AIMExpo Outdoors! Space to Host Demo Rides, Off-Road Experience

The inaugural American International Motorcycle Expo (AIMExpo) is just weeks away and promoter Marketplace Events Motorcycle Group today announced the details of AIMExpo Outdoors! The nearly 400,000 square-foot outdoor interactive and experiential space located on the grounds of Orlando’s Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) will feature a variety of activities throughout the five-day event geared towards trade, media and consumers.

The centerpiece of AIMExpo Outdoors! is the exclusive demo areas designated for testing the newest models. Off-road enthusiasts can enjoy key Suzuki ATV’s, while Yamaha will showcase its brand new Viking side-by-side (SxS). Additionally, KYMCO and Massimo Motors will feature a selection of its latest ATV’s and SxS’s. For the street, Yamaha will showcase its newly introduced 850cc FZ-09 triple by offering the product’s first public demo rides. Suzuki and KYMCO will also offer demo rides on select road bikes and scooters.

The AIMExpo Outdoors! Off-Road Demo Area was designed by AMA Hall of Fame member and former AMA Pro Grand National Champion racer Mike Kidd to let attendees operate the ATV’s and SxS units of participating manufacturers. The natural terrain layout is constructed to test the capabilities of these vehicles in a real world setting.

“We’re going to let folks get out there and have some fun in the environment for which these vehicles were intended,” said Kidd, a 12-time Grand National event winner. “This will be a one-of-a-kind experience for everyone who attends the event. I’m genuinely excited to be part of, literally, shaping change for the powersports industry that Marketplace Events is fostering.”

Click AIMExpo Outdoors Map to view a PDF map of the complete AIMExpo Outdoors demo area.

Adjacent to the Off-Road Demo Area, the AIMExpo Adventure Course will be available for consumers to operate their own street legal off-road bike. The feature, first of its kind for a major powersports expo, will include rocks, logs, off-camber turns, mud, and obstacles that riders of adventure bikes might encounter. The AIMExpo Adventure Course is the ideal way for riders to assess their skills while putting their bike’s performance to the test.

For those new to off-road powersports, the Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle Association, ATV Safety Foundation and Motorcycle Safety Foundation will be offering Introductory Experiences to initiate new riders to the basics of operating ROV’s, ATV’s and dirt bikes, respectively. The ROV Experience is for licensed participants age 16 and over, the ATV Experience is for riders age 6 and over, and the Dirt Bike experience is for youth ages 6-12, exclusively.

For those interested in on-road riding, the MSF will be offering its Introductory Motorcycle Experience. The three-hour program is designed to give new riders an opportunity to experience the operation of a motorcycle under the watchful eye of a certified RiderCoach. While not a full training program, the introduction guides participants through the basic controls and is a great way to see if motorcycling is for you.

Rounding out the fun at AIMExpo Outdoors! are a special Dynojet Shootout, presented by Cycle World, and special performances by one of the leading street freestyle teams in the world, Empire Freestyle. Achieving viral fame with their Motorcycle vs. Car Drift Battle video series, Empire’s incredibly talented duo of Ernie Vigil and Nick “Apex” Brocha will put on a breathtaking show, pushing the limits of high performance riding.

AIMExpo Outdoors! is a short walk from AIMExpo’s main exhibit hall located at the OCCC’s West Building. Shuttle transportation will be available throughout the event, operating from point-to-point between the main entrance, AIMExpo Outdoors! and the event’s host hotels.

Additionally, thanks to the support of AAA Motor Club, AIMExpo will offer FREE motorcycle parking, encouraging attendees to ride to the OCCC. Free motorcycle parking will be located just to the west of AIMExpo Outdoors!

The inaugural AIMExpo will be held on October 16-20, 2013 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. Consumer days are October 18-20.

For more information, visit the AIMExpoUSA.com web site, and keep up to date on the continued progress by visiting AIMExpo’s social media pages. “Like” the American International Motorcycle Expo on Facebook by visiting the AIMExpo page, and “Follow” on Twitter: @AIMExpo.

By Jon Langston