Don't expect this year's Harley Davidson bike rally, kicking off next weekend, to be like last year's tame affair.

Officials predict more bikers will converge on the Grand Strand for the Cruisin' the Coast Spring Bike Rally - not near as many as during its peak years ago, but enough to know there's a rally in town, they said.

"We are back on the upswing," said DeAnna Fryar, who is in charge of the vendors at Barefoot Landing.

Several factors are contributing to the expected uptick: More aggressive marketing - the most advertising since 2009; an improving economy; and, some say most importantly, the repeal of Myrtle Beach's controversial helmet law.

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