** I had every intention of posting this report a week ago. Unfortunately due to my work schedule and computer issues at home, that didn't happen.........
In January of 2014 we travelled to Abbotsford, British Columbia to attend the Vancouver Motorcycle Show. We made a weekend of it and travelled with PolarBear (Andy) and his wife SweetPea (Karen). You can read about the trip at this LINK.
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| (Borrowed from Interweb) |
Last September we hatched a scheme to attend again this year. Rooms were booked at the Best Western Plus Regency Inn and Conference Centre and then we waited.
Last Friday on January 22, 2016 we set the alarm for 4 am to get ready. We drove across the valley to PolarBear's and piled in his rig.
It was an uneventful ride north on I-5 with intermittent rain. We stopped for coffee and snacks along the way. We crossed the border at Sumas.
We arrived in Abbotsford early afternoon and ran a few errands before checking into the hotel. For some reason we were given the exact same room we had last time. Room 312. A very nice suite with a mini kitchen. They have redecorated since 2014, so the room is even nicer than it was. This Best Western is one of the cleanest hotels we've ever been to.
For dinner Friday night we decided on Boston Pizza. They have a lot of choices and we could have a drink or two as well.
After eating entirely too much, we retired back to the hotel with plans to meet the next morning.
Saturday morning we met PolarBear and SweetPea in the lobby and headed out to the show after a brief detour to an ATM machine. We arrived a smidge later than last time so there wasn't any line-up, although there seemed to be a lot more people in attendance.
I didn't seem take as many pictures as I typically do, but the camera did come out a few times. The overhead lighting was not my friend, so the quality of pics isn't great, but I'll share them anyway.
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| (Honda CB500x) |
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| (Alas we could not enter to win - Canadian residents only) |
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| (Troubadour on a Victory) |
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| (How about a sparkly Harley?) |
After wandering around looking for a few hours we were hungry for lunch. Luckily they had food trucks set up outside so people had an option besides the burgers a fries from the Tradex food court.
We decided on a veggie wrap from the Bobbies Indian food truck. Yummy!
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| (Photo above borrowed from the Motorcycle Show's Facebook page) |
Our phones weren't working well in Canada but SweetPea's was so she suggested sending Princess ScooterPie a text message to see if we could connect. As we were wrapping up lunch Dar was at the food court with her Farkle Garage posse having lunch. We met her there and we able to talk for a few minute and exchange hugs. No one thought to get out the camera. No pics.....did it really happen?
We left her to finish her lunch and went back to wandering. We still had half the show to peruse.
Soon after lunch I came to my favorite bike of the show. It was like seeing a flying car. I'd heard about them, but didn't know they actually existed yet. Behold the Ducati Scrambler Sixty2 in Ocean Grey color.
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| (2017 Ducati Scrambler Sixty2, 399 cc) |
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| (399cc, 41hp, 403 lbs wet weight) |
We spent quite a bit of time at the Ducati booth. Both the Scrambler Sixty2 and the regular Scrambler caught our eye. We have a friend who bought a Ducati Scrambler Urban Enduro last fall and loves it so much he is selling both his Triumph Tigers. Hmmmm.
Also seen at the show........
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| (Yamaha XSR900 - pretty) |
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| (Yamaha MT-10 - we won't be seeing these south of the border) |
Another bike we were surprised to see was the prototype of the all new Suzuki SV650. I knew they were coming out with them, but had no idea we'd actually get to see one in person. Upon sitting on it, I found the gas tank was a little narrower than on my Gladius and the seat was also a smidge lower. Me thinks it will be a bigger seller than the SFV 650 Gladius.
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| (Troubadour on the Suzuki SV650) |
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| (Another shot of the Suzuki SV650) |
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| (PolarBear on a Hayabusa - if your hat is backwards you're going faster, right?) |
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| (Loved the color of this Moto Guzzi V7 II) |
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| (Moto Guzzi V-7) |
As soon as Troubadour tried on the helmet seen below, PolarBear proceeded to inform him he "looked like he had a bucket on his head." It did make him seem a little like a bobble-head.
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| (Troubadour in a Shark helmet) |
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The Honda booth was prominent when one entered the show. The Africa Twin display was front and center (centre). When we arrived that morning there were too many people oohing and ahhing that we couldn't get near it. Not so on the way out.
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| (Troubadour on the Honda Africa Twin) |
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| (I preferred the color combination of the other one on display) |
We decided on Mr. India as recommended by the front desk staff of the hotel. It was a fabulous little hole in the wall with wonderful food.
From there we all retired to our respective hotel rooms until Sunday morning with plans to meet and head home.
We met Sunday morning and after a quick stop at Tim Hortons made a run for the border. We finally arrived home just after 6 Sunday night.
It was an awesome weekend spent hanging out with great friends and checking out cool motorcycles. The show may not be something to do every year, but we sure enjoy the every other year road trip.
Thank you for driving Andy!!
- Au Revoir
" Travel, in the younger sort, is apart of education; in the elder, a part of experience." - Francis Bacon
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How odd it is that Canada gets models that aren't sold here. You'd think the markets would be similar enough but they have always had access to some of the quirky bikes that amuse me- the CBR125 and the MT01 and now the Scrambler 400. Grr
ReplyDeleteI believe the Ducati Scrambler 400 and the SV650 are both coming to our shores, they just haven't arrived yet.
DeleteNice write up Brandy. But no pics of the meetup with Dar???? Maybe it didn't happen.
ReplyDeleteThanks David. We couldn't have been dreaming when meeting up with Dar, the hugs were real.
DeleteMmm, y'all saw a great variety of machines, Trobairitz, and it sounds like you had some mighty fine eats as well.
ReplyDeleteI, too, am quite smitten with Ducati's Scrambler, no matter how it's dressed up. I saw one in a write-up the other day (link below) done up like it fell right out of the '70s. I - flipped - out! It looks like something my uncle would have ridden (well, apart from the studded tires). In a weak moment, I maybe could be convinced to swap an XR1200 and a V7 Racer for one fine Scrambler. And for that very reason, I simply must stop ogling.
I also love the modern retro graphics that Yamaha is slapping upside so many of their concepts and new models. It's strange: I'm not usually a sucker for yellow, but I'm really taken with what manufacturers and customizers have been doing with it lately.
(Sigh) Why... Why must there be so many compelling and gorgeous motorcycles?
http://blog.motorcycle.com/2016/01/21/manufacturers/ducati/ducati-scrambler-artika-by-dario-lopez-studio/
Thanks for the link on the Artika, that is a cool looking machine.
DeleteThe last few years they seemed to have unveiled machines that inspire. A breath of fresh air to me since it seemed for a while they were just bringing out the same thing over and over. Maybe the economy is getting better and they see market potential again.
Hi Brandy,
ReplyDeleteGreat photos! I saw a CB500X for the first time on Sunday. A friend has just bought one as a second bike for commuting and a bit of gravel riding. The build quality looked really good. Do you mean the MT-10 won't be available in the US? Available in NZ despite the small market. A bit sci-fi in style for my taste though! Great weekend you had - enjoyed sharing it thanks.
Hey Geoff! There are more than a few bikes that won't come to the USA for whatever reasons. The MT-10 just happens to be one of them. A little futuristic for my tastes, but some people like it.
DeleteWe had a great weekend. 16-17 hours of travel time for 7 hours of drooling over bikes. What more could we want?
Did the credit card stay in the pocket? Wish we had decent bike shows like that.
ReplyDeleteI need a bigger shed...
Yes we behaved and kept the credit cards firmly in pocket. Importing vehicles into the USA can be a painful process.
DeleteWe all need a bigger shed. So many bikes, so little time (and money)
Sounds like a great trip. I'm rather taken by the CB500X - a bit of a "plain Jane" next to the Ducati or Guzzi but it seems suited to the kind of riding I do these days. I expect to see lots of Africa Twins this year - adventure bikes are very popular here in the UK.
ReplyDeleteI think the CB500x is gaining in popularity. I am not sure why Honda hasn't come out with a stock version that includes the off road package, rather than people having to put the rally raid kit on it themselves.
DeleteThe Africa Twins haven't hit dealerships here yet, but I expect when they do we'll start seeing them quite often. Oregon is pretty big for adventure bikes as well. Good too know they are popular in the UK.
Nice write-up of the show. It looks like there was pretty decent manufacturer participation. Maybe Canada is a better market or the show fees are more reasonable. Did you notice more smaller displacement bikes?
ReplyDeleteThanks Richard. We were pleasantly surprised at the manufacturer turn out. I think the only one missing from the previous time was the CCM booth. Smaller displacement bikes didn't stand out in my mind so I don't know that they get that many more smaller displacement bikes.
DeleteLove that little Duke, ta.
ReplyDeleteI'm enjoying my new Shark Evo3, if anyone needs an endorsement.
I think the Shark looked large on him because of the off-road design. We've known a few friends that have them and like them.
DeleteThanks for the pics of the motorcycles, Troubadour could possibly make a living as a motorcycle model don't you think? Especially with the helmet on..... :P
ReplyDeleteI thought in order to be a motorcycle model you needed to wear skimpy clothes and high heels? :-)
DeleteLove the colour scheme of the Ducati Scrambler. Haven't seen that option just yet on the German market. Brad looks smashing on any bike. You are married to a moto model ;-)
ReplyDeleteThe Scrambler Sixty2 in person was a sweet color combination. They grey almost looked blue. Brad as a moto-model. I'll have to tease him about that.
DeleteHe didn't take the camera with him so there are no photos of me on bikes, unless you count the ones he took with his iPhone.
Wait! Did I hear you say that Brad has an iPhone?
DeleteYes, yes you did. He is now doing On Call for Team Oregon some weekends and needed it for that. He went for an older iPhone 4s though, didn't go all in yet. He's had it for about a month now I think.
DeleteHi Brandy
ReplyDeleteLooks you guys had a great time at the show. Theres a plethora of new models out. That MT10 looks like something out of a transformers movie or something, weird.
Where are the pics of the skimpy clothes and high heels?
We did have fun, so much better than the show down here.
DeleteNormally we can count on fine Italian plastic (models wearing skimpy skirts and high heels) at the Ducati booth but there didn't seem to be any at the Canadian show. How different from what we see at the shows down here where they are everywhere.
The MT10 did make me think Decepticon from Transformers, especially the front view.
Ha yes I thought it was a decepticon as well
DeleteI'm jealous! I keep hearing about those shows, but as yet haven't been able to attend one...they seem so far away from where I'm at.
ReplyDeleteI think Ducati hit a home run with the new scramblers. There were two at the Horizons Unlimited meet I went to both ridden my females who raved about them.
Looks like you have fun!
Much easier to drive 8 hours each way to attend a show when there isn't any snow.
DeleteI agree with you on the Scramblers, they definitely hit a niche there.
For some reason, the International Motorcycle Show decided to skip Washington, DC this year. I probably wouldn't have gone anyway. But now this post and Dar's pics from the show have me itching to go see some of these models in person. As much as I love my F650GS, I can't help but think a slightly larger bike would make my 3,800+ mile daydream ride a bit more comfortable. It would probably be cheaper just to get a really cushy new seat.
ReplyDeleteThe Canadian show seems to be so much better than the US one the last few years, you might not have missed too much. Although the one in Oregon was on Halloween and none of the new bikes were out yet so there were slim pickens.
DeleteFolks have gone around the world on little 250 cc bikes. I am sure you can do it on a 650. :-)
Loved the pictures - all of them! The new CB500X looks rather nice as well. I would consider that if I was looking for a new one. The newer model of our bike looks like they've made it leaner, it seems smaller, or thinnner, or something. Still like it though. Thank you for that.
ReplyDeleteGlad that you had a good weekend on your road trip with friends. There's a road trip down to Oregon that I'd like to do one day. Have a great day!
Suzu
Thank you. The SV is definitely slimmer than our Gladius and the seat a smudge lower too.
DeleteIf you ever find yourself coming to Oregon let me know. We are only an hour from the ocean.
Looks like it was a great show ...
DeleteIt was a great one, just as good as the last time we were there.
DeleteA nice read here Brandy, lots of eye candy! I LOVE the Ducati Scrambler, would give a body part to own one! The Africa twin is fantastic, not a fan of Moto Guzzi but each to his own right? Not sure what a veggie wrap is but I enjoyed the post.
ReplyDeleteThank you. There were so many nice bikes at the show.
DeleteThe veggie wrap was a roti type flatbread stuffed with indian spiced veggies - all rolled up like a burrito. Nice and spicy too.
I looks like you guys had so much fun! I wish I could have played too!
ReplyDeleteWe had a blast. Wish we could have seen you for longer, but at least I got a hug!
Delete