Back from the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally

[Sturgis270]

Spent 4 days camping just outside of Sturgis. Enjoyed riding and touring through the Black Hills. Local people were friendly, helpful, and patient dealing with the large numbers of riders in town. Rode out to Sundance, Wyoming for lunch one day . The scenery was fantastic. Anyone who has never driven through this area should make a point of traveling to this area.

 

[HerrMesser]

Been through through there many times. Even owned some property just west of Sundance for a while.

Rad

 

[6gun]

I'm not a biker but it sounds like fun.

 

[wwb]

I'm not a biker but it sounds like fun.

The Black Hills has some really great rides... especially the Needles Highway. However --- DO NOT go there during Sturgis; it's pretty much like rush hour in Chicago anywhere in the Black Hills.

If you're in the area, be sure to see Devil's Tower as well. Looking up at it, all you can say is, "Damn !!!"

 

[WIL TERRY]

YES, we are in our annual love/hate affair with the Sturgis Rally. We appreciate your stopping by, hope we took all your discretionary money, and am glad you're back home safe and sound. Only another 400,000 to go now...

 

[ArmedinAZ]

It seems the photos you see of Sturgis are either this:

or this:

Probably not the best place for someone happily married who doesn't like crowds.. :shock:

 

[Jimbo357mag]

:mrgreen:

 

[pyth0n]

I lived in R.C. for 11 yrs. Black hills was a great place to ride. Friends and I rode many times to Devils tower, Big Horn Mt.s, Spearfish Canyon, Needles, Custer State park, Crazy Horse Mt. etc. Never got tired of visiting those places.

 

[6gun]

It seems the photos you see of Sturgis are either this:

or this:

Probably not the best place for someone happily married who doesn't like crowds.. :shock:

I hate crowds but like this and want to see if the roosters look like their fighting when she walks and bounces around. :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[exavid]

Yep, been there, done that. Folks were friendly even to an old Goldwing rider like me.

 

[bsnake]

Rode there every year during the 80's & 90's.
Had fun back then.
Saw many things beyond description.
Can't handle the crowds anymore.

 

[contender]

I've been a few times & it's an "experience" to say the least! I had fun!

 

[Bull Barrel]

That banner across the street should read, "Welcome trailerers". ;-)

 

[wwb]

That banner across the street should read, "Welcome trailerers". ;-)

Aaahhh..... somebody else who noticed there weren't any bugs on 99% of the bikes.

I'll grant you, there are some pretty hard core H-D riders, but most of them I've met consider 250 - 300 miles a long day. Now, in my advancing years, I usually call it a day after 600 miles or so.

 

[Sturgis270]

I made the ride 4 times. 98,99,2000,and 2002. Unfortunately now at age 64 I find it a lot harder to do with a herniated disc w/arthritis. I trailered last year and again this year and arrived feeling ready to get out and enjoy the area. For people with limited vacation time (not me as retirement = vacation time) a trailer would likely allow them to get to their destination quicker thus allowing more riding time.

 

[HerrMesser]

My longest day solo on my bike was 850. That was many years ago though and that was going to WY to see one of my grang sons.

Rad

 

[wwb]

My longest day solo on my bike was 850. That was many years ago though and that was going to WY to see one of my grang sons.

Rad

Close..... Another 150 within 24 hours, and you would have made it. About 15 years ago, I got the "Iron Butt". On a naked V65 Sabre, no less. Not sure I could do it now, even on the Concours 14.

 

[RugerHound]

All the big bike rallies are just too glossy for my liking today. Sturgis, Laconia, Ignacio, Hollister, the list goes on... I used to hit 'em all back when I was flying colors and doing the 1% thing. It was great fun. A couple of my '81' buddies from Cave Creek made the ride, but I haven't talked to 'em yet. (And they DO ride... Hard!)

It was a hell of a time back when it was a hell of a time though! Heavenly days and hellish nights... Crazy stuff, but that was the scene then. Lordy, we tore some s$$t up.

Things started getting too slick back in the 1980s... Crazy was fine, but when honor and brotherhood started taking a back seat to drugs & money, I separated myself from the culture and decided that I was gonna be a solo act from now on. It was a decision I have struggled with ever since. Ultimately I guess I did the right thing, and probably wouldn't still be around if I hadn't. But as Neil Young said: "It's better to burn out than it is to rust..." I'm guessing Neil is gonna be proven right.

I visited Ignacio in the early 90's (no bike - I was working Oil & Gas in the four corners area when the rally took place), and it was not an enjoyable experience for me for the most part. Once I found out where the bad boys hung out, it got a little better! But.... That rust I was speaking about. *sigh*

At any rate - Popularity pretty much screws everything up... Once you make an event inclusive instead of exclusive, you can kiss it good bye.

 

[turd]

All the big bike rallies are just too glossy for my liking today. Sturgis, Laconia, Ignacio, Hollister, the list goes on... I used to hit 'em all back when I was flying colors and doing the 1% thing. It was great fun. A couple of my '81' buddies from Cave Creek made the ride, but I haven't talked to 'em yet. (And they DO ride... Hard!)

It was a hell of a time back when it was a hell of a time though! Heavenly days and hellish nights... Crazy stuff, but that was the scene then. Lordy, we tore some s$$t up.

Things started getting too slick back in the 1980s... Crazy was fine, but when honor and brotherhood started taking a back seat to drugs & money, I separated myself from the culture and decided that I was gonna be a solo act from now on. It was a decision I have struggled with ever since. Ultimately I guess I did the right thing, and probably wouldn't still be around if I hadn't. But as Neil Young said: "It's better to burn out than it is to rust..." I'm guessing Neil is gonna be proven right.

I visited Ignacio in the early 90's (no bike - I was working Oil & Gas in the four corners area when the rally took place), and it was not an enjoyable experience for me for the most part. Once I found out where the bad boys hung out, it got a little better! But.... That rust I was speaking about. *sigh*

At any rate - Popularity pretty much screws everything up... Once you make an event inclusive instead of exclusive, you can kiss it good bye.

'81 was the last year I went to Sturgis. Weren't too many dentists on $40k bikes there in those days. :mrgreen:

 

[Don Lovel]

All the big bike rallies are just too glossy for my liking today. Sturgis, Laconia, Ignacio, Hollister, the list goes on... I used to hit 'em all back when I was flying colors and doing the 1% thing. It was great fun. A couple of my '81' buddies from Cave Creek made the ride, but I haven't talked to 'em yet. (And they DO ride... Hard!)

It was a hell of a time back when it was a hell of a time though! Heavenly days and hellish nights... Crazy stuff, but that was the scene then. Lordy, we tore some s$$t up.

Things started getting too slick back in the 1980s... Crazy was fine, but when honor and brotherhood started taking a back seat to drugs & money, I separated myself from the culture and decided that I was gonna be a solo act from now on. It was a decision I have struggled with ever since. Ultimately I guess I did the right thing, and probably wouldn't still be around if I hadn't. But as Neil Young said: "It's better to burn out than it is to rust..." I'm guessing Neil is gonna be proven right.

I visited Ignacio in the early 90's (no bike - I was working Oil & Gas in the four corners area when the rally took place), and it was not an enjoyable experience for me for the most part. Once I found out where the bad boys hung out, it got a little better! But.... That rust I was speaking about. *sigh*

At any rate - Popularity pretty much screws everything up... Once you make an event inclusive instead of exclusive, you can kiss it good bye.

I went with some 81 boys and their families from around Monterey and Arroyo Seco California in 1974. Had such a good time I knew I could never go back to Sturgis without killing myself or getting arrested should I try to replicate that trip.
RIP AFFA Monterey Pops and Moldy Marvin, I really miss you guys, you were incredible friends to me.