Motorcycle Live 2011 (NEC bike show) 19th - 27th Nov 2011

[techno]

Mawsley thats the reason I stopped going years ago, last time i went we got 2 rideouts and if it wasnt for that we'd have been done in 3 hours!

[Theboyparker]

First time I've ever been was this Sunday and I too felt a bit bored. Don't get me wrong there was some lovely bikes n stuff but I couldn't help feelin I'd wasted £16 on window shopping

Don't think I'll be going again...

[JamBerryKing]

I went on the 20th. Enjoyed it. but it did just seem like "hey look theres some bikes, oh theres some more" There were barely any activities or free stuff or things to participate in. needed more free stuff.

[whitedevil]

I managed to haggle myself a nice deal on a bike tidy and a new shoei spirit 2. saved over £200 off RRP. plus we got free tickets from a friend who works at the nec, so all in all it was good day.

I managed to get a few pics before the mrs started moaning

http://photobucket.com/necbikeshow2011

[Mawsley]

I managed to haggle myself a nice deal on a bike tidy and a new shoei spirit 2. saved over £200 off RRP.

Must make you wonder how much cheaper you could've got it had they not had to pay for a stand and just sold them to you online?

[whitedevil]

Nowhere online is selling them for under £500, £700+ if you want a paint job on it.

btw you only live a few miles from me small world heh

[maczx12]

hi all.well ment to be going tomorrow but after reading your comments is it worth it

[Guest]

well me, the g/f and Houdini went today and had a great time, spent over 6 hours in the show talking bikes and products with their owners,sellers and designers. It ain't window shopping..... you get as much out of the show as you put in to it

[Bonniebird]

I agree

Tango and me went on Friday with Seawolf and her OH. The time just flew by - before we knew it they were chucking us out!

Picked up some bargains too like a Honda winter jacket for my daughter for £30 to go with her CG.

[Mawsley]

As I said, we enjoyed the day but simply don't feel it was different to riding around some dealers - except the cost.

Test rides we can do anywhere, stuff can always be found cheap online and the crowd meant we couldn't see the motocross.

Sure, it was great to chat to the bloke in charge of CPI but I don't see how that's worth paying for?

And as for the sad display of tubby men and spotty teens being photographed with average bints wearing little more than a pained, forced smile? For the money, up the road in Brum I'm sure you'd get more of a return.

If it were free admission it'd be a fun day out. At a tenner you really need something in return and for nineteen quid I'm wanting a substantial amount more.

But then I am a cantankerous old git.

[Fozzie]

I think for £16 its worth it by miles...

For a start I saw Nick Sanders back from his 51000 mile stretch across America and he gave a good talk and showed us round the bikes he's used.

I saw bikes to be released next year which is better than any window shopping you can do

I met many other bikers and even engineers who work for some of the manufacturers who gave me great insight into mods on the bikes, some of the bikes secret tricks and they even showed me round the bike particularly in the norton section where they show cased all the parts of the engine and how they are made

I have looked online for the things I wanted and the best deals I can get are all close on the price if a little above. Not a great thing as I could have had it there and then without the need to wait for it to be delivered.

I saw streetfighters and highly modded bikes from huge litre sports 4-stroke driven versions to small 2-stroke ones. Can't see those in the window

I got to walk around shops specialising in street fighter parts from inverted forks to just clip on bits

I could easily go on but most importantly I met up with friends, with my dad and gf, walked around and had a good time and I will be going next year hopefully.

Go there and FIND something that makes it worth your time, you can even check before hand. Dont go simply expecting something.

[Guest]

Fair comment Mawsley but the dealers here in north Wales don't carry anywhere near the quantity of bikes on display in the NEC and they certainly don't like just anyone turning up and sitting on the new ones.

Bike show rideouts are a complete waste of time in my book all a guided rideout tells you is how the guy at the front rides a bike. some people like them tho

Never spoke to anyone at CPI but it's fascinating to see the Chinese and Korean companies expanding and improving each year edging ever closer to the Japs. Much like the Jap's did to the Brits back in the day. The glass cabinet of Chinese spares was classic!! a cylinder head for £19.99, brilliant

Someone you could talk to and not find at any dealers was the top man at Norton. When are Norton getting back into racing? what are his future plans on bikes? Stuart Garner told me then spoke to me a while on a ton of stuff

There were rows and rows of leather and textile jackets for £30.00, I guess the web might match that price but you sure as hell can't touch or try any online stuff with my internet connection.

The day cost me £39.00 in total inc travel costs, entrance, parking, some quality NEC Bangers n Mash, some coffee and some coca cola and nearly six and a half hours in the show. I never did find the time to check out the Moto Cross demo tho

not the best show I've been to but not the worst either.

[Tango]

Spot on Jota......there were far more bikes there to sit on and look at than any local dealers. And you could easily burn £16 worth of petrol trawling around the bike shops around our area.

Austin Vince was there selling and signing copies of Mondo Enduro....and talking about his adventures. And would you seriously buy a lid of the internet without trying it on first? There's also the possibility of spotting something that you didn't know you wanted until you saw it! Had a good chat with one of the engineers that worked on the new Speed Triple....and the guy was real passionate about the bike.... Like Jota...we were there for 6 hours...and the time just shot past! I bought some throw over panniers and a tank bag......Bonniebird got some boots.....and I had a Pasty for lunch.....top day out I say!!.....

[Mawsley]

And would you seriously buy a lid of the internet without trying it on first?

 

Yes - unless there's something about internet helmets which makes them different to shop ones? A Shoei in the store is the same size online to my knowledge.

Bought my last Caberg online and the open face from eBay, both at a substantial saving from anywhere else, both perfectly fine.

[whitedevil]

I think he meant without ever trying it on.

[Seawolf84]

Spot on Jota......there were far more bikes there to sit on and look at than any local dealers. And you could easily burn £16 worth of petrol trawling around the bike shops around our area.

Austin Vince was there selling and signing copies of Mondo Enduro....and talking about his adventures. And would you seriously buy a lid of the internet without trying it on first? There's also the possibility of spotting something that you didn't know you wanted until you saw it! Had a good chat with one of the engineers that worked on the new Speed Triple....and the guy was real passionate about the bike.... Like Jota...we were there for 6 hours...and the time just shot past! I bought some throw over panniers and a tank bag......Bonniebird got some boots.....and I had a Pasty for lunch.....top day out I say!!.....

We bought a pair of lids from the show (Thanks to Tango and BonnieBird for spotting it). Loving the it , i think it was a good deal.

I found some decal & rim tapes (special thanks to BonnieBird) too.

There was one down side of the show though, we were too late to leave, the police bikes parked outside were gone before I could get a hold of them.

Fab time, and great company. Cheers guys.

Edit: I had a Pasty for lunch too, just after a cold Subway. lol.

[Paul]

I managed to haggle myself a nice deal on a bike tidy and a new shoei spirit 2. saved over £200 off RRP.

Must make you wonder how much cheaper you could've got it had they not had to pay for a stand and just sold them to you online?

 

Was talking to a dealer who told me his stand for selling helmets, leathers etc cost 24K for the event. Yep, 24000 english pounds

[Stu]

I managed to haggle myself a nice deal on a bike tidy and a new shoei spirit 2. saved over £200 off RRP.

Must make you wonder how much cheaper you could've got it had they not had to pay for a stand and just sold them to you online?

 

Was talking to a dealer who told me his stand for selling helmets, leathers etc cost 24K for the event. Yep, 24000 english pounds

 

That I can believe as I enquired about seeing if we could distribute some flyers and they wouldn't let us without a stand and just to have your name on the sponsors board was 2k a day!

[Mawsley]

Was talking to a dealer who told me his stand for selling helmets, leathers etc cost 24K for the event. Yep, 24000 english pounds

Ouch.

Good news is that my local shop has just taken on the CPI franchise so a dirt cheap green lane machine is coming my way in '12!