Gday guys . Im planning on going to the surgis bike rally in 2013  ,Im wondering if anyones been .   I want to hire a bike and ride for a couple of days {2-3} max  and take in some sights and good rideing before I get there.  If anyone has been and done something similar ? any info would be great, also places to stay... cheers thanx...

Ok Percy
Been there done that (2010). You have two options
1. Book with an agency be prepared to pay through the nose and do as your told and make sure you are ready to roll when your told to roll.
2. Do what I did. Find cheapest air flights to America. Internet and BOOK early. Prices do change day to day and you will see which days are cheapest if you watch.
Find a bike hire mob in the states. I used Eagleriders ($3750 for 22 days) maybe not the cheapest but they havent let me down, read their conditions. San Fran Dealer is best for service so far.
I only booked motels for the first night I arrived and because I wanted to go to Vegas booked that as well ( would not book again walk up is just as cheap if not cheaper and plenty of rooms available). I rode from Los Angles to Sturgis via Vegas, Grand Canyon,Monument Valley,Durango,Denver and on to Sturgis on my own part of the way then with mate from Denver on. I'm 55 and had no aggro or probs. OK accom in Sturgis can be a prob BUT we were told the place was booked out and found that there was free(vacant) accom avail around the town we backed up with sleeping bag (WalMart $19.99) Tent (WalMart $19.99) and stayed at Buffalo Chip which included our concerts as well ZZ Top and CCR live WOW I did say I was younger for longer than most. All I took to States was a Back pack with change of Jeans shirt and jocks Bought what I needed there intending to ditch the excess on way home still using sleeping bag.
AARGH STURGIS. Check out the websites you can make it what YOU want it to be from a one percenter experience to an old fogies ride its all there but from what i saw lean towards old farts with HOT young chickie babes hanging off them. In the time that we were there did not see one bit of aggro only like minded people enjoying their passion (read into this what you want)
Rides around the area "2-3 max" you poor bastard that wont even scratch the surface so much to see so little time check out the website and google maps and make your own itinerary. Badlands unreal Iron Mountain peg bending country Mt Rushmore Crazy Horse Hewlett Yellowstone Cody Recommend the Wild Bill Museum.
Price For my trip 25 days all inclusive flights bike accom food etc oh and spending budgeted $15000.00 Aus came home with $2000 Aus and want to go back again again again again
TIP dont fall in love with bike at Sturgis. This is a terminal condition that results in large sums of monies leaving your possession and being converted into Harley Therapy Ozzie style.
Do your Home work and enjoy

Hi Percy..well I did the agencie (we also used Eaglerider) way and liked it and yes maybe paid a bit more but learnt the ropes for next year.I will wing it next time with a few guys fron Aust.but maybe not quite as much as Ricky (everyone to there own) I will do the trip somewhere in between what Ricky did and I did. I prefer to prebook accomodation ect and my camping days are long gone.I have to agree with evrything else he said,never saw as much as a raised voice in anger even though there was something like 700 thousand people there from mums and dads to the Banditos and Commoncheros.It is much to big to see in one trip,in fact I think you need to go several times and thats just the beginning .The bikes ,boobs and bars are endless and I still keep looking at my pics and smile..Do it as it will be the adventure of a lifetime that you will never forget

WooHoo....doing all of the above! New Harley trike ships over in May. But we are going for 3 months. Friends are going for the third time. If you are planning to go to states for longer than 4 weeks, it's cheaper to ship your own bike.

Going this year! 4 of US -
$1300 Melb to LA return
$1500 9 days hire Street Glide - Eaglerider
Car Hire - 5 days - $450
3 nite hotel in Vegas $1100 Mirage 4.5 Star, 2 rooms with 2 Queen Beds - can get $30 bucks a nite in cheaper Accom.
Buy Tent $30 Pro Bass - Vegas
Buy Air Bed $30 Pro Bass - Vegas
Bring Sleeping Bag, Clothes etc F@#$All.
Camping where ever? Buffalo Chip, Side of Road? Cell?

Aslo flying to Chicago from Vegas - Harley factory approx $500 Vegas Chicago Los Angles.
Spending Money - Who Knows $4-5K.

Wiz

 

Best option.

 

Win Lotto, go to Sturgis, don't plan on coming back. 

Yeah I stayed in the cheaper Accom in Vegas, The Sahara, cost me US$29.00 a night. Shite it was only 3.5 star accom but it had a clean shower and bed with a view from my window that looked right down the strip and I think that I was in the room for approx 14hours of the 60 hours I was there. Met some people that were staying at The Wynn Tower for $480 / night and they said my room was better and cleaner with better views and my room had coffee making gear theirs did not.
OK I said I bought a Sleeping bag but apart from two nights at the Chip only used it twice. It was for backup IF we could not find a room. we had no probs finding accom in all the towns we overnighted at average price between US$30.00 to US$180.00.

Thanks for sharing some of your experiences, you all have given me something to go on.. very much appreciated guys cheers