Motorcycle Live - meh or yeah?

[mangocrazy]

I'm still undecided. I'd like to see the R9 and compare with the XSR900 but can probably do that for free next year in my local dealers.

And as far as I can see there's no reduction in entrance fee for old gits like me. Mind you, that probably also applies to nearly half the visitors...

[MrLongbeard]

Yep, all 3 of us are going, we usually go every other year, decent enough family day out, if left on my tod I'd probably have seen everything in a couple of hours

[Horse]

I'm going. But someone else is arranging my ticket

Edit: the BMW R1300GS off-road demo last year was worth watching.

[Skub]

I used to go to the NEC,it was a real eye opener compared to our parochial efforts,but I haven't been for some time now. I need to buy a plane ticket and I really can't be arsed. Probably more down to me than the show itself. I seem to be gravitating towards classic bikes and losing interest in new stuff.

[Scootabout]

I've been disappointed enough times with these shows not to bother, especially for the price they charge.

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

I went last year, it was distinctly meh

[ChrisW]

I'm another 'enjoy seeing them on the internet & wait for them to be in the dealerships' these days. That way you get to have a go on them too

[Dodgy69]

Imo, it's still a half decent day out, but my mate ain't going so I won't bother. Took a pack lunch last year. Nice.

[mangocrazy]

Just noticed that Piaggio group are one of the conspicuous absentees. So no Aprilia, Moto Guzzi etc. Which is a shame.

[Mr. Dazzle]

My Dad is going.

I'm going to The Good Food Show next door, with my Mum

[Tomcat]

Ally Pally was always a nice place to visit, if only to look at the architecture. But F*ck spending loadsamoney just to walk round a glorified bike supermarket full of stuff you can't buy and tat you don't want to buy.

[Cousin Jack]

Too far for a day visit, too expensive* to stay overnight.

* As in not worth the money.

[mboy]

Been distinctly meh for a few years now, but I've got sooooooo many new bikes I want to see this year that have launched recently, there's no way I'm not going!

I reserve the right to moan like buggery about the price of car parking there though if I don't manage to avoid it...

[MrLongbeard]

I reserve the right to moan like buggery about the price of car parking there though if I don't manage to avoid it...

Buy in advance, cheaper init

[mboy]

I reserve the right to moan like buggery about the price of car parking there though if I don't manage to avoid it...

Buy in advance, cheaper init

Not if you use the tried and trusted tactic of leaving the show after the car park attendants have gone home!

Probably going with a mate who'll be in a wheelchair this time around (he's going in for surgery on his ankle this coming Monday), so should be able to blag disabled parking if so...

Alternatively, a different mate swears by the fumbling around looking for your wallet approach, and causing a commotion with those queuing behind you, before saying "I think it's in the boot" before the parking attendant gives in and raises the barrier out of embarrassment and just lets him through...

[Yorick]

Alternatively, a different mate swears by the fumbling around looking for your wallet approach, and causing a commotion with those queuing behind you, before saying "I think it's in the boot" before the parking attendant gives in and raises the barrier out of embarrassment and just lets him through...

That's something us "careful" Yorkshire folk are taught at junior school

[mangocrazy]

Depending on availability of rail links, I'd use the train every time. Book in advance and lock in a cheap return fare.

[Mr. Dazzle]

I reserve the right to moan like buggery about the price of car parking there though if I don't manage to avoid it...

Buy in advance, cheaper init

Not if you use the tried and trusted tactic of leaving the show after the car park attendants have gone home!

I'd guess ANPR has been the death of that tactic

Incidentally....if we book to park for the good food show its £13.95 to park, for motorcycle live its £10. Three of us are sharing a car, so at least one of us is parking in the wrong place

Depending on availability of rail links, I'd use the train every time. Book in advance and lock in a cheap return fare.

I just looked at doing that, it hadn't occurred to me.

Cheapest I can find is £39 for a 40 minute train ride!

[mboy]

I'd guess ANPR has been the death of that tactic

You'd guess wrong... Car parks at NEC are still manned and no ANPR that I know of there...

Would go on the train myself, but likelihood is I'll want to buy something... And I live 3 miles from the train station here (where there's no parking), it's only 30 miles away but takes 1hr20 including a change at Birmingham New Street, costs approx £20ea (it's free to drive in my work van effectively cos all costs already paid) too...

Cheapest I can find is £39 for a 40 minute train ride!

Christ, I thought it was expensive from Worcester!!!

[Mr. Dazzle]

no ANPR that I know of there...

Probably worth confirming before they confirm it for you

Train price makes no sense I can see (other than the standard "Trains are expensive" reason/excuse).

It's the Birmingham<->London mainline train for me, no changes and dead quick. And take the piss expensive. I looked on Trainline.com and it said "tickets from £7" for that journey. I couldn't even find this mythical £7 ticket when I went digging in the 2AM bin, it was still £19.

I'm gonna drive