2024 Quail Motorcycle Gathering

The Quail rolls on

By John L. Stein and Margie Siegal
Updated on August 8, 2024
article image
courtesy of Kahn Media
Capturing Best of Show in the 2024 edition of California’s The Quail Motorcycle Gathering was Vic World’s 1968 Honda CB750 Factory Prototype.

The 2024 Quail Motorcycle Gathering, held May 4 in Carmel, California, was one for the record books. But this wasn’t due to the spectator turnout, the bikes, or other historic factors we’ve become accustomed to seeing at the annual springtime event. It was purely and simply the weather.

After a long and soggy winter, spring delivered an unexpected wet slap on the face to The Quail, arguably America’s best motorcycle show. If one had followed the forecast, they’d have been amazed that a spring squall would arrive exactly at the beginning of the event and depart right after. Nature’s perfect spoiler.

The aggregate result was attendance of just over 1,000 and a more modest field of bikes (both for understandable reasons), with many machines shielded by either covers or E-Z UP style tents. However, while gray skies predominated, there was a bright side to the day – at least philosophically. Indeed, the weather proved that the classic motorcycle scene and its enthusiasts are immensely durable.

Defining the 2024 event, the focus was on 10 traditional classes (e.g., antique, American, European, competition, custom, etc.), and four featured classes honoring the 30th anniversary of the Ducati 916, the 25th anniversary of Suzuki’s Hayabusa, the 100th anniversary of the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA), and Italy’s iconic Vespa scooter. Supercross champion Ricky Johnson was honored as a Legend of the Sport.

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