NEC Motorcycle and Scooter Show: The Motorcycle and Scooter Show is being held at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham, barely a stone's throw from Birmingham International Airport, and runs until 6th November. You have just four more days to go and see for yourself.
It is the largest, most comprehensive assembly of different makes and models of motorcycles within easy reach of our island. In addition almost everything even vaguely connected with motorcycling, past and present, is catered for.
For anyone with the least interest in motorcycles there is enough variety to satisfy all manner of dreams and aspirations ranging from the modest congestion beating commuter to a ready-to-go, just-add-a-rider, world-girdling mount.
There is even a chance to try some of the latest machines on the NEC road network. For those more interested in off-road riding, a course has been established in the surrounding woodlands.
Then for those yearning for higher speeds there is a specially designed outdoor track offering the chance to experience the latest Supermoto bikes with guidance and advice from top experts.
Even 5-11 year olds will be able to get their first taste of powered two wheelers on restricted 50cc motorcycles on an indoor circuit. Admission is £15 for adults, £13 for students £4 for senior citizens and 11-16 year olds and £35 for a family ticket. Children under 11, accompanied by an adult get in free. More details on www.motorcycleshow.co.uk or on + 44 870 732 2005.
Advance publicity for this year's show, despite the Sun newspaper being a major sponsor, abandoned the tried and tested 'bikes and babes' formula, concentrating instead on the passion and excitement of motorcycling. This message clearly did not reach the major exhibitors who, as usual, had bevies of scantily clad and, it has to be said, not particularly attractive females on their stands trying to look decorous.
Some manufacturers, instead of just displaying their new models, have in recent years started to use the show to unveil them. This means that on the first day, ostensibly for the press and then the trade, both descriptions being all too widely interpreted, much of real interest to the wider public who cannot get to the show and rely on the media, is under wraps.
When, eventually, the great unveiling takes place there is such a crowd gathered that only a dozen in the front row can see anything at all. However by now the fanfares are over and you can see more than a dustsheet.
It was particularly noticeable, compared with previous years, how few of the smaller scooters and mopeds were on show. That segment of the market has clearly declined. Not helped by the absence of Aprilia, Piagio (Vespa & Gilera) and Peugeot.
Technical advances continue apace with far more widespread use of once thought to be exotic metals, magnesium and titanium, becoming commonplace. The ever onwards, ever upwards pursuit of performance continues with, it seems, several manufacturers abandoning their self-imposed maximum speed limit. It is distinctly probable that more than one of this year's new offerings, perhaps Kawasaki's ZX-R 1400, will shatter the 300 km/h barrier with ease. In terms of pure power output, the days when 100 bhp per litre were solely the province of factory race bikes are long gone. Now a standard production road bike, such as Yamaha's new 589cc R6, produces the equivalent of 222 bhp per litre or, put another way, 826 bhp per tonne.
The first fly-by-wire system on a production road bike makes its appearance this year. Just as fuel injection systems have largely replaced carburettors, soon mechanical throttle cables will be a thing of the past. Although automatic transmission appeared briefly, many years ago, it has now firmly arrived with Yamaha's FJR 1300 AS flagship tourer which has a form of tiptronic transmission. There is no clutch lever. Gear changing is achieved either by up and down buttons on the left grip, or a foot change lever.
The list of machines which this year have attracted the greatest interest is larger than for a long while.
The highlights, depending on what takes your fancy, include Harley-Davidson's Screaming Eagle Destroyer, an 180 bhp dragster, Kawasaki's 170 bhp ZZR1400, Triumph's evocative Steve McQueen style Scrambler, their all-new, expected soon to be sold out; Daytona 675 Triple, and BMW's new R 1200 GS Adventure which achieved over 50 firm orders within the first 24 hours of its announcement and before anyone had even seen it!
Such is the list of all that is new, exciting and interesting in this years show that, especially for those who cannot get there, next week's Motors will endeavour to give as full an A-Z listing as space permits. Watch this space.