Long Beach International Motorcycle Show

[stevepsd]

Who's headed down to the International Motorcycle Show in Long Beach this year (Fri Dec 9 - Sun Dec 11)?

Who is planning on riding their ST down there?

I'll be there on Saturday 10 Dec. Planning on riding the ST down!

-steve

 

[fender5803]

I am going to try and make it if I am in town. I probably would ride unless any family wanted to go.
Have you been before? Is Yamaha well represented? Thanks
-DT

 

[stevepsd]

I am going to try and make it if I am in town. I probably would ride unless any family wanted to go.
Have you been before? Is Yamaha well represented? Thanks
-DT

Only every year for about the past 10 years or so. All the major players are very well represented except Triumph; but they were there in force last year (my boy fell in love with a red/white Thruxton in cafe' race guise), so hopefully they will be there this year as well. Lots of vendors show up as well, some with very nice 'show discounts'...that's where I bought my Gerbings heated cloths and my NoMar tire changer.

 

[SpeedStar]

I will try to make it. I will post here if I do. I would love to meet up with some other owners there.

 

[tomatocity]

I am riding down from Sacramento and will attend the Saturday show. Plan on taking at least three days on the way down. Will arrive Long Beach Friday. Meet a local friend for the show and dinner. Ride somewhere Sunday. Leave for Sacramento early Monday morning with a friend.

By then I will be riding with a new Arai helmet, ProTaper handlebars, and maybe a Rick Mayer seat.

 

[Twitch]

If this is the same one, it looks like this show travels around the country...over here at Daytona in March. Looks pretty interesting; think I'll put it on the calendar.

http://www.motorcycleshows.com/longbeach

 

[SpeedStar]

I am heading to the show this morning. I plan on getting there by 9:30.
If any other members are there today, post here and maybe we can meet up.

 

[3putt]

Triumph was in IMS Dallas. Not sure if the bikes were local dealer or not. The Explorer was flown in from UK for the event.

 

[stevepsd]

I am heading to the show this morning. I plan on getting there by 9:30.
If any other members are there today, post here and maybe we can meet up.

I was there as well....had a nice talk with Jeremy at the AltRider booth.....picked up some Gerbings' accessories at their 'booth'....they normally have a great display, but somehow the trucking company forgot to move it from the Dallas show to Long Beach. They were not pleased, so they 'borrowed' some tables and made due. They were still very, very busy.

Spent some time in the Twisted Throttle area and the Touratech booth. Touratech had a kitted out ST on display. Got 10% off with free shipping coupons from both! My Credit Card is going to take another hit. Most vendors offer show discounts/specials. Stopped by the good folks at Adv MotoStuff, had lots of Hepco-Becker items for the ST. Turns out the owner of Hepco-Becker has a ST (he is on the cover the the 2011 H-B catalog riding a ST).

Stopped by the nice folks at NoMar Tire Changers and had a good chat with their owner Steve. Turns out they have sold a number of their tire changers to the Special Forces (they have military spec KLR 650's plus some others). They are coming out with a version of their changer that will be easily boxed and transportable, especially for the military (sounds like it might have a integral box that doubles as they stand). They might offer it to the public as well. All their changers are built in the US, with US parts and US steel.

Saw/sat on the new 1200 Triumph Explorer. Pretty nice bike. Does not look as dirt worthy as the ST, but you never know. The Triumph triples are wonderful motors. I know I'm keeping my 1050 Tiger. The Explorer really needs spoke wheels.

Yamaha had a fully decked out ST on display. Lots of folks looking at it. Found a Yamaha product development type there and talked about the ST. Turned out he has a 'company ST' and has been riding his since July. Talked about how I though the gearing was a bit to high, especially first gear in off-road conditions and brought up my Colorado off-road 'adventure' with the ST. Also talked about people losing spoke nipples have having to buy a complete spoke set to get a nipple or two and suggested that they make the individual parts available. He took my name & phone number and said his boss may give me a call. We will see.

Overall I thought the show was very well attended, with many more vendors than I have seen over the past several years. It's a good way to spend the day.

-steve

 

[motodude]

I was there first thing Friday nite. Saw three STs in the parking lot, one very dirty with the knobby TKC tires...ooooh, dirt cred, heheh. Bought some AltRider crash bars but they wouldn't give me a show special discount, bummer. At least I didn't have to pay shipping. The Touratech booth had their usual phone book-thick catalog and a fully kitted ST on display, pretty rad. I think I like their panniers the best...they look super tough and well-made. Not cheap though.

The new Triumph Explorer is a PIG! I sat on it and immediately noticed the top heavy feeling on lifting it off the sidestand. I doubt if it'll give the ST any problems off road, although the bigger engine might walk away from it on the street...they're claiming 135 hp.

Definitely a better show than last year...especially as it didn't rain like it has for the last eight years or so....

 

[fender5803]

I was there first thing Friday nite. Saw three STs in the parking lot, one very dirty with the knobby TKC tires...ooooh, dirt cred, heheh. Bought some AltRider crash bars but they wouldn't give me a show special discount, bummer. At least I didn't have to pay shipping. The Touratech booth had their usual phone book-thick catalog and a fully kitted ST on display, pretty rad. I think I like their panniers the best...they look super tough and well-made. Not cheap though.

The new Triumph Explorer is a PIG! I sat on it and immediately noticed the top heavy feeling on lifting it off the sidestand. I doubt if it'll give the ST any problems off road, although the bigger engine might walk away from it on the street...they're claiming 135 hp.

Definitely a better show than last year...especially as it didn't rain like it has for the last eight years or so....

I wish I had sat on the Triumph. It seemed pretty crowded to me for a Friday but it was my first time going then.
Was that a lot of bikes in the parking lot for Fri-? It seemed like a lot to me. I saw one other XTZ in the lot which had the side screens and large Yamaha windshield. YamaBlue too, Metzlers for and aft. Saw a 20 min Ben Spies interview. Can you imagine riding a bike with 260 horsepower .... For sure I'd love to give it a try ...

 

[motodude]

I wish I had sat on the Triumph. It seemed pretty crowded to me for a Friday but it was my first time going then.
Was that a lot of bikes in the parking lot for Fri-? It seemed like a lot to me. I saw one other XTZ in the lot which had the side screens and large Yamaha windshield. YamaBlue too, Metzlers for and aft. Saw a 20 min Ben Spies interview. Can you imagine riding a bike with 260 horsepower .... For sure I'd love to give it a try ...

Not that many bikes...usually it's full up. But sometimes there are more interesting machines out in the lot than on the inside...

 

[AVGeek]

::006::

 

[kgfire]

I was at the show on Sunday and Yamaha had one Black ST on display and every time I went near it to get a picture it was surrounded by people!
I did get a chance to sit on the new Triumph Explorer and I agree it felt very top heavy. Considering it probably didn't have any gas in the tank that was a surprise. 136 hp. and 80 some ft.lbs. of torque puts it right up there in Multistrada territory but at 575lbs it will be about the same weight as the Yamaha. Still ... that 1200cc triple engine should make awesome power.

 

[tomatocity]

I was at the show Saturday 9:30a. Long enjoyable 3day ride that was very good until Ventura. LA is beautiful but I left two days early because of the traffic. The show was good. The Arai staff resolved my concerns with my new helmet. Good to meet and chat with Jeremy of AltRider. Found an Olympia jacket I should have bought but did not have the room. Ohlins has a good staff and shared their knowledge. Surprising Penske does not have a Super Tenere to work with (anyone in the PA area?). The Super Tenere at the Yamaha booth was very popular when we were there. People were still arriving when we left at 2ish.

Redondo Beach is a neat place (after parking). Hate the LA traffic. Had a good time but had to get out of town to enjoy Malibu, Morro Bay, and Big Sur.

What was the deal with the old cannon being setup by the lake in front of the Center?

 

[Tremor38]

I was at the show on Sunday and Yamaha had one Black ST on display and every time I went near it to get a picture it was surrounded by people!

This kinda makes me wonder if Yamaha could have done better with their stateside advertising for this bike so far. Then again, almost any bike fully decked out in Touratech accessories is bound to attract attention. ::001::