Robert Patrick Inducted Into Sturgis Motorcycle Hall Of Fame

Another Sturgis Motorcycle Rally is officially in the rearview mirror.

The 86th annual rally wrapped up Sunday, August 16, bringing another 10 days of motorcycles, live music, leather, loud pipes, and plenty of two-wheeled excitement to Sturgis, South Dakota.

Early reports indicate attendance was a little lighter than in some previous years, but that didn't stop riders from making the annual pilgrimage to the Black Hills. For many motorcycle enthusiasts, Sturgis isn't simply a rally; it's a yearly tradition.

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Every year, the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum and Hall of Fame recognizes people who have made a significant impact on the motorcycle world.

The Hall of Fame typically honors industry pioneers, custom bike builders, racers, advocates, and others who have helped shape motorcycle culture. But every so often, a celebrity whose passion for motorcycles gets the call to join the club.

2026 was another one of those years.

Actor Robert Patrick, perhaps best known for playing the nearly unstoppable T-1000 in Terminator 2: Judgment Day, was among the latest inductees into the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum Hall of Fame.

I wonder if Patrick got the opportunity to recite one of his well-known lines from Terminator 2 out at this year's rally; you know the one..."Say, that's a nice bike!"

Patrick has enjoyed a long Hollywood career, appearing in movies such as The Faculty and television and streaming hits including Tulsa King and Reacher. But his connection to motorcycles goes back much further than his acting career.

According to a Dakota News Now article, Patrick described his induction as a tremendous honor, particularly because it coincides with America's 250th birthday.

His love of motorcycles can actually be traced back to a memorable moment when he was about 12 years old. Patrick said a poster featuring Peter Fonda caught his attention while he was getting a Slurpee in 1970. The poster showed Fonda sitting on a large chopper, complete with black leather, sunglasses, and an iron cross.

It was from the movie The Wild Angels, produced by legendary filmmaker Roger Corman.

Patrick said seeing that image made a lasting impression on him and helped spark his lifelong interest in motorcycles and riding.

Patrick isn't simply someone who shows up in Sturgis when Hollywood calls. He says he rides to the rally every year.

And if tradition holds, Patrick won't have to wait long before he's back in the Black Hills. The 87th annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally is scheduled to begin for another 10 days starting on August 6, 2027.

5 Things South Dakota Gave the World

South Dakota may not get much respect. We get a blizzard and it's a footnote on the national scene, but if Florida gets a bit chilly it's breaking news. But, maybe it's fine to be forgotten about. We kind of like being left alone on our quiet piece of the plains.

South Dakota has given a lot to the world though. Not just giant mountain carvings and settings for HBO shows, but awesome things that the rest of the world should thank us for.

Gallery Credit: Ben Kuhns