52 = is a mere 1.1% of the 4,728 members..
........vote early and vote often.
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Wing Ding is in Knoxville, Tn, next year. Same weekend that we have been using. Roads will be full that weekend, around the "best" rides in the area. Just sayin. Keep that in mind.
I am not seeing a poll anywhere, but I would vote for Colorado.
Why not have two Rally's, one on the East coast and one on the West coast.?..Quite honestly there is no way in hell my old body can sit in the saddle all the way to Colorado and Back from Florida...Sturgis damn near killed me, being diabetic I get lots of nerve pain and restless leg syndrone with hip cramps after 400 miles in a day.Can hardly ride the next day because of Migraine headaches. Its the reality for me...I'm sure there are others that would prefer to attend on the East ..
As of 9-23-17
Votes to hold a Rally on the West Coast ---- 32
Votes to hold a Rally on the East Coast ---- 34
There are 7 additional votes with no preference
For those voters' who want an East Coast Rally, statistically their "previous attendance" of the East Coast Rallies should be factored into the equation. :stirthepot:
No doubt that the West Coast members are chomping at the bit...
This is getting good!
'popcorn and coke'
South west Wisconsin awesome riding the great River road small towns that understand motorcycle people and love to have them around. If you have ever been on one of the" flood runs" you know what I am talking about.
Instead of the East/West metric, how 'bout one rally for the cool people and one for...well...everyone else. :)
It is a good idea - however given our "niche" motorcycle, it would be VERY difficult to get a minimum number of bikes (that number being "greater than a ride to eat" and "smaller than a WingDing") at BOTH locations each year.
Historical data:
2014 - I wasn't there :(
2015 about 70 bikes in Franklin, NC.
2016 was in Russellville, AR and we had 60 bikes.
2017 was Pigeon Forge and we had 50 bikes.
The data can be interpreted and manipulated to make several points, but the fact is we need AT LEAST 60-70 bikes to show for a "GREAT" rally.
That means we would need AT LEAST 80 riders committing, and then have the usual 10-15% attrition as the dates draw near.
The business side of the equation:
We need to have this show of force to keep our sponsors sponsoring us.
With all the rumors of "no new F6b" after the lack of 2017 model, our sponsors were - understandably - a bit wary and we lost several.
If we can get 80 bikes in at least one location for starters, maybe our sponsors will think it worthwhile to come visit us with their trailers (like Value Accessories did in 2017) and show us and let us play with all the cool new toys for our toy.
If we can get 80 bikes in TWO places each year, our sponsors should be putting our Rallys on their calendars.
With our membership in the 4000+ range, I'm guessing at least 25% of those people have an F6B and live in North America/Canada somewhere.
So there are 1000 bikes out there in need of a Rally.
We need to shake the "B-hive" and get our members engaged.
Concepts for continuance:
1. First & foremost: engage/entice/blackmail our membership to attend these annual events.
Yes. Life gets in the way. "Family vacation" does NOT mean riding solo for a week or more. "Work" seldom cooperates with scheduling.
We understand that and attempt to schedule these events such that they would not interfere with summer vacation and would result in minimal time off required from work.
Constructive suggestions are always welcome.
2. Keep the Rally a really great time - no matter the weather.
Everyone who has attended has had a good time, most have a had a great time.
I thoroughly enjoy the camaraderie under the tent each night, getting to know the people behind the forum monikers. We are quite the interesting group.
I also enjoy seeing the bikes and seeing who has done what to their "motorized mistress." Then comparing the mods to the personality of the person riding is quite the study in human/machine interaction.
Oh yeah, the great riding we get to do, the sights we see, the "Kodak moments" we will look back on fondly as the years pass.
3. I'm personally grooving on the idea of annually alternating mountain ranges: Apps/Rockies/Apps/Rockies etc.
Southern Appalachia has probably the BEST roads in the USA and arguably the globe for riding.
The Rocky mountains have some amazing roads as well - which I will say that I've never traveled and am SO looking forward to it.
Cheers,
Steve
PS- Don't work so hard such that when you retire all you have on your calendar is doctor visits and health care bills.
Concerning the future number of F6b riders/owners:
With the new F6b coming out, the numbers/owners may actually increase.
Might consider delaying any decisions for a couple of months and see what happens ....
You asked for it:
https://i.imgur.com/wTezYcF.jpg
That's the underlying issue. Population wise most forum members appear to be east of the Mississippi just like the US population in general. The arguments they have for wanting to keep the rally on the right side of the map are just as valid as the ones for bringing it more to the left side. No offense to the fly over/drive thru states in between, but most of the best/most scenic riding is in the mountains along either coast. Most of us can reach any point along our respective coasts in two days relatively easily so a long weekend gets us to a rally and back with low stress and doesn't cost us a bunch of vacation time. With exceptions, as I know there are some phenomenal riders that can make the coast to coast run in 2ish days, most of us will take 4 or 5 days to run coast to coast. Now that four day rally is two full weeks when we're running to the opposite coast. For those of us who still have "regular" jobs that's a bit of investment in time, vacation and money. Colorado may be two days from the west coast but it's a whole lot closer than the east coast, however it's still pushing a long three day ride for riders coming from the east coast. Same for west coast riders heading east, Kentucky's mapping out as solid three day ride if not four.
If you want a true "west coast" rally I think the best bet would be to ask Big Larry for an invite to the annual gathering he has in his neck of the woods that I've read about on here before. There's just to few of us to left coasters to do one on our own without our right coast brethren joining us imho. Besides I'm hoping to attend and meet some of these righties I've been chatting with for almost two years.
You might change your mind about Southern App roads after you do...
I didn't make Pigeon Forge, due to Harvey, but am happy to report that I am heading out in the am and will be in Maggie Valley, for a few days next week. Thanks Teach for the advice on where to go! The B is staying home, I'll be on my Feejer, which has much better lockable luggage; important for me when I'm soloing. I'm really looking forward to seeing these So App roads ye speak of! :icon_cool:
We should have information on the 2018 Rally out shortly.
Taking a little bit for all of the details.
Forgive me if I missed a few thoughts already posted here-
Sturgis is hard to beat for promance and History and beauty.
Sturgis is in the middle of the country for a reason, its the middle, almost.
Next, it provides some of the most beautiful roads for a tour whilst there!
If you travel all of them you truly take home away inundated with amazement!
Irongate, Crazy Horse, Rushmore, Deadwood, Spearfish Canyon, Devils Tower etc.
A lot of History there.
Next, we have these bikes because we like to ride. Tour.
There is no such thing as too far, in fact, to close would be less than interesting.
Pick a great place, who would not come?
In theory, I agree with that. In practical terms, there are many like me who are not among the retired. :icon_rolleyes:
Further destinations obviously require longer travel times and eat up vacation time available. I get 3 weeks a year of PTO. Most of that gets used up for motorcycle related trips. I have several annual things I like to attend each year. If one of those requires a larger chunk of that PTO, then well I don't have to spell it out. :icon_frown:
The VRCC INZANE rally was in Spearfish ,SD a couple years ago. Basically the Sturgis area. We had a good time there. We later went to the F6B Rally in Franklin,NC that year. But the F6B Rally ,being held over the Labor Day weekend and the location for us, didn't require a lot of Vacation time to go. If the Rally moves out to Colorado next year, we will have to make choices. That's all. Those choices may or may not include attending the F6B Rally. Been to the last 3 Rallies in Franklin,NC , Russellville ,Arkansas, and Pigeon Forge,TN this year. Had a lot of fun and enjoy meeting everyone here. :cheers:
This year the VRCC INZANE was in Billings Montana. I would have loved to go, but many of the "group" I hang and ride with were not going so I made a choice to also not go and instead spent my Vacation time more on other more frequent trips including this year's F6B Rally.:icon_wink:
Montrose, Colorado!
Ladies & Gentlemen,
Mark your calendars!
The Annual F6B Rally shall be held in Montrose, Aug 22-26 2018.
More information to follow in a separate Rally thread.
Cheers,
Steve
:what:
It's only October and the poll is leaning towards a East Coast location. What's the hurry? and why ignore the Poll?
I'm not staying home this coming year, I'll be riding somewhere. If I attend Colorado, on my return trip home I would consider having a "AFTER the EVENT" gathering (Kentucky area has my attention) on the following week (Labor Day Weekend) and meet up with members that can't attend Colorado.
Early arrivals on Thursday evening August 30th, riding Friday August 30th, riding Saturday September 1st with Sunday September 2nd or Monday September 3rd(Labor Day) being our departure days.
Anyone interested in crossing paths in Kentucky over Labor Day weekend after this Colorado event?
FWIW, myself and a three others trailered out to Colorado Springs last year. From sunny Sanford, FL it was 34 hours nonstop !!! We stopped for fuel and food. There were four drivers so really a non issue. We ran approximately 80 mph and just kept on going....For normal people this would be at least a three day ride. MO. took about 12 hours to cross! I say this just to let some from the East coast realize what you're looking at. For me and Monch, we will not be headed west. I have to say for those that go, it is some of the most amazing riding and scenery you will ever see. The area makes the BRP look like a pimple ! I am not a fan of splitting the board for two rallies, having said that there are many who can't make the trip west. Therefore having a "get together" Labor Day weekend is not a bad thing. At this point I will be in Franklin with Monch doing some riding and drinking! I want NO PART of splitting the rally, group or board, I just can't go west.
Forgive my arrogance or ignorance whichever it may be-but
If you all elect colorado-what else is scheduled to do there besides the motel?
My point- try to pick something that will include some rides and attractions.