NEC Motorcycle live 2017
Discussion
Blackpuddin said:
Nearly twenty quid to get in? They're having a laugh.
I went to the classic car show there a week or two ago, £25 to get in. Plus £12 to park the car for two hours! I shall be taking the train this time, can’t be bothered schlepping around in my bike gear for several hours just to get free parking.
Not that I plan on going to this show, but used to a good few years ago and it had moved on then. It’s not a market stall with Delboy selling stuff off cheap, it’s a professional operation for manufacturers to show off next years bikes in the flesh alongside other bike related companies showing off their wares.
Quite why people think it’s still 1970 and the Internet doesn’t exist is beyond me. eBay is the place for the deals all year round if that’s what you want.
Quite why people think it’s still 1970 and the Internet doesn’t exist is beyond me. eBay is the place for the deals all year round if that’s what you want.
knitware said:
CCM have some really good looking bikes, although I've yet to read a review, and Brough are quite special and whilst I'm not sure I understand the bikes I do appreciate the craftsmanship involved.
The detail on the Broughs was very poor I thought. The machining on the engine casings and particularly the barrels where the black coating was applied was not good. The buttons stuck in the milled switch gear housing. The welding on the exhaust hangers. As you can tell I wasn't impressed. I like milled parts as much as the next bloke but if they're not done properly what is the point.
Was also disappointed with the new Z900 in the flesh.
Edited by gregs656 on Monday 20th November 18:30
Edited by gregs656 on Monday 20th November 18:31
gregs656 said:
Was also disappointed with the new Z900 in the flesh.
I only got 10 minutes to look around, but I was a bit disappointed by the Z900 as well, it looked nicer in the photos than the flesh. I'll probably go back next weekend to have a proper nose around, but only because I can get in for free.Andybow said:
You can sit on the s model
You could, can sit on the S, I couldn't get near it though, I wanted to have a sit although the local dealer should be getting one in next month, I've arranged for a ride weather permitting! The Speciale had plenty of room around it but not for sitting on, although I did poke bits.Interesting comment about the Brough, I thought some of the parts looked excellent but the stitch gear was odd and a bit rubbish, almost trying too hard to be special but not quite in the right way.
The Norton, pictured previously, although a little tubby had some great details. Polished alloy casings, carbon trim and lovely chrome clock housings and lights but what detracted from that were the plastic indicators. Perhaps a small detail but against the rest of the bike it looked wrong and because of the rest of the bike, that small detail stood out.
kingb said:
Went yesterday and was fairly impressed. General themes
Less clothing sales places - and seemingly less selling the higher end gear - all shark helmets rather than the premium arai/Shoei (not that shark are bad but I still don’t think premium!)
Less motorbike gadgets and oddity stands - shame imo as there are often some good bits and bobs that I wasn’t aware of for the joke or garage!
That's all because the stands are horrendously expensive now. Lots of small companies I spoke to last year said it was getting much too expensive - they have been priced out of it. Even the very smallest stand is about £6K (and then you have 10 days of hotels to pay for etc. etc.)Less clothing sales places - and seemingly less selling the higher end gear - all shark helmets rather than the premium arai/Shoei (not that shark are bad but I still don’t think premium!)
Less motorbike gadgets and oddity stands - shame imo as there are often some good bits and bobs that I wasn’t aware of for the joke or garage!
Anyone selling gear at these shows has to hand over a percentage of their takings as well so they can't afford to discount as much as you'd hope & they have to sell boatloads of stuff to make it worth doing in the first place.
Wombat3 said:
That's all because the stands are horrendously expensive now. Lots of small companies I spoke to last year said it was getting much too expensive - they have been priced out of it. Even the very smallest stand is about £6K (and then you have 10 days of hotels to pay for etc. etc.)
Anyone selling gear at these shows has to hand over a percentage of their takings as well so they can't afford to discount as much as you'd hope & they have to sell boatloads of stuff to make it worth doing in the first place.
You should hear what the machine tool exhibitors at the MACH shows have to say about the NEC and their staff!Anyone selling gear at these shows has to hand over a percentage of their takings as well so they can't afford to discount as much as you'd hope & they have to sell boatloads of stuff to make it worth doing in the first place.
I'm surprised someone high up in the NEC management hasn't been 'invited' to re-enact the James Bond/Goldfinger industrial laser scene by now.
Edited by Tango13 on Monday 20th November 23:17
Enjoyable day, rode up on the AT and now it is covered in s
t
Met with Honda to talk about our Honda experience, loads of freebies and also offer of 30% off Honda at the stand so bought the adventure jacket. Really good jacket and very warm. Also bought the Scorpion can for £250 which was a £60 saving.
Loved the CCM and the Tenere 700 enduro. Also had a great laugh watching some KTM and Africa twins go around this indoor dirt track. They were constantly falling off. One women actually burst through the barriers and was falling off on every lap.
tMet with Honda to talk about our Honda experience, loads of freebies and also offer of 30% off Honda at the stand so bought the adventure jacket. Really good jacket and very warm. Also bought the Scorpion can for £250 which was a £60 saving.
Loved the CCM and the Tenere 700 enduro. Also had a great laugh watching some KTM and Africa twins go around this indoor dirt track. They were constantly falling off. One women actually burst through the barriers and was falling off on every lap.
I think regarding pricing for stands, as a rider or fan of bikes the choice is simple
If you used to go to this show to get good deals, don't bother. Find the shops you want online and do it that way or visit. If you know what you want they will do a deal for you.
I find it utterly depressing that a show that was once fabulous and a real highlight of the year is now merely a cash cow for a tiny group of people running an exhibition centre that must makes tens of thousands a week from cark park fees alone.
The car show does not go there anymore, for all sorts of reasons but for me now the NEC is simply a place I will never, ever visit again until they change their approach to exhibitors and people in cars.
If you used to go to this show to get good deals, don't bother. Find the shops you want online and do it that way or visit. If you know what you want they will do a deal for you.
I find it utterly depressing that a show that was once fabulous and a real highlight of the year is now merely a cash cow for a tiny group of people running an exhibition centre that must makes tens of thousands a week from cark park fees alone.
The car show does not go there anymore, for all sorts of reasons but for me now the NEC is simply a place I will never, ever visit again until they change their approach to exhibitors and people in cars.
Lovely looking Thruxton R in Pearl White with £2k cafe race kit. inc V&H pies. Get the kit free if bike ordered before 31-12-17
I too was slightly disappointed with the Z900RS in the flesh. Thought the Honda CB1000R looked great, apart from bulbous looking tank badges. Have to wait till demo bikes are available
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