11-8-2002

    A porn show for motorcycle enthusiasts was in town this past weekend.  It's called the International Motorcycle Show, which travels all over the country and hosts all the big name makers of motorcycles.  Go here for details, although this page didn't work for me, so maybe this one can offer some info.

The original plan was to get some Hawkers together and ride out on Friday evening, but Mother Nature had other plans for us, confining us to our cars with shitty weather.  Some of us decided on waiting for fairer weather on Saturday or Sunday, but others, like me, were stubborn and wanted to hit the show the first night when the excitement of opening night is high.  I got there about an hour after the show opened (5:00), and it was already dark outside.  I was counting on meeting some Hawk listers at the planned meeting place, the Suzuki SV1000 display.  I walked inside and all I saw was eye candy as far as I could see.  Hundreds of brand new polished motorcycles neatly laid out on displays and the convention floor for eager moto enthusiasts to wishfully mount them and "try it on for size".  I was in a bit of a daze, wondering in no particular direction, when I happened to see a familiar face walk right by me.  "John!"  I called.  John Ruiz from San Jose was there.  He had also run into some old friends.  I tagged along with them for a bit until we looped around to the Suzuki display area.  On the way I spotted another familiar face.  Yong Joo had just arrived.  We waited around the Suzuki floor for a bit and finally spotted Alex Cardwell who told us Rick Holtzman was around, but we never saw him.  We were, however, approached by a Hawk list lurker.  He recognized me/us from my trip reports.  Cool, huh.  Dan (sorry, Dan, already forgot your last name), has been a lister for a while and bought a pristine '88 with ridiculously low miles (4k ?).  "She's a keeper."  He said.  Nice meeting you, Dan.  Maybe you'll come out for a ride some time.

After meandering, gawking, touching and drooling for some time Alex had to leave, so Yong and I covered unseen or not so thoroughly seen territory.  We were quite the kids climbing all over cool bikes.

Bad-ass Yong Look at that riding position! My, what a big pipe you have! Neither Yong or I had ridden a cruiser, so we were drawn to them by curiosity more than buyers interest.  It was fun just sitting on them and cringing at some of the riding positions.  Not that my Hawk, with it's mods, is any better.  In fact, the Harley's were the exact opposite than my Hawk or any sport bike:  feet WAY out front, arms high, and leaned back.  It felt pretty goofy.  Some of those cruisers, however, really are beautiful machines.  That Honda Rune is absolutely amazing.  Definately something I'd rather look at than ride, but what a piece of art!  And it has a SSS!

The highlight of the night was the Buell display.

Woohoo!  Peace! Trackday?  I don't need no stinkin' trackday!   Buell was having tryouts for their racing team.  Yong and I breezed our ways in. This display was a damn good idea.  It sure brought a lot of attention, and Yong and I had good fun.  Where else can you drag a knee in Jeans and casually throw a peace sign?  Oh, and I definitely have a new appreciation for how low racers get down.  Crap, man, I felt like I was lying down and there was still 5 or 6 inches of clearance from the peg scraper to the floor.  Wow!

Well, that's all folks.  Good times, and until next year...DREAM ON!