Category Archives: Shows and Events

Motorcycle Live, Shows and Events

New Honda Models to Make UK Debut at Motorcycle Live

Honda is gearing up for this year’s Motorcycle Live show at the Birmingham NEC (23 Nov – 1 Dec), where a number of its exciting new-for-2014 models will be on show to a UK audience for the very first time.

Many of the new Honda models have only recently been unveiled at the International Motorcycle Show in Milan (EICMA), so visitors to Motorcycle Live will be amongst the first in Europe to see the latest two-wheeled offerings that carry the Honda wing.

Expanding on the uniquely wide and varied range, Honda offers a host of new or upgraded machines for 2014. The new additions highlight Honda’s tradition of technical innovation and desire to attract both a new generation of motorcyclists and existing two-wheel lovers.

New for 2014 are the CBR1000RR Fireblade SP – Featuring engine enhancements and equipped with Öhlins suspension and Brembo brakes for even sharper on-track performance; the CTX1300 – A distinctive custom cruiser, offering a unique combination of comfort and technology; and the CBR650F and CB650F – A stylish new middleweight pair, designed from inception by a young team of Honda engineers, the CB650F is a naked bike with streetfighter style and attitude, while the CBR650F is a sleek sports machine. Both feature a new liquid-cooled 650cc four-cylinder engine, tuned for high torque, especially in the low to mid rpm range.

Several machines are significantly upgraded for 2014, including the VFR800F – Given a totally new look and a host of upgrades including ABS, heated grips, adjustable seat and self-cancelling indicators; Integra, NC750X, NC750S – The trio of models introduced in 2011, receive further utility enhancements and an increase in engine capacity for more power and torque and even better fuel consumption; CBR300R – More power and torque from a bigger capacity engine, and Fireblade-inspired styling for the motorcycle that represents the first step into Honda’s Super Sport line-up.

Alongside the gleaming new metal on display, star visits are also planned on the Honda stand from some of Honda’s top two-wheeled racers, including John McGuinness, Jonathan Rea, Leon Haslam and Alex Lowes.

Younger visitors to the Honda stand will be able to get their first taste of riding and experience just what it’s like to get on a Honda motorcycle with Honda’s unique ‘My First Licence’. Children between the ages of 5 and 11 can take a supervised ride around a specially constructed street scene, and experience the fun of two wheels, whilst also learning about road safety and awareness. It is the perfect introduction to motorcycling and the start of the journey for any budding young rider.

The Honda stand (Hall 2 – 2D30) will encapsulate a bold new design concept that will make you ask yourself questions about what type of rider you are or want to be, what you seek in a motorcycle and why you choose to live unlike the others. It should be the first destination on any showgoer’s schedule!

Shows and Events

Get On

Life’s Better on two wheels

If you’re thinking of getting on two wheels for the first time or coming back to motorcycling after time away Get On is the experience for you! This was where visitors could experience life on two wheels in a specially constructed area with expert tuition on either a scooter or a 125cc motorcycle – FOR FREE courtesy of the industry Get On Campaign!

Get On, an industry backed campaign, encourages non riders to enjoy the benefits of motorcycling, and to welcome back those who have stopped riding but want to start again, by offering a free taster session at centres around the country – including Motorcycle Live.

Advice, information and a place to share your experience

You can find lots of useful stuff on the Get On website www.geton.co.uk. Read about training and what licence requirements there are, tips on safer and better riding, advice on what kit you need, how to choose it and where to buy it, and suggestions for getting more out of your riding. There’s also a growing online community of new and returning riders, where you can share your photos and videos, ask questions of other new riders and our panel of experts, and tell us how your free ride went.

‘Get On’ is brought to you by the leading motorcycle manufacturers, dealers and other companies in the motorcycle market, through the Motorcycle Industry Association (MCIA). When we say motorcycles, we include motorbikes, scooters and mopeds.

Shows and Events

Test Ride Zone

Supported by Shoei, Sidi and Spada

The Test Ride Zone will make a welcome return to Motorcycle Live thanks to Shoei, Sidi and Spada, and a great line up of bikes from leading manufacturers for you to ride out on the open road. Accompanied by out-riders visitors got a real feel for their chosen bike and then got the chance to wander to the manufacturer for any questions they may have.

Along with a FREE ride, all the safety equipment is provided to keep you safe on the road, along with an experienced product technician to ensure all the kit fits correctly. So visitors travelling to the show by train or car – are still able ride, using gear kindly provided by Shoei, Sidi and Spada.

Participation is subject to availability, all safety equipment is provided and you must be over the age of 21, hold a Full UK motorcycle licence and bring both parts of this with you for verification. If you have a full licence which is non-UK, please contact us at enquiries@motorcyclelive.co.uk to pre-verify your eligibility. Verification does NOT guarantee a place on the feature – places are booked on a first come, first served basis. We operate zero tolerance on alcohol consumption and breath tests may be required.

Bikes available (so far) with thanks to the manufacturers:

CCM

GP 450 Adventure

Ducati

Multistrada
Hypermotard

Honda

CB 500 FA
CB 500 XA
CBR 500 RA
NSS 300 A FORSA

Kawasaki

Ninja 300
ER-6n
Z 880 e version

KTM

200 Duke
690 Duke
1190 Adventurer

Suzuki

GSR 750
Gladius 650
GSX 1250 FA
Inazuma 250
GSX 1300 R Hyabusa
GSXR 1000
GSXR 750
C 1500 T (Intruder)
Burgman 650 A
V-Strom 650 A

Victory

Judge
Boardwalk
Crossroads

Yamaha

FJR 1300 AS
XT1200Z Super Tenere
YZF-R1
MT-09
MT-09
XV950
XMAX 400

Information correct as at 13/11/2013

Shows and Events

Crank’d – Live Action Show

Crank’d – A brand new two-wheeled show set for Motorcycle Live

The UK’s top two-wheeled talents are lining up to showcase their sensational skills at this year’s Motorcycle Live in an all-new show that threatens to rip the roof off the NEC!

Crank’d takes homegrown superstars from BMX, Mountain Bike Trials, Motorcycle Trials and road bike stunt riding and then blends these pedal and petrol-powered performers together for a battle of the cranks over a bespoke indoor playground comprising dirt ramps, jump boxes, high jumps and flatland sections!

With internet sensation Christian ‘DJ-BBQ’ Stevenson hosting three shows each day and four at a weekend over the duration of Motorcycle Live, Crank’d will feature former Youth World Champion Jack Challoner alongside Alexz Wigg. Two-time World BMX Champ Kye Forte will also take part with fellow BMX riders Ben Hennon, Bob Manchester and Kona Hellier, plus former British MTB Trials champion Chris Doney along with Chris Akrigg. All riders will also take part in autograph sessions.

Last summer 30-year-old Kye broke the Guinness World Record for a BMX High Jump when he cleared a bar set at almost 21 feet – a feat that’s attracted in excess of 200,000 YouTube views. The exact same ramp will be used in the Crank’d set up with another attempt at the Guinness world record attempt taking place at Motorcycle Live!

Crank’d will run at:

11.30, 1.00pm, 2.30pm and 4.00pm Friday, Saturdays and Sundays.

12.00, 2.00pm and 3.30pm on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

Shows and Events

Nick Sanders STEAMPUNK Cinema

My first ‘motorcycle cinema’ concept was launched at Motorcycle Live in 2009. I’d been talking the idea through with the organisers for a year or so before that and when it arrived in the shape of a big blue tent, it was a great success. There were literally queues to come and sit inside and watch an 8 minute film especially for the show. My usherettes gave out popcorn and I gave a personal talk before each screening.

The next year continued with the experiment with a new film and we just about got the same reaction. For the past four years my motorcycle cinema idea has been really well reviewed by audiences as shown in the shows’ research.

A NEW STYLE APPROACH

The great maxim in the showbiz world is “never bore your audience” and as an adventure writer and filmmaker, I am known for being progressive, or at least try to be. This year we are doing something completely different.

Capturing the mood of a brand new fashion called ‘Steampunk’ – itself a mix of Jules Verne steam mechanicals fused with a bit of the Wild West – the cinema will no longer be in a tent but composed of a newly built film cube housing two super large 70inch television monitors. Sound effects will be awesome and the whole thing will give off the appearance of being driven by steam. Hey, it’s a hoot, and in my opinion what going to a ‘show’ is all about!

Instead of one 8 minute film which you have to sit down too, now we will run two smaller 3 minute films that change every half an hour. It’s free and you just come and hang around my cinema stand and we make you feel just right at home with old-fashioned hospitality. I’ve filmed hundreds of great people and great situations and they all appear as if part of my life.

LAUNCH OF AUTOBIOGRAPHY
It’s been a long time in the thinking, but volume one of my life story, entitled, “The Extraordinary Life of an Ordinary Man,” will be launched at Motorcycle Live, and 10 brand new never before seen short films will be shown on the hour and the half hour for your amusement and interest, each one representing a slice of my life during my motorcycling years. The content of these films will be released nearer the time, and don’t forget, we have great girls dressed up in steampunk fashion, loads of pop corn and free books and DVD’s and I’ll be there all of the time. Look forward to your visit.

You can purchase my autobiography online here

The building and development of my wonderfully mad apparatus will be posted on twitter and facebook, the details of which you’ll find here and on my own sitewww.nicksanders.com.

Shows and Events

ACU Try Trials

This year the Auto Cycle Union Ltd (ACU), in conjunction with BUMPY (Birstall Urban Motorcycle Project for Youth) will be providing members of the public with the opportunity to try out the sport of trials during a free of charge with trials riding session.

BUMPY is a charity which was set up in 1989 to provide a safe, supervised place for people of all ages and abilities to get involved in riding motorbikes on road and off road. Bumpy also educate young people who attend their facility in a range of programs including drugs awareness and the fire service are built into projects, motorcycles being the tool to engage the young people.

Over the years, Bumpy have changed, adapted and improved their facilities to provide the services which they can deliver, to a diverse clientele, many being hard to reach young people including those with disabilities and learning difficulties. Bumpy have close links with young people’s services along with the local church groups bring community cohesion into the heart of Bumpy.

The ACU Try Trials sessions are 15 minutes in duration and include full instruction from ACU certified coaches. All appropriate protective clothing will be provided. Trials riding demonstrations by the ACU coaches will also take place daily with times to be confirmed.

To be eligible to take part you must be able to prove:

You are at least 16 years of age (if under 18, you must have a parent or legal guardian with you to sign you on)

You have a valid DVLA motorcycle licence or have an ACU competition licence

Sessions will commence from around 10.15am daily and can be booked on a first come first served basis by visiting the ACU stand 2D60 in Hall 2.

BMW Motorrad, Goodwood

‘Concept 90′ is one of 40 iconic motorcycles celebrating ninety years of BMW Motorrad at the Goodwood

BMW Motorrad invites motorsport enthusiasts to join them at the prestigious Festival of Speed at Goodwood on 12-14 July, and help celebrate 90 years of BMW. The momentous occasion will be marked with a display of over forty historic and current BMW motorcycles, representing nine decades of BMW.

Visitors will see some of the most iconic BMW motorcycles produced between 1923 and 2013, including the 90-year-old R32, the original GS from 1980, an S 1000 RR World Superbike and the ‘C evolution’ electric scooter. In addition, the ‘Concept 90’, designed by Roland Sands, will be making its UK debut on the stand.

Highlights from the range of classic and modern BMW motorcycles includes:
● 1923 R 32 – BMW Motorrad’s first ever motorcycle.
● 1939 Type 255 Kompressor – Georg Meier’s TT-winning race bike.
● 1973 R 90 S – 40 years ago this superbike won the first AMA race.
● 1980 R 80 G/S – the class-defining first adventure bike.
● 1989 K1 – BMW Motorrad’s first fully-faired sports bike.
● 2013 S 1000 RR WSBK – first BMW ever to win a World Superbike race.
● ‘C evolution’ – BMW’s electric scooter prototype.
● ‘Concept 90’ – original concept bike inspired by the R 90 S, and designed in collaboration with Roland Sands.

In addition to the machines on display at the BMW Pavilion and the 90 years of BMW Motorrad stand, a number of high performance BMW motorcycles and cars will be taking part in the timed Hill Climb on Lord March’s world-famous 1.16 mile drive.

BMW Motorrad Goldbet World Superbike racer Chaz Davies will be tackling the Hill Climb on the new BMW HP4 – and will also be around to sign autographs and meet fans during the weekend.

BMW stunt star Mattie Griffin, one of the best freestyle stunt riders in the world, will also be at the Festival of Speed, treating visitors to a dazzling show of skills including burnouts, stoppies and wheelies, while making his run up the Goodwood Hill on his modified BMW F 800 R.

Visitors to Goodwood can explore the BMW Pavilion and see a range of cars and motorcycles, as well as displays showcasing the brand’s advanced technology and rich heritage. For four-wheeled enthusiasts, the BMW Pavilion will include a number of high performance M-series cars and the ground-breaking i3 electric car.

Shows and Events

2014 Launch For Big Kent Bike Show

THE team behind some of Britain’s biggest and best motorcycle shows is consolidating this year’s programme before further expansion in 2014.

Classic Bike Shows, organiser of events such as the International Dirt Bike Show and the International Classic MotorCycle Show, had planned to launch a new event this September in the garden of England – the Carole Nash Big Kent Bike Show.

But, having already taken on successful new events at Lanark and Newark over the past year, the decision has now been made to reschedule the Kent launch for 2014.

The Kent County Showground in Detling will remain as the venue, with the delay allowing for planned renovation work to get underway at the location, meaning enhanced and redeveloped facilities will be in place when the much-anticipated weekend arrives.

Exhibition manager Nick Mowbray said: “Having expanded our portfolio of events in the last year, we have taken a decision that gives us the necessary time to inject the kind of quality into the Big Kent Bike Show that is expected of us by our visitors.”