Harley-Davidson
The Motor Company did not pull any punches, with an imposing presence at the track as well as at every major venue, taking over the Convention Center for an exclusive show of H-D branded parts and accessories, as well as organising multiple guided rides for the faithful as well as new models and rides directed at women, another rising market.

Bruce Rossmeyer
The largest H-D dealer in the world owns a small Shopping Mall 15 miles North of Daytona, where crowds of 20 000+ (Rossmeyer claimed a 20% increase in visitors) flocked every day to visit the imposing dealership, satellite stores selling Ducati, Buell and Triumph, and exhibitors selling parts, accessories and clothing for these brands.


Crowds
The economic bad times are hitting the US hard, with businesses closing and jobs being lost, a lot of them by the types who attend Bike Week. They were there in their usual numbers this year, say between 300,000 and 500,000 over the ten days, but there was a certain numbness about the people, as if the were conscious of the good times they were allowing themselves by being there, and making sure that they drank in every moment.

This Bike Week thus had a special air about it, a special event indeed! I suspect that 2009 will be the slow year that manufacturers anticipate, especially in the US, while Canada appears to also drop a bit, but less so than our neighbours.

But what about the legendary event? Bike Week remains a special event, a sort of pilgrimage for us after long months of snow and dreams of the next ride come springtime.

Like a lot of us, I will want to return again next year to see and feel the place, as well as maybe ride a few bikes!




Photo Credit : Philippe Champoux