Parking was free when I went to the caravan and camping show earlier in the year , but for this it's £15 . No thanks .
Going with my mate from two doors down on Friday. Getting the train up from Euston, £35 return and he did the early booking for the entry tickets. We usually book it as soon as it comes out. No desire to drive up and the train allows the opportunity to shop that the bike doesn’t; came away with an autographed framed print of Greg Hancock last year.
Not been for 7 or 8 years now, fewer manufacturers and traders stands year by year while entry and parking prices increased beyond realistic levels. It stopped being value for money and ended up not even being a particularly enjoyable day out, don't miss it at all which is a shame but the sheer greed of the venue is unbelievable.
Having been to EICMA a year ago (couldn’t make this year’s one), the NEC pales into insignificance and comes across as a bit of a ‘village hall’ affair. Yes, you’ve got to fly to Milan, but I’d wager that, if booked long enough in advance, a Ryanair flight will be cheaper than the train and/or parking. Oh, and it’s cheaper to get into EICMA which has about 5 halls of exhibitors each hall being bigger than the entire NEC. Make a short holiday of it, spend a couple of nights, visit Milan cathedral, see the Last Supper painting, etc etc etc. For sure, Birmingham has come on leaps and bounds in the last 30 years but it’s not a patch on Milan.
Many of the other shows come with free parking and range from £15-25. Again bikers paying that added tax
Agree that it's become something of a rip off but it's a day out, all about bikes, with my best mate.
Went today, had a good 2 hours walking round and looking at the different marques, the outstanders for me were the Norton full carbon v4S thingy and the kwak H2 sx se which i'm looking at swapping my Z thou sx for...but my real drooler was not a bike it but a Morgan 3 wheeler, i had been looking at these on you tube but this was the 1st i'd seen in the metal and i love it ,if i had the £36K asking price i would have one in a shot.
I went with Uncle Baz on Tuesday. Unusually we got there half an hour late after opening at 10am. By 4.15 we were out of there. It closes at 5pm, usually I like to leave at 5.10, getting my moneys worth. It felt samey only there was less. Quite a few exhibitors missing. All the Japanese bikes felt like they were lagging behind with the technology. Nothing really grabbed me and made me want it. The Nortons looked good but a few years old design wise and funnily enough I don’t feel like parting with £42k for one. There were a couple of retro Yamahas that we both liked and I’m struggling after that. I wouldn’t mind a new bike but at the moment nothing is making my heart pump. So I’ll keep modding the DVT Multi. The Rapid Bike Evo feels good so I think I’ll order an up n down quickshifter. Next year, I think I’m going to pass on the show, which is a shame. Maybe I’ll go to Eicma.
One of the best stands was the Chinese stuff. Mixed marques, of which there was a cruiser named Benda… basically find a European or Japanese bike you like then go have a look at the copy. Cheap as chips. GS copy sir? That will be £6k to you
