NEC

[slparry]

Had a very pleasant day at the NEC, 6 of us went on the train from Wrexham.

The fare was £20 return but because there was 3 or more of us we apparently got a discounted fare of £15 return (cool )

It's a direct route to Brum International from Wrexham so no changes and takes just under 2 hours.

One of the guys had 3 free tickets, as 3 of the party were pensioners and 3 were gainfully employed the employed ones paid for the pensioners tickets (£13) and used the freebie ones so the six of us got in for £29 in total which was pretty good

Wandered around the show, plenty of eye candy (bikes and the pretty young models draped over them)

Couple of the lads had some bargains, one got a particularly nice Arlen Ness flip front helmet for £50 which seems great for the money.

The BMW R9T is a lot nicer in the flesh. The S1000R looks brutally fun. Loved the new CCM 450 (using the engine from the G450X BMW)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9VhACv7nvE

All in all a good day out, with the train making it much more pleasant than the motorway trudge !

[McBoxer]

How were the crowds, Steve? Thinking of popping across tomorrow but I'm babysitting, and not sure I can be arsed to fight through big crowds with a 4 yr old in tow.

[Herb]

Sounds like a deal. I paid £29 for me and my son. Add £8 to park and it's not the cheapest day out, but what is these days.

This was the best show I can remember for a few years. The new Nine T is much nicer in the flesh than it looked in the pics. I am not 100% sold on it! but it's growing on me.

The stands with a buzz about them with interesting new models were BMW and Kawasaki. Lots of interest on the Harley stand, with some nice looking one offs. Indian had the prettiest girl. See pic. Had she asked I would have eloped without a second thought. Unfortunately she did not ask

I bought a new pair of boots. £60 off a pair of Alpinestars so I am happy enough.

Bike of the show for me was a custom cafe racer Honda CX500. Stunning stuff.

[slparry]

How were the crowds, Steve? Thinking of popping across tomorrow but I'm babysitting, and not sure I can be arsed to fight through big crowds with a 4 yr old in tow.

Didn't find it too bad to be honest, although as you say it's a busy place for a 4 year old. However, Honda have a great little place for them to play on the kiddie bikes

[slparry]

Sounds like a deal. I paid £29 for me and my son. Add £8 to park and it's not the cheapest day out, but what is these days.

This was the best show I can remember for a few years. The new Nine T is much nicer in the flesh than it looked in the pics. I am not 100% sold on it! but it's growing on me.

The stands with a buzz about them with interesting new models were BMW and Kawasaki. Lots of interest on the Harley stand, with some nice looking one offs. Indian had the prettiest girl. See pic. Had she asked I would have eloped without a second thought. Unfortunately she did not ask

I bought a new pair of boots. £60 off a pair of Alpinestars so I am happy enough.

Bike of the show for me was a custom cafe racer Honda CX500. Stunning stuff.

Agreed that CX was very well done.



That girl was a lot more "reserved" than the ones around the corner on the Victory stand

[Twinspark]

If this year was a good year... I'd hate to see what a bad year is like!

I found it a dull and dismal waste of money.

A large proportion of the kit being flogged there was of incredibly poor quality - and the branded stuff was largely no cheaper than buying online.

And I'm not one of those gurning retards who'll spend hours bouncing up and down on bikes like I've never seen one before.

Oh, and the women. I grew out of that 20 years ago. Absolutely nothing attractive about them at all.

[boxerscott]

Had a very pleasant day at the NEC, 6 of us went on the train from Wrexham.

The fare was £20 return but because there was 3 or more of us we apparently got a discounted fare of £15 return (cool )

It's a direct route to Brum International from Wrexham so no changes and takes just under 2 hours.

One of the guys had 3 free tickets, as 3 of the party were pensioners and 3 were gainfully employed the employed ones paid for the pensioners tickets (£13) and used the freebie ones so the six of us got in for £29 in total which was pretty good

Wandered around the show, plenty of eye candy (bikes and the pretty young models draped over them)

Couple of the lads had some bargains, one got a particularly nice Arlen Ness flip front helmet for £50 which seems great for the money.

The BMW R9T is a lot nicer in the flesh. The S1000R looks brutally fun. Loved the new CCM 450 (using the engine from the G450X BMW)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9VhACv7nvE

All in all a good day out, with the train making it much more pleasant than the motorway trudge !

or the ticket for Cardiff Arms Park

[Blackal]

That CX is quite well done.

Al

[dave the german]

That CX is quite well done.

Al

Just been reading Classic Motorcycle Mechanics and think it might be from here:-www.caferacerkits.co.uk
Seems they specialise in kits for CX500s and wet dreams

[Herb]

If this year was a good year... I'd hate to see what a bad year is like!

I found it a dull and dismal waste of money.

A large proportion of the kit being flogged there was of incredibly poor quality - and the branded stuff was largely no cheaper than buying online.

And I'm not one of those gurning retards who'll spend hours bouncing up and down on bikes like I've never seen one before.

Oh, and the women. I grew out of that 20 years ago. Absolutely nothing attractive about them at all.

Blimey, you must be getting jaded in your old age.

You are right about the kit, there was a lot of poor stuff there, but also the odd bargain amongst it.

I had my 15 year old with me for the first time and he loved the day. His enthusiasm must have rubbed of on me. He enjoyed stuff I would normally not even stop for. Some of the smaller bikes for example that I would normally walk past, and when you do stop you realise just how cool some of the entry level bikes are.

And who can grow out of attractive women? It might not be PC, but seeing a great looking girl brightens my day, even when you see a look of pity in return...haha.

[Herb]

Here are a couple of more pics. The CX looks like it has had a few bit finished cosmetically.




Here is the Nine T. It's better in the flesh, a bit sleeker looking somehow. Still not tempting enough for me to buy one though.

[Herb]

Where did you find that pic of the CX Steve?

If it's been featured in a mag somewhere I would like to track down the article.

[slparry]

Where did you find that pic of the CX Steve?

If it's been featured in a mag somewhere I would like to track down the article.

http://www.mcnbuiltinbritain.co.uk/

[el-nicko]

Mmmmm, Love that CX, and there's even more good stuff here boys and girls. http://www.mcnbuiltinbritain.co.uk/bib_gallery.php

[Twinspark]

If this year was a good year... I'd hate to see what a bad year is like!

I found it a dull and dismal waste of money.

A large proportion of the kit being flogged there was of incredibly poor quality - and the branded stuff was largely no cheaper than buying online.

And I'm not one of those gurning retards who'll spend hours bouncing up and down on bikes like I've never seen one before.

Oh, and the women. I grew out of that 20 years ago. Absolutely nothing attractive about them at all.

Blimey, you must be getting jaded in your old age.

You are right about the kit, there was a lot of poor stuff there, but also the odd bargain amongst it.

I had my 15 year old with me for the first time and he loved the day. His enthusiasm must have rubbed of on me. He enjoyed stuff I would normally not even stop for. Some of the smaller bikes for example that I would normally walk past, and when you do stop you realise just how cool some of the entry level bikes are.

And who can grow out of attractive women? It might not be PC, but seeing a great looking girl brightens my day, even when you see a look of pity in return...haha.

Well, the modern bikes do nothing for me. In fact, I came to realise very quickly that looking at bikes is very dull indeed.

As for the women - if you like them orange with makeup applied by a plasterer in the morning, then you're welcome to them. But I can't see anything attractive about it - or about the kind of women who parade themselves around as objects to be drooled upon by sad old wankers.