Ever (voluntarily) had a vehicle in the impound lot?

[Ranchdude]

I have a question about bringing my motorcycle. I have an opportunity to do a MC ride out of Lake Tahoe starting on September 4th. I am planning on bringing an RV and could tow my Motorcycle in an enclosed trailer. I know that MC's are not allowed in and there is an unattended storage area where they will be placed.

So, If I bring the fully enclosed trailer I assume that I will not be able to keep it with me and it will go in the unattended lot. If the trailer is locked and chained and all that, is there anything I have to worry about? Ever dealt with this issue before?

Thanks for any advice.

[unjonharley]

You could drop by the nearest Harley shop and ask if they would park it for a week..

[Savannah]

I've split this topic off from your Introduce Yourself thread and have given it a title, Ranchdude, 'cause it's a new, very specific topic and might not otherwise be seen.

If no one knows the answer (or even if someone does) I would recommend you email dmv (at) burningman (dot) com .

(I'm not sure if the DMV is expecting people to purposefully use the impound lot.)

[Eric]

Wouldn't it be easier to just rent a storage unit in Reno to put the bike in? Wouldn't cost that much (especially if they knew it was only for a week or two), and you'd have way more security than at the impound lot.

[theCryptofishist]

Yeah, I'm pretty sure the impound lot is at your own risk.

[ranger magnum]

Perhaps the powers that be will simply let you bring in the trailer and bike. If its a pretty decent bike, it wouldnt be difficult to believe it would remain in the trailer.

[Aurelia]

because it is after all your Harley

(which one by the way)

treat it with due respect

[EspressoDude]

check with gate folks. My understanding is that you cannot ride it at/during the event. Locked in an enclosed trailer should be no problem, except for alkaki dust on your bike which will dull all metal surfaces and start rusting.

[Ranchdude]

I had a convo with my buddy in Lake Tahoe, he has a spare so I am probably gonna leave mine here and use his.

2009 Road King.

[gyre]

You can bring or rid the bike in and park it.
You just can't ride it during the event.

No issue with a trailer either.

[171/348]

I was actually wondering the EXACT same thing when I read that, unless it's your primary means of transport to and from the playa, all motorcycles will be impounded. I will, at that point, hopefully be living in the RV and I'm thinking motorcycle on a hitch platform rather than taking the gas mileage hit that towing my Jeep would be. I was thinking about looking into a storage place for the ten days when the plan was to take the Jeep because I thought non-mutant tows were verboten too. Probably wouldn't be too hard to find a place for short term like that, especially since I figure all the closest places usually hold Burner stuff so they'll be empty. Hmmmmmm.....

[gyre]

This has come up before and, unless they changed policy, you could come in with a trailer etc and leave it parked for the duration.
It's not like a harley is useful in those crowds anyway.
I don't know why any trailer would be an issue.
You just have to find camping space for it.

Won't hurt to check, but I know this has been asked before.
When something looks likely to be used when it shouldn't, one person mentioned leaving some vital part at the gate.
They may want some assurance it's not for playa use.
If it's blocked in in camp, rangers will know it's not going anywhere.

Dust might be more of a concern.

[trilobyte]

For a specific answer, check the main site or check with the folks at [email protected]. But yes, vehicles and trailers in the impound lot are at their own risk, and as others have suggested it would be wise to store the vehicle off-playa (whether it's in the trailer or not). The weather is extreme, the dust gets into even the tiniest nooks and crannies, and is corrosive.

[MikeGyver]

I saw people last year drive right through gate with a dirtbike strapped to the back of their RV. They might have had a note or something saying its okay but Like has been said Im sure once they see the shiny nice Harley and you tell them you have a MC ride right after the burn they would let it in and trust your not going to be riding it at the burn. Contact playainfo and see what they say. Or borrowing your friends bike would solve the issue, but riding your own bike is always nicer than a borrowed one.

[Savannah]

. . . The OP has clarified (thanks to my boundless curiosity) that he's decided wisely not to bring a nice motorcycle to the event at all, and will simply borrow his buddy's MC while visiting him, pre-playa.

[mrchiff]

Savannah has summed it up, but for those of you that seem to think he could bring it in anyway, summed up below ..

http://www.burningman.com/on_the_playa/ ... iving.html

Non-mutated vehicles intended for recreational driving, including motorcycles, large scooters, and ATVs are not permitted in BRC and will be impounded at the gate. However, if a motorcycle is your sole means of transportation to the event, you may enter the city and park it at your campsite.

http://www.burningman.com/on_the_playa/ ... iving.html

Any vehicle not listed above, including off-road recreational vehicles, may not enter Black Rock City. If you attempt to bring it to Burning Man you will be required to leave it at the Gate in an unsupervised lot, or bring it back home before you enter the event.

[gyre]

We're all aware of the fine print, but also aware of common sense practice used in the past.

The only goal is to make sure the safety rules about playa and city usage are followed.
The rules aren't intended to be onerous on people carrying street vehicles that they don't want to use off road anyway.

[mrchiff]

yes but it would suck if somebody thought one thing only to discover the gate people didn't see it that way, i guess.

[Mojojita]

There are usually a number of vehicles that are parked in a lot behind the Greeter's station. This spot is used by people who don't have room in their camps for additional vehicles.

[gyre]

It's always advisable to check with someone in the dmv, so you have a contact point if there is an issue.

I wouldn't worry about most things, but anything offroad or small, like a four wheeler, light motorcycle or gas powered bike, I would do that.

A paper copy of the correspondence wouldn't hurt.

[Aurelia]

Harley is family