Motorcycle Shows have a certain mix of vendors that is central to the show's continuing success. Attendees expect to see a reasonable range of new motorcycles from various motorcycle dealerships. They also expect to see representation from rider training courses, motorcycle-related publications, and insurance brokers. They want food, some sort of entertainment, and some custom and used motorcycles. All of the myriad other providers of products and services that are either directly related to motorcycling or are local and likely of interest to motorcycle enthusiasts add variety and excitement to the party. The Hamilton Motorcycle Show had all of these elements and lots of room to expand upon them all. 

This 2009 Harley XR1200 can be seen in the Riders Plus booth at the London Motorcycle Show Feb 10-12.

The Original Clare's Cycle and Sports had a large central location with a variety (and large number) of beautiful new Honda, Yamaha, and Suzuki motorcycles. They had three Honda Furies of various colours which never fail to draw the attention of showgoers. The new Goldwing never fails to make you stop and stare no matter how many times you've seen it.

Clare's Harley Davidson was up front and centre, with a range of the choicest of their considerable lineup on display. The new Forty-Eight Sportster 1200 with its incredible paint and design drew crowds of admirers, as did the Tri Glide and all the rest.

Clare's Harley Davidson of Niagara... beautiful bikes, beautiful deals

Kelly's Cycle Centre brought out some of the great Yamaha offerings that grace their showroom. Professional staff, competitive prices, and great selection are some of the hallmarks of this local dealership.

Hully Gully (The Ultimate Toy Store) came out from London with a great selection of motorcycles for sale as well. These folks now have a section of the shop that offers American motorcycles such as the 2009 Harley Davidson XR1200 that caught our eye.

Our friends at Hully Gully have great deals and incredible selection.

Motorcycle Enhancements have been making a splash on the Hamilton area scene lately. They were at the show, of course, and it was great to get to know their people. They have an excellent website as well and have great deals on used motorcycles and more.

As usual, Motorcycle Mojo Magazine was on hand to meet and greet both subscribers and people who only just discovered at the show that they wanted to subscribe. The Motorcycle Times and Riders Mag also had booths to introduce new readers to their magazines and to chat with old friends.

Learning Curves provides rider training locally for people who live in the Hamilton area, and they had a booth at this show. Their representatives were on hand all weekend to answer questions and get names from potential new riders.

Shawn Brittan auctioned off a variety of motorcycles on Sunday, everything from a Honda scooter to an immaculate Harley Davidson panhead that looked fresh out of the crate. The bikes that were on display for auction stood to one side of the stage. Live music was happening regularly throughout the weekend at this spot, and an eating area was set up right there as well.

Shawn Brittan auctioned off a variety of interesting bikes on Sunday

Perhaps the most notable aspect of the show was the fact that a large percentage of riders stopped to talk at the booth. The best part of the motorcycle show is getting to know the people who ride, talking about their bikes, their trips, their stories. We always try to answer their questions as best we can as well. It's always great to hear from people who saved money by insuring their motorcycles with Riders Plus Insurance. It's also gratifying to hear from people who have actually had to use the insurance claims service and get feedback on how the process went.

Riders Plus Insurance: Bike Insurance is All We Do.

So the motorcycle show circuit continues on February 10, 11, and 12, 2012 with the London Motorcycle Show in London, Ontario. London is another area that has a high number of motorcycle riders living and riding in the vicinity, so it will certainly be a great show once more, having run every year for a few years now. If you're in the area and attend the show, drop by the Riders Plus Insurance booth, say hi, and check out the 2009 Harley Davidson XR1200.