Sturgis Buffalo Chip has announced some news that’s making us more excited for the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in August.
The Motorcycles as Art display and gallery, filled with unique machines, history, and motorcycle art, gets a revamp and remodel, making it the perfect site for gatherings like the Buffalo Chip Industry Party and the Legends Ride. And speaking of renovations, the Stage East Bar, which was replaced last year, gets a new platform for even more action and crowd engagement during concerts, such as the two new additions to the 2023 musical lineup: Limp Bizkit and Lita Ford.
The Sturgis rally would be incomplete without some unique and inspiring custom builds, like the H-D Street Glide built by Arlen Ness Motorcycles that will be the 2023 Legends Ride bike to be auctioned off in Deadwood on August 7. Buffalo Chip has also already announced the 2024 Legends Ride bike, an Indian Challenger built by Lloyd’z Garage and Indian Motorcycle of St. Paul and featuring Bell Flight colors. Speaking of Bell Flight, we already knew about the Black Hills Helicopter Rally, bringing a different kind of chopper to Sturgis, and we can’t wait to check out a Bell demo flight.
We also got news that the party is getting started early this year with a few events taking place before the main rally dates. On June 30, the Robbie Knievel Tribute Ride will start from the exact spot where Robbie landed in 2000 when he flew over the REO Speedwagon and Styx concert stage. Also, Buffalo Chip and Revzilla will be hosting the Get On! ADV Fest July 20-23 for adventure riders wanting to explore the Black Hills off the pavement, complete with off-road training, seminars, and demos.
For more information about the 2023 Sturgis Rally, read the press release below.
East Garden Redesign
A newly revamped Motorcycles as Art display and gallery will serve as the centerpiece of a big remodeling plan for the Buffalo Chip’s East entrance renovation. The exhibit will allow you to explore a unique collection of machines, history, and style with five bikes from five builders. In addition, a new gallery feature will allow you to purchase motorcycle-themed wall art and sculptures.
This new display will be the reception site for the Buffalo Chip Industry Party, the Legends Ride, the Rusty Wallace Ride and the home base for several new partners and sponsors. The new entrance will literally be a cool spot – with loads of shade, a new premium bar, seating to rest those weary feet, and new sponsor activations and displays.
What you’ll experience in the future is new staff, new facilities, new sponsors, and the old-school work ethic that defines the Best Party Anywhere. “What can we say?” says Buffalo Chip founder Rod Woodruff. “We just can’t stop making the place better, more interesting, more fun, and just class up the joint! The Best Party Anywhere is just going to keep getting better!”
Stage East Bar Expansion
Last year saw the total replacement of our popular Stage East bar, which sees LOADS of action for every concert. To help customers enjoy a cold one even quicker, the new building features six serving windows (and lovely bartenders), along with a back window to service customers who upgraded to the Fan VIP experience.
Related: 2022 Sturgis Rally Recap Video from Sturgis Buffalo Chip
A newly planned platform above this bar will be a hotspot for attention, swag, and sponsor activations. The Chip hosts tons of brands who love to toss freebies to the crowd, and the East Amphitheater will be a great spot to catch the show, grab a drink and for attendees to snag that sponsor tee-shirt that will save them at least one day of laundry!
Robbie Knievel Tribute Ride
Robbie Knievel is a legend at the Chip for being a massive fan of the Rally, for being the life of any party he attended, and for a truly death-defying motorcycle jump THROUGH the Buffalo Chip stage on Aug 9th, 2000. By flying over the REO Speedwagon / Styx concert stage and crashing into the front of house, he will forever represent the soaring freedom he so loved about the country.
Robbie passed away in January after a tough battle with cancer at the age of 60. Recognized as one of the greatest daredevils on the planet, Robbie’s legacy lives on in today’s extreme sports energy, drama and excitement. The man is truly a legend.
With Robbie’s memory still living large, Woody is inviting any fans who want to join him on a ride on June 30th from the Buffalo Chip to Butte, Montana for the icon’s memorial ceremony.
“We’re going to gather on the spot Robbie landed – right in the middle of the amphitheater.” says Rod. “That’s the place he would want to ride from. We’ll take a day to enjoy the ride to Butte and take in his memorial ceremony there. Then we’ll saddle up and head out loud and proud!”
Riders will depart from the Buffalo Chip Amphitheatre at 7:00am on June 30th, arriving in Butte 528 miles later just in time for dinner.
Those interested in joining Woody can email info@buffalochip.com to get more information. There is no fee, no sponsors, and no set agenda other than the camaraderie of an epic ride, the company of like-minded riders, and the inspiration of a man who challenged gravity, the odds and who lived a life as big as the Knievel legacy.
Read more about the broken bones of the Buffalo Chip here in the Sturgis Rider News article “Broken Bones of the Chip.”
Ness Customs Legends Ride Auction Motorcycle
Crowds gathered at the 34th annual Donnie Smith Show on March 25 to get the first look at a custom Harley-Davidson built by Cory and Zach Ness of Arlen Ness Motorcycles to serve as the 2023 Legends Ride bike!
This custom Street Glide features Ness Method legs in chrome, 4-Piston Chrome Calipers, Jagged Rotors, Y-spoke wheels, SpeedLiner Controls and Floorboards, Rough Crafts x Arlen Ness Motor Covers, Legend Suspensions and Khrome Werks Exhaust.
The bike will be auctioned off in Deadwood on Aug. 7 in support of the Buffalo Chip’s Legends Ride. Since 2008 this signature charity event has raised over 2.1 million dollars for worthy local charities like the South Dakota Special Olympics – Rapid City Flame and the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum & Hall of Fame.
Announcing Two New Additions to the 2023 Lineup!
Nu-metal pioneers Limp Bizkit will be making their Sturgis Rally debut at the Buffalo Chip during the 2023 Sturgis Rally, bringing along their infectious spirit, some of the most recognizable songs of the late ’90s and tracks from their latest album “Still Sucks”. Throw your hands up to tracks like “Break Stuff,” “Rollin’,” “My Way,” and “Dad Vibes” on Monday, Aug. 7.
Immerse yourself in glam metal as Lita Ford takes you back in time to an era filled with lightning-fast licks and enough hair spray to make Bigfoot look pretty! This guitar goddess will remind you just how much you love the ‘80s when she lights up the Buffalo Chip with searing solos and brilliant, emotional ballads on Monday, Aug. 7.
The Bands Announced So Far
Lynyrd Skynyrd, Limp Bizkit, Styx, REO Speedwagon, Koe Wetzel, Whiskey Myers, George Thorogood and the Destroyers, Lita Ford are the first of dozens to join the lineup. More announcements are coming soon.
Check out the other legendary acts that have graced the Main Stage over the years here!
Get On! ADV Fest
The Black Hills are known for twisting byways that snake between peaks and over crests, connecting towns with a smooth winding blacktop dotted with epic vistas and iconic locations. But don’t you occasionally wonder – “what’s down that gravel road?” Well, adventure bikes (ADV) are discovering the Black Hills and new routes to experience in these beautiful mountains.
The Buffalo Chip and Revzilla (part of the Cycle Gear / J&P and Rever App family) have hosted an ADV Rally just before the traditional Rally, with the 3rd annual event slated for July 20-23. The Chip will be filled with “touring dirt bikes”, camping, and unique activities including off-road rider training, specialty seminars from aftermarket brands and loads of demo bikes courtesy of some of the top OEMs in the industry. There is nowhere in the US that has such a unique mix of events, displays and activities in the ADV category.
Of course, the Black Hills are a quick ride down Ft Meade Way, over I-90 and into BLM trails and gravel roads that just beg to be explored. The event is designed to host both the most experienced adventure riders, and those interested in trying out the hottest category in motorcycling. The unique position and features of the Buffalo Chip allows for growth into new events, with even more to be announced soon.
To check out past events, photos, videos and more details click here. Then, to register for the Get On! ADV Fest for yourself, just click here. We invite you to enjoy this whole new experience out of the Chip – ride Dirty Sturgis with us!
Welcome Aboard
BuzzBallz, LLC/Southern Champion is a woman-owned and family-operated distillery, winery and brewery in the state of Texas, which was founded in 2009 as the result of Merrilee Kick’s master’s degree thesis project. Since its inception, the company has greatly expanded its product base and begun to grow into a worldwide brand. As the only joint distillery, winery and brewery in the US that is woman owned, this company has gained significant recognition, boasting distribution nationwide and dozens of awards. The company’s mission is to create fun and innovative premixed cocktails for the world, made with high-quality ingredients.
Learn more at BuzzBallz’s website.
2023 Donnie Smith Show
The Buffalo Chip team set out for the 34th annual Donnie Smith Show on March 25 & 26 at the River Centre in St. Paul, MN! Along with custom motorcycles and vendors across the country, our team spent time amongst bike enthusiasts drooling over hundreds of beauties at the biggest custom bike show in the Midwest.
It was there that the public got to see not one, but two custom motorcycles unveiled by the Buffalo Chip: a Harley-Davidson and an Indian. The first being the 2023 Legend’s Ride bike customized by Cory and Zach Ness of Arlen Ness Motorcycles (need we say more?), and the other being the all-new signature series Buffalo Chip B4, built by Lloyd Greer and Tim Sutherland of Lloyd’z Garage and Indian Motorcycle St. Paul, slated to be the 2024 Buffalo Chip Legends Ride auction bike. The Spirit of Sturgis custom bike award was given to John Jessup of Dream Rides of Tennessee. Woody selects a bike that would inspire him to ride through the beautiful Black Hills at various shows around the country. The guitar trophy was custom painted by Artist Doug Werner.
Learn more about the Donnie Smith Show and see Rod “Woody” Woodruff and the 2023 Legends Ride Bike here in this Kare11 News segment.
2023 Biker Belles Daytona
As an extension of Biker Belles Women’s Day in Sturgis, we’re excited to bring you another signature Buffalo Chip charity event on the road!
The Harley-Davidson Biker Belles Daytona – The Morning Ride kicked off on Wednesday, March 8 in sunny Florida! Led by co-captains Maggie Hicks and Laura Klock, the meandering ride through the Daytona backroads was a much anticipated gathering of inspirational women in the motorcycle industry.
The ride began and ended at the Daytona International Speedway where riders reconvened to share stories, give inspiration, and build friendships. The funds raised from the ride benefited the Helping With Horsepower non-profit organization.
After a rained out inaugural year in 2022, we were excited to partner with Harley-Davidson again on the first of many Daytona Morning Rides in support of the Biker Belles charities!
Helicopter Association International – Atlanta (HAI)
While a V-Twin chopper might be what you expect to see parked in front of the new Rat’s Hole Bar, there will be a whole different kind of chopper arriving at the Chip this year! Bell Flight had such a great time meeting VIPs and potential clients during the 2022 rally, they decided to host a chopper rally of their own with the inaugural Black Hills Helicopter Rally!
The maker of the iconic Bell 47 (think M*A*S*H) and the legendary Huey are the top makers of military, civilian, air ambulance, corporate and specialty helicopters. With an event announcement during HAI in Atlanta in early March, Woody and Bell executives also pulled the sheet on a beautiful custom Indian Challenger built by Lloyd’z Garage and Indian Motorcycle of St Paul. Replete in Bell company colors, the motorcycle will be auctioned during the Legends Ride 2024, which is in part sponsored by Bell.
Helicopter owners/operators often have a motorcycle tucked away in the hangar – after all, there is no cooler way to fly on the ground than on two wheels! Pilots will have the opportunity for self-guided tours, to participate in the Buffalo Chip charity rides and events and will be treated to Top Shelf views hosted by Bell. You can read the press release here.
Owners of any brand helicopter can get all their questions for this uniquely American experience that can happen only at the Chip by logging in here.
