For the bike lovers...Int'l Bike Show, UK, Pics (Lots)

[klutch]

Alright, another thread from across the pond, this one from the Int'l Bike Show at the NEC in the UK.
Pretty huge venue, took time to cover it all. I got there early to sign up for the various ride-outs and demos, as the place was packed. Headed straight for the Yamaha Supermoto School to get motarded. Never tried it before, but the racing instructors were very good at explaining techniques. There were four of us in the group, and we set off on some practice laps, to get the hang of the track and bike (Yamaha 450F). After about 10 laps, they brought us in for the principals of sliding the rear out. Sounded pretty intimidating, and if anyone crashed, the "experience would be over for us, courtesy of the health and safety muppets at both ends of the track." I didn't want to push it, for fear of ending the ride for all of us, but I managed to locate my balls and started dumping it from 3rd to 1st entering the corners, swinging the rear out a bit more each time. Had a shitload of fun, no idea I could learn the basics that fast. Tempted to sell the R6 for a KTM now...




After that, wandered the show...there was a SMX arena at one end, and a stage with a 60' screen with interviews of MotoGP stars at the other, so the place was pretty lively.





New CBR






Nickey Hayden was there, and apparently so was Rossi, but only saw his bike, and not the Doctor himself...










Got a chance to ride this beast, later on....






























Finally found out why people buy Kawasaki's...
















The Ghostrider crew even had their own booth



The Koreans are invading.....


I know you can't see in the picures, but the build quality of these is pretty rough...


















Finally it was time for the Harley demo. They had 14 of the new V-Rods in various trims, all ready to go...and not just a spin around a parking lot. A bunch of us took off on a 45 minute ride out on some A-roads, and finally onto the main highways, so we could really wring out the bikes. I had never been on a cruiser before, and it was pretty incredible to start off on something like this. It weighed a ton! The V-Rod is Harley's first liquid cooled bike, and the engine is pretty rev-happy. It was developed with Porsche, and the testing they put these machines through make for a really tough engine. Rolling on the gas in 3rd, idling around 60, the bike will scream up to 140 faster than an Aprillia RSV Mille! Couldn't believe the torque...I stayed in the back of the pack, so I could keep letting off, then juicing it. Lots of those nasty speed cameras, I just hope none of them nabbed me. The bike felt really good, very well balanced, steering wasn't too heavy, and a pretty nice gearbox and light clutch.



Mine:

[logo]

wow thanks man great pictures!
not enough girls though

[Koenig]

I still maintain that gixxers are the ugliest sportbikes on the road today.

[KaJuN]

That really shows the variety of bikes that are out there today. I would say I like that retro looking orange Harley the best, but it had to go and ruin that by being a Harley. Now the retro looking Triumphs they have out...wow!

[Redliner]

Great pictures!
I wish I was there too...

[ruuman]

I went last year, it was dam good then, wish I went again. I hope they didn't have the harley davison dancers again, that was the gayest thing I have a ever seen... ever.

[BigJ]

@ the Triumphs

@ all the Harleys/Buells/Hyosungs and custom POS's

[BlaRo]

Looks like a great show. V-Rods are some of the coolest bikes out there, but those Triumph Speed Triple/Speed Fours are my favorites. (The Rocket is ugly, though...)

NOS on a bike? Sounds like fun, I oughta try that...