#InternationalMotorcycleShow

Another show season, and another year for that matter, is screeching to an end after exciting announcements from plenty of manufacturers. Intermot delivered the unveiling of notable models such as the 2019 Indian FTR1200 and the 2020 Suzuki Katana, while EICMA, as is usual, showcased new models from 15 major OEMs, making it the show to watch for new models releases. Between the two European shows, the US’s own AIMExpo was used to release new iterations of Kawasaki’s ZX-6R and ZX-10R as well as Yamaha’s revamped R3.

… were announced at the Chicago International Motorcycle Show last weekend. Billing itself as the world’s largest elite-level custom motorcycle building competition, this year’s competition involved over 350 custom motorcycles and $100,000 in cash and prizes spread across every stop on the IMS tour. The championship round took place February 9 – February 11 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Chicago, Illinois, where over $70,000 in cash and prizes were awarded. Winners were selected by a panel of expert judges including Chris Callen, Editor of Cycle Source magazine; Chris Theis, custom builder and stuntman; Evan Favaro, custom builder; George Stinsman, custom builder; Max Ness of Arlen Ness Motorcycles; and Nick Beaulieu, custom builder and 2017 champion. Judging was based upon creativity, craftsmanship and building ability. To learn more about the Progressive International Motorcycle Shows, please visit:  motorcycleshows.com

Today is Thanksgiving here in the United States of America, and with all the new motorcycles coming out in 2017, there’s definitely a lot to be thankful for. Last week the MO crew made its annual pilgrimage to the Long Beach round of the Progressive International Motorcycle Show, where it was my first chance to see many of these bikes I’d been reading and writing about in person. The Long Beach show is a special one, as it’s centered in the heart of the U.S. moto industry, making it one of the rare times we get to see all of our industry friends all in one place. As such, there were a lot of cool things to see as we walked around. Here are my personal highlights from the show.