INDUSTRY INFOBITES

ECUADOR OPENS FOR MOTORCYCLE TOURISM

Which places are now open for motorcycle tourism, and can you plan your next fly-and-ride? In places, the pandemic is far from over, but little by little, countries around the world are opening up for tourism. In Europe, travel came back for the summer with countries like Italy and Croatia inviting visitors without restrictions; currently, South Africa is opening borders, too, and in South America, Ecuador is back in business: with a negative COVID test, you can now fly and ride Ecuador.

According to Court Rand, founder of Ecuador Freedom motorcycle tours (www.freedombikerental.com) company in Quito, Ecuador, moto adventures on the equator are back on the menu. “You need a negative COVID test taken ten days or less before arriving in Ecuador, but no quarantine is re-

quired. Ecuador has earned the #SafeTravels certificate from the World Travel Tourism Council for implementing safe biosecurity standards in all its tourism infrastructure. The hotels and sites are rolling out the red carpet. Ecuador has always given visitors a warm welcome and that welcome has now stepped up to a whole new level” , Rand said. While the company has faced some challenges during the peak of the Coronavirus pandemic, Ecuador Freedom took the time to renew its large motorcycle fleet, renovate the workshop, and get ready to receive motorcycle travelers thirsty for a South American adventure. “Due to uncertainty, we’ ve made our reservation policy 100% flexible. Any reservation can change the dates if your travel changes due to Coronavirus throughout 2021. Many airlines like American Airlines have similar policies now of no change fees. Even if you ’re not planning to ride Ecuador in the next few months, making long-term travel plans right now can feel like a new adventure is on the horizon, and here in Ecuador, we’re ready to roll! In addition to remodeling our maintenance center, we have pulled every single bike we have apart spending 2 days per bike, and our fleet has never been more adventure-ready. We have been renting motorcycles to pilots and airline employees, and we had our first self-guided tour customers this past week. They had a blast and experienced such great welcomes. They didn’t want to leave” , Rand shared.

WHY DON’T WE TAKE THIS OUTDOORS

The Progressive® International Motorcycle Shows® (IMS), the industry leader for connecting powersports’ top brands with enthusiasts and buyers, announced Progressive IMS Outdoors, the only program available for manufacturers and brands to reach both new and existing riders in exciting, interactive, central locations. Backed by IMS’ title sponsor of ten years Progressive Insurance, Progressive IMS Outdoors represents the revamp of the tour’s nearly 40-year stint that will not only transition IMS from the traditional convention center setup to a new open outdoor experience but will also create a festival-like atmosphere that promotes enthusiasts of all ages and levels to come together to better engage with products, each other, and the industry. While continuing its presence as the nation’s largest consumer

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motorcycle tour, Progressive IMS Outdoors will support the growth of the powersports community by offering a unique experience the industry has yet to see. Commencing during the summer of 2021, Progressive IMS Outdoors will stop in a number of cities across the U.S. bringing powersports enthusiasts multiple days of entertainment, learning, and interactive activities. In addition to showcasing the latest street bikes, dirt bikes, cruisers, scooters, and ATVs as well as the latest gear and aftermarket accessories, the new outdoor format will feature market adjacent products from micro-mobility to electric bicycles, overland and RV products, and more, thus welcoming potential and qualified riders into the industry. Attendees can also expect the remodeled tour to be more interactive than ever with an array of on-road and off-road demo opportunities for all ages and riding abilities, including the continuation of the successful Discover the Ride program. The reimagined tour, which has been five years in the making, comes at a perfect time as 2020 has seen off-road product sales soar. Dates and locations for Progressive IMS Outdoors will be announced in December. As Progressive IMS Outdoors is an evolution of IMS’ traditional tour, the shows traditionally held in various cities from November through February will not take place this year. To stay connected with the world of motorcycling, powersports, and all things two-wheeled conveyance, check out ContinueTheRide.com, IMS’ platform that hosts a slate of digital content all designed to reach and support the industry. For more information, please visit: www.outdoors.motorcycleshows.com.

CHANGES HANDS AND MOVES EAST

The first organized motorcycle sport-touring event format, The Motomarathon, has changed owners. Founder John Metzger has turned over the reins to long-time associate, Routemaster and veteran motor officer John Bossolt. The Motomarathon Association moves from the Colorado Rockies to the New York Adirondacks, and will retain its original format developed over more than 30 years of organized group riding that compresses as many twisty scenic roads as possible into a 4-day motorcycle sport-touring ride. Motomarathons have been run in virtually every popular riding area in America, from the Rocky Mountains to the California Coastal Ranges and Pacific Northwest, from the Ozarks to the Great Smokies, and from the Great Lakes to New England. Routes are designed by local experts and kept secret until the evening before each day ’s ride. Participants complete a series of self-recorded checkpoints, photographing their badge numbers at designated landmarks to validate their completion of the route. These checkpoints are recorded by the Motomarathon Association for event, annual and lifetime standings. After a Coronavirus-induced hiatus, the next event will be held in the New York State Adirondacks region June 1-4, 2021, and a second event later in the 2021 season, further south in the Great Smoky Mountains. “The pandemic is forcing a recreational revolution, ” said Metzger. “Crowd-based pastimes have been upended, and long-distance motorcycle sport-touring may be one of the purest forms of individual recreation that can be shared with others, but with virtually zero contact. More than ever, Motomarathon is the best vacation, and no one is better qualified to take over the Association than John Bossolt. ” For more info, see Motomarathon on Facebook or contact John Bossolt, (973) 951-7606 or, John Metzger, john@metzger.com, 303-641-1062.

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