bigjohnsd
'21 R1250 GS Adv
I have lived in Spearfish SD since retiring from the Navy in 1994.
For about 20 days each summer we are very close to the epicenter of Harleydom.
Crowds, noise, bedlam etc....
Approximately 500,000 motorcycles make the pilgrimage to Sturgis every year, some years more, some less.
It seems that about 80% of the motorcycles are Harley Davidson. Each year it appears to me that the percentage might slowly decrease as
old men die, Indian gains market share, a few enlightened souls buy other brands or types of bikes.
There are a fair number of ass holes at Sturgis, more open pipes or loud bikes than ass holes but plenty of both to go around.
I was a Honda/Yamaha dealer for six years, we were glad to put tires on Harleys.
In the heyday of the Japanese Cruiser (2000-2005) Of the 20% of the bikes that were/are not Harleys Honda and Yamaha had a little more than 50% of the market, I just wanted each one of the approximately 50,000 Honda and Yamaha riders to come to Outdoor Motorsports and make a $2 contribution to my retirement fund! Many did.
We sold a lot of Honda branded Spark Plugs to Harley riders - the bikes were often jetted excessively rich and became even more excessively rich when operated at the 3,500-7,000 foot elevations here in the Black Hills. My wife often relates the story of the grizzled old 1%er seeking new plugs for his poorly running ride, we had the appropriate heat range and sized sparkplug but she was reluctant to bring it to him at the counter as it was labeled "Honda Lawnmower Sparkplug".
The 1%er didn't care, he left happy and there was another $2 in the retirement fund.
Speaking of 1%er's - never had a problem with one in my store or later while working over in Sturgis during the Rally doing windshield installations.
In general, if you treated them fair they treated you the same. I am aware of one instance where there was an issue at a local repair shop, One of the clubs owned a motel in Spearfish and one of the "officers" of the club had some serious engine issues during the rally. His bike was towed to a local independent V-Twin repair shop and the tech tore down the engine and began the repair. Several days passed and the bike remained on a lift, engine apart awaiting parts. The Patch Member sent his/a pledge (wannabe) over to ascertain what the ststus of his bike was. The Pledge began making an issue with the tech causing mayhem, threatening the health and welfare etc.... The shop owner found a large cardboard box, gathered up all of the "Parts" set them outside the door, pushed the bike outside with the box and told "Jr" you go back and tell your sponsor that if he wants his bike fixed he needs to come and see me himself. After a little more bluster "Jr" departed and returned, much chagrined, about an hour later with his sponsor. The Sponsor apologized most profusely to the shop owner and put the pledge to work cleaning parts etc for the shopowner at no charge while his bike was being repaired. Karma baby, Karma!
For about 20 days each summer we are very close to the epicenter of Harleydom.
Crowds, noise, bedlam etc....
Approximately 500,000 motorcycles make the pilgrimage to Sturgis every year, some years more, some less.
It seems that about 80% of the motorcycles are Harley Davidson. Each year it appears to me that the percentage might slowly decrease as
old men die, Indian gains market share, a few enlightened souls buy other brands or types of bikes.
There are a fair number of ass holes at Sturgis, more open pipes or loud bikes than ass holes but plenty of both to go around.
I was a Honda/Yamaha dealer for six years, we were glad to put tires on Harleys.
In the heyday of the Japanese Cruiser (2000-2005) Of the 20% of the bikes that were/are not Harleys Honda and Yamaha had a little more than 50% of the market, I just wanted each one of the approximately 50,000 Honda and Yamaha riders to come to Outdoor Motorsports and make a $2 contribution to my retirement fund! Many did.
We sold a lot of Honda branded Spark Plugs to Harley riders - the bikes were often jetted excessively rich and became even more excessively rich when operated at the 3,500-7,000 foot elevations here in the Black Hills. My wife often relates the story of the grizzled old 1%er seeking new plugs for his poorly running ride, we had the appropriate heat range and sized sparkplug but she was reluctant to bring it to him at the counter as it was labeled "Honda Lawnmower Sparkplug".
The 1%er didn't care, he left happy and there was another $2 in the retirement fund.
Speaking of 1%er's - never had a problem with one in my store or later while working over in Sturgis during the Rally doing windshield installations.
In general, if you treated them fair they treated you the same. I am aware of one instance where there was an issue at a local repair shop, One of the clubs owned a motel in Spearfish and one of the "officers" of the club had some serious engine issues during the rally. His bike was towed to a local independent V-Twin repair shop and the tech tore down the engine and began the repair. Several days passed and the bike remained on a lift, engine apart awaiting parts. The Patch Member sent his/a pledge (wannabe) over to ascertain what the ststus of his bike was. The Pledge began making an issue with the tech causing mayhem, threatening the health and welfare etc.... The shop owner found a large cardboard box, gathered up all of the "Parts" set them outside the door, pushed the bike outside with the box and told "Jr" you go back and tell your sponsor that if he wants his bike fixed he needs to come and see me himself. After a little more bluster "Jr" departed and returned, much chagrined, about an hour later with his sponsor. The Sponsor apologized most profusely to the shop owner and put the pledge to work cleaning parts etc for the shopowner at no charge while his bike was being repaired. Karma baby, Karma!