International Motorcycle Show
Posted: Tue Feb 16, 2016 3:42 am
I attended the IMS in Chicago yesterday with my husband and my brother. I've been to several over the years and this was my last. It was such a disappointment.
When Cycle World sponsored it there was so much more to it. Since Progressive has taken over we have watched it steadily decrease in size and quality. Maybe part of it is just my perspective. When I first went I was new to riding so all the equipment and gear options were mind boggling. I was sitting on everything, trying on all the gear... so many vendors, so many options, so little time. Yesterday we could tell as soon as we walked in that it had shrunk in size. Walking around I saw nothing that really excited me. I don't really need any gear but a pair of dual sport boots. There were very few boots to be seen and none I felt were geared toward dual sport riding. There did seem to be a lot of gear for the kind of rider I'm not. I saw none of the motorcycle magazines represented either. There just seemed to be a lot missing.
Maybe it was disappointing because I wasn't seeing new and innovative wares. Basically I saw the same stuff I see in every motorcycle shop I go in(which is every one I see). We're my expectations to great? I don't think so. I thought the IMS was where one went to see the latest and greatest. Maybe it was there in the motorcycles but I didn't see it because I'm loving my Sherpa and not looking for a new bike.
I hope the show continues for all those who do enjoy it but I think I'll keep spending my money at the shops and spend the day with my bike instead of the show
When Cycle World sponsored it there was so much more to it. Since Progressive has taken over we have watched it steadily decrease in size and quality. Maybe part of it is just my perspective. When I first went I was new to riding so all the equipment and gear options were mind boggling. I was sitting on everything, trying on all the gear... so many vendors, so many options, so little time. Yesterday we could tell as soon as we walked in that it had shrunk in size. Walking around I saw nothing that really excited me. I don't really need any gear but a pair of dual sport boots. There were very few boots to be seen and none I felt were geared toward dual sport riding. There did seem to be a lot of gear for the kind of rider I'm not. I saw none of the motorcycle magazines represented either. There just seemed to be a lot missing.
Maybe it was disappointing because I wasn't seeing new and innovative wares. Basically I saw the same stuff I see in every motorcycle shop I go in(which is every one I see). We're my expectations to great? I don't think so. I thought the IMS was where one went to see the latest and greatest. Maybe it was there in the motorcycles but I didn't see it because I'm loving my Sherpa and not looking for a new bike.
I hope the show continues for all those who do enjoy it but I think I'll keep spending my money at the shops and spend the day with my bike instead of the show