Back to Basics
This year marked the 10^th anniversary for the annual V-Twin dealer Expo
in Cincinnati Ohio. Because of the blow suffered to the motorcycle
industry by the declining economy we didn't know what to expect. For
those of you unfamiliar with this event it's a convention where
motorcycle industry manufacturers display their newest V-Twin
aftermarket products and is open to only motorcycle dealers.
As it turned out the show was a pleasant surprise even though the
displays and attendance were not what they were during the boom of the
custom chopper days. The major manufacturers like Kuryakyn, Performance
Machine, Mustang Seats and Vance & Hines were there in full force with
large professional exhibits featuring all of their new product line for
2010. This year was also the first time we filmed the event for /Two
Wheel Thunder /on the Discovery Networks HD Theater. In case you've been
asleep on the wheel, Jay (me) and Michele Smith are back together after
the /SPEED/ Channel shut down V-Twin programming and cancelled /American
Thunder/, and after last year's debacle, it's the best thing that ever
happened… Anyway check out the show in June 2010. We'll tell you even
more in the next Johnny ands Jay, although I think we are going to have
to change the name of this column to Jay and Johnny now.
Getting back to the V-Twin Expo. We filmed segments with S&S, Arlen
Ness, Custom Chrome, Heartland USA, LePera seats and a few others. It
was pretty obvious that after Michele did a few interviews that the
theme for the event was "Back to Basics" and gone were the people that
wanted to make a quick buck off of crappy quality and poorly designed
products. Also gone were the guys that were bike assemblers who didn't
have time tested proprietary products. Thank you GOD! When guys like
Arlen and Cory Ness spend twelve hour a days dressed in black business
suits personally representing their products you know the good old days
are back.
All in all the show definitely set the tone for a positive and
optimistic 2010 in the V-twin industry.
Congratulations V-Twin Expo and thanks for keeping the dream alive.
Please stop by and visit us during Daytona Beach Bike week across from
the Iron Horse Saloon, just look for the hot chicks and the TV cameras,
you'll find us. For additional articles visit www.stripclubchoppers.com
