Harley-Davidson 100th Anniversary Festival: Milwaukee, Wisconsin

[ajohn505]

So about 200,000 HD motorcycles rumbled into my lovely hometown of Milwaukee this weekend.

Does anyone know anyone who came to the festival, or have any Harley stories?

I'm a Honda rider myself, but if I'm not in the brotherhood, I'd like to at least consider myself a cousin :).

[Sentrosi]

My best friend and his father both own Harleys. They didn't go this year because of all the hoopla surrounding it. His father feels that it wasn't promoted as it should be. The 95th anniversary ride, he said, was promoted better. And I guess that a rally held up north wasn't all it was supposed to be either. Harley-Davidson looks like it sold out to corporate america.

You probably won't find any "Old-school" riders at the rally today or tomorrow.

[ajohn505]

Why do you say that? I'm not a Harley rider, so in that aspect I could care less, but as a Milwaukean, I'd like to know why it was promoted poorly.

I was at the 95th, and though it was much smaller (no 45 minute traffic jams to go 3 miles), I still think this one isn't too bad.

We get these kinds of crowds downtown every summer for Summerfest (web link) (http://www.summerfest.com) so I'm not too irate about it. Milwaukee's on the rebound from a poor 70's-style industrial economy (with a strong infotech sector), and I love to see this kind of cash and recognition infusion into it. It's a great town. If those 200,000 bikers spend only $50 each :) .....

[Sentrosi]

Oh I agree, Milwaukee is a great town to live and play in. I lived up in Fond du Lac most of my life before moving east to Albany, NY. My buddies and I would do a monthly trip down to Chicago for a weekend, then 2 weeks later do one in Milwaukee. Summerfest roxxxx. One of the things I miss living out on the Right coast.

I think his reasoning was that they forgot a lot of the smaller biker communities. I know the one my friend is a part of do rides for charity and promote good riding habits.

[ajohn505]

Originally posted by Sentrosi
I think his reasoning was that they forgot a lot of the smaller biker communities. I know the one my friend is a part of do rides for charity and promote good riding habits.

I can see that... It did seem like a mega-market shindig more than what it was: a group of bikers getting together to celebrate their motorcycles.

I do know that there were a couple of charity rides involved with the 100th homecoming though. The MDA was one, and there were others.

Its wasn't all positive, because there were a few accidents this weekend resulting in some serious injuries and deaths.

Wear those helmets, people.

Incidentally, my group was lectured on riding etiquette by some 60 year old fucker from Massachusetts who got all up in our faces. What a jerk.

[Nimbus]

There was a large rally here in La Crosse, Wisconsin too.
My uncles best friend Joey has a custom-made Harley Davidson Screaming Eagle. The thing is a behemoth. It looks like a 2 wheeled car. He goes to Sturgis every 5 years or so. He used to go every year but he's 45 now and going every year gets to be a hassle for him.

Other than that the only story I have is a bike accident that occured outside my home a few years back.

[GonePostal]

i would love own a harley when i can drive

and i would defly go to sturgis!

:)

[Lonehunter]

Originally posted by ajohn505
(no 45 minute traffic jams to go 3 miles)
Not really, it was more around an hour.

[Hamma]

I heard they had elton john as their "surprise" musical performance. Like a bunch of harly folks want to see him

[Squeeky]

Originally posted by Hamma
I heard they had elton john as their "surprise" musical performance. Like a bunch of harly folks want to see him

Holy shit i hope your joking :rofl:

[Hamma]

nope, was on the news last night

[Squeeky]

That's like booking the Spice Girls at Woodstock.

[ajohn505]

Seriously, it was Elton John.

Tim McGraw, Kid Rock, Elton John, and the Doobie Brothers.

One of these things does not belong. :) I somehow can't imagine the crowd totally rocking out when 'Goodbye Yellow Brick Road' started playing.

Then again, the upper middle class is a huge Harley-Davidson demographic.