Mission Ride Croatia
Six riders. One mission. One feeling.
First time. A full load of freedom.
My first trip with the gang of rascals felt like jumping in at the deep end. Beforehand, everything was buzzing in my head: Where is this taking us? Will it be hard? Do I really have to starve, as everyone said? I had no idea - so I just let go. From the moment the engine rattled for the first time, it became clear that all unnecessary thoughts should have gone into the exhaust pipe long ago.
The atmosphere was a gift from the very first kilometer. The crew was honest, open, warm-hearted - exactly the kind of community that can't be planned but is created on the road. And Croatia... these roads, this wind, this feeling of chugging through a country on your own moped that you hardly know but immediately like.
But the real highlights were not the kilometers, but the moments in between: Encounters with people on the side of the road, shared laughter over mishaps that somehow brought us even closer together, and that feeling of freedom that grew louder and louder between the dust and the airstream. For me, the Mission Ride wasn't just a mission - it was a condensed slice of life. Three days of adventure, community and two-strokes that I will never forget.
On the road without a plan. Arrived with heart.
I started without any great expectations. I wanted to feel whether the team was really living the idea - or whether it was just words. For me, it was all about team spirit, lightness and that indescribable feeling that you only get when you're out scrambling: Wind in your face, no route, but a heart that feels just right.
It was clear after the first few meters: this is going to be big. Really big. We grew together, like an old clique getting together again - only with more mishaps and many more stories. We fled, laughed, improvised and learned from each other. Especially from the old hands, who swapped a complete ignition out of cardboard, moss and pure experience at the roadside as if it were the most normal thing in the world.
And then this moment by the sea: sunset. Warm light. And suddenly the perfect person for our moped. Silent for a moment, then pure joy. A moment that sticks in your mind because it's real.
I would never have thought that so much chaos, happiness, and heart could fit into one mission. Now I know. And I also know that if there's another wild card, I'll be more than ready.
One idea. A ride. A new feeling.
In the beginning, there was just a simple mission: a moped, a destination, a person to get it. But after the first few kilometers, we realized that it was much more than that. Something deeper. Something you can't plan.
We drove through Croatia with open hearts and rattling engines, without pressure, without a route, accompanied only by the wind and curiosity about what was waiting around the next bend. Every stop brought us closer together. Every breakdown became a little story. Every evening became a memory that felt like a warm imprint on the soul.
It was freedom in its most honest form: being slow, being present, just being. And when we gave the moped away at the end, it felt right - so right that we even took one back with us. A symbol of everything that has carried us along the way: Friendship, a thirst for adventure and that attitude to life that drives us.
Mission Ride wasn't just a trip. It was a shared heartbeat on two wheels.
Spontaneous plan. Spontaneous luck.
This time I went in with a completely open mind. No idea of the destination, no overview of the route, zero plan of what would happen. That's exactly what made it exciting. The only requirement: to give away a Piaggio Ciao on the way. The rest was pure improvisation.
But first we had to get the moped - and quickly. Together with Elias, we put together a Piaggio in just a few days that would ride, carry, endure and also look reasonably cool. A bit of tuning, half an overhaul, a lot of garage work, little sleep - perfect.
Paradoxically, the ride itself was relaxed. Really relaxed. Breakdowns became campfire stories. The mood was as stable as a freshly made breaker. Even a complete ignition at the side of the road didn't throw us off our stride.
The landscapes were beautiful, the encounters warm, the weather gracious - and the group? Simply a pleasure. Everything flowed. Everything fit. And it is precisely this mixture that sticks with you.
Unclear mission. Clear spirit.
Late summer 2025. We start early, half prepared, half improvised. The mission? Unclear. The luggage? Thrown together at random. The meeting point? Only roughly marked. But as soon as the engines were running, it didn't matter. It was all about the feeling. About the ride. About the airstream that makes everything else unimportant.
We weren't top bikers, we didn't know Istria, and we didn't speak Croatian either. But that's exactly what made it fun. Every kilometer was a small test of courage. Every breakdown was a chance to grow together. And with every pit stop, it became clearer: we weren't just on the road to give away a moped. We are on the road to spread the joy of mopeds around the world.
When we finally found the right person, it felt almost magical. The ride back was filled with stories that only we understand and jokes that you can't explain to anyone. And now only one question remains: where are we going next year?
The man who wanted to become a taco.
Written from Elias' point of view:
Roman had exactly one goal on the whole tour: to sleep in a tent. That sounded harmless - until we found out his real plan. After many trips to Mexico, he dreamed of turning himself into a taco. Yes, really.
He measured out his air mattress so that it would only fit in the tent when folded up. We were happy to help - after all, when do you get the chance to wrap a friend in a taco? So we put it in the middle, folded it neatly like you would roll up a spicy carnitas, and zipped it up while he was already thinking about salsa and lime.
Is this his favorite scene? Guaranteed. And the fact that we planned an entire mysterious mission ride for it says everything about his sense of humor - and about the kind of chaos that makes our troupe so endearing.
Fancy more mofakult?
Mission
