The Full Throttle Saloon before it burned down was an all right place, but when we went there this year, taking my boy for the first time, it was a total letdown depressing drag. They really need to get rid of the claim that they are the world's largest biker bar. Whereas that might have been the case a few years ago it's certainly doesn't hold water today. Overall the experience this year, 2018, was anti-climactic, and was really a waste of the ride out there. read more

The place is unique, but the staff was rude. Would of stayed and drake....but didn't feel welcome. Was going to buy merchandise, but sales clerk was more rude than the waitress. So, we left. You'd think being so far out away from things they'd welcome folks that went out of their way to visit. No so. read more

The bar lines was long to stand and wait. The bar maids would wait on the men first even if the lady was first. Just hoping to rub her booby in his face for a big tip. And the bands that was supposed to be there wasn't there. And if you stay inside to watch the band be ready to sweat your ass off no air-condition or ceilings fans either. So the temperature are ranging from 86 to 95 . read more

If you're going to promote a Headliner such as Trace Adkins and say the concert is at 7 pm.....don't lie to us. We had to sit through one band that was actually pretty entertaining, had to sit through another band that wasn't so great (and after walking all day and paying for VIP seats where we stood for another 2 hours) a group of dancers came out on stage so we left. Turns out Mr. Adkins wasn't going to take the stage until 10:30! Not 7 pm as the tickets stated. read more

So sad about the fire, this of course is not the original location but was still amazing. I walked the property, had a cold beer and bought myself a T-shirt. I was so thankful that they were open even know it was in the off-season. The lady behind the bar was so friendly and answered all my questions. I can't wait to come back here during bike week, I'm looking into getting an RV spot somewhere right now because I really want to see this place when it's packed. Of course I feel like I know the owner from the TV show and I wish them nothing but the best, I saw the old location up the road a little bit and it look like the big giant bridge they used to have was hooked up to the back of a truck it was gonna be pulled down to this location very soon. read more

Dave and Steve rode our Harley all the way to Sturgis from Livermore Ca for the first time for 2013 rally.. it was a bucket list thing for Steve and I to do this before we got too old to ride that way, 1500 miles one way. I prepaid $100.00 donation for both of us to ride in the Pappy Hoel ride with the Full Throttle Saloon last June to secure our place for 2013. On 8/7/13 the big day came and we went over to the Full Throttle on our bikes and got in line. I asked for Maps or where we were going and the help said it is up to Michael Ballard to decide where to go. We had to wait over an hour later to get started which was suppose to be 11 am and turned into 12:30 pm and there were over 500 bikes in the crowd waiting in the hot sun. The Full Throttle web site said there was a limited amount of bikes allowed, but it looked like they took everyone. is it always about the money? Jesse Dupree came up and down the lines and told us all to go through town and when we got by a liquor store that no longer carried their brand alcohol, to honk our horns. I knew this was a mistake without a police escort with all the stop signs and stop lights through town. Steve and I were about 100 bikes in the line is my guess and sure enough they lost us and we were left behind and no idea where to go. It would have been nice if they would have stopped to wait for everyone to catch up when they got to open rode. Steve and I went back to the Full Throttle to talk to management about a refund and left our name and cell phone number. I was assured someone would call us that night. No one did to my extreme disappointment. I went back to the Full Throttle the next day on Thursday and went to the office where I met Angie's parents Randy and Jody, (very nice people). I told them the story again about how we were left behind and asked for a refund. They told me the money was already sent to the Humane Society and could not be refunded. So I asked if they could maybe give us a couple of T shirts or something like that, and Jody said that might be possible and not to worry that Michael Ballard is good about this type of thing. I was assured they would call my cell phone by that night. I advised Jody and Randy that I was leaving on Friday to back to California and hope they could call soon about the T shirt so I could pick it up. I never got a call and most of all disappointed I missed the ride of my life, something I always wanted to do. I feel ripped off and cheated Michael Ballard! This was a once in a lifetime opportunity shot by lousy planning on your part. What was Jesse thinking when he said we should all ride through town where traffic is all backed up? Where was the police escort so we would not get separated? The next day I was in town and saw a large group of bikes come through and they had a motorcycle cop escorting them through all the lights. Why could you not do that? The Full Throttle Saloon and entertainment was a very big disappointment to me. Even a phone call would have been good to hear from you either way. I will be telling everyone I know what a bad experience this was for me and recommend not to support the Pappy Hoel ride as it is only about the money with Michael Ballard it seems like. Sending all my best to Jody and Randy for taking the time to talk to me. Regards Dave Smith Livermore CA. read more

Overpriced dump. If you go to Sturgis for the rally you have to go to the Full Throttle to say you went. Just walk through and leave. No need to pay for the marked up warm beer. read more

Before I could get into the bar I had to wait while the help was chatting with someone and taking pictures. We had to pay a $10/person cover charge for a band that wasn't playing still at 11pm when we left. The bar service was horrible. There were 3 male non working bartenders (one of which was texting on his iPhone) while I waited to be served my $7 drink which did come with a free shot of S'loonshine (but the bartender didn't know all the flavors it came in). When I finally got my drink it was so watered down that I was more sober when I left than when I came. I used to go to the FTS years ago when it wasn't so commercialized and it was a good biker bar. Now all they care about is publicity and money. read more

What saloon?? We pulled in and it is obvious that they haven't rebuilt yet. A woman flags us down and says "hey do you watch the show?" You know this isn't what we look like,,,,come on into this tiny little shack and Ill show you all the new stuff...Uh no thanks... read more

You should experience Full Throttle just to say you went, but I didn't find it to be the funnest place to hang out. They totally short pour the drinks, so you're paying about $7 for less than an oz of alcohol. During the rally the port o potties are so rank that you can smell them from the parking lot. They have a lot of dancers to watch. Most of them are hot women who can entertain the crowds. If you're a people watcher you may really enjoy this place! read more

Expensive to get into, expensive to drink here, and you really aren't getting anything for your money. Drinks and watered down and you have to brave some pretty nasty terrain if you need to pee. On a side note: The owner is rude to people when dines at other establishments in the community. He doesn't like to be recognized and to that I say why the he'll does he have a TV show and put himself on all the billboards? read more

I cannot tell about the food or prices as we did not get waited on the 15 minutes we sat there. It was about 8pm and 1/2 full, there was 2 employed wiping tables and chatting, flirting, I tried to wave then over but was ignored, then I walked up to the bar but after a 5 min wait there we left. read more

Cool to say I was there, my bloody was just tomato juice dumped in some cheap vodka (6$), credit card machines werent working (although this is "the off season") the bartender was nice and informative, but the place itself was just OK for me. read more

Absolutely loved the old place before it burnt down. New place is not worth the trip all all. Way too far out of town, unfinished, dirty, outdoor concert area is a mud pit if it's rained. We left early and disappointed and found another bar instead. The new place has been hyped online over the last months before the opening and I couldn't have been more unhappy with what was really just a metal warehouse with no real atmosphere. Don't waste your time. read more

This place is nuts. Visited several times during the rally. Pros: - it's HUGE. There are so many things to do and look at. - Great for people-watching. Almost anything goes for this place - Friendly (and good looking!) staff - They had free samples of their moonshine Cons: - Way over-priced. $14 for a fajita? $8 for a slice of pizza? They clearly use their reputation to jack up prices and rip people off - Can't pay for a drink with a card. Cash only, which is ridiculous. - Very, very crowded during rally. You have to get there early to get good spot for the concerts. Overall, 3/5. Definitely a place to check out for the experience. read more

Let me start off with saying that my husband and I were big fans of the show. It was on our bucket list of things to do and we drove 1700 miles to get there. We went there twice during the Sturgis 2015 rally. First the things we like,,, So much to look at! Visually stimulating with all the repurposed old buses, vehicles, car parts etc. The flaunt girls were great and they upped their game with the aerial acts. The port a johns were very clean. The motorcycle riders inside the metal ball were excellent. There was a handsome guy at the male run bar station, and he drew lots of women over there, and he really put on a show for everyone. There should have been more guys over there to help him out. What we didn't like....very run down. Didn't look they cleaned the place after the rally last year. The food was terrible and way overpriced. The guy that made our steak sandwich wasn't even wearing gloves! The drinks were all watered down and cry expensive. $3 for a 17 cent bottle of water. Nowhere to sit. The old furniture and tables were ready to be thrown out. I understand it is a biker bar, but fabric upholstered furniture that has been left out in the rain and is moldy and dirty is never appealing to sit on. Some of the chairs had wheels and some of the wheels were missing. Throw them out! You can buy used office furniture cheap. What we saw of the bands were good. But at one point the music being played off a cd or something started skipping and it went on for like forever and then the next song came on and that started skipping too. Went on for like 30 minutes and no one corrected the situation. There were big breaks between all acts and entertainment. All acts or antics should be on a platform so you can see them. Even from way high up we couldn't see the midget wrestlers or that stupid act with the girls with the whipped cream, that was narrated by a woman with a gravelly voice. Whoever thought of that act, it was incredibly unentertaining. They finally opened up the mechanical bull and it immediately had people lining up for it because beside the zip lines there really wasn't much to do. Last, and I feel bad about this part. A lot of the girls that were out walking the grounds were tiny and unhealthy looking. My husband said their clothes were actually dirty. They looked underfed, and one girl pole dancing on a bar had bruises and welts on her. She should not have been up there. Girls behind the bars were pretty good looking and very nice and professional. This review is meant to be taken constructively. We went there 3 times during our trip, and I would definitely not tell people to go there. That being said The Full Throttle is a powerhouse in this area and I feel that they need to make some improvements in order to compete with the Buffalo Chip and the Beaver Bar that are just sitting there waiting to take all their business away. read more

So we had to come to the Throttle after having watched it season after season....hubby thought it was pretty dirty...it was but I kinda expected that...it's getting 3 stars from me cuz seriously Mike Ballard....u make $ from us and the show...put in some hand washing stations...and porta potties in all 4 corners...don't make a girl walk clear over to the one corner to potty!! read more

My husband and I decided to stop by and see what was left of the saloon. We would always see it on TV and now that we were so close (Mt. Rushmore) why not see the new and old place. At the old place we received great service from Barney and Steve. Barney is quite the character and had us laughing the entire time. Steve gave information about the new place. We are planning on coming back and check out the new place once it is completely done. read more

Just one of those got to go places when your in Surgis. Well we went several times, Have some of my best memorys with my buddys from this place like doing the zip line while Ted Nudget plays Cat Scratch Fever, sitting on somebodys front tire while he does a big smokey burnout, Oh yea don't forget Jackel Thursday. Alway have a DD! Beer was cold and the service was good looking. read more

If you want an awesome, crazy experience of a life time, then stop at the Full Throttle Saloon at least a few times during the rally! Obviously this isn't Disneyland and it sure could use nice bathrooms, but other than the occasional minor cover charge the place is FREE to get in to! So stop the crying and have some fun! If you can go the day before the rally starts so you can enjoy smaller crowds (most times). Then go back on Thursday for "Jackyl night", it is CRAZY FUN! They rock your socks off! Have fun! read more

We were at the Throttle twice in 2011 and absolutely loved it! We planned for the 75th for four years.........for us it was to be THE RALLY, so of course it would include a few visits to the Throttle. As time permitted we didn't head to the Throttle until Thursday night, while my wife and I were walking in, we decided to turn around and head over to the Beaver Bar, the Throttle was packed beyond the door ! Half of our group was already in the Throttle, so when I heard about the $20 per person cover charge and $5 plus beer prices, I was glad that I made the choice to turn around !! The Beaver had no cover and $2 beers, plus a really rocking band !!! On that particular night Jackyl was playing at the Throttle, been there, done that, it gets old. Hopefully Michael will wake up and realize that he doesn't need to gouge people to make money, after all, just the number of patrons alone should be profitable. Please understand that the Throttle was not the only disappointment for us at the overhyped 75th !!! None of the usual big name entertainers were in Sturgis this year, makes me think that it was all about profits. read more

Sorry to see it go. Glad no one was hurt and saddened for the Ballards loss. read more

Staying here for 2020 80th. Full Throttle bar is a cool place to visit has a lot to look at. My review is actually for their Pappy Hoel campground. Thought we would check out staying here as everything looked so hyped on their website. Site was a disappointment. Very sloped so even with jacks couldn't get level. Signage is very minimal and easy to miss when coming in at night. Very dusty gravely thoroughfares that allalso dangerous. Saw one bike dumped and several other close calls. Only one entrance/exit on very busy two lane HWY makes getting in and out extremely dangerous. You pay for your site which seems reasonable but where they get you is in the extremely expensive wrist bands. You can't have people staying other places come to visit for an evening without buying a wristband. Anyone can enter Full Throttle and watch the bands, none of which I would consider as big names. The quiet time is 12-6 am. Not enforced so here I am at 3:50 on the morning of my departure listening to a loud party. Won't stay here again. Just wanted to warn others. Too many nice places to stay for a party of 6 to pay way over two grand. read more

Cool place with potential. Paid a lot to stay with some advertised services not functioning. Still lots of construction yet.

Cabins and bathrooms were clean, new bar was really nice, but cost way too much for what you get. If you wanted a picnic table, you had to rent one, $10 for a bag of ice, $6 for a beer. Had all you can eat breakfast and dinner for $10 each, but there wasn't much to choose from (not worth the $). Won't be staying her next time we are in Sturgis. read more

Horrible bar!!! I can't speak for how the place is during a show, but this place SUCKS as a bar. About half of the bar has been converted to a retail shop. We went in the evening on a Friday night a couple of weeks ago. The place was DIRTY as hell. Cigarette butts and food all over the floor inside. More flies than I've EVER seen in a bar. I love a good dive bar, but this place had "health code violation" written ALL over it!! The girl bartender didn't know what a well drink was- seriously! Drinks were made poorly. One employee in a wife beater t-shirt was totally rude to a customer who was trying to get a drink. . Might be fun for a show, but sucks if you're looking to drink at the bar. read more

Not at all living up to TV hype. Dead pre rally week. So must be dead all year except rally week. Update. Just heard it burned down. Karma read more

We were really excited to go and hang out at the new FTS and stay on the campground, but we were sorely disappointed. Most of the campground and bar was a mud pit, the porta pottys were full, the washers and dryers were broken, half the time there was no toilet paper or paper towels. I thought this place was a biker bar...not a club with rap music and strippers on the bar. Only good thing I could say is there was hot water in the showers! read more

It is a place you need to see when in Stugis, do not expect to get anything COLD to drink or that the food you will be eating has been prepared in a clean area, they do not exist. The experience during the day was OK, the decor is different. Disappointed the Throttle does not think more of bikers, very dirty and NO ICE IN AUGUST, really!!!!!! If you have seen it once save your time, no need to return. read more

What they don't show you on TV is they only have porta potties that are way out in the corner. Saw Jackyl 8-8-13 and it poured rain so the walk to the potty was long and muddy. Jackyl was awesome but the people there just stood around with their arms crossed. I told the girl next to me she should go home and go to bed. What a bunch of BORING people. The beer everywhere else was 5.00 FTS was 5.50. Poor Michael is always whining about money so I spent some. But really it's not all that. read more

2012 was my first visit to Sturgis and as a bartender, manager and biker I had to go here! The bar is unreal....tons of stimulation. Here is my beef...The bartenders suck! It took forever to get a drink that actually I cannot even describe as cold. I had asked for Absolute vodka and got one. Went back for a second and was told the gun system was down so I should go to one of their side bars, I did this and was told by this bartender that they don't carry Absolute....they were passing premium vodka with the cheap stuff. Instead of looking for "hot" bartenders they need more efficient ones. I cannot imagine the money they are losing because of poor service! It is a must see though! read more

FTS (Pappy Hoel campground) Sturgis 76th run, the place was a SHIT hole. No organization, No customer service, Over priced, Rented one of the cabin (2100.00) one of the bunk beds was broken, called for maintenance and no one showed to fix. Had contracted in early Feb 2016, paid in full, and took til June for contract and verification of payment. Had to wait two days for extra keys to be made (only one key upon check in). Michael & Angie promised a lot and failed to deliver 1/4 of what was advertised. Stage and entertainment SUCKED, a bunch of has been. The weather is what it is, however a little preparation would have gone a long way (better pathways). I believe a lot of folks were brought in from out of state (Tennessee) with little knowledge. Bath houses had long line at 6am, with barely warm H2O. A single star is being gracious. Will find other accommodation next year. #FTS/FuckthisShit. read more