Bonneville America Forums Forums General Motorcycle Forums Rides, Rallies, & Events Heading for Sturgis

I am embarking for destinations North next Wednesday final destination the Black Hills of South Dakots. I will catch the last few days or so of the rally but I dont mind missing most of it. I have lots of kin folk in Rapid City, Spearfish and Piedmont and Belle Fourche so I will primarily be visitin and taking time for a ride through the Hills.

It'll be my first protracted over the road trip. I have done 480 miles in a day in Az last August in 112 degree heat and survived it so I am simply treating this long trip as a simple series of short hauls/gas up, stretch the legs and onward I go.

Talked to my brother two days ago and the Hordes of Harleys are already major league inbound to his pos.

He just grins and bears it as he rents out the entire second level of his house two two couples from somewhere back east.

In all honesty I think most of the residents look at the entire Sturgis rally as a giant cash cow.


A couple of friends of my Uncle run a little establishment that is open only during the rally in Belle Fourche and they have paid for their liquor licence a few times over in short order. They run a place called the "Stonehouse Saloon" Sell beer and T-shirts and rake it in.

Got a few pictures from the Black Hills and the Rally itself


Taken on Iron Mounrain Highway Black Hills


Full throttle Saloon Sturgis


My Digs for the Rally


I was taking photos of some Bridges on Iron Mountain when this buck snapped a twig and posed for the picture


Sturgis Street

I enjoyed the ride up. I did it in two days with day two being an 800 mile leg. I entered the Southern Black Hills from Edgemont as the sun was going down and found the Hills still to be choked with bikes even riding after dark. Some were riding a bit too fast for night time on twisty two lanes in country filled with wildlife. I just slowed down and got way over right and let em roar by.

I think there were only four fatalities this year at least one of them due to a deer strike on Nemo road. the last report I read said something like a tot of 180 reported injuries due to motorcycle mishaps during the rally.

The Speedie ran like a top the entire trip. I saw few Triumphs save a few Rocket 3 cruising along on Boulder Canyon Highway between Deadwood and Sturgis and one lone Speedie at the Iron Mountain overlook. He was from Saskatchewan.

I stayed at my brothers place in Piedmont and enjoyed his hospitality and free food!

I got rained on once coming back about 13 miles out of Cheyenne Wyoming. It was one of those typical midwestern rapidly moving thunderstorms that roars thru with lots of lightning and booming and drops a lot of water in short order. I pulled over and let it rain on me for what seemed like an hour but was only about 20 minutes.

Depite the rally being a big Hardly Fest I would still recommned it. Go early before the crowd or arrive mid week and stay after the crowd leaves for the best riding in the Hills.

Thanks for the pics and info., I keep saying next year, so maybe next year will be my turn.
Bob

Everyone should see it once. It's quite the spectacle. Aside from the other major bike events you'll never, ever, see that many bikes on the road at one time. It's a good thing everyone stops waving. Your arm would fall off.

I've got some friends (Trophy) up in Edmonton who want to ride down there off season with me and Freedom. I'll admit I'm kinda curious myself. And I'd like to ride over the pigtails again.

If you want to ride any of those Black HIlls roads and not consider it a "group ride" you must get up very early in the morning during rally week or go off season.

The best motorcycle roads are Vanocher Canyon out of Sturgis to Nemo road, Spearfish Canyon, Boulder Canyon and in the southern hills Iron Mountain and Needles Highway.

I'm not going back during the rally unless I have a darn good reason. Pigtail Pass (Iron Mountain) was great and I think we did Needles highway. Custer State Park was nice. But I'd only had my bike for a few months at that point and don't remember everyplace we went.

Kev, excellent report. Looks like a great trip!

I'd like to try it on the Kingpin sometime, but the 1,300 miles one way is a downer.

Well. I went 1400 miles each way. 600 day one and 800 day two going up. I was one tired pup at the end of day two.

I took three going back much more comfortable. I will buy a windshield and lowers before I go on any more extended trips like Sturgis though. A windshield would have especially made those last 250 to 300 miles of a long day go much easier. You get tired of all that breeze in your face and neck.

Kev, you're a trooper.
The problem is time as much as the mileage. I'd like to spend some time seeing the Black Hills, Mount Rushmore, etc and other stuff along the way rather than making it a Death Ride with a deadline.

Maybe when I retire?