EXUP Worldwide

Hit the bike show Sunday at the D.C. convention center. Not as well attended as last year, and I didn't get there to the afternoon of the last day so most of the freebies were gone.

Sorry--no pictures this year.

Rossi's Moto GP bike was there--I think. It was sporting the Yellow 50th anniversary colors he used at Laguna, so I'm not sure if it was the bike he rode all season, the bike they had at Laguna or what. No placard, so a lot of spectators didn't know what they were looking at. Carbon all over, electronic sensors. Looked like he went down or rode the curb on this one--road rash on the lower fairing. Still looked pretty cool.

The had an R1-LE on the floor too, No. 000! Ohlins, Marchesini, Brembo and $18K. People were climbing all over it--kids too. One of the Yamaha reps said they have deposits on all the 500 destined for the US. Well--out of my price range anyway.

I was sad to see that BMW has discontinued my bike, the RS series (in-line four running front to back laying on its side). Their new sports touring coming out in May is the K1200S, a detuned version of their K1200S sport bike. Its the end of an era--first RS were out in 74 as I recall!

Kenny Robert's 3 cyl 2 stroke 500cc Yamaha from the early '80's was on display with the original Yellow and Black paint. I remember reading about all his wins when he dominated racing. I just can't imagine going as fast as he went with those skinny tires and crappy looking brakes and suspension. Talk about balls.

The show got the blood going again. I went back home and started working on my other project bike I've been collecting parts for, a '99 Yamaha XT-350 Enduro (for my kids to learn/play on).

Seven weeks 'til the first day of Spring!

Kontoboy

glad to hear you had fun konto! i wish i would have known you were going. i tried giving a local riding buddy a call but he was out of town.

i went to the new york show in 2004 and i'm considering going this year, but it was a total zoo. eh, we'll see.

I'm going to the Cleveland show next weekend, unsure of which day as of yet though.

I'll be sure to post up plenty of pics.

i went to college in pittsburgh and grew up in cleveland. the ix center is a big venue. should be a good show there too.

Hooligan wrote:i went to college in pittsburgh and grew up in cleveland. the ix center is a big venue. should be a good show there too.

Which school in Pgh did you go to?

Last years show was my first time in the IX Center. The show only took up about 1/3 of the availible space - that building is enormous! It was a good show, not much on quality riding gear for sale, but you could do alot of tire kicking. Couldn't find a decent riding jacket in the place, but there we about 6 stunt teams peddling their DVDs, go figure.

I'm a little jacked about Triumph not coming this year. They finally make a bike that peaks my interest and they decide to not show it off. Oh well, guess they think they don't have to push it when it's pretty much sold out before production even started.

From KontoBoy's report, it sounds like it is still going to be worth going and paying the $7 to park and $12 to get in.

Maybe I can get close enough to Robert's or Rossi's bikes to lick a tire and maybe have some of that talent rub off..........

So, we went to the IMS show yesterday. Not as good as last years show - fewer bikes, less gear (and most of what they had sucked) and much more catered to the Harley and cruiser crowd. The big 4 all had nice displays though.


The R1 LE






The closest I will probably ever get to riding the $20k machine...




#46's ride

Robert's ride







V-Max at a dealer's display. This one was sold.





The Yamaha dirt bike display





While not really a fully functional R1, this one looked good and I think had every goodie you could find for a bike (good or bad)

The new R6





Some 2000 Zuk race bike (forget what I read about it)




A Stella with a sidecar - pretty cool and around $5k for the whole package.




The new 'priller motard - I soooo want one of these (but too cheap to pony up $10k for a dirt bike.)




and of course the latest fad...






That's about all. I only carried the camera around about half the time

Nice pics--I wish I remembered a camera.

Hell--I didn't realize that was the new R6. No label on it when I saw it. I just bike rag and read all about it. Sounds like it will give the 600RRs a run.

Kontoboy