London Bike Show

Doran · 7 Jan 2009 at 10:03

I am thinking of going.

Anyone else been before/going this year?

What is it like?

Cheers

RiPz · 7 Jan 2009 at 10:40

is this the Excel bike show - run by MCN ?

i'd like to go, but its in london, and i hate london.

one thing i dont like about going to shows like this is i always get tempted to spend money at the trade stands.

Flukester · 7 Jan 2009 at 10:45

I'd want a new bike and missus would kill me...

currently only one that I'd consider is a 08 blade, and would then have to start the mods all over again

gonna hang on another 18months or so till I can find something with a real step up in power

(I want 200bhp at crank stock)

Fireskull · 7 Jan 2009 at 10:56

Naaa the Excel show is usually crap, will wait untill the Ally pally bike show show

Doran · 7 Jan 2009 at 11:25

How is Ally Pally different?

Doran · 7 Jan 2009 at 11:26

In fact, can someone recommend me any general bike events this year?

Fireskull · 7 Jan 2009 at 11:42

Well the Ally Pally show was the london show before it went to excel, everyone just prefered the layout at Ally pally, the sales were better etc, but it hasnt been there for years so dont know what its going to be like, cant be any worse than excel though

Fireskull · 7 Jan 2009 at 11:42

What do you mean by bike events? ones where you can look at bikes and buy stuff?

Doran · 7 Jan 2009 at 11:48

Fireskull said:
What do you mean by bike events? ones where you can look at bikes and buy stuff?

No, because I won't be doing that for ages.

Races -or bike related performances.

Fireskull · 7 Jan 2009 at 11:54

Well there are loads of club racing events every month at various tracks, check your nearest tracks calendar, then you have the big races like British Superbikes, World Superbikes at Donnington and Brands Hatch and MotoGP at Donnington.

Theres normally a bike show at Beaulieu (Hampshire) but apparently thats not happening this year :/ thats always good to see new and old bikes being shown off.

Doran · 7 Jan 2009 at 12:09

Hmm, Its time like this where it is annoying living in London...

Fireskull · 7 Jan 2009 at 12:13

There are lots of meets at Ace Caf to see bikes.

Brands is close and theres loads of club meets there.

Castle Coombe, Thruxton, Silverstone are all withing a decent drive.

Sagalout · 7 Jan 2009 at 14:32

I went to the NEC last month and for the first time ever I didn't come away wanting to change my bike.

Just nothing new that interests me at the moment. All the sportsbikes are just generic looking 'top trumps' types, the nakeds are starting to go down the same route and the adv sports havent had any big changes or releases in the past year (apart from the Moto Morini but that wasnt at the NEC)

Only bike mildly interesting was the RC8 - I was amazed at how comfy it was compared to my old GSXR K5. BMW are the other manufacturer that had some interesting stuff - the new 800 naked bike looks ok, as well as the HP2 obviously.

Doran · 7 Jan 2009 at 14:46

Do you get to sit on the bikes?

Fireskull · 7 Jan 2009 at 14:47

Class 04 said:
Do you get to sit on the bikes?

95% of them yes.

Doran · 7 Jan 2009 at 15:29

Fireskull said:
95% of them yes.

But presumably its ridiculously busy?

Fireskull · 7 Jan 2009 at 15:42

Class 04 said:
But presumably its ridiculously busy?

No not always, the just released bikes are slobbered over and you may have to wait for other people to get off but usually its not too bad, a big tip is to not go to these events on a weekend though

You cant sit on any of the race bikes either, but what you can and cant sit on is obvious, dont go over the railings

MoNkeE · 7 Jan 2009 at 15:56

But I thought you didn't see the point in high performance bikes? :S

Doran · 7 Jan 2009 at 17:16

MoNkeE said:
But I thought you didn't see the point in high performance bikes? :S

At this point I can but dream.

And I am really curious as to the difference in seating positon between a street and sports.

Doran · 7 Jan 2009 at 17:22

Fireskull said:
No not always, the just released bikes are slobbered over and you may have to wait for other people to get off but usually its not too bad, a big tip is to not go to these events on a weekend though

You cant sit on any of the race bikes either, but what you can and cant sit on is obvious, dont go over the railings

Cool - might get the ticket for a tenner on the Friday then. In a seminar until 1.20, so will have the afternoon only.