Americade 2009

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Well, Dennis, what stories do you have? Yes, the weather was great. I'll give you a couple personal observations from a first timer. I'd never been to Americade or anything like it.

We met many nice people, and my wife felt welcomed and included, which was great. I could not believe the sheer volume of bikes and Goldwings. I nearly lost my bike at the Tourexpo parking lot. "Uh, anyone seen a red Goldwing?"

Driving through Canada Street was madness. Half an hour to go half a mile. Most riders didn't give up their protective gear despite the heat, but I sure was tempted.

Noise from loud pipes caught me a little by surprise. I had a motel just north of the strip, and it was very hard to sleep. I don't know how the locals put up with it. Controversial topic, for sure. But the locals I met all said they were very happy to have the event.

RBR was low key on Friday. I was disappointed in the Goldwing judging. They were beautiful, but I expected to see more bikes, and a more fun event. There wasn't much interest except from the contestants. I had more fun browsing the parking areas and Canada Street. And it was just kind of odd how there's not much but demos at RBR. The seminars on Friday didn't interest me. We met more nice people at the demos. Apparently someone wrecked one of the Kawasakis in the late afternoon. I later heard a guy got killed in a different one-bike accident. We rode a Harley Ultra trike and were convinced we don't want a Harley or a trike. The dynamics were all wrong. Can-Am Spider was fun. They need to make a touring version, which could capture much of the after-market trike business. Saw one guy pulling a trailer with a Can Am. I was shocked that the Kawasaki 1700 Nomad takes bumps better than my Goldwing. I've got some work to do there. So the demos were educational and fun.

I beat the parade to the mountain top and would do it that way again. I saw parade participants soaking wet with sweat. Many bikes, especially air cooled bikes, were knocking pretty bad by the time they got up there, probably due to overheating.

Like many have said, the people were the highlight, and it was great to see so many types of riders on very different bikes and trikes coming together from everywhere.

Eric

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JerseyWinger wrote:

Well, Dennis, what stories do you have? Yes, the weather was great. I'll give you a couple personal observations from a first timer. I'd never been to Americade or anything like it.

We met many nice people, and my wife felt welcomed and included, which was great. I could not believe the sheer volume of bikes and Goldwings. I nearly lost my bike at the Tourexpo parking lot. "Uh, anyone seen a red Goldwing?"

Driving through Canada Street was madness. Half an hour to go half a mile. Most riders didn't give up their protective gear despite the heat, but I sure was tempted.

Noise from loud pipes caught me a little by surprise. I had a motel just north of the strip, and it was very hard to sleep. I don't know how the locals put up with it. Controversial topic, for sure. But the locals I met all said they were very happy to have the event.

RBR was low key on Friday. I was disappointed in the Goldwing judging. They were beautiful, but I expected to see more bikes, and a more fun event. There wasn't much interest except from the contestants. I had more fun browsing the parking areas and Canada Street. And it was just kind of odd how there's not much but demos at RBR. The seminars on Friday didn't interest me. We met more nice people at the demos. Apparently someone wrecked one of the Kawasakis in the late afternoon. I later heard a guy got killed in a different one-bike accident. We rode a Harley Ultra trike and were convinced we don't want a Harley or a trike. The dynamics were all wrong. Can-Am Spider was fun. They need to make a touring version, which could capture much of the after-market trike business. Saw one guy pulling a trailer with a Can Am. I was shocked that the Kawasaki 1700 Nomad takes bumps better than my Goldwing. I've got some work to do there. So the demos were educational and fun.

I beat the parade to the mountain top and would do it that way again. I saw parade participants soaking wet with sweat. Many bikes, especially air cooled bikes, were knocking pretty bad by the time they got up there, probably due to overheating.

Like many have said, the people were the highlight, and it was great to see so many types of riders on very different bikes and trikes coming together from everywhere.

Eric

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Lotta info here...........I like it !!! Anyway................

This was probably my 15'th Americade or so. I love it !! I have nothing Earth shattering to report but was wondering if any of you did.

Obviously the weather is a big key to having a good time at a bike rally. This was definitely the first Americade in maybe 10 years where there was no rain. It may be the first one EVER to have NO RAIN at all.

A little history.........going back about 10 years, Americade used to be held the week before it currently is. They got many complaints about it being too cold so they pushed it up a week. It has been a bit warmer....a bit........but MUCH wetter. Speaking for myself, I'll take a bit colder than a lot wetter any day.

One learns to stay away from Canada Street on the bike unless you like that kind of stuff. ( like being looked at )

A little more history.........this is true...........they used to have NYS Troopers at each end of Lake George from the NYS Thruway ( north and south ) basically watching for idiots with loud pipes. If your pipes were too loud, they sent the children to another playground. It was great !! I guess over the years, the almighty dollar of all riders, even the loud pipers, became too much to resist. They won't send you away now unless the pipes are totally ridiculously loud. (childishly annoying )

The locals love us. Almost every single hotel/motel room in a 20 mile radiusis sold out that week. Not to mention all the restaurants, etc. They'll gladly put up with some noise for the week.

The people that attend each year are the friendliest people you'll find in any walk of life. Just normal, everyday people except they ride bikes.

Still a bit more history..............L-O-N-G ago, about 90 % of all bikes there were Hondas. Of that 90 %, 8 out of ten was a Gold Wing. It was unbelievable. Anyway, now there are all different types of bikes but, as you saw, very few sport bikes.

95 % of all the bikes are cruisers, full dressers or standards.

It's very hard to get a full apprciation of Americade from one visit because there is a lot to do and there are TONS of great riding roads in the Adirondacks. You can also do a lot of "nothing" if you like.

So.............anyway.............I like it up there a lot and it is without a doubt a very enjoyable motorcycle rally. Isn't it incredible how efficiently the entire rally is run ??



Dennis

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Wow! 2 very good reports. I've never been there but know of a few of my friends who went and have gone for years. Maybe next year!











Roryrob

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I used to go every year too.

But the last time was in 94. The crowds got too huge and the cops were terrible.

Plus everything was so commercial from what it started out being.

But then again it always irked me to pay to go in an area to buy something that is available at the store or online.

I don't live that far away and have visited at other times of the year and the prices are then normal.

Everything is jacked up higher during Americade, I don't mind paying more but in some cases it is double. And that too irks me.

You even have to pay to go on the Bike Tours. Even the unguided ones.

All in all I just quit going, AND your right the weather seemed to always suck.

Glad you had a clear week this year.

Mohawk

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JerseyWinger wrote:

It's hard to believe there were probably thousands of Goldwings at Americade yet so little discussion of the event here. I guess we've got some evangelizing to do. Forum members: go to Americade! While there, tell people to log on here!

For those who are interested, I've posted my Americade photos and a video at http://www.ericjung.com/Americade-2009 and miscellaneous photos of my Goldwing here: http://www.ericjung.com/Goldwing-GL1500/index.htm

Eric

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Jerseyboy,



I agree. When I originally asked if anyone had any stories regarding Americade, I thought THIS forum, of all places, would be LOADED with them. Take it from someone ( me ) who has been to Americade about a dozen times, there ARE thousands of Goldwings there and going way back, it used to be about 80 % GWs.

While I'm here, I'd like to wish all the fathers/grand fathers a very HAPPY FATHER'S DAY !!!



Dennis

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Mohawk wrote:

I used to go every year too.

But the last time was in 94. The crowds got too huge and the cops were terrible.

Plus everything was so commercial from what it started out being.

But then again it always irked me to pay to go in an area to buy something that is available at the store or online.

I don't live that far away and have visited at other times of the year and the prices are then normal.

Everything is jacked up higher during Americade, I don't mind paying more but in some cases it is double. And that too irks me.

You even have to pay to go on the Bike Tours. Even the unguided ones.

All in all I just quit going, AND your right the weather seemed to always suck.

Glad you had a clear week this year.

Mohawk

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Mohawkboy,



It's true...............Americade evidently is not for everyone. From reading the posts, you can see I like it a lot. If you think it was expensive the last time you went ( 1994 ) ) ( a l-o-o-n-g time ago ) you'd be in for a much bigger shock now. And it hasn't just followed the rate of inflation.



Even MORE commercial................yes

Even bigger crowds.....................yes

pay for the tours..........................yes

higher prices during the event..........for sure



................all these things and more. However...........one does not HAVE TO do all these "pay for" activities. The other side of that might be " why would I go if not for those things". Like anything else, to each his own. I just enjoybeing around all the bikes and people of the same ilk. And the roads up there are just great.

Now............if they would only bring back the NYS Troopers at each exit to get rid of the IDIOTS with loud pipes. ......................children. ( look at ME, ME, ME....hear my childishly loud pipes) . Ridiculous.



HAPPY FATHER'S DAY !!!!



Dennis

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oldtoys1961 wrote:

Man that is so awesome. It looks like so much fun. I have never heard of Americade. I gotta google it and find out more. Fantastic album too.

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http://www.tourexpo.com/data/



I do not work for nor have any affiliation with Americade whatsoever. Just a great place for touring motorcyclists to go. Hey, 40,000 or so bikers can't be wrong year in and year out, right ?? Yes.



Dennis

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This was my first time going to Americade and all i can say is i will be back.We had a blast we arrived Thursday midday and left Sunday morning,next i go it will be for the hole week there is so much to do there and the roads are what you dream of.



Friday we took a ride to white face mountain what a great ride drove to the top, then took the elevator up to the top it reminds me a little like mountain Washington in N.H.



As far as the weather it was very nice and I'm hoping that it stay that way for years to come.



If anybody was on the fence about taking in this rally you have to do it even if it's only for the weekend once you do it the first time you will be hooked just like me





350 days 2hours and 24 minutes but who's counting LOL

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Here's a write up I did for my trip, Americade was part of it but couldn't stay for the whole week. 1886 miles up, 1886 back and 1468 miles on the bikes.
I placed this on the events page also. FYI all adult beverages consumed was not while riding and included a DD


Just finished a 2 week visit to the old homestead. Pulled my Goldwing along to see some of the back roads of N.Y. Had some reliability issues with the trailer borrowed (both fenders came off)salvaged one, the other put on a nice show bouncing down the interstate just missing a car.
They must watch NASCAR and followed the scenario's of head that direction and it will be gone by time you get to there. I watched the whole thing in the side mirror and they never let up on the gas.
(Nice Driving)
Niece and her new husband rented a bus and 8 of us took in the winery tours at the finger lakes area,got to party with my brother(fantastic) We concluded that part of the weekend with a bon fire and fireworks, and of course beverage of choice.(We laughed allot during this whole time)
Took off on Memorial day and headed for Livingston Manor where my old HS friend Rudy lives (I guess we're all getting older) Spent the next week and a half riding the beautiful back roads of N.Y. ending up at Americade in Lake George. Stopped in at New Way Lunch (Dirty Johns) in Glens Falls (college days)for hot dogs. We did do one side trip in a car to Clifton N.J. and go to Rutts Hut, if you watch the travel channel and have seenDeep FriedParadise you know the place. (I know, whats this thing about hot dogs) We were going to go to NYC to the first pizza joint but figured the traffic would suck so off for another HD. Had one day on Saturday Rudy had to work, Senior Corrections Officer at one of the Prisons, went back to Apalachin for the day, brother had plan 2.5 hr. drive Oswego Speedway for the Super modifies, had lunch at a place called Rudy's,huge menu, What did I have, Hot Dogs, I really don't eat that many all the time, most of the places have them made just for them. Can really taste a difference to store bought so when there special I have to try them. Got to the race track and at intermission decided we needed a snack, never guess what we had (Oh! your right). Sunday headed back to Rudy's continued our riding, that's when we hit Americade, had to leave Tuesday couldn't stay the whole week, bikes heading that way next couple of days, I'm told there are so many on the weekend might as well park the bike and just walk around.
Getting back to Rudy's house was only around 5pm decided with the weather Wed. had rain in the forecast would head back to Apalachin that evening. Stopped in Vestal at parents of HS girl friends house, I have always stopped to see them anytime I'm in town. Had some great times with them and love them dearly.

Got Rudy to come along with me since Wed. started the Apalachin firemen field days (both of us were members in the 70's)Had to have some Chicken BBQ its better than any here in Texas, saw some folks I recognized which I didn't think would happen had conversation and then on to steamed clams and BEER. Within a few beers the stories started flow from my brother and I like the beer, and laughing at ourselves for things we did long ago.
I left on the return trip on Thursday morning, needed to be back by Sat. Didn't want to go so soon, was a long trip back. Still a lot of folks I didn't get to see that I wanted to. Three things I experienced on this trip. The ride back was longer than the ride there(Always the case to much time to think) Don't always trust your GPS and Satellite Radio has dead spots from here to there.