While some vendors claimed the 69th Daytona Bike week was a good motorcycle rally for them, others feel it didn't compare to those of a few years ago.

Once thing appears to be certain however, the chilly weather kept many bikers in the restaurants and bars more than usual and sales of warmer gear such as gloves and leathers were up.

The weather warmed up enough in the last few days of the motorcycle rally to draw bikers into the streets by the ocean to buy last minute momento's before heading for the open road to return home.

Although this was the first year without the famous face of Bruce Rossmeyer, both sales and traffic were brisk at hisHarley Davidson Daytona Beach and Destination Daytona dealerships. According to his daughter and the dealership's manager manager Shelly Rossmeyer Pepe the Harley-Davidson location were are on track to surpass last year's event.

But even the most optimistic admitted the crowds were thinner and certainly less crowded this year.

One statistic that everyone likes to see get smaller every year are the number of motorcycle fatalities. Noting there were more mature and sfer riders at Daytona Beach Bike Week in 2010, Daytona Beach Fire Department spokesman Lt. Larry Stoney said there were only four such related deaths this year, down from the seven from 2009.