Issue 138 : December 2004 - January 2005
NEC Bike Show
MAIDS
MZ 100S
Stormin' the Castle
XL 1200R Sportster
Milward in Africa
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NEC Bike Show
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NEC 2004
Big bikes seem to be what it's all about this year, said MCIA President Steven Norris with that clarity of observation that explains why he's got where he is in life. As I was hunting for a theme to focus on I was glad of this view for which there was ample evidence. Big big cruisers and muscle bikes occupied a higher profile than in years past with the arrival of several interesting contenders in the big bore class. Take the giant Midnight Silverado Yamaha cruiser above with its familiar looking engine and styling signature. Meanwhile in another part of the show the same engine was enjoying different packaging in the streetfighter/muscle bike clothing as the radical new M T-01. With 90bhp and a shoulder wrenching 111ftlbs of torque, the 1670cc V Twin motor should be able to propel the 240 kilos package along quite nicely. The engine bears more than a passing resemblance to its American inspired style mentor, abandoning overhead cams in favour of push rod operated valve gear with a brace of rods on either side of each pot as the engine sports four valve heads. The grunty-looking new model appeared to attract a lot of interest from R1 rider and Olympic rowing ace Matthew Pinsent who together with ship mate James Cracknell spent some time crawling over the beast. Victory Motorcycles were out in greater force than seen in previous years with a variety of models that have benefited from a much needed cosmetic makeover courtesy of Arlen Ness who incidentally had his own innovative clothing brand on show. If you want a Victory in the near future you're going to be unlucky as the entire 60 bike UK allocation for 2005 is already sold which makes you wonder whether it was worth the stand space investment, but as the parent Polaris company is a huge and very successful corporate animal, one imagines they know what they are doing. A fresh player in the monster cruiser class was the Melling -designed Monos behemoth with its classic valenced fenders surrounding a couple of huge jampot cylinders that apparently churn out some serious bhp. What all these cruisers miss out on of course is the 'philosophers stone' that is Harley-Davidson's family badge. Whether H-D's rivals live up to their advocate's claims is not quite the point in a market where image rules. While the Victorys excited steady interest, the Harley-Davidson dancers who model their clothing range took top score in the crowd pulling stakes and with good cause. Nonetheless we will be road testing a Victory soon and if it's as good as the company claim we'll let you know.
BMW had their new sports model the K 1200S on show 'dressed' and stripped mode, the latter demonstrating the radical design that puts the German company in pole position as the market leader in radical innovation. BMW Marketing Executive Jill Kettlety talked me through the technical details of the Model's construction concept, the retention of which competed unequally in my brain with the mesmerising compulsion of her exquisite features - (see cover shot). Having run out of contrived questions to sustain the legitimacy of my interview I stumbled off to be sad in other places which aren't hard to find on press day. Where Jill is concerned however, as they say in the Commons 'the eyes have it the eyes have it.' And now for something completely different - giant rear ends. Avon have now produced a 350mm back tyre would you believe? Just as there appears to be no limit to the size of cruiser engines, so the fat tyre rubber race continues to be fuelled by outrageous appetites for ludicrous excess. The monster at this show had been grafted onto a Buell that resembled a greyhound towing the winner of the harvest festival prize marrow contest. Where will it all end ? If huge softly tuned engines and ludicrous tyres provide avenues of competition to divert riders from maximum performance, it may be no bad thing. The manufacturers are leaving no bases uncovered however, and high performance bikes retain their pedestals albeit it with a loss of profile to their less athletic siblings.
Flying the high performance flag with added travel, was Nick (utterly barking) Sanders, the man who has married roundy roundy racing to the planet earth. Looking even more eccentrically dishevelled than last year, he explained that he'd left his flock of derring do volunteers in the far East to touch base with his kids and flog his books at the show. See review of 'The Loneliness of The long Distance Biker elsewhere.'
Speaking of MAG we had a substantial 12metre stand with new backdrops providing a bullet point overview of our activities which proved very helpful in talking potential members through a recruitment schpeel. Interestingly the scooter companies didn't come to the show this year reflecting their doubt that a bike enthusiast's show is really targeting their market. Also missing were many of the traders with their amazing deals on 'must clear' bike clothing and bits. A lot of the punters regret this trend away from the country fair of bargains but from the organiser's perspective it's a tricky one. They have to appease the dealers who lose out on retail sales from their main outlets as so many people toward the end of the season put off buying gear so they can get it cheap at the NEC. It's a balancing act from their perspective. The cry of 'rip off' is one that belongs in NEC folklore but is it fair? £14 a head entrance fee for a whole day out, and you do need more than a day to do this show justice, is not really a lot when you can pay that for a modest round of drinks. Mind you I had one character thought £20 was too much for a year's membership of MAG, some people are just never satisfied. Mutch |
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Streetbiker takes a look at the country's biggest trade show and once again tries to fathom out which way the market is headed.
Not to be sidelined MAG' stand sucked in swarms of punters, particularly when we fielded our ace on the final weekend. The rather lovely Lana, from Moscow provided an old fashioned 'wow' factor that had the mobile phone photographers lining up to record her assets. For hours on end the stand looked like the front row of a night time Chris de Burgh concert a-flame with cigarette lighters. Are dollies on the stand politically incorrect ? Did it help us sell raffle tickets? The answer to the last question is 'yes' which is why we did it. Write and let us know what you think.
Superbike champion John Reynolds winning Rizzla -sponsored machine was on show, while the man himself made an appearance on the BikeSafe stand to send a subliminal 'don't do this at home folks' message to the fans. One likes to think that celebrity patronage of common sense has some positive benefit though I'm very sceptical, but what do I know.
Also on the travel book trail was Charlie Boorman, old pal of Ewan McGregor and fellow circumscriber of our world. More promotion for BMW here as the pair used GS models bristling with the latest IT kit. Read the book, watch the video, meet the men and be amazed as bro' style beards appear and then vanish again. Before we leave the adventure slot, a quick mention for the 'White Knights,' another band of globe trotters boasting a fair stream of blue blood. I had a chat with Lord Fairfax, a friendly cove who has been eased from the red benches of Westminster by 'Tony the Terrible' to spend more time with his motorcycles. Charities will profit from his life change however and I have hopes of him joining MAG following our conversation.