Long Beach International Motorcycle Show 2015

Let’s just start off by saying I was a little excited about the Ducati Scrambler, though yellow is clearly not my color. The Icon1000 Elsinore boots do match, though. I know it’s been a few weeks since the 2015 Progressive International Motorcycle Show in Long Beach (it was the November 13th weekend) but I wanted to share some of the photos I got anyway. We’re going to go through some of my favorite parts of the Long Beach show, then carry on to some photo galleries, mk?

One of my favorite things about big motorcycle events like this is connecting with people I’ve interacted with online over the years, like Jacqui Van Ham! She’s been traveling around with the IMS shows for Victory Motorcycles as an emcee. Jacqui was one of the first women I featured on the MotoLady blog, years ago now!

Next up we have the new Touratech carbon helmets that ring in at about $650 apiece, and transform from a visorless street-style full face helmet to an adventure motorcycling/dirt riding helmet in a matter of minutes without any tools.

Touratech also recently released their off road suspension systems which are very impressive.

The sidecar booth was fascinating! First the 1960 BMW R69…

…then the adventure BMW complete with gas storage under the sidecar passenger seat.

Yes, it has it’s own pump.

The Antique Motorcycle Club of America booth right next door had some beauties on display, too.

And just because oh my god it’s so awesome, the Honda Gromwing! Celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Goldwing, Honda painted up the little Grom to match.

Or maybe it’s just that I have a special place in my heart for minibikes.

Back at Victory Motorcycles, actor R. Lee Ermey (most known as the Drill Seargent in Full Metal Jacket) was hanging out signing autographs and taking pictures- I had to get in there with Wolfy.

Seeing the Kawasaki H2R in person was interesting- the black chrome is definitely cool, but I’m not sure I’d want it on my bike. Every fingerprint shows up so vividly- which is probably why they had it behind a rope. That and they were worried someone might fire it up and just take off into outerspace.