Sturgis? Really?
My brother has gone 4 or 5 times my wife and I went with my brother and his wife for the first time 4 years ago. Been there done that got the shirt. Now that we have a HD the wife would like to do it again. We where in town maybe 4 hours got hats and shirts. Going there we did not have a GPS got lost but enjoyed the alternet rout. It was the ride there not so much the destination. I will never go through Denver again though. I guess after the Rally the vender move out quick. I am sure the town is still a mess from the rally but if the vender are still around they probably have good sales to liquidate remaining inventory.
So maybe we will go next year come in on Sunday.
So maybe we will go next year come in on Sunday.
Just got back from Sturgis on Saturday. It was a blast. Honestly it wasn't as wild as I was expecting, I never watched "Full Throttle Saloon", but I did go there and was totally entertained.
Book your rooms asap (now is not too soon). I called the 800 number for the hotel I stayed at (Best Western) and was able to book for the normal rate of $150 per night. I also wasn't charged until checkin. Others that called the hotel directly were seriously hosed for $450 per night and were charged full price at time of booking.
I would try to stay in Deadwood instead of Sturgis. Nicer town, everything is walking distance, and you can take a taxi to Sturgis for $10 each way. There are also casinos in Deadwood where you can get cheaper meals / drinks if your gaming. Lots of places in DW were also doing 6-pack of Pabst for $6 - try to find that in Sturgis.
Spearfish, Sundance, Custer, are all a little too far away for my taste. You should do it - great rides, interesting people watching, way fun time with friends.
Book your rooms asap (now is not too soon). I called the 800 number for the hotel I stayed at (Best Western) and was able to book for the normal rate of $150 per night. I also wasn't charged until checkin. Others that called the hotel directly were seriously hosed for $450 per night and were charged full price at time of booking.
I would try to stay in Deadwood instead of Sturgis. Nicer town, everything is walking distance, and you can take a taxi to Sturgis for $10 each way. There are also casinos in Deadwood where you can get cheaper meals / drinks if your gaming. Lots of places in DW were also doing 6-pack of Pabst for $6 - try to find that in Sturgis.
Spearfish, Sundance, Custer, are all a little too far away for my taste. You should do it - great rides, interesting people watching, way fun time with friends.
Road Captain
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 686
Likes: 37
From: Central Wisconsin
We just did it. Luverne Minnesota is 1/2 way. We rode 100 - 110 miles between stops. Each day took us 8 hours. We didn't decide to go until 2 weeks prior. We found available places ranging from $375 to $750. Be careful with the craigslist ads. Make sure everything is clearly spelled out. Check out my post on the General Chat page about how our "deal" was changed when we arrived.
SDVmnt is spot on with the trailers on I90. We left Friday morning and and traffic didn't get good until Murdo (100 miles) and the wind didn't let up until we got to Chamberlin. Nothing like doing 70, leaning into the wind, fighting the blast while passing 6 trailers/semis/RVs, just getting by them and being blown sideways again.
When I go again, I am going the Thursday before, and leaving Wednesday.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 1,521
Likes: 185
From: Ft Myers FL
If you must go to Sturgis go the week after the Rally, Vendors have sales and I will be there the week before the Rally and I don't need a crowd messing up my riding in the black hills.....
Tourer
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 416
Likes: 7
From: Tillsonburg, Ontario
Talking to my riding bud tonight he out of the blue says..."hey, what would you think about Sturgis next summer?"
Honestly after watching full throttle saloon I told myself Sturgis is not the place for me!
Now after thinking about it for a few hours I am somewhat interested...
Looking for some advice for first timers, It would be a ride from Eastern WI to Sturgis for the rally, he says its around 800 miles,we would do it in two days. Where do you stay? Neither one of us are the "camping" type so definately hotel. Can you get hotel in Sturgis during the rally? Should we consider Rapid City? Lets hear some ideas
Honestly after watching full throttle saloon I told myself Sturgis is not the place for me!
Now after thinking about it for a few hours I am somewhat interested...
Looking for some advice for first timers, It would be a ride from Eastern WI to Sturgis for the rally, he says its around 800 miles,we would do it in two days. Where do you stay? Neither one of us are the "camping" type so definately hotel. Can you get hotel in Sturgis during the rally? Should we consider Rapid City? Lets hear some ideas
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 49
Likes: 0
From: Wi
Been there three times, twice during rally, the first time a group of us went out in june and rented a house for the week. Was the best time seemed like you had the whole Black Hills to yourself. This year we went during rally and stayed in Downtown Hill City half a block from main street. it was great still put on over 1200 miles but you have to have patience. if it was up to me I would go every rally, I enjoy seeing all the different bikes, as for the big saloons had to stop in for a good laugh. If you ride everyone should expierience it just once.
6th Gear
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: the woodlands texas
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Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 6,478
Likes: 12
From: Nashville, TN
I had a GREAT time in Sturgis both last year and this year..... because we rode through in early July.
Rushmore proper was okay, but the best views are from Iron Mountain/14A... make sure to also ride to Deadwood/Lead, go see Crazy Horse, and make the ride out to Devils Tower and the bad lands..... Spearfish canyon was cool too.
From Chicago we rode to Sioux Falls then across SD the 2nd day pretty easily.
As for the rally... I'm 27 and am always looking for an adventure.... so again, I stay the hell out of Sturgis during the rally. Between the slow/drunk riders clogging everything up to the drunk 40-somethings who trailered their bikes out,and the kids trying on their beer muscles, never mind the cost of everything and the crowds.... all so you can hear a few 2nd rate bands and see a bunch of run down 40 ear old *******..... maybe it's just me but every Sturgis story I've heard sounds like a nightmare.
Rushmore proper was okay, but the best views are from Iron Mountain/14A... make sure to also ride to Deadwood/Lead, go see Crazy Horse, and make the ride out to Devils Tower and the bad lands..... Spearfish canyon was cool too.
From Chicago we rode to Sioux Falls then across SD the 2nd day pretty easily.
As for the rally... I'm 27 and am always looking for an adventure.... so again, I stay the hell out of Sturgis during the rally. Between the slow/drunk riders clogging everything up to the drunk 40-somethings who trailered their bikes out,and the kids trying on their beer muscles, never mind the cost of everything and the crowds.... all so you can hear a few 2nd rate bands and see a bunch of run down 40 ear old *******..... maybe it's just me but every Sturgis story I've heard sounds like a nightmare.
Couldn't have said it better. Although I'm not 27, I'm 53, but I feel the same way.