This is not funny sort of

[KGT1200]

On my ride home all the way across SD, the rain started in, then decided to start in with wind, making the overall direction from wence the drops came go sideways...anyways, this was a Friday, and Sturgis started Saturday, so imagine the BILLIONs of bikes on the road. I felt sort of sorry for those women 2 up with the harley riding fellas, because the way the rider on a Harley sets a head taller than the driver, the rain and wind WITH NO HELMET hit em square between the eyes!

The Guy driving the thing, for the most part was protected by the wind screen, but those poor ladies up there, wet soggy leathers, bandana and glasses taking 80 mph of rain and wind square in the puss (old timer expression for face..get yer mind otta the gutter, fellas!);) ;)


Part of the Haarley Davidson experience, I guess!

Red

[Visian]

... so imagine the BILLIONs of bikes on the road.

iirc, most of the sturgis-goers trailer their bikes there? :bolt

[KGT1200]

iirc, most of the sturgis-goers trailer their bikes there? :bolt

No, that's not completely true...a large percentage were riding 300+ miles out, the gal on the back no longer hanging on to her man, now setting cross armed, just taking it...full-in-the-face...

[knary]

"Why do you wear all that gear? Isn't it hot and uncomfortable?"

"It beats looking like an old shoe."

[sgborgstrom]

While bringing my new R100GSPD home last weekend (following a Colorado/Wyoming/Idaho/Montana/Washington) route there were lots of "harleyesque" riders headed in the other direction. Seems to me whole trailer thing might be a bit overstated.

Lots of nastily sunburned faces with the white "racoon eyes" wandering around Missoula looking for a vacant motel room too. Getting pelted with rain at 65mph is bad enough through my Roadcrafter, I did the helmetless thing in my younger days...much prefer a good face shield to a facefull of rain.

[GeneT]

"Why do you wear all that gear? Isn't it hot and uncomfortable?"

"It beats looking like an old shoe."

"All that gear", I am not one for covering my body with riding gear to go four blocks to the grocery store, but a recent ride to meet a friend for lunch I did indeed don the jacket.

Attire consisted of my boots, heavy jeans, mesh jacket with armor, gloves and a brain bucket. Ride out in the morning was much cooler but the 120 mile ride back was in 103° heat passing through the Florida Everglades. Under the jacket I wore a cotton tee shirt with a soaking wet towel around my neck. I did stop twice during the return trip to drink water and re-soak the towel.

Arriving home I was surprised I was not sweating under the helmet, my socks were dry and so were my shorts.

I actually was cooler with that gear and the wet towel than when I go short runs with just a tee shirt.

For what its worth

:dance

[co_bmw_rider]

I was at the Sturgis Rally and got rained on 3 times. The worst was in eastern Wyoming as it turned into hail with heavy crosswinds. At one point, the wind was so severe that it turned into near white-out conditions with the hail. The white-out only lasted for about 50 yards, but the heavy wind was bad enough to be concerned about losing the bike. Fortunately I was wearing helmet, jacket, gloves and boots.

All in all it was a good trip for me. As Red noted, the gals riding on the back were at the mercy of the weather. But it's their choice ... and many of them were having a good time.

[Bokrijder]

Fashion trumps all, I'm expecting to see a hard shell DOT approved "Do-Rag" complete with a chin strap and face shield on the market soon.

Motard

[BMWDEAN]

Wow! Given the weather you describe I hope the Harley riders towed their bikes in enclosed trailers!

[co_bmw_rider]

It was interesting to see a group of H-D riders stopped along the road pulling their gear on before braving the rain. After riding through the storm, I would see another group of riders stopped to remove said gear.

I was wearing a mesh jacket, so I figured it would dry out soon enough. Basically, I rode straight through rain, albeit somewhat slower. With the fairing, I only got wet from water running down into the seat and my sleeves.

For a lot of Sturgis attendees fashion and appearances will trump all else. Some go to see it and others go to show it off.

[bubbagazoo]

I was not at Sturgis but I sure saw a lot of riders headed east on US 20 through Idaho and on I-90 through Montana last weekend. Lots of riders with no helmets. Amazingly, a lot of the passengers were wearing helmets while the riders did not. Hmmmm. Maybe the passengers know something the riders don't. :type

[riderR1150GSAdv]

A few years back I went through Sturgis a week before the event and I saw many trailers lined up 100's of miles in every direction. I guess the 'posers' were trying their best to 'blend' in with the real riders by looking as worn out as possible while motelling it a week in advance....:laugh :laugh
I wish I could find bugs-in-a-spraycan to apply to my bike so I can 'blend' in without riding.....:stick :rofl :rofl