Author – Revolution Motorcycle Marketing Consultants
First, the R.O.T. Biker Rally Sucks!! And there were no dates for the 2025 bike rally.
Next, the 2023 ROT Rally was held at the Austin Speed Shop. So, in a short time, it has gone from the gigantic Expo Center location to a small motorcycle shop!!
Right now, ROT’s biggest draws aren’t happening. And if they changed the rally’s name, people wouldn’t even guess it was the Republic of TX Rally. The good news with this location change is that campers, attendees, and vendors won’t be screwed over like they were before.
2022 Biker Rally Review
Just when you think the Republic of Texas Motorcycle Rally (R.O.T.) couldn’t get any worse, it did!! The 2022 bike rally was just terrible. Here’s just a handful of lowlights:
-There was no electricity for the first couple of days, even though you had paid for it.
-The Rally also had no beer because the promoters did not secure a license.
-The R.O.T. biker rally, promoted as a big deal, was dead.
-Plus, they did not have a permit to have more than 2,500 attendees. And guess what? Even on Saturday, the ROT motorcycle rally was not full.
-It was held in Bastrop, farther from one of the biggest ROT attractions, downtown Austin.
How was the 2021 R.O.T.?
As you may know, the Rally has declined for many years. But after the 2021 ROT Rally, there is no way to describe the Rally except as terrible and overpriced. This is not just our review/opinion; go to Facebook and read all of ROT reviews.
Now, there was an ownership change a few years ago. But this was good because it was the last hope for the Republic of Texas (R.O.T.) “Motorcycle” Rally to recover. The previous ROT owners have tried for years to improve it. But the biker rally got worse as prices rose and quality quickly declined.
Next, let’s take a look at the wreck in 2020. Now, you probably have heard that the 2020 ROT Rally was canceled. You may have heard in various ROT Biker Rally reviews and posts that there are no refunds. So, some people pay a huge amount for a specific R.V. spot and tickets. And eventually, they were told, “Too bad, sorry, you can use the R.V. spot and tickets in 2021.”
Of course, no one was thrilled. Some felt like they were forced to loan ROT money. Plus, not everyone could return in 2021, so they were screwed out of their money.
Then, in 2021, the ROT Rally moved to the Circuit of the Americas racetrack. And it was a wreck. People who paid for a specific R.V. spot didn’t get it. Instead, they were put wherever the unorganized staff wanted them.
Also, at the 2021 Biker Rally, not everyone was allowed to ride their motorcycles. So yes, many people had to park their motorcycles and take a shuttle!!
But with golf carts, you could bring yours in if you paid the rip-off fee. Or you could rent a golf cart at ROT for rip-off prices.
And the bands at the Austin Rally were not worth half the price. Also, at the 2021 ROT, the number and quality of vendors were terrible.
If you liked the ROT motorcycle parade downtown, you were hugely disappointed. And this is because, in 2021, it was slowly riding in a traffic jam around the Circuit of the Americas.
Next, the information below was written before the 2021 R.O.T. “Motorcycle” Rally. Some new attractions were mentioned at the 2021 R.O.T. Biker Rally. But over the years, ROTs marketing hype has been just hype. Subsequently, we are waiting to see what happens.
Also, the ticket price is too high for many people. And this has been the case for some time at the ROT Rally. For instance, the price went from $79 in 2017 to $99 in 2018 and 2019, and then $149 in 2020 and 2021.
As this thorough review of the bike rally shows, the value hasn’t been there for many reasons. One huge problem has been with the quality of the bands. In 2021, Artimus Pyle of Lynyrd Skynyrd and Blackberry Smoke will headline, but tickets are priced at $149. Yes, $149.
Now, when you compare either of these people or bands to ZZ Top, which played in 2018 when tickets were $99, there is no comparison. Most people couldn’t name the band Artimus Pyle is from. So this isn’t a strong indicator of significant changes by the new owners.
Below, you can read and review our 2020 ROT Rally information. This will give you a better idea of the event’s challenges and problems. Plus, it will help you see if attending or vending is worth it – and it isn’t.
In addition to our review, you can check the motorcycle rally’s Facebook page to read reviews and comments. You’ll find endless negative reviews.
2020 R.O.T. Rally Info
First, the ROT Rally did not happen in 2020. Next, below is our ROT Review BEFORE the cancellation. But you will find this information is great for 2021 as well.
This year will be the 25th year of the bike rally. Next, the ROT Biker Rally in Austin is one of the Major Motorcycle Rallies on LightningCustoms.com’s List.
First, let us note that the ROT Rally review below is for informational purposes only. This is simply what is happening and what is not happening at the event. And this is not what we want to see happen at the Rally. We would love to see the Republic of Texas (ROT) Biker Rally get back to what it was years ago. And a decade ago, it was a cool, larger motorcycle rally.
R.O.T. Biker Rally Review
Next is one of the most popular questions: Is ROT Rally worth the price?
For the bottom-line answer, ROT is worth it if you want to party and camp all weekend. But if you are not going for both reasons, the R.O.T. Biker Rally isn’t worth the price or your time.
So, what is the basis of our review of the biker rally? First, we’ve religiously attended the Republic of Texas Rally in Austin for the last 16 years. We’ve also spoken with many attendees and vendors over the years. Also, since the Biker Rally is in our backyard, we can hear opinions about the ROT from people who go regularly. As a result, our review is also based on what we don’t want to see at a motorcycle rally.
The motorcycle world and rallies have changed a lot over the last 16 years. As you have seen, many bike rallies that have been running for 16 years have seen significant declines in attendance. Other rallies that were around back then have now shut down. As a result, we are not singling out only ROT.
Comparison of ROT to Sturgis or Lone Star Rally
Although you may have heard or read from ROT Rally’s promoters that the event is similar to Sturgis, it’s not, except that both rallies include humans and motorized vehicles.
Specifically, attendance at the ROT Rally in Austin has dropped from about 45,000 to a few thousand. Importantly, this is the number of attendees who pay to enter the Expo Center ( ROT’s official venue). On the other hand, the
Sturgis Motorcycle Rally gets around 500,000 attendees per year. So, there is no comparison when it comes to attendance.
Next, how does the attendance at ROT compare to other motorcycle rallies in Texas? Again, there is no comparison. Notably, the Lone Star Rally in Galveston is the only motorcycle event in Texas that attracts over 25,000 people. And every year, Lone Star gets around 400,000 attendees. Again, the Austin biker rally drew about 10,000 attendees to the Expo Center. So clearly, there is no comparison between the number of attendees at these rallies.
R.O.T. Rally’s Attendance Numbers Explained
Also, explain why attendance numbers for the ROT vary so widely. You may have heard that the Republic of Texas Biker Rally draws 150,000 to 200,000 people. But this is a number from the promoters, and it is the total number of “participants.”
And most of the “participants” at ROT Do Not go to the Expo Center. Instead, many riders come to the Austin area but do not attend the Expo. These riders come out to enjoy all of the free things in Austin.
Second, the “participants” also include a large number of locals who do not ride. And many locals come out to look around downtown Austin. But they’re still part of the ROT Bike Rally “participants.”
We clarify the disparity in the numbers because it can generally be confusing. In addition, if the official ROT rally venue has 150,000 to 200,000 attendees, you might expect the attractions of a giant biker event. But ROT has no huge attractions.
Also, vendors don’t want to misjudge attendance at the Austin ROT Rally. Or they might think they will make tons of money because of the number of “participants.” And if they do not know the actual numbers, they will be in for a huge disappointment.
In addition, the quality of attractions doesn’t match between the ROT Biker Rally and Sturgis or Lone Star. As you will read below, there just are not.
Next, we get input and hear comments about Austin’s Rally being a “golf cart rally.” Whether you think golf carts are good or bad, there are tons of golf carts. More people ride golf carts around the camping area than motorcycles. Just look at the pictures and videos, and you will see our ROT review is correct.
Also, the reason why there are so many golf carts at the ROT Biker Rally is simple: the promoters allow it. Not only do they allow golf carts to be brought in, but they also have a golf cart rental company at the Expo Center.
Is the Motorcycle Rally Worth the Price?
Again, the answer depends. Again, the cost to attend the 2019 ROT Biker Rally was $99; in 2020, it was $149. The entry fee was for free tent camping. So, it’s a good deal if you want to camp and party all weekend in a tent.
If you want to bring an R.V. or a trailer, it will cost more. It might be worth it, given that temperatures regularly reach the high 90s or over 100 degrees in Austin.
Now, back to the four-day pass for the 2020 Rally, which is going up from $99 to $149. So how could this dying Austin Rally’s price go up 50%?? The price has increased, but the event gets fewer attendees. And there is no gigantic change in attractions. Also, no huge-name band will play at the 2020 R.O.T. A great example is that the Steve Miller Band is headlining.
To clarify, we are not saying Steve Miller’s band is terrible. Our point is that Steve Miller is not a big headliner for most people. And nowhere near as popular as Z.Z. Top. This also highlights ROT Rally’s practice of not booking top-shelf entertainment. Compounding the problem, even with a lower band fee for the Austin bike rally, it has gone up 50%!!
In addition, the cost of one beer at the Rally is ridiculous! At the 2019 Biker Rally, it was $8 per beer. Also, a bottle of water and soft drinks are extremely expensive. But the good news is that you can BYOB to ROT. With the number of food vendors and the subsequent options way down, you should also grab something to bring in to eat.
Camping at the Bike Rally
First, camping has been and still is one of the best parts of the ROT Biker Rally. Although some still do primitive camping, the number of trailers and RVs has risen drastically. You will see what we mean if you look at the pictures on ROT ’s Facebook page. Also, along with the huge drop in overall attendance at the Republic of Texas Rally, the number of people in the RV/camping area has decreased.
Now, at night, the camping area at ROT gets X-rated. So, it can get pretty wild. This is good. That being said, allowing kids in the non-camping area did change the rules, as it should.
Next, here are a few things to check out at the ROT Rally, whether you’re camping or not. Now, there aren’t many amazing attractions, but there are still a few things to check out.
First, there are some pretty cool bikes on display. But they are not the badass bikes from huge-name builders at the event years ago. Also, the R.O.T. Biker Rally in Austin has a bike build-off, a motorcycle giveaway, a bike show, supermoto, flat-track racing, and contests.
So, if you’re looking for the cool traditional attractions you see at a large rally, ROT will disappoint. There is not enough to do for even half a day at the Republic of Texas motorcycle rally.
Next, the number and quality of vendors at the biker rally have dropped drastically. Also, there aren’t many major vendors at the R.O.T. Biker Rally. In addition, there are very few big rigs at the rally.
As you know, big rigs bring out solid displays and cool bikes. They also offer a wide range of parts, accessories, and other biker products. Without the big vendors and big rigs, even going to the Expo has lost value. This is because there is now much less to see and far less to buy at the ROT.
Quality of Bands at ROT
Notably, and not in a good way, is the quality of the bands at R.O.T. Rally. For a long time, the band lineup’s quality has been declining. First, ROT often features unknown bands, or unknown members from relatively well-known bands from the 60s to the 90s playing in hybrid bands.
Now, that did change in 2018 when ZZ. The top was playing at the biker rally. Now, the price has gone up from $79 to $99. But there was hope that ZZ. Top playing would help the Republic of Texas Biker Rally’s experience and attendance. It did little for either. Many people we spoke with said fewer people attended the motorcycle event.
In 2019, the bands playing at the ROT Bike Rally returned to the circuit bands you see at other events. In addition, more hybrid bands played. Then, to make matters worse, the price didn’t go down, even with the lineup.
Headlining Band for ROT Rally in 2020
Again, the 2020 headlining band for ROT is the Steve Miller Band. As we said, they are not a bad band, but they are not as popular as ZZ Top.
Now, the 2020 ROT Austin Rally cost should decrease by $99. But instead, it has gone up to $149. The 2020 fee has gone up by 50%??
Daily Overview of ROT
So, what is going on at the R.O.T. Rally each day? Thursdays are always somewhere between dead and slow, at most four-day biker events. And ROT follows this pattern. Usually, the motorcycle rally starts picking up Friday afternoon. Again, this Rally follows this pattern.
But ROT has a big problem, and it is something a little different than what you might expect. Notably, the parade is going downtown in the early evening on Friday. If you like riding in a parade, this one to downtown Austin is good. Partying downtown, which is FREE, is by far the biggest attraction at the Austin rally.
On the downside of having the parade is that buying a day pass for Friday isn’t worth it. Most people are either in the camping area or in downtown Austin during the motorcycle rally’s busy hours. As a result, not much is going on at the Expo Center if you are not camping at ROT.
Also, buying a complete weekend pass doesn’t have the same value. This is because you are paying for four days. But you only get whatever is good during the day and night on Saturday at ROT Rally.
On Saturday, there are the attractions we noted above during the day at the ROT Rally. Then, at night, there are bands. And the camping is pretty wild, whether you like golf carts or not. But Sunday is like many bike rallies – it is just vendors breaking down as fast as possible, starting in the morning.
Vending at the Republic of Texas Rally
As we noted above, since almost everyone who isn’t camping leaves to go downtown Austin, there isn’t much going on Friday evening at the biker rally. For vendors, this is a train wreck. Because when people start showing up, they all leave to go downtown. And this means that what should be the second-best day of sales, Friday, is poor at ROT.
We have seen the Expo as such a ghost town that even R.O.T. Rally shuts down its merchandise booths. And we saw this by the time it was dark on Friday. As you know, merchandise sales are a huge source of revenue for all biker rallies. So when a rally stops selling its products, it is time for vendors to close.
Also, not much is going on for non-campers on Friday at ROT. Very few people are in the main area after the parade leaves. Another large number of vendors have closed. As a result, attendees/potential shoppers at the Expo don’t drink $8 beers when nothing is going on.
Then, on Saturday, shoppers show up for the R.O.T. Biker Rally. But there are not as many as you would expect for a rally with around 10,000 attendees. Again, most attendees are there to party and camp, so they are recovering on Saturday. This means far fewer shoppers are at the Expo Center than expected.
Poor sales at ROT are compounded by the bands. And this is because, by early evening, people are going to watch the bands, not shop. Again, when vendors arrive on Sunday, it is time to pack up and not make sales.
The Bottom Line for Vendors at the Biker Rally
So, is it worth vending at ROT Rally? Well, that answer is simple – NO. As you can read, at most four-day rallies, Thursdays are dead like R.O.T is. Then, when foot traffic starts on Friday, everyone quickly leaves for the parade or goes to the campgrounds. So, Friday is dead. Foot traffic is also low on Saturday at the ROT Bike Rally. And then on Sunday, vendors pack up.
In addition, Austin, Texas experiences extreme heat during this time of year. Also, Austin sees huge weather swings this time of year, including torrential winds. Next, dirt pathways run along at least one edge of most vendor spots. As a result, inventory can sustain significant damage and/or get dirty. All of this makes being a vendor at the ROT Rally miserable.
Next, there is a solid chance that the Republic of Texas Austin Biker Rally will not be profitable enough to show up. Also, we have a friend who has worked for beer and alcohol concession companies for years. We were also told that the Rally’s concession sales were down by 30% or more from 2018 to 2019.
Then you add in the low attendance. Also, you add in the large percentage of people who are there but are not shopping. Plus, you consider that Rally’s schedule is not vendor-friendly. And vending at ROT Rally is terrible.
Again, this isn’t just our opinion. For instance, the big rigs and larger vendors are not at the R.O.T. Biker Rally. Also, many empty spaces were overflowing during the bike rally in the past.
Next, there are many small mom-and-pop vendors. Some of which are in Walmart canopies. They are like flea-market vendors, cheap-product vendors, non-biker companies running promotions (there was a siding company vending), etc.
As always, vendors vote with their dollars and time. With the above, the vendors voted a big no on ROT Rally. Also, there are many more profitable events than the Austin bike rally.
Vendors look for rallies to attend before their next big event. But many ROT Rally vendors said they would take the weekend off instead. That is because putting in a huge effort in the extreme heat during Austin’s ROT motorcycle rally isn’t fun. And doing it all to lose money, or make very little, honestly makes no sense.
Finally, look at other motorcycle events to be a vendor at.
Should I Go to the R.O.T. Rally?
Again, based on what we have seen at ROT and what attendees have said, the bike rally might be worthwhile if you are going to camp. But if you are not going to camp and party, the ROT Rally in Austin is a waste of your time and money.
Now, you add that the entry fee is $149 for the 2020 ROT Biker Rally. And if you are traveling a long distance, it is not worth it. Also, most people who didn’t camp and bought a four-day pass were unhappy. Just go to ROT Rally’s Facebook reviews, and you will see our review is the same. Sorry for the downer information, but it’s better to know before you waste your time and money.
Other R.O.T. Information
NOTE: During the entire ROT Biker Rally weekend, Austin is a “no refusal” jurisdiction. And this means you must take a DUI if a cop asks.
– BYOB to ROT for sure.
– FEES – A four-day pass for the 2021 Rally is $149.
Finally, a quality event in Texas that you might want to check out is the 2026 Handbuilt Motorcycle Show.
