Lehigh Valley Motorcycle “Extravaganza”

Last weekend Cori and I attended the “Lehigh Valley Motorcycle Extravaganza” at Agricultural Hall in Allentown, Pennsylvania. In researching the event I found the promoter’s website had billed it as “family friendly” with a percentage of the proceeds benefiting P.A.N.D.A.S. research (a worthy cause but for whatever reason the event website and the promoter’s site both fail to link to their website so people could find out more about what they do).

The event was an utter disappointment and as I looked around I was struck by a few things. I saw very, very few actual motorcycles, although I did see a few tables full of knives, all kinds of knives, some of which obviously had only one intended purpose. The stickers lampooning spousal battery were a classy touch as well. Oh, opposite the knives (the knife vendor was asleep by the way) was a face painting booth for kids and at the other end of the room a stripper pole (opposite the table with the brass knuckles). Knives, brass knuckles, stripper pole, family friendly. Which of these things seems out of place to you?

Most of the attendees I saw were adorned in the tired old “costume” of the “bad ass biker”.  Leather over denim, doo-rags on their heads, gang patches on their backs, another doo-rag hanging out of the back pocket. I started a group back in 2010 for motorcyclist’s in the Lehigh Valley and we have around 90 members. None of them dress like they’re at a casting call for Sons Of Anarchy. Interestingly I saw dozens of costumes yet only four bikes parked outside in the reserved parking area… hmmm… Bad-ass but not bad-ass enough to ride a bike in 30 degree weather?

One friendly hat and t-shirt vendor we talked to described the current sad state of the motorcycling industry. With shows like this it’s not hard to imagine why. The Lehigh Valley Motorcycle Extravaganza was a ridiculous waste of time and money that seemingly was designed for the silly 1953 Wild One stereotype of what motorcycling used to be but no longer is (the movie’s impetus ironically was a staged Life Magazine photo from 1947). I kept wondering if the people who put the event together were actually motorcycle enthusiasts who’ve ever bothered to read a mainstream motorcycle magazine or if they were just interested in making a quick buck by regurgitating the same cycle gang stereotype everyone has sadly become accustomed to.

Perhaps when promoters plan events that appeal to the people who are actually serious riders and enthusiasts (and who spend the money that keeps the industry alive) they will figure out how to draw a crowd. Cori and I had more fun next door at the Allentown Farmers Market. We’ll be at the Progressive Show in New York City on Friday, January 20th (show runs through the 22nd). Hopefully that will leave a better taste in our mouths.

Ride safe.