Have Big Motorcycle Rallies Lost Their Spark?
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- Опубліковано 30 вер 2024
- Are Big Motorcycle Rallies Awful? Which is better, big rallies or locals? Comment down below what you think, and if you're coming to Leesburg this weekend come hang out with us at @GatorHarleyDavidson this Saturday at Noon at The Fairing Xchange tent!
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I get crap for being from sturgis and living 10 miles from it, but still drag a camper to the thick of it for 2 weeks. It's about the friends we had for years and the new ones we meet. Its really a family reunion, and I look forward to it every year! I've watched Sturgis change over the last 30 years and it will continue to. My kids will see different shit than I did, and I think it's great! You were spot on, do your own thing, and enjoy the people!
I’m from Pierre & go every year to Sturgis. I’m with you on that.
Just laugh at them. I love STURGIS and area. So much history and scenery. I wish I could move to small town S.D.
I've been yard camping at 5th and Main in sturgis since 2000 still $25 night , reunite with long time friends great view constant stream of bikes coming in to town, shower at the community center, one block from downtown plan on doing it again this year.
Camera phones hurt rallies more than sponsors. 😂
I would love to go to the big rallies, but in the last couple of years, they've simply priced me out of the market.😢
You can still go to sturgis an sleep in a tent for under 200 dollars. Buy lunch meat an a loaf of bread 6 pk less than 300 equal s 500. An whatever gas cost you to get there.
@@rickpitz2520 ... get back to me when you're 70 years old. I did a 13 month campout once in '71-'72. These days... my idea of roughing it... is Best Western.
I don’t care about “big” sponsors - I ignore it. I think ProMonk’s video on cell phone cameras / social media taking some of the fun out of rallies is right on.
Corporate sponsors don't bother me one bit. I'm more irritated when the dudes with the Sling Shots show up at the rallies (It's a car dude) and when crappy motels price gouge and rent a $100 room for $250 because of the rally.
True. I’ve seen $79 rooms go for $399 at Sturgis.
If anything it would probably be a great place to get leathers, motorcycle patches, anything motorcycle related. So in theory it has everything and then some. It’s like a state fair for adults.
The only thing that bothers me about the big insurance companies dumping money on these rallies is it makes you stop and think wow that’s why my insurance is so high 😂🤣😂
The rallies are great. No issues. Just got back from Ride With Sandoval benefitting the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Assoc. in Eureka Springs. Absolutely awesome time.
The only thing you notice is the crowd is getting older. The kids today just aren't riding. We all grew up on dirtbikes. Today, kids are growing up on iPads.
Agreed!
I too was on the Ride With Sandoval ride in Eureka Springs.
Don't worry , there's plenty of young blood old schoolers ... We are growing
Went to Sturgis again last year. The cons were a lot of shops selling the same t-shirts and watching a couple drunken idiots crashing their bikes into each other at the Buffalo Chip. The t-shirt thing doesn't bother me except that I wish there were more small vendors with their own unique shirts and merch. Pros were that I met up with an old friend, met some cool new people, drank a lot of beer and had a great time. I don't care about the corporate sponsorships, if they keep the rallies going that's great, doesn't really affect me in any way. Biggest drawback for me is that I live in Edmonton, Alberta which makes getting to any rally a multi-day ride and makes some like Leesburg pretty difficult to attend. May need to start flying down and renting or borrowing a bike rather than not going because it's too far.
I agree that smaller vendors with stuff you’ve never seen would be cool.
I used to go to Born Free in Cali every year. The first 3 - 4 rally’s were grass root. Had a ton of vendors selling parts, small machine shops selling hand machined parts, and all kinds of shenanigans. Then it got big. Vans shoes, Geico insurance, etc. It got dumb real quick. All the bad ass venders went away, and it became family friendly.
💯 agree + a Indian tent is called a Tee Pee😊
lol... Absolutely!
Sponsorship most often just makes rallies happen. Without those funds a lot of events wouldn't take off. I like to go to rallies because my bike is a part of me. Getting ideas on how to customize it even further, learning about new trends in the industry or simply seeing what the other kids do (and then copy / steal it with pride), makes those events very valuable to me. I'm thankful for corporate sponsorship as it means a business helps me get the opportunity to enjoy everything around bikes in person, live instead of just in a video (no offense to all the content creators but feeling and touching a part makes a difference). Finding the time to actually go and attend a rally is a whole 'nother story 😂 Just my .02$ ...
I’ve been to Daytona Bike Week a few times, and it seemed to become more and more of a letdown. My first was late 90’s which was a blast. Again early 2000’s and it was ok. Once more a few years later and it was just lame. I had enough after that. I found that small local gatherings here and there were much more fun and personable. I’m out of the scene now do to physical limitations that don’t allow me to ride anymore, but I was on 2 wheels from 1997 to 2016 and had some great times… and never once had any issues with anyone, including 1%ers. I got along fine with them.
will say from the short time I've been going to the bigger rallies and to me it seems that the pd has gotten worse each year especially daytona. I can say it was rather obvious how the daytona was having issues with the rally and certain areas of the overall rally areas. I get it they worry about "safety" but at the same time when there's as much if not more officers in one area of the rally that you can easily notice is rediculously a power trip in my eyes. Sadly though there are way more vendors at the bigger rallies for sure. I'm not sure about small rallies just yet being it's going to be my first time at Hogrock this year. I will see ya at Sturgis for sure as well.
Definitely Daytona has a po po problem. They don’t want us there. Sturgis PD have it figured out.
I do not usually have a speaking part on these things, I am a bit new to the channel, but I get this guy totally. I would say I am 50/50 on this issue, I go for the like minded people, usually in a group of buddy's, but sometimes if none available I will go lone wolf just to check out whats happening, I always run into cool people. BUT!!! take Americade for example, in Lake George NY, not a big event, but sponsored by an insurance company (I will not mention so as not to give them any free advertisement) targeting bikers with banners all over the place. The issue that bothers me is, this insurance company is a TOP donor to the anti-second amendment movement in this country, and I walk around all day thinking if only these people knew that using this insurance company (which by the way has very cheap rates) you are donating your hard earned money to the WRONG people and they are using against you, to take away YOUR second amendment as fast as they can. Now, before you go on about NY, let me tell you, MOST of NY is Red not Blue, and where I live we all are CCW people. In fact, when our state passed the so called "safe act" years ago, our NRA memberships passed the state of Texas, so don't even get me started, my Texas buddies always ask when are you going to get out of that state.....I'm not, I'm not a quiter, we will stay here in NY and fight this #$*(%#@$%!!! Sorry Monk, its hard to have this convo without the blood boiling, I know you are on our side...so thought it worth while to share the perspective.
So many riders enjoy going to these rallies year after year....and that's awesome! But for me, I've attended enough of these rallies that I started to feel like I'm following a traveling carnival. The same rides, the same vendors, the same food, the same contests, and the same stuffed animals. I'm just burnt out.
How true this is. Daytona is definitely that way for sure. Been there for the last eight years.
A different thought pattern. Yes you spent money to go to the giant rally. But did you spend more at said rally? If you only bought a tee shirt, and bought everything else from where you are coming from, those sponsors are there spending where the tee shirt person did not.
He's not wrong about the big rally's going corporate. Sturgis def ain't what it used to be. It's a monstrosity now. Which is what keeps me away; not the corporate thing. That's just me tho. I'm older now and less inclined towards noisy crowds. Mainly I don't like the level and number of inexperienced "bikers" you have to dodge and avoid. I'd rather do those rides during off peak times when it's prettier and safer to do so. But everyone should do a rally or 2 in their life. Nothing else quite like them.
All the big West Coast rallies have disappeared. I used to love Hollister and Laughlin.
Not really concerned about the sponsorship side of things. Go and do you! Money and sponsorship makes things happen
I'd love to see one of you bigger creators talking about Abate Freedom Rally in Algona Iowa
The only thing that ruins a rally for me is the obnoxious, entitled weekend warrior dudes that have no respect for personal space, my old lady or my bike. Seems there's always some group of douchebag bros that find it amusing to sling their beer or whatever drink they have all over the place while they're playing grab ass next to our bikes. That's really the worst part of it for me. I don't care about corporate signs or crowds, as long as everyone is there to enjoy it and have respect for others, I'm in...
Agreed. We keep to our own little family for that reason.
We go to people watch so it doesn’t really effect us much we make our own fun and when that runs out we go home, back to reality 😂
My all time go to will be the Algona Iowa Abate Freedom Rally on the 4th. Pay your fee to get in (to the private 200 acres) and then just party!
thats a proper party. thats not what Monkey is talking about
@@maddog7999 kinda hit me after I typed it.
Yep I never miss it either I'm with you commented above on the same rally
I just like hanging out with bikers! So many good people. Rally vibes are awesome. I could not care less about sponsors or anything else. Just there for a good time.
Exactly
Me too man, I don't pay attention to marketing. I'm there for the fellowship/brotherhood🇺🇸
I personally don't care I don't even look at most of the advertising I'm looking at bikes and babes
It costs $$$ to put on a rally. And the locals have to buy into it. Rode through Sturgis the week after the rally. I got a few dirty looks. Got to stocked up on T-shirts though, three for 10$, nice.
I literally wait until the last day of the rally and the shirts go on sale
I remember going to Big Runs(Thats what we call Rallys on the West Coast) in the 80's and 90's and they werent really expensive...But in the 2000's they started to get pricey and i really slowed down on attending them also it was getting to be the same old thing...But now i am with my New Lady and She is new to the Biker scene so i am starting to go again with Her...
Would you ever go to the for corners bike rally in durango colorado?
Maybe when retired, I can’t go on more than one long distance rally per year. Ot enough time off.
I will always go to Sturgis and usually go a week before the rally. Sturgis is too crowded now and I wouldn't go downtown even if I was there during the rally - that's for the youngsters. I probably spend 2 or 3 days in Sturgis then head west and ride Montana, Wyoming, Utah, etc.... I go for the riding - the rally means little to me.
Went to Sturgis for the first time last year. Really enjoyed it and would go back at some point.
I'm 15 miles north of he there. It's not that great. Very commercial and full of cops. Lots of fat. old people with loads of tats.
I'm going to Sturgis for the first time this year. Can't wait!
Saw you at the Leesburg rally. What's up with all the guys around you with Monkey Security shirts on?
HA!!! Those are buddies that were playing a joke. I DO NOT have security of any kind.
Up here in British Columbia we only have small motorcycle rallies now, as the one big event failed miserably. Last year I went to two, Rally in the Beaver Valley, and Shovelfest.
Both were awesome!!
Nice. Australian rallies when I went were completely home grown. No corporate bullshit, nothing. Just bikers in the middle of nowhere enjoying brotherhood. Big business, money, always fucks things up.
Im 56 and rather anti social. I typically ride alone here in Ohio. After years and years of dreaming about it I made the ride out to Sturgis and back in 22. Stayed the week out in Spearfish and all day, every day we were out doing all the rides and all the roads and places that people talk about. We did them all. We spent several hours walking the drag in Sturgis over a couple days. Not very impressed, if I'm being honest. Overpriced, cheap, repetitive, and aggressive, ever watchful and judging police. We spent a little time in each of the other surrounding towns. I liked Deadwood better than Sturgis but the traffic was insane. Hell, I think I liked Custer and Sundance better than Sturgis. We didn't do any hard drinking. We were too busy riding. It was me and 3 other guys. I don't have this massive monkey network of vendors and vendor friends to gladhand with so I don't do rallies because there aren't going to be like, 50 people I know that are also coming there. I think I'd go back to Sturgis but if I did I'd probably rent a place about 75 miles away and come into town just one afternoon. I feel like if you walk that strip up and back once and see the motorcycle museum, thats about it. You seen and done it all. It is still, as it was, mostly about the rides, for me. The traffic and the crowds and the vendors and all the cops just wear me down.
To Me the crowds have changed, you can't go out and buy a new Bike and leathers and poof you're a biker! In the generation I grew up in you worked on what you rode, earned respect from your elders' traded parts with your buddies and even got help when you needed it from guys that knew more than you or I ever will, not some kid who went to school for 6 weeks and is now a mechanic! I am not saying that's how every motorcycle dealer is, but I see that more so now! The good mechanics open their own shop's and make the money they deserve! I know old guys complain a lot about such things as I have just now, but the crowd's definitely have a lot more folks who leave the rally's a park the latest Hondkawasuki in their heated garages till next year and tell embellished stories until the next rally. The major sponsors could care less as long as they get as much of your money as they can and plant that advertising seed in the brains of all the minions that see their latest ad's. I started going to Daytona in 82 and have attended many events since then and have met many amazing people who I consider friends. Mark
I’ve never attended one of the “big rallies”
The small ones I’ve gone to though
It seems like it’s just a shopping mall for bikers
Nah, concerts and late nights blowing off steam. Vendors is just a part of it, and if you’re bike obsessed it’s great to see what’s new.
The Ozarks are poorly promoted . but if promoted correctly could be bigger than Sturgis just as nice area and lots of riding and lots of riding I think it could be bigger than the Sturgis a promoted correctly. Area is just as nice and actually has more accommodations than Sturgis to wall places everywhere.
little sturgis in KY is fun for a smaller rally
I agree with you 100% I will much rather go to Leesburg by bike Fest then Daytona and the town you talking about is Mount Dora. check out Renagans flea market in Mount Dora on 441. It’s great.
My Dora is nice but Leesburg also has a nice Main Street area
Yes because it’s always 2 clubs that has “beef” show up and just stare at each other and everybody leave 😂😂😂😂😂
No clue why a large rally having giant sponsors sponsoring would have any effect as well . 🙄🤫
because a hot dog goes from $1 to $7. event admission goes from $5 to $45. because cops swarm and issue millions of dollars worth of tickets for exhaust
If you attend one rally, you have attended all of them. People wander around, get drunk, ride impaired. No thanks, im good.
Ya, you're wrong ...stay lame and stay at home . It's better that way
I font understand why people say this all the time. Vendors being in money for the towns and city's hosting. All the vendors who make a living doing this. All rallies are basically crowded. Haters gonna hate. It makes no sense to me whose banners are up. Have fun and enjoy the events. Shows. Etc.
Miss the Laughlin Run.
I'm bummed as hell that I'm going to miss Leesburg... but I'll be celebrating with my college graduate. Love you guys, have one for me.
Congrats!!!!
Sturgis is a different animal for sure. This year will be my 17th trip there riding from Chicago with a few core guys who have been there more then me. There is always a few people who are going for the first time….so we do all the same rides each year and it never gets old. Some of my bike friends I only see that week…..and that makes it special too. It’s not just the places you go, it’s the people you share them with.
As Someone who Worked Dealerships since i was 14, i LOVE the Rallies and Everyone Bitches about the Rallies, and most of the biggest bitches i find are the people who come and warm a Bar Stool. I've been to and or Worked Sturgis, Daytona, Myrtle Beach Harley and Atlantic rallies, the now defunct Heritage Rally in Summerville SC (metro Charleston) that rally started when the moron city council in Myrtle Beach Tried to kill the rallies and FAILED !! bikers showed up anyway. when i was in the Navy i made it to the Laughlin River Run once and then for ME my Favorite the Rally that Started Rallies 101 years old in 2024 LACONIA !! but like you i like the rallies because i get to see people i don't get to see anywhere else or at least Rarely, but at LACONIA we always meet up. i also love the rallies because i get to put my HANDS on things i do not want to buy on line, like biker rings and bracelets i have HUGE Hands and a 9 3/4 wrist on line no promise you'll get it right, in person i WILL !! Then i'm Also a HOG member (quit the 1% clubs) so the rally i get free HOG stuff and some is AWESOME !! then Like some of the other big Rallies the Races and Hill Climbs and Rides, like TJ i know you like Sturgis, LACONIA has the White Mountains and our Notches are every bit as good as the Dragon, or Needles and Iron Mountain rd, the we have Mt Washington, there is a ride for you. then because New England is so Small you can hit all 6 states in a day, and you can ride the NH and ME Coast, Smugglers Notch in Vermont, the Mohawk Trail in Western Mass, and Rte 5 by the Tabbaco fields and barns in the pioneer valley, Biker bars like my wifes Cousins Tower Hill Tavern which includes 6 other bars within the same block, Bentleys in maine, Iron Tails also in maine, High octane former broken spoke then the parties at the campgrounds and venders in 6 different towns the New Hampshire international Speedway, the ones crying about the T-shirt sales and advertisers might be right in the center of the rally and NEVER see THE RALLY !! (you know the forest thru the tree's thing) As to the Smaller rallies up here we have Harley Rendezvous (strictly adult only) the Keene Swap meet, the United Bikers of Maine Statewide party, Americade , Indian Day in Springfield Mass and other even smaller Events (i own and run the 603 Motorcycle Events Page !! on Facebook) and yes it was the 100th but Last year LACONIA was mobbed and was a good time !!!
Did Y'all say "Indian is going down". Well I don't know about that. For sure the dealers are spread Far Apart. So it means long traveling for lots of Indian owners when you want dealer work done on your bike. OH, did I tell you about my local Indian dealer's peculiar move? There's a SIGN on their front door now: 'Open by appointment only'. You know that's a turn off for folks who want to just drop by to look at merch or gander at the bikes on the showroom floor new or used. Also they're doing like H.D and not working on older bikes any longer. My neighbor with a 2003 Indian Chief was told by that dealer: "We don't repair bikes that old". Here's a word for that- Disheartening. Fortunately there's several independent bike shops around here for situations like that. Yes, I'm an Indian owner. Now as for the closest bike rally event to me, Laconia, N'H. which I'm hoping to make June 7- 17.
Never been to LOUDON?!?! One of the originals.... I go every year, but I live only an hour away. I don't think it's gotten too commercial. Yet. Not big enough? A bunch of us, 8 or 10, used to go to the Blessing of The Bikes in Colebrook, NH, and camped out for 4 days there, but that one died some years ago. I'd like to get to Sturgis, and a friend lives near Daytona, but at 71 years young, I reckon I've seen most of it all before. Maybe one of these days! Come to NH, we'll chat. Ride safe!
Not hating on big rallies, I've been to Bike Week and Biketoberfest. Cooperate sponsorships are good for the whole bike industry. What I don't like, and this is just my personal opinions, are the HUGE crowds, the fact I have to lock my bike because huge crowds attract thieves, $4-$5-$6-$7 beers, stupid long lines to get overpriced beer/drinks, overpriced shirts, Overpriced lodging, crowded streets, drunk @$$holes, etc. I know some of those things happen at smaller rallies too, but the amount of people at the large ones magnifies the problems. I prefer the smaller crowds, shorter lines, etc of the smaller gatherings and I believe you get the same comradery and experience without the hassles. Just my opinion. And yes I plan on going back to Bike Week sometime
You ever go to "Little Sturgis"? It's not actually called that anymore, technically, but Sturgis, KY
When I hear "I don't go to events anymore because it is just to expensive." I want to say that is just a cop-out Jack. And really, the truth is is just that you are to dam lazy to adjust your spending habits and figure out a way to go that you can afford. Holy explosion ! Many of you just blew gasket over what I just stated. Going to Sturgis for example does not have to bust your Piggy Bank. You just have to use that good brain of yours and plan this trip out. First: No hotels. Camp out, there are plenty of small reasonable camp grounds available. You just have to put forth the effort to search them out. Next: Buy some food at the local grocery store and cook some of your meals at your campsite. Cheese and cold cuts are great for a tasty lunch. Plus a few cold beers make it all that much better. I refuse to pay $7.00 or $8.00 bucks for a beer in town and so I do most of my drinking in camp with friends or take the time to make some new friends. You will be pleasantly surprised how many new friends you can make by entering someones camp carrying a bottle and a few Dixi cups. Go ahead give it a try! What I am saying here is that if you really want to go. There are ways to make it happen and still have a super great time. You just have to be honest and ask yourself "How Much Do I Really Want To Go?" Ride Hard~Live Brave
Did Sturgis in '98,'99,20'2001, went back in 2023, it changed but I go for the rides and meeting great people, did daytona in '97 hated it, no fun rides. But the getting there and leaving in different directions, stay off the highways do the two lanes each way, take your time see the sights
I REALLY miss Laughlin!!
Tomahawk Fall Classic is the best riding and the best Rally second only to Sturgis Annual.
It used to be about Racing.. Like Laconia..
Come to Laconia.. You'll change your mind...
I DARE YOU!! LMAO!!
I’d have to agree with you. I’m not going alone to a rally. I’m going to meet, be with, hang out and hopefully ride with my friends. Maybe party some at a safe, undisclosed location with my fellow Jar Heads.
I guess if a rally was sponsored by say wife beaters of American I’d probably pass on that. Otherwise I could probably give a shit.
Like you said crowded is a whole other issue.
After annual trips back in the 80's the spark burnt out for me in the early 90's when the crowds got out of control and everywhere we went it seemed like we were riding in a parade, fuk that. Your milage may vary.......just sayin
I’m telling you just watched a few Amsoil Adams videos from Leesburg man awesome very busy
First if The City of Sturgis was forced to pay for the Rally without corporate sponsorship, a beer would 50 bucks and a meal would be a hundred. But for me if a corporate sponsor is what makes or breaks the Rally for you, then i think you're missing the point of the Rally. It's not about the bands its not about the vendors It's about the people. Riding motorcycles talking about motorcycles . Stangers that become friends and in time friends that become family m.
the more corporate it is the bigger it is. ( money wants big and diverse) The bigger it is the more diverse it becomes and the more varied the attending personalities. The more varied personalities that attend the more it changes. All of that subtlety changes the feel of events. It becomes "not like I remember" some pick up on it more and some it bothers and some it doesn't. It's as a friend described to me its becoming a motorcycle rally instead of a biker rally. People are attending who love motorcycles but couldn't care one little bit about the "biker" life. Which is both good and bad. and no I don't mean Mc...when I say biker life. it's just how things go, many newer riders just want to ride..without "belonging" to "X" motorcycle subgroup.
Sponsorship doesn't bother me at all. It all takes money, and if big companies are helping keep things alive, how is that bad? That said, I'm not one for giant crowds...and the expense of going to Sturgis is insane to me. I keep thinking I should go at least once, especially since I've been riding since the 80s and how I can I call myself a biker having never been, but I don't care too much about that. I live near Denver CO so it's not a long ride from here, but even camping is pricey - and I'm too old and fat for those kind of shenanigans these days.
I go motorcycling specifically to get AWAY from other people; not going toward thousands of them.
No one asked my opinion, but here it is ! No, it isn't the size of the Rally. As much as what it grows into. (I.E. Corporate Sponsoring) and the (We Run This, Coloniaslism) that comes with !!!
I always tell people that if you enjoy riding motorcycles then you need to attend Sturgis at least once in your life. I did it back in 2011 and it was fun and a great experience but won't do it again. For me there are just way too many people there. As far as your comment about Indian Dealers sinking fast I don't get it. Harley has closed more dealerships last year than Indian has since Polaris started the brand back up.
Love riding and rallies, seeing too many folks that don't know how to ride and putting my life in danger. Big rallies have lost some of the magic over the past few years.
It’s not the corporate banners that has me irritated…..it’s corporate Harley …the greed they are showing is sickening… the milwaukee rally is now annual rather than a 5 year reunion…why ? Because of corporate greed…you can’t even ride in the parade now without buying a 300 dollar vip pass to walk around and see vendors and maybe hear a band pend you hate…the real turnoff for me is this year you have to pay 15 bucks to tour the harley plant where the bike you bought is made ! I live in milwaukee and will not attend any corporate Harley stuff… I will go to dealer parties where I can see vendors and hear music for free…. I am not a cheap ass…just sick of the corporate greed at rallies now…. Out…
Well when I was at the chip last August, I was in the bike show exhibit at the rats hole and I witness Indian corporate reps wanting the removal of a vintage oil painting of the Indian head logo on a large canvas sheet because it was offensive…(They had people roll it up )
True story…..and I thought it was odd there was a large amount of Budweiser presence still even after all the craziness surrounding the brand at that time….
Numerous times I've heard (rather read) people say they're too much of a real biker to go to Sturgis.
I say good. Stay home, more fun for us.
I could care less about banners. They're paying alot of money and not getting my attention at all.
What I hate about the big rallies is that I never run into you. Or missus. I don't care who is sponsoring the rally. Don't care about their posters as long as they continue Sponsoring And we can have these rallies and have fun, I'm going.
They don't brother me, l go for the ride and have friends and family.we all stay at Palmer Gulch RV park. We stay at the hotel there. 😎
Larger rallies have caused such a price hike in food and lodging many people cannot afford to go anymore. Then you get the same vendors at each one. You can count on Hot Leathers, Sanity Jewelry, and more having 400 repetitive tents set up everywhere. So there isn’t anything new to look at. Sturgis at least offers all kinds of riding in the area. Daytona not so much.
We love Leesburg because we get to see people that we met there years ago at Windy Acres! Theres still things to do and rides to go on. Hard to beat the riding of Sturgis.
Funny, I was wearing my Windy Acres shirt today from 2011. Been going up to Leesburg since 2009.
I have done a few around Australia, I don't care for the sellers,I'm there to check out the bikes take some pictures for my own memory's listen to the music and enjoying myself etc
I have no problem with sponsorships. Sturgis is the most amazing event I've ever experienced and corporate sponsorship isn't going to have any impact on me. And I certainly don't think Sturgis is dead. Never been to Daytona but Sturgis seems to be flourishing. This weekend I'm riding to an event that might actually be dead. It used to be called the Laughlin River Run and when I first started going back in 2010 it had a decent attendance. But it's been getting smaller and smaller and after COVID its now called something else (Mayhem River Run?) and I think it is probably dead. But I haven't been there since 2019 so I am going because I just got my new bike and I am itching to go somewhere and this is the only option at the moment.
Come to Muskegon for Bike Time and Rebel Road here in Michigan. I’ll get you a camp site at the dealer.
I've gone to Sturgis for the last 30 years and am considering not going this year. The things that are turning me off are all the RVs and golf carts. it seems like no one wants to ride to the rally. The swingers are showing up in force and most of them are in there 50s and 60s. women used to flash their boobs because it was just good manners, but now they demand beads.
😅😅😂
Can’t tell if her boobs are out or she’s wearing chaps.
That's what they do at Madi gras
@@ProfessionalMonkey Hey, if you're into senior citizen boobs, those gals who are reliving their youth make the rallies your dream event.
Of it wasn’t for the corporate sponsors. There wouldn’t be rallies. Get over it!!
Those companies help put money to rallies and ensure they stay profitable and alive in my opinion. Alsp a chamce for them to get feedbacl, or see what is missing in the market, etc.. Can hate the big money, but they have their purpose. I agree it is about seeing old friends and meeting new friends.
For me, personally its the cost of going to the big rallies specifically sturgis and as you mentioned the crowds. You get stuck in traffic on the big popular rides and its hard to enjoy them . Plus you gotta deal with riding in a crowd of bikes and who knows what substances a lot of the riders have on board. I like to go to sturgis a week or 2 before or after the rally. I save a ton of money i get to enjoy the riding. I can still get a shirt. I dont care for the vendors and bands. So win win for me. But i also dont have a big group of friends who attend the raly.
I went to Daytona and mostly saw cops everywhere ................... done with it
Back in the day rallies were fun you could make new friends easy not the case anymore today they all have their little clicks and don't have time for new people, even little trinkets are way overpriced, they are all the same now every thing you do is monitored by police and cameras, back in the 70's rallies were fun, today not so much😊
Humor me: tell me how the idle is adjusted on a 2024 HD "Gold Wing" Road Glide.
And when I say, Ozarks, I mean Arkansas, Eureka Springs
And I think Osage Beach, MO. Just did Spring Fling at Eureka Springs, and that was very small compared to Bikes, Blues, and BBQ event.
No you're not wrong. I go to a tiny little rally every year in Cavalier,ND. You see the same damn signage there that you see anywhere else. Be glad companies are spending money to advertise at these rallies. Most of the time. It makes them better.
Leesburg was my first rally in years.. and I had a blast. I think I saw you in passing.
Small rallies are going away. New Mexico last year had a club issue Memorial Day and now there is only 2 rallies left and they have gotten too small and no fun left. I have been to Sturgis 18 times and the riding out there is fantastic. The big rallies probably wouldn't exist if there wasn't sponsorship
Idc about sponsorship I prefer the small rallies less people less censorship I prefer the old-school rally vibe I attend the algona freedom rally every year
It’s not the advertising but it’s the over policing like Daytona where they run every plate for no reason
Food was good, great bikes crap vendors with overpriced merchandise.
The only thing on rallies big or small that burn my a.. is the cowboy hat wearing badge showing police that will pull a person over for farting down wind .
Don’t care about companies having displays, it’s not mine I have to interact with them, and they invest in the continuing existence of rallies
I just hate how expensive they are. $90 a night 360 days a year, but for 5 days out of the year it’s $490 a night. Like….come on!
Daytona was bigger 20 years ago. Beach Street is dead, US 1 down by Last Resort is dead and Main Street us a tired mess.
You know what sucks Laconia COLD RAIN DAM RAIN
EVERY rally, ride, and event is what the rider makes of it. I think if you're going to see old friends and meet new ones you can never go wrong. If you're focused on vendors, concerts, shows, etc., you're setting yourself up for disappointment.
Myrtle Beach is a big one that used to be great… the sponsors were fine. It was the local constabulary and the city leadership that made asses of themselves that made me stop going there and look for a place to go that actually wants my money.
Personally, I don’t give ✌🏻💩 about who wants to throw money at a Rally, as long as there is a rally going on.