Off The Beaten Path: Moto-Tag Games

BRIDGEWATER, CT – Are you interested in exploring new and interesting routes and places within the areas you like to ride?  If so, a moto-tag game may be for you.

For those not yet familiar with the concept, moto-tag is a game played by riders to find and photograph objects/locations within a previously defined geographical area that are left by a previous rider. The rider will then move the ‘tag’ to a new location for another rider to find. Tag games provide an impetus for motorcyclists to get out and ride, while gaining a deeper appreciation for the area they ride in the process.

Most tag games can be found on online forums or within various riding group websites as a dedicated tag thread. The ADV Rider Northeast Forum, for example, has a number of active tag games in the state of Connecticut alone, with several others in surrounding states and a few regional games with a larger geographical scope.

The rules of each tag game may vary but most times a rider needs to identify the location of the tag and include their motorcycle in the photo as proof they were out riding when they located the given tag before moving it to a new unidentified location for other taggers to find. It is also recommended to place the tag on a somewhat fun-to-ride, out-of-the-way route along with an interesting location.

Anyone can play, as long as they’re on two wheels, making the games accessible for most any rider who is interested in delving into the fray. Aside from a passion for riding, some basic research skills are helpful to guide riders to a respective tag. Google is a tagger’s best friend when searching for a tag to snag.

Comraderie and friendly competition always add to the challenge and fun of any tag game. While most times only bragging rights are on the line, riders can strive to be atop the leader board for the year end tallies of their respective tag threads. Some riders have even been known to place tags in several CT games in one given day. Now that’s dedication to the cause!

Fun twists such as being “Bruced” add to the excitement of some games. If a rider snags a tag but does not place a new tag before another rider makes the same tag and posts a new tag, the first rider is officially Bruced as they have lost the tag to the competing rider.

Joining a tag game also provides participants the opportunity to meet and network with other area riders.  

On New Year’s Day, I had the opportunity to connect with two other avid taggers from the ADV Rider CT tag threads for lunch – Jeff (aka rtrider) and Dave (aka Liquidape). Jeff has recently gotten back into tagging while Dave’s been active in the area moto-tag games for the last several years. We discussed some of the things we enjoy most about the tag game concept: –

• Finding new enjoyable stretches of tar, and with some games – dirt, to meander
• Discovering out-of-the-way local oddities
• The challenge of researching, locating and placing more obscure tags

Some fresh new concepts for future tag games were also brought up over lunch to further expand the moto-tag concept and encourage more rider participation. Hopefully these ideas will gel into new games at some point soon and attract more riders in the process.

Whether you find an existing moto-tag game, or create one on a riding forum you are part of, the miles and smiles are guaranteed.