This weekend Chicago hosts the International Motorcycle Show. Patti and I make the show every year for a winter bike fix. This year we braved a 10-inch snowfall to make the 45-minute drive, but the experienced Chicago area snow crews had managed to clear a path just for us. We take in the Friday afternoon show for lesser crowds and this year the snow kept more folks safe at home. Even though it's a lot of "more of the same" each year, we still like to make the rounds to see what's new and collect our Progressive Insurance T-shirt and coffee mug. On the way home we make a traditional stop at nearby Rex's Italian Deli for some epic take-out lasagna to be enjoyed at home with some red wine. Makes for a great day, despite the Chi-town weather.
Honda had their large and impressive space set up to highlight the new Gold Wing. The A/V backdrop wall is a non-stop ride video and really adds to the ambiance. Three Gold Wings were on display and there was lots of interest from paunchy grey-hairs (like myself).
My showroom impression is that the new bike looks sleeker and lighter, has a very comfortable rider/passenger perch but is still a massive motorcycle. Still, it seems to fit me pretty well....
The sole V4 in attendance was this red VFR1200X set up for ADV duty. No sign of an Interceptor.
Royal Enfield stepped up their game this year, what with the introduction of the new 650 twins and announcing that the Himalayan ADV bike will be available in the U.S this year. The twins will come in a cafe-racer style (Continental GT) and a standard street version, using the Interceptor name. Not sure how they get away with that, though in all fairness Royal Enfield was using the Interceptor moniker long before Honda. I was very impressed with the twins; the build quality looks great and they nailed the "heritage" styling. And that chrome tank never gets old.
Allstate Insurance hosted a kid's riding area again this year. I thought that this little girl who chose the Ducati over the pink ATV shows a lot of future promise.
There's a very tasteful display of vintage bikes hosted by a couple of local Chicago vintage clubs. Lots of nice British, German and Japanese oldies.
Customs are not my cup of tea, as a rule, but they line the aisles at the show, and I guess you can vote for your favorite. They're mostly garish, unrideable examples of excess, in my humble opinion, but the craftsmanship and creativity can't be denied.
I thought this rat-style build was cooler than the never-ending lineup of S&S-engined choppers with 40-inch front wheels (?). It's based upon, of all things, a '92 Kawasaki Ninja ZX750. It would fit right in on the set of The Walking Dead, what with its rebar crash bars and a crossbow mounted on the swingarm.
All in all, a great mid-winter respite.
Customs are not my cup of tea, as a rule, but they line the aisles at the show, and I guess you can vote for your favorite. They're mostly garish, unrideable examples of excess, in my humble opinion, but the craftsmanship and creativity can't be denied.
I thought this rat-style build was cooler than the never-ending lineup of S&S-engined choppers with 40-inch front wheels (?). It's based upon, of all things, a '92 Kawasaki Ninja ZX750. It would fit right in on the set of The Walking Dead, what with its rebar crash bars and a crossbow mounted on the swingarm.
All in all, a great mid-winter respite.
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