| Author | Message | ||
     Smokey3644 |
Where was this picture taken?  | ||
| Jk651 |
I'm going with New Melones Lake, CA. | ||
| Jk651 |
It's hard to tell how big it is. A second look makes me think it's too small to be New Melones Lake. | ||
| Tootal |
Considering that Sturgis is over that would be Sylvan lake on Needles highway in the Black Hills | ||
| Smokey3644 |
Bingo, Tootal. Again this year I got some stares and a wave or two from some sport bike folks but the Buell continues to draw disdain from the Eric Von Zipper and pirate wannabes. | ||
| Tootal |
It really is funny how so many Harley riders really don't know what a Buell is. I usually explain how Erik Buell was an engineer at Harley before he started his own company. That usually gets some respect. | ||
| Fordhotline |
A true harley biker knows what a Buell is. If the don't they are those weekend leather wearing wannabes. lol | ||
| Froggy |
I find true riders in general know what a Buell is. Weekend squids, weekend assless chaps crew, and non riders are the only ones that have seem to never have heard of them. | ||
| Uly_man |
"Weekend squids, weekend assless chaps crew, and non riders are the only ones that have seem to never have heard of them." Good. All the more for us. | ||
| Jphish |
Can't tell you how many truck / trailer combos I passed (on my bug encrusted muddy tiger of course) on way back from Montana, Hauling shiny H/Ds. Trailer parking must be at a premium any where around Sturgis in Aug ?! Whats the point... | ||
| Buellerxt |
Sorry to BUST your bubble,, Jphish, but there are tens of thousands of Harley riders that ride circles around you and most riders as far as mileage any other things go. I personally know guys who 'routinely' ride 30,000-50,000 miles/year and having been at Surgis this year I can assure you that many rode and put BIG miles on their scoots. HD has so many more riders than any other manufacturer that they have a lot more riders in every category of riding. Come on, Man, as motorcyclists we need to support, not knock, other motorcyclists. Many trailer to Sturgis to bring wives and other family. Some trailer because of time constraints, etc. | ||
| Buellerxt |
Quote:Bingo, Tootal. Again this year I got some stares and a wave or two from some sport bike folks but the Buell continues to draw disdain from the Eric Von Zipper and pirate wannabes.Unquote I didn't have that experience at Sturgis at all, though I wasn't 'looking' for it. I camped right in the heart of the Rally for five days, went to all the venues with my Buell and full gear, rubbed shoulders with many, drank with many, talked with many, etc., and not a word was said. Harley riders are like any riders. They like motorcycles and riding. In fact, I never hear them disparage 'other' bikes and riders like so many like to disparage them.  | ||
| Pontlee77 |
where i live in spain it's full of tourists, if i'm at a traffic light there are many looking at the bike and more than once asked is it a 600, nope a 750 nope when i say it's a 1200 they hardly can believe it until i get the green light and the D&D screams the hell out of them. | ||
| Jphish |
Buellerxt - I think you misconstrued my point. I've trailered non-street legal dirt bikes, and alas, my broken Uly a time or 2-so I get your point. This was not a knock on HD RIDERS, or any riders. I don't care what scoots folks choose, And to be sure, there were mondo HDs (& a few others) heading west on their own wheels. My point was, if you're going to a motorcycle event...why not actually ride a motorcycle? Of the 5 motorcycle accidents (2 sport bikes & 3 HD's) in the county last week - all 5 were attributed to operator error. These were the 'occasional' fair weather rider that dont get enough seat time to ever improve their skills, and thus disproportionately, a danger to all other motorists...and we all get the 'rap' for it. And yes...many / most RIDERS may well be able to ride circles around me - but probably not in a truck / trailer... | ||
| Tootal |
Well when talking about Sturgis you have to talk about why you're going. If you're there to ride then you'll probably ride there but if your there to mainly party then you trailer so you can carry all the beer!! Significant others also must be considered. If camping, some folks want all the amenities to be happy and you can't pack it all on the bike. That's most likely the main reason people trailer there. They're idea of camping is a lot different than mine! That still doesn't stop me from wearing my special "ride to Sturgis shirt" that on the back says, "Nice Trailer PUSSY!" . | ||
| Buellerxt |
I agree with you on the 'seat time', Jphish, and the large percentage of 'rider' caused accidents, everywhere. Too many people riding motorcycles they can 'barely' control in a parking lot and who are in way over their heads in any riding other than a straight line, for sure. I hope you are doing well. I actually thought of you a couple of times at Sturgis! Once while test riding a Super Tenere, since you switched from a Uly to a Triumph Adv. bike, and once when wondering if my rear Pirelli Angel would make it home so I could install my Pilot Road III. Good thoughts, both! By the way, NO thoughts of switching from my Uly! Adding maybe but the Uly is a keeper! (Message edited by buellerxt on August 18, 2012) | ||
| Tootal |
Boy that's the truth. I hate riding the Black Hills with these newbies who will accelerate like crazy in the straight but as soon as they come up on a corner they slam the brakes and creep around trying to keep from leaning the bike! You can't pass them easily cause as soon as they're around the corner they blast on the throttle again. That's why I only go the week before the rally and enjoy the Black Hills before the wanna be's show up. Having said that, I know everybody has to learn eventually how to properly ride, I just wish they didn't buy a bike two weeks before a rally and then show up and prove they're newbies! With that many bikes in a concentrated area it's not a good idea to plunge right into the hornets nest without any experience or training. | ||
| Skifastbadly |
I have an 04 Heritage to go with my Buell and I wouldn't go within a hundred miles of Sturgis on bike week. Even if there are 550,000 excellent riders, that still leaves 10,000 idiots in the area. When I was living in Park City Utah, I avoided skiing during Christmas and Presidents weekend for the very same reason. I'm a lone wolf, man. OwwwWOoooooo. | ||
| Tootal |
I did a solo, lone wolf, tour of Sturgis one year. I went down to this little town where the paved road ended and the two ways out were gravel. I selected a road that would get me to Hill City. Well I missed a turn and ended up at a highway. I got the map out and saw where I screwed up but also found out a shorter way than going all the way back. On my new route the road went from gravel to dirt to mud to dirt and back to gravel. I saw a sign off the road but couldn't read it so I turned the Electra Glide around went bashing across the grass. It ended up the sign was marking the stump that was the Christmas tree for Roosevelt way back when. The stump was non existent but the sign remained. Sometimes I love getting lost, never know what you might find!  | ||
| Jphish |
Hey 'XT' - I agree with you and Tootal on the importance of beer hauling (for when one is off the bike of course) & that family dynamics introduces requirements for certain 'creature' comforts, hence the trailers. My grandaughter (12yo) insists on bringing her hair dryer camping / fishing next week...to bad there aint any electricity or showers...there is a fine lake and river though. It IS wonderful being a grandparent! Of the dozen or so bikes I've had & sold - I only regret / miss the Uly. PNW Uly lets me swap the tiger for his now and then - so still occasionally get my hooligan fix. Tootal - do those T-Shirts come in Kevlar ?  Cheers guys - hope you're finding someplace cool to ride. j | ||
| Buellerxt |
Keep coming back, Jphish! You're one of us, Man! It's always good to see that handle! | ||
| Rfp52 |
Town where the paved road ends? Sounds like Rochford. Missed the turn to Hill City and ended up on 385? Some people trailer, as was said, for a variety of reasons. Some trade sleeping/ driving so they can do 24 hours a day non stop some are fair weather riders. Keep in mind some of those "pirate wannabes" ride hard tail, hand shift, panheads from NewYork and Florida. Could you? I have gone to Sturgis for many years on Harleys, BMW GS, BMW RTs. I think the attitude you get is the attitude you give. If you think you are better or more skilled on your bike with your cool gear people who have been riding since you were kickin' $hi! out of your diapers aren't going to warm up to you. I spend the majority of the Rally in Hill City. I have stayed at the same hotel with (mostly) the same group of people for years. I go the middle of the week before Rally and leave on Friday of Rally week. My wife and I take a few rides but usually in the morning before traffic gets heavy. Sturgis isn't a skill test it isn't about ability it's about people and bikes. All kinds of people and all kinds of bikes. Based on the volume of traffic and number of accidents it is probably one of the safest places in the country. If you can't just go and enjoy it for what it is, stay home. If you think people need to ride, dress, and look like you or they are wannabes, stay home. Leather and chrome existed a long time before Eric Buell and kevlar, you're the nube not them. I miss what Sturgis used to be but things change, people change, attitudes change. There are still a couple out of the way roads, some tricks on to where to go when, and some really good food. I would love to take the Ulysses but the gas tank is just too small to ride a long distance. It is called riding not stoping. | ||
| Jphish |
Thanks 'XT' - The Buell community is the BEST of the bunch - I will try to retain my honorary membership - No one else will have me. Been to Sturgis once(1992) just for the "experience" on my 58' HD. Given its been 20 years - imagine its changed a bit from what it was. Not better / worse, just different. My M/C experience interests are to get away from the 'madding crowds' & taunt trout, So generally steer clear of large 'events'. But each to their own. I did enjoy the occasional local Uly rides (6-8 XBs), hosted by Debueller - fun group. (his gf sister would humble us all with her KTM riding skills) Anyway - enjoying the sun, but looking forward to Fall - temps down, Motorhomes fewer, campgrounds emptier & trout are hungrier. Ride safe Hooligans. j | ||
| Tootal |
Missed the turn to Hill City but ended up at 85 on the Western edge of the Black Hills. I was waaaay off! Nice little tour though. Rochford is really a unique place. Sit out on the porch and talk to folks from all over the world that happened to show up when you did in the middle of nowhere!! As far as Hill City, can't beat lunch or dinner at the Alpine Inn. And if you like desserts well, that's what you call heaven! | ||
| Bking |
I've always been able to ride to Sturgis, since it's only 400 miles. But I have trailered my bikes many, many times over the years. I would rather ride, but time restraints get in the way. I've always been self employed and there is just no way I can afford more than a week off at a time. I would love to ride all the way to Niagara Falls and back, but if I didn't trailer half way there, I could never visit the falls on my bike. I've been fortunate over the years being able to ride many parts of the country and Canada utilizing my trailer. Trailered the Uly along with all my work related stuff up to Moscow, ID 2 weeks ago, combined work with riding and had a great ride in Canada and Glacier area. Sweet. | ||
| Smokey3644 |
Where the pavement ends past Rochford there is a Y, the right hand side goes up Rapid creek through a big meadow eventually to a nice little FS camp ground by an old Guard station. Really nice area and good fishing in Rapid creek esp. in the big meadow. | ||
| Rfp52 |
What gets me about riding backroads in the hills is if you stop, shut the bike down, and look around you realize that there are no power lines, no telephone junctions, no cell towers. You are looking at the same sights people looked at over a hundred years ago. There are little ranches and farms with no power or modern conveniences they live the same way people lived generations ago. It kind of make you realize that the things we think we "have to have" aren't really necessary at all. Want another blast from the past? Go to Meeteese, Wyoming. You will think the flux capacitor on your bike kicked in and took you to 1930. The buildings, people, everything. It's almost scary. |
