Thank you very much, that’ll be $2000 for my consultation fee. I’m not cheap.

For an initial additional $1000 I can also tell you how giving away a week long MotoGP lesson at Aragon/Jerez/Mugello with, say Dani Pedrosa or Sylvain Guintoli for example, would be another crazy attraction. You can charge $$$ for that raffle ticket. I’ll take a proceed from those as well, thank you.

Pan-Am: Excellent example! An OEM with a relentless and seemingly eternal slow drip approach to press releases, a curious marketplace that wanted to know more about it, a media that accommodated both very well, and demo rides got the job done. Lots of excitement all the way around – that matters a lot. Can they keep that going, or better yet, expand on that?

A lot of businesses at the OEM level seem to have a “We want you to see us, but we have no interest in seeing you – go talk to one of our . . . icky dealers” attitude at shows. Otherwise, yes, have to get out there, interact, and all that. This business shouldn’t be dull….

The IMS Denver show was MIA for decades – went to the last one around 2002 (?) – paying money to talk to burned out and snotty executives and see the same thing that I could see at the local dealerships for free was no fun at all. No custom displays, no demos, no….nothing back then. I’m told they both came back recently and changed their ways – I’m told it’s much better now.

Take a look at the bicycle world – Interbike and CABDA have come, gone, and come back, sort of.

NAHBS is its own thing – always will be – shows like that probably benefit from the internet. There are no shows like that for the motorcycle world (No, the art gallery/invitational “Shows” don’t even come close).

Not so sure… by example, the H-D Pan-Am was a marketing launch success without any shows.
The relative cost of a show can now buy an huge amount of global eyeballs…. all of which are actually known to be interested in any number of target demographics.

If traditional shows continue, I believe it will be for a couple of reasons
1. B2B activities. People still value meeting people. It makes sense to have the trade in a single location and streamline the getting together.
2. B2C. Try before you buy. To physically touch and size vehicles/products before either buying for fulfilment to your door/local dealer or end users later online low price purchase.

The brands know many consumers just size what they want and then internet fish for lowest price. This is also why many dealers are reluctant to pony up a sizeable chunk of cash for shows.

Yeah it’s really a shame they no longer do it. I am pretty sure it has something to do with difficulties combining the custom fit tech with the 3-layer multi-density Flex tech.

I had my head scanned at the NY IMS show. That helmet is the BEST I’ve ever owned. Only use it at the track, hardly know it’s on. I wish Bell would bring that program back.

Back when Bell was doing its 3D-head-scanning custom-fit helmet program (which I really wish they still did), I went out of my way to go to some race event just to check out out their stuff. I wasn’t even that interested in the race, but I was very interested in being able to talk to Bell reps in person and ask questions and check out the custom-fit stuff.

Gear manufacturers actually showing up and talking to consumers can be a huge boon.

Oh, and they need a dirt track with some Sunday’s or a mini circuit with groms.