The newspaper lied. Well, let’s just say they fudged a little on the size. The layout was portrayed as larger than previous shows, but in actuality, there were probably fewer venodors than last year. But that doesn’t mean it was a bad show. I read a review of the show in New York, and what a scathing review it was. I can’t imagine that was the same show as ours. Not sure what they were expecting in NYC, but here, we ride and we take it seriously. One of complaints about the NYC show was the lack of bikes. You’ll never have that problem here. Plenty of local dealers had exhibits, as usual. If the manufacturer booths aren’t enough, there are always the dealer booths to visit, with scores of good deals on already customized bikes. There are always local riding clubs and organizations to check out and travel booths for planning riding vacations.

Harley-Davidson is usually positioned up front. This year Honda was up front. We proceeded to sit on some bikes— my favorite part. Three new Shadow Spirits were parked up front. I sat on one a while before I realized it had a stereo installed. The speaker was a perforated steel cylinder mounted over the handlebars. The controls were near the left grip. The new Honda WOW, Honda’s version of a chopper, was low enough that my girlfriend could ride it (she’s 5’2″) but it would have been a long, stretched out reach. We tried out the VTX in all its flavors and got ready to move on. I miss the VLX (600cc); it always reminded me of a little bobber. You sit “in” that bike, not on it. I also wonder if it’s wise to go from the 250 starter bike to a 750. Doesn’t that just send buyers over to Yamaha?

We headed over to the Yamaha booth after that. I sat on the V-Star Custom 1100— my favorite of the V-Stars. Yamaha also has a new 900cc offering and will be phasing out the 1100. Huh? I thought bikes were getting bigger, not smaller. They’re apparently going for a blend (and compromise) of power and gas mileage.

And speaking of gas mileage, many of the manufacturers had MPG stickers on the tanks to showcase the superior gas mileage— superior to cars, that is. Well, some cars, anyway. Remember, the smaller the displacement, the better the mileage. Some of the 1100s and 1300x had mileage figures not worth bragging about.

Harley-Davidson sported a more user friendly exhibit, in line with their recent efforts to cater to the female rider. Riding ladies’ numbers are growing rapidly. To this end, Harley-Davidson was offering bike pick-up demos every two hours, using pre-chosen volunteers from the audience. Also showcased was a Fat Boy customized for a smaller person, presumably a woman. My lady friend tried it (she rides, by the way) and she felt the handlebars were too close for her, but that can be adjusted. The odd thing was that the foot board was in the way of the sidestand. The technician said that another part would be needed to extended the arm on the sidestand. Pictured installed on the sidestand, it looked as if the floor board would get in the way of the new part, and to make matters worse, it would not make it any easier to lift the sidestand. Can’t reach means can’t reach. I think they need to work on that a bit more. Another thing that stuck me at the Harley-Davidson booth was that there was no printed literature available. Finally, we asked about that and someone brought out some brochures and started handing them out. I wonder how many people left wanting some printed material and just gave up. Sorry, but “visit our website” just isn’t the same. Yeah, maybe, if I remember. Too bad there isn’t anything printed to remind me!

We visited the Suzuki booth next. I love the look of their bikes but the seats always seem very uncomfortable to me. Oh well. Another thing I noticed was the lack of dirt bikes and ATVs. Yamaha had an adjacent booth, but I didn’t notice much else. And, there were not as many manufacturers there as there usually are. Victory was there. Moto Guzzi was not. OR at least I did not find them.

We checked out the new scooter pavilion presented by GEICO. The Piaggio MP3 3-wheeler was pretty cool. The two wheels in front have an independent suspension that allows each wheel to lean independently. A true lean on a three wheeler! It was impressive, although truthfully, not something I would ride. Then again, getting older, the day may come… The all-electric Vectrix Scooter charges with any AC outlet and boasts a user cost of 1 cent per mile. Hard to fathom, to say the least. Needless to say, this exhibit was was impressive in size and variety, as scooters are becoming an increasingly popular alternative to four wheeled vehicles for commuting. I’ll keep my bike, thanks.

There were displays of historical bikes and scooters, and some bike art. Some of the pieces were nice, but over all, I was disappointed in the bike art. Most of it was too abstract, and mediocre, whereas, realistic renderings would have made more sense for this type of event. There was a drawing wall where visitors could leave their mark. Some did, but there weren’t too many takers. I didn’t bother, and I’m an artist.

There were some leather vendors there but not as many as usual. The show is definitely shrinking. Cycle Leather was nowhere to be found. I was surprised. They have very good service; they fit chaps right to you, where some of the other vendors just slap ‘em down and you pay. Yes, there were not nearly the vendors there usually are. No shiny can stuff (aluminum polish), just one goggles vendor. I did see some better patches at the stitch-on leather places. Hmmm. Maybe it’s time for a new leather vest.

They had an area set up for seminars. I listened as we walked past. The dialog was very newbie oriented, to the point of being ridiculous. Call me jaded, but I couldn’t believe all the old guys sitting their. They didn’t look impressed, so I imagine they were just there to take a load off. I noticed a table where you could leave your feedback on the seminars. I didn’t bother, as they probably didn’t want to know what I thought!

All in all, it’s good that the show developers are looking for more interesting attractions to add to the show. Being that I live in a northern state with few and far between riding weather in the winter months, I always enjoy the Cycle World Cleveland International Motorcycle Show and wouldn’t miss it for anything. If you ride, you shouldn’t miss it either. Great deals abound, and there’s lots to see and do.

And now, on to spring!

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.

I’m in Northeast Ohio and we were having a booger of a snow storm today, lingering here since last night. Schools were closed; businesses were letting out early, and just south of here, down Akron way, everyone was urged to stay off the roads entirely unless it’s an absolute emergency. So, I was curious when I saw that someone else was able to get their bike out and ride, even though I knew it had to be down south somewhere, or perhaps even out west. Didn’t matter. The motorcycle masochist in me had to know more.

It turns out that this rider was doing some things out in the garage and decided to fire up the bike. She had moved it out of the way of something and when she had to move it back, she threw a leg over and rode it. I know some would scoff at that, but I knew exactly what she meant. You get to feel the bike running under you. You get the slightest touch of that “free” feeling, even if just for a fleeting moment. The thing I couldn’t understand was why she didn’t back up and do it over and over again. I would have.

Yeah, it sounds silly to most people. It’s something only a rider can understand. Those of us who experience winter, suffer so much time not on the bike. Not being able to ride for so long, we’ll settle for anything. Anything! Oh yes, I can relate, because there comes that time in late winter or early spring when I start getting things ready out in the garage. Maybe there’s still some snow on the ground, and likely some ice or slush still hanging around in the driveway, but then there’s that clear stretch of a few feet, plus the length of the garage. So you start up the bike, whether to make sure it starts or just to hear the sound. Then, without premeditation, you find yourself throwing a leg over. Next thing you know you’re “riding” the bike to the back of the garage. Sure, you barely have enough room to get your feet on the pegs, let alone let the clutch out all the way, but it feels great. The exhilaration lasts the evening, even when you’re watching the news and ready to turn in for the night. Been on my bike! The feeling is indescribable.

We endure a long time with no riding weather, but as winter starts showing signs of fading, it feels so good to experience that bike again, even if just for those few fleeting moments. Of course it’s no comparison to being out for the day, seeing the sights twice, once going away from home and again coming back, provided you actually come back the same way. And burning up that first tank of gas, you know, the one that clears out all the cobwebs, feeling the rush of wind in your face and the warm sun on your arms, leaning into the curves, and smelling all the smells, like being a kid again, playing outside.

Still, those first few desperation rides of the spring, after being idle and antsy all winter, bring it all rushing back, and all you can do is smile because you know what’s ahead. A new season, a season that starts with the first warm (or warm-ish) day. No, I take that back. It starts with those first few feet in the garage or driveay, as you look down at the gas tank and say (or think), “Hello bike, it’s good to be back.”

Yup, I’m hopelessly completely obsessively hooked on riding. Lucky me.

A graphic description of riding a motorcycle, all too familiar to a seasoned rider, extols the subjective virtues of riding. In recent years, motorcycles have gained in popularity as more and more new riders take to the road, and with that has come a growing controversy. It’s a simple contradiction in terms and it’s also very real. The question was raised in a very commercial, very silly movie a while back, but no conclusion was made. Not really. The box office receipts may have been pretty good, and perhaps the sales from the multiple product placements were lucrative, but the content bordered on offensive— to bikers.

What Is a Biker?

A biker is someone who truly LIVES to ride. Not necessarily a one-percenter, although like it or not, that element exists and this writing means to neither condone nor condemn. Every area of a biker’s life is connected to riding. A biker will ride instead of drive whenever possible. Some don’t even own cars. They brave the rain and cold to get to where they’re going, and not just on the weekends. They give of themselves for charitable causes, and for their fellow riders, enjoying a good ride and a party in the process. No sacrifice is too big for a fellow rider or someone in need. An undue amount of disdain is cast their way even though they raise a lot of money and give so much of themselves for others. Bikers maintain a lifestyle that revolves around riding instead around keeping up with the Joneses. You won’t see them with the latest bike models with the cookie-cutter factory paint jobs, nor will you see them in designer leather togs. Their leather is for function only to protect their respective hides from cold, wind, rain, or asphalt. Their pins and patches represent events in which they’ve taken part or places they’ve actually been, on their bikes. And everyone of them, without exception, knows of someone who has gone down because of an errant or negligent driver. Bikers follow certain rules, are never phony, and live submerged in the life.

Can You Buy Into The Life?

No. If you buy a motorcycle, along with the leather and gear that goes with it, and then take to the road, are you a biker? No my friend, it doesn’t work that way. You might be a motorcycle enthusiast, or a motorcycle rider, and that’s okay, but you are not a biker simply because you plunked some money down in a showroom. Spending money doesn’t get you into the club. Spending time and miles, and learning to respect and control your machine, as well as respecting other riders on the road, will maybe, eventually, get you closer. Everyone has to start somewhere, right? The term yuppie biker is tossed around a bit these days, and it’s all in fun really but the point is, this is one area where money doesn’t speak loudly. Leave the bikers their moniker, as they have earned it.

So What’s It All About?

It’s about the ride. If you bought your bike because you want the wind in your face, and that freedom you feel when you just pick a direction and go, then do just that. The riding experience is the end all be all of owning a bike, not the rallies, parties, and bike nights at the local sports bar, although those can be fun too at times. You can participate in charity bike runs that have open registration, but wait until you have some real miles under your belt. Pack riding can be a white knuckle experience. When you see brake lights up ahead, they’ll reach you fast, and you will have very little time to react. If you’re an inexperienced rider, you can jeopardize your safety as well as the safety of riders around you and behind you.

Learn how to ride properly and get plenty of saddle time. Take a Motorcycle Safety Foundation Basic Rider Course to learn evasive moves and safe stopping techniques. Do some reading and try to understand the culture you’ll be sharing space with. It can be a lot of fun to go to rallies and check out all the bikes and vendors, but show some respect, and don’t insinuate yourself into a group that has no desire to blindly accept everyone. Keep it about the ride and you’ll do all right. There’s a lot to be said for peaceful coexistence, but remember, it’s a two way street.

Now get out and ride!

This article was re-published with permission from CruiserTales.com