There hasn't been much motorbike activity here recently, due to (a) snow, (b) the Triumph springing yet another oil leak from the new engine, then deciding to kill two batteries in quick succession. So for a nice change, I took the day off work yesterday and went to the London Motorcycle show at the Excel centre. In recent years this show has been a bit....boring, but I must say this year I found it most enjoyable, maybe because I'm actively looking for a new bike, and there seems to be plenty of new models around. I must admit for having the hots for the new Honda CB1100, as apparently did every other biker over the age of 55 yrs to judge by the huge crowd around it; unfortunately when I did manage to fight my way to the front and sit on it, it proved too small for my lanky limbs.
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| Picture from internet |
After sitting on just about every other bike at the show, I seemed to have narrowed the list down to Triumph Tiger XC, BMW800GS, Ducatti Multistrada (oops, too expensive), BMW R1200R (too expensive) and Triumph Thunderbird (too expensive) - which isn't much of a list if you take away the one's I can't afford. In fact, after checking out the prices of the two I thought I could afford, it seems like I may just be in the market for a used Bandit 1250, provided I can fix the Triumph and get a reasonable price for it on e-bay.
So I decided to just keep on looking around the show and admiring all the custom, specials and classics of which there were a lot more this year than previously. Here's a few photos.
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| Old Indian on Victory stand (I think Victory have just bought Indian) |
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| I know its a car, but it was very well done |
Tiger 1050?
ReplyDeleteAh, never thought of that - well done Nikos, I'll have a look at used prices. Thanks, El D
ReplyDeleteThe used 1050's are a lot less expensive than the 800's or at least over here they are.
ReplyDeleteThe show looked like fun with some neat custom bikes in attendance. The CB1100 was really popular when we went to the show in Seattle. So busy I never got to sit on it.
Hope you get the Triumph problems sorted and the bike sold so you can move on to something else.
Trobairitz - 1050 tiger does look good value, I just need to take a test ride. My Triumph is booked in next week with young Nick to fix it, so I'm hopeful it won't be too long before I'm biking again. Cheers, El D
DeleteIf i had the money Ducatti Multistrada would be the one. Am sure you had a fun filled show despite the Triumph problems. I hope that you will have the problem handled though. (Touring Motorcycles)
ReplyDeleteJanet, thanks for your comment - definitely if I had the money I'd get the Multistrada. Cheers, El D
DeleteEL D:
ReplyDeleteWhat ? no V-strom ? at least you had a nice day away from work
bob
Riding the Wet Coast
Bob, I 'd be keen when they bring out the new 1000 version, I think the 650 will struggle to lug my lardarse around! As you say - a great day off work!
ReplyDeleteBob, I 'd be keen when they bring out the new 1000 version, I think the 650 will struggle to lug my lardarse around! As you say - a great day off work!
ReplyDeleteEl D:
ReplyDeleteRumour is that the new Vstrom will be here during Spring 2014.
The Vstrom DL650 is capable of two up touring, and I can't imagine you are larger than that. The base model Triumph 800 is lower than the XC
bob
Riding the Wet Coast