Sturgis Trip - First Timer
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Novice
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 17
Likes: 1
From: Massachusetts
Sturgis Trip - First Timer
I have been talking with my buddy about seriously planning a Sturgis trip for 2022. Its bucket list for me, i havent gotten out of New England much in my life and we're both in our early 30's without any family obligations at home. Im not even really quite sure where to start with the logistical aspect of it. The way im seeing it is there are (2) options:
1) We rent a toy hauler (not real expensive...maybe $800/week and hes got a truck), potentially with 1 or 2 more people and split the cost. Obv. making sure its big enough for all of us and the bikes. We drive out and take turns driving or whatever. Its like 32 hours from our location. Im thinking this might be the most cost effective option.
2) We pay a reputable company to ship the bikes out, fly, and hotel out there or rental property. Most likely in Rapid City or around the area. From what ive gathered, flights can be pretty expensive out there and shipping can be had for around $1000/bike round trip. It seems like ALOT of Sturgis goers end up with this route (?)
Im looking for advice or guidance on where to start? Has anyone gone through this process before? What were your pro's and con's? Do you wish you had done one option versus the other?
Riding out isnt really an option. It could be for me, im on a 16 Low Rider S but hes on a fully custom Softail Rocker. not to mention we would much rather enjoy all of the riding there and seeing all that we can versus the leg out and dreading the tiresome ride home. Itd be entirely different if our trip was only half the distance.
1) We rent a toy hauler (not real expensive...maybe $800/week and hes got a truck), potentially with 1 or 2 more people and split the cost. Obv. making sure its big enough for all of us and the bikes. We drive out and take turns driving or whatever. Its like 32 hours from our location. Im thinking this might be the most cost effective option.
2) We pay a reputable company to ship the bikes out, fly, and hotel out there or rental property. Most likely in Rapid City or around the area. From what ive gathered, flights can be pretty expensive out there and shipping can be had for around $1000/bike round trip. It seems like ALOT of Sturgis goers end up with this route (?)
Im looking for advice or guidance on where to start? Has anyone gone through this process before? What were your pro's and con's? Do you wish you had done one option versus the other?
Riding out isnt really an option. It could be for me, im on a 16 Low Rider S but hes on a fully custom Softail Rocker. not to mention we would much rather enjoy all of the riding there and seeing all that we can versus the leg out and dreading the tiresome ride home. Itd be entirely different if our trip was only half the distance.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 3,584
Likes: 1,147
From: Brandon,Fl
Last year myself and a buddy had our bikes shipped to Rapid City( $800 round trip ). The ride from Fl. would have been 4 full days on the slab there and 4 days back. I would rather spend those 8 days riding S.Dakota, Wyoming ,Yellowstone and Montana rather than thru Alabama, Missouri, Nebraska. My brother had some friends ride there a few years ago and they were exhausted by the time they got there, and then you have the ride back!!! Food for thought.....
Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 227
Likes: 44
From: Pasadena MD
My wife and I went in 2015 to celebrate our 30th Wedding Anniversary. We flew out and rented a StreetGlide from Black Hills HD. We stayed in Rapid City. We went out a full week before the official start of the rally. Got to ride to all of the local attractions with minimal traffic. Crowd grew as it got closer to the rally. Lots of great riding out there. Enjoy
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 32,934
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From: Carlsbad, CA
If youve never gone before, IMHO going in one of the off weeks is like going to a stones concert venue the week before they play, and sitting in the stands listening to your iPod of them.
Thr next time we go.,.well ride. The first and only time we went we rented a Class C RV...not cheap, and towed our TriGlide in my trailer. We stayed at the Buffalo Chip and had a great time.
Thr next time we go.,.well ride. The first and only time we went we rented a Class C RV...not cheap, and towed our TriGlide in my trailer. We stayed at the Buffalo Chip and had a great time.
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Novice
Joined: Mar 2019
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From: Massachusetts
If youve never gone before, IMHO going in one of the off weeks is like going to a stones concert venue the week before they play, and sitting in the stands listening to your iPod of them.
Thr next time we go.,.well ride. The first and only time we went we rented a Class C RV...not cheap, and towed our TriGlide in my trailer. We stayed at the Buffalo Chip and had a great time.
Thr next time we go.,.well ride. The first and only time we went we rented a Class C RV...not cheap, and towed our TriGlide in my trailer. We stayed at the Buffalo Chip and had a great time.
If we were to drive out, Im sure we would leave mid week before the rally starts and stay through. So the Buffalo Chip is worth the stay? Ive heard a couple things like its great to go there and hang out but its over rated for stay? Maybe thats just some of the options they have for lodging. Im sure its tight if you have your own camper.
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,313
Likes: 376
From: Mississippi
if you are wanting to go just ride the Black Hills, you can go anytime. If you want to go to Sturgis, go during the rally.
Sounds like you are shooting for three or four people possibly. Not sure how many bikes you can get in one of the toy haulers. It would be nice to have that as a base.
Put the bikes on a trailer and carry camping gear. I tent camp there. I camp at Kickstand CG, formally Elk View CG. I have been over to the Chip for concerts and have friends that stay there. If you are in to partying, that may be the place to be. Goes on all night long.
Several days of good riding there. But get your *** up in the morning and ride.
Sounds like you are shooting for three or four people possibly. Not sure how many bikes you can get in one of the toy haulers. It would be nice to have that as a base.
Put the bikes on a trailer and carry camping gear. I tent camp there. I camp at Kickstand CG, formally Elk View CG. I have been over to the Chip for concerts and have friends that stay there. If you are in to partying, that may be the place to be. Goes on all night long.
Several days of good riding there. But get your *** up in the morning and ride.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 8,201
Likes: 6,062
From: Black Hills
If you want the party scene come rally week, stay at one of the Sturgis area venues and enjoy the show. Unless you leave early Sturgis traffic will suck and it's taken me over 60 minutes to get through town during rally.
If you want to ride some of the most spectacular roads in the country without a bunch of traffic, come the week before the rally. You'll have less traffic, save yourself a boatload of money and still get a taste of the rally - most vendors are setup by wednesday or thursday anyway.
It depends on what experience you're looking for ...
If you want to ride some of the most spectacular roads in the country without a bunch of traffic, come the week before the rally. You'll have less traffic, save yourself a boatload of money and still get a taste of the rally - most vendors are setup by wednesday or thursday anyway.
It depends on what experience you're looking for ...
Last edited by rizzo; Jun 8, 2021 at 11:45 PM.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2010
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From: Long Island, New York
I will give you a third option we did in 2017. Like you coming from the East coast. We have ridden out several times, the ride back can suck. So we road out, taking a full week stopping at lots of POI along the way, not killing ourselves. Had a great trip. Then a week there with friends at a rented house.
When the week was over, dropped the bike off at a shipper and flew home. We were in our house that afternoon, the rest of our group trailered and only got to Sioux Falls. Gives you the best of all, get to ride out for that experience plus have your bike at the rally.
As it is your first time, I would recommend riding out. It is a pilgrimage, seriously. The riding there is amazing as well as the parties, but honestly you can drunk at home. We enjoyed our time on the road getting there more than being there. Something to think about.
When the week was over, dropped the bike off at a shipper and flew home. We were in our house that afternoon, the rest of our group trailered and only got to Sioux Falls. Gives you the best of all, get to ride out for that experience plus have your bike at the rally.
As it is your first time, I would recommend riding out. It is a pilgrimage, seriously. The riding there is amazing as well as the parties, but honestly you can drunk at home. We enjoyed our time on the road getting there more than being there. Something to think about.
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Grand HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 4,540
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From: Albuquerque, NM
I will give you a third option we did in 2017. Like you coming from the East coast. We have ridden out several times, the ride back can suck. So we road out, taking a full week stopping at lots of POI along the way, not killing ourselves. Had a great trip. Then a week there with friends at a rented house.
When the week was over, dropped the bike off at a shipper and flew home. We were in our house that afternoon, the rest of our group trailered and only got to Sioux Falls. Gives you the best of all, get to ride out for that experience plus have your bike at the rally.
As it is your first time, I would recommend riding out. It is a pilgrimage, seriously. The riding there is amazing as well as the parties, but honestly you can drunk at home. We enjoyed our time on the road getting there more than being there. Something to think about.
When the week was over, dropped the bike off at a shipper and flew home. We were in our house that afternoon, the rest of our group trailered and only got to Sioux Falls. Gives you the best of all, get to ride out for that experience plus have your bike at the rally.
As it is your first time, I would recommend riding out. It is a pilgrimage, seriously. The riding there is amazing as well as the parties, but honestly you can drunk at home. We enjoyed our time on the road getting there more than being there. Something to think about.
..............Its bucket list for me, i havent gotten out of New England much in my life and we're both in our early 30's without any family obligations at home.......
.......Riding out isnt really an option. It could be for me, im on a 16 Low Rider S but hes on a fully custom Softail Rocker. not to mention we would much rather enjoy all of the riding there and seeing all that we can versus the leg out and dreading the tiresome ride home. Itd be entirely different if our trip was only half the distance.
.......Riding out isnt really an option. It could be for me, im on a 16 Low Rider S but hes on a fully custom Softail Rocker. not to mention we would much rather enjoy all of the riding there and seeing all that we can versus the leg out and dreading the tiresome ride home. Itd be entirely different if our trip was only half the distance.
I really like the idea that Architect posted. I'd like to encourage you to at least ride out there. For me, anyway, the ride there is the biggest part of the adventure. I don't know where you are in Mass. but it's 1900 miles from Boston to Sturgis. I know your buddy has that custom, but people have ridden all kinds of bikes long distance. (it used to be more common) Hell, my trip is around 1900 miles round trip and I ride a bar hopper there and back, and I'm an old man haha, and you guys are young.
Please don't take this as a Boomer ragging on young people. That's not my intention at all. I just really think you should try to make the ride, and really make it a bucket list trip.
Good luck whatever you do.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 3,596
Likes: 9,899
From: Florida's gorgeous East coast
However you get there, take riding gear for just about every kind of weather. You may encounter Miserable HOT... HEAVY rain... COLD enough to make you want chaps, gloves, scarves, etc, etc.
Depending on how and where you ride... you might need it all in one day..!
Depending on how and where you ride... you might need it all in one day..!
