International Motorcycle Show

Last day of the show, today, so you should make it out if you can.
Free parking for bikes, but the weather is a bit cool. Parking for
cars is a RIP OFF. However, I did find out it was cheaper to park
UNDER the center than off to the side.

In any case, it was a pretty good show this year as far as *I* was
concerned. My friend, Bling!, and I caged it out there in case we
wanted to buy a bunch of stuff. We both wanted to see all the new
liter bikes.

I was disappointed with the Honda floor and need to write them a
letter. This is at least the 2nd year in a row in which they brought
out only ONE of their latest and greatest and stuck it on a platform
so that you couldn't sit on it and check it out. They also only
brought out ONE CBR600RR. Now, I can go to ANY Honda dealer around
here and sit on either of these bikes in various colors all day long.

In comparison, Kawasaki had THREE ZX-10Rs available to SIT on, play
with, etc. in several different colors (the pearl orange is KICK ass).
And they still had one on Display. I've never been a big fan of LCD
tachs on bikes, but it might be OK with a tinted screen.

Yamaha also had a couple of the R1s in various configurations. I must
say that I really liked the styling and ergos on this bike. The new
red color they have is very nice and has to be seen to be appreciated.

And of course, same with Suzuki having several of their latest GSXR
series available to sit on and play with. As much as I appreciate the
bike, I don't find it as interesting as the ZX-10's or the R1's.

For you cruiser fans, it was the same scene. Honda put theirs up on a
pedestal and the other dealers had theirs on the floor.

Saw the new Triumph Rocket.... ummm..... it's going to be similar to
the Rune. You will either love it or hate it. I can't say I was very
impressed with it's styling up close.

I checked out the new HD Sportsters. FINALLY after all these years
they fixed the ergos on the bike. Mainly the fact you can't
comfortably grab the controls with your feet. You gotta pronate them
(I have posted about this before). Not to mention the other problems
with ergos. I complained about this to the factory reps every year.
Ergos suck, ergos suck....I'm not going to buy a $15k+ bike with
shitty ergos. I was pretty impressed with the fit and finish of them.

Interestingly enough, that same problem now exists with all the other
customs....including Iron Horse, etc. Now it's a $30K+ bike that has
shitty ergos. What is up with that?

I was pretty impressed with ALL of the manufacturers putting out some
good "custom" bikes that had good paint jobs, attention to detail,
etc. The pricing is getting right up there with the American customs,
though so it must be a pretty competitive, yet, lucrative market.

Another thing all the manufacturers seem to be doing is getting away
from the drab paint jobs that they always did. Regardless of it being
a cruiser or sport bike. They might even play with the theme......for
example, Suzuki still does their factory blue/white scheme....but the
blue is now a pearl blue or something funky like that.

I was really disappointed with Ducati. That's all I can say.

And, of course, my favorite.....THE APRILIA floor!!! They had both
the Tuono Racing and the Mille Factory on display!! Can you say BLING!
http://www.aprilia.com/models03/road/eng/modello.phtml?id=54
Couldn't sit on those two, of course, but you could sit on their
toned down brothers. I had to sit on the Mille R....HAD to.....the
sales guy kept dragging me off the bike kicking and screaming saying
something about the "...goddamed drool." Of course he wanted to
sell me one. BTW - if you are in the area Eurosport Cycle is having a
demo day next weekend. I don't know what they are demoing, but it
ought to be cool.

Lots of vendors were there selling various things. Moto Liberty had a
large booth and was packed per-usual and had deals a plenty if you
need new stuff.

Lots of cruiser apparel (i.e. looks good but has no real function -
OUCH! LOL) all around out there as well.

We ate early so I have no idea if the food and beverages were tasty
this year or not.

I did see lots of people I know, including Leslie and her family. She
has a couple of cute, very polite, kids. I think they were stalking
me, though, because I went out to dinner later that evening only to
run into them again. LOL BTW - ask Leslie about her new patch.
;-)

'till next time!!!


--Fullstate

 

Ok, Leslie. What's the deal with your new patch?

 

Erin and I went yesterday, too. I didn't think it was as good as last year.
My fave was the new Kawasaki ZXR-1200, at $7899, a bargain. Looks just like
my old GPZ550, complete with dual shocks in the back! A dissapointment was
the new Honda 599 naked bike. Who'd shell out $7100 for one when the
aforementioned ZXR-1200 can be had for a mere $800 more. Here's the ZXR:
http://www.kawasaki.com/index2.asp . If you wanted to stay in the 600 class
the new Yamaha FZ6 at $6499 is a better buy, and better looking in my
opinion. Honda did not impress at all. They did have one of DuHamel's
bikes on display though. Yamaha also had Carlos Checa's MotoGP bike and
Jamie Hacking's Supersport bike on display. Kawasaki's new two liter bike
was impressively large. Erin sat on and loved the Triumph Daytona, next
thing you know she'll be buying leathers and doing track days. I've never
really considered buying a Ducati, but the ergos of the Monster were great,
fit much better than the SV650 that I've test ridden. I think the 620 is
probably under powered for someone my size though. I didn't care too much
for the guys riding in the steel ball, I've seen it on TV many times, but
watching them do back flips off a ramp in less that 75 feet of space was
impressive. I thought the trials rider last year was better. It was
amazing to see him riding up and down the waterfall. Erin recently had
surgery, so she mostly rode around in a wheelchair, getting out every now
and then to sit on a bike she liked. She'll be back to full strength in a
couple of months and we'll be out riding again.
Rob

 

The only thing I can't get over with the Daytona is the whole front
profile: "take me to your leader" comes to mind. LOL

The trials riders are really cool to watch, but I did not see them
this year.

Glad to hear that she is healing up well. You will have to get her a
Daytona as a "sick present."



--Fullstate

 

OK OK OK....I admit it. You were there before I was....this is true.
If I HAD been in your driveway it really would have time to be
scared.... I don't know where you live, after all.

Think I am gonna put some thermals on and take the bike out for a
few.....cold out there.




--Fullstate

 

Ah! I saw you there!

 

Awwww....you two met and didn't even know it.

;-)



--Fullstate

 

Maybe someone saw me too! I was the guy in jeans, boots and black leather
vest. <wave>

 

Yeah! I remember you.... I saw you sitting on some bikes and
checking out some of the women. Or was that checking out some of the
bikes and sitting on the women?


--Fullstate

 

BMW wasn't bad. They have a couple of bikes that I really like. My
friend, Bling, was telling me that some companies are looking at
leasing bikes, now. That might be the way to go if you plan on
swapping out bikes every few years.

Moto Guzzi didn't have any of their really sporty models there. I
don't really have anything against them other than they are not
asteticaly pleasing to me.

I can't remember, but I think the Rune was even on a platform and you
couldn't really sit on it. I was able to check it out better than
that at my least fave. Honda dealer that there is. Sad.


--Fullstate

 

Mr. Walker took me out to Strokers for the first time last weekend. I
met Rick and his family. They were busy but he took a few moments to
say hello. I liked the shop, I liked the bikes. I liked their
friendliness.

We also ventured to the burger joint and got a bite to eat and a beer.
I read an article on the wall about that place and it reiterated what
I had just experienced.


--Fullstate

 

there's a radio ad down here about leasing cars that goes on to say they
will lease motorcycles. i can imagine the fine print on that lease.
fwiw, there is a cherry BMW F650CS (abs) at Wild West here, traded in
with maybe 1000 miles, if that, on the clock, still in warranty, asking
$7500. sweeet, sweet bike, i'd like to get it for the spousal unit.

--
jam

'73 R75/5 Toaster (not for sale)
'99 R1100RT (in use)
'00 FLHRCI (sold!)
Iron Butt Assoc, WATR 3X, EIEIO, AEIOU etc blah blah

 

No, I was the OTHER guy in jeans, boots, and black leather vest LOL

 

I WAS the "other" guy.. See there...

Your friend in Irving
Bill Walker

 

Fullstate ... to the head of the class. Thoughtful and accurate. To
include that Factory Aprilla. I couldn't have agreed with you more on
your observations ...

 

WHOOOHOOO!! For such an opinionated SOB, I am surprised that someone
agreed with me.

That Mille' Factory is a seriously nice bike. I'd settle for just the
Mille' R.... but that's $14k away and my SL 1000 is a very nice bike.
I love it.

Something different about those Eye-Talion V-twins that I love.


--Fullstate

 

Just don't understand why Ducati didn't put forth much of an effort?
Advance Motorsport (Steve Nash) was there and I think EuroCycle was
represented. Mr. Honda was a disappointment too.

Maybe Ducati isn't doing as well this fiscal year as last and Honda
doesn't need to put forth an effort. Honda seems to sale what it
produces. The crowd made me feel like I was at the Ft. Worth Stock
Show ... crowded on Saturday afternoon.

 

Lot's of Mixed feelings on those Ducks. I didn't care for all the
mannequin's on the bikes. I guess it was their way of saying "don't
sit on this bike" but c'mon! That is the whole point of going to the
show is to sit on the bikes and check them out.

I'm not a huge Duck fan, anyway. I appreciate the bike as a fine work
of art, but as a practical bike they leave me wanting. Terblanche
(sp?) is definitely making some waves with some of the new styling of
the bikes.

You just reminded me to write that letter to Honda.... ;-)


--Fullstate

 

Gotta agree with your Honda description. While we were there they had some
woman up on a platform with a microphone blabbing about something which made
it worse - not enough bikes to sit on and annoying background noise! I was
hoping to like the new naked 599 but I didn't care for the looks and thought
it was too expensive. I also found the CBR600RR incredibly uncomfortable,
even though I've sat on it at the local dealer and not minded it.

Here's a pic of the red R1 for those of you who didn't make the show...
http://www.superdork.net/cars/bike-shows/ims03/pages/MS192-01.htm

The guy at Moto Guzzi referred to it as the one with the "tractor engine".
Now that's all I can think of when I look at it.
http://www.superdork.net/cars/bike-shows/ims03/pages/MS094-01.htm

I loved the yellow on Suzuki's GXR600. It was a metallic paint but very
subtle.

I wanted to knock the mannequin off the Monster 800 so I could sit on it
again. It was my favorite bike at last year's show and all I could do this
year was look at it. Bah on Ducati!

I went last year and had a grand time. This year wasn't nearly as
interesting for me, but it might be because my obsession to get a bike has
calmed down a bit, or maybe just because last year was the first time I
attended. I photographed everything we looked at, which were mostly
sportbikes, but I also shot some of the cruisers with the really cool
paintjobs. The most comfortable bike I sat on was the Moto Guzzi Breva.
Big old cushy seat on that baby!! I even found it more comfortable than the
giant Honda scooter I sat on that looked like a Lazy Boy recliner. Too bad
the Breva looks aren't to my liking.

Here are the show pics: http://www.superdork.net/cars/bike-shows/ims03/

Casey

 

I never saw the chicks at the Honda booth. Maybe I was looking too
hard at the bikes. Still, if they have chicks, it will never be like
the European shows where the chicks are either naked or in see-through
fabrics!! :-D I swear we are so freaking uptight here.

The pics just don't do it justice. It's kind of like my bike....no
photo really shows you the color of the bike.

LMAO - I said the EXACT same thing to my friend while we there!! I
asked him if he remembered the old tractors with the huge engines and
he died laughing. Now you are telling me others thought the same
thing.

I got a better look, feel, etc. at the dealership (Eurosport Cycles on
121).


--Fullstate