Bikes on TV

[dolly3900]

Why do the TV companies not cater for bikers?

We get Top Gear, Fifth Gear and all sorts of other car related shows (Of which I do watch and do enjoy), but in these there is very very little bike action.

The closest we get to a Biking show is Hairy Bikers, which is not really on topic.

Many years ago, there used to be Kickstart , hosted by Peter Pervis (I think), which had trials riders doing all sorts of skillful stuff on bikes, the closest you get these days is the occasional Red Bull nutters doing skateboatd stunts and half killing themselves.

What we need is something of a similar ilk to Clarkson et al and give stuff about new bikes, old bikes and general riding/safety info.

I know bikers would watch over the winter (obviously in the summer we'd be out enjoying ourselves ) and I am sure car drivers would tune in too, as in my experience, many drivers are frustrated bikers at heart as they have either had or wanted bikes in the past.

Just a thought as I very much doubt if the BBC or whoever would fund such a show, let alone have some hairy arsed greebo host it, probably be someone like Charlie Boardman

OK, rant over, back to work

Mike

[P.addy]

Because we would rather be out riding our bikes than watching some other faggots do it.

[dolly3900]

[Radis]

There are a few youtube ones but all the attempts to replicate Top Gear with bikes have sucked.

If you can find presenters with panache, a sense of humour and a genuine interest in bikes and add to it a fekkin huge budget then you will be able to get a Top Gear for bikes. Until then.... meh

[G]

What made you think top gear was about cars .

It's scripted comedy entertainment that fairly regularly uses cars for props.

They also use bikes in a variety of situations too.

[Bendy]

We're a small niche, so won't appeal much to the mass-market channels.

Considering that, look at ITV4. They'll be covering the TT, have BSB highlights, have the occasional 'The Motorbike Show' and now and then turn out an interesting documentary like 'When Superbikes Ruled The World' and 'The Unrideables'.

Eurosport covers all sorts of bike racing. The Discovery network has things like Cafe Racer and of course the god-awful American Chopper. I presume Men & Motors still has niche stuff, I don't get it any more.

I'd say bikes do alright on telly, really.

[Rogerborg]

I suspect we're an Escher tangle of niches. Heck, you could run a piece on the merits of the GSX-R750 and end up with a baying mob of R600 and R1000 riders at your door by the time it finished.