NY bike show

I shamelessly got this from the HSTA list from someone who got it from the ST1300 list. No wonder the show is getting such great reviews here (sheesh). Can't wait until this side show, I mean motorcycle show comes to Chicago for my enjoyment.

Regards, Tim



I gleaned this off of the ST 1300 list about the NY m/c show
In two words - it sucked.

I attended the NYC Motorcycle show on two days - Friday night after work (for
myself), and Sunday with my son (for him). If the show portrays the shape of
things to come - we're in trouble.

With the exception of BMW (which now has none), all manufacturers had their
cruiser bikes out front and center. Tourers, Sprt-tourers, Dual sporets, dirt
bikes and ATV's were all shoved into a corner to allow greater stage presence
for the cruisers.

Now don't get me wrong - NY was always a cruiser town. But this is getting
ridiculous. Absent were displays or showcases by aftermarket makers like
Aerostitch, Joe Rocket, Heine Gerrike, Sidi,, Givi, etc. Unless one of the
vendors had that item - the manufacturer was not represented. Instead were stall
upon stall of low-rent vendors selling cheesy leather goods that you usually
find at flea markets and the like.

Instead of a Roberts or DuHamel or Rainey being the center of attraction -
the Teutels, Matt Hoch and Billy Lane were the rock stars of the day. I don't
get it. Ten years ago these guys (or guys like them) would only be known in
places like Raiford, Ossining, Joliet, Folsom.

What's usually a treat - the Cycle World reader bike show - was a yard of OCC
retreads and wannabes. Instead of classic Triumphs, Nortons, Moto-Morinis
and Guzzis, all I saw were unrideable, stretched out penis extenders that need
two counties to make a full turn.

Sport bikes had a small representation, but even this genre was consumed by
mutts and hooligans looking for bikes to create mayhem. Row upon row of video
hawkers showing off the latest in illegal, dangerous and downright STUPID
riding drew crowds, applause and admirers.

WTF is going on? Has the entire moto world gone daff?

What was an annual rite of winter - the anticipation of another riding season
and the machines that provide us with aural, visual and visceral enjoyment is
now a Baccanal for posers, lowlifes and miscreants.

I guess this is to be expected. Motorcycling is being infected by the
members of the ME generation. The loudest, showiest and most outrageous only need
apply.

Oh woe is us.

Oh woe is us.


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I attended the same show here in Fort Worth. The writer is overstating the
issue a tad, but I agree with the comments generally.

I have been told by those that know -- "The sport touring market segment has
never moved many units per year, but they do sell over time."

In addition, a major DFW vendor I knew that used to bring a 18 wheeler
trailer of riding gear decided to set this years event out.. The vendor fees
were just too high to justify the expense.. Basically, they would have to
give away all of their profit on sales to have a booth.. Instead, they rain
a sale the week before the event. They didn't sale quite as much as they
would have at the CW show, but what they did sale was still profitable..

Just my 2 cents.. YMMV

James

-----Original Message-----
From: vfr-bounces (AT) cs (DOT) wisc.edu [mailto:vfr-bounces (AT) cs (DOT) wisc.edu]On Behalf Of
Tim Moore
Sent: Monday, January 23, 2006 12:30 PM
To: VFR List
Subject: NY bike show


I shamelessly got this from the HSTA list from someone who got it from the
ST1300 list. No wonder the show is getting such great reviews here (sheesh).
Can't wait until this side show, I mean motorcycle show comes to Chicago for
my enjoyment.

Regards, Tim



I gleaned this off of the ST 1300 list about the NY m/c show
In two words - it sucked.

I attended the NYC Motorcycle show on two days - Friday night after work
(for
myself), and Sunday with my son (for him). If the show portrays the shape
of
things to come - we're in trouble.

With the exception of BMW (which now has none), all manufacturers had their
cruiser bikes out front and center. Tourers, Sprt-tourers, Dual sporets,
dirt
bikes and ATV's were all shoved into a corner to allow greater stage
presence
for the cruisers.

Now don't get me wrong - NY was always a cruiser town. But this is getting
ridiculous. Absent were displays or showcases by aftermarket makers like
Aerostitch, Joe Rocket, Heine Gerrike, Sidi,, Givi, etc. Unless one of the
vendors had that item - the manufacturer was not represented. Instead were
stall
upon stall of low-rent vendors selling cheesy leather goods that you usually
find at flea markets and the like.

Instead of a Roberts or DuHamel or Rainey being the center of attraction -
the Teutels, Matt Hoch and Billy Lane were the rock stars of the day. I
don't
get it. Ten years ago these guys (or guys like them) would only be known in
places like Raiford, Ossining, Joliet, Folsom.

What's usually a treat - the Cycle World reader bike show - was a yard of
OCC
retreads and wannabes. Instead of classic Triumphs, Nortons, Moto-Morinis
and Guzzis, all I saw were unrideable, stretched out penis extenders that
need
two counties to make a full turn.

Sport bikes had a small representation, but even this genre was consumed by
mutts and hooligans looking for bikes to create mayhem. Row upon row of
video
hawkers showing off the latest in illegal, dangerous and downright STUPID
riding drew crowds, applause and admirers.

WTF is going on? Has the entire moto world gone daff?

What was an annual rite of winter - the anticipation of another riding
season
and the machines that provide us with aural, visual and visceral enjoyment
is
now a Baccanal for posers, lowlifes and miscreants.

I guess this is to be expected. Motorcycling is being infected by the
members of the ME generation. The loudest, showiest and most outrageous
only need
apply.

Oh woe is us.

Oh woe is us.


_______________________________________________
Vfr mailing list
Vfr (AT) cs (DOT) wisc.edu
For subscription and delivery options:
https://lists.cs.wisc.edu/mailman/listinfo/vfr

I had a feeling that it was going to come to this when I went to the motorcycle show in Detroit last year. I was really displeased with the lack of compitent vendors and wares, and while I was able to find a couple of places that had what I needed, both places told me that I was lucky to find them that year, because they didn't think they were coming back this year. I have a couple of friends that went to the show this year, and they said that I didn't miss anything. I had a feeling that I wasn't missing anything either. I will say one thing, while watching the shows is fairly entertaining, thats about where it stops. I can appreciate some of these guys, like Billy Lane, and Jesse James for living, breathing and eating motorcycling. Some of the others though...well, I wish it was my million dollar idea. I am tired of seeing some of these idiots on sportbikes doing stupid stunts. There is a time and place to be doing things of that nature, and on public roads is not one of
them. I attended a bike show last year where one of these groups had a video playing in an endless loop with the same horrific music over and over again. The people that swarmed around the table to watch all thought that it was the greatest thing since film had been created, while my only comment was "Yep, there goes my insurace rates." Motorcycling has been on a steady increase over the past several years, and its like everything else. With the good, you have to take the bad. Hopefully with it's growth, we might see some more responsibilities taken up by new riders. But really, do we think that is going to happen? Lets face it, as much as we would like to rely on natural selection to take some of these idiots out of the riding populace, its just going to raise our insurance rates. It would be nice though if most of this sort of rider's ADD would kick in and they would forget that they have a motorcycle in the garage, Just kidding, I don't mean to offend anyone. :0
disclaimer: I do not, nor will I ever wish any bodily harm to come to any motorcyclist. "You are not judged by the height you have risen, but on the depth from which you have climbed"-Frederick Douglass--- On Mon 01/23, Tim Moore < tmoore16 (AT) comcast (DOT) net > wrote:From: Tim Moore [mailto: tmoore16 (AT) comcast (DOT) net]To: vfr (AT) cs (DOT) wisc.eduDate: Mon, 23 Jan 2006 12:29:40 -0600Subject: NY bike show



I shamelessly got this from the HSTA list from someone who got it from the ST1300 list. No wonder the show is getting such great reviews here (sheesh). Can't wait until this side show, I mean motorcycle show comes to Chicago for my enjoyment. Regards, Tim I gleaned this off of the ST 1300 list about the NY m/c showIn two words - it sucked.I attended the NYC Motorcycle show on two days - Friday night after work (for myself), and Sunday with my son (for him). If the show portrays the shape of things to come - we're in trouble.With the exception of BMW (which now has none), all manufacturers had their cruiser bikes out front and center. Tourers, Sprt-tourers, Dual sporets, dirt bikes and ATV's were all shoved into a corner to allow greater stage presence for the cruisers.Now don't get me wrong - NY was always a cruiser town. But this is getting ridiculous. Absent were displays or showcases by aftermarket makers like Aerostitch, Joe Rocket, Heine Gerrike, Sidi,, Givi, etc!
.
Unless one of the vendors had that item - the manufacturer was not represented. Instead were stall upon stall of low-rent vendors selling cheesy leather goods that you usually find at flea markets and the like.Instead of a Roberts or DuHamel or Rainey being the center of attraction - the Teutels, Matt Hoch and Billy Lane were the rock stars of the day. I don't get it. Ten years ago these guys (or guys like them) would only be known in places like Raiford, Ossining, Joliet, Folsom. What's usually a treat - the Cycle World reader bike show - was a yard of OCC retreads and wannabes. Instead of classic Triumphs, Nortons, Moto-Morinis and Guzzis, all I saw were unrideable, stretched out penis extenders that need two counties to make a full turn.Sport bikes had a small representation, but even this genre was consumed by mutts and hooligans looking for bikes to create mayhem. Row upon row of video hawkers showing off the latest in illegal, dangerous and downright STUPID ridin!
g
drew crowds, applause and admirers.WTF is going on? Has the entire moto world gone daff?What was an annual rite of winter - the anticipation of another riding season and the machines that provide us with aural, visual and visceral enjoyment is now a Baccanal for posers, lowlifes and miscreants.I guess this is to be expected. Motorcycling is being infected by the members of the ME generation. The loudest, showiest and most outrageous only need apply.Oh woe is us.Oh woe is us._______________________________________________Vfr mailing listVfr (AT) cs (DOT) wisc.eduFor subscription and delivery options:https://lists.cs.wisc.edu/mailman/listinfo/vfr

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> In two words - it sucked.

Well, yes and no.

I visited the IMS on Friday specifically to avoid the crowds of
numb-nuts waiting for a glimpse of that fat angry prick, his
disfunctional family and the abuse magnets he employs. Parked my VFR at
the north end with about a hundred other bikes (thank you JJCC and NYPD
for ignoring that bit of anarchy, as in past years as well), noted a
couple of fellows wearing Hells Angels colors nearby. Found the lack of
official attention can be a down-side when four hours later while I was
suiting up, some poor sap was trying to find his CBR1000. It was gone.

Are we really in trouble? Hard to say. Yeah, there were cruisers
everywhere. Wait, let me re-phrase this. There were CUSTOMS
everywhere. Even the Big Four were using customs (based on their
respective production bikes) to draw attention into their floor space.
I think the only manufacturer not using customs as traffic magnets was
Ural.

I wouldn't want to confuse cruisers and customs, since the customs
aren't really meant for cruising, except to cruise (coast?) from the
loading ramps into the show areas perhaps.

There were just as many hawkers of cheap leather and rude t-shirts as
there always was, but there was /less/ of the mainstream road and racing
stuff. That was a real shame. I was ready to buy a pair of boots,
maybe a new kidney belt, etc. I didn't have a chance.

Sony had an entire truck there peddling video games. Ugh.

There was a much greater presence not just of show bikes but also
customizers. Those who were interested in paint, bling, machining and
metal work could find much information.

The dangerous stunt videos have also been selling for several years and
clogging up aisles in the process. Nothing new. It just stands out
more because the show has been nearly abandoned by the mainstream
accessory markets.

Not that there weren't accessories to be had. Actually you could have
picked from a great selection of gadgets and mounting systems for them.
Arai had a full setup. There were at least four different
communications vendors peddling headsets and systems.

Oh well. Not the greatest but not the worst either. Although I'm
tempted to hurl all manners of hatred toward the cruis, eh, customs, the
fact is that the motorcycle soap operas and the customs have actually
helped undo some of the long-lasting damage done by Hollywood to the
image of the motorcycling community several decades ago. And ignoring
the "art", some of what goes into these bikes is awfully clever. The
one night I was too lazy to carry my camera, I wanted it more than ever.
Oh well.

YMMV.

-Brad

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