More than 75 bikers are expected to ride into Muskogee this weekend, but business leaders say they are happy about it.

The motorcycle event is the Gold Wing Road Riders Association of Oklahoma state rally today and Saturday at the Muskogee Civic Center.

“For many, the word ‘bikers’ conjures up this 1950s vision of leather-clad, rough-looking motorcycle riders with tattoos, roaring into town on Harleys,” said Max Boydstun, senior vice president at Citizens Security Bank.

He is also an enthusiastic biker and director of the tourism committee at the Greater Muskogee Area Chamber of Commerce.

“Today’s bikers include lawyers, doctors, and off-duty police officers all belonging to one of the fastest-growing segments in motor sports,” he said.

Boydstun said the Gold Wing is the most popular of the Honda touring motorcycles.

Festivities will include the Annual Light Parade at 9 p.m. Friday night, where participants will decorate their motorcycles with lights and parade through town. Approximately 75-100 bikes will travel from the civic center to Honor Heights Park. The route was chosen to honor veterans.

The rally will include daily seminars at the civic center on safety, touring tips and first aid. The seminars are open to the public for a $15 day pass.

“We are excited about bringing our state rally to Muskogee this year, having been in Stillwater for the last four years,” said GWRRA Oklahoma District Director Rick Greninger. “Muskogee has a lot to offer our group. This area has some great rides, gorgeous scenery and friendly people.”

Treasure McKenzie, vice president of Tourism and Marketing at the Muskogee Chamber of Commerce, said motorcycle tourism is a growing market of visitors who are looking for new places to experience.

“We have been working closely with Cassandra Gaines at the civic center to recruit conventions to the newly-renovated facility,” McKenzie said.

The Gold Wing Road Riders Association is the world’s largest single-name social organization for owners and riders of Honda Gold Wing motorcycles.

“Motorcycling is thought of as the last romantic way to travel,” Boydstun said. “It’s a growing sport that attracts both men and women riding ‘two up’ or as a couple, each on their own machine. There are now more than nine million licensed motorcyclists nationwide. The U.S. Motorcycle Industry Council says that 20 percent to 30 percent of new riders are female. We really want Muskogee to be thought of as the motorcycle magnet of Oklahoma.”

McKenzie said the sound of motorcycles is music to many business owners. Bikers spend money at local hotels, restaurants and stores.

She said the chamber has developed a One Day Scenic Trips brochure that highlights five rides throughout eastern Oklahoma that begin and end in Muskogee. The maps will be available at the chamber office and the Tourist Information Center on U.S. 69.