Thumbs up for a chilly N.E.C.

Apart from the freaky weather I have to say last week’s Carole Nash Motorcycle Live N.E.C. show was the best Birmingham event I've attended in the ten years. I really appreciate the fact that manufacturers chose to ignore the recession giving us great stands to cater for every enthusiast young and old.  Aprilia made a welcome return and I don’t know anyone that didn’t enjoy admiring the WSB RSV4, surely the the most gorgeous bike on the planet? The Honda stand rarely disappoints and this year was no exception with banking bikes providing fun for all the family. I was working near the BMW display where thirty second fantasies were being lived out, as punters became Ewan McGregor on a GS in the Sahara or Troy Corser on an S1000RR at the Nurburgring. And why not?  I had just as much fun on the H.D. stand being Scott Parker on a XR 1200 flat out at the San Jose mile.

I asked my kids what they liked best about the show and unsurprisingly Taylor loved the 125 KTM Duke. It ticks every box for teenagers so let’s hope attractive finance and insurance packages are also available for our next generation of bikers. My other son Tarran, who is always a bit strange, chose a favourite product rather than a bike at the N.E.C. He was measured up for custom ear plugs by Ultimate. They cost £59.00 and his are blue with a white St. Andrews Cross through the middle.  For him, this is money is well spent as he’s bit OCD so hates ear plugs that become manky after one weekend of racing.  I told him back in the day, I would save all my dirty ear plugs then wash them in a sock.  His reply to that was, ‘that’s because you are and and always will be, tight’. Fair comment.   

By Niall Mackenzie