I’m Brianna, a Minnesota-based nurse and vintage motorcycle rider with a passion for adventure and the people who make it possible.
My introduction to motorcycling came at age 16 when my stepdad, Mike Butts (#65), taught me to ride a Yamaha dirt bike. What started as a new challenge quickly grew into something I genuinely enjoyed. Through local street rides and family trips riding in the mountains of Colorado, I built confidence, learned from experienced riders, and developed a deep appreciation for both the freedom of riding and the community that surrounds it.
My first introduction to antique motorcycles came when I joined the support crew for a cross-country vintage motorcycle endurance ride. Watching century-old machines cover thousands of miles across the country gave me a firsthand look at just how demanding, creative, and collaborative this world really is. It was also the moment I became interested in taking on that kind of challenge myself.
Not every mile of my own journey has gone as planned. An injury during one of my early endurance rides forced me off the motorcycle and into surgery, but it never diminished my desire to keep riding. Since then, I’ve successfully completed multiple cross-country rides aboard vintage motorcycles, including a 1929 Indian 101 Scout and a 1920 Harley-Davidson Model J.
One of the things I value most about antique motorcycling is the community behind it. I’ve been fortunate to learn from people who generously shared their knowledge, encouragement, and support along the way. The opportunities I’ve had are not something I take for granted, and they have given me a deep appreciation for both the machines and the people who keep their history alive.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned from these motorcycles and the miles they’ve carried me, it’s that some of the most meaningful experiences begin with saying yes to something that feels intimidating. Antique motorcycles can be challenging, and cross-country endurance rides are both physically and mentally exhausting—but that’s also what makes them so rewarding. I’ve come to really value how experiences like this can shift what you think you’re capable of, and how they can stay with you long after the ride is over.
People often ask me what it’s like to ride a hundred-year-old motorcycle across the United States. I can try to explain it, but the truth is there’s no way to fully put it into words. The miles, the breakdowns, the friendships, and the memories become part of you. It’s something you can only truly understand once you’ve lived it.
I’m excited for the opportunity to take on another cross-country journey, continue learning from these remarkable machines, and create new memories along the way.