Search Results

Sean Donahue and Blackout Motors

How long have you been riding motorcycles? When did you first start riding?

I started riding motorcycles 6 years ago when I first moved to San Francisco, out of necessity. I needed a mode of transportation to get around the city, and parking a car in San Francisco isn’t really an option. First, I tried out an electric scooter share app to get started and found out very quickly that I was ready for something bigger and badder. Enter motorcycle riding class to get my license, and buying my first bike, an old 1990 Yamaha Radian YX600. 

What do you love most about motorcycles?

What isn’t there to love about motorcycles? The ability to grab the throttle and take off down the road is what got me hooked. My experience with motorcycles has evolved over time, but riding motorcycles is an escape from the day-to-day chores of our lives. Without being terribly cliché, there’s a great sense of freedom when traveling on a motorcycle.

What was the most surprising thing about your experiences in Spearfish, South Dakota?

Most surprising is the amount of local business owners. Everyone in Spearfish, and other towns I visited and got to talk with locals, revealed that seemingly everyone owns a business or two. 

What were some of the most interesting things you learned during your visit to Blackout Motors?

I got to learn about the manufacturing and fabrication process at Blackout Motors. I hadn’t seen a similar product before, so I was really interested in learning the ins and outs of their production. Following that, I was lucky enough to help assemble a kit of theirs onto a motorcycle.

What are some of the key takeaways from your experiences with Blackout Motors?

1) South Dakotans are incredibly friendly and genuine. Everyone is treated like family. 
2) It’s possible to manage a successful handful of businesses and maintain a budding family.

What are the top three highlights of your trip as a whole?

1) Sunrise at Badlands State Park. There wasn’t a soul in the park, and it was an incredible experience to watch the sun start to creep up and light up the landscape.
2) Buffalo at Custer State Park. I found the herd of buffalo in the park and sat up on a hill—above where the buffalo had settled—to watch the sunset. 
3) Hanging with Katie and James of Blackout Motors. They’re wonderful people that aren’t afraid of hard work, and I’m thankful for the experience I had with them.


On your next trip to South Dakota, what area(s) of the state do you plan on visiting and why?

Next trip to South Dakota will be out to the Black Hills again so I can show my wife Badlands and Custer State Parks. I’d also like to make my way out to Sioux Falls to see what’s happening on the eastern side of the state.
 

Go All Out In Aberdeen

 Make the most of this sweet and simple community guide that features all the best of Aberdeen.

Family Road Trip: Omaha to Sioux Falls

Ready for a long weekend of adventure? Family fun is just a quick 3-hour road trip away from Omaha. Stop in Vermillion then head on to Sioux Falls for plenty of activities to keep the kids busy and happy.

A-Z South Dakota Hunting and Fishing Field Guide

What defines a great hunt? It’s the company you keep, the food you eat, and the memories you make — the birds are an added bonus. That’s good news if you hunt in South Dakota, where you’ll find all the above and then some.

Minneapolis to Yankton Road Trip: Get Outdoors

Everyone needs a break, but not everyone knows how to do it. Thankfully, a quick escape to South Dakota can provide enough sunshine, nature and deliciousness to power up your batteries and send you back home happy. Take advantage of a long weekend to explore and enjoy the South Dakota wilderness only 315 miles away from Minneapolis.

Christmas Wallpapers

Choose 1 or all 3 South Dakota themed wallpapers, available now for download on your desktop or mobile device.

Laghi glaciali e Praterie

Iniziate la vostra visita da Brookings, lungo l’Interstate 29. 

氷河湖と草原地帯

州間高速道路29号線に沿ってブルッキングスのツアーを始めましょう。 

Traditional Chinese Glacial Lakes and Prairies

沿著 29 號州際公路開始您的布魯金斯之旅。