The "One Motorcycle Show" - A Different Kind Of Motorcycle Show

Troy Siahaan
by Troy Siahaan

Who says a motorcycle show has to contain Concours-level machinery? Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and the 2012 One Motorcycle Show, sponsored by Bell, celebrates motorcycling in a rather unusual way.

What sets the One Motorcycle Show apart from the rest is the variety of bikes and owners that participate. Held in Portland, Oregon every February, the One Motorcycle Show is perhaps the only custom show in the world that embraces the imperfect. It’s about the essence—motorcycles that are custom but not precious. Stripped down and built back up, but probably not the way the factory intended.

You’ve got your typical cruisers, cafe racers, sportbikes and racebikes — both modern and vintage — but the real show stoppers are the custom bikes that blend the different categories into one. From rat-rod cruisers built from old Hondas to Roland Sand’s 500cc two-stroke supermoto-turned-cafe-racer, every machine at the show exudes cool without being over the top.

A new category at this year’s show is the custom helmet display. Despite most modern helmets already having custom graphic options, this display is really about showcasing individual talent and personalization. Whether it’s going crazy with gold flake and air brushing, or simply drawing with a Sharpie, the One Show is all about riders, from riders, for riders.

If it isn’t already, the One Motorcycle Show should be on your list of moto events to attend next year. In the meantime, check out the highlights from this year’s show in the video below.

Troy Siahaan
Troy Siahaan

Troy's been riding motorcycles and writing about them since 2006, getting his start at Rider Magazine. From there, he moved to Sport Rider Magazine before finally landing at Motorcycle.com in 2011. A lifelong gearhead who didn't fully immerse himself in motorcycles until his teenage years, Troy's interests have always been in technology, performance, and going fast. Naturally, racing was the perfect avenue to combine all three. Troy has been racing nearly as long as he's been riding and has competed at the AMA national level. He's also won multiple club races throughout the country, culminating in a Utah Sport Bike Association championship in 2011. He has been invited as a guest instructor for the Yamaha Champions Riding School, and when he's not out riding, he's either wrenching on bikes or watching MotoGP.

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