Popular motorcycle rally revs up to 500,000 attendees in a small town

The annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally is officially underway, with hundreds of thousands of riders descending on the small South Dakota town and surrounding Black Hills regions for the 86th edition of what’s billed as the world’s largest motorcycle rally.The rally is held annually for 10 days in August and involves races, concerts and group rides and typically draws about 500,000 attendees to Sturgis, population 7,100.During the rally, Sturgis is transformed as motorcycles pack downtown streets and riders fan out across the Black Hills. The event extends far beyond the city itself, with concerts, races, stunt shows, motorcycle demonstrations, vendor exhibitions and organized rides taking place throughout the region.This year’s headliner is country star Lainey Wilson, who is set to perform August 12.Other acts on the concert schedule include YUNGBLUD, Megadeth, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Rob Zombie and Insane Clown Posse.Two long-distance women’s motorcycle rides — the Women Riders World Relay and Shantell’s Sisterhood Ride — will conclude at the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum & Hall of Fame’s second annual Pearl’s Jam event, which celebrates women in motorcycling.Harley-Davidson announced it would be debuting its new Deadwood motorcycle at this year’s event, “a new model inspired in part by the post-war history of the Sturgis Rally,” Motor Sports NewsWire reported.Indian Motorcycle is also introducing a new bike.“The new Indian Chief Vintage Sturgis SD Edition celebrates Indian’s place in the rally’s history with special paint and badging inspired by Indians of the 1930s,” reported Rider Magazine.

“It features a classic two-tone Indian Motorcycle Red and Cream paint with a multicolored Indian Motorcycle headdress logo.”The rally also serves as a jumping-off point for motorcycle rides throughout the Black Hills, with visitors venturing to Mount Rushmore National Memorial, Custer State Park, Badlands National Park, Wind Cave National P...