BY BRENDAN BAKER EDITOR IN CHIEF

While 2024 marked the 10th edition of the annual powersports industry event , AIMExpo , which is quite a feat in itself , there have been several changes over the years . This year was my first Expo since 2019 , which was the last show held in Columbus , Ohio , before moving to Las Vegas for a more permanent stay .

AIMExpo tested the waters in Las Vegas in 2018 , but it was a stop-gap year with plans to go back to Ohio ( ala Chrissie Hynde / Pretenders ). Then came Covid , and we all know what happened after that . During the pandemic , the show would go on a hiatus for two years and reemerge as a trade-only event in Las Vegas in early 2022 .

As far as Expos go , the 1851 World ’ s Fair in Paris was the first known “ expo ” event , where visitors could find products and innovations showcasing France ’ s industrial progress alongside exhibitions of wonders from around the globe . President William McKinley once said , “ Expositions are the timekeepers of progress . They record the world ’ s advancement and open mighty storehouses of information .” This sentiment remains today in many modern tradeshows , which are part exposition and part trade fair akin to the trading events during the Middle Ages , as merchants flooded towns and villages to sell

CF Moto revealed three new machines at their booth , including a new ATV and a small adventure bike that looks like a baby KTM .

their goods . But powersports is a far cry from livestock and pottery .

I ’ ve always been a big supporter of AIM- Expo . I came into the industry just in time for the last Dealer Expo in Indianapolis when Larry Little and Mike Webster held meetings to plan the future of the next big industry show . I bought into their vision at the time .

Is it fair to even compare Dealer Expo to AIMExpo ? No , probably not . Dealer Expo rode the peak of the powersports industry in the late ’ 90s and early 2000s and went

Moto Morini had good traffic at their booth for its sportbike reveal , a new

749cc Corsaro Sport V-twin .

away after it began sliding and needed resuscitation . AIMExpo promised a new way of doing business with exhibitors and included a consumer component ( for a while ). The plan was to model the event after EICMA , which is immensely popular in motorcycle-crazed Italy and is the defacto center of the universe for most things moto-related globally ( especially in Europe ), but it ’ s not the U . S . market . We do a lot more off-road riding and dedicate a significant segment for ATVs and UTVs , a segment that rivals motorcycles today . We don ’ t do much commuting ( even though we should ), and the scooter segment is a tiny niche market . So it makes sense that we have our own Expo . But I think the reality is setting in after ten years – the show is the size it will be and not much more . And that ’ s okay .

By most accounts , the 2024 AIMExpo was a success , with a few blips along the way . According to show organizers , 1,908 dealers showed up at some point during the event , representing 903 dealerships . That ’ s a 14 % increase over last year and arguably one of the better turnouts since before the pandemic . But we can ’ t help but point out that the halls were mostly filled with blue badges talking with other blue badges ( exhibitors ).

The coveted red badge ( dealers ) was like seeing a bald eagle in the wild – at certain times . Not to say that these numbers are

See AIMExpo , Page 4

13 Evolving the digital retail experience for online shoppers

14 Dealer shares startup journey as he readies for retirement 16 BMW reveals 2024 F motorcycle models 17 Ducati reveals Desmo450 MX prototype

18 Kawasaki reveals Ridge UTV

20 Dealers prioritize work-life balance 22 PSB shares 2023 Women With Spark winners

27 Yamaha Outdoor Access Initiative awards grants to advance e-bike trails

27 Polaris releases commercial 2025 Pro XD Kinetic UTV

28 Hot Products 29 Parts Unlimited , Drag Specialties NVP

Product Expo recap

30 Snow Goer tests 2025 MXZ X-RS 850 with RAS RX

30 Loni Unser to run Maverick R in Mint 400