COLORADO RIDERS AND THE STURGIS MOTORCYCLE CLASSIC
Creek Pass or Rocky Mountain National Park, it does have
its share of interesting riding, winding S-curves, nine and ten
percent grades, vistas and views which you get to share with
several hundred thousand other enthusiasts. If the thought of
traffic is a drag, remember early starters really do get the best
of open roads and less stop and start. Parking in downtown
Sturgis and some outlying communities like Wall can be
time consuming. But Sturgis does have public transportation
from the campgrounds in and around the city for a fee to
eliminate some of the frustration. If you are drinking, the
public transportation is a great option.
What keeps a rider from Colorado going back to the
same rally year after year knowing that weather can be
unpredictable, crowds and traffic can be urban and riding...
at least compared to Colorado’s high passes and endless
vistas can be tame.
First of all, it’s the racing. Whether you are looking at the
oldest sanctioned hill climb, some of the last organized
sanctioned flat track or the drags, motorcycle racing is what
served as the beginning of the Sturgis Motorcycle Classic.
There are events all over the city during the week, and the
available literature from the rally organization, provided free
at every vending location in the Black Hills region, will not
only give you a schedule of racing, but every organized and
commemorative ride, vendor locations, where to eat and
show times for entertainment.
Secondly, it is the west’s largest Harley-fest. You want to
try out a new model before you buy, manufacturers want to
give you that chance -- at no charge, and no sales pressure.
Harley has set up their demo tent at the Sturgis Recreation
Center for the past two years, while Victory and Indian has
their test ride location just off of I-90. These aren’t ‘take it
around the block’
test rides either.
The manufacturers
have set up these
locations
for
demonstrations
that can take riders
ten miles or more
on both back roads
and
interstate
driving. In addition to the factories, you get to see the latest
offerings from private builders, bling from every aftermarket
business in existence whether its chrome or black, and
accessories from both national companies and sole
proprietors, all crammed
into one location.
Thirdly, experienced
riders know that each
destination creates its
own riding challenges.
And while the Black Hills
may not be the Million
Dollar Highway, Wolf
14 Thunder Roads Magazine® Colorado
And finally, friends... anyone who has attended more than
one rally and cam