MCN London bike show

The_Abyss · 17 Feb 2018 at 20:21

Popped in to town today for the show. It was ok, given that there were no real new models on display, but just seemed a little small. Aprilia had just one bike there! Certainly well-attended though, although I do have a minor gripe about that - one in ten people seem to this they're the next YouTube star, and you can't move for someone walking into you while doing a running commentary to their phone or camera. Perhaps I'm getting old.

Anyway, some lovely bikes on display, and below is a selection of them. To my surprise, I rather liked the Ducati Scrambler - more comfortable seating position than the R Nine T, and quality of finish and parts seemed comparable. I'm going to book a test ride once the weather improves.

A special mention for the new Panigale V4 though. It does look fantastic, although the packaging of components looks a little overdone to try and keep the size where it is. And that seating position? Even if it was a bike I thought I'd like to own, at 6'1" I doubt I could ride it for very long - one of the most uncomfortable bikes I've ever sat on. I'd still love a test ride, but it would be a short one!

@Kreeeee - bear with me for the KTM 790 pics and a short video.

Scuzi · 17 Feb 2018 at 20:27

I really don’t get the fascination with street scramblers. Take an interesting and capable looking bike and put crap knobbly tyres on it. Great idea if you’re 52, have a fashionable beard, topknot and tattoo sleeves. For everyone else though...

Is that Brough as big as it looks? :eek:

The_Abyss · 17 Feb 2018 at 20:31

And, just for @Kreeeee, a few of the KTM 790.

Kreeeee · 17 Feb 2018 at 20:39

Looking forward to the report

The_Abyss · 17 Feb 2018 at 20:42

Scuzi said:
I really don’t get the fascination with street scramblers. Take an interesting and capable looking bike and put crap knobbly tyres on it. Great idea if you’re 52, have a fashionable beard, topknot and tattoo sleeves. For everyone else though...

Is that Brough as big as it looks?

Agreed - I do prefer the road tyres. But I like the actual bikes themselves - they're very comfortable.

The Brough looks fantastic - it is big but probably not quite as big as it looks there. Certainly more presence than you'd think for the engine.

The_Abyss · 17 Feb 2018 at 20:45

Kreeeee said:
Looking forward to the report

It has a fairly comfortable riding position - I think I'm just on the limit at 6'1" and anyone shorter would probably feel better on it. I do think the component quality leaves something to be desired - plastics always feel a bit cheap to me but they're sturdy. The TFT display is nice but it is smaller and scaled down from the ones on the 1290 - I think they would have been better fitting the same size. If that sounds negative, it shouldn't be. Everything on the bike is in proportion to what the bike is. The headlight is smaller but it all just looks right. Definitely worth you getting a test ride just based on the looks and feel alone.

I don't think I can offer much more than that from a quick sit and observe of a static bike.

Kreeeee · 17 Feb 2018 at 20:58

The_Abyss said:
It has a fairly comfortable riding position - I think I'm just on the limit at 6'1" and anyone shorter would probably feel better on it. I do think the component quality leaves something to be desired - plastics always feel a bit cheap to me but they're sturdy. The TFT display is nice but it is smaller and scaled down from the ones on the 1290 - I think they would have been better fitting the same size. If that sounds negative, it shouldn't be. Everything on the bike is in proportion to what the bike is. The headlight is smaller but it all just looks right. Definitely worth you getting a test ride just based on the looks and feel alone.

I don't think I can offer much more than that from a quick sit and observe of a static bike.

Thanks a lot. I may be buying a bike on Monday so I was looking to see if it was worth holding out for the 790 and potentially missing out on a bargain.

If everything feels a bit cheap then I imagine that will be the same with the brakes and suspension too.

The_Abyss · 17 Feb 2018 at 21:03

To be fair, I also found the 1290 a bit cheap and flimsy too when I tested one last year. I’m probably just used to the more industrial approach taken by BMW.

HoneyBadger · 17 Feb 2018 at 22:53

I love the look of that that Brough SS100.

Diddums · 18 Feb 2018 at 00:15

The Brough is is pure filth :eek:

£45k though. It's nice, but not £45k nice.

BUDFORCE · 18 Feb 2018 at 07:01

My dad has a Ducati scrambler icon, got road tires, and yes he is 50 something (56 I think?) Anyway, he thinks it's a great bike and he's had a few. I've sat on it but not ridden, feels soooooo light, because whatever weight it has is low down.

Kreeeee · 18 Feb 2018 at 09:11

BUDFORCE said:
My dad has a Ducati scrambler icon, got road tires, and yes he is 50 something (56 I think?) Anyway, he thinks it's a great bike and he's had a few. I've sat on it but not ridden, feels soooooo light, because whatever weight it has is low down.

They're light at 170kg.

Scuzi · 18 Feb 2018 at 11:39

BUDFORCE said:
My dad has a Ducati scrambler icon, got road tires, and yes he is 50 something (56 I think?) Anyway, he thinks it's a great bike and he's had a few. I've sat on it but not ridden, feels soooooo light, because whatever weight it has is low down.

I would sell a kidney for one as long as it didn’t have Conti TKC 80s!

The new CCM range with the BMW/Husky 600 single look great too.

Kreeeee · 18 Feb 2018 at 12:03

I really like the scrambler, I'd get one as a second bike if I rode frequently enough.

Col_M · 18 Feb 2018 at 20:05

This made me laugh