The Scottish Bike Show

[moanthebairns]

It's that time of year again, the annual pilgrimage to the Scottish Bike show, located at the Royal Highland Centre (which is actually in Edinburgh, Central Scotland) is nearly upon us.
£15+booking fee or £20 on the day, plus parking, to witness what can only be described as a motorcycle themed car boot sale. All the big manufactures are guaranteed not to be there. Burger vans and sweet stalls a plenty, selling overpriced ultra-processed crap. A classics zone, with the occasional gem but mainly littered with ropey owners sportsbikes that are there just to fill a void.
A fun filled day, sitting on bikes that have been bused from their showroom to the show. To be fair, it would be a good first ride out other than the fact its scheduled at the start of fking March in Scotland, so its guaranteed to be snowing.

So is anyone else going, naturally having said I'll never be back I've only went and bought fking tickets for this as the o/h has never been and wants to go. Buzzing.....

[Fitz666]

I will be there.

I go every year, yes it's st but its all we have up here.

[Marquezs Stabilisers]

Sitting this one out this year, having a birthday party for my wee one instead. Doesn't look appealing - I'd only go for a test ride of something I couldn't afford and I could do that at a dealers tbh.

[the cueball]

Yup, I'll be there just so I can moan about how st it is.

Hopefully I won't need to have a go at the hot shot manager of the cafe giving the poor teenager a dressing down in front of paying guests.

Then went on to make a huge error herself and didn't like me talking to her the way she spoke to the girl.

But I live in hope...

The show will be st though, as always...

[hiccy18]

Was saying to the missus I'd like to actually go for a change, always seems to be something else cropping up.

Apparently we're going to a birthday party.

Oh well, maybe next year.

[Prof Prolapse]

Not a fking chance.

[mersontheperson]

Your sales pitch has tempted me, a bit like glancing over at a traffic accident. But it’s a long way, and apparently there would be a high chance of having my bike nicked. So maybe I will try something nearer which will probably have a vegan stew and Kombucha stall

[Farky]

Me and the O/H will go along, only because its only 15mins along the road and we’ve nowt else planned for the weekend……..Forecast is Snow, go figure

[neelyp]

I'm going because MTB bought me a ticket.

[archie456]

I'll be going as it's on my list of annual daft things to do, along with the dragon rally and sticking pencils in my eyes.

[the cueball]

Got to say I am pretty disappointed that Moto Guzzi and/or Jim Allan couldn't be arsed attending the show..

New, fresh, interested bike finally released... thought it would be a good idea to show it off..

[hiccy18]

the cueball said:

Got to say I am pretty disappointed that Moto Guzzi and/or Jim Allan couldn't be arsed attending the show..

New, fresh, interested bike finally released... thought it would be a good idea to show it off..

Agreed, if it had been there I'd probably go on Sunday just for a look at it.

[Tam_Mullen]

I went down a few years ago and it was terrible.

So naturally I’m heading down on Saturday morning. Im wanting a pair of fast road/race boots. No doubt get scalped with a ‘show special’

[iidentifyaswoke]

moanthebairns said:

Burger vans and sweet stalls a plenty, selling overpriced ultra-processed crap.

Will you be able to buy deep fried Mars bars?

[neelyp]

the cueball said:

Got to say I am pretty disappointed that Moto Guzzi and/or Jim Allan couldn't be arsed attending the show..

New, fresh, interested bike finally released... thought it would be a good idea to show it off..

I spoke to David Allan about this a few years back, he basically said it's not worth the hassle and expense of them disrupting showroom activities for 3/4 days and having to pay staff to work the extra days for next to no return.
Maybe if Piaggio would make a contribution it would be worth their while.

[DrEMa]

havne't been in a few years but planning on going this weekend. It's only 10 mins from me and I want to get my son some bike gear as I've just got him a pit bike.

[tvrolet]

While the actual 'show' hasn't been that great for a few years now (although I gather there are more manufacturers there this year?) for me the go-to place is the classics hall. Usually very badly signed and promoted, and some folks have been to the show and don't even realise it's there.

Apparently over 450 bikes on show this year between clubs and the general classics 'paddock' - that's the place to ogle some 'proper' bikes and have a natter. Also there are startup sessions both days outside the side door - I've the Hurricane in for that this year, glorious sounding thing; last year I also put forward the Chief but it was a bugger to start, so only the Hurricane this year.

I'll mostly be hovering around the VMCC with the Hurricane (and there's another on the TR3OC stand, can't move for the bloody things) if anyone wants to say 'Hi' and the Chief is in the general display. Only potential pain in the ass is I have to trailer the bikes across (can't ride them as I have to leave them there and get home) and I've only a single bike open trailer. So two trips across to drop-off and collect, and if the weather is as predicted they'll get bloody filthy. But they're both used and have seen dirt before, but it might mean my planned cleaning session today is a waste of time...

[the cueball]

neelyp said:

I spoke to David Allan about this a few years back, he basically said it's not worth the hassle and expense of them disrupting showroom activities for 3/4 days and having to pay staff to work the extra days for next to no return.
Maybe if Piaggio would make a contribution it would be worth their while.

Maybe back in the day but given the buzz around the new bike release and the "future of Guzzi" etc etc it would be nice for them to make an effort.

I already know they can afford for people like me to buy the bike from English dealers, they haven't even bothered to return my emails/calls about it...

[nunpuncher]

I'll head through if it's not snowing. The old man insists on manning the VMCC space both days so he's got me a free pass, I suppose the van needs a good run to clean out the dpf and my son needs some new MX kit as he's grown out of last years gear.

The description of it being like a motorcycle themed car boot sale is bang on. Can't really remember seeing any manufacturers last time I was there. Good to go to pick up some cheap(ish) kit though.

[Biker's Nemesis]

No, I last went in 2003 and vowed to never go back. I'll stay home and bang rusty nails into my Scrotum instead.