Sturgis? Really?
Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 210
Likes: 1
From: Arkansas
You and also rent a house up there , the people move out of there homes and rent them out for around 2500 a week, everything included, we did that and with the 4 of us going the rates turned out to be about what we could get a hotle room for , but we had a big living room, big screen tv, internet, full kitchen, hell we had the whole house 3 car garage to park the bikes in, if i ever go again thats the way i will do it.
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,462
Likes: 121
From: Northern Illinois
Cruiser
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 236
Likes: 2
From: Hawaii
Last year my wife and I made it there for our first time. We did about four days. It was a lot more mild mannered than I expected. The bikes, venders, and food were good fun. The shirts are instant reminders of the whole experience. We had our bike shipped to San Diego, drove up the west coast to Washington state then on to Sturgis! People we talk to seem to light up when we talk about our journey last summer, when we mention our visit to Sturgis. The rest of the trip was fantastic (10,000 miles in six weeks!), but we are really glad we included Sturgis as part of it! Go for it, we look forward to our next trip.
Cruiser
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 105
Likes: 3
From: Western Nebraska
Make sure you go to Mount Rushmore. Last year I rode up(only 250 miles) the Saturday that Sturgis started. Never did make it into Sturgis because I had been there before so wasn't that big of a deal. Rushmore has alot of covered parking and if you go during the week of Sturgis you can walk around the Rushmore parking lots and drool at the bikes. Plus the Mount Rushmore visitor center and trail to the base of the faces is worth the trip by itself. You can then ride into Rapid City and Black Hills Harley Davidson will have the Harley trailer there with shirts, bikes, you name it.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,342
Likes: 0
From: Western Wisconsin
Just got back from Sturgis with my oldest boy riding his new SG.
I've been doing Sturgis for 20+ years. It has become a carnival downtown
with 3 to 5 baby stollers every block. The big bars downtown like Easyriders
and One Eyed Jacks are OK to walk through, but I can buy a six pack for what
they want for one beer. Yes.....Full Throttle is a joke too, idiots that run the place and
the bar girls get more ugly each year.
Don't get me wrong....those places are GREAT entertainment!!
But we go to the Black Hills to ride.....it takes us 650 miles to get there and we put on
over 1500 while we are there.
Best advise....GO EARLY, Hit the local bars.
I've been doing Sturgis for 20+ years. It has become a carnival downtown
with 3 to 5 baby stollers every block. The big bars downtown like Easyriders
and One Eyed Jacks are OK to walk through, but I can buy a six pack for what
they want for one beer. Yes.....Full Throttle is a joke too, idiots that run the place and
the bar girls get more ugly each year.
Don't get me wrong....those places are GREAT entertainment!!
But we go to the Black Hills to ride.....it takes us 650 miles to get there and we put on
over 1500 while we are there.
Best advise....GO EARLY, Hit the local bars.
Tourer
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 474
Likes: 5
Sturgis isn't worth the hype. Go to Deadwood/Spearfish any time but the Rally. It is great riding out there.
A few years ago we stayed in the Holiday Inn in Rapid City. I left some cash in the room so that I was not carrying it on the streets. It was in a pouch in my camera bag. One of the staff at the hotel stole it. They caught the guy, but I wasn't going to run to Rapid City to testify over $200. I have been around the World (Africa, New Zealand, Argintina) and never had anything taken. Leave it to someone in Rapid City.
A few years ago we stayed in the Holiday Inn in Rapid City. I left some cash in the room so that I was not carrying it on the streets. It was in a pouch in my camera bag. One of the staff at the hotel stole it. They caught the guy, but I wasn't going to run to Rapid City to testify over $200. I have been around the World (Africa, New Zealand, Argintina) and never had anything taken. Leave it to someone in Rapid City.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 5,173
Likes: 177
From: East Coast
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Tourer
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 324
Likes: 1
From: Northern CO
Sturgis, why I go...
If you like riding your motorcycle with some buds, enjoy talking to other motorcycle riding people, have fun riding on some beautiful curvy roads, like to see what accessories other people have put on their bikes, like uninhibited women, like american rock and roll music, enjoy a couple days on the road, like the sound of thousands of harley motorcycles rumbling through the countryside, like to see buffalo and other wildlife along the way, you just might like a trip to Sturgis.
The drinking, camping, and raising hell is just a side show to the ride.
Most of the rabble rousers tend to stick together. If you want a nice quiet and enjoyable time you will easily be able to find it.
The drinking, camping, and raising hell is just a side show to the ride.
Most of the rabble rousers tend to stick together. If you want a nice quiet and enjoyable time you will easily be able to find it.
I couldn't have said it better myself. We got home last night from a week up there. Many will say it isn't what it used to be and I agree, but it's still a really great time if you're into motorcycles.
Being in one place with a bunch of people who are also into bikes is always a good time in my book.
Edited to add... Sturgis is about much more than what goes on in town. If you go, get out and ride. Deadwood, Hill City, Custer, Iron Mountain Road, Needles Highway, Hulett Wy and Devil's Tower, Badlands, all that.
Last edited by kdichs1015; Aug 11, 2012 at 11:47 AM. Reason: to add last line
