2025 Bike week

[MUZ720]

Looking like the numbers of bikers is way down this year. Weirs was pretty empty the other day (Saturday). Weather should get better as the week goes on maybe that will help.

[Paul_E_D]

Is the entire concept dying? Has the lakes region finally gentrified too much for the "real" biker types? Or have the hard core guys all aged out? Whatever the reasons, it is really quiet around laconia this year.

[ducatirdr]

Back in 2017 I went to Sturgis Bike week with my Grom and my Harley. I saw a very interesting phenomenon.



I took two weeks off and went the week before the actual bike week started and was planning on staying much of the second week. The Glencoe campground is across from Buffalo chip is where I put my toyhauler. The week before Bike Week actually starts is full of staff working at the event getting their stuff set up downtown and around the area. The vibe was chill, friendly and welcoming. Being by myself and riding zipping around on my onewheel had me get invited over for beers here and there and quickly found a circle of fun folks that I hung out on the evenings back at the camp. The whole campground was a party every night with some crazy fun going on. Clothing optional folks seemed to collect at our party and at one point I wondered if this was some upside down pineapple group. It wasn't. It was just pure freedom loving folk that were enjoying themselves to their fullest. (yes they all should have kept their clothes on)

Then the week of Bike Week started....

The whole vibe changed. The tough guy vibe came in pointing and laughing at one of the lady's that was wearing chains instead of clothing. The fun times we were having without any judgement, turned ugly. This change in the vibe was so palpable that our group that formed the week before talked about it all night. The party stopped and there were lots of scowls and tough guys trying to out tough each other walking around. Our little party spot was soon awash in middle america dick heads. It SUCKED. A couple of days of this and I was done. I pulled out and thanked my good fortune to go a week earlier and meet such cool people.

I remember the biker vibe of my early years. It was non judgemental. If you rode any motorcycle and you showed respect you were in. The wave on the street, the hanging out with club sponsored events were not divided like they are today. A tough guy was quickly humbled by a real 1%'er. The rest of us had a great time thanking those that hosted the party. There was a quiet respect for everyone that was chill. Dicks got asked to leave in no uncertain terms.

Now the H-D scene is every person on a Harley thinks they are a bad mofo. The scowl and unfriendly f-you attitude is so old and tired. The vibe has changed for me. I sold my Harley and am done attending any of those type of events. It used to be fun, big social party. Now its a bunch of people that didn't get enough hugs as children.

Demographics of what it used to be have aged out. The newer vibe is antisocial twits don't invoke any desire for others to be around them. The numbers of attendance can testify to that along with the dropping Harley sales.