Triumphrat

77FREEDOM

Been to Daytona bike week several (6) times but not since 2001.. Is it just me or is Bike week no fun any more? Too many Folks in one place who have no business being there much less riding a bike. Speed bikes-o-plenty, stunt riders, speed freaks and wannabes. Used to be a good place to get ready for the riding season and time away from the job but now its all about Corporate America and "how much can we make from these folks". The residents want the money but dont want the bikes and crowds. Time for a new location or time to start supporting the smaller rallys?
What do you think?

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Major Kong

That's why I go to vintage days at Mid-Ohio. However, it too is getting the "how much can we make" makeover.

Kong

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HiDesert

I ride to get away from it all. You'd have to pay me to go to a rally. But whatever floats your boat.

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HiDesert's ride photos

Normandy

Same here.

MVP44

I am with Hidesert on this - I ride to get away from the hustle and bustle. I enjoy the smaller bike shows where people display bikes they have restored themselves out of passion for the bike. I enjoy just bike watching, but I think Daytona would be a little to much for me. Not to mention the first Tee shirt lift my wife saw would end my trip short

Would like to go to the race there though - I want to go to I think it's Richard Petty's driving experience where they take you on a lap around that bad boy at speed - Now that I would go there for can't imagine riding a bike on that banking though

slowgator

It's you. It's still a blast. Annual rites of Spring; time to get decadent. I am psyched!

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JAXTRIUMPHGUY

I assure you that most of the residents in Daytona truly like, and welcome bikers.
Tourism is our bread and butter. Many of the merchants/vendors who come down and charge
$$$ for their items, are not even from Daytona, but are there capitalizing on the event.
Want to save a buck? Stay off of Main Street, and you're good anywhere else in town.

For a good time, check out the races, enjoy the weather, and nice local rides, and demo some bikes at the track. It's not just all about Main Street, and Destination Daytona. Hope you make it back down.

hogwylde

I've been to Laconia Bike Week twice and it was enough to convince me all bike rallies were the same and not worth the effort of going, with maybe the exception of Sturgis where one can get away from it all and ride the Black Hills, see Mt. Rushmore, etc..

But Florida is straight and flat and IMO, not the prettiest state to look at, so sight seeing will be limited unless maybe you go to the Keys.

I appreciate the offer but no thank you.

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brolane

I have mixed emotions about rallies. My late wife and I rode a Gold Wing to Wings over the smokies in Cherokee N.C. The rally spilled over into surrounding towns, including Gatlinburg. Somebody estimate more than 10,000 bikes...and a large number of them wouldn't qualify as experienced riders. I promised myself that if I ever got out of that mess I would never go to another one. However, the lure of Barber's Vintage Motorcycle Festival was overwhelming. It is only 80 miles from my house, and I had great rides and a super time. The vendors were great, I picked up some bargains, toured the fantastic museum and saw some awesome racing. Yep, there was a ton of bikes there, but all the ones I saw were courteous, properly attired for riding and could handle their machines. I will be back this year.

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TriumphTengu

I've been to the ROTRalley here in Austin once year B4 last and it was some good some bad. I liked the small local vendors (from Houston, Dallas, San Antonio and smaller towns) and even bought some pegs from Kuryakyn.
Most of the crusier and Harley riders were pure D fools. After dark when folks started taking their clothes off did it for me.
Hard to talk to folks when they drool on you. I'm worried about the ride to and from the event what with the drunk (or buzzed?) bikers.
But my mother used to say "wouldn't it be a shame if everyone was the same". People want to have a good time, more power to them as long as they don't hurt someone else.
We do have smaller rallies here like the Fall Harvest Classic were there are all older restored bikes out in Luckenbach.
Now I did go to Laguna Seca the same year as the ROT and am going to Indy Moto GP this year. That was alot of fun. The biggie manufacturers had great sites with plenty of help to answer any questions. The vendors were cool and the crowd was really international. I was standing next to folks from five different countries and we were all cheering the riders on. I like to think of our local RAT here in Austin as being the right size for a group of gonzo bikers tooling down the road a dozen or so at a time.

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