Another of the famous 59-second videos

Apparently it's the high tariff

Harley Davidson motorcycle

Donald Trump and the Harley Davidson tariff

Former president said in a campaign speech raised concerns about apparently high tariff on Harley Davidson and other American goods sold in India.

He says the tariffs are up to 100, 150 and 200 percent. This claim is unverified.

The tariff is so high that nobody wants it. But what they want us to do is, they want us to go over and build a plant, and then you have no tariff - Donald Trump in interview

Trump ranting

Trump at CPAC



Trump-Putin

Mark Taylor from Rockville, USA, CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Harley Davidson plans

  • The company recently went into partnership with Hero MotoCorp in India to manufacture a premium motorcycle there.

Here is the ride-through on Main Street, Sturgis

Hells Angels at the Sturgis Rally

Big numbers of Hells Angels at Sturgis

enter image description here

  • More than in past years, as far as I can tell by shooting photos on Main Street
  • Police accomodate with occasional blocking off of traffic at intersections so large group of Hells Angels can quickly ride through.
  • Some business activity in the past, with selling of biker merchandise and paraphenalia.
  • People always take an interest in the mystique of this.

Very friendly town in the Old West

Taking a day off Sturgis, in Wyoming

One of my favorite events during Sturgis

  • Always the lawman on the horse.
  • The free water bottles on the main drag.
  • The free cookies in front of the Baptist Church.
  • Beautiful ride over through the Black Hills red breaks country.

Reflecting the national mood, apparently

Motorists Yelling at First-Responders

The Meade County Sheriff's Department responded to an accident at Highways 79 and 34.

Motorists started yelling at first responders.

There was a serious injury at the scene, say authorities. The road was temporarily closed as the resuce was going on. Motorists were apparently angry.

![Meade County](https://www.meadecounty.org/

Meade County Sheriff's Office response on Facebook

“For those furious traffic was stopped, and you missed the opening songs of a band you have heard 25 times already, or we made you a little late to start your evening s’mores, we're not sorry,” the Facebook post said. “Even though someone was seriously injured and laying in the road, you chose to yell and scream at deputies because we were keeping you from your Doritos.”

“To the old guy in the Dodge Caravan, who helped block the road, thank you! To the citizens who helped the injured rider and helped direct traffic, thank you!” the post concluded. “We love this county, and we love working here, but we will make sure everyone is safe!!”

Bear Butte Meade County

Bear Butte most famous landmark in Meade County "Bear Butte Scan 0001" by Stefan Fussan is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Oldest bar in Sturgis

Fewer entries into Sturgis on the first weekend

Maybe down 15 percent from last year

Those little rubbery hoses across the main enrances to Sturgis measure traffic. And it's less than last year.

Knuckle Saloon Biker Bars doing a good business as usual. This is The Knuckle Saloon


Being attributed to the weather

Officials speculate that the heavy rains this year, and cool weather (only 63-degree highs on a couple days) resulted in lower attendance.

I'm suspicious of that theory

Seems to be good numbers here, but they the Main Street is always packed no matter what. It could be that with the cold rain, more bikers stayed in their hotels/campgrounds.

  • We'll see later in the week when there will be sunny skies and sunshine. It hasn't been 100-degrees on any day this summer, in and around the Black Hills.

Total chaos is part of the allure

One of the famous 59-second videos

More law enforcement patrols out

Colorado officials admit they up patrols

Prior to, during and after the Sturgis Rally, Colorado law enforcement is increasing patrols.

Sturgis bikers Getting to Sturgis, many pass through Colorado which increases law enforcement on the roads before and during the huge biker cultural event in South Dakota


Lots of bikers pulled over

  • Colorado is just one of the states that many bikers pass through on their way to and from Sturgis.
  • Last year 308 DUI arrests were made in Colorado during the Sturgis biker ride-through.
  • From 2019 to 2023, most injuries and deaths occurred between 6 pm and 1:59 am

"With more people on our roads during the rally, it’s especially important to drive sober or plan a safe ride home,” CDOT Office of Transportation Safety Director Darrell Lingk said.