NYC Motorcycle Show - Anything worth a post?

[AliMar]

I recall some of you saying you were heading to Jacob Javits for the show this weekend. I couldn't make it but would love to hear any associated stories and/or see some pics!

[Jim_Schuyler]

Mark,

If you are looking for the different makes of Motorcycles, it was good. They were all there to sit on and compare. Other than that, Americaide is better. Saw the new BMW 450. cute. Some said the attendance was down because of the date change.

[RVB1019]

Here is the report I wrote and shared with the LIBMWR club:

I survived another Javits Center Bike show. They seemed to spread out
the vendors much better this year. They even opened a third area.

The highlights:
- Meeting Rick Meyer of Rick Meyer saddles
- Seeing the BMW 800GS
- the new blue version of the 1200GS was on display but up on a
pedestal display. Nice color!
- Seeing Shira and Brian from Backroads magazine
- Possibly getting a Trama Beginners and Experienced Rider Course to
be held in Bellport! I'll update you more as I get the details.
- Being out of there by 3pm.
- Victory Crusiers were gorgeous! If I were to get another crusier, a
Jackpot or a Kingpin would be my choice.
- Piaggo MP3 Scooters were very cool to look at! One model was a
500CC variety.
- Belstaff had the entire British Motorcycle Gear line on display.
- Kawasaki KLR was a stunner. Much taller than I anticpated. Ditto on
the Vstrom (1100?) and it's bany sister the WeeStrom (600cc)
- KLM was also there but I was too burnt out to check it out- sorry!
- Not as many stunt bike or burnout videos clogging the aisles

The Lows:
- Not sitting on the BMW 800GS. They only brought in ONE 800 GS for
everyone to oogle at. People were standing 7 people deep. I couldn't
get near it to throw my leg over. Come to think of it, I don't
think I saw anyone up on this GS.
- Once again, BMW screwed the loyal fan base. Where every other
dealer brought in 3-4 different versions of the same ride, they
brought ONE of each. That's it. One LT, One GT, One GS, On R, One RS.
- Their clothing line had 3-4 outfits on display- none to try on.
Again, very disappointing. A few years back, they set up a tractor
trailer full of gear. This year, a few products. I believe the host
vendor was Mahattan BMW.
- No update on a LI dealer- I asked one of the mamagers.
- No Aerostitch, Fieldshear or Olympia gear. I saw one vendor that
had some Olympia gloves and a few pair of Fieldshear pants. That's
it. Most of the vendors were the cheap gear and/or leather HD clones.
Icon had a booth and had some sort of fashion show.
- DUCATI Booth waaaayyyyyyyyyyyyy to crowded. I'm sure we broke some fire code with cramming too many people into a confined space.
- Paying almost 6 bucks for a Bud Light
- Victory Vision was falling apart from too many poking and prodding
some of the plastic handles.
- Very little in the line of "real" motorcycle gear. Lots of miracle
cleaners, waxes and skanks buy nothing worthwhile.
- No Cyclegadgets or other like electronics vendors. Some neon light
guy was selling Motolights but that's it.
- Only 1.5 hour ride home on the LIE. Not too bad!

I don't know why I get so excited every year for this show. Each
year, I walk away disappointed. Well, at least my friend won tickets
to the Mets at the WFAN booth.

Again, just one man's humble opinion,

[RVB1019]

Other than a discussion on the sexiness of Ducati's lineup, no one seemed to disagree with me. While I've never been to Americade, on a scale of 1-10, I'd have to say a solid 6 was a good score for this show. If I was a Harley or any metric crusier owner, I'd might give it an extra tick or two for the number of pleather dealers and chrome cleaners.


Trust me, you didn't miss much. Was it better than a movie or one of the local Kev-Mar shows, yes! But if you're not a riding a chromed out trailer queen, not much new to see.

[johnk12lt]

Thanks to your club post we took a pass. I figured it was gonna be the same old show, gone are the days all the vendors showed up. The internet has put a damper on that I believe. It still would be nice to get handson, thankfully (as Jim S stated) we have Americade at our back door.

[AliMar]

Kev-Mar looks cheesy, but not having been to a cycle show of any kind in many years would it be worth the $15/$30 with SO to show up at one? The show in Hartford is next week. My primary interest is looking at stock bikes, BMW for sure!! Not too interested in the customs (thanks to an overload of OCC). I'm sort of thinking it'll be a HD fest with a bunch of crap and for my needs perhaps going to dealers will server me better...

What do y'all think?

BTW - nice post Rob!

[RVB1019]

I got suckered into going to the KevMar show here at Suffolk Community College last Spring. It is definitely a Harley/Custom show.

Don't get me wrong, some of the bike builders did a great job on some of the their custom builds. I wouldn't want to take one out a 200 mile ride.

None of the Metric bike companies (Yamaha, Kawasaki, Victory, or Honda) were in attendance last year. Strictly Harley! I think Lighthouse Harley was a co-sponsor.

Other than chromed out shiny things, no real good accessories to speak of. Unless you view thin leather wear as your riding gear, no much to see there either.

But then again, in the middle of winter, with no real riding being done because of the snow, it's not a horrible way to spend an afternoon. Something related to motorcycles is better than nothing.