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CYCLE – IMS Ends 24th Annual Tour

The 24th annual Cycle World-sponsored International Motorcycle Show (IMS), presented by Toyota Trucks, toured the country from Nov. 5, 2004 through Feb. 27, 2005.
The most successful tour in the show’s history, the 2003-2004 Advanstar-produced series, attracted a total of 617,553 attendees in thirteen states. Attendance for the recently completed 2004-2005 series — encompassing 12 stops — dropped 7%, said Jeff D’Entremont, show director.
“Our attendance was off this year, but we took a 51% hit in attendance in New York because of a blizzard and we didn’t visit Daytona during this tour,” D’Entremont told Powersports Business.
The 2003-2004 IMS stop in New York attracted approximately 91,000 people. D’Entremont said just over 35,000 attended this year.
“And we didn’t have a show in Daytona because the track had opted to run the event on their own after a 15-year partnership with Advanstar.”
The tour began in San Francisco, then went on to Dallas, Long Beach, Seattle, Denver, Atlanta, Washington, D.C., New York, Ohio, Minneapolis and Chicago before ending in Detroit.
Advanstar did some background work to learn the demographic make-up of attendees. Of the consumers queried, organizers say, 83% are current motorcycle/powersports vehicle owners; 71% attend the shows looking to buy; 67% travel more than 20 miles to get to the show; and 62% earn an annual household income of $50,000 or more.
“We saw a really qualified customer coming to the show, and I think that has been enhanced by our continued push towards grassroots efforts to attract core customers,” D’Entremont said.
Originally titled the Great American Motorcycle and ATV Shows, the show series was launched by Great American Media, Inc. in time for the 1982 model season. Edgell Communications (now Advanstar Communications, Inc.) acquired it in 1988.
“It may be called the International Motorcycle Show, but it has become more of a powersports show, where you’re going to see motorcycles, ATVs, watercraft and scooters,” D’Entremont said. “Something manufacturers may like to know is that we are focusing a significant amount of effort toward the off-road and ATV market — branching out not only in vehicle manufacturers, but with accessory suppliers as well.”
Six vehicle manufacturers supported the startup show 24 years ago. OEMs that displayed this year included American Honda Motor Co., American IronHorse, American Suzuki Motor Corporation, Big Dog, BMW of North America, Inc., Buell, Ducati North America, Harley-Davidson, Inc., Husaberg North America, Kawasaki Motors Corp., USA, MV Agusta, Triumph Motorcycles America, Ltd., Ural Motorcycles, Victory Motorcycles, Ridley, Vento and Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A.
One manufacturer that didn’t return for the 2004-2005 series was KTM. “But we’re working on bringing them back to the shows for the 2005-2006 series,” D’Entremont said.
Powersports product and service suppliers in attendance included American Modern Insurance Group, American Motorcyclist Association (AMA), Amsoil, Arai Helmet Americas, Inc., Autocom Communications by TopGear Accessories, Avon Tyres, Bell Powersports, BUB Enterprises, Buff USA, Chatterbox, Cima International, Cobra Engineering, Dennis Kirk Inc., Desser Tire & Rubber Co./Tomahawk Tires, DG Performance Specialties and Dowco, Inc.
Also exhibiting: European Motorcycle Accessories/EMA, Federal Whse. Co. Agent Allied Van Lines, FIM Trial World Championship, Goodyear Dunlop North America Ltd., Handy Industries, LLC, HJC Helmets, J&P Cycles, K & N Engineering, Inc., Kendon Industries, Inc., LS MotorSports, Markel American Insurance Co., Metzeler Motorcycle Tire, MiniGP, NC Sales Corporation, OzBike, Pitbull Motorcycle Lifts/Watson Mfg., Pro Circuit Racing, Progressive Suspension, Repsol, Ride To Work, Roadgear Inc., Second Look Extreme Inc., Sentry Insurance, Shoei Helmets, Travelcade/Saddlemen, Troy Lee Designs, Tucker Rocky Distributing (River Road Brand), and Women On Wheels.

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