I started going to motorcycle shows when I was eight years old. Gwen and Glenn had just started Mojo and we soon found ourselves travelling across Ontario for the then-many regional shows, and soon across Canada for national shows. I can remember the extravagance of the bike shows back in the day; though, of course, it could be that my young mind made things seem larger than life.

I remember the shows filled with vintage and custom bikes, at least one of which was always in a glass case with a large boa constrictor wrapping around the bike (the owner’s name was … Snake); girls in skimpy clothing posing for photos as men wiped their drool with their sleeves; and the many motorcycle races, or trials demos, or stunt teams that would be entertainment at the shows. Heck, I even remember one custom leather vendor would bring their pot belly pig to the show, making it feel like an impromptu petting zoo (which was my favourite). Among the oddities and fascinations that have come to pass, there is something that’s remained the same throughout the years: The people. 

My parents and I were quick to find our “show family” in those early years. Over the course of time, many of those faces have come and gone, moved on, retired, or simply don’t attend the shows anymore. But the common denominator seems to be the quality of people, and luckily, over these past 24 years of Motorcycle Mojo, we have gained an incredible show family that makes every show feel like a reunion. 

Not only for industry people, but also for our subscribers and readers who come, year after year, to converse, and to tell us what they liked or didn’t like about their riding season, the magazine, or its articles. It’s always a happy moment that reminds me how strong our community is together. 

During the Vancouver show, I was elated to see many of my new friends within the trials riding community. Even though the show didn’t have any booths showcasing the sport of trials, riders were still willing to come out and enjoy the other facets of motorcycling. I was also excited to see more involvement from manufacturers, with Piaggio having a large booth, Buell Motorcycles making an appearance, and a new up-and-coming bike brand called Aengel Motorcycles, along with BMW having proper dealer presence at the show.  

Although I was unable to make the Calgary show, I heard stories about what an improvement it was compared to 2024, specifically because of the exciting enduro-cross racing that was happening each day of the show. Glenn also came home with a pair of custom key tags that Mojo subscriber Ed Stoller made for me — thank you, Ed. It all just reminds me how great our readers are and how enjoyable it is to get to meet you at the shows. 

The Toronto show was the last of the shows for us for the year. Again, I saw many improvements, such as the large rider training areas, the Highway Heathens stunt show, and the attendance of BMW’s corporate booth — after a five-year hiatus — which was packed, even during the slow times. 

This was the hardest show for travel because of the snowstorm, which caused me to arrive late on Friday. Luckily, my show family was able to set up much of the booth before my arrival. I was not able to fly back home on Sunday, thanks to storms and the Delta plane crash at Pearson on Monday. I finally got home on Thursday after a tumultuous few days of cancelled and delayed flights, which made life feel like a hellish version of Groundhog Day.

It was also at the Toronto show that I was able to reconnect with old friends and bond with many new-to-me faces in the industry. At dinner one night, I realized that, normally, I would be out with the same familiar faces night after night. But how exciting was it to be seated amongst unfamiliar faces in the industry, quickly finding our banter and conversation discussing motorcycles, racing and the current events within our industry? And as usual I was also grateful to see familiar faces to chat with and catch up after a long year.  

Alright, a lot of things have changed in the motorcycle industry over the years, so maybe the shows will never be what they used to be. But, to be fair, motorcycle culture isn’t what it used to be, either. I have seen some small improvements, and time will tell if the shows can come back to a version of their former glory. 

But one thing is for certain: it’s the people that make it all worthwhile.