www.acem.eu #29 October 2011 News from the Motorcycle Industry in Europe

[NEWS]

Motorcycle Roadshows in Germany

IVM organised the biggest motorcycle test drive in the world attracting thousands of soon-to-be riders

Newcomers, born again riders and active users. This is the target group of IVM's Viva La Mopped Roadshow, a public event aiming at encouraging more users to take to Powered Two-Whelers not only for their mobility needs but also for leisure and tourism.

The partneship between IVM and Gamescon in Cologne, the videogame trade show, aims at reaching a new user group which is potentially interested by this transport mode. "By allowing participants to test a very ample variety of vehicles - eg. touring bikes, cruisers, classic bikes or sport bikes - our goal is to help to sell more motorcycles" said Reiner Brendicke, IVM's managing Director.

Over 3,000 riders visited "Viva la Mopped" in Cologne. One of the keys to this success was "Driving Without a License", a scheme allowing newbies to try out scooters closely followed by experienced motorcyle trainers. The choice of vehicles was astonishing with over 150 motorcycles and scooters free to test, either on dedicated tracks of on the surrounding roads. 15 brands represented the largest multi-brand motorcycle and scooter test ride in the world.

Viva La Mopped then moved to Hamburg for a second rehearsal. There fifteen instructors managed approximately 2,000 test drives (while in Cologne there had been 1,400) covering a total distance equivalent to the circumference of the earth, about 42,000 kilometres. Of the many visitors to the Viva la Mopped Roadshow in Hamburg about 500 have registered for test rides trying out an average of four bikes each.

IVM carried out a survey which revealed enthusiastic remarks coming from everyone, be it beginner riders, born again riders or “old hands” who came on their own bikes: the predominant A+ and B+ grades referred to the traffic flow and route selection in spite of being right in the city centre and the very competent and friendly manufacturers' representatives, who offered technical briefings and of course the obligatory motorcycle talk.

The only negative remark referred to “the blazing heat of the sun on the whole course”. The following excerpts provide a good sample of the survey: “What was super?” - “The offer, people, the atmosphere”; “What would you change about the roadshow?” – “Nothing.”

All respondents answered the final question, "Are you coming back?" with a resounding "yes."



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