Curious about Sturgis

[Dag]

I've always thought of Sturgis as a Harley only event and showing up on a Honda would be a good way to get your ass kicked???

[shortleg]

    Not true at all. You will see all kinds of bikes there.
The only time you have to me careful is when the people
wareing their colors showup.
    I have gone two times and have had a great time,
now I have to admit I had a nice place to stay and
was kept well fed.
              Shortleg[Dave]

[fudgie]

Never had a bit of trouble. Never felt intimidated around any of the gangs there. But it isn't like it was in the past either. Its becoming more of a family affair now.  Gotta watch out for the strollers on Main St.  Alot of different bikes out there. HD is a big sponser so there is a lot of HD stuff. Same for Jack and Budwieser. Alot of bars dont allow colors but some do. The only thing that I see quarreled about is wether you trailer your bike or ride.  You can go anywhere in a 100 mile radius and enjoy yourself. Its a party and the best riding in the world, imho.

[R J]

Dag:

Sturgis was started by a gentleman who owned an Indian dealership, referred to as Pappy..    My dad attended some of the early on Rally's.  I know mom said he missed the 1st 1 or 2.   I know the 1st one he missed cause I was sick.   He would not go to something of this nature without mom, and mom wouldn't go if I was sick.  They were into motorcycles big time.     Mom said the night before I was born, that her and dad took a ride on the Indian 4 cyl he had at that time.    

Sturgis Rally was a weekend get together for racing and grew into what it is today, from this Rally the Jackpine Gypsies Motorcycle Club was also started..

It started out as a friendly little group, grew into a ROWDY, drunken brawl, and several years ago the town of Sturgis, took it back over again and made it a family affair again.

I have been to Sturgis numerous times, and only ONCE on a Harley.    

Here is a link to the history of Sturgis.

http://www.sturgisrally.com/history.cfm

http://www.sturgis.com/rallyhistory.html

http://www.allblackhills.com/sturgis_south_dakota/bike_rally_history.php

[Dag]

Thanks for "illuminating" answers.

If you don't ask, you'll never know.

[Momz]

I went to Sturgis in 2001 on a GoldWing 1100 and I really wanted to find the "Real Sturgis" and not the poser party most people think it is.
I attended several of the races (hill climbs and flat track) as it is an AMA event and I was an AMA representative. I had the pleasure to meet several Jack Pine Gypsies. I discovered that the JGP President at that time owned a large and modern Honda dealership, and warmly welcomed us and gave us a tour of the facility.
I proudly joined the JPG M/C as an assciate member so that I could honestly explain that it is a true rally and not just a "HD pirate party"
By the way, if you do go,....make sure to visit the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum and the Broken Spoke Saloon. Both icons in the real motorcycle world. One for the real history and the other for some of the best entertainment also and still a bit of motorcycle history.
Why'd you go leave me Big Mamou?

[jammer]

 Dag:

     It is not what a lot of people think. This will be my 10th consecutive yr. attending the run to Sturgis with many riding buds from all over the country, riding all kinds of bikes, trikes & sidecar rigs.

     We all ride the distance & camp at the Chris Campground in Spearfish SD.  We attend many events rides & parties.  Never had problems.  Have attended 3 weddings & as many funerals there.  Have met many celebs & builders.  Three yrs. ago I met  a VRCCer from Italy who was on tour & had shipped his valk to New York   & rode from there. He & his wife had a camp site just across the road from my group. 

G

[Mickey Runie]

Another thing about Sturgis worthy of noting to the curious:  Do not take anything you wouldn't be proud to display publicly as there seems to be at least 6 uniformed officers    at all major intersections for miles around.   And those guys will literally strip search YOU and YOUR BIKE at the slightest provocation.   I think they search persons and bikes even if your only offense was to forget a turn signal.  There doesn't seem to be any tolerance for horseplay on bikes.  No public burnouts, or displays of acceleration.

I state these as my views only and not from personal experience, of course.   

[R J]

Another thing about Sturgis worthy of noting to the curious:  Do not take anything you wouldn't be proud to display publicly as there seems to be at least 6 uniformed officers    at all major intersections for miles around.   And those guys will literally strip search YOU and YOUR BIKE at the slightest provocation.   I think they search persons and bikes even if your only offense was to forget a turn signal.  There doesn't seem to be any tolerance for horseplay on bikes.  No public burnouts, or displays of acceleration.

I state these as my views only and not from personal experience, of course.   

That was what I meant by the Town of Sturgis took the rowdy ness out of the Rally.     Was too much bare skin in town for it to be a family affair a few years ago........      They got some resistance at the 1st, but it is accepted now.   You use drugs there, y go to jail and ya just lost your ride, and it don't make a damn bit on who owns it.     You could be riding a friends bike, get stopped, they find weed, the bike now belongs to the Town of Sturgis Police Dept, and it will be sold off later.....