
BikeFest Rumbles into Sin City
Story by J. Joshua Placa
Photos by J. Joshua Placa
Las Vegas BikeFest organizers recently hosted their 10th anniversary party and some 30,000 of their closest friends showed up, rolling in from points unknown, covered in desert dust and thirsting for a good time. The event delivered, with a little help from nearby sin and persuasion.
Sin City has thankfully abandoned its Vegas-lite, kid-friendly “Disneyfication” experiment and throttled back to its wild and all grown-up, R-rated roots. This makes us feel better, somehow, seeing the town once again at its rightful place as the world’s biggest adult playground, and arguably more biker-welcome than ever before.
Gone are the daycare centers, Bullwinkle and Barney in-room TV marathons, and most G-rated entertainment. Big, sexy, Cirque du Soleil shows like Zumanity and the cirque-inspired Peepshow are on the must-see list, as are some less extravagant stage productions such as Fantasy and Crazy Horse Paris. Naughty comedy and burlesque theater and higher end “gentlemen’s clubs” have moved up the menu. Casinos are adding stripper poles strung with non-stripping, bikini-clad dancers set behind gaming tables, where barely-clothed croupiers deal a hot hand.
BikeFest, despite being pelted by freak thunderstorm, was deemed a success by a spokeswoman for the organizer, Full Throttle Productions, although attendance and vendor numbers unofficially appeared down from last year’s claimed 217 Vendor Village booths.
Motorcycle events nationwide have suffered the loss of leisure dollars as the economy continues to sputter. BikeFest organizers, however, believe they have an ace up their leather sleeve: “We’re not hurting as much as other motorcycle rallies because it’s Las Vegas,” said the spokeswoman.
Aside from the well-planned rally itself, which was held primarily at the city’s Cashman Center and the Sahara Casino Hotel, Las Vegas offers shows, shopping, clubs, dining, bars, casino resorts and non-stop action expected of a city reveling in sin.
Aside from an odd booth where you could get your photo taken cheek to cheek with a chimp, BikeFest vendors offered the usual array of motorcycle everything, from leathers to T-shirts, jewelry, sunglasses, parts and accessories, insurance, ambulance chaser services, funky helmets, various and usually menacing face shield alternatives, and, of course, bikes. The Artistry in Iron, Master Builder’s Championship featured a few mind-boggling machines that seemed right out of a dream—or nightmare.
There were a number of competitions, including Bikini, Wet T-shirt, Miss and Mr. Las Vegas BikeFest, Custom Bike Show, some kind of glutton contest called Hog Out, poker and slot tournaments, a poker walk, and the World’s Strongest Biker, among others. BikeFest sponsors, the Sahara, Golden Gate and Golden Nugget hotels held motorcycle grand prize giveaways.
Admission to the Vendor Village cost $15 per for the weekend, which mostly gave you license to shop, view some of the contests and listen to local bands under the big tent. Headliners cost extra with varying prices and venues down the Strip. Registration packages were available, ranging from $25 to $50 per person in advance, more at the door. Prices aren’t expected to change next year.
For the most part, live music wasn’t much a part of BikeFest, even if the official program listed its concert series as a “great lineup of music and partying throughout Las Vegas.” There are always prominent bands playing in Vegas, however, which is part of the rally’s appeal. You just have to pay to see them like any of the roughly 200 other events and shows being held in town on any given weekend, with a growing number getting an 18-and-over restriction.
Some of the better parties were off the Cashman campus. Bars such as the nearby Hogs & Heifers (201 N 3rd St.) and Stoney’s at the north side of the Vegas Strip (9151 Las Vegas Blvd. S) are two of the more fun biker hangouts in Vegas. For more local flavor, try Dino’s (1516 Las Vegas Blvd S) and the Double Down Saloon (4640 Paradise Rd.), both throwbacks.
The History Channel’s reality show hit, Pawn Stars, is set at the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop (713 Las Vegas Blvd S), just a few blocks down the Strip from the Cashman Center. It’s a worthwhile stop, but be prepared to wait behind the velvet rope to get in. Never thought that would happen at a pawnshop. Motorcycle enthusiasts Rick Harrison and his son and co-star, Corey, were spotted at BikeFest, looking beleaguered by autograph hounds and amateur paparazzi, and very much like they’ve had enough of their 15 minutes of fame.
Next year’s event will run from Sept. 30 through Oct. 3. Organizers are so confident about the future of BikeFest they’ve booked dates for the next six years.
For more information, contact Las Vegas BikeFest, 866-245-3337; www.LasVegasBikeFest.com; info@lasvegasbikefest.com. Visit the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority web site: http://www.visitlasvegas.com/vegas/index.jsp
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