On the Way to Sturgis…or not? 

Getting ready to leave for Sturgis is always a stressful time for me. But this week was especially difficult when faced with the unexpected emergencies that happen. After thinking about it, I realized these were only minor mishaps and couldn’t possibly be compared to some of the horror stories I have heard. However minor my problems were, I began to realize how disappointing a trip could be when so many dreams turn into nightmares when the unexpected happens. 

It was over 100 degrees and after riding about 50 miles and through some hilly terrain, the chopper began to chirp annoyingly, as if to say “Hey, it is too damn hot out here for a ride!”  Unfortunately for us, we were in the middle of a long stretch of highway and couldn’t stop anywhere for several miles. Obviously, we worried about the potential damage to the chopper, if we continued. Finally, a biker friendly bar appeared in the middle of nowhere like an oasis in the desert. We grabbed an iced tea, sat in the shade and contemplated what could be wrong.  

I could see the concern on my Pizano’s face and I knew exactly what he was thinking. On this Saturday, August 6^th and only six days before our departure for Sturgis, there wasn’t a dealer in town, who would take the chopper in before Tuesday. Worried about the bike, we begged off from the rest of our friends, to take a short cut home.

Our Big Dog is fairly new and with only 2500 miles on it, we didn’t really think much about break downs prior to taking it to Sturgis. But, I thought, who does….really think about breakdowns and the things that can go wrong?  But, here we were, facing the possibility of a major repair and the agony of waiting until Tuesday when the dealership would reopen to find out what was wrong. That left only, three days before our scheduled departure date. Not much time, I thought.

Tuesday morning came, and off we went to the Big Dog Dealer in Citrus Heights. We talked to the Don, the owner, who told us he was really backed up with service and repairs for those folks who had already dropped their bikes off and were heading out to Sturgis, too. He wasn’t sure he could get to the chopper before we were to leave for Sturgis! I just looked at Pizano’s face and could see he wasn’t a happy camper. It wasn’t anyone’s fault but that didn’t make the stress of the situation any better.

 Pizano steadied the chopper down the trailer ramp and started it up. He rode around to the back of the store. Hmmm….NO chirp!  Maybe the chopper had to be hot first? Rather than take up Don’s time with test-riding the chopper, Pizano took the bike out for a spin to heat it up a bit and of course, don’t ya know….the darn thing didn’t make a sound! Don gave the chopper a quick once over and thought it might be a loose belt. The good news was, it was nothing major and we could take the chopper to Sturgis as planned. I let out a huge sigh of relief.

 Friday morning came and went and we were off to Sturgis right on schedule. Fifteen hours of driving later, I began to feel like the vacation had begun. We hit the hay and barely said good night before I heard Pizano’s contented snore. My mind wandered, to all the things that could go wrong and almost did, even when you plan carefully.

 The next day, while staring at the road, the question came up once again... how do you become better prepared for the unexpected?  Who would know more than Harley Davidson about being prepared? I could give a few different HD Dealers a call to find out how they handle biker emergencies during the weeks of the Sturgis Rally and hopefully they could offer suggestions on how to be better prepared.

Each Harley Dealership handles their service department, a little differently than the next, however, their one common thread was their…first come first served policy. Travis Williams of Maverick Harley Davidson in Cheyenne, Wyoming said, “We sell a lot of Harley parts and service many touring biker’s with minor repairs and although we hold to the first come first served, rule, we hire extra help during those three weeks, and all service personnel work 18 days in a row.” They offer towing service and during the week, prior to Sturgis and in an effort to service their customers, they remain open on Sunday.

Tim at Deluxe Harley Davidson in Casper, Wyoming, said that they too, follow the first come first served rule. When asked about towing, he said; “We just don’t have enough staff to offer towing for break downs or wrecks”. Tyler from Laramie Harley Davidson said the same thing but they will refer you to someone who will tow you. Tyler went on to explain, “On a day like today we only had five bikes come in, so today, you might have gotten in and out.” “Tomorrow could be twenty bikes, so chances are, you’d have to wait.” When I asked Tyler what his advice would be to potential customers, he said; “It is best to bring your bike in, at least three weeks before the rally starts.” “That way, it isn’t too busy for us to get you in and out, as well as make any minor repairs, hopefully preventing the inconvenience of a break down on the road.” All of these dealers are located on the way to Sturgis coming from the West, off of Interstate 80. 

Some things become a ritual and the pit stop at Gillette’s, Deluxe Harley Davidson is just one of the Sturgis rituals Pizano and I do every year. This H.D. puts on a barbecue and has a rest area for tired, cold, or overheated riders. Katie who works in the Gillette store  told me that they take a few of the service guys from the Casper Wyoming and bring them in, for a week or two to help service the busier of the two Deluxe H.D. stores. One salesman flies in from Santa Cruz California to work for the Gillette store. When I asked what he was doing so far from home, he said, “he wasn’t sure”. Supposedly, he got drunk one night, signed a contract with Deluxe H.D., and next thing he knew, he was on a plane flying in to help sell the hottest model Harley Davidson on the sales floor to those last minute folks who have broken down or just want to hit Sturgis on a brand new bike.

 Walking out of the Gillette store, I realized, we are only about 100 miles out of Sturgis and I can hardly wait! Motorcycles are taking over the planet!

 Here are some suggestions for those of you who have never been to Sturgis or for those of you who find it difficult to plan. There are good reasons for being prepared….like saving you stress, time and money!  

1. Set a realistic goal to put away an amount of money necessary for your trip, divided by 12 and save that amount monthly. Make saving for Sturgis a priority and be diligent. Saving money is the best way to avoid stress and worry.
2. Go to www.sturgismotorcyclerally.com and make your reservations at a private residence, rented trailer, campground or hotel, now. A successful vacation takes planning. Remember, there are about 500,000 riders who attend each year.
3. Plan to ride with your local H.O.G. chapter, family, friends or motorcycle club. Don’t ride alone. Many H.O.G. groups and motorcycle clubs have a truck and trailer designated for hauling an ailing motorcycle. Note: If you do ride in a group, share this information with them. A deposit of 50% of the total dollar amount is generally required to book a reservation. Each location has its own set of rules and policies. Most campgrounds and hotels will not give refunds on deposits so check out the cancellation policies carefully before booking your accommodations.
4. Call in any prescription refills, two weeks in advance of your departure date. Carry prescriptions in original containers and in a zip-lock plastic bag. If you get stopped by law enforcement, you will have proof that what you are carrying, is a legal prescription and that you are the rightful owner.
5. Get your bike in to your local bike dealership to be serviced, at least three weeks in advance of your departure date. For major repairs, add two more weeks, allowing time for a test run before leaving.
6. Plan your route as best you can with a few additional choices and travel days if possible. Many routes take you through higher elevations that can be avoided if the temp drops drastically. Each year it has rained, and or hailed some time during Sturgis Rally week. Temperatures in the course of a week can vary from 40 to 103 degrees in Sturgis or surrounding areas.
7. Be prepared for rain and cold weather. Pack layers of clothing that can easily unzip to add or take off.  Before embarking on or if you have never taken a long trip, it is best to go in to your local bike dealership and discuss all items to keep you warm and dry.  Don’t wait for it to rain at the rally to buy your rain gear, although many dealerships are prepared for it, they do sell out.
8. Join a roadside service company, like H.O.G. which offers Harley owner’s roadside towing service, maps with Harley Davidson Dealerships locations, with phone numbers, etc. AAA is good for route planning, hotel accommodations, campgrounds, locations of gas stations, restaurants and other valuable information while traveling en route. There are fee’s to join but well worth it, when that emergency arises.
9. Be sure your insurance is current and you have updated the value of your bike. Carry your insurance card, and driver’s license in a waterproof plastic credit card holder or wallet.
10. Places like Yellowstone Park and Cody Wyoming are worth adding some mileage and time to your trip. Be sure to reserve accommodations in these parks, as tents are not allowed in most of their campgrounds. Even a brief ride through at $20.00 is certainly worth the cost to see some of the most breathtaking landscape in the Nation. Cody is fairly close to Yellowstone and another great sight to see.

(For further info: call Yellowstone @ 307-344-2117 or Cody @ 800-393-2639)

1. Keep water at close hand. Between the heat and high elevations your body will need it.
2. Go to www.sturgismotorcyclerally.com or stop in at any bike dealership for a schedule of events for Sturgis Rally week.
3. Prepare an emergency road kit, including tools, first aid items and a flashlight.
4. Keep your bike, jacket and helmet locked up at all times. Yeah, we would all like to think biker’s are honest people, and most of them are, but there are many other people along the way and at the rally, besides your fellow biker
5. If money is a concern while staying in Sturgis, stop at the local grocery store and pick up a few items daily, for a quick breakfast of bagels, some lean turkey and wheat bread for lunch and some salad stuff for dinner. All items keep in a disposable Styrofoam cooler. You will feel better; keep your energy levels up and save a few bucks. Dinner at a vendor of a few small pieces of chicken on a skewer with rice with a small amount of veggies, costs about $10.00.

  The experience of camping at Glencoe or the Buffalo Chip is worth the hassle of packing some extra things on the bike. It is a total blast to camp with your fellow bikers and I wouldn’t trade the experience for anything in the world. If you can hang with the noise it is a great induction into the Sturgis lifestyle. The larger campgrounds offer hot meals, hot showers, a host of events and great bands daily.

 I wouldn’t be honest if I didn’t give you a few negatives. One year, I saw tents with all their contents sliding away in a very brief, but torrential rain storm. So, is a tent the best accommodation for your dollar and are you going to enjoy camping in the rain and noise? If you need your sleep, a smaller distant campground may be your best bet. Think about your needs carefully before making a reservation. If tenting is what you plan to do, then do it, but stake that tent securely to level ground!!! No tent is waterproof while floating in a river of mud!

 The most important thing is…to have fun! If you have planned for everything possible, you will undoubtedly be more prepared, better able to handle the emergencies, more cost efficient and have a much better time because of it. And ain’t that what it’s all about?

 Speaking of a good time; we have just turned onto La Salle Street and we are ready to rock and roll! See ya next year!

 Babydoll

Pictures by Babydoll

Tags: Sturgis Big Dog DealerHarley DealersYellows Tone Park Buffalo Chip Glen

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