ExCeL Bike Show 2012

I went up to the show today with my lodger and his girlfriend. I’d heard that it was a bit of a let down in the past so was apprehensive about what to expect, I was really impressed tho and felt it was a good value show.

All the main manufacturers were there and I got a sit on the new Ducati Panigale which is a very very beautiful bike in the flesh, the only thing I disliked was the rear shock, it is in a really bad location and digs into your leg. The whole bike is tiny, I could see me on one if I had the money and didn’t have the Streetfighter.

We watched the Revolution display which was a bit bonkers with some brilliant stunts and a fun race from some of the UK’s motorcycling world champions.

There was also an intro into motorcycle gymkhana with an electric bike which I managed to get a go at.

The bike was really nice to ride although the literally instantaneous throttle was a little unsettling at first as was having a rear brake lever in the place of the clutch lever. I had a really fun time and at the time of my ride I was in the top half of times posted. I got a little lost in my practice run tho lol []

I have been wanting some decent winter riding kit for some time now and very nearly ordered some Held textiles last week but (excuse the pun) Held off to see what the show had to offer, my bank account is now a LOT lighter and I have a set of Rukka textiles, some Daytona winter boots and some Held winter gloves. I shall review them once I have worn them in anger!

I also took a leap of faith and got fitted for some custom earplugs as I have heard good reports about them and am fed up with the foam ones not fitting perfectly. They will take about 10days to be delivered tho and I shall review them too once I use them.

Anyhows, I had a wicked time and really enjoyed pretty much the whole show, well worth a trip []

Walking the course

On the start line

… and I’m off

some videos of me on the electric moto too:
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2LUKk38Idc[/youtube]
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3x4erY5PoEQ[/youtube]
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsbUe_RDVLc[/youtube]
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5isv-md34dM[/youtube]