|
|||||||
| Archives - RB Events |
RoadBike Events: Gotham Motorcycle Classic 2005 - From RoadBike August 2005
2005 Gotham Motorcycle Classic She’s plucked astronauts from the sea. She’s survived two wars and kamikaze attacks in the South Pacific. In all four corners of the globe, she’s endured heavy strafing that would have rendered lesser creatures crushed and helpless. She’s even held steady under the punishing and potentially humiliating gaze of millions of tourists. And, as if all this weren’t enough, for the last three years the USS Intrepid has embraced an annual pilgrimage of raucous bikers, bravely serving as the site for the American Iron Magazine/RoadBike Gotham Motorcycle Classic. That the ship has so gracefully withstood all of this madness is a testament to her strength and beauty. However, the docks to which she is tethered have not aged as well. Any one of the thousands who attended this year’s event on April 16 and 17 may have noticed that the Intrepid’s docks have seen better days. The point is, the docks need to be rebuilt, a project that may take a couple of years. And so, while the Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum will remain open to the public, we have to find a new venue for our beloved event. It’s a sad day for sure, but before things get too sentimental, let’s rehash the scene at Gotham ’05.
However, one level down in the hangar deck, the festivities were in full swing, with a host of vendors at visitors’ disposal. Down on the dock were more vendors hawking clothes, gear, artwork, chrome, engines, and, funnily enough, bikes. Among the characters represented in this venerable crowd were Bourget Bike Works, Precision Custom Cycle, and Dave Finn Motorcycles. New Jersey’s Big B had a number of bikes on display, including one that shot 20-foot flames from the exhaust pipes. “Stupidity at its finest,” proclaimed the B-Man. Keeping things lively and a little risqué with their ever-so-lovely mascots were the crews of both Mayhem Motorcycles and Ultimate Cycles. Bay Cycles of the Bronx was also on hand, showing off sportbikes with brilliant paint jobs inspired by none other than The Godfather. Bay Cycles also offered up a Road Star chopper that fooled even RoadBike Editor Jessica into thinking, at a glance, that it was an American V-twin.
As mentioned above, if you missed Gotham ’05, you might have blown your last opportunity to catch it at the Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum. But, with any luck, we’ll team up again at some point with our friends at that floating fortress and continue the party. In the meantime, future event details can be found at www.gothammc.com. And for those heading to this year’s Biketoberfest, make sure you’re at the Daytona Lagoon on Friday, October 21. That’s when we’ll be throwing the Biketober Motorcycle Classic. If you’re there, and memories of Gotham suddenly overwhelm you, please don’t get too sentimental. RB
The Winners List Editor’s Choice Most Unusual Metric Best Radical Custom Cruiser, Over 1100cc Winner Runner-Up Best Radical Custom Cruiser, 1100cc And Under Winner Runner-Up Best Mild Custom Cruiser Winner Runner-Up Best Sportbike Winner Runner-Up Best Restored Vintage Winner Runner-Up Best Custom Vintage, European Winner Runner-Up Best Custom Vintage, Japanese Winner Runner-Up |
Drenched in an unseasonably warm spring sun, this year’s show further cemented the Gotham Classic’s reputation as a New York tradition to rival only itself. As always, for the regular price of entry to the Intrepid, visitors not only got to check out the museum, but also the bike show and vendor area. Those who ventured up onto the flight deck of the monstrous aircraft carrier might have noticed the conspicuous lack of display bikes. Owing to a mechanical problem with the ship’s bomb elevator, no scoots could be hauled up on deck. 
Speaking of great-looking motorcycles, it was the bike show that really got the crowd charged. A number of amazing metric machines were there for everyone to ogle. Roaming amid the crowd, Editor J. and a handful of other eagle eyes scoped out the rides that would take home trophies. Only a masochist would have envied the judges, as the tight competition made decisions extremely difficult. 