You’d think York Bike Night would start with the rumble of engines. And it does, with the parade leaving the fairgrounds. But for downtown York, it officially kicks off with the national anthem. Fitting, when you consider this year’s theme: honoring those who protect and serve. To showcase this theme, 25 specially selected and decorated bikes belonging to military personnel, police, firefighters and other first responders will be competing, and for this election, it’s legal to buy a vote. Heck, buy several. That way you support York’s biggest motorcycle night, plus help your favorite bike win the People’s Choice Award.
The event is free and open to the public. You don’t have to ride downtown to Bike Night, and you don’t even have to own a bike. Take Dave Richard’s parents. Aged 87 and 89, respectively, Azeal and Luther are big fans. “Even when we can’t go, they’ll call and say, ‘Well, we’re down here at Bike Night,’” says Richard. Richard, a graphic designer, goes for several reasons. One, he loves riding his Harley in, threading through the back alleys to bypass the closed-off streets, pulling right into the diagonal bike-only spaces. Two, he checks out the vendors to see what cool new accessories they have for his bike, a sweet 1997 Heritage Softail Springer (white with red trim). And three, it’s basically a free motorcycle show. Richard explains, “Unless you’re 150 percent up with everything that’s just hit the streets, it’s a great place to go see the latest trends.” He’s been coming since before his son Garrett was born.
Garrett, now 17, says of Bike Night, “There’s crazy hair. A lot of braids wrapped with leather.” His mom, Karen, an executive administrative assistant, says it’s a great place to people-watch and meet up with friends. She encourages all kinds of people to go. “You don’t have to be intimidated by the way they’re dressed,” she says. That’s for safety and, admittedly, fashion. She jokes that, years ago, “the tattoos would have scared people, but nowadays everyone’s got them.”
Gentlemen (and Ladies), Start Your Engines
The parade, if you’ve never pulled up a chair along the route, can be exciting. The sound of a thousand bikes gets your adrenaline pumping. Yes, it’s loud, but it’s a fun kind of loud. Last year’s grand marshals leading the parade were the Motor Maids, an all-female organization. Their by-laws require any Motor Maid riding in the parade to ride her bike there, which can be a long ride for some. They come here from Texas, Montana, and even Canada. They’re grandmothers, office workers, pharmacists. There’s even an equine dentist. But they’re all definitely into it, riding all over the country to various events. In the process, they try to dispel a few biker myths.
“We want to put forth a positive image to the public. We want them to know that a lady can ride a motorcycle,” says Sammie Wisner, who coordinates their attendance at York’s Bike Night. She says, “The ladies will do anything to help another motorcyclist out.” Wisner’s been riding since 1967. She admits her mom and dad didn’t know it then, but she clarifies, “They do now.”
There’s lots to do besides the parade, with food vendors aplenty. Crab cakes are a favorite, and so are cheesesteaks. Of course the usual suspects are here, like pit beef, hot dogs and French fries, while salted caramel funnel cakes and deep-fried Oreos keep attendees looking forward to dessert. “If anyone leaves hungry,” comments Wisner, “it’s their own fault.”
Besides the food and accessory stands, music is one of the stars. Smokin’ Gunnz and this year’s version of the York College House Band are lined up, with additional bands at other locations, like Harley-Davidson’s open house, held the same weekend. The roar of motorcycles can be heard in York as they cruise between the city, the fairgrounds and the factory on Route 30. That weekend alone, thousands of visitors take tours and demo rides; eat, shop and drink; and watch motorcycle stunt shows at the factory.
“It’s a whole bike weekend, really,” says Bernadette Lauer of Harley-Davidson. “Many folks come to see where their ‘baby’ was born.” Each year the company puts up a pin map showing where people travel from. One year, a group from Japan had their bikes flown over for the weekend.
JumpStart Your Night
People tend to congregate at the 1st Capital Harley-Davidson dealership (formerly Laugerman’s). There, bikers can pick up the first pin (they look great on leather jackets) of a five-pin ride; the other stops are at Harley dealers in the Harrisburg area and in Lancaster. Sue Diaz of 1st Capital is excited about Harley’s JumpStart experience, which the dealership will be operating downtown again this year. The interactive exhibit features a motorcycle mounted on a special trailer that lets would-be riders get a feel for what it’s like to actually ride one.
“There’s no fear of falling over, you learn how to use the clutch, and you don’t have to hold the bike up,” Diaz explains. These are some of the barriers that can be hard to get past if you’ve never confronted them. Diaz says a lot of people who have never ridden try the JumpStart, which is surrounded by a crowd all night: “You can tell they like it by the big smile on their face the whole time. A lot of people say it was much easier than they thought it would be.” One woman showed up to the dealership after trying a street-ready black Harley 750 on the JumpStart. She bought the same bike she’d tried riding on the exhibit—which happens to be the same as the one Captain America rode in “The Road to Civil War.”
Mary Yeaple, organizer of York Bike Night, is excited about its 23rd year. “I think it’s great any time people are willing to travel from all across the US to come to York every year,” she says. “It’s a wonderful tradition, and it’s impressive to see all the motorcycles and the people videotaping the crowd and the bikes.”
Marking off its parking lot beginning at 5 p.m., the White Rose Bar & Grill offers another piece of the action. Its lot gets packed with people sampling White Rose classics, enjoying more live music and, of course, bike watching. Central Market’s open late that night. Specials at downtown restaurants beckon visitors with signs that say, “Welcome Motorcycle Riders.” For the third year, PennDOT brings its Live Free, Ride Alive program to talk about safety, always a plus.
“It’s a family-friendly event,” says Yeaple. “We get a crowd of around 20,000. Any time you see people downtown enjoying themselves, checking out the shops, it’s really great for small businesses.” Diaz comments, “I think it’s the one night out of the year that York really embraces Harley-Davidson. The city is decorated in black and orange, and there are bikes everywhere. It’s a really unique experience.”
“Bike Night is great for the community, and it’s great for downtown,” says Lauer. “As the city continues to grow economically and businesses are thriving, Bike Night is another draw to bring people into the city.”
As September approaches, riders begin to decorate their bikes with LED lighting and other special touches. As for Dave Richard, he gets his vintage chaps out starting oh, around…June.
York Bike Night
Friday, September 29, 2017, 6-10 p.m.
To learn more, check out the events calendar at yorkcity.org.
