IMS weekend was F-U-N!

[SCJJR65]

This year, the International Motorcycle Show was held in my own back yard, Greenville, a mere 12 miles from where I live in Easley.  My good friend and fellow R65 forum regular, NC Steve, came down from Winston-Salem Friday to help me celebrate my birthday on Saturday and take in the "big show".

Friday evening, we drove into Greenville and had pizza and beer at a nice place called "The Mellow Mushroom".  Good vibes, man.  It was like, so mellow. you know?

Saturday, we saddled up on the bikes, Steve on Britta and me on "the new bike" (I haven't named it yet).  Pattimarie followed in the cage, and we went first to show Steve our new house that we close on THIS FRIDAY!  Steve approved of what he saw, and then we were on our way to the Carolina First Center to look at some "motor-sickles".

Lots and lots and lots of bikes were streaming in or already parked all around the place.  It took us about 20 minutes to actually get to a parking space, but once we were off the bikes and met up with Pattimarie, we went inside to a loud and bustling world of bikers, lookers, kids, parents, and normal folks like us, all milling about.

As usual, Harley-Davidson had the largest display.  Lots of orange and black everywhere, and leather as far as the eye could see.  A couple of nice bikes were there, though.  A new Sportster 1200 in all black actually looked fast and ride-able!

I was really interested in finding the Honda booth, to see this new hybrid of scooter and cruiser, the DN-01.  I guess it was a "love it or leave it" look, but I have to say I liked it!

Another bike that I have been interested in was Kawasaki's Ninja 650R, a mid sized sporty looking bike with standard bars instead of clip-ons, which allow a little more comfy sitting position, with a nice parallel-twin engine reminiscent of Triumph's Bonneville.  Another bike I could see myself on!

[Justin B.]

The wife really likes the Honda, I think it would look down-right evil in black...  [smiley=evil.gif]

[SCJJR65]

To wrap up the show, Steve and I had to peruse the vendor booths with the "bling" to see if we might be able to find any BMW or Moto-Guzzi stuff.  Unfortunately, Steve struck out, but I managed to find some really nice BMW license plate holders in a booth with a bunch of Harley Stuff.  I snatched two of them up, and at $5 each, I think it was a pretty good deal.

After about four hours at the show, we left and rode into downtown Greenville, so I could show Steve how much the downtown area had been "upgraded" over the years.  I especially wanted to show him the "Liberty Bridge" at Reedy Falls Park.  This bridge was designed by the same architect who designed the huge bridge in Boston, and is the only footbridge of its kind in the US.  Steve was impressed in the bridge, as well as the park and the "new and improved" downtown Greenville.

[Justin B.]

The bolts look pretty cool!  I've been thinking about new stuff to peddle on e-Bay and prototyped a pair of lighted stainless steel license plate capscrews...

[NC Steve]

Much thanks again to John and PattiMarie for their hospitality and a great weekend of cycle fun!  [smiley=thumbsup.gif] I also got to try out both Britta, who still runs strong despite her many miles, as well as the shiny new R12C. I still think JJ should call her "MaRCie", as in 'My RC": get it? But John and PM didn't like that too much , something abot an old girlfriend or something...

Anyway, here's a few more pics from The Big Shew. Check out this fine home-built R65 cafe'.


I really liked the "Beemer Glide", a marriage of an R75/5 and a few Harley parts. Sounds blasphemous, but actually turned out quite well. Note JJ lurking on the other side.


And this great '59 triumph twin-carb T120, the 1st real Bonneville. I bought a raffle ticket to win this bike plus a brand new '09 Bonnie to boot: 50 years of Triumphs!


Last but not least, this pristine Arlel Square 4

[not-so-fast-ed]

Great pictures, guys.

Thanks.

[msbuck]

Looks like a great show!  Graham and I considered the trip down (hey, Graham's birthday was Friday - just a day off from yours, JJ!).  We went to Meadows of Dan instead.  Had to get our mountain fix...it's been a long winter.

Thanks for all the pics.  Those are some beautiful bikes!  There must have been a vintage or custom show there?

[suecanada]

Thanks John, Steve and Pattimarie..that was great and I would have loved to have been there. Those pics are really good and I too like that Honda DN-01. Aïda you can go to Meadows of Dan already?? Wow. I sure wish my ancestors had given this "North America" move more thought!!!

[NC Steve]

Aïda you can go to Meadows of Dan already?? Wow. I sure wish my ancestors had given this "North America" move more thought!!!

Sorry to steal your post, Sue, but yeah, Aida, what's up with that, about going to Meadows of Dan already? Yours isn't the 1st reference I've seen this winter about going to Willville, as the TVR boys have apparently been there a time or 2 also.
Did Will not close up shop, or has he opened the camp on nice weekends? What is the normal schedule for him reopening this Spring?

 I also wrote him and asked about renting a small storage spot somewhere in the camp, a la the lockers we had talked about last year, and he said he's working on something along those lines already. What's he got going, do you know?

Very curious... :-?

[msbuck]

Well, we went to Meadows of Dan to visit - not to camp at Willville.  We actually stayed in a cabin down in Orchard Gap, but spent most of our time hanging out with the local folks in Meadows of Dan.  Will definitely is still closed for the winter - don't know anything about the TVR guys going.  I thought he shut off the water and everything for the winter (at least in the bathouse and campground).  He'll let you stay if you don't want to use his 'facilities'.  There is a little motel there that we usually stay during the winter.  We just have to make it up at least once during the 'off' months.  
[size=16]It snowed on us both Sat. and Sun night.  FUN! [/size]

We didn't see anything much new at the campground when we visited with Will.  But it was pretty cold...(high of 28° F) so we didn't get out around the campground.  He did mention that Hank was planning to host a tech day maybe sometime in May?  We're going to update website with dates once he gets back to me with them.  He officially opens April 1st.  We're usually there!!  

[Melena]

Fantastic pics John and Steve.  Nice bikes there.  And you got to ride, too!  What fun for you guys.

As an aside, the Triumph dealer in Santa Rosa closed up shop and I hear that the local BMW dealer is going to start selling Triumphs    as soon as he gets the paperwork sorted out.  

Too bad about the Triumph dealer - he also sold Ducati and Moto Guzzi so those aren't available in this town now.  

That Honda looks pretty cool.  I could see having one of those....................if only BMW made something like that.  

[SCJJR65]

Aida, I think those photos of gorgeous older bikes that Steve snapped were part of the AMA display that was at the IMS.  I thought it was one of the best there at the entire show!

I guess it won't be long now before Willville is back once again on the list of everyone's getaway destination!  I sure intend to get up there more this year!

[NC Steve]

We want you up at Wiillville for sure, but you need to scout us out a few good spots to visit in the Hickory/Statesville/Asheville/Charlotte areas too.

Plenty of great roads out that way, and it'd be nice to head West on occasion too... 8-)

[msbuck]

NCSteve,  there is another great motorcycles only campground just south of Asheville....

 http://www.blueridgemotorcyclecamp.com/


And lots more down close to 'The Dragon' - Sue will chime in, I'm sure!

[Bengt_Phorqs]

I'm wondering if some of you Tar Heels could recommend some riding roads through Alabama to Mooresville, NC.  My fiancee' Theresa and I will be heading to Mooresville in July on our way to the national rally.  She rides a '97 R1100R and her oldest son and family live there.  Naturally we can't get that close to Johnson City without going to North Carolina.

Having been reared in Texas I've spent very little time in the Southeast and am not familiar with the area.  Right now I'm thinking to head out of the Dallas Fort Worth metromess early on the Saturday before and make our way at least as far as Vicksburg the first day.  If there is a website or previous thread I wonder if someone could point me in the right direction.