9 Lessons Solopreneurs Can Learn From Sturgis Bikers

My family and I drive from Minnesota to Colorado each summer for our vacation. Our trip typically occurs in early August, which means that on the trek home, we share the highways and Interstates with thousands of bikers who are driving to or returning from the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in Sturgis, South Dakota.

Few groups of people in America are as colorful and fascinating as Sturgis attendees, and in observing them I have learned a few things that can be applied to the solopreneur life.

1. Invest in great equipment. I estimate that at least 99 percent of Sturgis participants ride Harley-Davidson motorcycles. Harleys are the bike of choice for Sturgis because they can cover hundreds of miles, day after day, in temperatures that routinely top 100 degrees. When you’re crossing the High Plains, the nearest Harley dealer could be hundreds of miles away; you do not want your bike to break down.

2. Take good care of your stuff. Few sights are as impressive as a long line of Harleys parked in a row. We see Harleys standing outside of the hotels where we stay, and nearly every one of the bikes looks like a work of art—a combination of steel, chrome, leather, paint and curves. Even on a trip like Sturgis, the bikes shine like the day they rolled off the assembly line in Milwaukee. And many of the motorcycles are 20, 30 years old. Clearly, these machines are cared for extremely well.

3. Help those in need. Sturgis riders look mean and tough, but I have seen dozens of instances where the riders have stopped to help motorists whose cars or trucks have broken down.

4. Protect the things you own. Sturgis riders are kind, but DO NOT mess with their bikes. Retribution is swift, sure and loud when someone tries to harm another person’s Harley.

5. Prepare for the worst. Bikes break down, fierce thunderstorms erupt, bodies succumb to the elements. I’ve seen that and much more while traveling in the West, and I’ve never seen a Sturgis rider who was unprepared to deal with the adverse conditions they face.

6. Make the journey, but know your limitations. Not every rider who goes to Sturgis gets there on two wheels. Hundreds of attendees make the trip in trucks, with their bikes stowed or towed behind. Other rally participants use three-wheel Harleys to reduce the strain and stress of the ride.

7. Get enough rest. Hotels filled with Sturgis folk are some of the quietest I’ve ever stayed in. The bikers know that, if they’re going to survive the next day’s long haul, recovery and sleep are mandatory.

8. Don’t go it alone. Bikers are considered to be lone wolves, but bikers actually travel in groups, often riding with people they have met along the way. There’s safety in numbers, and it’s more fun, too.

9. Don’t take unnecessary risks. Sturgis riders don’t make dumb decisions while on their bikes. Weaving in and out of traffic? No. Driving at excessive speeds? I rarely see it. Riding without a helmet? No sir. Texting while riding? Out of the question. Riding a motorcycle (and being a solopreneur) is risky enough; you can’t afford to be foolish.