QOTD: Is the 1Moto Show the Best in the US?

Jason R. Sakurai
by Jason R. Sakurai

’60 H-D Bobber 113 CI, rigid frame, 4-speed, suicide shift. Harvey Mushman, owner/builder.

The 1Moto Show, the annual showcase for custom motorcycles held in Portland, Oregon, took place April 30-May 2. Is the 1Moto Show the best bike show in the country?

’16 H-D ‘Forty Eight’ by Veselka Works

Held in the Zidell Yards barge building, the facility launched its last ship in 2017.

’65 Honda CB450 by Guerrero.

The vast expanse inside and out was great for bike displays, vendors, and food trucks.

’08 Ducati 1098S by Jake Lindeke

Social distancing was not a problem, along with staggered admission.

Firestone Walker Brewing Compay’s 805 brand Yamahauler Dodge van and Yamaha bikes.

Most importantly, the 1Moto Show retained the funky vibe that has made it a perennial favorite.

Over the years, the 1Moto Show has drawn attendees and exhibitors from across the country, and around the world.

Harley-Davidson long bike by Jeff McL.

With hundreds of bikes on display, our aim was to give you an overview.

’65 Triumph Tiger Cub by Red Clouds Collective

A number of sponsors also had bikes on display, such as Red Clouds Collective, and Icon Motorsports.

’08 Ducati 848 Turbo by Dylan. The teal frame was a nice touch.

Due to the pandemic, Canadians cannot cross the border into the US. As a result, they were missing at the One Show. Visitors from other countries couldn’t come either, so the event lacked some of its international flavor.

2019 Ducati Panigale V4S NH69 by Portland’s MotoCorsa.

We’ve debated alternate forms of transportation, presenting many of them. In other countries, motorcycles and scooters are the preferred mode of transportation.

1949 Harley-Davidson Panhead in blue, by POD.

Most Americans haven’t considered motorcycles among available alternatives.

Zero Motorcycles are all electric.

We could lower our dependence on fossil fuels if motorcycles were considered as a viable alternative. There are plenty of electric bikes now, with more on the way.

Western Power Sports’ display

Indian Motorcycles, Zooz Bikes, Modern Artifacts, Western Power Sports, Icon Motorsports, Red Bull, and Poler Stuff all had displays at the 1Moto Show.

Russ Brown Motorcycle Attorney’s Justine.

SW-Motech and Russ Brown Motorcycle Attorneys were also among those displaying.

[Images: © 2021, J. Sakurai]

Jason R. Sakurai
Jason R. Sakurai

With a father who owned a dealership, I literally grew up in the business. After college, I worked for GM, Nissan and Mazda, writing articles for automotive enthusiast magazines as a side gig. I discovered you could make a living selling ad space at Four Wheeler magazine, before I moved on to selling TV for the National Hot Rod Association. After that, I started Roadhouse, a marketing, advertising and PR firm dedicated to the automotive, outdoor/apparel, and entertainment industries. Through the years, I continued writing, shooting, and editing. It keep things interesting.

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 2 comments
  • Pig_Iron Pig_Iron on May 10, 2021

    Held in the Zidell Yards barge building, the facility launched its last ship in 2017. :-(

  • Lou_BC Lou_BC on May 11, 2021

    Most "custom" motorcycles at shows are unrideable in the real world.

  • Jeff Self driving cars are not ready for prime time.
  • Lichtronamo Watch as the non-us based automakers shift more production to Mexico in the future.
  • 28-Cars-Later " Electrek recently dug around in Tesla’s online parts catalog and found that the windshield costs a whopping $1,900 to replace.To be fair, that’s around what a Mercedes S-Class or Rivian windshield costs, but the Tesla’s glass is unique because of its shape. It’s also worth noting that most insurance plans have glass replacement options that can make the repair a low- or zero-cost issue. "Now I understand why my insurance is so high despite no claims for years and about 7,500 annual miles between three cars.
  • AMcA My theory is that that when the Big 3 gave away the store to the UAW in the last contract, there was a side deal in which the UAW promised to go after the non-organized transplant plants. Even the UAW understands that if the wage differential gets too high it's gonna kill the golden goose.
  • MKizzy Why else does range matter? Because in the EV advocate's dream scenario of a post-ICE future, the average multi-car household will find itself with more EVs in their garages and driveways than places to plug them in or the capacity to charge then all at once without significant electrical upgrades. Unless each vehicle has enough range to allow for multiple days without plugging in, fighting over charging access in multi-EV households will be right up there with finances for causes of domestic strife.
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