Piaggio again bails at Intl Moto Show

[Buddy Shagmore]

Pretty sad, isn't it? All the bike mfgrs there except Moto Guzzi and Aprilia. Even KTM shows up. Seems like they don't care much about the USA market. At least I can check out the new Triumphs.

[Arizona Wayne]

Where's the show at this weekend?  SF Bay area?

[Demar]

Where's the show at this weekend?  SF Bay area?

I don't know where but they moved the show from San Mateo to Sacramento this year. MG and/or Piaggio has not been to the San Mateo MC show for years. The last time may have been around 2005.


Portland, OR  OCT. 31-NOV. 2, 2015   Sacramento, CA  NOV. 6-8, 2015 Long Beach, CA NOV. 20-22, 2015

New York DEC. 11-13, 2015 Miami JAN. 8-10, 2016 Dallas, TX JAN. 22-24, 2016

Ohio JAN. 29-31, 2016 Minneapolis FEB. 5-7, 2016 Chicago  FEB. 12-14, 2016 Phoenix, AZ FEB. 20-21, 2016

[canuck750]

Guzzi will be at the International Motorcycle show in January this year here in western Canada. The show organizers are working with our local vintage group to try and pair up a vintage bike with each of the new exhibitor manufacturers. I am going to show my 750 S3 and hope Guzzi has a matching 750 with the similar orange and black paint scheme. Our group will have vintage Harley, Indian, Triumph, BMW, Ducati, and all the Japanese brands paired up even a vintage Ural (Dnepier) and Reditch Indian, original Husky and maybe even a Penton for the KTM line.  Our little vintage group always gets a steady crowd of men of a certain age happily sharing "I had one of those" stories.

[Arizona Wayne]

I don't know where but they moved the show from San Mateo to Sacramento this year. MG and/or Piaggio has not been to the San Mateo MC show for years. The last time may have been around 2005.


Portland, OR  OCT. 31-NOV. 2, 2015   Sacramento, CA  NOV. 6-8, 2015 Long Beach, CA NOV. 20-22, 2015

New York DEC. 11-13, 2015 Miami JAN. 8-10, 2016 Dallas, TX JAN. 22-24, 2016

Ohio JAN. 29-31, 2016 Minneapolis FEB. 5-7, 2016 Chicago  FEB. 12-14, 2016 Phoenix, AZ FEB. 20-21, 2016

Last time I saw MG @ the San Mateo show  was the last time I went to that show.  MG only goes to the really BIG cities.  Don't do Phoenix either.  They don't have the $ the bigger MC mfgs. have or only go to areas their bikes sell the best.  Many times local dealers show up at those shows.  Since dealers are sparse..........

Not saying what they do is right, just that's why they do it, IMHO.

[DCWCALI]

MG (couple of V7s and a 1400) was at the SAC show...mixed in at the back with Triumph.  Sorry!  Yes, it was a local dealer...

[Demar]

  Many times local dealers show up at those shows.  Since dealers are sparse..........

Not saying what they do is right, just that's why they do it, IMHO.

Thinking back, you're right. It was a local dealer (Moto Italiano San Mateo) that was there. They have been long gone from San Mateo.

[canuguzzi]

In their brilliance of marketing, they put on a half baked demo of the MGX-21 and Audance in Elk Grove (burb of Sacramento) where you couldn't take a picture but then don't go to a show where interested people might think about buying one when available?

That is why they sell 7000 units a year and Ducati sells 50,000 which is still small peanuts.

You really want them to step up the the plate, really do but they just can't get out of bed in the morning.

[guzzipete]

Pretty sad, isn't it? All the bike mfgrs there except Moto Guzzi and Aprilia. Even KTM shows up. Seems like they don't care much about the USA market. At least I can check out the new Triumphs.

There were almost no manufacture displays at the PDX show. Friends that went said they could have seen more new bikes at one of the mega brand dealers. They will not be going again. Even Indian did not have a display. They relied on the local dealer to build it.

I heard, have no idea if it is true, that there is a tift between the IMS and manufactures and the OEMs are boycotting the shows. Could also be that the costs to build and drag around a display have just gotten too high.

[canuguzzi]

They paid someone to haul around the MGX21 to show it to just a few people at selected dealerships and focus group people wearing Harley gear so who knows?

[ohiorider]

I think Guzzi has a bit of a different situation.  Here in Cleveland, we do have ClevelandMoto, and All Seasons 50-60 miles south.  Phil has supported the brand very well at the annual show.  I'm not sure what role All Seasons has played.  They most likely spend their time with BMW.

However, as many WG forum members have posted, they have no local dealer.  Unlike HD, Honda, and even BMW, the lack of shops shows a definite lack of market penetration, which to many means a lack of local support.  Taking bikes to the show only to tell a prospect that their closest dealer is a state or two away is a waste of money.  Trade show floor space is very expensive, and to follow this expo from venue to venue, either using dealer, corporate, or personnel from both resources is equally expensive.

I don't personally care if Guzzi shows up at the Cleveland Expo .... I already know what they make, and I've been willing for the past few years to put up with it, and will continue to do so. 
However, for MG to stimulate a lot of interest with the general motorcycling public, only to show their weaknesses is wasting money.  I'd rather see them put these funds into a well orchestrated advertising campaign that properly positions the bikes.  Silly as it sounds, maybe they should play to the audience that knows a valve adjustment from a personality adjustment.  Such as "Sure, we don't have a dealer on every corner ..... the bikes are that simple to work on."  Obviously an understatement, but since Guzzi seems to lose dealers in mass, perhaps they need a strategy that doesn't make dealer service such a big deal for the brand.

Anyway, that's my thought on the topic of whether MG does or does not attend the annual motorcycle expo.  The brand doesn't seem ready for the 'see it here, then go to your local dealer for more.'  Cities like Cleveland are an exception, but many have no place for the show prospect to go for more info or hands on.

Bob

[Buddy Shagmore]

I will be attending the Long Beach CA show this Friday. There are several dealers in L A County. I'll report back afterwards.

[pyoungbl]

This traveling road show is really expensive.  Each venue is going to rape the vendors for fees so it's no surprise that a very small manufacturer cannot cover the costs of shipping bikes and staffing the show.  The best they can do is to get local dealers to show up and staff the event....with their own inventory.  I bet a dealer is hard pressed to show enough sales to justify having his staff on the floor for three days, plus their expenses.  This show is really a contrived event to generate income for the promoters, not the bike manufacturers.  Even Ducati must rely on local dealers to staff the event.

[Buddy Shagmore]

Just got back from the show. No Aprilia or Guzzi... but Royal Enfield was there.   Triumph had a reduced floor space, only featuring their new Bonnevilles, Street Twin, and Thruxton R. 5 bikes total...no Triples. The Triumphs looked real good. The Thruxton R was really a masterpiece in person. The new neo-retro Yamaha XSR900 triple was pretty cool. Ducati had the new 400cc scrambler there, but it didn't seem much lighter than the 800s. Glad I went though. Nice to sit on whatever without a salesman breathing down my neck.

[akcapwild]

It's been a few years since I've been to the show.  When did it stop going to WDC?

[Waltr]

IMS pulled out of DC and Philadelphia.  We will be doing the Timonium Show near Baltimore.

[tiger_one]

I walked the floor three times and couldn't find Triumph.  I even went back and looked at the vendor map.  There was a big Progressive semi-trailer parked where Triumph was supposed to be.  I guess I was too impatient.  I sat on a Scout Sixty and a 2016 KTM690 Duke.  That Duke is seriously calling my name.

I just test rode the 2015 690 Duke couple of weeks ago, liked it a lot.  The 2016 is all new engine and display (color).  Shorter stroke and bigger piston to get higher revs, plus a balancer in the head (cams??) to help smooth out the vibes.  New mapping to give more torque down low.  I thought the 15 model was superb, above 4k rpm it just pulled.  Would get passed on topend, but not what this bike is about.

What will get my 1190 on the market is if this bike comes in the next few months to the states.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80eyTDAF6b4

[LongRanger]

IMS pulled out of Denver about a decade ago. Too bad, since this is a large market. But by the sound of it, doesn't sound like we're missing much.