Weak Bike Week?

[thinkxingu]

I know this is a topic of contention, but we just arrived at our camp (Friday night) in Moultonborough after driving through Tilton, Laconia, Gilford, Meredith, and Center Harbor (we had to pick stuff up) and 1. There weren't many bikes at all, 2. There were TONS of police, 3. I just read the article about Laconiafest's ridiculously underachieving crowds.

I've loved the week since I was a kid (and rider), but this year seems very weak?

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[TiltonBB]

The attendance at Bike Week has been declining for years. It is now a shadow of what it once was. It is a hard number to define but I would be surprised if the number of Laconia visitors this year was 10% of the number of people that were here 20 to 30 years ago.

There are a number of factors including the ridiculous number of police assigned and the stale nature of the event. Many people thought that Laconia Fest would revive it but that is obviously not the case.

I think it is time to put a fork in it and it another 10 years it will no longer exist. That will put further strain on the Weirs area businesses who really need the additional income to survive.

[Merrymeeting]

Driving around this week, we haven't seen anywhere near the number of riders that we normally saw in the past. I've also noticed that the non-stop rumble of thunder in the background has been non-existent this year. In other years, there was always a continuous rumble in the distance that would sound like an approaching storm. Not this year.

[Fargo]

Every year the Rally officials blame lack of attendance on the weather or the dates were confusing, or another event was taking place or too many cops around. You have a bunch of amateurs running the event/Weirs Beach into the ground. Move the event to the Speedway in Loudon and let the pros do it up right! Even the beach is closed this week due to pollution. Terrific.

[Dave R]

The traditional attendees are getting older and less active and there's not much in Laconia to draw younger folks in. Perhaps the return of AMA sanctioned road races at Loudon would bring the younger generation back in. Loudon will be hosting AMA Supermoto races starting tomorrow, and from what I have heard, they have made improvements to the road racing track specifically to bring an AMA road race back. While not as popular as NASCAR, AMA road races are very well attended at other race tracks. It's probably easy to forget, but Laconia bike week was originally all about the racing. Today, it's irrelevant to 90% of the bike week attendees.

[Hillcountry]

Laconia is dead...long live Sturgis!
Laconia had it's best years in the 60's and earlier when you could camp on 106.
Been nothing but a family affair since...ptooey! Let it die.
Not to mention the "fest fiasco" that just took place..

[mbr]

Good riddance. The only ones who care about noise week are the ones making a few bucks from it.
Maybe if the bikes weren't so obnoxiously loud, they would be more welcomed.

[tis]

I think when it went to a week instead of just a weekend, it lost some of it's attraction.

[jetskier]

Originally, motorcycle week was motorcycle weekend and it was a coordinated event with the flat track racing at Laconia Speedway. Over time it expanded to motorcycle week.

My observations of the current motorcycle week are as follows:

1. The demographics this weekend verses through Thursday are very different. During the week the crowd appeared to be the 50 to 70 year old demographic. As of yesterday, a younger crowd appeared. It is unclear whether this is a more local crowd.
2. I think that the younger group (which has become the target of marketing and rejuvenation) is more of a working group and less likely to take the work week off to attend motorcycle week.
3. The cost of attending motorcycle week is significant and I believe that in this weaker economy there are more weekenders and day trippers.
4. It appears that the primary events are the riding events (such as the Vet/MIA ride) and hitting watering holes. That seems consistent with the older demographic.
5. I think that the venue for Laconiafest is of issue. As previously indicated, Laconia Speedway might have fared much better. Most locals avoid the Weirs during motorcycle week, parking and traffic are of issue. The drive-in is not the best venue for this type of thing...limited seating...difficult access etc...I would not even want to think about what it would take to get 33,000 people out of the venue at the end of a concert. Personally, I might be inclined to take in a concert at Laconia Speedway or Bank of NH Pavilion...the Weirs, no way.
6. Attendance for motorcycle rallies appears to be declining in general. I looked at Sturgis and with the exception of last year (75th anniversary), attendance has been declining annually.

Jetskier

[Outdoorsman]

Originally Posted by jetskier

Originally, motorcycle week was motorcycle weekend and it was a coordinated event with the flat track racing at Laconia Speedway. Over time it expanded to motorcycle week.

My observations of the current motorcycle week are as follows:
[LIST=1][*]The demographics this weekend verses through Thursday are very different. During the week the crowd appeared to be the 50 to 70 year old demographic.

That is all I read.... (Life) is Bliss... isn't it ???

[NoBozo]

I am a Motorcyclist. My wife and I rode from 1979 to 1996. We did THREE cross countries...to the west coast... the longest being 11,000 miles in one trip. We did Canada, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick..etc multiple times.. We have a total of maybe 220,000 miles of touring. Sun and Rain.

We no longer ride. We are getting old. In our seventies. IF we were to Go Down at our age we would die. I think a lot of other motorcyclists our age think the same way.

No more Gold Wings on the road. Just Harley's. When Harley's went to Sturgis..they TOWED the bike on a trailer....Pussies with tattoos...YUP... NB

[Bigstan]

Originally Posted by NoBozo

I am a Motorcyclist. My wife and I rode from 1979 to 1996. We did THREE cross countries...to the west coast... the longest being 11,000 miles in one trip. We did Canada, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick..etc multiple times.. We have a total of maybe 220,000 miles of touring. Sun and Rain.

We no longer ride. We are getting old. In our seventies. IF we were to Go Down at our age we would die. I think a lot of other motorcyclists our age think the same way.

No more Gold Wings on the road. Just Harley's. When Harley's went to Sturgis..they TOWED the bike on a trailer....Pussies with tattoos...YUP... NB

Wow. Better get me an Indian.

[Fargo]

The Rally has seen better days, move it elsewhere and let the Weirs prosper! Why Laconia doesn't encourage the development of all the vacant lots at Weirs is beyond me. Develop those lots with buildings, create jobs and have structures that could bring in more tax revenue than an empty lot. Maybe the existing buildings would be improved to be taxed at a higher rate, attract more people/businesses to the Weirs. Make Weirs Great Again!

[noreast]

Originally Posted by NoBozo

I am a Motorcyclist. My wife and I rode from 1979 to 1996. We did THREE cross countries...to the west coast... the longest being 11,000 miles in one trip. We did Canada, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick..etc multiple times.. We have a total of maybe 220,000 miles of touring. Sun and Rain.

We no longer ride. We are getting old. In our seventies. IF we were to Go Down at our age we would die. I think a lot of other motorcyclists our age think the same way.

No more Gold Wings on the road. Just Harley's. When Harley's went to Sturgis..they TOWED the bike on a trailer....Pussies with tattoos...YUP... NB

WOOOOWW, you need a trike!

[kbh]

Originally Posted by NoBozo

I am a Motorcyclist. My wife and I rode from 1979 to 1996. We did THREE cross countries...to the west coast... the longest being 11,000 miles in one trip. We did Canada, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick..etc multiple times.. We have a total of maybe 220,000 miles of touring. Sun and Rain.

We no longer ride. We are getting old. In our seventies. IF we were to Go Down at our age we would die. I think a lot of other motorcyclists our age think the same way.

No more Gold Wings on the road. Just Harley's. When Harley's went to Sturgis..they TOWED the bike on a trailer....Pussies with tattoos...YUP... NB

Wow, strong words! I own 3 Harley's, my wife and I have been to Sturgis twice, we rode the bikes out and back each time. We also rode out to the Grand Canyon and back. All this and I don't even own a bike trailer, nor do I have a tattoo. Not sure who you were riding with but you have the wrong impression...

[MeredithMan]

My 20 year old daughter has a summer job waitressing at the Akwa Marina Beach Bar restaurant. She and another girl finished their shift yesterday at 4PM. She called and asked if it would be ok to walk down to The Weirs to check out the sights, since she had never seen "bike week" up close before. We said sure, just be vigilant.

She called back a little while later on her way back to Meredith and was clearly upset. As she and her friend were walking back to the Akwa parking lot, they passed a couple of "sketchy guys", (her words), that she described as having gray pony tails and beards, ("Dad, they were wicked old...older than you!), who were just sitting on the side of the road. As they walked past, the dudes said, "hey girls, show us your _____". What my daughter and her friend found really gross, was that they weren't talking about their chests, but other body parts. They hurried on their way and got into their cars.

I totally get that this was only two guys out of the thousands that attend. I also get that there are plenty of motorcycle enthusiasts that enjoy riding. Totally fine. But, it cannot be denied that "bike week" attracts many, many dregs. Is this is the type of tourist that the lakes region wants to attract? Dirty old perverts? Really? It's time for this whole event to go out with the trash.

[NoBozo]

....just a little tongue and cheek "ribbing" of fellow enthusiasts. BTW, I have two tattoos I got when I was 17. NB

[kbh]

Originally Posted by NoBozo

....just a little tongue and cheek "ribbing" of fellow enthusiasts. BTW, I have two tattoos I got when I was 17. NB

Well, thats entirely different... I certainly agree with your thoughts on the "trailer crowd"...

Blue Skies...

[kbh]

Originally Posted by MeredithMan

My 20 year old daughter has a summer job waitressing at the Akwa Marina Beach Bar restaurant. She and another girl finished their shift yesterday at 4PM. She called and asked if it would be ok to walk down to The Weirs to check out the sights, since she had never seen "bike week" up close before. We said sure, just be vigilant.

She called back a little while later on her way back to Meredith and was clearly upset. As she and her friend were walking back to the Akwa parking lot, they passed a couple of "sketchy guys", (her words), that she described as having gray pony tails and beards, ("Dad, they were wicked old...older than you!), who were just sitting on the side of the road. As they walked past, the dudes said, "hey girls, show us your _____". What my daughter and her friend found really gross, was that they weren't talking about their chests, but other body parts. They hurried on their way and got into their cars.

I totally get that this was only two guys out of the thousands that attend. I also get that there are plenty of motorcycle enthusiasts that enjoy riding. Totally fine. But, it cannot be denied that "bike week" attracts many, many dregs. Is this is the type of tourist that the lakes region wants to attract? Dirty old perverts? Really? It's time for this whole event to go out with the trash.

I have been to the Sturgis rally twice (once with my daughter who also rides) and will go back, we really enjoy the rides, scenery and events at Sturgis... I don't go to the Laconia bike week anymore, as I just don't enjoy it.

Surgis has much more land area and the organizer's have figured out how to spread out and take advantage of the space. You can find whatever you want at the Sturgis rally, if you are there for the scenery and the rides, you know where to go and if you don't want to be harassed you know where to stay away from. If you are looking for that entertainment, rather then sit along the road and harass the local girls, you know where to go to find the entertainment you are looking for. Everyone wins and all types can find an enjoyable rally experience.

Laconia tends to push everyone into the Weirs, that doesn't work well...

[NoBozo]

Back in the day when Indian and Harley Davidson were pretty much the only choices for American motorcycle buyers: ...Say before 1950. That's a loose date.... Indian was winning most of the races on the track. Some people were referring to Harley as: " Hardly Abelson".

This is History. I have found over the years that most people that ride have little knowledge of the past. Sad.

My last two touring Motorcycles were Yamaha Ventures. My first Venture was a 1983 which we did our first two cross country's and went 123,000 miles. The last Venture was a 1990..We did our last cross country on that one. By then I was feeling age creeping up on me.

We always rode alone. We were not a member of any group. When you go this way..you can go anywhere you want. No need to have a committee meeting. Our first cross country "Theme" was to follow the Oregon Trail as close as we could. We did. We like History.

We did the Oregon Trail..then turned south down the west coast to Needles California where the temperature in the Mojave desert was 115...then up to Grand Canyon where we arrived on July 4. Temp only 100.

We also had a very nice 1956 Ariel Square Four.

Just remembering...NB

[Descant]

It appears to me that the City of Laconia manages traffic flow and public safety and they do a good job. The revenue from vendor permit fees pays for police overtime. After that, whether true or not, it appears nobody is in charge. For this week(end) to be successful, the Rotary, Chamber of Commerce, etc need coordination. The same weekend, the Nashua Rotary West runs Rock 'n' Ribfest with 40-50'000 visitors. They pay the expenses and coordinate with several safety agencies. In the end, becaused they volunteer hundreds, if not thousands, of man hours, they make a little profit that they turn over to local non-profits like Meals on Wheels.

I never hear about "profit" in Laconia. I know that restaurants and motels (before all the motels went condo) make some money, but really, where is the community benefit?

The city breaks even, the restaurants are busy for two days and the tent vendors come and go, but give nothing back.

If the Meredith Rotary Club can bring in thousands of people for ICE FISHING
isn't there somebody who can do the same for Laconia. (For the oldsters,We need a new Jim Irwin Sr.)
The City Council is not the body to do this, nor should it be. Their job is to make it easy for a citizens group to do the job.

In my community and I expect may others, the Selectmen and the Town budgets, approved by voters, gives a sum to a private committee to run July 4th or Old Home Day.

Laconia should consider this example.

[laketrout]

A few things here that are making Laconia Bike week = WEAK.

What are the Bike Week #'s today verses say 5,10, 20 years ago? Its gotta be less.

Aging Demographics- Cost of new Harley and the time and money involved.
Todays world is changed..its the older middle aged guy and gals coming up.

Lack of City of Laconia involvement; no Jim Irwin type or other civic leader willing to move the Weirs into the future so the Weirs just flounders.

No Master plan for the Weirs- eventually its going all condos and high
end homes. All that waterfront land brings in more TAX revenue with big
$$$ condos and homes then bikes do.. I know I pay those taxes.

I love the honky tonk atmosphere of Weirs-- brings me back to a more
austere time in my life but "Times are a changing"
Bike week wont die it will just morph into something new.

[mishman]

I don't mind motorcycles but I take exception to the loud obnoxious ones. Can't understand why police don't ticket aftermarket, non-EPA mufflers.

I would not weep if Bike Week just ended once and for all. It would return the roads to regular people and open up 9 days of early summer to others who would vacation in the Lakes Region at a very nice time of the year. The negative side of Bike Week is it keeps a lot of other, non motor cycling riding tourists away.

I agree that the Weirs needs a better master plan - it could be so much more than it is. There is not a lot of future in the honky tonk feel to the place.

[Tank151]

Originally Posted by NoBozo

I am a Motorcyclist. My wife and I rode from 1979 to 1996. We did THREE cross countries...to the west coast... the longest being 11,000 miles in one trip. We did Canada, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick..etc multiple times.. We have a total of maybe 220,000 miles of touring. Sun and Rain.

We no longer ride. We are getting old. In our seventies. IF we were to Go Down at our age we would die. I think a lot of other motorcyclists our age think the same way.

No more Gold Wings on the road. Just Harley's. When Harley's went to Sturgis..they TOWED the bike on a trailer....Pussies with tattoos...YUP... NB

With dumb comments like this, I'm glad this guy and his wife are off the road (motorcyclist).

[upthesaukee]

One of the big problems with Laconia Fest, in my humble opinion, is that the venue was too close to all the action. Why Pay admission when you could hear the music a mile away. When we came through the Weirs and down the Weirs Channel we could hear the music clearly a flasher 1 and then all the way to the channel and well past the end of the no-wake area. They need to Stage it at a facility that can control the volume and the admissions. Maybe it could have been coordinated with Meadowbrook or or some other place away from the maddening crowds.

I live here... I am always Upthesaukee.

[Phantom]

MEADOWBROOK ? for 7 Days straight !!


NO THANK YOU .... it is aptly named Laconia Fest, NOT Gilford Fest !!!


.

[secondcurve]

Originally Posted by Phantom

MEADOWBROOK ? for 7 Days straight !!


NO THANK YOU .... it is aptly named Laconia Fest, NOT Gilford Fest !!!


.

Agreed. They should continue to concentrate all of the undesirable activity in one town and Laconia fits the bill.

[TiltonBB]

Originally Posted by upthesaukee

They need to Stage it at a facility that can control the volume and the admissions. Maybe it could have been coordinated with Meadowbrook or or some other place away from the maddening crowds.

Maddening crowds? I think not. Bike Week is down to about 20% of what it once was. Traffic hardly backs up, and only on a few select days. I was in the area every day of Bike week and I didn't see any "maddening crowds".

[jetskier]

The Motorcycle Week organizers should do a postmortem to understand why (exactly) LaconiaFest was such a failure. While the politicians have indicated that the failure is not costing the taxpayers directly, clearly the money could have been used for another purpose and it does not mitigate the magnitude of this disaster.

Anyhow:

• Was it the venue or an issue with the venue?
• Was it the location?
• Was it the choice of the bands or the timing?
• Was it the cost of admission?

Personally, I would get the Motorcycle Week registration information and put together a survey monkey. It is senseless to have such an abject failure without at least learning from it.

Jetskier

[Woodsy]

The State of NH wants Bike Week to be spread out all over the state. They have been pushing for this for years. Due to politics, economic climate and other factors it has been a slow but steady spread... Vendors in Meredith was the first step... then the other Harley dealers in Concord & Seacoast got involved. Now North Conway is trying to get in on the act. The state encourages riders to go elsewhere by an overwhelming police presence in the Weirs.

As far as LaconiaFest goes... the City of Laconia got caught sleeping on duty. A shady concert promoter comes in and promises 30K sized crowds? But most of the bands he books would have a hard time selling out the Casino Ballroom (3K seats). NONE of the bands booked would have sold out Meadowbrook (8.5K seats) The City Manager was pretty dumb on this and did not remotely do due diligence!

Woodsy

[jetskier]

Originally Posted by Woodsy

The State of NH wants Bike Week to be spread out all over the state. They have been pushing for this for years. Due to politics, economic climate and other factors it has been a slow but steady spread... Vendors in Meredith was the first step... then the other Harley dealers in Concord & Seacoast got involved. Now North Conway is trying to get in on the act. The state encourages riders to go elsewhere by an overwhelming police presence in the Weirs.

As far as LaconiaFest goes... the City of Laconia got caught sleeping on duty. A shady concert promoter comes in and promises 30K sized crowds? But most of the bands he books would have a hard time selling out the Casino Ballroom (3K seats). NONE of the bands booked would have sold out Meadowbrook (8.5K seats) The City Manager was pretty dumb on this and did not remotely do due diligence!

Woodsy

Interesting - I took a quick look at the bookings for Ted Nugent and the Bret Michaels band. They are booking into venues with a capacity of roughly 2,000 (or less). It seems a stretch that they would draw 15x for Motorcycle Week....and those are the headliners. I think that Woodsy is right. Although the attendance was awful even by those standards...so I would want to know why.

[Woodsy]

They didn't sell tickets because NOBODY pays $45+ for a third tier band that couldn't get $25 a ticket in any other venue...

Pretty Simple!

Woodsy