The International Motorcycle Show (IMS) is the world’s largest touring motorcycle show with 12 stops from Long Beach, CA to New York City with its final pit in Daytona, FL during the truly epic Daytona Bike Week. Attracting an audience of more than 500,000 total, this year’s D.C. and NY IMS shows attracted a combined total of more than 100,000 attendees – an increase of 3% for both cities.
IMS also boosts the largest traveling custom motorcycle show, the Ultimate Builder Custom Bike Show where contestants compete for $90,000 in prize money and awards with a custom 2012 Honda Furry as the People’s Choice grand prize. Other show features include the amazing agility stunt show by the Smage Brothers, Kawasaki’s large-scale interactive “design your own bike” display, the Dream Pavilion with some of today’s most sought after luxury and exotic motorcycles, and a variety of aftermarket parts to be found in The MarketPlace.
The NY IMS is one of the grander stops along the tour and also a designated media day with unveilings and celebrity appearances. This year Paul Teutul Jr. of American Chopper, Tyson Beckford, and Drag Race Champion Rickey Gadson were in attendance. Yamaha used this opportunity to unveil a sinister matte black and royal blue 2012 custom YZF-R1 skillfully crafted by MSP Motorsports of Frederick, MD complete with front and rear air-ride suspension, a 300 tire kit, speakers and an integrated Samsung Galaxy tablet fabricated into the gas tank. Also on display was Rickey Gadson’s new custom Kawasaki ZX-14, Jersey Shore’s DJ Pauly D’s custom Suzuki GSX-R 1000 painted by Killer Kreations, and several other manufacturer show-stoppers.
IMS, however, is more than bikes, products and personalities; it also offers valuable real-world advice and suggestions with its Learning Curve seminars. They are designed to help riders by providing messaging on helmet safety, new rider road skills, off-road riding techniques and a very heartfelt and eye-opening seminar on wearing the proper riding gear from Brittany Morrow, creator of RocktheGear.org. This dynamic young lady has made it her mission to help save lives from personal experience as a survivor of a horrific motorcycle accident.
With show features, custom bikes, major manufacturers, the latest in technology and information, the IMS literally has something for ever rider’s fancy.
