Vegas Bikefest; Anyone Been?

[Gunney8]

Thinking of doing the Vegas Bikefest first of Nov (Could be last long ride of the year for me). Anyone been? Worth the trip? Been to Vegas many times (will be there in Oct with bride, Bikefest would be alone or with a buddy), so I know of the many $$ traps available, just wondering if the event is a "thing", or not...

[IBARider]

The main deal is held at Cashman Center and you have to pay to go in if that tells ya anything.....

[BikerJim44]

I am not sure if this will happen during the bikefest or what the dates are for sure but I do know that the ABATE chapter from LV will be doing a no helmet ride through the strip to show support for the no helmet law. I will see if I can get the date or dates of that run and post them. Would be nice for some outside support to show up and ride with them. I'll try to get all the info I can like the date, time and staging area. Spidey.

[apendejo]

Looks like you WILL be there with the bride, the date for LVBF is Oct. 1-4 this year. Not a lot of love for the LVBF or Laughlin on the forums, most folks that have been are wise to fact it is just a money grab.....but like a moth drawn to a flame, I will be going this year after a few years of going to Street Vibs in Reno instead. Since they moved the weekend nightime party away from Fremont Street it is gonna be interesting to see what happens. Those awesome free concerts were about the only real reason for going.
AP

[Gunney8]

Yeah, my bad on the dates.... bride will be there with me in Oct... (Nov is an invitation only slot tourney that I got in the mail, and might go to that in Nov without bride)... I guess we'll check out the custom bikes at the Cashman Center and let her look at the vendors... she always wants some "shiny things", unfortunate for me it's not chrome!!!

[ULTRADOG]

doing street vibrations in reno this year did vegas last year had a good time but not a lot going on like said some of the concerts where good

[ChopperBob66]

Didn't care for the Vegas run. Seems you always had to pay to see or do anything. Gonna do Street Vibrations in Reno this year. They still have the vendors out on the streets (free), Custom Bike Builders Invitational at the Silver Legacy(free), we always have a much better time at Street Vibrations.
Bunch of us leaving Vacaville, Ca on friday morning. Taking the scenic route up 50, and then around Lake Tahoe, thru Carson City and on to Reno.
Looking forward to it.
Bob

[Joncin]

I went in 2003 and swore I would never go back.

Hmmmmmm, then again, maybe it was the road closures and hurricane Hippo and I rode back in via Flagstaff. 

On second thought, that wasn't it, Vegas sucks because it's a just a money grubbing town. There's no incentive to perform because there's always someone else to take your place at the buffet.

[Joncin]

I should also add that if it weren't for that trip, HTT and a huge chunk of the Harley world would not have benefitted from the introduction of the VPC Clutch. Frank bought the first one and I had the second. 

[HIPPO]

Best one was the first one right after 9/11

When we got there and went to the Fremont St thing there were maybe a couple thousand bikes parked in there, but the town was deserted, no flights.

We were waiting for the concert and someone came on the speakers and said it had been suspended, as well as the usual light show. Everyone was sort of bummed and just hanging trying to decide where to go or what to do.

All of a sudden the lights went out, they turned the light show on, and it had nothing but American flags, and they started playing march music real loud. Little by little everyone started the bikes up and revved them with the music.

Loud as hell but it was a pretty good moment.

I think the year we went with Jon was the last year I went, it's a nice ride going there, but Vegas itself is depressing now, and this is from someone that lived there and liked it in the 70's and early 80's when it was ran by the families instead of corporations.

[apendejo]

Vegas is ok, but ya can only get one of these in Reno


AP

[apendejo]

Dang that was good

AP

[Gunney8]

That looks (looked) like a Double Double with fries from In n' Out !!!

[CraigArizona85248]

Damn it!  Now I'm hungry.

[apendejo]

That is the Awful-Awful from the Reno Nugget Greasy Cafe. The pics don't do that sucker justice. The basket is huge.
When I am in Reno I eat wayyyy too many of those.
AP

[14Frisco]

Looks like the fries are no good...

[apendejo]

The fries are greatttt. I just let them catch all the drippings off the burger before I start in on them, It's like a whole other meal
Now, back to the original subject, I will be at the Plaza from Wed. the 30th thru Monday the 5th, got a great deal on a room there, the place is not exactly the Taj Mahal but the beer is cheap, and it IS downtown.
AP

[taz95dog]

there are alot of free vendors in the parking lot at cashman field.it only cost if you go inside....alot going on ,plenty of good rides around vegas.by oct 1st should be nice weather...taz...

[taz95dog]

did ya'll make it out to bikefest.?..bill...

[Big Ron]

Went to the Cashman on Saturday.  They had a Miss Vegas Bikefest contest and could only get 5 females to enter.   First prize was $1000,2nd $500,and 3rd $250.  All the women in Vegas and all they could find was 5.  The contest was was viewed by about 250 (not very enthusiastic) people.  I did not hear any announcemets on the PA about the contest starting.  All the girls went down to pasties and bikini bottoms.
 
Stayed at the Nugget and had a good time.   Would go back to the Nugget again, but not during Bikefest.

Big Ron

[IBARider]

did ya'll make it out to bikefest.?..bill...

I missed it again!  and I live there......

[Gunney8]

Yeah I went, but didn't ride there. Bride wanted to fly and put quarters in those funny machines....
I was a little disappointed in the venue. Like Big Ron said, if there was "stuff" going on it wasn't announced (or I didn't hear it and I was wearing my newly acquired hearing aidsI !!)
If I were to go again, I would definetly ride so I could at least particate in some of the runs,... but the rest of it, well.. I was disappointed.  BTW, I did have to pay ($15 per person) to get to the vendor village, both inside and outside.
I will say that on Friday afternoon, in the outside beer tent they had a kick-ass all girl band. Don't know the name, but the lead guitar was first class..

[apendejo]

Got back yesterday afternoon. 5 days in Vegas is wayyyy too much. Got to do all the stuff i wanted to, you really would not even know the bikefest was going other than a few more bikes around than usual. None of the casinos were promoting anything, a few had 1 dollar beers but that was as usual.Went over to the new Bass Pro shop at the Silverton. That place is dangerous, I think I had a running tab of about 50 grand in my head when I got outside. Actually did not spend a dime there. Got the OL to go on that roller coaster at the Sahara. That was fun, Checked out Cashman on Friday, so so, nothing really spectacular, I mean if you like 9 dollar hot dogs and 5 dollar beers it was heaven. There were a couple of standout entries in the Artistry in Iron bikeshow. I have a feeling that the LVBF is pretty much a part of history, as in seen better days. If they don't get it back downtown the promoters are idiots. They should seriously renegotiate the whole deal with the people at Main Street Station, that parking lot was perfect for all the vendors, and packed in a LOT of people and revenue. jmho
AP