Have you already been to your first motorcycle rally or other biker event?
If you have, you are probably hooked, and looking for more information on your next rally or event. If you have not, you may be wondering what all the hype is about. Either way, you have come to the right place!
Here are the next four upcoming rallies:
Daytona Bike WeekOne of the oldest and biggest motorcycle rallies in the world, Daytona Bike Week is a must see event.
Starts Mar 9th, 2012
Arizona Bike Week®
Encompassing Cyclefest, one of the largest motorcycle expos in the US, Arizona Bike Week draws thousands of bikers looking to enjoy the heat in the Valley of the Sun.
Starts Apr 4th, 2012
Laughlin River Run
Though marred in 2002 for a fight between the Hells Angels and the Mongols that resulted in three deaths, Laughlin River Run continues to draw a bigger group of bikers, who come for the comradery, the riding, and the games.
Starts Apr 25th, 2012
Leesburg Bikefest
Watch out Daytona, your replacement may just be down the road in Leesburg. Started in 1997, this motorcycle rally has grown rapidly due to its biker friendly area.
Starts Apr 27th, 2012
To see the full listing of rallies, click here.
Ahhh...Daytona Bike Week...Sturgis Motorcycle Rally...Laconia Motorcycle Week... The list goes on and on.
Why do so many bikers (and even non-riding enthusiasts) seek out these motorcycle rallies every year? Is it the bizarre characters and bikes that tend to only be seen at these events? Is it the noise and partying? Is it simply to get the chance to hang around with other people from all walks of life that share a common interest...that love the biker lifestyle and comradery? Everyone has their own reasons, but most rallies are growing each year they occur. If you have never been to one, make plans to get to a motorcycle rally this year, and you will most likely wonder why you did not go sooner.
What makes this site different from other sites that offer information on motorcycle events? Well, mainly that this site will only feature the larger events. Other sites feature everything from the major motorcycle rallies to minor local get-togethers, poker runs, toy runs, and others. Don't get me wrong, the smaller events have their place, and I have enjoyed many of them in my time riding motorcycle. But, they are typically only of local interest, will not draw any attendance from anywhere but the immediate area, and are already usually well advertised in that area. This site will concentrate on those events which meet the following criteria:
- Attendance must be at least 10,000 people
- The event must be re-occurring - typically annually
- The event should last at least 3 days. While this is not a hard and fast rule, many people will travel long distances to attend, and really want the time to enjoy the fruits of their travel.
- There must be an official web site for that event, to allow you to get more information
The 'Big Four'
This site is all about the larger motorcycle rallies and other biker events, so mention must be made to the four largest rallies in the United States. These are, in order of largest estimated attendance:
- Sturgis Motorcycle Rally - 650,000
- Daytona Bike Week - 550,000
- Laconia Motorcycle Week - 400,000
- Myrtle Beach Bike Week - 300,000
I have been to motorcycle rallies and events of all sizes, but I have to say that I really got an appreciation on just what a motorcycle rally is by attending one of the 'Big Four'. Now I have been to all of them, and look forward to returning to each again soon. Because of their size, these rallies attract the best of the best, the best custom motorcycle builders, the best live music, the best vendors with the largest selections... the list goes on and on. If you have not experienced one of the 'Big Four', make plans to make one of those rallies this year. You will not regret it.
Lodging Information
I spend a lot of time researching camping areas and motels near the motorcycle rallies. I try to determine, either by their website information or by personal experiences, whether these facilities should be considered 'biker friendly'. If you have an unpleasant experience with one of the facilities I have listed with each of the individual motorcycle rally pages, I would really like to hear from you, giving as much specific detail as possible. On the same token, if you had a real good experience with a facility I do not have on my list, I want to have that information for possible future inclusion.
I have recently entered an agreement with Interactive Hotel Solutions which allows me to help you find out about availability and rates, and make your reservations before it is too late. Note that some of the Motorcycle Rallies book up all the nearby motels three or more months in advance of the event, so keep that in mind, unless you want to travel long distances to get from your room to the event. You will find this tool an easy way to reserve your rooms, and probably come back to IHS again for other events. But, let's not limit the use of IHS to attending motorcycle rallies. They have a huge inventory of available motels and hotels for you to get information on for any occasion.
Conclusion, and Intro to the Rally Listing
I will be constantly looking for more motorcycle rallies that meet the criteria I have set above, and adding them to this site. I ask you all to help me in this endeavor. If you know of a motorcycle rally that is not listed in this site, let me know. If you have an experience at one of these rallies that you would like to share, let me know. If you find an error in any of the information provided here, or simply want clarification, let me know.
The list below is a full listing of major motorcycle rallies coming up.
| Event | Location | Start | End |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daytona Bike Week | Daytona Beach, Florida | Mar 9th, 2012 | Mar 18th, 2012 |
| Arizona Bike Week® | Scottsdale, Arizona | Apr 4th, 2012 | Apr 8th, 2012 |
| Laughlin River Run | Laughlin, Nevada | Apr 25th, 2012 | Apr 29th, 2012 |
| Leesburg Bikefest | Leesburg, Florida | Apr 27th, 2012 | Apr 29th, 2012 |
| Thunder Beach Spring Motorcycle Rally | Panama City Beach, Florida | May 2nd, 2012 | May 6th, 2012 |
| Myrtle Beach Bike Week | Murrells Inlet, South Carolina | May 11th, 2012 | May 20th, 2012 |
| AspenCash Motorcycle Rally | Ruidoso, New Mexico | May 17th, 2012 | May 20th, 2012 |
| Americade | Lake George, New York | Jun 4th, 2012 | Jun 9th, 2012 |
| Republic of Texas Biker Rally | Austin, Texas | Jun 7th, 2012 | Jun 10th, 2012 |
| Laconia Motorcycle Week | Weirs Beach, New Hampshire | Jun 9th, 2012 | Jun 17th, 2012 |
| Thunder in the Valley® | Johnstown, Pennsylvania | Jun 21st, 2012 | Jun 24th, 2012 |
| Carlisle Summer Bike Fest | Carlisle, Pennsylvania | Jul 20th, 2012 | Jul 22nd, 2012 |
| Sturgis Motorcycle Rally | Sturgis, South Dakota | Aug 6th, 2012 | Aug 12th, 2012 |
| Salute to American Veterans Motorcycle Rally | Cripple Creek, Colorado | Aug 17th, 2012 | Aug 19th, 2012 |
| Golden Aspen Motorcycle Rally | Ruidoso, New Mexico | Sep 12th, 2012 | Sep 16th, 2012 |
| Street Vibrations Fall Rally | Reno, Nevada | Sep 19th, 2012 | Sep 23rd, 2012 |
| Bikes, Blues & BBQ Motorcycle Rally | Fayetteville, Arkansas | Sep 26th, 2012 | Sep 29th, 2012 |
| Myrtle Beach Fall Rally | Murrells Inlet, South Carolina | Oct 3rd, 2012 | Oct 7th, 2012 |
| Thunder Beach Autumn Motorcycle Rally | Panama City Beach, Florida | Oct 10th, 2012 | Oct 14th, 2012 |
| Biketoberfest® | Daytona Beach, Florida | Oct 18th, 2012 | Oct 21st, 2012 |