I just got back from the Legends Ride press conference at the Franklin Hotel. There was a surprise guest at the end — Steven Tyler of Aerosmith.

Tyler and his partners at Dirico Motorcycles stopped in to answer questions from the press and talk about Dirico, the line of custom bikes that Tyler is personally promoting.

(In the photo above is Stephen Talarico, left, Tyler’s cousin and partner, and Mark Dirico, his other partner.)

In fact Tyler rode his Dirico in the Legends Ride, a massive caravan of 250 motorcycles that pulled out of Deadwood this afternoon, drove down U.S. 385, to Nemo, then down Vanocker Canyon to Sturgis and the Buffalo Chip Campground.

The Chip and the Deadwood Chamber of Commerce are sponsors of the Legends Ride. The riders each kick in $150, all of which goes directly to the Childrens Home Society and the Motorcycle Museum.

Also at the press conference was John Paul DeJoria, co-founder of John Paul Mitchell Systems, maker of Paul Mitchell hair care products. In a grand gesture, he contributed an extra $10,000 to the Legends Ride and offered to match any money contributed in addition to the ride fee.

DeJoria also brought actor and bike builder Lorenzo Lamas to the podium. He talked about Lorenzo Lamas Motorcycles, his line of custom motorcycles.

Also doing the Legends Ride was actress Sheree J. Wilson, of Walker, Texas Ranger.” She’s involved in a new Easy Rider sequel called “Easy Rider, The Ride Back.”

By the way, the Legends Ride isn’t the only place to see Steven Tyler this week. Aerosmith is performing at the Bufflao Chip Campground on Wednesday night.