No shame in being a weekend biker as long as a person accepts his limits. I did Needles highway and it is fairly technical, requiring good form, gearing, braking, etc. I followed a female there who had trouble with some sweepers on the way there. She was WAY over her head and crossed over several times. I was pissed that her Husband let her do it.

 

I am not afraid of the night or riding at night. Whatever it was it was almost headlight high and moving fast. First thought through mind was it is not a deer. Built wrong, moving wrong. I actually thought big, big hog or maybe bear. We shouldn't have bears unless tpwd has reintroduced them without telling anyone.

 

I've heard, if you hit a pig and wreck, and it can stand up and walk afterward, it will come back and eat you. Part of you, anyway. My great fear about Sturgis is being in a wreck...coming to in a ditch and finding that a pig is eating me alive...

Alan

 

Well thank you Alan, that is a wonderful image/idea to have floating around inside my head the next time I'm riding in pig country :-)

 

Sturgis is like Disneyland,one trip is enough. Seeing puke covered bikes and people with zero saddle time is not exactly thrilling.Or healthy. Pigs eat anything,I shot hundreds of them on a hunting lease I had.Just killed them and left them.You could go back the next day and not find a trace of the carcass.You go down in a herd,and bleed,they'll tear your *** up. Have fun out there.

 

Just got back from the rally last nite, think it will be my last. Been going since the late 80's and this year was the worst since the 70th. The negatives now far outweigh the positives anymore, next year I'm going to skip it as are many of the guys I meet from around the country at the rally every year. Saw two of the fatalities firsthand last week, the Belle Fourche wreck on Wednesday coming back from hulett and the 85yr old guy on 385 on Tuesday. Almost got caught up in another pile-up on 385 at the Nemo Rd intersection which happened right in front of me involving a lady on a sportster not paying attention. I've had a good time at the rally thru the years and it's time to move on before my number comes up while riding there.

 

I enjoyed 8 days of riding and never saw a problem. Needles Highway twice, Iron Mountain Road, Mt. Rushmore, Devils Tower, Crazy Horse, Hill City, Keystone, Custer, Deadwood, Rapid City and downtown Sturgis.

I am a dedicated defensive rider. Proper following distance, vigilant look out, alert and focused (no alcohol). I started riding in 1956 and have not had a close call in 56 years of riding. Always yield right off way if needed. I ride for the other guy and avoid him. He doesn't need to do much at all.

The seven deaths so far is only a 2 to 4 day count for murders in Chicago. I still will go to Chicago 3-4 times a year. I live to live not hide in fear.

 

I'm happy to skip it all. The way I see it, why get stuck behind clueless, skilless, wannabeez to watch others get totally stoopid with booze and borrowed attitudes, adrift in a sea of commercial indulgence, only to have to slog my way back out of there behind the same dorks that slowed me up coming that I REALLY don't like anyway.
If I do Needles or whatnot up there, it will be in off-season with some buds who know how to jam, when to back off, and aren't trying to be something they're not.
Friggin' costume party if ya ask me.
And no, I haven't gone. Seen enough of it on the web to convince me. I'll stick to campin' and jammin'. Others may differ.

 

I went last year for the first time. Never turned a key after the sun fell off the horizon. Located a van company that would pick us up in Rapid City and deposit us either at Full Throttle or Main St. We tried to limit our exposure to the possibility of something messing with our happiness.

 

We trailered out and rode during the day away from the majority of the bikes and had the time of our lives!! We met two guys at the spoke that helped us avoid the congetstion in dowtown Sturgis and saved us time and hassle. If youhaven't gone I suggest you do it. It was on my bucket list. I will go back off Rally week and stay in Deadwood. What a great little town.