Motorcycle Rallies

Sometimes you just have to join up with some fellow bikers, and biker rallies are the perfect place to build biker community. If you’re going to a rally, you want to hit the best, and the Republic of Texas Biker Rally, the biggest rally in Texas, certainly is one of the best. It always starts on the second Thursday in June and runs through the weekend. It is such a big event that Austin closes off over 50 blocks of the downtown area to accommodate the parade on Friday night.

One of the best parts of biker rallies is showing off, and the Republic of Texas Biker Rally is no exception. It features a ride-in bike show, so you can display your awesome bike; the competition includes prizes. It also features a stunts event, a tattoo competition, and a wet t-shirt contest. We all know bikers love to customize. The rally offers a variety of customized bikes to check out, built by experts in the field. You’re sure to pick up some great tips you can use on your on modifications.

No biker rally is complete without great music and entertainment. This year, the line-up features some great rock ’n roll bands like Twisted Sister, as well as some local bands. Austin is well-known for its great music scene, so it is sure to be a great show throughout the weekend. Also, a number of comedians will be performing. Of course, over 300 vendors will be on hand for you to pick up some awesome new gear for your bike, including a biker patch to commemorate the rally.

The Republic of Texas Biker Rally will be held at the Travis County Expo Center on June 16-19, 2013. Tickets are just $60 for the weekend and include a free t-shirt.

The Hill Country Run Motorcycle Rally happens once a year in Luckenbach, TX, nestled in the hill country west of Austin. It is usually held the first weekend in May (this year it is May 2-5) and includes many fun events, vendors, and great food.

One of the main highlights of the event is the Saturday ride. Everyone is invited to join in the Saturday ride, which begins at 9am. It includes stops at places like Buc’s Bar and Grill (for an ice cold beer, of course!), Sisterdale Market, and the Javalena Harley Davidson store. The hill country is especially beautiful to drive through this time of year.

No rally is complete without great food and entertainment, and the Hill Country Run Motorcycle Run is no exception. Whether at the Food Haus or the Cowboy breakfast, you are sure to get some great grub (especially since this area of Texas is known for great German food). On Friday and Saturday, you can catch some local flavor with music provided by local bands. If you need a bit more thrilling entertainment, check out some of the stunt shows held throughout the weekend—they’re sure to get your heart racing whether you are watching or participating!

Of course, you can’t miss all the great booths to pick up motorcycle gear. From biker patches for vests to tattoos, you are sure to find that piece of gear you’ve been missing or maybe just that perfect gift for the motorcyclist in your life.

Registration is only $45 for all four days, and it includes a t-shirt if registered by April 26. Be sure to register early so you don’t miss out on the fun!

Spring is a great time for biker rallies, and Texas offers its fair share of them. One of the main spring events promoted by Biker Rallies in Texas is Thunder in the Hill Country, often the first weekend in April. It is located in Bandera, TX, just northwest of San Antonio.

Thunder in the Hill Country offers a number of events to get any biker excited, including a bike show and biker games. You’ll even get a chance to show off your tattoos in the tattoo contest and eat some mouth-watering food provided by a variety of vendors. Of course, no biker event is complete without a concert, and Thunder in the Hill Country offers it share of those, too.

Thunder in the Hill Country also presents a number of vendors, so it’s great for stocking up on all the gear you need while riding. Gloves, embroidered motorcycle patches, and jackets are just a few of the many items you are sure to find for sale.

Nothing takes the place of riding, though, and the Texas Hill Country is an awesome place for the perfect ride. With its rolling hills, lush valleys, and curvy roads, a drive through the Hill Country is sure to soften even the toughest rider.

Thunder in the Hill Country offers camping and RV hook-ups, so you don’t have to worry about staying in some stuffy hotel—and tent camping is free! Sleeping out under the stars is the best way to end a day of rallying.

Be sure to get your registration in early so you get the best spot. Registration opens at the end of November, generally costs about $35, and includes a free t-shirt.

Bikers sometimes get a bad rap, but events like the March of Dimes Bikers for Babies help dispel that notion. With rallies all over the country, bikers help raise money where it is needed most. In fact, Grand Prairie, TX is hosting one Bikers for Babies event on April 13, 2013.

March of Dimes is an organization that raises money for medical research and educational materials for pregnant mothers with the goal of improving infant health. It also works to improve mothers’ health throughout their pregnancy.  March of Dimes Bikers for Babies Rallies help to raise money for this organization. Bikers can raise money in person from friends and family, although the main website also offers a great tool for generating funds online called the Online Fundraising Tool. Of course, if you don’t want to raise money yourself, you could always just donate a bit.

These rallies also raise awareness for the March of Dimes so that others can contribute to the organization. Many rallies even create event-specific embroidered motorcycle patches to help raise awareness throughout the year, which is a great way to show your support.

These events aren’t all serious, though. In fact, they can be more fun than anything.  You get to go riding with your friends and then end up at a rally with food and games. Many include music and prizes as part of the festivities.

Bikers do a lot of good in their communities, and the March of Dimes Bikers for Babies Rallies is just one of the many ways they help out by raising funds and awareness. If you’re interested, find a rally near you and get involved. You don’t have to be an expert; you just need the desire to help!

Are you already planning your 2013 biker rallies?  If you are, you need to put the Easyriders Bike Show Tour 2013 on your list!  This tour hits a number of different cities.  It starts on January 5^th in Anaheim, California, and then travels on from there!  All of these shows are packed with amazing bikes, awesome riders, stunts, and shows, plus much more.  There’s live entertainment, vendors selling bikes, motorcycle patches, and parts, and, of course, food.

To help get the tour started on the right foot, Charlie Hunnam “Jax” will be making a limited appearance at the Anaheim show on January 5^th.  This meet and greet is a VIP event and is limited to only 40 people.  It does cost $100 a person, but you get to chat with him over light snack, get an autographed tour poster, bring one other item to get signed, get a picture with Charlie, and get free entrance to the rest of the show.

Next, the Easyriders will be visiting Sacramento, CA, on January 12 and 13.   Charlie Hunnam will appear here, too, but there won’t be a meet and greet event.  He will be joined by Michael and Angie from the TV show “Full Throttle Saloon” and the Purrfect Angelz from “America’s Got Talent.”

From there, the tour hits Charlotte, North Carolina on January 26.  This show will include the TV stars from “Full Throttle Saloon” and the Purrfect Angelz, but Sons of Anarchy star Ryan Hurst will replace Hunnam.  These guests will also be in Nashville, Tennessee, on February 2nd.  Hunnam will be back for the final stop on the 2013 tour in Columbus, Ohio, on February 8, 9, and 10.  This show will feature the Grand National Invitational Finals.

There are some motorcycle rallies out there with bizarre names, but one favorite is the Iron Butt Rally.  This rally isn’t like any other.  Instead of checking out each other’s bikes, enjoying live entertainment, and buying new motorcycle patches and other items, the Iron Butt Rally is all about riding.  In fact, that’s all it is: days of riding!  The Iron Butt Rally lasts 11 days, and during that time, bikers may cover over 10,000 miles!  That’s a lot of riding, but if you can do it, you can truly say that you’ve got a butt made out of iron and can ride for hours.

The main focus of the Iron Butt Rally is to earn points by riding to different locations in the United States and Canada.  Some locations are worth more points than others, so you have to prioritize: do you go for those three locations that are close together but worth fewer points, or do you ride all the way to that out of the way place to claim major points?  It’s also not quite as simple as riding to a check point in these cities.  You may have to find and buy a specific item or take a picture with a certain landmark.

There are a number of twists to the contest, too.  For example, some check points are only available for a limited time or to limited number of riders.  There are also some bonus locations that can net you some extra points.  You also have to have a site on your list to get credit for it, and different bikers may have different lists.  To finish the event, you’ve got to reach a number of check points and earn a minimum number of points.  Various completion levels (gold, silver, etc.) are available to those who earn more points.