Las Vegas Bikefest

The new home is a great fit!

For the first time in its 15-year run, Las Vegas Bikefest was held this year downtown on Fremont Street – and we hope it’s found a home. The rally took place around and inside the vintage-style Western Hotel just a few blocks from the Fremont Street Experience and host hotels. There’s an “Old Vegas” vibe here that dovetails perfectly with a bike rally. It just fits.

The year round party 24/7 party on Fremont Street requires no input; it just happens. So when you add in Bikefest events like one-off custom bikes at Artistry in Iron, headliner concerts, Victory and Indian demo rides, and appearances by Sons of Anarchy stars, the energy really ramps up.

This part of downtown Vegas has made great strides in recent years, gaining ground by turning seedy to scene-worthy. The city’s Container Park, a collection of shipping containers connected by walkways and filled with eateries and shops, is between the rally site and Fremont Street’s lightshow canopy expanding the to-do list with more fun choices. Yes, Bikefest organizers hit the mark; the timing was right to move the rally.

That’s not to say everything was perfect – show managers say the layout and floor plan are already being tweaked for next year. But with most of the vendors outside along with the stages and bike shows the event felt more cohesive. In counterpoint, the Artistry in Iron show was inside the Western Hotel’s main floor offering a break from the sun and the opportunity to peruse the builder’s creations while sipping a cold beverage.

Top honors in Artistry in Iron went to Jeremy Cupp of L.C. Fabrications for his hybrid Buell build. In this peer-judged show, where the winner is chosen by the builders themselves, it must be especially gratifying to take the top place. Cupp was clearly overwhelmed by the honor and accepted graciously. Thanks to Paughco and Metal Rescue, additional prizes were offered to second and third place winners for the first time. Editors Choice awards were also conferred in an effort to give more builders their due.

Iron Trader News was on site to cover the event so take a look at the images to get a sense of how it went. Then make plans to come next year to experience it for yourself.