Bucket list Item, Ride to Sturgis during bike week...☑️ complete.

[Ned in Utah]

Great write-up, Florin! Better you than me.

Assume you’re enjoying your 40 amper.


Now that right there is funny!

Regards, John

40 amper is amping just fine thanks to your terrific assistance!

 

[Esti1300]

What a great read. Thanks for sharing @Ned in Utah Inspirational as well. Good on ya for checking that box. It’s hard to explain to people the feeling you get when you accomplish this kind of adventure and the BTDT.
I will file your story under “Bike Week at Sturgis: A Cautionary Tale” for future consideration.
Congrats to you

 

[Ned in Utah]

The black hills really are an awesome place to visit. There's some terrific roads to ride there. I've actually been there four times on bikes now, but the other three times were not during the rally. There's always some traffic and bikes there, but we've never had an experience like I had during the Rally, but then again, that's what I went for, to see what it was really about as I've watched bikes troop that way every year for dozens of years. The ride home on Saturday was almost as interesting as I passed literally tens of thousands of bikes, some being ridden and some on trailers heading that way. I was there Friday and Saturday, but I can't even imagine what it was like on Sunday there. If you ever get a chance to go there off rally time, I would highly recommend doing so.

 

[Nexus]

Also you RODE there, many people I know that go there, trailer their Harleys to Sturgis, putt around for a week, party, then come back home exhausted.

Meh! Just Uship it there (right to a parking spot on the main drag) while you fly, party, then ship it back!

 

[sherob]

Good write up!

Ned's post should be a sticky, meant to serve aa a warning to other 'normal' motorcyclists to think hard about going to that gong show!

Wonder how many died either on the way there, there, or going home. There's usually 3 or 4 every year. Most often from blunt force brain injuries.

A sticky as a warning to "normal" motorcyclists? I guess that depends on who decides what's normal, right?

I won't even touch how many I know who've either passed away from pursuing their bucket list riding in the IBR or a IBA run, or just riding their ST on a trip...

 

[sherob]

The black hills really are an awesome place to visit. There's some terrific roads to ride there. I've actually been there four times on bikes now, but the other three times were not during the rally. There's always some traffic and bikes there, but we've never had an experience like I had during the Rally, but then again, that's what I went for, to see what it was really about as I've watched bikes troop that way every year for dozens of years. The ride home on Saturday was almost as interesting as I passed literally tens of thousands of bikes, some being ridden and some on trailers heading that way. I was there Friday and Saturday, but I can't even imagine what it was like on Sunday there. If you ever get a chance to go there off rally time, I would highly recommend doing so.

Love your pics! I was there in 2011 during NatSTOC. I really enjoyed the riding and of course the NatParks!

Thanks for your trip report. I'm happy you at least got a check off your Bucket List. Life is too short to not enjoy trying something different, even though it may not be everyone's cup of tea. Most think they'll be treated bad by those mean and evil HD riders, but are surprised that there's an amazing amount of different bikes represented there, although 90% are vtwins.

Thanks again!

 

[two_wheeled]

Great write up! Thanks for validating all the reasons why I've chosen to avoid it. I enjoyed reading your story.

 

[ToddC]

Great write up! Thanks for validating all the reasons why I've chosen to avoid it. I enjoyed reading your story.

You read my mind....

Did Natstoc, rode the area. Very fun area with lots of great riding.....if not in a parade.
Always wondered how the heck they got that many people in that area for a two week event.... Have heard tales from friend who did Sturgis.
Not anything I am interested in........sorry, am I showing my age.....????

Thanks for sharing...great pics..!!!
T

 

[ToddC]

Who had the V65 Sabre..?

Owned two myself.
T

 

[Ned in Utah]

Who had the V65 Sabre..?

Owned two myself.
T

My brother. Still rides his 1984. I sold my 1985 after I bought the ST. Found I rode the Sabre less and less. Had 76,000 miles on it. I rode it everywhere between Banff and Tuscon. Man was it fun to wack the throttle at about 7,000 RPM. It was a great bike.

 

[the Ferret]

I had one too. Had a 81 GS1100E Suzuki that my son wanted when he turned 19, so I gave him the Suzuki and bought an 85 V65S. Never bonded with it though. It was tall and top heavy and I'm short. When I dropped it pulling a U turn in a parking lot with my wife on back I sold it.

 

[Weaselinsuit]

Sounds like a great trip overall and it's never wrong to scratch an itch and find that it wasn't something you wanted. We learn as much from the things we learn we don't enjoy as from those we do. I'd be curious to go spend a day sitting on a bench or chair and watch the rodeo while hearing David Attenborough in my head.

 

[OhioDeere]

Very nice write up....
I had a 85 65 sabre.. I thought it was a great bike. I actually blew the dust off it 3 yrs ago and sold it to my neighbor kid who rides it to this day. sometimes.
I view riding in Sturgis during bike week as sheep going to the barn every night! LOL they parade around like sheep in a field too..

 

[Mykllee]

Who had the V65 Sabre..?

Owned two myself.
T

Also owned two. Put almost 180,000 miles on each of them as commuter bikes in the 90's. Just a great bike that gave me a lot of great memories. What's not to love about a naked standard with shaft drive and tons of get up and go!

 

[sherob]

Just to raise the awareness of what Sturgis does for the community... 100% of what the city charges for permits goes to charity... $1.1M was raised last year and given to charities, this year will be even more I'm sure!

How many of you have attended Mardi Gras in New Orleans?

 

[rwthomas1]

My brother. Still rides his 1984. I sold my 1985 after I bought the ST. Found I rode the Sabre less and less. Had 76,000 miles on it. I rode it everywhere between Banff and Tuscon. Man was it fun to wack the throttle at about 7,000 RPM. It was a great bike.

Ah, where did you get those "fork condoms"?

 

[oude geit]

Nice writing. Thanks for your efforts. Safe travels..

 

[Ned in Utah]

Ah, where did you get those "fork condoms"?

I started building the "fork condoms" when I was looking for a replacement for the old gator fork protectors I used to use my Trials bikes way back when. Gators looked so fugly, so I came up with the neoprene slider protectors. Been using them for twenty years on a dozen bikes including my Beta Evo, Concours, V65 and ST1100. They keep bug guts off the slider and out of the seals and rock nicks in the slider metal that start tearing up the fork seals. Never had a fork seal start leaking on a bike I've put them on. They are made out of 1/8 inch lined on both sides neoprene. You can usually get it black, blue or red.

Cut out a square sheet that is big enough to around the fork slider from the seal up to the bottom of the fork clamp. Put a bead of Weldwood Contact Cement on the two edges you want to put together. Let it sit for 5 minutes, then stick the edges together around the fork slider and press the edges together. Be careful, once the edges mate it's almost impossible to get them apart. They'll stick together, but to make sure they don't come apart during use, I run a loose whip stitch, yes that involves sewing, of 2 pound nylon fishing line up the seam where the edges mate. Once you have the edges sewn, you can stretch the material over the lower fork tube for about 3/8's to 1/2" or so, then put a zip tie top and bottom to keep them snug and to keep moisture out. It's not hard to do, takes a little time, but sure a lot easier than replacing fork seals.