Chicago Bike Shows & Weather
Thread Starter
|
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 6,235
Likes: 65
From: Joliet, Illinois
Chicago Bike Shows & Weather
Attended the Bike Show/Swap Meet at McCormick place last weekend. There were a lot of vendors, not so many bikes. Found another cool leather jacket for my wife. She may have 5 now, and we haven't had the bike a year. Kind of a disappointing show for what it cost to attend ($18 for parking, $15 each to get in).
Spent the week in Dallas - wishing I had my bike. While the temps in Chi-Town were in the single digits and negative numbers, the weather in Dallas was beautiful.
Got back to Chi-Town in time to hit the Bike Show in Rosemont. The weather was AWESOME for Chicago in February - 50°, sunny and dry! Met up with our buddy Scott and had a nice run up to the show. Big show. Lots of bikes. Lots of vendors. ... and WAY too many people. It was difficult to walk around, or see anything, but we did OK. After seeing all the bikes, my wife decided she still has her heart set on a GSXR600 as her first bike. We did cool with scamming out of paying for parking. Managed to park without having to go through the gate & get a ticket, then managed to leave pretty much the same way. Good thing too - the lines to pay for parking were ridiculous! Had a great 90 MPH run back home. Came home pumped. First good ride we've had since the weather went to ****. Definitely time to move somewhere warmer!
Spent the week in Dallas - wishing I had my bike. While the temps in Chi-Town were in the single digits and negative numbers, the weather in Dallas was beautiful.
Got back to Chi-Town in time to hit the Bike Show in Rosemont. The weather was AWESOME for Chicago in February - 50°, sunny and dry! Met up with our buddy Scott and had a nice run up to the show. Big show. Lots of bikes. Lots of vendors. ... and WAY too many people. It was difficult to walk around, or see anything, but we did OK. After seeing all the bikes, my wife decided she still has her heart set on a GSXR600 as her first bike. We did cool with scamming out of paying for parking. Managed to park without having to go through the gate & get a ticket, then managed to leave pretty much the same way. Good thing too - the lines to pay for parking were ridiculous! Had a great 90 MPH run back home. Came home pumped. First good ride we've had since the weather went to ****. Definitely time to move somewhere warmer!
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 5,577
Likes: 138
From: South of Dallas Area, Texas
Wish I could have made the Rosemont show. I had to work all weekend, including today.
I did manage to get to the McCormick Place show last weekend. Bought a new vest.
Weather is definately better than it was.
You RODE to Rosemont today?
Weather was nice but the roads are full of salt and wet melting garbage.
MikeM
I did manage to get to the McCormick Place show last weekend. Bought a new vest.
Weather is definately better than it was.
You RODE to Rosemont today?
Weather was nice but the roads are full of salt and wet melting garbage.
MikeM
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 10,946
Likes: 817
From: Nevada
I went to the Rosemont show on Friday, which is always much less crowded. There were less vendors as I expected due to the economy. The Victory prototype was cool, the one with the wood seat. Other than this the show was pretty lame. Harley didn't even have their complete lineup on display.
Tourer
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 274
Likes: 0
From: Libertyville, IL
A few of us went yesterday. GO there for opening at 9 am. Walked around for about 2 hours then left. Glad we left when we did, the grwods coming in where huge. Not much new as far as I was concerned but it was a good time spent with freinds and the weather was great.
Road Master
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,152
Likes: 13
From: Southeast WI
Decided not to bother with the Rosemont show this weekend after attending the Chicago cycle show last weekend. Went on the formers web site and there was not much there to interest me in this one. Lots of non-HD stuff going on as far as I could tell. McCormick Place show was a good time - rock bands, tattooing, Michelle Smith, and a good selection of sick customs. Vendor numbers seemed a little down from previous years though.
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,230
Likes: 1
From: Oak Park, IL
Now come on, that cute little tidbit in the white bikini was worth the price of admission to the McCormak show! Actually the one who impressed me is the lady who rides the old Panhead and has the radio show on Sunday mornings. She was not around to talk to, but man that pan is sweet and according to one of her buds she is on the 3rd rebuild of that motor. Having wrasseled with an old panhead for over 10 years I have to say that's a serious riding lady in my book!
There were a couple of nice bikes, but not all that much. I did buy a set of chaps so it was not a total waste, lol. I found it most interesting to watch the interaction between some of the minor clubs and the Outlaws that were there. Talk about a pecking order, all I can say is that I am glad I made it all these years as an independent cause I don't want to have to kiss anyone's butt that much! ( I will say the Outlaws that were there were some SERIOUSLY big dudes! )
There were a couple of nice bikes, but not all that much. I did buy a set of chaps so it was not a total waste, lol. I found it most interesting to watch the interaction between some of the minor clubs and the Outlaws that were there. Talk about a pecking order, all I can say is that I am glad I made it all these years as an independent cause I don't want to have to kiss anyone's butt that much! ( I will say the Outlaws that were there were some SERIOUSLY big dudes! )
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 6,035
Likes: 354
From: Illinois
Went to the IMS in Rosemont. Didn't see any colors except religious clubs and one guy wearing a Sons of Anarchy t-shirt.
Trending Topics
Cruiser
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 114
Likes: 0
From: Hobart, IN
same here..(sunday) was alot at the McCormick show..Show wasn't too bad. was my 1st one. The parking garage was terrible...was alot easier parking getting in and out at the McCormick center last weekend than at Rosemount..was 6 bucks cheaper. (rather pay the extra 6 bucks)
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider
Verdad Gallardo
Thread Starter
|
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 6,235
Likes: 65
From: Joliet, Illinois
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Bluerose
General Harley Davidson Chat
29
Mar 12, 2008 09:31 AM