Sturgis 2015 - Unbelievable

[Pterodactyl]

I was in Sturgis and Spearfish last month, as were several other forum members who attended BigJohn's FJR gathering. I camped just outside of Sturgis at a campground that hosted the US Sidecar Association Rally and the Blackhills Bluegrass Festival. The notorious biker gang the Scooter Trash were also in the area. What a great place to be when it is not hosting drunks, fools and criminals. I know most of the people who attend Sturgis are not bad people in their day-to-day lives, but many get lured into stupid behavior and start to believe they are badass bikers. Appears many are learning the hard way that they are just unskilled and inexperienced riders on poorly handling bikes in the middle of hundreds of thousands of other dilettantes.

By the way... if you are looking for rowdy night life, then stay away from the sidecar crowd. By ten o'clock each evening the only sound that could be heard was the hum of dozens of CPAP machines and the occasional defibrillator firing.

 

[Big Sky]

We were near there last weekend - about 100 miles west. "Near there" was too close and the rally was only commencing. I was talked into going last year. It was my third time; first time in 32 years. It was fun when I was in my mid-20s. Anarchy and mayhem, ******* and beer. Not so much anymore. I get claustrophobic and start to feel a dread and panic and simply must get the hell out of there! A good place to ride this time of year is B.C.!

 

[NightShine]

Went through Sturgis at the end of this past June. Seemed peaceful enough. Nice museum...

 

[Niehart]

More detail from a local newspaper... https://www.argusleader.com/story/news/crime/2015/08/03/sturgis-rally-fatalities-surge-weekend/31064261/

 

[gixxerjasen]

I get claustrophobic and start to feel a dread and panic and simply must get the hell out of there!

Exactly my feelings in large crowds these days.

 

[CraigRegs]

Fifth photo down in my RR from BigJohn's Spearfish rally sums up my desire to visit Sturgis in August.

 

[Cookie]

I don't know how many times I've been asked "Do you go to Sturgis"? My standard answer is, "Yes, but never during the rally". I love riding in the Black Hills. It's a beautiful area and the roads are great. I know why the natives consider it sacred ground. I have to agree with them.

I think the middle of September is the best. Most of the families are gone, so it's only old folks in cages and campers on the roads. Most of them are easy to pass. I had a gal working at the Lead Mine gift shop tell me that in September the only people that come there are the newlywed or the nearly dead, and I wasn't either of them. I had to buy something there after that comment. My wife liked the new jewelry, too.

Clog up those great roads up with slow V-Twin drunks on a parade, and it just gets frustrating. I can go without the crowds, too. Maybe I'm just getting old. Give that open space where all I have to dodge is critters instead of inexperienced drunks that have no business being on a motorcycle. I'll take my chances with the critters.

I did Bike Week a couple of years ago. I couldn't wait to get out of Daytona Beach. Same group of folks.

 

[Big Sky]

I get claustrophobic and start to feel a dread and panic and simply must get the hell out of there!

Exactly my feelings in large crowds these days.

Maybe I need a prescription for Xanax. Now THAT would be fun on a bike in that crowd!

 

[FJRBandit]

Hold on, I'm coming!

not.........

I'd rather my wife drag me to a ColtFord / Toby Keith concert. Wait, she did that last weekend. Not again!!!!!!!

 

[Bugnatr]

I think the middle of September is the best. Most of the families are gone, so it's only old folks in cages and campers on the roads

Ahh, grasshopper. You have learned well. September is the best time to travel anywhere.

 

[Fred W]

We were in the area last August on our vacation ride, but after receiving good warnings (thanks), we never ventured near Sturgis, and only hit Spearfish on the way back home after the swarm had dissipated.

But still the Black Hills were redolent with inept cruiser riders clogging up the roadways. We actually aborted our ride over the Needles Highway because I was fed up with being jammed behind a bunch of pirates "riding their ride" of a death march. Just getting the hell out of there we ended up having to pass throngs of them 8 or 10 at a time when we could. Of course I always waved my thanks for them "letting me by" No need to spread ill will.

The area is quite beautiful, and I'm sure that we'd have enjoyed it far more were it not for the "biker taint". But we are already more than experienced with that whole scene, being that we live only a few 10s of miles from the Gran'daddy of them all, Laconia. On fathers day weekend each year we head far away from Laconia, or drive a car.

When I was a teen, Laconia was "cool". But I grew up and they did not.

 

[fjRaven]

Here's a way to be there without being there - Live Street Cam or Here

 

[RossKean]

Wow. I watched that for about 5 minutes. I don't think more than one in twenty was wearing a helmet. Most of those were beanie types.

 

[yamafitter]

I've done Daytona Bike Week a couple of times but we were always there for the racing. I rode the Alligator Enduro a couple of times and really enjoyed spectating at the Short Track at Memorial Stadium since I had friends that flat tracked. The road racing was cool and Supercross was just getting going and some guy named Bob Hannah was still racing then (boy do I feel old typing that).

Back then you could still ride down the beach for free and I would stroll down the street and check out the choppers but we stayed more out towards the track to get away from the racket.

My sport touring tends more towards the sport side and if I don't feel that I'm going to be able to ride at a sporty pace then I'm just not that interested. That is why riding solo or at least a group of no more than three other bikes appeals to me.

I can appreciate some Customs for the creativity, craftsmanship and the artistry that go into building them but not as something to ride. However, the need to make the Harley lifestyle statement in the midst of a sea of people baffles me.

 

[Big Sky]

One in 20 wearing a helmet, 8 out of 10 wearing a black T-shirt, many of the others wearing orange, 8 out of ten with wrap-around shades and a doo-rags, 99 out of 100 sporting a Harley emblem on their clothes, 999 out of 1,000 riding the same make of bike, 95 out of 100 bikes with the same power train, 90 out of 100 with after-market pipes ... "individualists." But what the hell. They are enjoying themselves and will have plenty of stories to tell around the water cooler at the CPA mill back home. I just hope they get there...

 

[gixxerjasen]

Funny, I see a pair of Triumph Rocket III's up front. Best bikes I can see all over the feed.

 

[gregory]

Looks like to death toll is up to 9. Three from illness and the six MVA's we knew about.. thoughts and prayers for the family's

 

[Fred W]

Who knew that Darwin was talking about motorcycle rallys?

 

[fjRaven]

After watching the stream for some time, I saw one non-cruiser, a BMW GS and zero helmets. I'd put the over/under on the number of helmets at 1, out of a 100.

 

[RossKean]

I found another video feed with a little different angle. https://rapidcityjournal.com/sturgisrallydaily/webcams/sturgis-sidewalk/

I'm going to have to tune in again after dark! Actually looks pretty boring. I'm just glad that the video doesn't come with audio feed. Can you imagine?