The DOT is entirely made in the UK, using a Kawasaki engine... No Moto Guzzi stand, which was a bit of a disappointment. Some of the Chinese brands - Lexmoto specifically - have really upped their build quality. The quality of the welding and the preparation of their show bikes was definitely better than BSA or Enfield. And yes, The Langen was VERY nice - but for £33k it ought to be. Very little interest in the electric bikes from what I could see, which tells a story.
Didn’t the NEC start to go downhill with they moved the dates of one of them and the NEC and EICMA became so close together it was too much of a logistical nightmare/cost to run 2 huge displays?
Definitely not as big or as well attended as it used to be, but an interesting way to spend a day. I found everything I wanted (apart from the Moto Guzzi stand) - some new gloves, a tub of Renapur and a lottery win shopping list
They can be good if your shopping for gear/accessories, I used to pick up a big bottle of Muc-Off on my way out. But for new bikes if you’ve the dealers you want nearby your better off just going to them, there’s a lot less crowds
One thing that did stand out... The "Covid precautions" were an absolute joke - utterly pointless and might as well not have bothered. A cursory glance at a printed QR code was all I provided and was rushed through the "checks" in seconds. The print could have been of my shopping list for all anyone seemed to care - it wasn't checked or scanned. Quite what they paid the people at the entrance for I have no idea - it would have made no difference if they hadn't been there.
I went this morning, mainly to look at & sit on the Ducati's (could have done that at my Dealers & I actually went over to Ducati Coventry afterwards!!) Knowing the bike I want next plus not needing any new kit It was prob a waste of time & money for me but has as been mentioned, it was a day out. Doubt I'll go again for a few years though
I enjoyed the Stafford show, quite a few interesting older race bikes. Was going to the NEC but after reading the above will probably give it a miss. Pity as it was more of a jolly boys day out
Nah, they were just the only manufacturers who bothered going, they had to go into the bike park to find someone’s Yamaha to look at and pad the rest of the programme out with stuff on Datatool. I struggle to even get through the programme, (I might watch the rest of it later) if I’d have gone I think I’d have spent 4 times as long getting there and back than I would have walking around the show
Been couped up for most of October and November so we are going, regardless of the negetivity. Will be travelling up the night before so we can relax over a few beers and have a leisurely start in the morning. Credit card has been primed and I will be hunting for a Bell Race Star DLX Flex and "we" will be looking at new textiles Andy
Just found this gem on YouTube, which sums the whole show up in about 10 minutes, so no need to go now. Shame they didn’t film the new PP or SFV2. There’s even a bit for the boss at around 6 min 25 secs.
I sent a snot-a-gram to the NEC about it. Apparently it has been passed on to their "feedback team" - I'll be curious to see what they come back with...
Not missing much. As I said, save your pennies and go to EICMA 2022 instead next year, well worth the visit.
£33k. I’m in the fortunate position to pay that kind of money on a bike. Langen WTF £33k for a 250 bitsa.
Went today and spoke to a guy on the BSA stand who did seem to know his stuff. He seemed to be saying that the ongoing Covid restrictions have slowed down their progress in the UK but they are looking for a Birmingham-based site to move manufacturing/assembly back to it’s home and that the billionaire Indian family that owns it is most insistent upon that. Most likely the first few hundred bikes will be Indian built but within 6 to 12 months the plan is to have a facility here. With Nortons new factory in Solihull and Mutt being built from scratch in Kings Norton, the greater Birmingham area is turning into the UK hub of motorcycle manufacturing.
