Sturgis Rally 7-16 August 2020

[Bert Remington]

Received this notification from Adv Rider https://advrider.com/the-sturgis-rally-is-still-on/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=editorial&utm_content=07_10_2020

I am NOT making a recommendation.

I've been to Sturgis...twice.  I was riding my BMW K100 after a year in DC to return home in San Diego.  At a gas stop, some motorcyclists asked me if I had been to Sturgis.  I hadn't so looked it up on the map and drove there.  Kinda boring.  Where's all those famous bars, etc etc.  Oh well continued on to St Paul where I visited some work friends.  I mentioned how I went through Sturgis and they look puzzled.  I asked why?  They said Sturgis was further West in South Dakota. The second Sturgis met my expectations although it was before the rally which I've never attended.  I enjoyed my Trouble-free cross-country ride.

[fotoguzzi]

A gathering of - germs from every state in the union?

[kingoffleece]

Not for me, thanks, and not that anybody asked either.

[Bert Remington]

That isn't why I posted this event.  I searched the WG forum and there was no announcement so I posted it if for not other reason members might have friends who are interested.

I think like most members we don't need snark about this pandemic.  I'm 74, my wife is 72 and we've taken in a friend diagnosed with pulmonary arterial hypertension.  Last year I rewired a friend's Bonneville roadster and tow trailer.  This year I started on his data logger and tow truck.  But stopped when SD County locked down.  The El Mirage events were cancelled but so far not Speed Week.  So I've been torn between driving to his workshop at risk to wife and friend or staying home hoping Speed Week will be cancelled?

Many others on this forum have to make much much more difficult health choices than I do.  Snark is not beneficial.

Take care everyone.

[fotoguzzi]

Had to look that one up,
snark1
/snärk/
 Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: snark; plural noun: snarks
an imaginary animal (used to refer to someone or something that is difficult to track down).
"pinning down the middle classes is like the hunting of the snark"

[Guzzistajohn]

I went in the spring of '19 what a beautiful place! I'd LOVE to go back. But NEVER in August 

[kballowe]

I went ONCE during the rally.   Very crowded.

We've been several times since - but never again during the rally.

It'll be interesting to see the attendance numbers this year.

[LowRyter]

Sturgis is too big to fail.  Too big to cancel.   

The consequences of attending will likely be catastrophic.  I hope I am wrong.

[Sykestone8886]

I've been there several times. The last was 2017, attendance was way down which was quite enjoyable. I love riding the Black Hills some of my favorite motorcycle roads. I'd love to ride back out someday but not during the rally !!!

[Guzzistajohn]

Had to look that one up,
snark1
/snärk/
 Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: snark; plural noun: snarks
an imaginary animal (used to refer to someone or something that is difficult to track down).
"pinning down the middle classes is like the hunting of the snark"

I'm sure our moderator can define "snark" in the context Mr. R is refering to. He's said "not to be snarky but..... more than once on this forum. He seems to have some experience 

[Chuck in Indiana]

I've spent many enjoyable days in the Black Hills and a couple of hundreds of mile radius around them. It is lovely part of the country and not to be missed if you are scooter trash.  The Sturgis rally? Meh.

[Bert Remington]

Yes Guzzistajohn I'm guilty as charged.  The LoopFrames guys posted the Lake Henshaw event on their calendar without comment.

[bad Chad]

Never been, not gonna go this year.

[wrbix]

A gathering of - germs from every state in the union?

....and most likely not a mask in sight

[kingoffleece]

I don't think anyone was being "snarky" but I may be wrong.  Seemed more like a bit of light humor, however without voice inflection some things can be misinterpreted.  Certainly no harm meant-apologies if it seemed that way.

[bacongrease]

 Sturgis...it has various meaning to different folks.  I am going, staying in a cabin 15 miles away.  How do you get sick riding thru the canyons
and over to Devils Tower, etc.  We go the week before, maybe stay one day of the " official " rally, maybe not. Some go the week after or overlap. We don't do much of the nite life, if at all.
 Officials say they can't shut down the town and keep people out.
Hondas, Kawasaki, whatever are ridden out,
I will probably be on the FXR, the Stone most likely won't be running by then.



.

[Guzzistajohn]

I don't think anyone was being "snarky" but I may be wrong.  Seemed more like a bit of light humor, however without voice inflection some things can be misinterpreted.  Certainly no harm meant-apologies if it seemed that way.

[Bert Remington]

I apologize for my Reply #3.  My topic was simply announcing a popular event especially with those whose Vs are done a different way.



And I included a little story about an enjoyable trip I made.  As did others.

But when things went sideways pandemic-wise, I responded too quickly and too sharply.

And for that I apologize.

[Ncdan]

I went to Sturgis South Dakota when wife and I along with a good buddy and his wife went out west. We were there in June and it was a ghost town. To be honest I don’t know how they get that many people and bikes in that little one horse town. We had a cheeseburger and went on exploring one of the most beautiful states I’ve ever been through. Great thread, minus the other “stuff”👍

[JJ]

In August of 1990, when I lived in Phoenix, 13 of us rode our Harley's to the 50th Anniversary that year in Sturgis. 

I remember there were an estimated 400,000+ Harley's there that year.  We had more fun on the ride UP and the ride BACK, and our rides through and around the Black Hills.  The rally itself was anti-climatic, IMHO.  Worth going for bragging rights to say I RODE there once, "YES", but that was it for me...   By the way, I felt the same way for LaConia and Daytona....




menil hours


...and a picture is worth a thousand words....(on Social Distancing!!!) 

[rschrum]

Was last there in 1969, I was 14. Dad and I rode on his 68 electroglide, mom and sister drove the 68 dodge pickup with camper and pulling 2 rail bike trailer with my 1945 350 BSA hill climber and 69 CB350. Made it over the hill, not very fast , but made it over. Rode that Honda all over town with my buddy on his superhawk. After about 2 days a cop told me to get my ass back to the campground and stay there. Highlight of the trip was seeing a young lady on a new white H1 wheelie through the intersection. I was quite smitten, and really liked the Kawasaki too.

[oldbike54]

 One can attend "The Black Hills Classic" and barely set foot in Sturgis . There are short track races at the Jack Pine Gypsies track located at their club house , a decent hill climb , MX racing , lots of vintage bikes on display and being ridden if you know where to go . Stay off the interstate after early morning , and don't go down to the main drag in Sturgis . It's weird , moving 2 blocks away from the center of activity and there is almost no one around . Like so many things , it is what you make of it , I have hung out with Vincent riders , Guzzi riders , ladies riding old airheads , a couple of old guys from the Lambretta club , a mail carrier from Boston who was hilarious , and some folks from Lafayette LA who were , well , if you know the Perry boys , about like them . Just stay away from the big campgrounds , no one wants to listen to a washed up R&R band from 1970 . Hell , I met Peter Fonda in the parking lot at the store near Devil's Tower , he was pretty cool , just a guy , and hung out with Eric Cheney at the Gypsies short track .

 Dusty

[rudyr]

One thing everyone must remembers an Agree is it’s not the destination, but the journey.  And  Sturgis is one of my destinations this year.  Only one bullet has my name all or just noise.Rudy

[rudyr]

Don’t duck because of the noise.  Everything will be what it will be.  Handel it.  It is what it is move on.Rudy