The Custom Bike Scene Lives at the Sturgis Buffalo Chip

The Custom Bike Scene Lives at the Sturgis Buffalo Chip

Industry’s most prestigious motorcycle exhibit, bike shows and Arlen Ness Custom Choice Award to be presented nearly every day during Sturgis Rally at The Legendary Buffalo Chip 

Whether it’s stripped-down Sportsters, stretched big wheel baggers, FXRs, choppers or even mini bikes, the Sturgis Buffalo Chip has 2020 rally goers covered with nine custom bike events to satisfy the tastes of every custom motorcycle fiend. Some of the biggest names in the industry will host, attend and judge these world-class bike shows. Included on that list are Cory and Zach Ness, who will be presenting shows with a prestigious symbol of custom culture legacy with the brand-new Arlen Ness Custom Choice Award. All shows are free for the public to attend, and many offer winners valuable prizes and prestigious awards. More information and the official announcement video can be found at www.buffalochip.com/EVENTS/Bike-Shows.

“Where else can you see nine prestigious bike events presented by the biggest names in the custom scene? Nowhere!” said Sturgis Buffalo Chip President Rod Woodruff. “Top that off with an award from a 50-year custom motorcycle legacy like Arlen Ness Motorcycles and I expect to see some incredible custom machines this year.”

 

The Arlen Ness Custom Choice Award represents the same long-standing passions for quality, innovation and craftsmanship as the iconic Arlen Ness Motorcycles. The Ness family have been the first family in motorcycle customization for five decades now. Arlen Ness built an entire industry as a servant leader, whose vision and values propelled his family to become something much larger than their individual parts, which helped the motorcycle industry to grow and prosper along the way. For 2020, the Buffalo Chip will be the Sturgis home to the Ness family and, more importantly, a place to showcase and celebrate the legacy of Arlen Ness Motorcycles.
The custom bike scene lives at the Sturgis Buffalo Chip in 2020 with these nine events:

Motorcycles As Art – Heavy Mettle:  Motorcycles & Art with Moxie
Presented by Russ Brown Motorcycle Attorneys
Featuring Michael Lichter

Aug. 8 – 14 Daily from 2 p.m. – 10 p.m. at the Buffalo Chip Events Center Near the East Gate

 

The 2020 Motorcycles As Art Exhibit features a group of the most celebrated international artists and custom bikes all in one location. Attendees have the opportunity to see the work of 38 renowned builders who have weathered the motorcycle industry’s ever-changing fads and trends to build timeless works of functional art. This one-time collection will also give visitors the chance to view photos captured by exhibit curator and legendary motorcycle lifestyle photographer Michael Lichter throughout his 40-plus-year career. This exhibit is free to the public.

Rat’s Hole Custom Bike Show
Featuring Ted Smith and Big Daddy Rat
Aug. 13 at Big Engine Bar at the Buffalo Chip CrossRoads. Show: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
 
The longest and most prestigious bike show in the world truly earns the title of the granddaddy of them all. Setting the standard for bike shows since 1952, Rat’s Hole features 14 different classes filled with the finest bikes the Sturgis Rally has to offer. Over 60 highly sought-after custom Rat trophies will be awarded, and the Best of Show winner will be recognized on Buffalo Chip’s Wolfman Jack Main Stage prior to the evening’s headlining entertainment. Those wishing to enter the show should register early to ensure a spot at RatsHoleCustomBikeShows.com.

Sportster Showdown
Featuring Pat Patterson of Led Sled Customs
Aug. 11 at Camp Zero. Registration: 1 p.m. – 2 p.m. Judging: 2 p.m. – 5 p.m. Awards: 5 p.m.
 
The Sportster Showdown is a communal event featuring the coolest chopper, tracker, vintage and café Sportsters in existence. Attendees can expect a mind-blowing collection of customized Sportsters mixed with a large dose of memorable mayhem. The show offers entrants some incredible prizes including cash, aftermarket parts and handmade trophies, not to mention the bragging rights that come with winning the Best Sportster in Sturgis.

FXR Show & Dyna Mixer
Featuring Joe Mielke of Snap Fabrications
Aug. 9 at the Buffalo Chip CrossRoads. Registration: 9:30 a.m. – 11 a.m. Judging: 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Awards: 2 p.m.
 
This show puts the emphasis on the riders, their stories and their rides. Rally goers are invited to hang out, “kick tires,” and enjoy a cold drink and some shade at this no-nonsense, charity-driven event. Popular vote determines the winners who receive prizes courtesy of some of the biggest names in the industry. In addition, 100 percent of revenue from donations and t-shirt sales go directly to LifeScape of SD.

V-Twin Visionary Performance Motorcycle Show
Featuring Jeff G. Holt
Aug. 10 at the Buffalo Chip CrossRoads. Registration: 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Judging: 2 p.m. Awards: 3 p.m.
 
The 2nd annual V-Twin Visionary Performance Bike Show rounds up the industry’s top performance builders to go head to head where it counts: getting power to the pavement. The show features nine classes of performance V-Twins vying for a cash purse, swag and custom machined trophies. This ride-in show is free to enter and free to see.  Builds based on H-D and Indian platforms in classes covering FXR, Dyna, Sportster, Softail, V-Rod, Bagger and Chopper are welcome.

Women & Wheels Bike Show™
Featuring Kelly Yazdi of the Wild Gypsy Tour
Aug. 11 at the Buffalo Chip CrossRoads. Registration: 8:00 a.m. Show begins: 10:30 a.m. Awards: 1:15 p.m.
 
A collection of the coolest female-owned bikes will be on display at the Buffalo Chip CrossRoads as part of the 12th annual Biker Belles Celebration. This all-women show brings out the best examples of the female motorcycling culture through amazing bikes and the incredible stories behind them. This show and shine will only display bikes ridden by women, but all are invited to attend.

All Brands Bike Show & Bagger Blastoff
Featuring Tony Cianci of Florida Full Throttle Magazine
Aug. 12 at the Buffalo Chip CrossRoads. Registration: 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. Judging: 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. Awards: 4 p.m.
 
Attendees looking for variety will find it at this show. All brands of two-wheeled machines at the Sturgis Rally are welcome to gather at the Florida Full Throttle Magazine All Brands Bike Show, which will award prizes in 10 classes. The Bagger Blastoff welcomes any brand bagger with a loud-and-proud sound system to show up and crank it up to 11.

School’s Out Chopper Show
Presented by Haul Bikes
Featuring Mondo Porras and Horny Mike
Aug. 8 at the Buffalo Chip CrossRoads. Registration: 12 p.m. – 2 p.m. Judging: 3 p.m. Awards: 4 p.m.
Kicking off the bike show schedule at the Buffalo Chip is the School’s Out Chopper Show. This show celebrates all the badass choppers that make it to the Sturgis Rally each year with old school, new school and everything in between. Some of the biggest names in chopper building will be in attendance, including Mondo Porras of Denver Choppers and Horny Mike from HISTORY’s Counting Cars. Best in show will take home a Paughco frame & tank as well as a pro photoshoot and feature in Cycle Source.

Mini Bike Show
Featuring Joe Mielke of Snap Fabrications
Aug. 11 at Camp Zero. Show 2 p.m. – 3 p.m.
 
This show is all about the bikes that are small in stature and big in character. New for 2020, the Mini Bike Show held at Camp Zero will have two classes – Coleman Powersports mini bikes, and all other things mini and two wheeled. It’s not the size of the bike that matters, it’s how you customize it.


The Buffalo Chip’s top-tier bike show lineup is just a piece of the many activities happening at the Buffalo Chip during the 2020 rally. Visitors to the Buffalo Chip will have the opportunity to experience many events including professional boxing, legendary rides, powerful freedom celebrations, world-class concerts and so much more. See all events at www.buffalochip.com/EVENTS.

About the Sturgis Buffalo Chip
The Sturgis Buffalo Chip® is the Largest Music Festival in Motorcycling®. It is the world’s first and leading entertainment destination for the motorcycle enthusiast, awarded AMA Track of the Year in 2016, American Flat Track Event of the Year and South Dakota Excellence in Tourism Innovation award winner in 2017. Since 1981, the venue’s high-profile, nine-day festival, known as The Best Party Anywhere®, remains one of the world’s most televised and longest running independent music festivals. Located three miles east of Sturgis, SD on 600 creek-fed acres, it offers multiple stages of entertainment, a swimming hole, bars, mouth-watering food, showers, cabins, RVs, camping and more to visitors traveling from all corners of the world. The Chip's concerts and races are free with camping. The Motorcycles as Art exhibit curated by Michael Lichter showcases the works of the world’s best bike builders. Numerous bike and stunt shows and all shopping, live music and events at the CrossRoads are free and open to the public. More details are available at www.BuffaloChip.com.