ROT Rally

Author Revolution Motorcycle Marketing

First, R.O.T. Biker Rally Sucks!! And there are no dates for the 2025 as of December 2024.

Next, the R.O.T. Rally was held at the Austin Speed Shop. So, in a short period, it has gone from the gigantic Expo Center to the comparatively tiny motorcycle shop!!

At this point, the biggest draws of ROT are not happening. And if they changed the 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.

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 motorcycle rally was just terrible. Here’s just a handful of low-lights:

-There was no electricity for the first couple of days, even when you paid.
-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 the permit to have more than 2,500 attendees. And guess what? Even on Saturday, the R.O.T. motorcycle rally was not full.

It was held in Bastrop, farther away from one of the biggest R.O.T. attractions partying in downtown Austin.

How was the 2021 R.O.T.?

As you may know, the Rally has declined for many years. But after the 2021 R.O.T., 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 R.O.T. Rally’s 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. Now, the previous R.O.T. owners have tried for years to improve it. But the biker rally got worse as the prices and quality went downhill quickly.

Next, let’s take a look at the wreck in 2020. Now, you probably have heard that the 2020 R.O.T. was canceled. You may have heard in different R.O.T. Biker Rally reviews and posts that no refunds exist. 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 R.O.T. money. Plus, not everyone could return in 2021, so they were screwed out of a lot of money.

Then, in 2021, the R.O.T. Rally venue changed to the racetrack. And it was a wreck. The people who paid for a specific R.V. spot did not get it. Instead, they were put wherever the unorganized staff wanted them.

Also, at the 2021 R.O.T. Biker Rally, not everyone was allowed to ride their motorcycle. So yes, many people had to park their motorcycles and take a shuttle!! But golf carts could bring yours in if you paid the rip-off fee. Or you could rent a golf cart at R.O.T. for rip-off prices.
And the bands at R.O.T. were not worth half the price. Also, at the 2021 R.O.T., the number and quality of vendors were terrible.

If you liked the R.O.T. 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 Americas.

Next, the below information 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, R.O.T.’s marketing hype has been just hype. Subsequently, we are waiting to see what happens.

Also, the price of a ticket is too high for many people. And this has been the case for some time at the R.O.T. Rally. For instance, the price went from $79 in 2017 to $99 in 2018 and 2019 and then $149 in 2020 and 2021.

As you can read in this thorough review of the bike rally, the value has not been there for endless reasons. One huge problem has been with the quality of the bands. In 2021, Artimus Pyle of Lynyrd Skynrd and Blackberry Smoke will be the headliners, but this is with a ticket price of $149. Yes, $149.

Now, when you compare either of these bands to ZZ Top, which was playing in 2018 at $99, there is no comparison. Most people could not name the band that Artimus Pyle is from. Subsequently, this is not a solid indicator of any amazing changes by the new owners.

Below, you can read and review our 2020 R.O.T. 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.

On top of our review, you can review the R.O.T. motorcycle rally’s Facebook page to read reviews and comments. And you will find endless negative reviews.

2020 R.O.T. Rally Info

First, the R.O.T. Rally did not happen in 2020. Next, below is Our R.O.T. Review BEFORE the cancellation. But you will find that this is great information for 2021 as well.

This year will be the 25th year of the bike rally. Next, the R.O.T. Biker Rally in Austin is on LightningCustoms.com’s Major Motorcycle Rallies List.

First, let us mention that the R.O.T. Rally review below is informational only. Importantly, this is simply what is and 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 (R.O.T.) Biker Rally gets 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 R.O.T. Rally worth the price?

To give you the bottom-line answer, R.O.T. is worthwhile if you want to party and camp all weekend. But if you are not going there for both reasons, the R.O.T. Biker Rally is not worth the price or your time.

So, what is the basis of our review of the biker rally? First, we have been religiously attending the Republic of Texas Rally in Austin for the last 16 years. In addition, we have spoken with tons of attendees and vendors over the years. Also, since the Rally is in our backyard, we can hear the opinions of R.O.T. Rally from people who go regularly. Subsequently, the basis of our review is also not what we want to see at a motorcycle rally.

There have been many changes in the motorcycle world and rallies over the last 16 years. As you have seen, many bike rallies that have been going on for 16 years have had considerable declines in their attendance. Other rallies that were around back then have now shut down. Subsequently, we are not signaling out only R.O.T.

Comparison of R.O.T. to Sturgis or Lone Star Rally

Although you will hear or have read from R.O.T. Rally’s promoters that the event is similar to Sturgis, there are none. Except there are both humans and vehicles with motors at both bike rallies.

Specifically, the attendance at the R.O.T. Biker Rally in Austin has gone from approximately 45,000 to a few thosand. Importantly, this is the number of attendees that pay to get into the Expo Center (the official venue of R.O.T.). On the other hand, the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally gets around 500,000 attendees per year. So, there is no comparison when you look at the attendance.

Next, how does the attendance at R.O.T. Rally compare to other motorcycle rallies in Texas? Again, there is no comparison. Notably, the Lone Star Rally 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 received a little over 10,000 attendees at 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 there are vastly different attendance numbers for the R.O.T. You might have heard that the Republic of Texas Biker Rally’s attendance is 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 R.O.T. Do Not go to the Expo Center. Instead, there are a huge number of riders who come to the Austin area but do not go to 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 there are a lot of locals that come out to look around in downtown Austin. But still, they are part of the R.O.T. Bike Rally “participants.”

We clarify the disparity in the numbers because it can generally be confusing. In addition, if the official R.O.T. motorcycle rally venue has 150,000 to 200,000 attendees, you might expect the attractions of a giant biker event. But there are no huge attractions in R.O.T.

Also, vendors do not want to misunderstand the attendance at the R.O.T. 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, there are no similarities in the quality of attractions when comparing the R.O.T. Biker Rally to the Sturgis or Lone Star. As you will read below, there just are not.

Next, we get input and hear comments about Austin’s R.O.T. Rally being a “golf cart rally.” Whether you think golf carts are good or bad, there are tons of golf carts. More people ride around on golf carts in the camping area than motorcycles. Just look at the pictures and videos, and you will see our R.O.T. review is correct.

Also, the reason why there are so many golf carts at the R.O.T. 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 is that it depends. Again, the cost to attend the 2019 R.O.T. Biker Rally was $99; in 2020, it was $149. The entry fee was free tent camping. So, it would be a good deal if you went to camp and party all weekend in a tent.

If you want to bring an R.V. or trailer, luxury is more expensive. It might be worth it, with the temperature regularly being in the high 90s or over 100 degrees in Austin.

Now, back to the four-day pass for the 2020 Rally going up from $99 to $149. So how could this dying 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 Steve Miller Band is headlining in 2020.

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. Also, this highlights R.O.T. Rally’s practice of not getting top-shelf entertainment. Compounding the problem is that even with a lesser band fee for the Austin bike rally, it has gone up 50%!!

In addition, the cost of one beer at the Rally is ridiculous! It was $8 per beer at the 2019 Biker Rally. Also, a bottle of water and soft drinks are extremely expensive. But the good news is that you can BYOB to R.O.T. 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, the “camping” has been and still is one of the best parts of the ROT Biker Rally. Although some still do primitive camping, trailers and RVs have drastically risen. You will see what we mean if you look at the pictures on R.O.T.’s Facebook page. Also, along with the huge drop in the overall attendance at the Republic of Texas Rally, there has been a drop in the number of people in the R.V. / camping area.

Now, at night, the camping area at ROT. gets a Rating. 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, there are some things to check out at the ROT Rally for those camping and those not camping. Now, there are not a lot of amazing attractions, but there are some 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, at the R.O.T. Biker Rally in Austin, there is a bike build-off, motorcycle giveaway, bike show, supermoto, flat track racing, and contests.

So, if you go for the cool traditional attractions you see at a large rally, R.O.T. will be disappointing. There is not enough to do for even half a day at the Republic of Texas motorcycle rally.

Next, there has been a drastic drop in the number and quality of vendors at ROT. Also, there are not a lot of massive vendors at the R.O.T. Biker Rally. In addition, there are very few big rigs at the bike rally.

As you know, big rigs bring out solid displays and cool bikes. In addition, they bring out lots of parts, accessories, and other biker products. Without the big vendors and big rigs, there has been a decrease in the value of even going out to the Expo. This is because there is now a lot less to see and not nearly as much to buy at the R.O.T.

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 quality of the band lineup has been declining. First, there are often unknown bands at ROT, Or there are 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 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 not do much for either of the above. Many people we spoke with said there were fewer people at 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, there were also more hybrid bands. Then, to make matters worse, the price did not go down even with the lower-quality music lineup.