TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Bikers on island tomorrow

I saw a story in the Daily Herald today that said that there are TWO ships that will be bringing cruise ship passengers with their motorcycles to SXM tomorrow. So, if you're on island, just be on the lookout for what could be some pretty large groups of bikers tomorrow.

Oh great. Just what the island needs. More bikers.

Cruise ships will do anything to get a buck!! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/cloud.gif" alt="" />

Like most businesses, that is how they stay afloat (no pun intended). Themed cruises such as this are pretty popular and this is not the first time a cruise such as this has stopped in SXM. First time probably for 2 ships to be in carrying bikes though.

I think the bikers cruise is at least a yearly event for a couple of different cruise lines, and as JD says, theme cruises in general are very popular. I see nothing wrong with the cruise at all, just a heads up for people to be aware that they might see some pretty large groups of bikers tomorrow.

I wouldn't ride there unless very early in the morning but yes, these cruises are very popular. Just like selling a trip to Sunset, anything to make $$.

If it was the pedal type of bike, I would be interested in that type of cruise.

I had trouble with the article because it said Bikers. Sometimes cyclists with bicycles are called bikers. Motorcyclists are called bikers too. It wasn't until the end of the article they finally said "motorcycles" were on the cruise ships. Now I get it

The local motorcycle riders should have fun riding with them!!! Let's watch the wheelies begin!

In honesty, while I understand that some of us might take umbrage with the 'bikers cruise' or perhaps just the idea of more 'bikers', we've been on the island when one of these cruises was in port in the past and judging by what we observed, they are definitely NOT like the 'suicyclists' who live there and who many of us want no part of while we're on the Island. These are serious bikers who have booked the cruise and are bringing their very expensive bikes for their personal enjoyment of both the Island and their sport of riding. No different from the bicycle themed cruise bringing road bicyclists or the nude cruise bringing more nudists...... no harm, no foul. And these visitors do actually get out and around the Island, and from what we saw, they drop some very serious dollars adding to the Island coffers. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

I had no idea that a cruise like that existed, but now I do. While cruises do not float my boat and it has never interested me to rent a bike on island I think bringing down my Harley for a couple cruise stops to ride with other bikers would be a blast. I might just do that in a couple years! I bet there are some awesome bikes and the rumble of them going by would be music to my ears.

Cheers!
T

Very well said! They are mostly there to ride their bikes around the island (enjoying the views) and spend money on food and trinkets and less likely to be inundating the beaches. I hope the have perfect weather for riding around the island.

Thank you, Pat and others. I've been a motorcyclist for nearly half a century and have never thought of myself as some sort of outlaw. My fellow riders and I always respect others on the road (wish I could say the same about some of them). I have a European sportbike (Triumph) which makes no more noise than the average car, and hate being stereotyped.

Pat--yes, these folks are very seriously bikers, bringing very expensive bikes and not the standard 'suicyclists' that are a danger to themselves and everyone else. Have you actually seen a cruise for bicycle enthusiasts? I've not seen that. Doesn't mean it doesn't exist, but I haven't heard of it.

They been having these cruises for years. At least 15 years maybe more. They bring gorgeous bikes/choppers and ride around the island. Big groups of them. Loud. But very cool.
cheers
irina

We've seen a group of these motorcycles parked at the Marigot market one time in October. Very beautiful, and very expensive bikes. I don't ride, but looked like fun to me.

As usual pat is the voice of reason. Her Board Diplomacy is second to none.

To clarify a bit - my number one thought is that while I've never been on a motorcycle in my life, and in fact, I'm absolutely terrified of them, I have many friends who love their Sunday motorcycle rides and live for the joy of exploring on their bikes. They pay a fortune for their "Hawgs" and all their accompanying gear and they would never act the way some of the suicyclists on the island do.

My next thought is to clarify my own fears of motorcycles - as a child of about ten or less years old, I witnessed a horrendous accident in NYS between two young people and one of the old-fashioned open soda/beer delivery trucks. The driver of the truck walked away while the two young people (who, btw, were 100% in the right) didn't live to talk about it. It left a very lasting impression and a total fear of cycles to this day. I have the utmost respect for bikers on the highway and give them wide berth because I've seen, up close and personally, how little protection they have.

And Carol, I assumed there was a bicycle cruise because we got caught up in what appeared to be a road race through the French lowlands one year and when we asked our server about it at dinner that night, we were told they were off a cruise ship. There were probably about 75 to a hundred cyclists and it made sense that, had they been from the Island in that number, it would have been publicized on the Island and we might have heard about it. Beyond that, I honestly don't know if it was a cruise group or not but was just going on what we were told.

We have been there when one of these cruises was in port. I would say 30+ motorcycles (mostly Harley with a few GoldWings and others) and it was interesting to see.

This past trip there was a large bicycle contingent and I thought it may have been a bicycle-type themed cruise as it was probably 50+ riding and they were not locals.

Pat--I have no idea if your server was correct or not, but I guess they would know what they were talking about. I do know that there have been some pretty large bicycle races on island in recent times, as I remember seeing something about one in the Daily Herald recently and the particular one that I saw was not affiliated with a cruise.

In 2014, we met a group of bikers off a cruise. Turns out they were a law enforcement group from Atlanta raising funds and awareness for the Special Olympics! Great group of people, whom we supported by purchasing a t shirt. Event was called the Torch Run. They had police escorts to guide traffic at the roundabouts.

I had no idea they had motorcycle cruises. I'm impressed that they have the capabilities to load and unload them from the ship to support this. Yes, I know they load cargo/food all the time but personal (and expensive) property like that is another thing. Who knew!

I personally am not a fan of large groups of loud motorcycles rolling through an area - and I say this as a former motorcyclist for many years.

What irks me the most is the flagrant disregard for noise ordinances. If I had a car that made as much noise as many of the hogs that I encounter, I would be ticketed in an instant. I just don't understand why police turn a deaf ear to this. Then, when you put them together in a large group, it's downright painful.

I have no idea if SXM has noise laws - or if anyone enforces them if they do - and I'm not trying to start a debate and get this thread shut down. I just wanted to offer another viewpoint.

Noise laws?? Not sure they have many serious laws. Your in the Caribbean. I hate bikes at any cost. Not sure how the Island guys stay alive the way they race in and out of cars...

<img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />Thanks for the heads up. We are headed to the Passangaran House to meet friends for an early breakfast . Then head out of town by 9:30

Without knowing, I assume that they have the riders ride the bikes off the ship, as compared to unloading them by ship personnel. When the ship is docked, no reason why that can't happen, and would be easier, frankly.

Regarding noise ordinances, we are talking about one day...

"Regarding noise ordinances, we are talking about one day..."

AND we are talking about St. Maarten. Pretty sure it's not going to be an enforcement priority. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />

I think if one looks at the proximity of the airport and runway to residential areas and how close a person can actually be to an active runway....I think you can answer your own question on the noise issue you raised regarding SXM.

We saw a group of 15-20 men and women HOG drivers, cruising through Grand Case a few weeks ago. Beautiful machines tooling gracefully and sedately. NO loud rev ups like certain locals,just slowly enjoying the island roads and scenery.

The Bikers was no problem. We have them on many occasions.

Bikers roared by Mullet Bay at noon time. Very well behaved adult riders. Quite a large group.