Good Deals to be had at Motorcycle Shows??

The Long Beach (CA) motorcycle show is this weekend (12/9) and I was planning on riding my bike there. But then I got to thinking that there might be some good deals at these shows so maybe I shouldn't ride but drive. Does anyone know if the Long Beach show will have sweet deals on gear? What kind of deals would I expect? I am looking for some boots, primarily Sidis or Gaernes. I can't wait to check out the new Gixxer 750- I've seen it in a catalogue and it looks SWEET!!! Of course, I'm hoping that there are plenty of hot Italians (babes and motorcycles- Ducs, Prillys, MVAs, etc) there too!!! Thanks and Ride ON!!!

Parking sucks...I would ride. Also, you can probably get something shipped home if need be.

my experience is the vendors are willing to haggle a little. at the houston show i got some gloves for $40.00 that retail (there anyway) $70.00.

Personally, I believe the days of getting great deals at shows are gone. They are charging so much for vendor space that dealers are pretty much forced to charge retail. I remember when we used to take our yearly pilgrimage to Laguna Seca and were able to find all sorts of deals. This year, everyone was selling for full retail. One booth was advertising their 'special deal' on Icon Anthem Jeans for $99. Retail is $101.

There's deals on some things. When I went to the show last month, they had Motorcycle Consumer News magazine buy one year get one free. And a local Honda dealer had some new 2003 models (Blackbird, Super Hawk, Interceptor, etc) at very good prices. Plus, if you are looking for a helmet you can try on models from almost every brand. The Shoei RF1000 in size large fit very nice and may be my next helmet. Most of the leather goods were more for the cruiser set. I don't remember anyone selling boots, but each show may get different dealers.

Are you refering to the cycle world show?

I know I have been to a few biker/parts swap meets and there are GREAT deals there!!!

Daytona Bike Week/ Biketoberfest usually do, but I realize that you're on the West Coast

Personally, I believe the days of getting great deals at shows are gone. They are charging so much for vendor space that dealers are pretty much forced to charge retail. I remember when we used to take our yearly pilgrimage to Laguna Seca and were able to find all sorts of deals. This year, everyone was selling for full retail. One booth was advertising their 'special deal' on Icon Anthem Jeans for $99. Retail is $101.
Not gone, just a little harder to find.
At the last Honda Hoot I attended. Most vendors (not all)were offering great deals on internet orders with code obtained from show and discount prices on stock items at show. The best deals were from the internet sales and some so-called discounted items weren't really a good deal.

I picked up an Arai RX-7 Corsair in Wraith Red for a great deal at the LB motorcycle show. They were selling it for $499 (MSRP is ~$700) earlier in the day when I first visited the vendor. I continued poking around and tried on the Shoei X-11 (Vermuelen in yellow and red is very sweet BTW) and it was very nice too but the Arai fit me just a tad better. After I decided the RX-7 was for me, I went back to decide on the color scheme. They had the Haydon Wired in Red for only $339 and I couldn't decide if I was willing to shell out the extra $160 for the Wraith. The salesman talked to the boss and said he could sell the Wraith for $449 and... SOLD!!! Used the Arai on my way home and carried my OGK in my backpack. Too early to tell the pros and cons between the OGK and the Arai but I will say that I can get the Arai on my head without feeling like I'm ripping my ears off (the opening of the OGK is waaaay too small for XL noggins like mine.) Anyhow, I'm stoked!! BTW, the actual bike show was OK, not sure if it would've been worth the $12 price of admission had it not been for the great deal on the helmet!! I think the gouge is to go on the last day and wait till closing time, the vendors will be eager to get rid of their gear so they won't have to hall it back home. Down side to that is they might not have the stuff you are looking for or they had it earlier and sold out of them. Anyhow bruthas and sistas, Ride ON!!! :cheers: :h23: