I hear that, watching the carnage isn't fun, but one has to ask "WTF were they thinking?"

Do you camp or rent or what?
I camped but that got real old real fast with TOO MANY people and not enough of anything to go around.

I never liked to camp.

Paying hundreds of dollars for vacation time and equipment to wake up amid thousands of strangers, all hacking up morning phlegm and taking a dump in a hole. Technically you have emptied your wallet to be wet, filthy and homeless. Sounds like the thrill of a lifetime.

Granted, I did it every weekend--as a twenty year old. But face it guys, a sixty year old graybeard with aching joints intent on buying over-priced beer is a tad silly. It's time for many of us to find something better to do with our bikes.

A few weeks ago I saw a documentary of a concert held at Buffalo Chip. People packed in like sardines and tattoo'ed chicks bumping and grinding to cover-bands. The only reason it seemed fun--at the time--was that most of the audience was drunk.

I wonder if some senior citizen, knowing he was there, excitedly flipped on the show to relive the experience. What was his reaction now when he saw how loud and harsh the music was, how young and average the babes looked and how broke he became buying rot-gut liquor while making a complete ass of himself?

Peter Fonda is now seventy years old. He ought to make a new movie called "Easy Viagra." It's the story of a freewheeling infirmary patient who escapes the bonds of society, packs Social Security money in the gas take of his trike, actually gets to New Orleans, but forgets his name...

I have the deluxe studio camping tent. Room for one or two if she's pretty. 6 feet high in the center so I can stand and get dressed in it, air mattress as comfy as my bed at home and a really fluffy warm sleeping bag - every thing fits on the bike with room for all the other snivel gear - rain set - leathers - camping tools. I'm not a big fan of the overcrowded scene but them's my peoples!!

Kansas seems to be midway from any point in the continental US and I hear they have some very good BBQ. I'd try that trip with the right group.

Throw in a good soapy morning shower and you've sparked my attention.

You know the old adage, "I didn't slog my way to the top of the food chain to eat a salad." Well, I didn't invest decades in motorcycling to end up as broke, wet and and uncomfortable as a rank newb.

In fact, the best trip my wife and I made to SD was in a little air-conditioned Geo Tracker rag-top. The bikes were only part of the scenery, and as Kurt Russell stated in "Tombstone," we had room service...

KOA Campsites - Motel rooms either way getting cleaned up is easy enough and there won't be a mad rush for anything cause we won't have to compete with 500,000 other bikers for breakfast.
Plus side is the round trip is well withing my 3000 mile service cycle.
I'm getting out the ol' road atlas to see what's what in the region.
Is that in your range?

I don't know, I've never been there.

I am in Madison, Wisconsin. I believe a 2004 Dyna carries 4 gallons, but no reserve. My guess is that gas is plentiful on the slab.

How far is that for me?

Edit: My wife is going to the islands in about 3 weeks. Is that a conflict?

As for gas - food - lodging, I've never had to worry about any of that in my travels, more than enough, I'd venture to say you could make it with the sporty just have to stop more often.

For a long trip I'd prefer Betty's progressive shocks. Truth be told, with her rear suspension and square box swingarm, she surpasses the ride quality of a Gold Wing without being "mushy."

I love my AIR suspension, I've yet to ride a bike as smooth or comfortable as my RoadKing, that includes all the other brands and sizes. My buddy from back east came out for a visit and rented a dresser and we switched out for test rides. the dresser was not a comfortable fit for me at all, not to say that it wasn't a nice ride but the way the seat was I couldnt stretch out my legs like on my bike, my buddy had the same view and didn't want to trade back. The long haul is what that bike is made for, which makes me ask the question, Tourist have you ever tried out the Rk? If so what was your take? I have to say that the newer ones don't seem to be as nimble as the one I have or maybe I'm just biased.

I do like to tent. Find a county park - like Spearfish, $20 a night is not too bad.
The big campgrounds never interested me.
The last few I tent in the yard of a friend. I am allergic to cats and he has 'em in the house.
If you don't get out and ride then the crowds near Sturgis can get bad during the day, but hey it is a rally.
I live close - 10 hours (630 miles) from Mpls to Sturgis, so not bad at all.