Is motorcycle live worth it?

[Deadonkey]

Hi,
New to bikes, been interested in getting a licence etc for a few years but haven't yet made the jump,
I thought about going to motorcycle live when it was on last year.
I'm thinking about it again but just wondered what it was actually like?

I'm about 3 hours 15 mins drive away 206 miles. So it's going to cost me a bit in petrol to get there and back.

I'm going to have to go at the weekend due to work, is it super busy at the weekends? I don't fancy queuing for ages after a 3 hour plus drive to get there!

Is it worth the long journey or is it the kind of think where I will be disappointed and have seen everything after an hour?

Any advice appreciated.

[cb1rocket]

Went Monday, def worth it, will be busy Saturday. They offer test rides too and will also do taster rides as well. Budget 2 days to see everything properly! Going again Thursday!
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[Moxey]

Went last year, don't personally rate it for the distance traveled (350 miles there and back with local club), plus ticket/entrance fee.

Most of the bargains on offer are offset by the travel/entry cost and aren't really significantly cheaper (if at all) than most online retailers IMO, the test ride stuff could be useful but only to those of age and with a license, meeting celebs and stuff isn't really my thing so wasn't too fussed about that, only part I remotely found enjoyable was sitting on a few bikes I won't be able to afford at least for the remainder of my life

Wouldn't go again, but I don't regret going, its one of those things I'm glad I have experience to know its shit rather than just assuming still wouldn't recommend it though especially for the distance you'd be travelling. Hope that helps
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[Benno]

No
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[Ariel Badger]

It is six miles from my house and it is not worth the journey.
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[Bendy]

No.

I've gone a few times simply as 'something to do' or to meet mates I've not seen in a while and generally come out wishing I hadn't bothered. I struggle to kill more than an hour in there - you've seen one bike on a stand surrounded by folk looking at it, you've seen them all. I don't need to buy any bike stuff so the shopping opportunities are limited, I've no intention of buying a new bike so I don't benefit from sitting on new models... and by the time you've paid fuel, parking, entry and overpriced lunch it ends up being nothing more than an expensive way to kill a few hours.

And yes, weekends are busy, which only makes it a more annoying experience. Though you can laugh at the folk who arrive by car wearing leathers...

[Rogerborg]

Far better to put that money into doing a CBT.
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[The Disapproving Brit]

I enjoyed it, its good if you just fancy a day out but better if you're shopping. If you are there to buy, go on Sunday - you'll get better deals because the traders don't want to lug it all back with them.
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[wodge]

I went yesterday and it wasn't too busy..

I'm a newbie with CBT and little experience. I went to the Geton area and they let me ride a ybr125 before moving on to a Gladius, I just signed on the dotted line and off I went with no wait.
Admittedly the rides were just up and down an indoor area, first gear only. The weekend will be a different kettle of fish tho and very busy!
If you are new to bikes you can learn a lot there and its good to sit on lots of bikes to see which are "your thing" without the sales pressure.
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[thepuma]

I went saturday....personally I wouldnt drive 3 hours for it. This year seemed a lot smaller than last year...lots of gear shops but I found the manufacturers stands to be smaller and less impressive than last year. ...Hondas was poor this year...and they didnt have much of a clue about the new CBR650F.
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YBR125 (SOLD) - CBR250R(SOLD) - CBR650F(SOLD) Current - Street Triple
765 RS

[Fizzer Thou]

It may well be better to look here

https://www.geton.co.uk/free-ride.html

I last went to the NEC bike show about 5 years ago.Luckily I went with 3 other friends so the banter in the car during the travelling made the journey less tedious.But petrol and £8 for parking and the cost of admission make it far less worthwhile,no matter how much MCN tries to pump it up
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[yampug]

no i've been a couple of times and both times left feeling like it wasn't worth the money diesel or effort to get there.

[Ste]

No.

Haven't been for a few years but each time I have been, it was a disappointment.

Spend the money on petrol instead.

[Howling TerrorOutOfOffice]

Depends.... ...Overall.....Probably not.

If you pre-book a train or go on the bike it's not too expensive (or wait until a nice BCF member sells you 2 tickets for £25..Ta..You know who you are ).

They had the 'Get-On' and an offroad area at this years show albeit very small. I'd suggest trying those local to you.

Minus some manufacturers this year but you could have a sit on loads of new 2014 bikes, so that may save time if you were wondering 'Does the new 1290 SuperDuke make my bum look big' or shall I go all Ewan McGregor and head for the BMW display.

Jamie Whitham (ex racer turned commentator) was good and if you're a racing nut then getting to pounce on the likes of Rutter [I bow before him] was a bonus. Getting to touch championship winning bikes...Oh yes..I've fondled Marc Marquez's RC213V amongst many other cool race bikes there.

There are better ways of wasting money, but every once in a while I go and quite enjoy it.
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[thepuma]

I went saturday....personally I wouldnt drive 3 hours for it. This year seemed a lot smaller than last year...lots of gear shops but I found the manufacturers stands to be smaller and less impressive than last year. ...Hondas was poor this year...and they didnt have much of a clue about the new CBR650F.
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YBR125 (SOLD) - CBR250R(SOLD) - CBR650F(SOLD) Current - Street Triple
765 RS

[stevo as b4]

I've had some fairly good deals on tyres, gear and parts for previous bikes over the years, but it's hit and miss, and you have to suffer fools and crowds, both of which I really dislike.

For a new rider I would personally look around on-line for clothing now, and maybe visit a good dealer that sells decent kit in case they would give you a discount seeing as you'd be after the full riding gear.

A good dealer can advise you on decent local training schools and costs of getting your license etc.

You can look at and sit on as many bikes as you like while your there, but if you have any sense your first bike will be a cheap and tidy secondhand machine brought either from a trusted secondhand dealer or in a private sale.

If you want a bike show to visit just to see awesome bikes and have a really good day out, then It's the Stafford classic motorcycle mechanics show every time!

Lastly don't forget if your looking for a cheap bike, to keep your eyes open at small ads boards in local supermarkets, and in your local paper etc. I'm lazy and I wouldn't travel too far to view a bike unless it was a specific model that I really wanted and was very hard/rare to find anywhere.

[Dean-J]

the only thing worth going for this year are the birds on the victory stands tits!
4 little orange bleach blond chav looking birds with their chebs hanging out. Tbh i can see that down the town any friday or sat night.... and i dont have to sit in a car for 2hrs each way and not get drunk.

felt like it was a total waste of my time tbh... wont be bothering next year
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[Skudd]

Depends why you are going.

I'm going as it is a biking event only 80 odd miles away, it will have loads of stuff to compare against all in one area so come the time of say, new tyres, I will already have an idea of what I want. I wouldn't go just for bargains, but while I'm there anyway I might be able to pick one or two up.

I like looking at women and there are plenty there, both as workers and as punters, both have some very nice exhibits.

It is one of those biking events that if we don't go to we will see it go and then have nothing.

It is a social event for myself and a few mates.

I go down on the bike, It costs £18 to get in and £12 in fuel. Most spend more than that on a Friday night getting pissed. I will spend it on a day out looking at bikes and women.
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[Khanivore]

[spnorm]

I went on Monday and the traffic was murder up/down the M6, so a 2.5 hour journey took nearly 4 hours My wife loves the show though, so insists on going every year - I'm not convinced if it's worth the effort when day tripping.

We normally travel down Sunday afternoon when the roads are quiet, stop in a hotel and have a nice meal and a few beers, before heading to the show first thing Monday when there are fewer crowds. We're then on the road early enough to miss the rush hour around Manchester.

[Rogerborg]

[JP7]

I went on Tuesday. I was a little disappointed, the whole thing seems to have been scaled down, most of the stands were a lot smaller than previously. There also didn't seem to be many deals on the gear, but that said, I did go on the last day last year.

I drove an hour and a half each way, it was nice to have an amble round and see everything in one place. I don't think I'd travel 3 hours to get there though.

[dylan87]

I think it's worth it but it depends on where you are. I know a lot of guys in Europe who go biking over the alps and down through southern Italy. The location is important - just look at stats in the US on where people own bikes - primarily the more beautiful parts of the country: https://www.statista.com/statistics/191002/number-of-registered-motorcycles-in-the-us-by-state/

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

I travelled an hour, and I was getting my leathers altered, looking for a new helmet, and picking up some R&Gs.

For me, it was worth it. I probably won't bother going again for a few years. Ducati promo dolly was the best.
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[c_dug]

What's the deal with tickets at the weekend? We're planning on being there on Sunday, hopefully we'll be there at opening, are we going to have to queue for ages to get tickets?

Is it worth buying some online, or is it too late for that? (Don't know if they do printable tickets?)
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