The Mama Tried Show is an extravaganza that I’ve been jonesing to visit for a few years now. I took the following from their website at mamatriedshow.com:
The Mama Tried Motorcycle Show is an indoor invitational that connects motorcycles and builders to fans and riders alike. Keeping the fire stoked all winter long. The show features over 100 motorcycles from builders of all calibers–flat-trackers, hill climber, chopper, and bar hopper.
This show was their 10th anniversary and is put on by Harley-Davidson. Harley goes’ all in on the show and I am sure has many of their scouts looking at what the trends are as usual. To me, one of the coolest traditions continued this year was the fact H-D picking up the tab on active-duty servicemen and women as well as veterans, giving them a free pass to the show. Thanks H-D, classy move. Saved me 15 bucks which I honestly wouldn’t have blinked an eye to pay considering the excitement I felt headed to this one.
I haven’t had the opportunity to visit many shows since moving to Illinois from Texas a couple of years ago but was determined this year to make a few shows.
This years show took place February 24-25th at The Rave/ Eagles Club in downtown Milwaukee. It’s not too difficult to find as it’s basically a street over from the freeway, maybe two. I woke up early that Saturday morning and layered up the best I could as the drive up from West of Chicago takes just under 2 hrs to get to Milwaukee. As The bike was warming up, and I finished a hot cup of coffee, I couldn’t help but already feel the sting of the cold air.
“You really think it’s a smart idea to ride that thing? Why not just take the truck or your Jeep,” my wife asked? The look on her face and her sweet demeaner just sharpened my resolve to get on the road. Between work, marriage, and basically life always throwing headaches my way I need something to numb my mind for a bit. This show would do it.
The thermometer in my garage read 45 degrees, but that’s indoors. Once outside the bike’s thermometer read 19 degrees and never got over 25 that day. One good thing about riding a full tourer, is you can hide behind the fairing and go much further than on a naked bike for sure. I do not have heated grips or heated gear, so I planned to take frequent breaks along the way to thaw out.
The ride took me almost 3 hours each way because of the weather. While the Twinkie’s 103 High Output motor rumbled through my Bassani 2 into 1 pipe, I hit a stretch on the highway where I didn’t have a radio playing and was just enjoying that Milwaukee -bred engine singing along the route. The colder air makes that Twin Cam run so well, It just feels stronger and more responsive to the throttle.
People would pass me and look at me like I was nuts, which I guess I am at times. My fingers hurt the most, and by the time I finally arrived in Milwaukee my toes and feet had become almost numb. I concentrated so hard on watching for ice along the way, I was ready for a nap by the time I crossed that state line for sure.
Once I arrived at the venue, the parking attendants were charging 20 bucks to park in the lots across from the venue. I got lucky though, as I made a lap around the block, and someone waved me into the gates and let me park near the vendor trailers inside the gated venue. I guess they figured since I rode, I deserved a break. I was amazed and it also eased my mind as I didn’t really want to park the bike too far from the venue in a sea of vehicles.
Once inside, the lighting is dark, and the venue is set up like a maze. As you wander from floor to floor, it’s almost hard to tell where the vendors stop and the show begins. You start seeing displays of choppers rollers, art displays, knives, parts, clothing, you name it. Once you make it to the show area, the ceiling opens up to a cathedral style ballroom and there in a sea of onlookers is the line up of bikes. The balconies are full of fans, builders, VIP stands, and there’s food and concessions on every level. It wasn’t long before I had a knife, a new chopper seat, and a Busch light in my hand. Like I said, this was my kind of place.
Walking between the aisles of bikes, it’s hard to take it all in…kind of like sensory overload. The place would be a nightmare for anyone with ADHD, that’s for sure. Between the people, the lines of bikes, the lighting, and the noise (it was loud inside), you had to make a plan to see what you wanted to see. I had several bikes I had seen on social media that I wanted to lay my eyes on in person, so that became mission number one.
The show is a combination of every kind of custom chopper you can imagine. These builders are extremely talented, and I was in awe half the time. I found myself getting lost among the bikes and took far too many pictures to share here but am giving you some of the best I saw.
“It’s cool but I bet he doesn’t ride it,” said one onlooker checking out a chromed beauty.
“Nah, man, he rides for sure. Check here where the chain’s been slapping the underside of the oil bag and it’s got nicks in the frame,” claimed his buddy. I find it’s the same at every show, someone always doubting, and someone else “in the know.”
I stopped by the H-D display and was surprised to hear they threw everything at these touring bikes on display. The Road Glide had a red windshield, red tinted headlight, custom H-D paint, new parts and accessories galore…a head turner. The Street Glide too…they’ve really spent money throwing their hat all the way into this Performance Bagger style. One thing is for sure, there wasn’t a bike in the show I wouldn’t love to swing a leg over.
There were a few non-Harley’s on the floor, and I was impressed with everything I saw that day. The people in the venue were as enthusiastic and friendly as any event I have ever been too and the show has a much different vibe than the shows I was used to in Texas.
To be honest, it felt like I had been transported back in time and was walking around a David Mann painting. The long hair, prison striped shirts and pants, beards, flannel, and plenty of that friendly Midwestern style and atmosphere. The builders were all very friendly and each of them spoke with you like you’d been friends for years. I’ve been to other shows and have had some of the bigger names treat me like I owed them money or something…these guys were totally different, almost chill. This is what I fell in love with when I first started riding over 20 years ago.
I must admit, this might be my favorite show I have ever attended, and I look forward to going back next year. By the time I made it home that afternoon, I already had ideas for my Sporty chop and ordered a set of 10” drag bars and was making plans to adjust her stance to resemble more closely a few of the bikes at that show.
