These are all the cool bikes I saw at the 2019 New York Motorcycle show
Matthew DeBord/BI
The 2019 New York Motorcycle Show wrapped up on Sunday at the Javits Center in Manhattan.
On display were bikes from Harley-Davidson, Indian, Royal Enfield, Honda, BMW, Kawasaki, Suzuki, and other brands.
The 2019 New York Motorcycle Show is in the books.
If you missed it, you're in luck. I swung by a press preview last week and spent a few hours, as I do every year, and sampled all the bikes on display, from the usual big names, such as Harley-Davidson and Indian, Honda and BMW, but also a few upstarts, including Royal Enfield.
Here's are some of the coolest motorcycles I saw, plus some other interesting sights:
The Motorcycle show pulls into the Javits Center every year between Thanksgiving and the December holidays.
Matthew DeBord/BIFirst sight: a new Suzuki Katana.
Matthew DeBord/BIProgressive insurance is the longtime sponsor.
Matthew DeBord/BIWin a Harley!
Matthew DeBord/BIA theme at this year's show was ... more bicycles. Specifically, electric bicycles.
Matthew DeBord/BIBut the BIG STORY was the arrival of the Harley-Davidson LiveWire, an electric full-size motorcycle that's on the market for $30,000.
Matthew DeBord/BILiveWire looks impressive in the flesh. I hopped on and was surprised at how heavy the bike is — there's nothing insubstantial about the bike.
Matthew DeBord/BIBut there were other hogs to scrutinize. This Street Bob grabbed my attention almost immediately.
Matthew DeBord/BII threw a leg. Harleys are big bikes, and one assumes they'll be a struggle to handle, but I find them to be exquisitely balanced, and that's true even as they get larger.
Matthew DeBord/BIIt's never too soon to get a rider started with Harley-Davidson.
Matthew DeBord/BIHarley is known for its big cruisers, but in recent years the company has been looking to attract newer and younger riders by rolling out relatively more svelte machines. The Iron 1200 is one example.
Matthew DeBord/BIHarley's Sportster lineup has given customers a good entry point to the brand.
Matthew DeBord/BIMoving up the food chain, we get the Fat Bob 114, equipped with the Milwaukee-Eight engine.
Matthew DeBord/BII'm a big fan of the design of the Softail Slim, a lot of bike for $16,000.
Matthew DeBord/BIFor what it's worth, I also love the Harley three-wheelers, like this Tri-Glide.
Matthew DeBord/BIThe fun aspect of stopping by the Honda Powersports booth is knowing that you're going to see the range of vehicles that the company manufactures.
Matthew DeBord/BI My eyes have been drawn of late toward all the small-displacement motorcycles and scooters that Honda has been producing. For example, the homely Ruckus.
Matthew DeBord/BIThe Metropolitan is Honda's version of a classic Italian Vespa. Next to it is the mighty Grom, a micro-bike that is sort of a teen-aged version of a full-size motorcycle.
Matthew DeBord/BI Small bikes are in Honda's DNA, as the famous Super Cub, now reissued, attests.
Matthew DeBord/BIThe "MiniMoto" action continues with the Monkey. The Grom, Super Cub, and Monkey all start at less than $4,000 and have all the modern tech a discerning new rider could hope for.
Matthew DeBord/BIWhen you're ready to move up to a "real" bike, Honda offers in stalwart Rebel, which can be obtained in this ferocious color scheme.
Matthew DeBord/BIThe CBR lineup offers incredible value and performance in the sport-bike market.
Matthew DeBord/BIAnd for an upright mount, the CB300R is tough to beat. This lightweight bike is comfortable, easy to handle, and comes in at less than $5,000.
Matthew DeBord/BIAnd of course, Honda is much more than two-wheelers. The Talon is what known as a "side-by-side," accommodating two riders for offroad adventures.
Matthew DeBord/BIHonda might do scooters, but Vespa remains the gold standard.
Matthew DeBord/BIWhen people think "scooter," the Italian classic is what they have in mind.
Matthew DeBord/BIA focus of this year's show, which was more modest product-wise than what I've seen in the past, was getting new riders onto bikes.
Matthew DeBord/BIHence this useful display of motorcycles for entry-level iron horsemen and women.
Matthew DeBord/BIThe Rebel returns! Available in 300cc and 500cc variants, this modest cruiser was the first bike for what seems like three-quarters of the riding world.
Matthew DeBord/BINearby was this groovy three-wheeler. The model, the Carmel, is from Vanderhall Motors of Utah. It splits the difference between a motorcycle and a car.
Matthew DeBord/BIA big plastic motorcycle boot. I have no idea what it's for.
Matthew DeBord/BII do, on the other hand, know what tires are for. Big manufacturers, such as Bridgestone and Michelin, usually have a presence at the show.
Matthew DeBord/BIAs do helmet makers.
Matthew DeBord/BILots and lots...
Matthew DeBord/BI... Of helmet makers.
Matthew DeBord/BIGear makers, too!
Matthew DeBord/BIRetailer RevZilla brought a nice selection to heritage styles.
Matthew DeBord/BIOne of my favorite stories from the motorcycle show these past few years has been the growth of India's Royal Enfield as it brings its famous old British brand to the US.
Matthew DeBord/BIThis INT650 looks smashing in chrome.
Matthew DeBord/BIAnd here's a lineup of Continental GT 650s. Both the INT650 and the GT 650 are on the market for less than $8,000.
Matthew DeBord/BIBMW occupied central territory at the show.
Matthew DeBord/BIThe cycle arm of the Bavarian company brought a concept bike with a low-slung layout.
Matthew DeBord/BIAnd fashion!
Matthew DeBord/BIFashion!
Matthew DeBord/BIAnd more fashion!
Matthew DeBord/BIBut bikes, too. A BMW equipped with hard saddlebags is perhaps my quintessential image of the brand.
Matthew DeBord/BIPlenty of this style was on display.
Matthew DeBord/BIBut so were some massive rides, such as the Grand America touring, with sells for over $25,000.
Matthew DeBord/BIHusqvarna is a Swedish brand well-known by dirt bikers.
Matthew DeBord/BIBut the company was showing some street and sport bikes in New York. It calls the Vitpilen 401 "an unassuming hero of the sub-500 cc world."
Matthew DeBord/BIThere are always vintage motorcycles on the show floor.
Matthew DeBord/BISuch as this vintage Husqvarna!
Matthew DeBord/BIThat little guy in the middle is a Harley.
Matthew DeBord/BIA shiny Norton racing bike.
Matthew DeBord/BIA Honda café racer.
Matthew DeBord/BIAnd a custom bike. With skulls!
Matthew DeBord/BIIndian is one of Harley's big rivals in the big-bike world.
Matthew DeBord/BIAnd this Roadmaster is definitely a big boy.
Matthew DeBord/BIThe FTR1200 is a smaller, newer offering.
Matthew DeBord/BIBut the Scout is a classic.
Matthew DeBord/BIAnd the new Scout Bobber could become one.
Matthew DeBord/BIProgressive might be the sponsor, but other insurance companies were represented.
Matthew DeBord/BIMotorcycle riders need insurance!
Matthew DeBord/BIAll-electric Zero has been selling bikes for longer than most of the fresh competition.
Matthew DeBord/BIZero also supplies exhaust-less, no-clutch bikes for an introductory-rider course set up at the back of the hall.
Matthew DeBord/BISuzuki brought a racing bike, among the few straight-off-the-track models being shown in New York.
Matthew DeBord/BILike Honda, Suzuki makes a wide range of vehicles, including junior ATVs.
Matthew DeBord/BIBut at also big cruisers, like this Boulevard model.
Matthew DeBord/BIAnd low-slung Harley-evocative machines. For $9,000, this Boulevard model is an excellent value.
Matthew DeBord/BIIt's important to remember that the Japanese brands remain a huge market presence in the US.
Matthew DeBord/BILet's check out Kawasaki.
Matthew DeBord/BIKawasaki continues to let the good times roll with this throwback W800 cafe racer.
Matthew DeBord/BIMaybe it was just me, but this year I felt like street bikes and especially smaller, retro designs edged out powersports dirt bikes for floor space. Of course, Kawasaki put its offerings on display.
Matthew DeBord/BIIncluding the perfect little ATV for the holidays.
Matthew DeBord/BIThe legendary Ninja sport bike looks awesome in white.
Matthew DeBord/BIAnd what about Yamaha?
Matthew DeBord/BIWell, Yamaha didn't hold back on side-by-sides.
Matthew DeBord/BIBut lest we forget thy make two-wheelers, the company showed its range with this lineup, from a small-displacement bike to a grand tourer.
Matthew DeBord/BIYamaha also brought a wicked, blacked-out sport bike.
Matthew DeBord/BIAnd also a range of upright "naked" bikes that challenge Ducati, which wasn't at this year's show.
Matthew DeBord/BIFinally, let us praise the choppers. This chromed-out masterpiece was being lovingly polished as I bid the 2019 New York Motorcycle Show adieu.
Matthew DeBord/BI
Matthew DeBord/BI
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