Levelling Up...A Northern Bike Show
Deets from the Manchester Bike Show from our Northern Correspondent
John Newman
Art For Petrolheads
Once upon a time the ill famed Spaghetti Junction in Birmingham was the network that motorists, and motorcyclists, would have problems negotiating if their concentration lapsed. This was well before sat navs deleted the skills related to direction finding and map reading.
Now the Manchester ring road, the M60, vies for the 'confusing road network' title; judging by the number of late (and dangerous) manouveres I witness each time I'm unfortunate enough to have to use it. Such an occasion occurred on the 29th January, a day of high winds and squally showers as storm Malik passed over us.
I don't expect to be contemplating using the bike much in mid-winter. But mild temperatures and lack of significant snow fall, even in the Pennine region of W Yorkshire has meant I've been able to ride out some days rather than keep the battery on trickle charge. I did however make a decision to use four wheels to make the journey to take in the Manchester Bike Show. It was going ahead two days after the government had relaxed Covid rules, postponed from its original date in 2020. There is no enjoyable route from my area into Manchester and being blown around on the high moorland stretch of the M62 was not an appealing prospect.
Rubble And Dust
In the far, far distant future when archeologists and historians dig into this period of human habitation, what will they make of Manchester's Trafford Centre? Will its remains reveal a massive palace dedicated to all things consumer and leisure? Or will it all have turned to unidentifiable rubble and dust? But now in the early 21st century it stands as a monument to shopping and the car. Traffic queues up on the M60 exit ramp to join further queues to find parking spaces.
Event City
It was here in an adjacent complex named 'Event City' that the bike show was being held, in a big hanger-like building known as Hall 3. As I was circulating the rows and rows of cars looking for a space, I was slightly ashamed. A lot of people had used their bikes to get here, and they certainly had an easier time finding space than us laggards who had opted out of a two wheel trip.
I was a bit more enthusiastic about this event than most other shows. The organisers website had advertised a lot of club and owners group stands, which usually provides a variety of interest aside from the glittering new offerings from the makers and manufacturers; and endless rows of helmets, and racks of clothing. I found out in conversation with one of the clubs, that space had been offered free to these non-commercial organisations and groups.
Sling A Leg Over And Try...
The size of the venue meant that there was plenty of space to move around and attendance was very healthy. Very few face masks could be seen. The only crowded spaces were the stands of the major manufacturers in attendance:
Kawasaki, Suzuki, Indian, Royal Enfield. The attraction here, as ever, is to be able to sling a leg over and try the riding position and seat height etc.
Benelli also had a good range of bikes on display. This famous Italian marque, founded in 1911, has been owned by the giant Qianjiang Chinese corporation since 2005. This company employs 140,000 people and turns out thousands and thousands of bikes, mostly lightweights for the far east market. The importers, Moto GB, based at Chorley in Lancashire, had a number of models displayed, and the larger machines are equiped with 502cc engines, and priced around £5K. With a 752cc engined model at £6.5K, keen prices make it well worth checking the ride reviews if you're in the market.
CCM are bike builders located in Bolton. Their history is based on turning out competitively successful moto cross machines - known as scramblers back in the day. Their model range has gone through a number of evolutionary periods, but they are now producing hand built 'street' machines called
Spitfire - an allusion to the Second World War plane.
The design and specification radiates quality; and the curved trellis type frame is truly pleasing on the eye and, weighing in at 135kgs, for certain to be easy handling. They are due to build a limited edtion of 300 of these bikes, which can be constructed to people's own configuration. But with a base price five pounds short of ten grand. It seems a lot to pay for a bike with perhaps limited all round utility. Unless your riding is mainly posing on the sea front in San Diego or LA
All That Glitters
All that glitters usually attracts and it was hard to ignore the stand-out colours on the
Art for Petrolheads display. They produce idiosyncratic posters of bike racers, and other race related motor sports. They have been around for a good few years, but this is the first time I've seen them at a bike show. Others may be more familiar with their work. Check out their website at
Art For Petrolheads before they have to rename themselves to take account of the fast approaching electric era...plugheads?
Thirty two club stands were listed in the show guide. Some merited just a glance, as I'd seen them before or knew of their efforts or purpose; for example
Blood Bikes.
I stopped to take a picture of the
Evolution Womens MCC, and was soon engaged by one of their members keen to talk about the club and how it's expanding throughout the UK.
The Lancashire Slow Riders raised a smile with their display of mopeds and cyclomotors. I declare an interest, as I'm in the very final stages of restoring a
1962 French Velosolex cyclomotor.
On the
Ducati Owners stand was the rarest of two wheeled conveyances; a
1949 Ducati 60: that's as in 60cc. This little bike was unrestored and perhaps looked better for it. Then at the other end of the size scale a magnificent old
Harley with a sidecar the size of many of today's studio flats.
Entertaining
If you needed entertaining an arena space was cordonned off for the Steve Colley stunt show. He has won just about everything in trials and related competition, nationally and across the world. The Delrays, a three piece post-rockabilly outfit, and a DJ provided music, and it was possible to linger or loiter at the food and bar concessions close by.
A good bike show Manchester
People have waited a long time to take in these events. We can only hope it heralds a summer of good riding and bike related action and activity.
Yes indeed! Thanks so much for this great and interesting story and pictures John, very much appreciated, sounds lke one not to be missed. If anyone else went along we'd love to hear your comments too - email us at -
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