This past Sunday I decided to do something I'd never thought to do in the past — enter one of my bikes in a show, one where they actually judge the bike, not just look at 'em. The venue was the second annual Evanston MotorCycle Classic held along a closed-off block in downtown Evanston, Illinois. Evanston is a north suburb of Chicago and sits adjacent to equally beautiful Northwestern University and the Lake Michigan shoreline. The modern college-trendy downtown contrasts with the old-money neighborhoods and their classic homes.
The show is open to bikes of 30-year vintage or older, so my 1986 Honda VFR700F just made the cut. And I just made the show; I literally put the finishing touches on the bike the night before. I decided to trailer to the show (no current plates or insurance) and arrived about 30 minutes before the 10:00am designated show start. I found a nearby parking spot, unloaded, and rode the half-block to the show. Taking up my spot in the Japanese section, I got a coffee and started snooping around....
(Below) The show is in the block to the right in this photo.
The show is open to bikes of 30-year vintage or older, so my 1986 Honda VFR700F just made the cut. And I just made the show; I literally put the finishing touches on the bike the night before. I decided to trailer to the show (no current plates or insurance) and arrived about 30 minutes before the 10:00am designated show start. I found a nearby parking spot, unloaded, and rode the half-block to the show. Taking up my spot in the Japanese section, I got a coffee and started snooping around....
(Below) The show is in the block to the right in this photo.
(Below) The pearl white really made the Interceptor stand out. "Please don't look too closely at the license plate"!
Only one other V4 was in attendance — this VF700. The photo doesn't show much of the, ahh, patina which graced this example. This bike was a year older than mine, so that officially made the VFR the newest bike here.
(Below) The oldest (by far) was this rusty beast. I didn't note it's maker, but the front tire was still holding air! In the background are a pair of 50's Cushman scooters restored to the max.
And here's a nice old police Moto Guzzi flanked by two very pretty Laverdas.
(Below) This BMW hack was nicely presented and sported a very stylish sidecar fender. Lots of beautiful BMWs.
(Below) I was surprised to see that some of the spectator bikes parked along the opposite side of the street were more interesting than many of the show bikes. They formed their own show. This bevel head Ducati was sparkling in its polished aluminum and bright red frame.
(Below) Then there were these two polar opposites: The chopper (the only of its type on the block) was very nicely done and sported a set of clear wheels. I'm certainly not into the custom bike scene, but I've never seen this. It really caught my eye, even though it was clearly not intended to (or was it?).
The BMW R100GS was impeccably restored. I couldn't see a single flaw, and I looked closely. It was so perfectly clean I don't know how he even rode it to the event. It should've been parked on the other side of the street.
The BMW R100GS was impeccably restored. I couldn't see a single flaw, and I looked closely. It was so perfectly clean I don't know how he even rode it to the event. It should've been parked on the other side of the street.
(Below) Near the show's beginning, I figured I had a shot at the Japanese crown, but it was not to be. At about 10:30 a guy rolled in on this 1962 Honda CB77. It was restored to the nines. I knew I was beat, and, indeed, he took home the honors for the day. Congratulations and well done.
The show ended at 2:00 and I packed up for the 45-minute drive home. But I chatted with some good people and ogled a great variety of great bikes on a perfect September day. And for once I was part of the show. I just might come back next year.
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