Sturgis Weather???
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 55
Likes: 0
From: Black Hills & central MN
Its been cooler than past years. Lots of snow this winter, where bulldozers ( 5 ft snowfalls) were needed to open forest roads, amd lots of rain (much needed)..here is a link for a 15 day Sturgis forecast.Just like they said..be ready for anything!!
http://www.accuweather.com/us/sd/stu...ler=0&zipchg=1
http://www.accuweather.com/us/sd/stu...ler=0&zipchg=1
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 56,052
Likes: 88,754
From: Western South Dakota
Don't know about 10 days from now, but this coming week is supposed to be in the 80's. Pretty ideal actually. Word of adivce, lots of deer around here, always see em' dead on the interstate. They like to come out at night. Myself I avoid riding in the dark, as for one I don't see as well in the dark as I used to, and for 2 the critters like to come out then too, including deer.
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,345
Likes: 0
From: Metro Denver
In 2006, a buddy of mine left out on a ride in a bit of a hurry (got a little too hammered @ One Eyed Jacks on Thursday night, promised some girls we both knew that he'd go riding with them) on Friday. He left with just the clothes he had on; no jacket, no chaps...nothing.
They rode all day long, down in Custer State Park, Needles Hwy, Iron Mtn Road, etc., and about 8:30pm, when they were ready to head back to Sturgis he had to ride back in high-40's at best. He was not a happy camper and when he got back to the hotel, he took a 30 minute hot shower to warm up, then crashed cuz he we exhausted and we had to ride back to Denver on Saturday (7 hr ride).
The point of the story is this: Bring the stuff you'd normally wear in Sept/Oct because, while it may be hotter'n hell in the daytime, it can (and will) get cool/cold at night and if unprepared, you won't be a happy camper.
Also realize that if you are tight on space, you can always go to Wal-Mart in Spearfish or Rapid City and buy a hoodie (unless you want to pay big $$$ for something in Sturgis).
They rode all day long, down in Custer State Park, Needles Hwy, Iron Mtn Road, etc., and about 8:30pm, when they were ready to head back to Sturgis he had to ride back in high-40's at best. He was not a happy camper and when he got back to the hotel, he took a 30 minute hot shower to warm up, then crashed cuz he we exhausted and we had to ride back to Denver on Saturday (7 hr ride).
The point of the story is this: Bring the stuff you'd normally wear in Sept/Oct because, while it may be hotter'n hell in the daytime, it can (and will) get cool/cold at night and if unprepared, you won't be a happy camper.
Also realize that if you are tight on space, you can always go to Wal-Mart in Spearfish or Rapid City and buy a hoodie (unless you want to pay big $$$ for something in Sturgis).
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 8,200
Likes: 3,089
From: NW AR
Yeah, bring clothes for almost-as-hot-as-Texas and clothes for below freezing. You'll likely need both at some point. About the only thing you can count on in Sturgis is that you'll get rained on at least once while there. And always have a jacket in a saddlebag, at least. And maybe some assless chaps and fingerless gloves.
One year, we had rain, hail, sleet and snow all between Texline and Raton.
One year, we had rain, hail, sleet and snow all between Texline and Raton.
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,807
Likes: 33
From: TEXAS
Been there several times, you will enjoy it. The weather can be anything, hot, cold, wet, dry, windy, you name it. Pack for anything, especially wet, you will get rained on somewhere along the way. The weather forecast there isn't any better than the one in you home town, so don't believe it. This isn't weather related, but the number of motorsickles there is unbelievable, which means the number of complete idiots also rises proportionately. Just don't get caught up in the craziness on the roads, ride your own pace and stay in your safety zone and you will be okay.
Last edited by harleyflyboy; Jul 25, 2009 at 09:40 AM.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 3,963
Likes: 1
From: Fredericksburg, VA
Take as much warm and cold weather gear as possible. The weather can get weird, it's different every year. 04 was cold, it got down to 37 one night. I think the high that year was 76 and that was on the last Friday of the rally, I was out there for 2 weeks that year.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 5,072
Likes: 104
From: Prescott, AZ
Was there all last week... Great riding - some of the best I have seen in the past 13 years and I have ridden about 30 states now... I have learned (the hard way) when doing on a ride (esp overnight) I bring everything - I have left home (Turlock May 18, 2008)- It was 106,,,, rode Highway 50 in NV and on the way home got snowed on as we approached Yosemite... We had NO gear to speak of and the cold was so bad, it was dangerous...
As stated above.. the weather in the hills can change in a heart beat... buy the best gear you can afford and keep it with you...
As stated above.. the weather in the hills can change in a heart beat... buy the best gear you can afford and keep it with you...
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 5,914
Likes: 3,205
From: On one of 10,000
cold at nite
One year in the late 1980's someone stole my helmet & sleeping bag off the bike enroute. It took me 2 nites of freezin' my butt off b4 I went to the (Army) surplus store in Sturgis and bought a couple of blankets. I learned my lesson's!