Motorcycle Live 2011 Dates Confirmed

The dates for this years Motorcycle Live event at the NEC in Birmingham have been confirmed. It will be from the 19th to 27th November. So slightly earlier this year, lets hope the weather is more forgiving!

Source: Motorcycle Live

"Free" MotorcycleLive tickets

A few weeks ago MCN reported that the organisers of the Carole Nash MotorcycleLive event were going to accept 2010's tickets for the 2011 show; for those who couldn't attend due tot he weather. Well I was a little skeptical seeing as there was no word of it on the organisers website. I emailed them and have now had a response:

Your 2010 ticket will indeed be redeemable at the 2011 event – provisional dates 26^th November – 4^th December 2011.  If we can ask you to bring along your 2010 tickets to the event, you will then be able to swap these for a 2011 ticket on the door.

 This is great news so I will hopefully be able to go to this years event after missing out on it. I am printing out the email to keep with my tickets for when I go though!

Snow

Well the snow here has stopped play on the bike for a while. I know I am an all year rider buy even I have limits! The only concern I have at the moment is if the weather improves for going to Motorcycle Live this weekend. Really hoping so, come hell or high water I am going, just how hard will it be to get there!

Motorcycle Live

Carole Nash Motorcycle Show

Well the show is on again this November, just over a week from Saturday 27th to Sunday 5th December. Still have to ask myself why is it they can't have it during the summer months, or at any time when it would be warmer as I would really like to ride up to it. Don't mind riding in the cold, just not for that long if I really don't need to!

Still there it is meant to have been changed for this year, after they took on the comments from people about the last show. Hopefully it should at least be interesting!

MCN ExCeL Show

I was up early and rode to the event. Actually following some other bikers from the A13 as my TomTom went nuts and tried to navigate me in circles. My thanks to those guys! The event itself: it was tiny! I know there is a temptation to compare it to the NEC show and that is a little unfair, however it did feel much smaller then the last time I went, two years ago. Given that ExCeL is a massive place, it looked like there were only two of its halls being used. For the ticket cost I feel that I have been a little hard done by when it is compared to NEC, sorry MCN but value wise the NEC is leaps and bounds over you. Even comparing some of the stands. The George White stand, at the NEC, was like walking into a mini shop. The racking went up high and there was tons for sale. At MCN, the stand felt more like a car-boot sale, lacking what made it impressive at NEC. That, I think, is what made the event feel smaller, the stands seemed less grandiose. Even the manufacturers stands didn't have the same buzz that was at the NEC.

But for those looking for a bargain there did seem to be a few bits on offer, there was a 2-piece leather suit that I notice was half price. Okay, it is last years, still a decent enough saving.

On a more personal note I wasn't able to buy anything that I went for. Seems that either everyone is my small size or companies just don't accommodate for the smaller guy! I never realised the a 40-inch chest is XS, that makes me feel even smaller... Neither were there any helmets that really took my fancy. So for me it was largely a wasted trip. Yet that is being a little harsh. I always enjoy going to these sorts of shows and it was fun to look at everything that is on offer in one place. Even getting the chance to actually sit on the Triumph Daytona, which I couldn't do at the NEC with the number of people around it. And I got a free goodie bag from MCN as one of their subscribers.

Overall I enjoyed my time there, yes it is small and not really as good value as the 'other' big show, but they also had Honda and Harley Davidson. Will I go again? Maybe, if I need to go shopping at this time of year. Is it a 'day outs' worth? No, unfortunately. You can get lost in NEC for hours, going round and round and still finding new things to look at. If you want to make a day of it at ExCeL I would suggest thinking about where you could once you have spent the hour or two there. There is Thurock nearby for the shopaholics or maybe go off into London proper.

In all honesty I think it is almost as fun to wait for places like George White to have its open days. They tend to be when it is warmer and they have their full range available. Not a full days out worth in itself, but at least you can go with mates and just make it a stop on a ride-out, and best of all, it is free to go to.

MCN ExCeL needs to become much larger and maybe moved later in the year as it is just too close to the NEC which, fairly or not, is what it will always be compared too. Moving to somewhere May to June time may decrease the comparison. It would be warmer too.

Off to MCN tomorrow

Going to go to the MCN show at ExCeL London tomorrow. Hoping to get a few pics and some stuff from there, maybe a new helmet to replace the one damaged in the accident.

Valve cover gasket

I have had a persistent leak on the no.2 cylinder valve cover. Spent the morning replacing it, surprisingly it went really well. The biggest problem was getting the cover to come off, but a bit of timber and a hammer soon got that off. One thing that I found out about it was that the Haynes Manual suggests that this can be done without removing the engine. Now this is technically true, however it fails to mention that you need to also remove the breather cap to be able to get it out from under the frame. Other then that it was reasonably easy to change.

Now comes the time to see if it really does stop this annoying leak.

Oh and my tickets for the NEC Motorbike show turned up this week, really looking forward to it now!

NEC Bike Show website update

They have now changed the website to the new look for 2008 with a great new "mascot", if that is the right word.

Hopefully there will be more details later, I am interested if Yamaha are bringing along the new 2009 XJ6 Diversion to the show.

NEC Motorbike Show

Well I have now booked tickets for the show. Never been before so looking forward to it! Went to the ExCeL show earlier this year and that was fun, and closer, have a 2 hour ride to get there.

BikeFest 2008

Found out about "BikeFest" being held at Donnington on June 7th (the day before my birthday!) so was thinking about going. Try and get up there on my bike, would be the longest single trip it has done if I do.

Actually looking at going out on the Kawasaki ER6F and the Suzuki SV650S with the BSM Ride-outs that are running, as both are bikes I am ultimately looking at getting in about a year and a bit. Would be great to have a go on them and see if they are comfortable on the roads for me.

Maybe see some of the people I chat too on-line there!