RIDE’S month in bikes

Busy weekend for RIDE at the London Motorcycle Show

THE ANNUAL PILGRIMAGE to the EXCEL centre in Docklands for the Carole Nash London Motorcycle Show was particularly rewarding this year for Team RIDE. As well as giving talks on the adventure stage, we spent the weekend meeting and chatting with readers attending the event.

This year’s show was bustling, with more than 40,000 visitors attending over the three days. All the major manufacturers were present, with crowded stands as people got close to the year’s new models.

The big event at the show was the Thunderdrome — a board-track-style race with banking in the middle of the hall. It saw racers including Chris Walker, former World Superbike champions Neil Hodgson and Carl Fogarty, and WSB and GP racer Ruben Xaus, as well as British flat-track stars Tom and Tim Neave going sideways to the delight of the crowds several times throughout the day.

Elsewhere in the hall, TT legend John Mcguinness was giving talks, Triumph unveiled and ran-up the new 765 Moto2 bike, there was a huge custom competition and the “Barnfind of the Year” competition, won by a 1947 BSA A7. There was also the Coys auction with dozens of beautiful, historic and collectable bikes under the hammer.

The popularity of the show means there will be a second event in London this year, the all-new MCN Ally Pally Show and Supersprint at North London’s Alexandra Palace on September 22-23.

STOP PRESS

As we sent this issue to print, the severe weather forced the cancellation of the Scottish Motorcycle Show. It has been rescheduled for April 7-8. Tickets bought for the original dates (March 3-4) will still be valid.