The past two years have delivered the biggest shake-up to the established motorcycle industry events calendar for a generation , with many people believing that the nature of motorcycle events - industry / trade and consumer - is likely to emerge changed for ever . In addition to the impacts of the global COVID-19 pandemic , the change premise is also predicated on the changing demographics as Boomers are replaced by the alphabet soup of digital era consumer age groups , the changing attitudes to and experience of the ownership and riding experience that we are seeing , and the widely touted impending demise of the internal combustion engine . With entry into riding two wheels under greater challenge than ever , kudos to Informa , the current owner of the venerable International Motorcycle Show series , for responding to the issues that forced the cancelation of the winter 2020 / 2021 series by taking it outdoors . So far , consumer and industry reaction to the concept that made its debut at the Sonoma International Raceway north of San Francisco at the end of July has been mixed . Consumers appear surprisingly divided about the absence of the conventional indoor expo style exhibits . However , it does appear that centering a cut-down event on the test rides , integrating them into the ' mother ship ' rather than locating them a shuttle away , has gone over well .
Phil Susoev secured runner-up with a 2003 Harley-Davidson Softail standard , custom-built by Ricky Bray at RKB Kustom Speed .
Custom Classic - requires a 1999 or earlier OEM engine ( no replicas allowed ), but custom or stock modified frames can be used . Hugo Eccles with Untitled Motorcycles won with a 1975 Moto Guzzi Supernaturale . The custom is a minimalist café racer that features an 844 cc engine and a 23 % lighter build than its original 1975 donor . The hand-formed aluminum gas tank is a contemporary reinterpretation of the classic LeMans and encloses a state-of-the-art electrical system , and much more .
By all reports , the attendance at this first ' IMS Outdoors ' was light - especially compared to the crowds the series has seen in many of its Convention Center style expo venues in its illustrious 40-
year history . In terms of aftermarket opportunities , for potential customers to feel the " extended experience " the vendor count was equally thin , with OEM offerings trumping the modest sprinkling of aftermarket P & A and G & A
Photography by Progressive IMS Outdoors / Manny Pandya Photography
Dave Kelly secured runner-up with a custom-built 1939 Flathead .
Custom Street - based on 2000 and later major OEM engines and frames . Dan Stern and painter Art Himsl won with a 2004 Harley-Davidson Softail / sidecar that features handmade fenders and body panels . The sidecar hosted exotic wood flooring , full aluminum louvered polished belly pans and custom luggage behind the seat . The custom also features handmade taillights and trim work , hidden handlebar controls , a bronze powder-coated engine , and much more .
28 AFTERMARKET MOTO DESIGN - SEPTEMBER 2021 www . AMDchampionship . com