Snapshots from Pictures at a Motorcycle Exhibition

You can learn a lot from lines.

Especially if you are observing them rather than being part of them.

We often talk about the lines on a wonderfully designed piece of machinery - lines that move you, or seem to be moving. Unlike lines of traffic or check- out lines which force you to emulate a chunk of cement.

So while waiting for my friend to meet up with me at the Toronto Motorcycle Show yesterday I took the opportunity to people watch.

Between 11 and noon (show opened at 10) I watched the admission line grow to from maybe a dozen lined up to... well I'm not sure how many because the attendees were becoming specks on the horizon. It's a big venue.

During my observing stint the overall impression was of 30-55 year old white males. Will the Harley-Davidson booth be crowded?

Some show up with menacing motorcycle "club" colours. Patches (large ones!) all over leather vests and jackets. They don't frighten as much as ostracize themselves. Not much call for bad-assery at this show, guys - this is the white wine set. But we'll tell the guys back at the clubhouse you were "representing".

Then there are the more senior couples. In matching textile motorcycle jackets. I can almost see the gleaming Goldwing in the garage waiting for the May 2-4. A brand new travel log book just waiting to be filled with the name of every little town passed through on sunny afternoons. "Look Robert dear, it's (incredibly small town that people only find by accident)! What a picturesque village!" "Mark it in the book Martha dear!" as they mildly vvvrrrooooommmm into the distance....

On the younger side are the twenty-somethings in their racer leather uppers or armoured textile jackets emblazoned with manufacturer of choice advertising logos. Just to prove they have a bike - a speedy one.

Standing out from the stereotypes are the families - stroller-laden no less! Two or three under 7 year-olds in tow too. Are children begging for minibikes at this fresh an age? In this over-insured, over-nannyized province? They must be from out of town. Lucky tykes.

(Yes I am ahem approaching middle-age and I still have Honda Z-50 MiniTrail envy.)

Or is it the dads doing the dragging? I can hear the begging already: "Please please please pllleeeeaaassse honey?" It's the same argument and promises, tried, and often failing in the past, used to entice parents to permit the adoption of a strange dog: "If it follows me home, can I keep it? I promise to walk it every day. And feed it and clean up after it! Pllleeeeeaaaase?"

Now admittedly this was Sunday, so I didn't know how much of a representative sampling of the motorcycling or motorcycling-wannabe population there was... but interesting nonetheless.

(Oh and there were many many "Canada" jerseys present too - Canada's Men's Hockey had just won gold! Congrats guys - and the women too who won a nail- biter! Go Canada!)

For those long-distance readers, The Toronto Motorcycle Show is considered (especially by those who agree with me) to be the "classy" show. This is what I label "the manufacturers show". It's similar to the auto show where the manufacturers present their latest models. There is a smattering of representatives from accessory stores, bike magazines, tour operators and the like. There's some demonstrations and a stage for presentations and (gasp) discussions (I've personally yet to witness). This show is usually held in early-mid December but this year moved to February - good marketing move I'd say. After many months of being cooped up, with riders and wannabes poking their noses out of the snow like groundhogs sniffing for a hint of spring, the people come flocking (maybe with cash in hand - mortgaging the kids March break trip).

Then there's the "Supershow" usually held the first full weekend in January - Christmas is over, let's get back to summer already. It is treated by some as the shady, gambling, drinking, womanizing uncle compared to the uptight accountant clean-cut family man show which is the T.O. Motorcycle show.

The Supershow is much bigger. but more diverse. It is dealer-based rather than manufacturer-based. Here you will find "Henry's Honda" or "Kevin's Kawasaki" or "Suzette's Suzuki" or "Vesper's Vespas" - I know you got the idea long ago but I was having too much fun coming up with ficticious dealer names... There's a custom show, vintage bike displays, used bikes for sale, tons of vendors, tons of charity and fun rides, tons of clubs - even beef jerky. The "fashion show" - stage in the custom show area - have models and clothing that would not be acceptable at the Toronto Motorcycle Show, although some may wish it were not the case. Those people may have to wait a couple weeks for "Sexapolooza 2014" - yes that's a real show look it up... oh you already have....

Anyway, despite earnest efforts I didn't get to see everything or talk to all the people I should have liked to (all in the name of research for posts of course!). At either show. I made the mistake of going to the Supershow on Saturday afternoon when there were so many people, the flow of the crowd was like a river that rushed you along. It was difficult to escape the current long enough to renew my magazine subscriptions, never mind converse.

Maybe the Spring Motorcycle show - "Supershow Lite" - will give me more opportunity, although being smaller and less than a month from now, the vendors and clubs and charity rides will all be suffering "trade show burnout" or lack of funds to pay for a show stall. Many dealers won't have the time or the inclination to be away from the growing line up of customers.

For those hoping to mount a new ride this year, whether current riders, new riders or returning riders - I hope the line moves fast.

Cheers!