The Cycle World International Motorcycle Show is a fairly telling indicator for the state of the bike business, and this year's event presents a curious double-edged sword: on one hand, the show is notably smaller than last year's, or the year before that. There are 9% fewer exhibitors this time (according to the LA Times), and no official representation from KTM, Kymco, or the Aprilia/Vespa/Moto Guzzi/Piaggio conglomerate.
But on the flip side, this year's display bikes reveal none of the malaise that has hit the market; just look at the wild-as-ever customs or ambitious production machines like the Honda VFR1200F, Ducati Multistrada 1200, and Yamaha YZF450F. The Times also reports that attendance for the first two shows was only down 3.5% this year, and that visitors are spending 20% more time there... which is consistent with my opinion that bike enthusiasts don't grow any less enthusiastic when the economy's in the crapper.
View this 2009/2010 Cycle World International Motorcycle Show Photo Gallery for future dates and highlights from the Long Beach show, and comment if you plan to check out the event this time around.
Related:
- Photo Gallery: 2008 Cycle World International Motorcycle Show
- Motorcycle Dim Sum: Sample a Kymco at Cycle World Shows
- Perusing the Wide World of Bikes at the 2007 Cycle World International Motorcycle Show
- Cycle World International Motorcycle Show Part 2: Exploring the Unorthodox
Photos © Basem Wasef; Click for gallery
The last link is broken
Fixed… thanks for catching that!
-Basem