Scenes from Rockerbox

It was arguably one of the most visually arresting outdoor events (not counting the State Fair) you could have seen on Saturday.

One of the most remarkable things about Milwaukee’s Rockerbox Motofest, now in its seventh year, is not just the number of motorcycles and scooters that park along a five-block stretch of Center Street in the Riverwest area, but its lack of prejudice against things not Harley. Sure, those mean machines were represented. But to see bikes from Norton, Triumph, Honda, BMW, and so on is really a reminder of the scope of these riders’ love.

After the rains fell and cancelled other events, the tents around Fuel Cafe (owner Scott Johnson is the organizer) found representatives showing off a dirt bike that ran the salt flats at 131 mph, ironwork featuring skulls and tiki gods, food from Fuel, Stonefly, Centro Cafe, and Frank N Stein’s; even live music revved up. Then the cycles came, and kept coming. There was no stereotype of rider — men and women, young and old, tattooed and clean, all rode up. There was a featured show set, a 3-engine long rider, 50cc mini-bikes, and cycles with sidecars.

A photo gallery from noon to 3 p.m. (click on photo square for full frame):