If you can leave MI a day or two early, I don't think you'll be sorry. My wife and I have reservations for 2nd year in a row. We will leave Indy on March 3rd and will head back home on the 9th. There's lots to do and see. You can get in as much or little trouble as you want. Or, you can avoid all the partying and spend all your time riding, manufacturer and vendor expos, demo rides, motorcycle races, etc. etc.

You can check out a calendar of events at http://www.daytonachamber.com/bwhome.html

Coleslaw wrestling http://www.sopotnickscabbagepatch.com/index.html

 

I agree somewhat. Went last year for the first and probably only time. It was fun to get away and go someplace warm and get to ride for awhile after not being able to for a few months. The riding sucked, everything is expensive as hell.....just way over done. I wish I could have seen it 20 years ago now it is more like a huge convention I do not think I will ever go back. Do want to try Sturgis but, expect that it will be alot alike just with better riding and more of a RALLY feel. We prefer the little 3 or 4 day rally's, dirty and more of what I like in a rally. I am not going to take a week vacation away from my riding season again for that. Now, if I win the lottery and just need a place to go every year, maybe Biketoberfest before bike week

 

Started going to Daytona for bike week about 14 years ago & just went for the week. Last three years I've rented a home in New Smyrna for a month. Gets me down there before bike week and I stay for a week or two after. I used to enjoy bike week but now that I'm there for the month, I find all the traffic for bike week annoying & tend to stay away from Daytona for most of the week. I still hit the higlights. With the exception of a few t-shirt vendors, evryone is gone the day after it ends.

FWIW... My IRA was one of the things that made it possible for me to retire at 48 and start enjoying the one month vacations in Florida, and the rest of the good life.

 

Bike week shuts down Sunday and most vendors are gone. Middle of the week to Saturday has the largest crowds. There are still a lot of good out of the way places to go, but the new HD shop by the interstate is a cluster f--- during events with bikes overheating. Anyone going to the Keys be careful, I have never seen so many radar traps.

 

Radar traps, police looking for any reason at all to get a fine on you, every bit of FL wants a buck or $100 outta you because your on a bike!!! Just ain't worth it

 

Try to make it early and enjoy the festivities. Yes, it's crowded. Yes, there are the many RUBs (if this is a reason not to go?). Yes, it can be expensive. But overall, it's an experience that you'll enjoy if you let yourself enjoy it and not get frustrated with the bull. The main reason I go is to visit an old Army buddy that I served with. I stay at his place outside Orlando and visit Daytona a couple of days/nights. Both times down there I rode by myself and almost got ran over once. Other the skidding F-150, the trips were great. I go for 3 or 4 days and ride as much as my *** allows. There is always something new to see. My buddy took me to a bar on the swamp where people ride their air boats up to and drink. I saw a manatee while sipping on a cold brew. During Biketoberfest weekend, we rode to Coco Beach and went to a beach front bar to watch football. I sat there drinking a couple, watching my favorite sport, and witnessed some young kids duke it out on the beach because one disrespected another's girl. It was great! Having a good buddy that I don't get to see much helps but I don't think things would change if we saw more of each other. My rides to Florida will be experiences that I will never forget...or want to!

 

where is daytona bike week?

 

Bike Week is an amazing sight to see. It is hard to believe there are that many cycles on this planet until you see them all in Daytona.
If you are new to the area, let me suggest a short ride that will give you a sample of some of the best of Northeast Florida.

Going south down I-95, take the west perimeter around Jacksonville (I-295) and get off at Orange Park (US 17). Fill up your tank and head south down 17 and follow the west shore of the St. Johns River to Green Cove Springs. Follow highway 16 East across the River (Shands Bridge) and then take a right (south) on highway 13. In a few miles, take a break for some crabs at the Outback Crab Shack on your right, next to a creek bridge.

Enjoy the slow cruise down 13 and see what Florida looked like before the mouse and suits arrived. The road offers many views of the east side of the River. Take a right on 207 and ride through potato chip land to East Palaka. Take a left and follow 100 all the way to the Atlantic (Flagler Beach). Take a right and enjoy the ride down A1A to Daytona.

If you don't want to miss St. Augustine, just follow the directions above but continue east on 16 right into the Old City. Either way, enjoy the ride!

 

I had to go for 7 years when I made my living Road Racing,
I hated it and Loudon NH. if I wasn't getting payed to go
there I would NEVER go to either of them EVER"

Those are the two places I hated racing at becuase of the
so called Motorcycle Rallies"

I don't miss either of them one little bit"

 

I use to go to Daytona religiously, but over time, it changed as does everything. They use to have sand drags on the beach down at the Ponch inletand the security people were the Outlaw's club who had thier club house just off mainstreet down by Boothill saloon. Drag racing at the Cabbage patch was big.They also had a streetdrags and the police were there running the christmas tree.. Everbody loved it!The unofficial name of the street dragswould be very offensive by todays standards.Any of you ever attend this? It was Fun..
I like the shirt that says "I took my bike to Trailer week".