Post-Sturgis Experiences From Riders
As the 84th Annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally concludes in South Dakota, we couldn’t help but wonder how much this event has grown in popularity over the years and what exactly it is that brings together riders and spectators often from thousands of miles away.
Offering 10 days and nights of riding, food, music, and camaraderie with kindred spirits, the event was expected to attract more than 500,000 people this year. There’s something special about the noise surrounding this rally that makes Sturgis such a household name.
Cycle Trader found plenty of feedback online that explains why Sturgis is a sensation, in addition to a few comments why people steer clear of the occasion. Here’s what we found.
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Positive Vibes
Some people attend the Sturgis rally just to say they saw it and then never go back. Some have made it an annual pilgrimage for decades. Here’s what a few people said they love about the event and why they will continue to go back:
- Rally week isn’t only one week long, activities are going on the week leading to and the week after. There are so many things you can do! There are concerts, vendors, good food, and great people. Some of the best riding is out there in the Black Hills and can’t really be compared to anything else.
- The thing I like the most about it is the camaraderie. Everyone is there for the same thing—we love bikes and riding. I say bikes because it’s not exclusive. You’ll see everything from Gold Wings to Fat Boys to Ninjas, etc.
- I am a female rider and I know that going to Sturgis is like going to Spring Break for adults. The girls, the bikes, the different cultures you meet, and the change in environment. It is the party you missed in high school.
- Friends of mine started going to Sturgis in the late ’70s and my first visit was in 1992. What really makes the rally great is the “Day Rides.” Those 100–300-mile rides through scenic vistas of the Black Hills. Spearfish Canyon, Devils Tower, Custer State Park, Needles Highway, the Badlands, Vanocker Canyon, Mount Rushmore, and my favorite, Iron Mountain Road. [At the rally], there is everything imaginable that is bike-related. Most manufacturers are present with their demo fleets offering demo rides. There is a drag strip, hill climbs, and motorcycle races. There are also many concert venues.
The Flip Side
While there are many individuals who love the experience of Sturgis, others would prefer not to get involved. Here are a few comments people made about why they don’t go or why they won’t go again:
- I go to the Black Hills regularly on a bike. It is an amazing place with many nice roads. However, I don’t go during the rally because I hate crowds. I like riding the roads and going to restaurants and attractions when they’re not busy as well. But if others choose to go during the rally, more power to them. It means there are fewer people there when I visit. Different strokes for different folks.
- Like every massive overflowing gathering, I think [Sturgis] would be hellish. I love a nice bike event but not on that scale, and I think it’s more spectacle now than anything else. To me, it seems like it’s gone completely off the rails now and becoming something I really don’t want to experience. But the rally does bring in $800 million to the area annually.
- I had to see it, so I went for two days. All of the riding around it was amazing: Badlands, Crazy Horse, and Mount Rushmore are close. Deadwood was really cool as well. Sturgis itself was a bit of a corndog-infused motorcycle carnival. Not really my taste, but I would ride in South Dakota in a heartbeat. Great landscape and the people were friendly. Americana through and through.
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To Go Or Not To Go?
Like every other choice in life, going to Sturgis is a matter of preference. One comment we heard was, “Why would I want to pay over-inflated fees for lodging, food, and entertainment?” and someone answered, “It’s a vacation. like going to Disneyland and thousands of people do that every year.”
While you’re deciding if you want to go (or go back) next year, if you need a new ride to take you there you can count on Cycle Trader to help you find the bike you want. If you need to sell your current ride, we’re the largest online source for buying and selling new and used motorcycles, so you can take care of everything you need in one space.
Barrett Baker