Dallas International Motorcycle Show

I went to the Dallas IMS with two goals, sit on the T-700 again and meet up with my friends from the industry. Both were accomplished! It was so nice to meet up with old and new friends from the motorcycle world.

Just like nearly 10 years ago at the 2011 IMS in Seattle, I was able to sit on “my next motorcycle” 😉   This time I won’t have to wait as long🙌 I was still on active duty then (no beard) and didn’t get my 1200 Super Tenere until 2012 after I retired.

Here are a few more pictures of the T-700

Right across from the Yamaha display was John Bettencourt of Heidenau tires. We’ve been friends since he found out I had a tattoo of a heidenau tire on my leg. ☺️ I even stopped by his warehouse  on my 2016 ride.  He’s at all the IMS shows so it’s great to catch up.

Then I wandered over the the “Adventure” area they had set up at the show.
It was a little stage set up for presentations from Long Haul Paul Pelland, Paul is trying to ride a million miles while raising funds to help fight his Multiple Scleroses. I picked up one of his 2020 calendars he has for sale to help his journey.

The Backcountry Discovery Route Foundation. It’s their 10th year and they were introducing their 10th route from the Pennsylvania/New York border through New England, up into Maine and stopping at the border of Quebec. Facebook friend Nathen Fant From “For the love of knobs” is an ambassador for the BDR routes. He and his wife did the Southern California route last year. Epic riding!

 

Rachelle McMullin fromWolfman Luggage and JC Davis from Mosko Moto were also on hand to show off their excellent luggage.  I first met both of them back in Denver at Woodys Wheel Works last summer. Rachell was then Woodys PR person and JC helped me flip burgers for Woodys blues festival. I love how the motorcycle world keeps circling back.

After the show Paul and John piled into my van for some great down home bbq at Hickory House BBQ  not far from the show.  I recommend the pulled pork. We got to just sit an chat about our travels and the current state of the motorcycle industry.  A great time hearing about the behind the scenes news.

Here are a few more pics from the show. Not that many big names were there. Honda, BMW and Ducati to name a few were no shows. As the price goes up to be in a show, less big names will continue to drop out, only raising the cost for them even more. Sad…

One last thing is it’s awesome for others to walk up to me and ask if I’m that Tenere guy☺️ Being recognized is a cool feeling. One of the PNW Tenere guys back in Seattle(Dan Mancini) had two of his buddies at the show and they walked up to say hi. Derrick and Bruce ride with Dan a couple times a year, last time was in Utah out where those John Wayne western movies were filmed 😉 Thanks guys for saying hi! I really appreciate it! I LOVE THIS COMMUNITY,