Motorcycle Live 2026

[LunarOne]

Motorcycle Live 21 - 29 November 2026, NEC Birmingham
https://www.motorcyclelive.co.uk

Anyone going? I haven't been to a bike show since the London Bike show at Excel in 2016. It was a good day out but I've heard that these shows are not what they used to be and that many of the smaller exhibitors aren't present. I'll probably still go though as I need a new helmet and am looking for some other gear. If I go I'd likely be by car for ease of carrying swag.

[Condi]

I went last year, first time to a bike show in years and was really impressed. Lots of stuff going on. Apparently got very busy at the weekend but during the week it was fine. Plenty of opportunity to sit on bikes or talk to stall holders. Will be going again this year most likely.

[arandomstranger]

Nope...stopped going about 5 years ago. Expensive parking, extremely expensive tickets, expensive food...but we did start taking a packed lunch for the last few years. No bargains, and nothing particularly interesting to see that you can't see for free at a dealer.

Edited by arandomstranger on Thursday 8th October 22:30

[warnie]

Great day out still imo. I'll be going to collect my new er..spada rucksack

[Fastchas]

arandomstranger said:

Nope...stopped going about 5 years ago. Expensive parking, extremely expensive tickets, expensive food...but we did start taking a packed lunch for the last few years. No bargains, and nothing particularly interesting to see that you can't see for free at a dealer.

Edited by arandomstranger on Thursday 8th October 22:30

I last went 20 years ago because of these very reasons. It seems everyone's out to rape your wallet.

[mobile chicane22]

Went last year very meh imo no deals on bike gear that couldn’t be had from the normal outlets, stalls selling re packaged Ali express stuff with silly mark ups.

The normal selection of non motorbike stalls selling tat

Some interesting bikes

[Inspire]

I’ll be going. It is expensive, particularly the car parking but I do enjoy it each year. If you want to test ride a bike, you need to get there early and, basically, run to the relevant area!

Thanks

Rob

[Condi]

Fastchas said:

I last went 20 years ago because of these very reasons. It seems everyone's out to rape your wallet.

Honestly, what else were you expecting? Like, I really don't understand, obviously stall holders and exhibitors are there to sell stuff having paid probably quite a bit of money to attend the show.

In some cases last year it felt the exact opposite, especially the bike manufacturers. Talking to the Honda guy he said because it was Honda themselves running the stand and not a dealer he wasn't there to push sales or take leads, but simply to let people look at the bikes and ask questions. The other big manufacturers seemed similar. You couldn't have bought one if you'd wanted to.

[hondajack85]

All the bike makers need to ask if they can put a free exhibition on in Hyde Park. Put up some circus tents and display their bike range.
They can have jugglers and gloves sellers, Haslam from BSB etc etc.
You get the people you want to see the bikes not a lot of well off people ticking off another function they attended.
Charging people a lot to look at the thing you want them to buy seems wrong.
Like Lidl charging you £10 to get in the shop to buy your groceries.

[LunarOne]

hondajack85 said:

Like Lidl charging you £10 to get in the shop to buy your groceries.

Isn't that what Costco do? And yet people shop there in droves. I've never understood it!