Daytona Bike week 2011 - March 4 - 13th

Since jmunsey brought up the subject in the last ride of 2010 thread, I thought I would start this thread. I went last year for the first time with Tully Mars. I really enjoyed it and waiting for this next one is better than waiting for Christmas when I was a kid. We have not decided yet on weather to ride or trailer. The weather is so unpredictable that time of the year.

Here's the 1st dumb question. Does a bike have to be trailered on a toy hauler or can a regular trailer with a ride on ramp work as well?

Sure any trailer that has a capacity of 1000 lbs or more is fine. Tires and bearing condition are the most important. If you do use an open trailer, just bring some cleaning supplies in case you run through some rain on the way there. There are all different types of gadgets for securing the bike to the trailer.

Regular trailer with ride on works fine. I would make sure it is rated for a thousand pounds weight at least, probably should be 8 feet or longer and has proper locations to run cargo straps to tie it down. We got one from Lowe's for around a grand with a wooden floor. There are cheaper around.


We wont have the cash to go. But another member, Amishcrackdealer has gone the past couple years. He rarely posts since his work is having him work 60+ and he has recently taken a second job. But you might drop him a PM and maybe there will be another to ride along.

Anyone can go to bike week pretty much anyway you want to go there. It is a great time and if you have never been there...you need to go! You will see bikes carried in all kinds of trailers and trucks and anything else. I have ridden down there and trailered. Last year was incredibly cold and nasty weather. I have higher hopes for this year as it starts later...actually in March instead of starting the last weekend of Feb. I think we need to have more get together's to discuss a group of us going....always more fun it seems with people you know. Biggest decision is where to stay...and whether to camp or hotel it. A number of years I would get a hotel over in the Sanford, Lake Mary, Altamonte area.....much cheaper and not that bad a ride over to the main attractions. Everything is spread out more these days. I really like that Destination Daytona area....you can spend an entire day just checking out the vendors and stuff.

I was gonna skip it this year.....but cabin fever is setting in really bad already so I will most likely be headed down there again. I had a blast last year at Biketoberfest in Daytona as well.

A local guy has some decent looking trailers for sale...open. 6'x12'...$860. Doubt I'll be going because I'll likely have had my shoulder surgery and will be in a sling. Just not the same if you can't go ride around.

6 foot can be kinda "iffy" for a bike length. I have always recommended 8 to make sure and also have the trailer more multi purpose. I would at least measure,because If I remember right total length on yours is around 7 3/4 feet.

Sorry, the trailer is 6' wide by 12' long. My bike would take no less then an 8'-er for sure. It would be a multi-purpose trailer. Haul the bike or mower as needed and round bales for my horses.

ok kewl. You can haul 2 then.....

I have a 5x8 that hauls my fatboy around nicely. But I have had a Dyna and a sporty on it at the same time. So it works out great for me.

Dragon wrote:ok kewl. You can haul 2 then.....

Yes, this is true.

Ok I have a trailer that needs a tag and in florida it cost like 75 bucks a year for one so how much is one in alabama. I also would need to find a couple tires for the trailer as the ones on it or old and starting to dry rot . the trailer has new lights and the bearings have been greased up. Hopefully i can find a couple wheel chocks and get someone to weld on some eye hooks. If i can reasonably do all this i am willing to let ant=y of the members here use it when needed. I believe the size is 5by8 and it has the big heavy duty wire mesh lay down ramp. My dad used it to haul his riding lawn mower and it pulls well.

let me know if you can help get me a deal on the tie downs chocks tires etc and maybe how much a alabama tag would cost

beachbum_

all this talk about trailers but my question is who is going to the rally or does anyone even have plans to go.

Don't know that I can pull it off because of my pending surgery. That and my truck has sucky gas mileage. LOL

I am planning on going. Not sure if I will trailer or just ride down. Depends on weather. Hoping for better weather than last year.

no doubt. Better weather than last year and I hope to ride down this year. But I need a week of all sun.

WE rode down the past few years but we have also trailered down. The jury is still out on the best option. I sure wish I would have trailered last year. The reality is for bike week....it truly is not a big riding type rally. Not the greatest riding there or back and pretty crowded while you are there. Rarely can you park your bike real close to where the activities are anyway. A few years back we trailered there. One day it really rained hard. If we had ridden down we would have been stuck in the hotel all day. We just fired up the truck and went to the flea market and had a good time and then later drove to Orlando HD and had a good time there. The only down side to trailering is finding a good place to park it. We stayed at Coco Beach one time.....every morning the bikes came out of the enclosed trailer...and every night they went back inside. Kinda like a portable garage.

well me and a buddy of mine are gonna try and go.dont know if i will be able to ride or not.but i will say that if i can ride i am going to ride all the way there.the bad thing is i want know till the last minute if i can go though.

I don't have anyone I can bring along. I refuse to go it alone. I'd have to build up to a road trip like that. My butt is out of practice. LOL

No reason to go alone...that is why we are trying to make it a group thing here! Cmon! Lets get with the program!
;-)

http://www.abateflorida.com/bikeweek.php

Above is a link to the abate of FL bike week campground. These are good people that sponsor this and they really go out of their way to make it a good camping spot and usually, very secure. Last time I stayed there, they would tag you and your bike and verify that only you left with your bike each time.

Jim

jmunsey wrote:WE rode down the past few years but we have also trailered down. The jury is still out on the best option. I sure wish I would have trailered last year. The reality is for bike week....it truly is not a big riding type rally. Not the greatest riding there or back and pretty crowded while you are there.

It is a great ride if you take the back roads there down along the coast of FL and then cut through the National Forest around Ocala. When we are there we ride almost 200 miles a day, a trip to Deland one day for lunch, Cape Canaveral one day, then up to St. Augustine one day. We only come into Daytona early in the days to avoid the traffic then take off and have a trip else where. You may need to hook up with us if you aren't finding good riding down there.

There is also a clothing optional campground there for you frisky bikers

I am certain there are great roads to ride down there. But you can ride those roads any other time with much less traffic. I go to see all the vendors and the party. I usually only have a few days down there. Have not been able to do the entire 10 day thing yet. Always something like work or lack of beer money gets in the way. I hope to plan it better one day where I can go to Daytona for bike week...then meander down to the Florida Keys for a few days...then come back up via the back roads on the west side and make a round trip of it. Not sure yet when I will be able to pull that one off. But I keep dreaming!

;-)

JSteele wrote:There is also a clothing optional campground there for you frisky bikers