This Year's Attendance

[sibud]

Heard at the recent Damn Yankees Rally (Western Ma).

"Fifty two Hundred? That's a backyard party."

NIMBY

[83467]

You're right Bud.
But I was at "Damn Yankees" drinking, and I always TRULY enjoy a rally where I can HAVE a beer, as opposed to the irony of running 120+ half-kegs, and not being able to have a drink. Like at the National.
MAD DOG
Nat Beer Chair

[kantuckid]

I'd love to attend one of these someday but not unless it was nearby someplace I was already riding. I ride in any weather that leaves me with some traction so that's not a factor. I'm retired so time of year isn't a factor. What I won't do is travel hundreds or thousands of miles on roads I'm not drawn experience to stand around for several days in stinkin' hot weather not riding. I can get everything I need from vendors online or my local dealer (who has a phenomenal affinity and training program). If one of these is ever held in a place in West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Western North Carolina, or North Georgia I'll be there. If I go to Oregon, it'll be to spend every waking minute on the road riding. OK, if I'm there, maybe I'd stop by for half a day. My point is that you're not less of a BMW fan if you skip these things.

Amen! I've been riding since 1963 other than a period when I was "tied up" so to speak, with the process of raising my children & bikes took a back seat. I don't want a medal for the great job we did raising our sons & I don't need to hear how I might have "neglected" bikes during that time either. Rallies are not a must for biking enjoyment anymore than long trips are a requirement or riding to work or getting in the mud or whatever other notion of must do's is on someones biker activity list.
I have been to exactly 2 rallies in my life & would have been to a few more had it fit in with the other aspects of my life. I did work at both of the rallies I atttended-a lot, in fact. Lets get off this stuff about what constitutes a "good or real member" ! In my mind there are very unlikely to be many riders with children doing a bike rally which is hardly a family affair in the holistic sense ? Sure , if you have a kid old enough for pinion or they now ride but otherwise whats in it for them unless the nearby attractions? I can conjure up a list of what gets in my way of rallies for various times of the year such as fall,no doubt the best riding weather here in KY but go to FB games and so on down the line.
I'm not understanding whats a July attractor for vendors unless it's just more people. I also "get it" to some extent as for visiting them while there but also something I can easily live w/o. Truth be known & for several reasons, bike rallies really are not my cup of tea for the most part & obviously the same for others. I like the camaraderie but then again don't really know anybody there . I get the same negs as has been mentioned in the past by others with the ceremonies at the rally ending-just not my scene. Face it, rallies are simply more for some than others & location matters a bunch.
As to the heat this summer-it quite was real & it was a factor for some ,including me for biking & outside work. My KS cousin was telling me just a few weeks ago that it had been 107 in my native state. Folks, that's hot & not my kind of camping weather or best riding choice either. Glad some had a good time at the rally but lets stop pointing fingers based on the choices we make.

[MThelmet]

If want to due justice for the attendance.

You must look at the over all TOTAL membership.

1st rally 1973 Total membership may have been 3000 +, if that.

1989 YORK, PA first rally to brake 5000 in attendance. Total membership, maybe 12,000.

With the membership now into 6 digets, an we only pull 10,000.

What is the big problem, to many different IDEAS as to what is the Ideal location.

This just the way the whole nworld is going.

No way to please even 1/10 of the group.


George
aka Helmet
MOA # 557

[sibud]

You're right Bud.
But I was at "Damn Yankees" drinking, and I always TRULY enjoy a rally where I can HAVE a beer, as opposed to the irony of running 120+ half-kegs, and not being able to have a drink. Like at the National.
MAD DOG
Nat Beer Chair

I will to that! Always a fun crowd when you get with some of those YB folks.

[Lee]

With the membership now into 6 digets, an we only pull 10,000.

I thought membership was somewhere around 32,000 or 33,000.

[mogu83]

George might be confusing membership numbers with paying members, it would be interesting to know the official number.

I think that compairing the members from the 70,s or even late 80's to the present membership is compairing apples and oranges.

[CaptRehkopf]

I haven't seen anyone who attended the rally complaining about the heat....

Me! And there is no way you were comfortable Tuesday or Wednesday nights unless Kansas has accustomed you to brutal sleeping conditions.

[brisco]

Me! And there is no way you were comfortable Tuesday or Wednesday nights unless Kansas has accustomed you to brutal sleeping conditions.

It was fine, I had been camped out since the previous Friday at the MO State BMW Rally and camped through the week at Sedalia as well.

I have a battery powered ceiling fan in my tent, only used it one night and even then woke up to turn it off.

[sibud]

I made a bet that the attendance will be lower than last year and I was right. You don't ned to be a rocket scientist to figure that out.You hold a rally in the middle of July in Sedalia??? I'll also bet that next year attendance will be higher because of location and weather. Any takers?
I and bunch of other people that I know did not attend because of the weather. Why should we? We ride for enjoyment not for misery. Ask the folks who went to Oregon couple years ago and they'll tell you how nice the weather was.We are not Harley riders we ride atgatt.
As for the timing it does not matter as much as the location.Unfortunately South and South East weather sucks during the summer.
As a side note please hold the "I survived" type comments this is not a survival contest, it's supposed to be fun.

I completed the Redmond 1000 starting in Cheyenne, WY. Nice weather? Not in Wyoming, Utah, Idaho or Eastern Oregon. It was HOT!!! And it was FUN as well.

[Merlin III]

Since 1972 there has only been one rally not in July. It was in June. It was in Texas. It wasn't a record. It was going to be too hot. But the temps were in the 80s in Fredericksburg that week.

I personally favor September but not if we want younger riders - less than 50 or so. Their kids are in school and they won't come. And probably won't join. I think the board should try it. But they will weigh the pros (lots) and cons (lots) and decide. Last time I was convinced they were all screwed up I got myself elected to the Board, and then President. But now I think they are doing a good job and don't want to run for anything.

I think we should go back to Canada - but then folks with felonies or DUIs can't get in. Sorry - Canada 2014 for me!!

I second that!