Aprilia display

The Cycle World International Motorcycle Shows® presented by Toyota will roll into the Long Beach Convention Center on Friday, December 7 and run through Sunday, December 9, with hundreds of 2008-model street bikes, dirt bikes, cruisers and ATVs from more than 19 manufacturers, the most ever at the show. This motorcycle extravaganza will fill the Long Beach Convention Center with some of the world’s fastest motorcycles, eye-popping, tricked-out cruisers in the Big Twin Customs collection, pulse-pounding thrills from the BOSS ‘Ball of Steel’ Freestyle Motorcycle Stunt Show and more.

“We are back for our 27th year and the show is bigger than ever with 19 tour wide manufacturers, expanded features, display areas and a thrilling stunt show that will entertain the whole family,” said Show Director Jeff D’Entremont. “From outrageous custom cruisers to one-of-a-kind sportbikes, this show offers something for everyone making it the perfect place to see everything from the powersports industry under one roof.”

Some of the highlights of the Long Beach show are listed below:

· BOSS Stunt Show – The BOSS Stunt Show team will thrill fans daily with revamped high-flying, nail-biting motorcycle stunts that will send riders speeding up ramps, flipping in air and zooming inside the Ball of Steel.

· Vectrix Electric Scooter – The show will be one of the first and few places people can test drive the all new Vectrix electric scooter- the world’s first high-powered all electric zero-emission vehicle. This amazing bike can go 40-60 miles on a single charge, with an estimated cost of only 2 cents per mile! Designed for riders of every level, the Vectrix offers incredible acceleration and reaches top speeds up to 62 mph.

· ‘History of Speed’ – The World’s Fastest Motorcycles – A collection of historical machines that have held speed titles will be on display including a streamlined Harley-Davidson, which broke the land speed record in 1937 when Joe Petrali clocked 136.183 mph in the mile. Attendees will also enjoy the rare opportunity to see “Turnip Eater,” Leo Payne’s highly modified 1957 Harley-Davidson Sportster, the first machine to exceed 200 mph in 1969 and the “Manning” Harley-Davidson Sportster-based streamliner that clocked 265.492 mph the following year. Adding additional miles to this speed showcase, S&S Cycle’s “Tramp III,” which set the record for the fastest single engine conventional motorcycle with a whopping average top speed of 226.148 mph in 1991. Returning to the show, Denis Manning’s BUB “#7” Streamliner set the current land speed record in September 2006 with rider Chris Carr at the helm, registering 350.885 mph at the Bonneville Salt Flats.

· Custom Sportbikes: All the Rage – Motorcycle designer and builder Roland Sands will be in town with “The Art of Function” – a collection of bikes from Roland Sands Designs. The display will feature a retrospective of Sands’ bike building history dating back to 1996 and showcasing how he weaves together real-world use and immaculate design to create a variety of custom bikes and aftermarket products specifically geared toward looking good and performing better.

· Discover Today’s Motorcycling (DTM) Women’s Studio – The first-ever women's studio by DTM will make its debut in Long Beach. Come learn why more women are taking the front seat on bikes today. The studio invites women to enjoy moto makeovers, entry level bikes, riding gear for women, a traffic simulator/trainer and coffee lounge

· Eight-time AMA National Drag Race Champion Rickey Gadson to Greet Fans and Sign Autographs – Friday, Dec. 7, from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 8, from 5 – 6 p.m.; and Sunday, Dec. 9, from 12 – 1 p.m.

· 2007 Daytona 200 Winner Steve Rapp to Greet Fans and Sign Autographs – Saturday, Dec. 8, from 12 - 1 p.m.

· Custom Bikes on Display from Top Builders – A collection of custom bikes will be on display from top builders including Cory Ness, Arlen Ness, Matt Hotch, Roland Sands and Jesse Rooke. Several of the builders will be on site throughout the show to greet fans and talk customs.

· L-R-G Custom Bike Unveil In Suzuki – Host of the popular TV show Superbikes Jason Britton will unveil the first custom 2008 Hayabusa built by Nick Anglada of Custom Sportbike Concepts and created by Jonas Bevacqua and Robert Wright co-founders for L-R-G (Lifted Research Group). (Saturday, Dec. 8, at 1 p.m.)

· Motocross America – ‘The Tour’ – In conjunction with the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum, this display traces the evolution of motocross in the United States with period bikes, images and apparel, showing the growth and technological evolution of this popular sport over the years. Motocross and Baja legend Malcolm Smith and stars such as Decoster, Hannah, Bailey and McGrath will all be depicted in the display along with championship-winning dirt bikes.

· Big Twin Customs and “People’s Choice Award” – This showcase will offer an up-close look at hot, one-of-a-kind custom cruisers decked out with eclectic paint jobs, eye-catching chrome and other flashy accessories. A “People’s Choice Award” will be given to the best bike at each show as voted on by attendees, with an overall “Best of Show” awarded at season’s end that will be featured in Powersports Magazine.

· Custom Sportbike and “People’s Choice Award” – Tricked-out custom sportbikes will take center stage in the Custom Sportbike Display when this emerging art form showcases the coolest custom designs from local builders at each stop in the series. These designers utilize everything from swingarms and huge tires to nitros and bolt-on parts. A “People’s Choice Award” will also be chosen at the season’s end and featured in 2Wheel Tuner Magazine.

· Demo Rides – Licensed motorcyclists who bring their own riding gear (including a helmet) can test drive some of the hottest new street bikes in select markets. The manufacturer-sponsored (BMW, Harley-Davidson, Kawasaki, Kymco, Yamaha, Star and Vectrix) demo rides will be held on Saturday and Sunday during daylight hours, weather permitting.

· ATV/Outdoor Showcase – The ATV/Outdoor Showcase returns this year with even more four-wheeled fun packed into the display, courtesy of ATV, ATV Sport and Camping Life magazines. Here, attendees and ATV fans will find the latest in ATV buildups, aftermarket parts, accessories and gear, as well as side-by-sides and all-purpose utility vehicles. Attendees can enter ATV Sport magazine’s “Ultimate Sport Quad Giveaway” where one lucky winner will take home the grand daddy of all ATVs. Additionally, Camping Life Magazine will give away a camping package stacked with everything enthusiasts need for the great outdoors.

· Vintage Display – Take a walk through history with a collection of rare vintage motorcycles including classic dirt bikes, cruisers and more from various vintage groups throughout the country.

· Welcome Center – Advanstar’s Welcome Center will be home to a plethora of information for new riders and those looking to get into the sport. The center will also house floor plans, exhibitor lists, product giveaways and more.

· Free Motorcycle Parking and Gear Check – Free motorcycle parking will be available for all riders who bring their bikes to the show. In addition, riders will be invited to check helmets, jackets and other gear at the main entrance.

The show will be open to the public Friday, December 7 through Sunday, December 9, at the Long Beach Convention Center, located at 300 East Ocean Boulevard, Long Beach, California, 90802. Show hours are Friday, from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday, from 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday, from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission to the event is $13 for adults and $6 for children 6-11. Children 5 and under are admitted free. Advance tickets are available on the Web at http://www.motorcycleshows.com.

The Cycle World International Motorcycle Shows® presented by Toyota is the world’s largest motorcycle show series. For more information, call 800/331-5706 or visit http://www.motorcycleshows.com.