Thursday 23 February 2017

London Motorcycle Show 2017


London Motorcycle Show 2017

Over the last week I’ve been to a Motorcycle Action Group meeting at the ACE cafe on Thursday evening instead of being at the Wey Valley Bike Club night. I had a choice of talking politics or listening to a presentation about blue tooth ear plugs. I decided politics and to meet up with the new London Rep Tim Fawthrop and as MAG had a stand at the show went along on the Sunday. In between I had been to the Science Museum to pass on my knowledge of the steam revolution in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries to some friends and their children. I’m not sure what was most tiring, PR at the Museum or the Show. As usual I was loaded with fliers to hand out , cheekily, at the MAG stand. Tim had taken some on Thursday and the rest of the gang on the stand handed out more over the weekend. They supported me very well in my efforts for the London Motorcycle Museum. Talking MAG, Advanced Motorcycling and Museum filled the day and I did take the opportunity to talk to the people on the Enfield stand about the Enfield shrine and Greg Staves Arctic-Antarctic trip on his Enfield that we have at the LMM. Also to the guys on the BMW stand about our prototype R80 that was used to test out the gear required for the Police and Ambulance Services after Norton stopped production. I left fliers with all the insurance company stands for details that may help them in their promotions and lastly, at the end of the day I was at the National Motorcycle Museum stand passing over the last of the LMM fliers and receiving some very good complements on how good the LMM is. I also got some half price vouchers to visit the National Motorcycle Museum. Another visit in the offing.



I thought the show needed a few more dealer stands, however what was there was very interesting. Triumph had come up with a snow special, studded rear tyre for grip and a ski on the front to steer. I have driven snow mobiles with ski steering and they do have a mind of their own. Best not to go too close to trees and rocks I guess. 



The Indian stand looked a bit Lora Ashley with pastel shades and tassels from a full dresser. I was looking at a Honda MSX as something to chuck in the back of a car for fun but the new model has those silly ridges on the side of the tank that is supposed to assist comfort however they get me just behind my knee and is quite uncomfortable. I had the same issue with the Deauville. On the other hand a new idea from Honda with an Adventure Scooter!! 750cc and an open frame. 


Automatic transmission with manual control. I had not been impressed with automatic transmission as it selects the gear it thinks and not what you need. With this one you are able to select whatever gear you want to run in and change when you want to change. You are able to select the right gear for the job in hand. Much, much better when you can go around a bend in the right gear or tough terrain off road. Mark Upham was on the Brough stand helping sell his wares. The record breaking machine that Eric Patterson rode at Bonneville was looking as magnificent as usual. 



What caught my eye was a very lean and mean CCM. A limited edition of 150 and only 4 left by the end of play. I thought the the manufacturers were starting to become a little more adventurous and a bit more Bike Shed in their approach.



















And last but not least a name from the past has re-emerged there was a Hesketh stand with new models on display. Those who had bought them in the past found they were very good. So good that most still have them and still running!


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