<P> The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally is an American motorcycle rally held annually in Sturgis , South Dakota , for ten days usually during the first full week of August . In 2015 the city of Sturgis officially expanded the dates to have the rally start on the Friday before the first full week of August and end on the second Sunday . It was begun in 1938 by a group of Indian Motorcycle riders and was originally held for stunts and races . Attendance has historically been around 500,000 people , reaching a high of over 700,000 in 2015 . The event generates around $800 million in revenue . </P>
when does the sturgis south dakota rally start
Friday before the first full week of August