Musings on Milwaukee

[badger74]

For what its worth here are my comments on Milwaukee.

1. The feeling I had being part of the awesome horde of riders coming into Milwaukee was something I will never forget.

2. The people of Milwaukee were incredibly gracious hosts.

3. The sight of bikes parked everywhere, tens of thousands of bikes parked everywhere made Milwaukee look very cool.

4. The people who came in for the celebration were clearly there for a good time. Spirits were wonderful and the desire to make new friends was contagious.

5. Being new to the experience, both my wife and I were amazed at the number of husbands and wives and non married couples who traveled great distances together to come to Milwaukee. Anyone who said that biking is not for couples did not see what was happening in Milwaukee.

6. The impromptu gatherings at bars and pubs and on the streets of Milwaukee surpassed the organized events. What I learned was that the key to this celebration was not the events it was the people.

7. The Sunday party was the least attractive of the events. It was too crowded, and the music provided did not fit the occasion. This was particularly true for those of us who saw the Doobie Brothers on Friday. They did the same set at the party that they had done on Friday. If someone had told me they were going to be at the party I would have gone to see Joan Hett on Friday. Also while I liked Tim McGraw and Kid Rock was ok, to close with Elton John was a mistake pure and simple. You can't have your biggest act at a motorcycle event not know anything about bikes. Finally the delays between acts were long and annoying and the long winded speeches of the Harley executives were a mistake. The check of $7million to MDA made up for a lot of that.

8. The summerfest venue for the celebration was fine but some of the entertainment was a little lame. However, on the whole, I thought the celebration part was nicely done but not incredible.

9. Milwaukee's art museum is an architectural gem. The Harley exhibit was no great shakes, but those who went through the rest of the museum got a real treat.

10. The parade was pretty cool but I think 5000 bikes would have been ok too.

All in all it was a weekend made amazing not by the company but by the people who came from everywhere to share the experience.

[Biker Bry]

I agree with your comments.
I won't speak for everyone, but I would feel this sentimate is accurate of many that were there and left early.
My party was hungry, thirsty, sitting in the dirt in front of a bad TV screen 1/2 mile away from the event.
I don't like country, although I like that "Indian Outlaw" tune of McGraw's, its not my scene.
That was the last straw...
We drove out of town and stopped at the first Perkins and had a nice dinner.
At the same time we left, there were hundreds and hundreds of people following.
Went back to the campgrounds and drank and laughed at what a blunder H-D made booking Elton John.
I didn't meet one person that expected Mr. "Candle in the wind".

[liv2ryd]

Badger, I think you summed it up perfectly. Unfortunately, we didn't make the museum or the parade - too much to do, too little time. Oh well, the 200th is only 99+ years away!

[breeliz]

Badger...

I loved those people camped out on the overpasses jumpin and screamin as we all rode by. That was a great, great feeling.

Another really impressive thing was being able to see, with my eyes, a BILLION dollars worth of Harleys at one time. When HOG XX was packed I believe that they had 50,000 bikes worth about $1 B. I think the same was true at Powertrain Operations-Pilgrim at peak flow.

Riding with so many cool people was incredible. I shed a tear when I finally had to leave.

The Party entertainers were good performers but not appropriate to the audience. I am truly surprised that the MOCO marketing execs failed to know their "market" when it came to their entertainment needs and desires. I would have liked to see CCR or Dickey Betts or heck... even Axyl Rose rather than the crew that they had. But they forgot to ask me what I wanted!

[oldhippie]

Sorry folks, but I had a blast. I went to have a good time and that is exactly what I did. I, too, would have probably done things differently if I had been in charge, but I wasn't, so I tried to enjoy everything they offered.

[tomv]

Originally posted by oldhippie
Sorry folks, but I had a blast. I went to have a good time and that is exactly what I did. I, too, would have probably done things differently if I had been in charge, but I wasn't, so I tried to enjoy everything they offered.

what he said...add to that the emotion generated by the enormous welcome we received in milwaukee. a lifetime experience.

[BigDogR]

Badger well stated! I agree with all you said.

I had a blast and strangely enough not having a laminated billboard, I mean ticket was actually the key.
I made reservations and other arrangements a year and a half prior and screwed up and waited too long on the ticket and got shut out.
I actually thought about not going. What a huge mistake that would have been!
The many good folks on this board told me of the many other things that would be going on and that the MoCo would be the least of it. THEY SURE WERE RIGHT!
Not having a ticket really opened me up to doing so many other great things that I might not have done if I was MoCo event focused.
I did see some MoCo stuff but after doing some other waaay more cool stuff. Like having a few beers with David Ryder, the BrewMaster and VP of Miller Beer. Great guy who actually took the time out on a early Sunday morning to meet, chat, and drink pretty darn early with a small group folks killing some early hours on a Sunday with a brewery tour. He gave me his card and said if there was ever anything he could do, to contact him...ya know what..I believe that if I called or emailed I would get his attention too. Very nice guy!

Anyway, the way I see it was I got lucky and did not let the MoCo get in the way of a great time.

[Jeff]

I had a blast as well. I liked the "HD" spelled out on the US bank Building with the office lights. All of the bands, at the Hog XX, Summer Fest and the Milwaukee Mile were great. Sunday was the great disapointment.
I would do it again.

[vrodheat]

got my bike 2 months ago, just love to ride.. my buddy talk me into milw. i had no idea what makes a harley is the people! we got their friday and just party hard(its get being single). but sunday came, paid $75 per ticket and got that ent. and with a hang over!!! not good! then reallity checked in. a man in his 60's with a wheelchair and only use of his right arm came next to us. as we talked his great attiude overwhemed me , a and i realize he wount be able to experince the simple plaesure i have of riding home on the bike and then the music didnt matter just the poeple do

[big_sippi]

I dont think I'll be going to the 200th.Had a good time but disapointed with alot of the stuff. The best thing were the people of Mil.
BS

[Georges]

I didn't leave untill monday night what was amazing was how quiet it was Monday. After all the cool bike sounds for 6 days Monday was like a church.

[astrocam]

Well guys, its over, years of expectation, months of planning and only 3 weeks of actual riding and we are home, nothing but too many new tee shirts, some credit card bills and a head full of memories.
HD was having a party and my riding buddy and I just had to be there. He was riding solo, and I had my life partner with me, she is as crazy about Harleys as I am but this trip would surely test even her capabilities on the pillion.
We flew into San Francisco just in time to meet up with our bikes which had made it safely overland from New York and were waiting for us at the designated time, I have ridden several times in the US but there is no feeling like climbing on your own bike at the beginning of a dream trip. Harley was starting a “ride home” from Portland in 3 days so no time to linger got to get out of the big city and experience the real US of A.
The Mustang seat ordered weeks before was waiting at Portland HD as promised and it really is a “marriage” saver, 3500 miles in 15 days riding and our only regret was why cant we just keep going.
As we made our way across beautiful country previously only flown over a pattern was developing, despite the many more Harleys on the road than you see anywhere in Europe, it just wasn’t possible to stop anywhere without immediately gathering if not a crowd then certainly another fascinating conversation. Forget the politics, the true America is the people and they are without doubt the friendliest and most hospitable anywhere, we met nothing but smiles, welcomes and thanks for visiting! Flying the flag, him the Union Jack and me the blue and white of Scotland made us no less noticeable. Something like 2500 bikes left Portland, many more came and went from all over as we made our own way across meeting up or not as it took us at the dealer parties along the way. We began to enjoy the small town atmosphere and chose to stay outside of the bigger places and we were the richer for it, not once did we feel less than completely welcomed as we described yet again some of our adventures.
Arriving on schedule in Milwaukee was almost an anticlimax and enjoyable as a lot of the myriad of arranged events were we really could think of nothing better than getting back on the road, I really believe this road trip may never end.
My anniversary Road King Classic ran flawlessly all the way despite 110 degree temperatures and ridiculous amounts of luggage, we bonded more than ever, the wrench of parting at the airport in Chicago was huge, we hadn’t been apart for 3 weeks and now we wont be together again the other side of the pond until October, how can I wait.
With heavy heart we climbed on to our flight home back to our lives, tired, much poorer but richer by far than words can ever tell, thank you America, we will return!!


astrocam

[tomv]

the pleasure was ours. i personally met many foreign travelers on the trip to and in milwaukee and enjoyed their travel stories and views of the events. we are all richer for the experiences we shared.

[56flh]

Its nice to read that everyone experienced good times in Milwaukee and that our foreign visitors (thanks for your review Astrocam) experienced the true US of A.

I am curious if any of you experienced some of the finer dining in Milwaukee like Karl Ratzsch's, Lake Park Bistro, or Coerper's 5 O'Clock Club (for you steak lovers), or did you hit the Brady Steet taverns or, maybe, the Milwaukee Ale House on Water Street. There is so much to see in Milwaukee besides the Summerfest grounds and the events that the MOCO set up that I hope you all managed to experience some of it.

Remember, in 5 years Harley will be celebrating its 105th. While not as big as this year's party, its still going to be a good time. So anything you missed or you didn't get to experience this time around; make sure you come back and we'll do it all again friends

[fxdx99]

Hit a few places on Brady St... a coffee shop towards the Walgreen's end (that had a Sonny's beer sign on it's door - killer expresso, too), Mama Mias (great Pizza), the pizza-guy truck, and Joe Cats(?) or something like that. We did eat at "Lisa's Pikmar Restaraunt" on the south-side at 7276 N. Tuetonia. Lisa and her hubby are bikers and served us their "100th biker breakfast" every morning all week long - Great food and great people. If you get the chance, stop in and tell her hi from the out-of-town 100th gang.