Shrinkage! Oh my what shrinkage (motorcycle shows that is)

[R-Rated]

I love demo'ing motorcycles. Not just because a video review of a motorcycle draws viewers to the channel but also because I LOVE MOTORCYCLES. Looking at one is one thing but to throw a leg over one and actually try it is another.

So when Google reminded me last year I was out demoing some nice rides, I thought, "Hey! I do not remember that group announcing they were doing their annual show this year?"

I looked and was about to faint from disillusionment -

Why is this a big deal? Well without new models then the manufacturers will either carryover old tech to make ends meet or try something innovative but not be able to get it out to the public enough. Worse yet, imagine trying to get replacement parts for a bike that was made in limited numbers to begin with due to supply chain interruptions? Unless that bike is interchangeable with other years part for part, it might be a challenge.

Has anyone run into either not being able to get parts quick enough for a bike or not being able to buy the bike you want due to supply chain issues?

 

[Hippo-Drones]

I think a lot of manufacturers are realising that shows don't get sales in the same way a showroom does, so they are not bothering with the expense of them. Piaggio Group (Aprilia/Moto Guzzi/Vespa) and Yamaha have not been to the UK's biggest bike show for a few years now.

 

[R-Rated]

I think a lot of manufacturers are realising that shows don't get sales in the same way a showroom does, so they are not bothering with the expense of them. Piaggio Group (Aprilia/Moto Guzzi/Vespa) and Yamaha have not been to the UK's biggest bike show for a few years now.

Over here shows do drive some sales especially when manufactures go head to head with competitors. Case in point is Zero electric bikes. A couple of the Zero factory guys told me last year that when Harley had their Livewire electric for demo, the zero guys would ask people to try both. They saw people come back to Zero to get more information for possibly buying.

Plus with the big shows like these there were other vendors there to sell accessories and other goods.

All that gets dried up too.

 

[LoneWolfer]

Having worked in marketing for years, live events and demos of a product work best when the manufacturer/seller/event actually tries to put on a good event.

I have a suspicion that IMS is folding/pausing indefinitely all events because of other reasons and they looked for the easiest excuse that is as far from their failures as they can get. I have heard a ton of horror stories concerning how IMS shows ran and how much they tried to control even the smallest details of how businesses could present themselves or not present themselves. Or just plain up inviting and promoting the wrong people. The best events I have attended treat the sellers like sovereign territory. Basic rule of "don't be a dick" is in place but each business's sells their way. But on the other hand when people who have no interest in the product or just don't care are the sales people, you have boring demoes and trade shows. Also promoting people who have no actual product such as forcing an influencer down peoples throats and the public going, nope.

There is no better marketing strategy than putting the product in front of or under the customer's nose. And the higher amount of noses that can be sniffing your merch, the better your chances at a sale. The amount of money it takes to attend these shows pales in comparison to the ridiculous salaries and bonuses that the higher ups are getting because they saved the company money in the short term by cutting the events that their company attends. Or at the very least paying the people working the event crap money and it shows in how little they care about the product. Money flows up hill and the bullshit flows down.

As for parts and trying to get stuff, I only had issues with long ship times during 2021. No problems now, but I'm buying for the domestic product, Harley Davidson. When I was working on that Aprilia, I could find squat because when that company stops making something, they stop making parts. And that was straight from a rep from an Aprilia dealer. And I live in Connecticut, a place where you have a dealer for anything you want within an hour and a half drive, and I mean anything. But not Aprilia parts. If I buy another Harley, I have 5 dealers within an hour of my house, and dozens of after market companies to buy stuff from if I want or need. Again, that is a domestic product and that makes it easier.

Supply chain issues aren't often as they seem. Most of the issues we see are because of the demand side of it not the supply. During the pandemic motorcycles were a safer past time than say hanging out in a bar. People bought a lot of motorcycles, which means a lot of motorcycles parts are being bought and are still sought after. So yeah, there are issues with steel being in short supply, but there are also less bikes and parts to go around because more garages have less space in them due to two wheeled fun machines taking up residence.

 

[R-Rated]

@LoneWolfer you hit a good point with this:
When I was working on that Aprilia, I could find squat because when that company stops making something, they stop making parts.

That is a BIG consideration for me on buying my next bike. We saw how H-D abandoned the V-Rod then the Street 500 and 750s. They seem to be good at making one thing - a couple of engines they shove into a couple different frames and then bolt on many different body parts to them.

Honda has just a few engines that carried over for a decade or more.

Indian seems to be doing ok'ish. Their air cooled V-twin is crammed into touring and cruising frames.

BMW just a couple of different engines too.

So being a long distance rider, I need reliability and support nearly nationwide. Being a potential buyer, I need all the above manufacturers to be demoing at the same time and place so I can go head to head comparing.