Laconia Bike Week

one of the great American motorcycle rallies, with a remarkably long history.

It takes place in Laconia, New Hampshire, in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire, northeastern USA. The centre of the action is Weirs Beach, on the shore of Lake Winnipesaukee, New Hampshire's largest lake.

The setting is a big part of the appeal: you're surrounded by lakes, mountains, winding rural roads and small New England towns. The rally's organisers point out that within roughly 100 miles riders can experience mountain roads, lakes and even the Atlantic coast. 

The history is fascinating

Laconia's origins go all the way back to 1916, when motorcycle riders gathered at Weirs Beach for what was then called a "Gypsy Tour." These were early organised motorcycle excursions where riders travelled together, camped, raced and socialised.

In 1917, the Federation of American Motorcyclists formally sanctioned the Laconia event, making it an official annual Gypsy Tour. The event subsequently became associated with the American Motorcycle Association (AMA), founded in 1924. 

One particularly interesting part of the history is racing. In 1938, organised motorcycle racing became part of the Laconia tradition, with races and hill climbs around the Lakes Region. The road-racing component eventually moved to what is now New Hampshire Motor Speedway. 

Over the decades it evolved from a relatively small motorcycle gathering into a week-long rally, eventually becoming known as Laconia Motorcycle Week. The word "Gypsy" eventually fell out of favour, and the modern name took over. 

Seven years were missed because of national/world events, which is why the 2026 event was officially the 103rd anniversary, despite the origins being in 1916. The American Motorcyclist Association formally recognised Laconia as the oldest national motorcycle rally in 2017 so it predates both Sturgis Motorcycle Rally and Daytona Bike Week.

How big is it?

It's a major event rather than a small-town bike gathering.

New Hampshire tourism describes it as bringing tens of thousands of motorcyclists into the state every year. Laconia is rated alongside Daytona and Sturgis as one of America's three major motorcycle rallies. 

During Bike Week, the normally fairly quiet Lakes Region becomes absolutely packed with motorcycles, particularly around Weirs Beach and the surrounding roads.

Weather 

Bike Week takes place in June, generally around the second and third weeks of the month.

That's early summer in New England, but it's not necessarily hot and dry. The organisers themselves describe it as typical New England spring weather, meaning conditions can vary considerably from year to year. 

It's not just that somebody happened to choose Laconia in 1916. The location is fantastic for motorcycling.

You're in the Lakes Region, with:

Lake Winnipesaukee → Laconia/Weirs Beach → White Mountains → mountain passes → winding rural roads → New England villages

So you can spend the morning riding through mountain scenery, stop beside a lake for lunch, and then return to Weirs Beach in the afternoon to see thousands of bikes.

The rally itself is centred around Weirs Beach, while events spread throughout the surrounding Lakes Region. 

You get the spectacle of thousands of bikes, but there's also a strong emphasis on actually riding. That's why the New Hampshire setting matters so much.

And historically, that's exactly what it has been about: riders making a long journey to New Hampshire, meeting other riders, riding the roads, camping and socialising.