The CB1100 Community Forum

I live in Denver (Brighton), and every year for the past 6 years I've been going up to Sturgis. Granted most of the vendors there are Harley focussed, and most bikes are Harleys, but there is still a really good mix of bikes of all brands and kinds. Many manufacturers offer free demo rides on their entire line of motorcycles, including Harley-Davidson, Indian, Victory, Yamaha, Can Am Spyder, as well as local Honda, and Suzuki dealers. Riding the Black Hills is a blast, and border line magical. Of course I will be going up again this year. It will be a well attended rally year, since it will mark the 75th Black Hills Motor Classic Rally. Anyone else here going from Colorado, or passing through Denver on the way there? If you ever wanted to ride along, I will be heading up there on Saturday August 1st. Let me know. Also if you've ever been to Sturgis before, please tell me why you like it or hate it. I like to hear it all. Every year, I'm thinking it will be the last for a while, but when comes June and July, I just can't resist the call of the Black Hills.


[url=http://s429.photobucket.com/user/ghislainsabre/media/IMG_2188_zpsf8n1ncj0.jpg.html]

I'm not a good person to ask - I'm not a crowd guy or even a people guy. I'm a solitary type.

But I stumbled into Sturgis, a week before Bike Week. Long story...it had me, my new R1200GS, and a week off, all parked in South Dakota. I thought a ride to Rushmore would be a great thing; and it would be neat to ride through Sturgis as they were setting up.

Little...did I know.

It was MOBBED. Imagine a county fair on opening night...that was the sidewalks. The streets? PLUGGED with bikers. Couldn't move about - I overheated in traffic. Hotel room at the Super 8 was $270. I didn't have camping gear and I'd have had to go a ways, probably to Pierre, to find some in stock.

The roads were packed all the way to Rushmore. Oddly, the actual monument wasn't so full; and a lot of the visitors were family; but the roads...it was like a never-ending parade.

I didn't hit the bars. Years ago I had a liquor problem - so I try to stay away; and liquor and riding don't mix. I suppose I could have gotten in line for a Diet Coke...but...not realy.

That's my take. Other riders who're more attuned to that sort of scene, will tell you drastically different.

Good one Ghis. Love to join you but I've spent my travelling allowance this year. I'm a bit like JPT in that I'm not much of a one for crowds but I would go just for the experience. Having said that, I just can't keep away from the MotoGP or WSBK at Phillip Island. I'm sure it is not as "wild" as Sturgis though.

Cheers and enjoy.

I'm with Pterodactyl on a number of fronts, Ghis: good post, I'd be up for it, my travelling allowance is well spent, etc. There was an Aussie motorcycle journalist went to Sturgis last year and wrote about it. I think I posted links somewhere. I recall he really enjoyed the ride there on a review bike.

Good post! I'll go some day to experience it. I go to Daytona Bike Week every March...the crowds a bit different than those I hang around with, but it's fun anyway. I'm sure Sturgis would be similar in that sense.

Sounds interesting. It hasn't really been on my radar screen, but I wouldn't mind going some year. We have been out that way before the event and seen a lot of bikes enroute.

My big thing is 'Airventure' in Oshkosh most every summer, usually late July. This one is all about airplanes and everything aviation, bikers are welcome too.

https://www.eaa.org/en/airventure

The riding is a Ton of fun out there. Its a ten hour drive for me from MN. I went three years in a row some time over 12 years ago. I am not into crowds much either but It is an experience! The riding in the hills was the best for me, loved it. Rode to devils tower. Rode to rushmore. Jumped off a 70 foot cliff into cool water on a hot day. Rode in an absolute downpour coming back from wall drug and the weird wax museum. Hung out in Deadwood which I love and checked out tons of rolling art work made of steel everywhere everyday. Hope to make it back one day, I want to go watch those hill climbs!

Love the area .... hate the event, the spectacle, the show, the crowds, the attitude, the noise

Same for Daytona for me

I avoid crowded places like the flu.. give me Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Washington, Oregon...big quiet open places, few people

How anybody lives "in" a city is beyond me

(06-25-2015, 10:57 PM)The ferret_imp Wrote: [ -> ]Love the area .... hate the event, the spectacle, the show, the crowds, the attitude, the noise

Same for Daytona for me

I avoid crowded places like the flu.. give me Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Washington, Oregon...big quiet open places, few people

How anybody lives "in" a city is beyond me

+1, I go back to Jacksonville occasionally and after an hour or so I am ready to leave, wondering how I ever stood living amidst all this congestion and noise. Twenty-two years now of rural living has spoiled me to the good life.

(06-25-2015, 03:29 PM)JustPassinThru_imp Wrote: [ -> ]I'm not a good person to ask - I'm not a crowd guy or even a people guy. I'm a solitary type.

But I stumbled into Sturgis, a week before Bike Week. Long story...it had me, my new R1200GS, and a week off, all parked in South Dakota. I thought a ride to Rushmore would be a great thing; and it would be neat to ride through Sturgis as they were setting up.

Little...did I know.

It was MOBBED. Imagine a county fair on opening night...that was the sidewalks. The streets? PLUGGED with bikers. Couldn't move about - I overheated in traffic. Hotel room at the Super 8 was $270. I didn't have camping gear and I'd have had to go a ways, probably to Pierre, to find some in stock.

The roads were packed all the way to Rushmore. Oddly, the actual monument wasn't so full; and a lot of the visitors were family; but the roads...it was like a never-ending parade.

I didn't hit the bars. Years ago I had a liquor problem - so I try to stay away; and liquor and riding don't mix. I suppose I could have gotten in line for a Diet Coke...but...not realy.

That's my take. Other riders who're more attuned to that sort of scene, will tell you drastically different.

Even with the new wet head motor? I thought that was cured now!

BMW=Bikes Made Weird