Hot bikes headed to downtown Jefferson City

Jefferson City has been chosen as one of the five stops on the Geico Motorcycle Hot Bike Tour.

The tour will start in Joplin and end in Wisconsin Dells spanning over 1,000 miles, according to a press release. Jefferson City is the second stop on the tour, and this is the tour's second year, but the first time for the city to host it, said Chris Wilson, of the Jefferson City Convention and Visitors Bureau.

"I am just looking forward to when everything gets set up and all the motorcycles are lined along High Street," Wilson said. "There have been months and months and months of preparation to figure everything out and it will be nice to see the final plan coming together and working well in a organized fashion. If things go well we hope to be future stop on the next Hot Bike Tour."

The event will be in the downtown area starting 1 p.m. Sunday. Other than motorcycles, attendees can see a live performance by the band Five Turn Knot, motorcycle shows that include live stunt performances, and the end results of a biker build-off with 24 contestants.

"It will be great to see what they come up with," said Matthew Louck, media relations for the tour. "A lot of times custom builders get the reputation of that is a good looking bike, but it is not functional. These builders have to prove it is road-worthy as well, and they have to ride (their bike entry) to all five cities to be eligible for the competition."

Each city on the tour will vote for a winner, so there can potentially be five different winners to the build off. The contest is called the Invitational Hot Bike and Baggers Bike Build-Off and is sponsored by Sailor Jerry. All riders and spectators will be able to vote for the contest victor.

"There is a good population of motorcycle enthusiasts in the area, based off of Hot Bike magazine readers," Louck said. "Also we were able to have the event in a downtown location in a beautiful city and it made for the perfect scenario. We can't wait to get there."

There will also be a "ride-in" bike show for riders in the area to compete against each other. Judges from the Hot Bike magazine will give awards to local riders in multiple categories such as best custom paint or best engine. The cost for contest registration is $25.

During the event there will be two ghost tours of the Missouri State Penitentiary offered at a discounted price. There will also be prize giveaways, a tattoo contest and a chance to meet the magazine staff on the main stage.

"It is just a really cool thing, there are going to be hundreds of bikes from all over," Louck said. "I think it is a great and free spectator event. There are not any costs involved, and you don't have to have a bike to come down and enjoy the festivities."

Parking will not be available on High Street from Jefferson to a portion of the 300 block of High Street, and on Madison Street from High Street to Commercial Avenue. For more information on the event, visit hotbikeweb.com/tour.