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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