Wow, you guys are a tough bunch! I actually own both a Silverwing and HD Ultra Classic. I must say, I enjoy riding both, although I must admit, the Swing gets picked most of the time when I open the garage door. It just depends on my mood I guess. I was out to Sturgis 23 years ago on a Honda 900F and didn’t have a problem. It sounds like maybe things have changed!

I've been a lurker, but since I live in Sturgis I couldn't resist posting on this topic.

This year attendance was way down & the rally was very mellow. I've had my 08 Swing for 3 years & ride into town during the rally no problem. I'm a 56-yr-old chunky old Mom, & always wear full safety gear. My ride & I look different than everything else here. I go to restaurants, peruse vendors, go on test rides, all that stuff. So if you ever want to come to Sturgis, come on down! But my advice is to avoid the rally & come out here any other time. The riding on the various canyon roads in the Black Hills is incredible! Natural beauty abounds around every curve. Plus prices aren't inflated.

And think on this. All those supposed Harley "rebels" all dress alike & ride the same bike (Harleys are essentially the same engine with different window dressing for each model, right?). Wearing a helmet & armored jacket, riding a scooter -- YOU are the rebel, the non-conformist. Be radical.

I love your observations. Don't lurk so much... we could use more of your thoughts!!

Welcome!!

I may have to come down there from Winnipeg. Any time but bike week works for me. Welcome aboard.

I was coming back from a prison on the east side of the mountains in Washington, and had two guys pull up next to me who had come from Sturgis.

I got a little chuckle out of them. They were totally taken back when I said I like people...but don't like crowds. I would go the opposite direction of a rally like that, knowing that the roads would be more empty and enjoyable with everyone else at the rally.

One of them had an Indian in really good shape...well, except for a head gasket that was leaking. He kept looking at my scooter and I think was trying to figure out where everything was, especially since (a) there's no gas tank where it "normally" is, and he had seen under the seat...so where was the engine???

Chris

Thanks for your encouragement! Yeah, I'll work on not being such a lurker. Thanks GaryL!

GaryL wrote:

I love your observations. Don't lurk so much... we could use more of your thoughts!! Welcome!!

What a nice ride it would be from Winnipeg. The best times to head to the Black Hills are spring, when it's all green & pretty, & fall when the leaves change. If you ever make the trip, bigbird, let me know. I'll give you suggestions for places to stay & eat, plus the best rides once you're here.

bigbird wrote:

I may have to come down there from Winnipeg. Any time but bike week works for me. Welcome aboard.

Son and his girlfriend were at the Sturgis area the week before the actual event last year and had a blast. They were in an RV and their only "wheels" for transportation were bicycles. His girlfriend is a total KNOCK OUT and when they went to one biker bar, they parked their bicycles and as they got off, some guy on a Harley just looked at him and said "you get a girl like that with a BICYCLE and I have a $50,000 Harley and I'm alone?" They just laughed, bought each other drinks and had a good time.

Son did say that he was glad they weren't there during the full week of Sturgis because it would be so crowded, etc but have other biker friends who went and had a good time. They aren't yuppies but aren't hard core bikers either.

HEY, we had a couple of our Ulysses club members from Western Aus there on a trike. They reckon it was Mecca