Chicago Int'l M'cycle Show - NO BMW!!!

[Sasquach]

Maybe it was announced and I simply missed it.  BMW had no representation at the Chicago International Mototcycle Show!  All the other manufacturers were there, but noy BMW.  I was very disapointed.  Like everybody else, I wanted to see the new K1600.  

Bimmer was a Bummer in Chicago.

[CGameProgrammer]

Yes it was announced - BMW only goes to the Long Beach and NYC shows.

[SVTNate]

West Coast = Best Coast  

[Orson]

If that's the way they wanna play it, we should close the BMW sub-forum  

 

[motormike]

Was Triumph there?

Triumph was not at the Minneapolis show,  but a BMW Dealer was.

[miles]

If that's the way they wanna play it, we should close the BMW sub-forum to everybody in the fly-over states 

 

FTFY

[Bob T]

Was Triumph there?

Triumph was not at the Minneapolis show,  but a BMW Dealer was.

Yes...Triumph was there...

[Oxblood]

BMW and Triumph were both at the Vancouver show with large booths. The BMW's, as always looked like BMW's.

[Shadowfax]

Maybe it was announced and I simply missed it.  BMW had no representation at the Chicago International Mototcycle Show!  All the other manufacturers were there, but noy BMW.  I was very disapointed.  Like everybody else, I wanted to see the new K1600.  

Bimmer was a Bummer in Chicago.

You should be glad it was only BMW that didn't show.  At the Detroit show last month the list was as follows -->

No BMW..No Triumph..No Ducati..No KTM..No Aprilia.  

I won't be going to the Detroit show next year..we may head your way and hit the Chicago show in February instead.

[D-Mac]

You should be glad it was only BMW that didn't show.  At the Detroit show last month the list was as follows -->

No BMW..No Triumph..No Ducati..No KTM..No Aprilia.  

I won't be going to the Detroit show next year..we may head your way and hit the Chicago show in February instead.

I've been out of town for the Detroit shows the past two years, so I've gone to the Cleveland show. They don't have BMW, Aprilia, or KTM, but Triumph and Ducati are still there.

Still, I doubt I'll do any of these shows anymore unless they improve.

[falconati]

Yikes - these shows much be expensive to participate in and staff, otherwise there's no reason that all the major brands (even Moto Guzzi   ) wouldn't show their wears.

[Blunder]

When times are tuff it's usually up to the local dealers to wave the corporate flag for makers of BMW, Triumph, Ducati, etc., etc. at these motorcycle shows. It's so bad nowadays that even the dealers in some locales won't spend the money to show their wares.

[danketchpel]

Yikes - these shows much be expensive to participate in and staff, otherwise there's no reason that all the major brands (even Moto Guzzi   ) wouldn't show their wears.

That is the case. I just did a trade show for my business last weekend and it's getting stupid expensive. Many at the show were trying to decide if it was worth it or not. For that show a tiny 10' x 10' booth was ~$4k for 3 days and that's just the booth space and a couple tables, forget room and board for the staff. You can imagine how much one of those large booths cost. I'd be willing to bet it runs anywhere from $20-50k for a large manufacturer to put on a show, possible more if you toss in the transportation costs of getting the booth props and bikes to the show.

For what it's worth, several brands were missing at the Long Beach show also, Aprillia, Moto Guzzi, KTM, Ural, maybe some others I can't think of. It was by far the smallest LB show I've been to in years. All of those brands have been there in the past so it's says something about the state of affairs.

[still kickin]

Speaking of the Long Beach show. How would you like to put 50K into this show and have it rain like cats and dogs?? That's what happened this year to the vendors.

[tjhess74]

iirc, bmw wasnt scheduled to be at last years greenville show, but they were with a large display.  even had a couple police bikes from north carolina on display.  perhaps it was the local dealer?  the dealer in gville is 'touring sport', a top notch place run by great peeps.

[dorklord]

Speaking of the Long Beach show. How would you like to put 50K into this show and have it rain like cats and dogs?? That's what happened this year to the vendors.

Is the show outside or something?  

Last year there was a BMW dealer at the Minneapolis show, I was hoping that one would be at the Chicago show this, but no such luck. My dad wanted to see the new K1600s...

[deagle10]

If BMW only sees the West and East coast as customers for its bikes, I guess no reason to look at them anymore here.

I too, was excited to see the new Beemer.  

I guess I appreciate the ones that made the effort even more.

[bomber]

KTM seemed to miss Chicago as well . . .

Triumph flew the flag with a great looking booth after years of absence from the Windy City --

they have much to be proud of!

[doublen675]

The plus side to BMW is that they have a very strong demo program.  So, while the shows are nice, a demo is even better.

[tigertim955]

Just out of curiosity, does Husaberg have any bikes on display in the big U.S. shows?  A local dealer was showing them at the Ottawa show,very interesting design. I know they're mainly off-road and may get overlooked by the ST crowd but was wondering about continental brand coverage.

[Redbandit14]

BMW Canada does  the Toronto show . I think they do the Other canadian shows too.  

[dorklord]

The plus side to BMW is that they have a very strong demo program.  So, while the shows are nice, a demo is even better.

I've heard rumors. Rumors of alleged demo rides, offered at their mythical 'dealerships'.

A man once gave me directions to one of these 'dealerships'.

"And after many miles, you will come to the land of the Elves. The Elves will give you a task, and if you complete the task, they will give you a guide, and the guide will take you to the BMW dealer."

[SoCalFJR]

It's the economy.......no mystery..........spoke with a large dealer last month who skipped the Long Beach show again.........it's just not worth it right now.  These were people who had a large presence ten years ago when everybody and their dog made an appearance.  The good ol days.............

[dorklord]

It's the economy.......no mystery..........spoke with a large dealer last month who skipped the Long Beach show again.........it's just not worth it right now.  These were people who had a large presence ten years ago when everybody and their dog made an appearance.  The good ol days.............

What I find interesting is that the show was still packed with people. Many of the vendor booths, it was difficult to get into the booth and even see what they had.

[bomber]

What I find interesting is that the show was still packed with people. Many of the vendor booths, it was difficult to get into the booth and even see what they had.

Most were there for the following reasons, I'm guessing:

1 It was February
2 It was motorcycles
3 In February
4 In Chicaga

[Geoff]

I was disappointed to find BMW absent from the Chicago show. I really wanted to see the new K1600GT.  In addition to the locals, the Chicago show also attracts people from northern Indiana and Wisconsin. BMW missed a golden opportunity.