V-Twin Expo. February 4-6, 2012

Many things have already been said about the rivalry between the 12th edition of Cincinnati V-Twin Expo by Easyriders (Feb. 4-6) and the inaugural Indianapolis V-Twin dealer Show by Advanstar (Feb. 17-19) to attract exhibitors and visiting dealers.

In this competition for the V-Twin professionals, the V-Twin Expo has decided to keep its former years formula unchanged, arguing on the efficiency of its trade show via testimonials from a few some of its long time exhibitors. The Indianapolis Dealer Expo claims to have attracted some key industry exhibitors by promising them a better return on investment and a wider audience of V-Twin dealers, belonging to both the American and Metric segments of the V-Twin market. New initiative to attract these dealers in Indianapolis is the “Ultimate Bike Show” where dealers will be able to show their custom creations and shine in front of their peers.

All insiders of the industry have an opinion about which of the 2 shows will win this V-Twin trade war, if any… I don’t know for sure more than anybody else in the business, but of course both organizers claim to be very confident. We will know very soon… (to follow…)

22 Responses to “V-Twin Expo. February 4-6, 2012”


  1. 1 GetReal Jan 29th, 2012 at 8:42 am

    Super Bowl Weekend Baby…Vegas is where it’s at.

    Cinci is a waste of time, see ya in Indy!

    GetReal

  2. 2 Bruce E. Jan 29th, 2012 at 9:02 am

    The American International Expo in Fall 2013 is going to kill both trade shows.The new show will be both B2B and B2C. In this market, the only way to attact great exhibitors, lots of dealers and a large crowd of visitors. Easyriders and Advanstar are managed by people over the hill since quite a few years. Let’s do it like we always did it. Wrong! Lesson to be learned very soon.

  3. 3 biker Jan 29th, 2012 at 4:33 pm

    Sorry,, Bruce E. as I see it the American International Expo in Fall 2013 is a Retail show. NOT a Dealer Trade Show as the Cinci V-Twin Expo. Indy was been tried twice before and failed !

    Yes, Cinci and Indy are ran by persons that are doing the same thing they have done for the last 12 years and now, when times are tough, they just do what they have always done ! I have seen that in most if not all Business I have seen over the last 20 years.

    The V-Twin industry only needs and can only support One Dealer Show, Now we have brothers in arms after them dollar and customers.

    V-Twin, Metric, Snow crap and Boat shit cannot be in the same room or state as a Dealer show.

    All are marketed differently and sold differently !!!

    At the Indy show you’ll find a lot of vendors that do both and they will be in the main hall and just few
    of the V-Twin excessive guys will be in the V-Twin hall, like a Red headed step child. !!

    If any Show will serve, it will be the one that caters the the V-Twin Dealer market. The one that will not let the show get cluttered with vendors that V-Twin dealer do not want to See or dealer with.

  4. 4 Gary Bretchel Jan 29th, 2012 at 4:53 pm

    Biker. I think you are wrong. The american International Rxpo seems to be conceived as a show for both trade & consumers, probably different days. Read what Cyril wrote a few days ago.

    http://www.cyrilhuzeblog.com/2012/01/24/launch-of-the-american-international-motorcycle-expo-in-the-fall-of-2013/

  5. 5 Kirkland Jan 29th, 2012 at 7:02 pm

    “V-Twin, Metric, Snow crap and Boat shit cannot be in the same room or state as a Dealer show.”
    •••••••••••••••••••••••
    Well put, imo

  6. 6 Rogue Jan 30th, 2012 at 7:49 am

    I have been to both Indy and Cincy and I am am staying with the V-Twin Expo.
    I am looking forward to seeing everyone there.

  7. 7 calif phil Jan 30th, 2012 at 8:16 am

    I will be going to Cincy for the first time and I think it’s the show that will best suit my needs.

  8. 8 Sara Brown Jan 30th, 2012 at 8:41 am

    Cincy Expo is whatever you put into it you will get out of it…..plus its sweeet to see all your buddies again!!!

  9. 9 motorcycle medic Jan 30th, 2012 at 8:58 am

    sucks cant make it this year!…too much going on…will miss all the connections there…enjoy!

  10. 10 rebel Jan 30th, 2012 at 10:53 am

    Indy only tried to seperate V-twin exibitors from the dirt, snow, metric, watercraft guys after they were forced to do so by the competition that “they” created, who was willing to do what they wouldn’t. I for one will stay loyal to the show that tried to help ME, when I didn’t have 3 days to wade through all the crap just to see the vendors I came to see. My first trip to the original powersports expo was the last year they were in Cincy, I followed them to Indy, but since the V-twin only show started up i’ve been every year. Could it be held on a better weekend or in a warmer climate? sure, but it is what it is, so just like I won’t be trying to “better deal” my wife because I don’t like some of the conditions, i’ll be bringing home the bacon from Ohio again this year. Also intresting that the largest V-twin exibitor/distributor in the entire market place is only going to Cincy this year. See ya there!

  11. 11 Jason Hallman Jan 30th, 2012 at 12:05 pm

    The Cincy show is the only show that any serious V-twin business will be properly represented at. The industry people know this. Custom Chrome is the anchor for the Indy show and that is one anchor that is quickly heading to the bottom anyway (unfortunately). It will fail and those that only can attend one show will be back to attend the V-Twin Expo by next year. If Indy really wanted to compete with Cincy it would have the show the same weekend. It is stupid to try and break up that show because of the politics involved…and say what you want, that is what it is about: “politics”. We can all be in one building on the same weekend and maximize the exposure to the struggling industry that we all love. I also love to see all my friends there too. Indy is basically a buffet and I like to eat off the menu.

  12. 12 just my opinion Jan 30th, 2012 at 12:14 pm

    It took losing the bulk of the V-Twin market to get Indy to change their way of thinking. But after losing that market and giving Cinci the opening to start and build a dealer show, they have changed and now at Indy
    v-twin will be v-twin, no more snow mobiles and lawn mowers in the v-twin section. Imagine that using common sense again. My company will be doing both shows again because Indy has changed their thinking but as for Cinci, if they don’t change their way of thinking then that show will continue it’s downward spiral and will be forced to change or fold up shop and go away. The cost at Cinci. to the vendors has gotten to be out of touch with reality, in years past when every one was spending money like there was no tomorrow the promotor was raising rates and we vendors did not mind paying more because we were making more but those days have been gone for years now and the rates are still up at peak levels but attendants is at an all time low. The greed of these show promotors seems to make them think that the dealers and vendors have no choice but we do and will display that choice by not supporting the show if needed. These promotors need to remember that the vendors will only display with them if it makes DOLLARS and sense. And with out vendors displaying they will have No attendees therefore there will be no show. Cinci needs to lower their prices back down to reality and they need to have their show on a different weekend, I am possitive that the venue cost less because it is Superbowl weekend but that and the winter dealer show for HD happening at the same time is killing the show and now that Indy is getting their show back on track Cinci better wake up before it is too late. The fact that the show is Superbowl weekend and HD also has its winter dealer meeting at the same time means that most owners of HD dealerships do NOT attend. Yes they send their parts managers and that gives us vendors a chance to see and meet and tell them of the benifits of our products and that is a good thing because the parts managers are the front line with the customers in the stores but the harsh reality is that most parts managers don’t have the authority to purchase the same as the owners do. So even if the parts managers like your products they can’t support your business with out the blessing of the owners and if the owners don’t see your products it is hard to get that blessing. So the bottom line is that Indy is getting better because they were losing big business and now they have seen the light at last and Cinci must look at and follow the same path or they will find them selves in the same sinking ship that Indy found them selves in when they refused to change. I personally believe both shows can survive but just as Indy has changed so must Cinci change now or they will lose huge just like Indy had lost before they decided to change. I wish both shows well but both needed and still need some changes.

  13. 13 just my opinion Jan 30th, 2012 at 12:34 pm

    Bruce E; The American International Expo in Fall 2013;
    All I have heard about this show is it is going to happen and it will kill both shows but
    Where will the show be?
    What will it cost to both vendors and attendees?
    and Who will be allowed to attend?
    Will it be a retail show as well as a dealer show?
    And just so this promotor understands most vendors don’t like doing first time shows so don’t be so cocky.
    Being cocky is what hurt the Indy show promotors. And remember just because Cinci got their show going rather easily does not mean another pomotor can now jump in and kill both shows. Cinci had an easier time starting than what would normally happen just because Indy opened the door and held it open for years, if Indy’s promotor had not jerked around so many V-Twin vendors and dealers Cinci would never had happened. Let alone as easily as it did get started. And now The American International Expo in Fall 2013 has both dealer shows to compete with and Indy has learned its lesson and I would bet Cinci will not be far behind in learning theirs as well. I wish you good luck but it will not be as easy as just saying your show is the best.
    If that show even makes it, it would take more than just saying it is the best to actually be the best. Talk is cheap show us some reality then we can decide if we will back your show.

  14. 14 rob Jan 30th, 2012 at 4:10 pm

    lousy timing……….

  15. 15 Mark Jan 30th, 2012 at 6:15 pm

    I am always surprised at the love for the Cincy show and the hate for the Indy show.

    Honestly, the Indy show is the place to do business. Cinci is the place to hang out with your friends. Fact is, the attendees at the Cinci show are not buyers. I haven’t heard from a single business who says they actually get enough business at the Cinci show to cover the cost of the show. I talk to a lot of vendors who say they take tens of thousands of $$ at the Indy show.

    I get the anger at the snowmobiles and stuff, but that draws dealers. You look at a Yamaha dealer and they sell boats, jetskis, quads, dirtbikes, sportbikes and cruisers. Sure, a small dealer who has miniscule sales is going to be overwhelmed with the volume of stuff that isn’t relevant to their business, but that doesn’t mean Indy isn’t THE show to be at.

    Also, look at where people come from. You go to Indy and you will see dealers from Finland, Australia, Japan, Dubai, Russia and tons of other countries coming to the show. At Cinci? It’s a surprise if someone is from further than 500 miles from Cinci.

    Now, Advanstar sucks. They are money grubbing a-holes, but they are no different than Paisanos! Look at who wins the industry awards at Cinci each year? The big companies who go back year after year to the show win the awards. Look in the magazine and see all the new product spotlights? Notice how all those companies have ads in the magazine too? Notice how big-name first-year exhibitors can get space front-and-center at the V-Twin expo but if you have been doing the show for years, you can still be in the back corner? Don’t think Advanstar has a lock on being a money-grubbing company to do business with.

    I am very excited about the prospect of this new show. SEMA has tried to do a bike show as well – I am not sure how well it’s done as I chose not to exhibit at the first year. Indy is a good show but it’s been down the last couple of years. The retail + dealer aspect could be great, or it could be a huge PITA and turn the dealers away from doing the show. Time will tell.

    I am not too sure about the timing either. Anyone who makes parts in this business knows that fall is just when you are going into the slow season. I am not sure I want to invest a ton of time/money right when I am about to have 3 months of super slow business. At least with Indy, it starts off the season with a bang. That’s Presidents day weekend, the same weekend dealers are moving out the snowmobiles and moving the motorcycles back in. For our business, it’s like a light switch gets turned on and everything comes back to life.

    The new show is exactly at the wrong time of the year.

    The Cinci people need to wake up and realize their show is over and move it to Daytona and make it a retail + dealer event (dealer only for 2 days, then 2 more days of retail). if they don’t, they won’t be around long… and frankly, good riddance. It’s a nepotistic incestuous mess anyway.

  16. 16 Blackmax Jan 30th, 2012 at 7:16 pm

    My favorite time of the year, better than Christmas
    Temp in Cincinnati on Sat. 51 degrees but don;t forget your coat ….
    Cyril, look forward to seeing you again, as well as all the rest of you …….
    (yes, I’ll be at Indy, too…)

  17. 17 deadwood1783 Jan 31st, 2012 at 10:16 am

    As for me, I’ll be in Cincy. Leave for HD Winter Dealer Meeting tomorrow, back on Sat, in Cincy Sunday. This is the last HD Winter meeting, there won’t be one next year to fall right on top of V-Twin Expo. If Cincy survives, and I think it will, it’ll be bigger and better next year. Lot’s of HD Dealer personell have attended this show in the past and will in the future. V-Twin Expo is also the better of the shows for the small independant shops in my opinion. Thats my take for whatever its worth.

  18. 18 Smokin 250 Feb 3rd, 2012 at 8:35 pm

    Should be an interesting weekend to say the least… Fewer dealers going, superbowl weekend, and now I heard custom chrome is not going to be there in which they had one of the biggest booths (er, tent) spaces at this show???… hmmm, doesn’t look good for them.

    the Indy show will dominate.

    -Smokin 250

  19. 19 Hbd 2 Feb 5th, 2012 at 8:56 am

    Hey smokin…. CCI is not at Cinci because the Koreans that own them have absolutely no clue what the V-Twin industry is about….. And, they got the booth FREE in Indy…… They are done without a new owner and a new business plan…. Face it! Cinci has had it’s problems, but it is still a V-Twin only event without the metric confusion thrown in! As was said earlier, fall is NOT the time for a trade show….. Just my $.02 worth…… Later

  20. 20 Greg Feb 5th, 2012 at 9:04 am

    Hbd2. I think you are misinformed. CCI didn’t cancel the V-Twin Expo. They never intended to participate to this year’s edition a long time ago. Because of lack of results. CCI will be in Indy. and it was not the Korean’s decision, but the decision of former president Holger Mohr a long time ago. I have this info from a CCI employee.

  21. 21 Hbd 2 Feb 8th, 2012 at 2:19 am

    Greg, you are misinformed… I AM a former CCI employee and was there when it all went down. The intention was to do both shows as Indy was a freebie as part of a deal made with Advanstar to do several Cycle World shows. That was the arrangement that Holger had brokered before the Koreans did their thing to the company in November.
    Later…..:-)

  22. 22 Tamara Smith, James Gaskets, Inc. Feb 8th, 2012 at 2:21 pm

    I haven’t seen anyhing written by Cyril about this years’ V-Twin show (Cincinnati). In previous years I remember reading articles written during the show about attendance, etc., so when I didn’t see that this year I thought there might be something written after the show….. (?)

Comments are currently closed.
Cyril Huze