Published Jul 5, 2022 by Rick Cundiff
It’s almost time to hit the road. Just a month to the biggest motorcycle event of the year, the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.
You can almost feel it, can’t you? The growl and rumble of the bikes, the music rocking from the Buffalo Chip campground, the conversations and laughter of thousands of people. And always, the allure of the South Dakota countryside and the open road.
Sturgis, located in the Black Hills not far from Mount Rushmore, is a small town of about 7,000 residents for most of the year. But for 10 days in August, it draws hundreds of thousands of riders and motorcycle enthusiasts, becoming the biggest city in the state. Estimates placed the 2015 attendance at 700,000, a number that nearly doubled the population of the entire state!
The simple fact is, if you own a motorcycle, especially an Indian or Harley-Davidson, Sturgis is THE place to be for those 10 days.
While Harley is the official bike of Sturgis today, it wasn’t always. Indian was there first.
It all began in 1938, the year J.C. “Pappy” Hoel opened his Indian motorcycle dealership in Sturgis. Looking for a way to promote his business, he invited riders from across the nation to come to Sturgis in August. Nearly 40 riders responded, and more than 100 people the year after that, according to the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum and Hall of Fame.
From there, the annual celebration grew into the massive event riders know and love today. The surge of riders brings in a huge amount of money to the state, estimated at more than $800 million each year.
While Sturgis has always been a bastion of American iron, animosity toward foreign-branded bikes has softened over the years. Many have come to the conclusion that a rider is a rider, no matter what the brand. Given the fact that even Pappy Hoel himself became a Yamaha dealer after the original Indian brand went out of business, it was probably inevitable. Today, for the most part, bikes of any brand are welcome.
The event is packed with motorcycle races, scenic rides throughout the region, concerts and much more. It’s a true celebration of freedom and the American spirit.
And what better way to celebrate that spirit than with a few new custom patches? Sturgis style includes plenty of leather and denim, a perfect place for expressing yourself with patches.
No matter what you have to say, you can find a way to say it on a patch. Whether a simple image or name, an acronym or a phrase, it’s easy to tell the world what you really think with first-rate custom patches. With patches available in virtually any shape or size, it’s never been easier or more economical to celebrate with them.
Patches also make great souvenirs. Add them to your collection as special memorabilia of your Sturgis adventure. The more years you go, the more patches you can add.
If you’re heading to Sturgis this year, or if you’re armchair cruising from the comfort of home, now is a perfect time to order custom Sturgis patches. For more information about custom motorcycle patches of all kinds, click here.
