So I got in my first bike show at a big Poker Run event Sunday. The ride and whole experience was a lot of fun, but I see now why some people have criticized some bike shows here in the past.

The first problem is that there are so many types of bikes, it's very difficult to group them into categories for judging. If you want to be fair, there needs to be way too many categories for their to be actual bikes to compete in the event. For example, the bike show had only 6 categories:
1) Best Stock Bike - 5 competitors
2) Best Custom Bike - 7 competitors
3) Best Bagger - 5 competitors
4) Best Rat Bike - 1 competitor
5) Best Vintage - 1 competitor
6) Best Metric - 3 competitors

The "Stock Bikes", except for one, were anything BUT stock. They were basically Harleys that had lots of bolt on extras including custom wheels.

The "Custom Bikes" were actually "Custom".. Custom paint, custom frame work, crazy big front wheels, audio systems, the works. No real complaints about this category, however they should have had something between "Custom" and "Stock" like "Light Custom" and "Heavy Custom".

Vintage was any bike over 25 years.

Metric bike, any metric.

"Rat" bike, a beat up old looking bike that still ran. Apparently, some people like that style... it was new to me.

Best Bagger, any customized bagger. There were some bikes in the "Best Custom" category that were the same kind of bike and looked almost exactly like some bikes in the "Best Bagger" category. "Best Bagger" should not have been a category, unless they forced all baggers into it, instead of letting them be in other categories.

So I pulled my bike up and asked which category I should enter it in, and the worker just told me "pick one", and he didn't really care which one I picked or what my bike might actually qualify for. He just said pick the one I think I could win in. So I went with "Stock"... parked right next to a Sportster also in the "Stock" category that I'm sure hated me for getting into the same category since his had very little extras done to it. Not that mine was the only "light custom" in the running under this category. I would have had no chance against those heavily customized bikes in the "Custom" category.

So a note to would be bike show promoters... do what most shows are doing these days and call it what it is... "Light Custom!" If you are going to have a Stock Bike category, at least enforce it! Also, don't let the competitor just pick whatever category they want, have a judge do it or chaos ensues.

 

You were in the correct class, your bike would be considered stock, modified, but stock.
Dont get why the bagger class, it's either stock or custom.

Did you win???

 

No I didn't win, although getting in the contest was a last minute decision on site. It was a good $5 spent for experience. Next time if I really want to win I'll 1) Bring cleaning supplies to polish the bike after the run and 2) Get in the show when it starts! By the time I entered, a lot of votes had already been cast. Many bikes got in the contest well after mine as well, and none of them won either.

 

I pulled up to a bike night one time on my mostly stock Lowrider, with a little bolt on chrome, & the MC asked me if I wanted to have my bike in the show. I said "why? It's just a stock bike with a little chrome" I would've been embarassed to accept an award for that.

Now, my Vette was another story--all original mint low mile classic with full documentation,build sheet,window sticker,etc. I won trophys 4 times for that!

 

I entered one here in Texas on a whim. Had an 07 WG with lots of shiny stuff, tank lift, etc. Entered the stock category and was up against 14 other bikes. Think that I could have placed, had I brought cleaning supplies. A 45 mile ride to the show that ended down a 3/4 mile dirt road did little to help my chances.

The experience was fun though, looking at all the bikes and answering questions about mine. Those things really aren't about winning as much as the experience. No idea how I would have gotten home 45 miles with a big *** trophy anyway.

 

The classes should be:
-Bagger
-Sportster
-Rat
-Custom (basically choppers)
-Metric
-V-twin
-Vintage

V-twin class is basically any harley that dose not fit in the other classes (Dyna's, Softails...). Baggers have to enter in their class and sportsters in their class etc...

These classes should be governed by the judges to insure bikes stay true to the class it's designated for.

 

Off topic, JIMSFBL, your signature makes me want to go buy a Fat Boy Low.

 

The shows I enter for the most part are based on Harley model ( Im in the Dyna/FXR class ) but they usually have a couple categories for bobber, etc. In open classes like you had it is just a crap shoot. To me its just fun to hang out. Shows like Easyrider / Arlen Ness are interesting because you set up the night before and get to see whats happening behind the scenes.

 

I posted a big response to someone who asked about winning Bike shows. Might have been your post. Sadly I wasn't signed in, and I'm new here, so I lost it all but will reply to it again.

Ive been to over 300 shows, and reseached for 6 years before I took my bike to its first show. The 2010 Canadian Biker Build off. I have good friends who have won the top shows in the country, including Artisty in Iorn LV, Ratshole all 4 shows, Toronto SS & Sp Show, La Calander show, Sturgis, to name a few.

Depending on the show and the size classes will very. Some really tough shows are open classes, meaning its the best of the best. Inless you have about 100K into your bike I would stay far away from those.

Normal classes are Stock, Bagger, Sportster, Vintage, Rat, 3 Wheeler, Radical (Choppers)...

Bigger shows such as the Rats Hole will break it down further radical are broken into super radicals. Stock Custom ect ect.

Usually classes are defined. A good show will define what class you qualify for. Big shows judges will assign your class. thats so no one jumps class that dont belong their to make it fair.

STOCK: these days is not stock as in you go buy a Bike from HD and put it in a show. Stock is defined as any Bike that is a stock frame. Meaning no stretched frame. The forks can be different although most shows do NOT allow fork change in stock. Some shows the forks can change But the rake must be stock. Any change in Rake, Frame, or Swing arm its not concidered stock and will pop into a radical class. Or Mod radical class. If they have one. Rats Hole does. radical people were complaining because they still were no were near a Super radical bike in rake. Bolt on parts are allowed in stock. Meaning you can buy chrome from your favorite vendor or HD and add it. As long as its bolt on. If its welded it mean its fabed and will fall out of class. Paint can be anything on any bike and will not push it from class. And Mods to the Engine, meaning Super Chargers, Turbo, or engine mods will pop it from Stock class. So when they say stock they mean frame, engine, swing arm, usually forks, bit not always pending rake, have to stay the same. Wheels can be changed, meaning rims, if you put a 28" on a stock bike it will fall out of class. Chrome doesn't matter. Bars usualls you can switch bars if it not to out of the box. Hope that answeres your question.

Mike

 

Most show are only as good as the (in)competence of the judges.