About 30 riders set off from Montecillo Veterans Home and Hospital for the fifth Ride of Respect, which raises money to assist Returned and Services' Associations.
The number of riders rose to about 45 during the day.
Patriots Defence Force Motorcycle Club president Phil Herriott said the ride that left Dunedin was one of about 12 happening nationally.
The club is open to former defence force personnel, though the ride was open to anyone who wanted to get involved.
Each ride would donate to their local RSA.
"Just as a coincidence there's a World War 2 vet there that's celebrating his 98th birthday, so he doesn't know it yet, but we'll give him a cake and a rousing rendition of Happy Birthday, Mr Herriott said.
The ride originated in the United Kingdom, and was "getting bigger every year in New Zealand", he said.
In Dunedin, it set out from Montecillo for the Waihao Forks Hotel near Waimate, before heading to Cromwell and Tapanui.
The ride will also donate money towards a sculpture of Ted d'Auvergne, who left a full bottle of beer behind the Waihao Forks Hotel for his return from World War 2.
The bottle is still behind the bar, as he died in the war and was buried in Crete.
Dunedin RSA president Jenepher Glover told the group before it left she was proud to be associated with the ride, which would "see our heroes honoured well into the future".
Mr Herriott said the weather improved as the ride progressed on Saturday, and it raised about $1600.
