2016 Long Beach International Motorcycle Show

The country-wide staged events of the Progressive IMS rolls into SoCal every year in November and spotlights the latest and greatest new machines from both large manufacturers, “boutique” shops and do-it-yourself home grown builders as well as the coolest parts and accessories, stunt riding action, free test rides, vintage and classics, live music, a custom bike competition and even a few bikes you can win. A rainy last day of the 3-day event didn’t dampen the attendance, the parking lot a sea of bikes of all flavors while inside the Long Beach convention center it was standing room only. Without further ado, here’s the annual Paul’s Pix and Picks.

Best Bite for Your Buck Bike

Troy Kyne brought his 2010 Red Neck Curve/Kyne Kustom named Predassaurus with paint by Josh Bourassa/True Kustoms. Motor is 124-inch S&S. Bike does not currently have dental plan.

Best Self-Captioned by Signage in the Background

Best Wheelie Bar Treatment

Talk about vintage historically awesome…the Garrett turbo charged, Hilborn fuel–injected 120-inch John Harmon powered Shovel Drag Bike was brought by owner Johnny Branch. A closer look follows…

Best Plumbing Nightmare Job
The Harmon Dragster gets the nod again.

Best Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance Statement BMW

Best Rolling Entertainment Unit Bagger
Michael Uriarte’s Dirtbag Bagger’s 2003 Road King sports Aggressive Design paint job, built 111- inch motor and 30” front wheel not to forget the heads-up digital display.

Prettiest in Pink Cam-Am Spyder Rep – Elizabeth

Best Pop’s Passenger

Neven and his Dad who has a BMW at home try out the newest model.

Best Retro Café Racer You Can Actually Buy- 2017 BMW R Nine T Racer

Best Free Temporary Tattoo Station and Inked Out Customer

Best Bargain Priced 3-Wheeled SUV
Ural display featured several “theme” models including this sandy “Sahara” version. Kids were additional accessory.

Best Mix and Mis-Matched Paint Themes
Bike was part of Progressive Insurance display…they sponsored the Expo so they can display whatever they feel like, right?

Best Midas Touch Trike from Milwaukee

Best July 4th Paint Job

Slingshot 3-wheeler was offered as a giveaway promoting All State Insurance.

Best Looking New Indian Model (and the Scout is pretty cool also)

Best Super Swoopy Indian
Indian had commissioned a series of concept bikes and a stellar example appearing at the event was a Scout re-imagined as a Bonneville racer by Jeb Scolman….a bike called “Black Bullet”…something Batman would ride.

Best Mega-Monster Motor
“Klassy 9” 2012 H-D Softail built by Ken’s Factory wears paint by Center Roots….described as “throwback styling, warm metals and intricate details.” Ken happens to be Kenji Nagai, his shops located in Nagoya, Japan and Long Beach, CA. Based around 2012 Softail, it’s powered by 96-inch motor fed by Thomson supercharger.

Best Lightning Struck Twice Custom
Ryan McQuistion of Long Beach, CA based McQuistons Chopper Design named this flathead “45-inch Mag” obviously thanks to the motor displacement and spark supplied by a magneto…truly a shockingly cool chopper.

Best It’s Soooo Strange I Love it!
Turns out the bike’s called “Pink Panther” thanks to the 1949 Panther Sloper motor and Peptol bizmol paint scheme as created by the fertile mind of Andrew Ursich

Best Jewel-like Knucklehead Motor
Look a bit familiarly uniquely strange style-wise? It’s another Andrew Ursich phenom with jaw-dropping chrome and gold artwork by Engrave It Inc. Bike is called “Stardust” and took First Place in Radical Custom Class at Easyriders Sacramento show along with a slew of other awards.

Best Built from a Basket Case
A more “subdued” build by Andrew Ursich was this 1980 Sportster tagged “Brass Monkey” thanks to the shiny metal treatment.

Best Stand-out Victory

Best Red Italian Bike I Can’t Afford

1958 Ducati 125cc bevel-drive DOHC single “Bialbero GP” produced 16 HP at 11,500 rpm. Engine was last of Taglioni’s pre-desmo designs. Bike was on display from MotoDoffo Vintage Collection.

Best Ducati I Can Almost Afford

Yes, it’s a factory snow blower, just what one needs in SoCal.

Best Asleep at the Wheel Riders

Best Gravity Defying Rider

Best Bells, Whistles and Sirens Bike

Yamaha Concept Cop Bike would look good in your rear view mirror.

Best Old American Iron
1927 Henderson 4-cyclinder was brought to show by owner/rider Tom Lovejoy.

Best One-off Replication of a Near Mythical Bike – Kawasaki W1R
Michael Lafountain of Racciamotocycles became fascinated with the story of the 1960s Kawasaki 650cc works race bike, only one or two known to have existed and lost somewhere in time, so he spent seven years and parts from 25 different Kawi’s to replicate it

Best 13-Year Father&Son Triumph Chopper Project
Richard Jones’ Oklahoma built Triumph named “66-UMPH” was 13 years in the making with his Dad also named Richard. Tasty ’66 TR6C trumpet was shown at the show along with his Dad’s radical custom Harley FXR.

Best Beloved FXR Gone Way Radical

First appearing as 1982 models, H-D’s venerable FXR still has a staunch following including Richard Jones. He upped the ante a few notches with a bike he calls NO Fe (No Iron) featuring all-aluminum frame and radically modified carburetion. He also brought his son’s Triumph chopper seen previously.

Best Go Big or Go Home Engine
At the end of this photo story, the author is left holding the bag and the truly monster motor heralding the new S&S T143, the 162 HP motor available in a more usable size.

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