If you haven't noticed, the motorcycle and recreational vehicle industry is becoming more and more popular by the year. So, a Motorcycle Show is one hot event in Montreal, which is one of the biggest in North America.

With 53,000 visitors last year, the AMMQ (Association des Marchands de Moto du Quebec), founded in 1964, is expecting to best that number in 2005.

They held a press conference last Friday right before the doors opened, where they pointed out that 30% of all Canadian sales are finalized in Quebec, although only 24% of the cycling population resides in that province. Pierre Riendeau (president) Gaby Grégoire (vice-president) and André Caza (general manager) were accompanied by actor/singer Caroline Néron, spokesperson for this year's event.

They also mentioned all the new models for 2005 (more on that in upcoming articles), and some other interesting facts and statistics, such as:

• 23,355 motorcycles were bought in Quebec last year, up from 19,878 in 2003, which represents a rise of 17.5%, and a staggering 173% hike in the last 10 years (1993-2003);
• 124,563 cyclists have eaten up the road last summer, a record increase of 12,670 in just one year;
• Baby Boomers (45+) own about half of all registered motorcycles in Quebec, rising from 32% in 1998;
• 10,376 new licenses were handed out in 2004, compared to 7,846 in 2003;
• The average visitor at the Montreal Motorcycle Show is 46 years of age.

Speaking of Baby Boomers, the AMMQ strongly suggests those eligible for the "grandfather clause" (where after a certain age, you can get a motorcycle license automatically) seek an update course, just to make sure everyone has the basic skills for driving these machines.

Caroline Néron also expressed her passion for motorcycles. She has owned one for 10 years now and has just bought her fourth Harley-Davidson, a magnificent V-Rod.

One of the goals that the AMMQ has given itself since the year 2000 is to promote continuing education, with financial incentives involved. They support Autodrome St-Eustache's new 2005 season motorcycle drags, where speed freaks can pay $5 for an evening of drag racing, where they can duke it out with other bikes in the secure confines of a drag strip instead of racing in the streets. They also encouraged Motofest Canada, the first such event in the country. On July 29th and 30th, riders can participate in a cruise around the Outaouais (western Quebec) region's finest roads and attend a couple of cultural events along the way.

Useful links:
www.ammq.com (French only) or (450) 796-4444

www.autodrome-st-eustache.com (French only) or (450) 472-6222

www.motofestcanada.ca