PROGRESSIVE® INTERNATIONAL MOTORCYCLE SHOWS® ROLLS OUT ALL-NEW, INTERACTIVE AND ACTION-PACKED ENTERTAINMENT FEATURES FOR 2011-2012 TOUR -- 13 Distinct Activity Areas to Drive Greater Consumer Engagement with Motorcycles and Add Value to Show Experience --
The Progressive® International Motorcycle Shows® is thrilled to announce the new line-up of exciting show features for their 12-city cross country 2011-2012 Tour. Starting with the first show in San Mateo, Calif., on Nov. 18, 2011, and ending in Daytona Beach, Fla., for Bike Week in March 2012, show goers will enjoy a variety of interactive experiences to entertain, educate and inspire. Included in the price of admission, the three-day shows will showcase the newest models from more than 25 of the top motorcycle manufacturers, feature several of the industry’s most coveted luxury bikes in the “Dream Pavilion”, host the largest custom bike competition in the world, debut a vintage motorcycle exhibition, launch the all-new Kawasaki Design-A-Bike interactive digital painting experience and much more. With more bikes on the floor than ever before, and a newly expanded tour wide presence from Ducati and Triumph, the Progressive International Motorcycle Shows are definitely a one-stop shop for all motorcycle needs. Amid the recent announcement of the Smage Bros Stunt Show joining the Tour following their successful finals bid on the summer’s most popular nationally televised talent competition, they will surely excite the crowds with their amazing stunts and acrobatic motorcycle moves. With these all-new show features, attendees can expect to ride, touch, feel, see and smell the excitement of all motorcycle lifestyles at the 2011-2012 Progressive International Motorcycle Shows.
“After last year’s shows concluded, we worked incredibly hard to talk to both non-show goers and loyal enthusiast attendees to identify new ways to add value to the ticket for everyone, broaden our current enthusiast motorcycle market and find new ways to reach entirely new audiences,” said Kerry Graeber, Brand Director, Progressive International Motorcycle Shows. “We wanted to give our consumers more to do and see throughout their time at the shows and we have certainly achieved it. We will also have new model debuts, dozens of manufacturers represented and more exciting attractions to make this show wall-to-wall bikes and wall-to-wall excitement.”
Motorcycle Manufacturers for the 2011-2012 Progressive International Motorcycle Shows:
This year’s Progressive International Motorcycle Shows tour offers attendees the chance to see all the latest products from more than 25 manufacturers in select markets, in one centrally-located area. Tour wide manufacturers bringing their full arsenal of new 2012 product to fans across the nation include Bombardier (BRP), Ducati, Harley-Davidson, Honda, Kawasaki, Star, Suzuki, Triumph and Yamaha. Other key manufacturers are slated to participate in select markets: BMW (Long Beach, New York), Indian (Long Beach, New York), Victory (Long Beach, New York, Chicago) and Zero Motorcycles (New York, Cleveland, Minneapolis, Chicago, Daytona Beach).
Features Showcase for the 2011-2012 Progressive International Motorcycle Shows:
Dream Pavilion
Walk the red carpet into the Dream Pavilion and let your motorcycle imagination run wild. Dedicated enthusiasts will enjoy the ability to see, touch, sit on and experience some of the rarest and most expensive motorcycles in the world. Numerous bikes from a variety of prestigious brands including Aprilia, Beta, Darwin Motorcycles, Ducati, Erik Buell Racing, Gas Gas, Husqvarna, KTM, Moto Guzzi, MV Agusta and Norton will be on display. This is definitely the place to dream big and to start making that fantasy motorcycle become a reality.
Smage Bros Stunt Show
Let’s face it! Amazing, incredible, unbelievable and awesome are the words that come to mind in describing the acrobatic motorcycle moves of the Smage Bros Stunt Show. Many of us only dream of doing the kinds of things these two brothers can do on two wheels. Straight off the summer’s hottest reality television talent competition, Pat and Phil Smage, now well known as the Smage Bros Stunt Show will be on tour with the Progressive International Motorcycle Shows for each of the 12 stops on the tour. This entertainment feature will impress audiences with their death-defying stunts where they take their stunt riding backgrounds to the next level with a brand new, never-before-seen show sure to make eyes pop and jaws drop.
The Learning Curve
For both new and veteran riders who want to enhance their current riding skills, The Learning Curve provides the perfect place to go to increase motorcycle IQ. When visiting The Learning Curve, leading industry specialists will be onsite providing consumers with key information on the latest and greatest in motorcycle technology, new motorcycles on the market, gear, motorcycle safety, maintenance and much more. The Learning Curve will also play host to dedicated content for our female riding audience, providing an intimidation-free setting for women to gain practical equipment and industry knowledge. Every show on the 2011-2012 tour will offer The Learning Curve, an area for new and experienced riders alike to enjoy numerous unique and interactive seminars of a variety of topics presented by leading industry experts.
Demo Rides (California markets only)
Licensed motorcyclists who bring their own riding gear, including a helmet, will be able to test ride the hottest new bikes from a variety of manufacturers during the Shows, in select markets. These manufacturer-hosted demo rides will offer consumers the opportunity to throw a leg over the industry’s newest models and take one out for a ride. Attendees can visit the Demo Rides feature page of the website to see which motorcycle manufacturers will be participating in the program at participating shows.
Ultimate Builder Custom Bike Show
The Tour will launch the Ultimate Builder Custom Bike Show, an elite-level custom motorcycle builder competition, in San Mateo, Calif., the first stop of its nationwide tour. Contestants are encouraged to enter at any and all of the 12 shows for a chance to win a piece of the $90,000 cash purse, more than any builder competition in the world. Four cash prize winners will be chosen at each show and at a special United States Championship finale set to take place at the Daytona Beach Progressive International Motorcycle Show during Daytona Bike Week, March 12-17, 2012. With more than 500 custom-built bikes on display across the country, the Ultimate Builder Custom Bike Show sets itself apart as the world’s largest touring custom bike competition.
The Ultimate Builder Custom Bike Show will host four classes of competition including Hot Bike’s Modified Harley,Super Streetbike’s Performance Custom Sportbike, Freestyle and, new this year, Retro Mod. Judging will be conducted by the competitors themselves, with the top builders in each class receiving awards, in addition to a special “People’s Choice” award given to the builder who receives the most votes from show attendees. An awards ceremony will take place at each show where winners will receive cash prizes and trophies followed by a short interview so attendees can learn the story behind the award-winning bikes. Attendees who vote for the “People’s Choice” award are automatically entered to win a custom-built Honda Fury, sponsored by Motorcycle-USA.com. The customized Honda Fury built by Motorcycle-USA.com will be featured at each of the tour stops, located at the Motorcycle-USA.com voting center, next to the Ultimate Builder Custom Bike Show. One winner will be selected at the conclusion of the Tour during Daytona Bike Week. Ultimate Builder Custom Bike Show coverage and results will be posted at Motorcycle-USA.com
Kawasaki Design-A-Bike
One of the hottest new features for this year’s show series, Kawasaki Design-A-Bike, will give riders the unique and exclusive opportunity to design their own virtual Kawasaki motorcycle in this one-of-a-kind interactive display. Attendees to the 2011-2012 shows will be the first to experience an incredible new technology, released for the first time in the United States, to be unveiled at all 12 shows this season. Kawasaki Design-A-Bike puts the digital paint can in show goers’ hands by turning a new Kawasaki into their canvases. By providing a digital interface and easy to use creative tools, anyone can mock up a personalized motorcycle. These custom digital renderings are then saved so “designers” may print copies as a show souvenir, post to the internet on Facebook to emailed to share with friends.
“A Century of Motorcycling” Presented by Motorcyclist Magazine
Motorcyclist Magazine will celebrate its 100 year anniversary with a display of bikes from every decade over the past 100 years, celebrating not only the magazine’s heritage, but the heritage and history of motorized transportation and exhilaration of life on two wheels. Staff from the National Motorcycle Museum will also be on hand to answer questions and relive stories of the historic bikes on display.
Swag Wagon, presented by Allstate
The Swag Wagon, presented by Allstate, aims to keep the show floor fun and light-hearted, while providing show goers with an assortment of floor gifts, prizes and fun for all. Operated by the Swag Master, the Swag Wagon will traverse the show floor testing guests on their moto-knowledge and more. With a correct answer, participants win a gift, but guess wrong and participants still get a gift! This freebie-machine will have all attendees leaving with smiles on their faces.
Rider Connection, presented by Allstate
Rider Connection, presented by Allstate, will serve as a four-star concierge service for attendees looking to discover and evaluate local motorcycling opportunities, the latest bikes and products and how to make the most of their show experience.
Free Motorcycle Parking and Gear Check (Select markets only)
There is nothing worse than having to lug riding gear around a show. For enthusiasts who choose to ride their motorcycles, free parking and a free Gear Check station will be available and show goers will be able to check their gear at the door. In San Mateo, Calif., Dallas, Texas, Long Beach, Calif., Novi, Mich., and Daytona Beach, Fla., riders may, for free, park their bikes and securely check in their jackets, helmets, bags and other items they would otherwise have to carry throughout out the show.
About Progressive® International Motorcycle Shows®
From New York to California, the 12-city nationwide tour of the Progressive® International Motorcycle Shows® offers more than 500,000 consumers and 900 exhibitors from all powersports lifestyle interests an all access pass to the world of motorcycling. With hundreds of the latest street bikes, dirt bikes, cruisers, scooters and ATVs for both new and experienced riders, the world’s largest traveling powersports event gives enthusiasts of all ages the opportunity to check out the latest gear and aftermarket accessories. The Show also offers hours of entertainment including a thrilling trials stunt show from The Smage Bros, made famous by their top 10 finish in a nationally televised talent competition; a custom bike competition offering over $90,000 in prize money and featuring $20 million worth of motorcycle machinery; an all-new exclusive Kawasaki Design-A-Bike digital light painting experience; information tailored for women riders, learning experiences and more. Show attendees are nine times more likely than the average motorcyclist to purchase a new powersports vehicle and related parts, products, and accessories, offering exhibitors exclusive access to the largest audience of potential buyers. For more information, visit: www.motorcycleshows.com.
