and on Vancouver Island. Crossing the border is not mandatory for being a finisher or for having a good time, but riders who venture north will find it rewarding. Riders are responsible for complying with traffic and safety laws of the province just as they would for the states, and for any other requirements of crossing the border (passport, documentation, etc.).

You need a satellite tracker that works with Spotwalla (cellular trackers are not sufficient due to spotty coverage in the rally area). Popular options include SPOT, Garmin inReach, and Zoleo devices. This is a safety requirement—we need to know where you are at all times.

Your motorcycle must be insured at $500k Combined Single Limit (CSL) or a split policy of $500k/$500k/$100k for bodily injury and property damage. You only need this coverage for the duration of the rally. Contact your insurance company to adjust your policy temporarily if needed.

Solo riders and two-up teams (rider + passenger) are welcome. If you're riding two-up, passenger's face must appear in all bonus photos. Informal riding partnerships are fine, but each rider/team must plan and execute their own route without undue assistance.

Most rallies include mandatory meal and rest bonuses to keep you safe and healthy. These require you to stop for a specified time with your kickstand down—no riding or bonus collecting during these breaks. Meal bonuses require a photo of you, your flag, the menu, and your meal.

Don't. Speeding and unsafe riding are taken extremely seriously and will result in penalties ranging from point deductions to disqualification. We have methods to monitor your speed over distance, and the "reasonable law enforcement officer" standard applies.

You're responsible for your own repairs and maintenance. If you need to replace your motorcycle mid-rally, you can, but you'll lose half your points and won't be eligible for special awards. You must return to the point of breakdown to resume riding.

Yes, attendance is mandatory. The meeting is currently scheduled for Tuesday morning at 5:00am for 4-day riders, Thursday morning at 5:00am for 2-day riders. At the conclusion of the rider meeting, you will receive a list of bonus locations, and will be free to leave. Show up on time or you'll have a private meeting after everyone else leaves.

No. Social media is prohibited from the start of the rider meeting until you complete final scoring. This includes posting, liking, sharing, commenting—any engagement beyond just viewing. Penalties are severe and could affect your finish status.