I noticed we were given different wristbands to show when coming into the rally.  Okay...no big deal.

However, what was a big deal was apparently they were easy to "share" or make fake ones.  I hate that people try to cheat the system; however, the ones that were honest shouldn't have to endure the idiots trying to check if ours were real or not.

Coming in on Friday after a long hot day of riding....there was a large group of bikers coming in....after going through 3 checkpoints where we held our left arms up for people to see.....A BUNCH OF PAID IDIOTS...jumped in front of the large group of motorcylces yelling stop with their hands up in the air....HELLO...have you ever been around bikes?  All of the bikers were trying to get stopped because we didn't know what was going on....my husband and I were on our brand new 2011 Road Glide Ultra when he had to stop and turn his front wheel to keep from hitting the bikes in front of us...and we went DOWN.  I have major bruising all down my right leg from the bike going down and me trying to get off of it.  LUCKILY, my husband was able to keep the BRAND NEW $28,000 bike off of the ground until we could get it back upright...so it didn't scratch the bike.

I'm not sure who thought people's lives, limbs, and 20 thousand + dollar bikes were worth checking to see if my $70 wristband was REAL.   This was BS, and I hope it will be better next year.

Our friend bought a new bike in Round Rock while we were there...coming back into the Rally...other idiots almost made him lay his over because of the same thing.  We heard of several incidents.  So, please correct this for 2012.

 

Wristband piracy usually has people selling fake wristbands on the street corners the day the rally opens.  Soon as they see the new armband, they run out and print them up.  This year, ROT when to a new style to try and cut down on the fakes.  However, the theives still made duplicates, just not cloth.  So by checking the armbands, they were able to cull out the paper wristbands that were being sold.  The only way to tell the difference was to touch them.

 

It was an inconvenience, but it was also necessary.  So sorry that your husband dropped his bike ... glad it wasn't damaged and that you weren't hurt other than some bruises.  Hopefully next year the signs telling people to stop will be a little bigger so stopping when they come in won't be an issue.

If you must stop a bike and look at their wrist, maybe you should put the band on the RIGHT hand.  Most bikes I know of have to hold the clutch on the left when stopped.   It is difficult to hold the clutch and raise your left hand at the same time.   Just a thought.

Good point!!  I'll bring that to the attention of "the powers that be". :)

This is the letter I sent to them about this and other issues I saw: I want to thank you for throwing another great party this year. The band selections this year I thought were the best in the 4 years I've been coming. I thought all in all it was a great time but I want to voice my concern about a few things. First of all I understand the need for verification of the wrist bands but my God it really seemed excessive this year. Can we please start having them put on our right wrist? Being a "motorcycle" rally you should understand how hard it is to try to go really slow without taking your hand off the clutch to hold your wrist in the air. This is much easier to do with your right hand. It's a lot easier to take your hand off the throttle than it is the clutch. Doing this once is hard enough but now 3 or 4 times is just getting ridiculous. Then on Friday we literally had to stop at the last guy so he could see/feel it. I nearly ran him over then almost has the bike fall over trying to stop for him. If this is going to be a requirement now maybe a stop sign or something should be put up. I understand you're always going to have an element of low lifes that will try to cheat their way in but punishing everybody and possible causing accidents isn't the answer. Again I have no problem with the wrist bands or a checkpoint but put it on the right wrist and keep the checkpoints running smoothly and have everyone on the same page. Second, would it be possible for people leaving in vehicles after dropping a camper or whatever to be directed out of a different gate so they don't have to drive down the parade route? It just seems they could be let out the back gate so there won't be any problems with them. Lastly, the police presence is also understandable and necessary to an extent but there seem to be more of them this year. Since the age limit was raised there should be less problems and I don't understand why it seemed there was even more this year. Some were cool but some seemed to be using a little more authority than what I've seen in the past. I saw several times on the parade where people had stopped to take pictures or let pictures be taken and the deputies came along and told them to keep moving. The parade is what it is and is a big part of the night time party. I don't ride in it myself because I don't have the patience for it but I don't want it to stop being what it is either. No one should stop and plug up traffic for several minutes but I see nothing wrong with the way things have been. This isn't my main concern about the law being there, just an example. My concern is that eventually they'll get stricter an stricter and the freedom that has made this rally great and fun will be diminished. Thanks again for everything I hope you will take these suggestions into consideration and the party never ends.

Thank you for posting this letter. Also thanks to the other comments that have been made. We really enjoy ROT and look forward to it every year. We tried to ride more this year than we have in the past; however, found it a such a hassle to get back onto the grounds because of the whole wristband ordeal. I agree regarding the parade route. I don't like to see some people holding up the parade for several minutes; however, I think if someone wants to take pics or put beads on people they should be allowed. People were getting hit in the head by beads because they couldn't actually stop and be put on. I think this has sparked some good points to look at next year. It would be better if we didn't have to stop at all coming in...just hold up your right arm and go. However, if we are required to stop..then I agree that big signs need to be put up and the traffic be ligned up for it. It's crazy to stop packs of bikes trying to ride in. Thanks for listening ROT!

I totally agree on the hassle with the wristbands. This was my fourth year and I have never seen something such a pain in the butt. In previous years it was a hand up and on you went. This year with the stop and feel of the wristbands was more of a hassle and an accident waiting to happen. The wristbands in the past were just fine and you could even cut off the excess at the end so it wouldn't slap you all week. All in all it was a good year though it seems to me that there were some new coordinators and we want the previous ones to return... Things just were not the same this year.

i agree, band on left hand was a joke since my clutch is on the left...like everyone else.

I think it's totally Ridicules, having to stop and show my band 3 freaking times, to enter just one time....because of this it will be another reason, we won't becoming back real soon....3 check points to get back end is Excessive. 

 

 

I went in and out of the rally grounds  several times.  I don't see how having to stop your motorcycle is all that big of a deal other than it was different, and unexpected the first time I encountered it.  They should have done a better job of communicating that all traffic was going to have to stop for inspection rather than the prior roll through routine.  A simple Stop sign would have made a big difference.

I don't have a problem with them checking the bands. I do have a problem with people gaming the system with fake bands, when the rest of us are paying $70 or whatever to get in. However, the process does need to be streamlined.

Putting the band on the right hand makes much more sense. Would bar coding work? I dunno.

On another note, what is done to people who are caught trying to sneak in w/fake bands? Isn't that theft, are they being prosecuted?

 

UM, my hubby & I were not stopped even once coming back in ALL weekend. BUT, we did`nt get there until Friday afternoon. Unloaded and then just relaxed. Of course, maybe it`s because we are a little OLDER(??). Who knows? But, the RIGHT HAND sounds much better than left. I agree. As for the PARADE ROUTE, there was a lot more conjestion this year, and I DID see a lot of people get hit in the head,face etc with beads. Not good. Could lose an eye. But, you NEED Police protection in case the LOONIES get loose. Granted. So, what do you do?? We are going to be back in 2012, regardless. Thanks for listening...

Deb

Still wearing my wristband. U think I might could get a discount for advertising? HaHaHa

I hope they can come up with some kind of cpromise on the wrist bands. I am glad they do check everyone and am surprised there aren't more people trying to cheat the system. I think for the price we pay we get a hell of a deal but to know some buttwhipe is getting in for free pisses me off. I do hope they put the bands or whatever on the right hand though. I gotta have my clutch hand at least. It sux that things have to be this way.

ditto that, entering the gates were ridiculous, double checking everyone......and for the ones that are getting in for free...must be a law that their breaking ie: unlawful entry???? press charges on all of them

Don't mind the wrist check; wished they'd use the RIGHT hand since the left has the clutch (except for most CanAms). Would seem to be SAFER if the checkers were on the RIGHT SIDE since that is the shoulder of the entrance. As it was, they had to stand in the MIDDLE of the road to get to the clutch-gripping left hands. For the safety of staff & riders, I hope they put the bands on the RIGHT hand. As for the 'cheaters', trial on-site by jury of their peers (lots of riders there), sentenced immediately confinement in a Tent Jail on the grounds a.k.a. Sherrif Joe Arpaio, and given the task to clean up the fairgrounds as their community service punishment. Rockett

Any chance they will put the wristbands on the right arm this year so we can keep our left hand on the clutch???

So...if we showed up with a REALLY BIG cast on the left arm with no taper to keep the band from falling off?:):)

Trial on sight and TENT JAIL sounds good to me!!! A lot of us save all year to got to Rot just to have the low lives get in for free. I havent left the grounds in 2 years once I check in due to the pain in the ass involed.

hopefully ROT has listen/read this post for improvements this year

surely they have learned that the wristbands have to be on the right arm. I understand the need to check them and applaud that they really do check people, I would even encourage someone going through the grounds and "spot" checking from time to time. I pay my way and expect everyone else to do the same.

Last year on Saturday night I noticed a lot of people without wristbands they found an open gate somewhere.

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Kinda looks like the pearly gates to heaven to me and I guess they found out a way to get threw them by cheating.  Sorry shits!

shame on the ones getting in free.....no telling how many people are in the rv's while it is being registered for the space, maybe they need to inspect all rv's FOR PEOPLE RIDING INSIDE UNDER THE RADAR of paying to pay their way

 I still say they need a few "inside" the grounds wristband spot checkers. Ya know someone to just walk up and ask to inspect at random places and times. Prosecute those who have used fake wrist bands or have none at all. I assure ya it won't take long before word gets out that people are getting checked before this nonsense is at least slowed down if not halted completely.

 Another thing that MIGHT help would be to make sure it publicized that the ONLY place to get a real wristband is at check in. All others are fake. I'm sure some of these poor people are getting scammed into thinking they're buying real wristbands without knowing the difference.