With beers in hand, motorcycle enthusiasts — most dressed in leather — perused custom bikes, leather vests and used parts, either hoping to score a good deal, or just to hang out with like-minded individuals.
The atmosphere held some tension this year at the 40th annual Colorado Motorcycle Expo, which resumed Saturday at the National Western Complex after being canceled last year due to gang activity the year before.
This year, safety is on the forefront of everyone’s minds. During the 2016 expo the Mongols and Iron Order fought with fists, knives and guns leaving one dead and seven others wounded.
“Things are going really well this year and we’re really happy,” Lt. Clifford Carney of the Denver Police Department said while observing one of the front entrances.
Jason Winters, owner of J’s Custom Works, is a long-time vendor and was present for the brawl.
“They actually dragged the people through my booth,” he said. “And I was just like, ‘great.’”
Colorado Motorcycle Expo owners Jeff and Angie Brown beefed up security this year, and vendors and attendees were wanded by metal detectors.
“I think itap been good,” Angie Brown said. “Most of the vendors are happy to be back.”
The precautions taken have put Winters’s mind at ease.
“I feel totally comfortable,” he said. “The security’s been great. I love that they checked everybody as they were coming in, including vendors.”
Some people, however, apparently decided itap better safe than sorry, and stayed home instead. Both Winters and Carney reported the turnout has been on the slow side.
“There’s a lot of people, but there’s not a lot of people,” Winters said. “Usually this place is packed.”
The stigma tied to the event didn’t scare away Mike Solis, however, who stopped in to buy new accessories for his silver Dyna low rider.
“You always want to do stuff to kind of make it yours and your style and what you like,” Solis, who’s been riding since he was 13, said while browsing the used parts section of the expo. “I think that’s what it’s about.”
But not everyone was purchasing bike parts, leather, and beer. Some stopped for an impromptu haircut at a mobile barbershop dedicated to giving people a unique grooming experience.
“Itap hot girls, haircuts, and beer, basically,” said Elizabeth Same, marketing manager for Saloon Cuts. “We really wanted to cater to people who get their hands dirty.”
When asked about how the business came to be a man yelled, “because men are pigs and we need haircuts!”
The decorated trailer also offers haircuts for women. The barbershop had a line out the door, mostly consisting of men taking advantage of the convenient opportunity.
Kayla Fitz also shopped for things she didn’t know she needed.
“I just wanted to look to see what all is out there,” Fitz said while gawking at the custom bikes on display. “Then you always see something fun and new that you end up getting — that you don’t need.”
Fitz, who bought her first bike 18 years ago, said her favorite part about riding is, “just being in the wind.”
“I just had friends that rode so I started riding too,” she said. “Until you get some miles under you it can be intimidating but the number one thing that I think is important is that you take the motorcycle safety course.”
The expo continues 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at the National Western Complex, 4655 Humboldt St. Tickets cost $15.
