GO LARGE AT A EURO SHOW
Experience the glitz and glamour of Europe’s biggest new-bike bonanza
‘See every new bike months before they arrive here’ ‘They make the UK’s shows seem more like village fetes’
I’ve been going to foreign motorcycle shows since 2001 and despite every year telling myself this season will be my last, I simply can’t give them up. So what’s the attraction? Imagine the NEC Show, but about six times bigger, with every manufacturer trying to out-do the next by wheeling out celebrities and MotoGP riders to unveil their latest new models in front of an expectant audience. Add to this dancers, pyrotechnics, thumping music and enormous stands that make the ones in the UK seem like village fetes, and you get a small idea of what the attraction is. And there is more. Political correctness is yet to arrive at the European bike shows (especially in Italy) and manufacturers also battle to secure the most glamorous models to attract the crowds to view their bikes. Squeezed into figure-hugging catsuits, these beautiful women do their very best to maintain a sexy allure while the bike they are sitting on rotates slowly on a plinth. To be honest it’s quite a comical sight (I’m a bit gutted I missed the Panigale V4 being knocked over by one at the Milan Show last year) but judging by the number of iPhones being aimed at them, it is certainly a draw. But for me it’s all about the metal, not the flesh.
If, like me, you are a bike nerd, and there is nothing wrong with that, visiting a show gives you the chance to get up close and personal with every new bike months before they arrive in dealers. You can sit on them, try them out for size and make an informed decision if you want to put a deposit down to secure one before the post-NEC Motorcycle Live rush. And unlike in the UK where stand space is limited, in Europe all of the colour variations are on display and some look far better in the flesh than in photographs. However, as thrilling as the new models are, I love the smaller stands that inhabit the outskirts of the show halls. Set back from the established manufacturers, these smaller businesses make up the show’s diverse reach. In Italy especially
you can often stumble upon a beautiful special or a historic marque that is being brought back to life by an enthusiastic new owner, which is exactly what happened when I chanced upon the Segoni in 2016 with its gold-plated frame. They are always willing to chat and are often incredibly passionate about their product and delighted that someone else is showing an interest. And keep your eyes peeled because you never know who you will bump into. One year I remember spotting a chap walking around the Milan Show in a hideous leather jacket, only to clock it was Jorge Lorenzo. Another year I bumped into Pierre Terblanche (designer of the Ducati 999) who was deep in conversation with David Robb (former head of BMW’s design) and Miguel Galluzzi (designer of the original Ducati Monster). I’ve also spoken to Kunihiko Miwa (designer of the original YZF-R1), Agostini and Kevin Schwantz to name-drop just a few. Valentino Rossi tends to keep himself hidden from the crowds, but he does occasionally appear at the Milan Show to keep Yamaha, AGV or Dainese happy.
As if all of the above isn’t enough to tempt, consider this: For the 2018 Cologne Show I got Ryanair tickets for £14.99 each way from Stanstead! Add a £50 hotel in Cologne and I’ll be at the show for less than £150 allin, which was enough to sway me into attending again. Not that it was ever truly in doubt.