Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Some "firsts" from Sturgis...

That would give a guy a gimpy walk.

Thirty years and more ago there were very few trailers and RV's at the rally. Today there seem to be more RV's and trailers than bikes at times. Some surely do have problems that cause them to trailer in but it isn't the majority. The majority are not motorcyclists in the true sense of the word. They are people who own a Harley or Indian, not people who ride a Harley or Indian. Nothing wrong with it of course just the way people live these days.

Lewie's just out of Lead is the place to get a great cheeseburger but........ not during the rally.

Now that the Chip is a town with their own sales tax and government they are pulling in lots of events like the motorcycle racing to add to the activities.

My biggest gripe with the bikers who come is that for some reason fifty of them at a stop sign think they are one vehicle. When one goes they all go.

'74 was my first year of going.
There has always been a lot of trailers and camper/motor homes/buses there. People just can not take enough time off of work to ride there and back unless you live in the mid west.
In '81 I was living in El Paso TX. Myself and a friend had one week vacation and we rode. Three days riding each way didn't leave much time in the Black hills. It was a great ride and glad I did it but after that the bikes went in a trailer and we took turns driving the 18 hours to get there.

I miss the good old days when I-90 and US 212 were littered with Harley and British parts. There was a different colored saddlebag lid every few miles. Chrome mirrors, foot pegs, coil and battery covers sparkling in the sun. With no GPS we always knew we were going the right way.

My experience with motorcycles ended when I outgrew dirt bikes.
But talking to a friend, I was told there's 5 or 6 hundred thousand bikes there. I thought I'd seen all of Sturgis. Where in the name of God do they put everybody?
7mm

I sold my Harley years ago when my first kid was born. I miss the machine a lot, but not the ass holes on the road.

Just an observation, but I have had way more bikes pull out in front of me, than I have ever accidently pulled out in front of. But I am probably a little more cognizant of motorcycles than most. Even being very defensive and aware, I had to brake hard on more than one occasion.

If I ever bring a bike to Sturgis, it will NOT be during rally time. I understand the roads in the Black Hills have some adventurous sections, but I'll be darned if I'm going to wreck my tires with a thousand miles of superslab, plus the bugs, plus the heat, plus the rain, plus not being able to ride for all the slowpokes in my way.
I'll just trailer my rice rocket -- or spaghetti streak -- and rifles and enjoy "normal" South Dakota conditions.

Touche!

(urp) Please don't - I wanna eat supper some time tonight..

Official traffic counts released. 2017 up 1.1% from the 460k 2016 Rally. 2016 was one of the smallest on record going back 30 years.

2016 had 460K? Doubtful.. Methinks that's wishful thinking on their part..

I've been there many times. I've endured the rally whilst on a H-D a number times and I don't care to do that again. I really enjoy the area and the riding but the influx of people sucks. Even as I get older I'd rather trailer my dirtbike down there and ride trails with the locals. It is such a beautiful and enjoyable area off-season.
I might bring the kid there when he gets old enough (if antifa hasn't shut it down) for the experience but I don't personally like dealing with all of the arswholes. I've seen one or two skun out and dead on the highway because that was the first curve they encountered. Colors can be a problem in areas as well. No thank you.

I don't mean to leave a negative view of the place as I think almost everyone should experience it at least once. I'd just rather grab my t-shirt and run then enjoy the beautiful area outside of those two weeks. I spent close to a week down there in July of this year with the family and shot a truck load of PD's to boot.

Thankfully the big stuff missed rally week this year. Monday, the 14th, Rapid City had 1.5" of rain, very strong winds, and big ass hail which did a lot of damage. As an aside the Rushmore Mall shopping center got flooded. Not the kind of weather to wish on bikers or sportscar enthusiasts for that matter.

And I agree that the temps were the coolest in memory for the Rally. I've been here since '94.

A 6 page Sturgis thread and not one picture.... ?
Good grief.


DMc

I do not know, but 2016 was way down. I will let the eggspurts do all the calculating. Do not know how much politics is involved with manipulating numbers.

Just reporting what was on the news last night. You know we can trust the news.

I have ridden Harley Davidson motorcycles for 40 years. I have never understood the advantage of "laying her down."
Does it help you steer? How about braking? I DIDN'T think so.
WTF

Myself, I would go there for the Rally. While it is pretty I have rode many rural locations. I went to see everything.

Never was burdened. Got a beer faster than most busy bars around here. One time waited to gas up, but not that happens. If you are smart, you just gas up on out skirts.

I quit going to FTS. I just park on outskirts of town, a block or two away.

Like seeing all the different bikes. I am not a people person. Hate cities. I usually don't go to busy places. But it was worth it to watch.

Only problem I had was drivng through Sturgis, so I quit doing that. Last time stayed in Deadwood. Busy, but not as busy.


If you are smart enough learn the streets, and where to go for what, it is not bad. Granted, many people don't want to do that. But Sturgs is a small town.

One time, interstate, I found it better than going over the wall into 2 lanes of oncoming traffic. But I get the arguement, not about steering, but shedding as much speed, for as long as you can. Braking is why you should not lay it down.

I would just do something else. Go some place closer. Trailering just doesn't interest me.


I would start with full dresser, then a good seat. Take lots of breaks 250 mile limit, and 675 from campground. So 6 days of travel, if you take week off you get 9. But I getting up early, and lots of breaks would probably go a long way.

If you can sit in a car, you should be able to sit on touring seat.

I wonder how many people would attend if no trailers and motorhome were allowed? I bet it wouldn't be so crowded. I do understand that riding in a South Dakota thunderstorm is an acquired taste.