The Cycle World Cleveland International Motorcycle Show is in town this weekend at the I-X Center. We usually spend the day there on Saturday (longest hours), truly making a day of it. It’s the EVENT of the winter for us. I’ll write a review after the show, but I’m wondering what this year’s show will be like. Things have changed some since last year.

First of all, the crowd might be thinner. When the show opens at 9 AM, the crowds are usually pretty thin, but by 11 AM, it’s shoulder to shoulder. When we leave, the traffic is bumper to bumper, backed up onto the freeway, waiting to get in. But this year, we have an economic crisis. Between tickets and parking, and the fact that a lot of people go there for the deals, that is, to BUY stuff, including motorcycles, I’ll be curious to see how the turnout is. I hope for everyone’s sake it’s a good turnout. Time will tell.

A friend of mine went to the RV show a couple weeks ago and it was deserted. The Boat Show hasn’t done that well crowd-wise, and the auto show, IN DETROIT, didn’t fare much better. This weekend there will be a home improvement show (and possibly a pool & spa show) on the other side of the I-X (that place is humungous), so I’ll be watching to see what the parking lot looks like over there.

But this is the Bike Show! In Ohio. Remember, we have the third most motorcycle registrations in the country, behind California and Florida. Our lobby is so strong, Ohio’s helmet law was repealed back in the mid-seventies. Surely the motorcycle community will come out strong, simply because motorcycles are so popular here and we have so many diehards here.

A few years back, the show was huge, but the last two years or so, it seemed like there were fewer vendors, as if the show was dwindling rather than growing. Certainly some of the vendors I’ve patronized hadn’t returned. I bought a new pair of leather chaps in 2004 (great buy) and that vendor hasn’t been back since. This year, according to the layout printed in the Cleveland Plain Dealer, this years show promises to be bigger and better.

As in previous years, show goers can expect to see just about every manufacturer in production today, showcasing their new models. Rows and rows of vendors will be there, from leather and apparel to parts and accessories, trailers, information about ride destinations, and anything else you can think about related to motorcycles.

For the 9th consecutive year, a one-of-a-kind bike will be raffled off by Cycle World Magazine. This year it’s a Honda CBR1000RR designed by Roland Sands. Proceeds will go to support Ride for Kids and the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation. Phenomenal amounts of money have been raised in previous years, attesting to the generosity of the Greater Cleveland area. People DO rally for others here.

New for this year, is the Scooter Pavilion presented by GEICO, with the Piaggio MP3 3-wheeler, an all electric Vectrix Scooter, and over 20 models of scooters from manufacturers such as Yamaha, Honda, Suzuki, Genuine, CF Moto, Vespa, Vectrix, Piaggio, and KYMKO.

Also featured this year is a collection of custom motorcycles in the Architects of Inspiration display, which also features artwork and some dazzling bike designs. There’s even a wall where visitors can leave their own artistic mark!

Another new feature is the first-time rider seminars, in a new area called The Hub. This area will also host informative speakers and advanced rider clinics. A Welcome Center will house a boatload of information for new riders and a chance to ask questions about riding, motorcycle safety, women’s programs and local riding clubs.

The World’s Fastest Woman will sign autographs. Leslie Porterfield holds three motorcycle land speed records and was named the 2008 AMA Racing Female Rider of the Year. She’ll appear on Saturday and Sunday at the Iron Pony booth.

Also, on the schedule is a motorcycle trials exhibition by Geoff Aaron, ten time AMA National Trials Champion. He’ll navigate a treacherous obstacle course without letting his feet leave the pegs. Kind of like a motorcycle gymnastics show.

I can’t wait. I’m going to sit on bikes, visit all the vendors, check out the new attractions, and wear my self out! Next stop, riding season.