Ready to rumble: Milwaukee Rally welcomes motorcycle riders for a weekend of fun

OCONOMOWOC (WITI) -- If you hear or feel the not-so-gentle rumble of motorcycles this weekend, here's why. The annual Milwaukee Rally is back -- and bigger than ever.

The rally kicked off on Friday, August 29th at five Harley-Davidson dealerships in southeast Wisconsin. Among them is Wisconsin Harley-Davidson in Oconomowoc. This is the dealership's first year in the rally and Dianne Crowley says the celebration includes four beer gardens, 16 Wisconsin bands and a comprehensive cultural experience.

"We like to bring people in that are our core customers, that have been coming back for year after year," said Crowley. "But we also like to get people that, maybe, have never ridden before, that have never stepped inside our dealership before that may be are interested in the Harley lifestyle, but just haven't taken that step."

Those folks might dig the jump-start, a Harley-Davidson motorcycle simulator which gets potential riders familiar with the feel of a real ride.

"Somebody who's never sat on a bike before has a chance to sit on a bike; to see how it feels. Most people have a big smile on their face when they start it out, or fear. Either one is fine," said Goran Zadrima of Wisconsin H-D.

Even if you're not one for the two-wheel trek, the Milwaukee Rally offers plenty of other food and fun. That includes bellying up to the Sprecher Traveling Beer Garden. It's a former fire engine and ambulance which have been converted to dispense creative concoctions include soda and beer.

The Milwaukee Rally rolls on through Monday, September 1st.