Jimmy Walker has been living in the UK for a while now, which is why we haven't heard from him for some time. Last year he went and checked out the NEC Bike Show for us...
I left the golden beaches of the “land Down Under” to go home to Scotland with my Aussie Bride during 2021. Late last year I decided to visit the UKs premier bike show at the NEC in Birmingham to see what’s new what’s coming and what’s cool…
As you enter the arena, you’re met with someone’s idea of a dream bike garage consisting of: A Vincent Black Shadow, Ducati 851, an early Fireblade an early YZF-R1, Yamaha Fs1-E, VFR750R, GSX-R750 Slingshot, and a ’73 Z900…
As you enter the arena, you’re met with someone’s idea of a dream bike garage consisting of: A Vincent Black Shadow, Ducati 851, an early Fireblade an early YZF-R1, Yamaha Fs1-E, VFR750R, GSX-R750 Slingshot, and a ’73 Z900, all in immaculate condition. These bikes were on the walls of every young blokes bedroom in the ’70s and ’80s.
The return of the two-stroke! Langen are leading the charge in the UK, they’re not cheap though…
Moving on, we came across a stand that displayed a new very trick two-stroke from Langen, a company in the north of England. Churning out a claimed 76bhp from a V-Twin counter rotating 250 and weighing in at only 114kg. The guys tell me its got computer controlled oil injection and custom fuel injection and will push it to around 224km/h. Kit like this doesn’t come cheap though at £28,000 (that’s around $45,000 AUD).
Electric bikes are on the up! It’s great to see the Maeving brand get the styling on-point.
Next to catch my eye is the Maeving, homegrown in the UK. A lightweight electric café racer/bobber style city bike. It sounds like so many others except for the fact it sports not one, but two removable batteries that can be charged using any ordinary plug socket .
At a top speed of 72km/h its not going to break any records and its range with both batteries in is a modest 128km. The £5,995 ($10,000 aud) price tag is average I guess, but it’s a step towards affordable versatile two wheeled city transport .. and it looks cool.
As I tripped through the usual major manufacturers stands, there are few offerings that turn my grey haired head. Honda’s CVT Auto 750 planted seeds of getting my missus on two wheels, quickly dispelled by financial constraints. I’m tempted by the new breed of naked bikes, but find myself drawn to things like Kawasaki’s Z900R, proving that I’m well and truly stuck in the past. Unfortunately, nothing new peaked my interest.
Check out our review of the new BSA Gold Star here…
So off I went to find the retro lot, BSA’s new 650 single looked nice and I’d love a ride on it. To me, the BSA is a grand too dear when you can get the same, if not better, jollies on a Royal Enfield Interceptor, the BSA trail bike looks interesting though.
I stumble across a small stand with a typical “Pommie built in his shed” bike… The Mac bike company is owned and run by two blokes that are the epitome of the independent British bike builder. A hand built 500 Single with a beautifully crafted frame and minimal looks, it embodies that spirit of engineering that the Brits are so famous for.
Onwards to the Back Street Heroes stand and there are some really impressive custom bikes: a really nice replica of the Gooses Kawasaki Z1000 from Mad Max, a Rat bike RD400 winning “best butchered classic” and some nice chops with awesome Iron Maiden paint jobs. But, it isn’t as big a show as I remember from years ago, maybe that’s just a sign of the times.
That’s all from me over in the U.K for now! We are planning a trip to this years Isle of Man TT, Hopefully, I’ll be putting a small feature together for that!
2022 NEC Bike Show Gallery
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