Inland Northwest Motorcycle Show and Sale!

Very often, my schedule clears up and I get to do something quite fun.   Last weekend was the Inland Northwest Motorcycle Show and Sale was in Spokane.   This show is always a treat.  Yes, I know it's all pretty much the same old stuff if, like my lovely wife,  you are not in to motorcycles.  However since you are reading this blog, I have a sneaking suspicion that you happen to enjoy life on 2 wheels.   
The stars of the show are, of course, Harley Davidson and Indian.   Both of these companies brought the latest and greatest models of the current year.   I am partial to the Harley Street Glide, as many who read my blog are aware.  However, the Indian Chieftain blew my mind.  My impressions, without riding this beast, are that this is one beautiful bike.   The only problem is that the price is way out of my range.  I don't make enough in my meager office worker existence to justify a nearly 30 thousand dollar purchase.  If I did purchase the chieftain, it would probably cost me at least 2 thousand more as I would also have to buy a new sofa that I could sleep on due to being kicked out of my bed. 


This year, I took my son with me.  He had a good time looking at the Triumph and Ducati models.  He seems to like the scrambler type bikes.   When he gets a bit older (he's only 14),  I may just buy 2  and we could go riding together.  And I'd also not need to buy as nice of a sofa as if I bought the chieftain. The price of 2 Ducati Scramblers is around half the price of the Indian.


We had the chance to watch the Seattle Cossacks precision riding team.  This was quite entertaining, however we did catch them toward the end of the day and I do think that their enthusiasm had waned a bit.   I still have to tip my hat to these guys.  Flipping, jumping, doing handstands and the like is hard enough, but these guys will do it on the backs of Harleys.  Thats gotta be crazy difficult.

One of the highlights for me personally is getting to meet the SoundRider podcast crew.  I have been listening to them for quite a while now.  They are one of the best Washington state based Podcasts around.   Rather than just focus on the politics of motorcycling, they really touch on the things that matter.   They also have a really nice rally each year that goes through the columbia river gorge, which is some of the absolute best scenery you will find in the entirety of the US.   Yeah, I know, I may be biased since I live here in Washington, but to be fair, im not the only one who says this.  You can Find the podcast and listen to their schpeel on Google Play Music's Podcast directory.

All in all, The Inland Northwest Motorcycle Show and Sale is a good place to see the newest models available to the general spokane community.  You can interact with local vendors, and visit with some of the dealers, be entertained and be fed for less than the price of dinner an a movie.  (unless you succumb to the sales pressures and buy a new bike).    I hope that next year they bring some more entertainment and maybe, a riding seminar or two, or maybe test rides.  That would be awesome!

Below are some more photos for your enjoyment!

 Food or Motorcycle... He made the right choice!

A Victory

STREET GLIDE SPECIAL CVO!!!  

OOO Purty!

Cool lettering on a cool bike!

The Classics!

Never Enough!

So it ends!  The motorcycle season in the Pacific Northwest has wound down.  There are just a few bold (stupid) riders are still out there braving the icy roads and sub freezing temperatures.   The Big Blue Bird is nestled in her garage and she has had her stabilizer treatment.   The trickle charger is nowhere to be found,  but I surmise it will present itself if I look a bit harder. 
The toughest part about the coming season is the winter blahs.   My tired old brain has a hard time with the change of weather and I tend to get a bit cranky.    Maybe it is a side effect of not getting to ride enough, maybe its just the weight of the world.  Who knows?   I do lament that I only put a couple thousand miles on the bike this year.   

We rode the Rattlesnake Grade, and back through Walla Walla.  I rode several short hops around my home area, and I even rode the Flowery Trail a few times.   I would have loved to ride Glacier National park, or even Washington Hwy 20.  If I can find a way,  I would love to go riding to Alaska and take the ferry back, but that will require a lot of time away from the important parts of my life.
Whatever the next riding season brings, I hope that you come along with me.  Either through my blog posts and my videos, or even in real life I would love sharing my rides with you.

Who knows how things will turn out this next year,  it may be a great year for riding!   I'm shooting for 5000 miles at least.    I don't have a set plan or anything. It is just a wish.