Last weekend, Carolina and I headed up to Birmingham to go to Motorcycle Live at the NEC. Last yeat I left the show feeling a little deflated and I was a little concerned that this year I'd have a similar reaction to the show. I shouldn't have worried as the show was frankly excellent, with some very high profile bikes on display. Probably, for me, this year was the best one I'd been to so far. I left the NEC feeling very content and that was knowing I'd missed out a few bits of the snow (stunt shows and the stage area mainly) which didn't really interested me very much. Here is part one of my review.
Honda
Honda's bike bike news was dominated by the 2017 FireBlade and seeing the bikes in the metal didn't disappoint. Noticeably narrower that previous years bikes, they had a great display showing a mint 1992 a first generation 893 in classic HRC colours, a second generation Urban Tiger 918 and a 929 from 2000 and directed down to the site of the 2017 machine. Although the lineage was incomplete (no 954, 1000 RR, or RR8s for example) it highlighted how proud Honda remain of their hertiage.
Honda
Honda's bike bike news was dominated by the 2017 FireBlade and seeing the bikes in the metal didn't disappoint. Noticeably narrower that previous years bikes, they had a great display showing a mint 1992 a first generation 893 in classic HRC colours, a second generation Urban Tiger 918 and a 929 from 2000 and directed down to the site of the 2017 machine. Although the lineage was incomplete (no 954, 1000 RR, or RR8s for example) it highlighted how proud Honda remain of their hertiage.
The full Honda range was on show, from their Africa Twin to the their smaller friendlier options, but Honda being Honda, they also had representations of their race bikes on the stands as well, which are always worth looking at. The star of the show was this Marquez replica.
Ducati
The big news coming off the Ducati stand was talk of three bikes which find themselves at the exteme ends of Ducati's 2017 range. Firstly there was the new Supersport and the mini Multistrada, which is most likely taking aim at the smaller Tiger in Triumphs range and the ever growing number of bikes in BMW's GS family. The Supersport represents a bike which is reviving an older name and is in reality a Monster with a fairing, although I'm sure Ducati will disagree. The bike is supposed to sit under the 959 with a more relaxed riding position, but one that still carries that distinctive Ducati look, but hang on a second, this is the same market that the mini Strada will be sitting in isn't it?
I know Ducati are riding on the crest of a wave at the moment and I still love the brand, but I'm concerned that they are just putting out new models because they can. For proof of this, just look at the ever growing Scrambler range (also a Monster clone in my opinion). There are now six different varients all based around the same concept, with the original idea being joined by the Desert Sled, Cafe Racer (which I will admit is by far the best of the bunch) and the recently released Sixty2.
The big news coming off the Ducati stand was talk of three bikes which find themselves at the exteme ends of Ducati's 2017 range. Firstly there was the new Supersport and the mini Multistrada, which is most likely taking aim at the smaller Tiger in Triumphs range and the ever growing number of bikes in BMW's GS family. The Supersport represents a bike which is reviving an older name and is in reality a Monster with a fairing, although I'm sure Ducati will disagree. The bike is supposed to sit under the 959 with a more relaxed riding position, but one that still carries that distinctive Ducati look, but hang on a second, this is the same market that the mini Strada will be sitting in isn't it?
I know Ducati are riding on the crest of a wave at the moment and I still love the brand, but I'm concerned that they are just putting out new models because they can. For proof of this, just look at the ever growing Scrambler range (also a Monster clone in my opinion). There are now six different varients all based around the same concept, with the original idea being joined by the Desert Sled, Cafe Racer (which I will admit is by far the best of the bunch) and the recently released Sixty2.
At the other end of the spectrum, we have the beautiful 1299 Superleggera. Sporting the WSBK double exhausts, this bike was drawing a lot attention in the same way the H2R had in previous years. Finished in a wonderful matt finish, its was Ducati doing what they do best. Building exotica that the vast majority of us will never ride.
Sandwiched somewhere in the middle Ducati showed us the updated Monster 1200s, which still suffer from awful peg / exhaust guard positioning, a new 797 Monster, their globe trotting Multistrada as well as other models in the range such as the Diavel, Hypermotard, 959 and normal 1299 Panigale. I say normal, its still over £21,000.
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