Road Report: I went through Sturgis, South Dakota the other day

[Tobin S.]

The big annual bike rally at Sturgis was last week. I drove through there while everybody was packing it up and heading home. I think the biker subculture has changed a lot in recent years, or at least my perception of it has anyway. I used to think of bikers as the rough sort, probably kind of like how a lot of people view truckers. I'm not talking about the fair weather joy-riders like my step-dad who might put a couple of thousand miles a year on his bike. When I used to think of bikers I thought of it as a lifestyle made up of guys who were dirty, hard-drinking, leather-clad, fist-fighting, bail-jumping bands of brothers who struck fear in the hearts of even hardened guys like, well, truckers. :D

My stereotypical view is no longer. I think what really drove it home for me was when a $50,000 Chevy Avalanche pulling a $10,000 trailer loaded with 4 Harleys that probably went for $25,000 each passed me there on I-90. Apparently, the biker subculture has been taken over by businessmen and lawyers.

Truckers and bikers have at least one thing in common. They take their driving very seriously, for the most part. For the biker, his or her life is at greater risk than other motorists. I saw a car run off the road at 80 mph one time and do several roll-overs before coming to a rest on its side. I stopped to help thinking I would come upon a horrible scene of blood and guts, but neither the driver nor the passenger were seriously injured. I've seen truckers walk away from roll-overs. If you wipe out on a bike at highway speeds, you're likely going to be killed. As far as truckers go, we put our livelihoods on the line every time we hit the highway. And good truckers understand that an error on their part could kill several people. So, yes, truckers and bikers tend to be conscientious drivers.

So, for all of you bikers out there, I'll be looking out for you. And keep in mind that a bike is really easy to lose in a blind spot on a rig, so when you're coming by me get on by. Hammer down a little and let me hear your pipes. :thumbsup:

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. My dear Tobin!

Hey, good to see you tonight!

You always have the most interesting perspectives on things. I had pretty much the same perception of the biker sub-culture...

Until now, anyway!

Yeah, truckers and bikers need to be careful around each other.

Glad you're back!

:hi:

:hug:

[Tobin S.]

2. Good to see you, too, Peggy

I just saw the mess from the other night. You have my support. :thumbsup:

[CaliforniaPeggy]

3. Aw, thanks, sweetie...

That means a lot...

:hug:

[av8rdave]

4. Thanks for posting this!

On our motorcycles, there is no such thing as a "fender bender."

We do the best we can to stay safe, but the more other drivers are aware the better.

[XemaSab]

5. Thanks for the PSA

There was an accident between a biker and a truck a few years ago in Redding.

The biker was completely dismembered, and the trucker was totally unaware that there had been an accident at all. :(

[mnhtnbb]

6. Tobin, you are right about the Harley takeover.

I used to get an investment newsletter from a guy who was pushing Harley stock 6-8 years ago.
He had a picture of himself on his Harley on his newsletter. Finally couldn't take his right
wing Bush lovin' BS any longer--in spite of his decent investment advice--and canceled the newsletter.

When a guy like that is promoting Harley and driving Harley, well, times they are a changin'.

Stay safe out there on the road.

[zanana1]

7. There are alot of middle-aged weekend bikers now. nt

[OmahaBlueDog]

8. I noticed the same thing with the trailers - this year especially

I live in Omaha, and I frequently travel up the I-29 corridor into SoDak. Every year, usually about a week before Sturgis, you'd see groups of bikes (anywhere from 2 bikes to groups resembling the size of a biker gang) all traveling north. This year, though, I noticed a huge decrease in the number of riders and a huge increase in RVs and pickups hauling trailers. Some were open trailers with 2-4 bikes tied down, while others were closed trailers with motorcycle/Harley related theming.

There was a horrible wreck here with four riders returning from Sturgis. An alleged drunk crossed the center line on a section of I-29 and killed all four riders.

[uncle ray]

9. good advice for cagers, too.

"when you're coming by me get on by. Hammer down a little and let me hear your pipes."

way too many people camp out in trucks blind spots. making things difficult for both the trucker and other traffic.

[Tobin S.]

11. Yes, sir, uncle ray

We all need to keep safety in mind out there, including cagers, or like truckers like to call them, 4 wheelers. :)

[smoochpooch]

10. A buddy of mine lives in Rapid City by the highway, he's seen two dead bikers in less than a week.

I guess there is a really bad curve that has bad visibility. He went to the rally and stayed with friends who live in Sturgis, got to go backstage for Alice in Chains and Guns N Roses at the Buffalo Chip!

[elleng]

12. Glad you're 'back,' Tobin!

Businessmen and LAWYERS, OH MY!!!

:rofl:

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

13. dirty, hard-drinking, leather-clad, fist-fighting ...?

Come over to General Discussions and call us that! Dare ya.

Anyway, throttle open, my motorcycle makes no more noise than the average car. I guess I'll just have to pass real quick.

:hi:

Maybe General Discussions could be renamed "Sturgis"