Milan Bike Show 2008

[gary tompkins]

Thought I owed the club a little review of the Milan show

We headed straight to the show from Malpensa airport, using the handy shuttle coach service. Well what can I say... one things for sure that show is BIG

It was spread out over 8 halls :eyepopping: each about the size of a football pitch. We spent the best part of 2 days :running: our legs off, and still didn't manage to see everything there. The crowds on Saturday were a bit of a joke by mid afternoon, not helped by the fact that the majority of Italian's behave like twat's, and after being jostled, bumped and barged for 5 hours we were glad to retreat to our hotel for the night :nash:

The 1st beer at the hotel was bliss, and after grabbing a quick 40 winks went out to find a bar for nosh etc. We didn't stay out too late as we'd been up since 4am (early doors flight from gatwick) and so a little weary. ZZZzzz

We spent Sunday morning in Milan, having a nice al fresco lunch and a little sight seeing. Didn't have long there but was impressed by the city's superb (and cheap) metro, which puts the London Underground to shame. Our second 4 hour show session at was more enjoyable, with less crowds making it easier to get near the stands. By 5pm the show was starting to wind down, so we headed back to the airport to fly home. I eventually got in around 12.30 feeling like a zombie, and really glad I'd booked Monday off to recover.

Would I go again? ... yes but not for a while TBH. The show was a great way to see everything under one roof, but not really any chance for bargains. The stands were a shop window for what was on offer in 2008, and if you wanted discount clothing or bling you are better off sticking to the UK shows.

Thanks to my good friend Chris Shuff (AKA Baldy tours) for setting the Milan weekend up, Kev (our driver) and Malcolm for a great weekend. Easyjet were great + cheap, and despite Chris's worry about booking the hotel on-line, it was bang on the money :thumbsup:

[gary tompkins]

I'll post these up in chunks because

A/ it takes a while to upload them from photobucket

B/ My bums gone to sleep

1st up - custom Triumph flat-tracker :heart:

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/GeeTee_album/PICT0001.jpg

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/GeeTee_album/PICT0004.jpg

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/GeeTee_album/PICT0003.jpg

[Jim66a]

Don't front wheels look great without those huge great discs bolted on?

[gary tompkins]

Bimota Tesi (sp?)

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/GeeTee_album/PICT0011.jpg

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/GeeTee_album/PICT0013.jpg

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/GeeTee_album/PICT0014.jpg

KTM concept racer

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/GeeTee_album/PICT0025.jpg

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/GeeTee_album/PICT0026.jpg

[gary tompkins]

Pretty Retro 750 Guzzi

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/GeeTee_album/PICT0023.jpg

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/GeeTee_album/PICT0022.jpg

Ghezzi & Brian - Guzzi special

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/GeeTee_album/PICT0030.jpg

Guzzi 1150 Stelvio

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/GeeTee_album/PICT0059.jpg

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/GeeTee_album/PICT0058.jpg

[claicerrig]

Nice pics Gary

Will post up my report on Fighterma over the weekend like i promised unless Gremlin Beats me to it :)

[gary tompkins]

Kev with his "bike of the show"

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/GeeTee_album/PICT0028.jpg

Battery powered concept superbike

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/GeeTee_album/PICT0031.jpg

Neat Aprilia V twin supamoto

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/GeeTee_album/PICT0021.jpg

Kawasaki... err... something - sorry I got distracted

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/GeeTee_album/PICT0054.jpg

[neilbaldry]

i love that funky guzzi retro

[JerryXt]

coo - I like that Aprilia. I might have to change my username!

[gremlin]

I liked the Stelvio until I saw the pics here, the Bimota is pretty though. It's ok Dave/Claicerrig I'm hopeless at the technical stuff so put your Fighterama pics up and I'll try to persuade he who thinks he should be obeyed to put mine up! At least we won't overlap pics then.

[alan c]

great pictures gary, glad you had a good time, think the ladies look faster than kev !

[slob]

Tesi or KTM? Tesi or KTM? Tesi or KTM? Tesi or KTM? Tesi or KTM?
Oh, sod it! I can't decide... need both, anyone want to buy a house?

[Headhunter]

Kawasaki... err... something - sorry I got distracted

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/GeeTee_album/PICT0054.jpg


Hey, that's my sister you're talkin' about! I think the guy with the glasses to the right sums it all up.

Love the KTM as well - go to production!

[GULLY]

Hi Gary
top job no the pick's matey
That is a bike show and a 1/2 only in Italy.

gully

[gary tompkins]

Final bunch of snaps from me before I crash

tricked out S4Rs on the Spark stand

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/GeeTee_album/PICT0061.jpg

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/GeeTee_album/PICT0063.jpg

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/GeeTee_album/PICT0066.jpg

Blingfest Hyper-retard (also on the spark stand)

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/GeeTee_album/PICT0070.jpg

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/GeeTee_album/PICT0069.jpg

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/GeeTee_album/PICT0071.jpg

[gary tompkins]

Fantastic trio on display at the NCR stand

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/GeeTee_album/PICT0072.jpg

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/GeeTee_album/PICT0075.jpg

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/GeeTee_album/PICT0078.jpg

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/GeeTee_album/PICT0080.jpg

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/GeeTee_album/PICT0079.jpg

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/GeeTee_album/PICT0083.jpg

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/GeeTee_album/PICT0085.jpg

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/GeeTee_album/PICT0082.jpg

[giler]

Great pictures Gary.
I love the Triumph flattracker, and the NCR Blue is georgeous.
Always fancied a Ghezzi & Brian as well.
I wouldn't mind putting this show in the diary next year, I hear cheap flights can be had.

[neilbaldry]

i love that New Blue. proper quality bit of kit. tho i do prefer the wire wheels on the SP's.

[MilesB]

Pretty Retro 750 Guzzi

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/GeeTee_album/PICT0023.jpg

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/GeeTee_album/PICT0022.jpg
:heart: :heart: :heart: :hail:
Where's the DROOL icon? WAAAAANNTT :hissy:

Miles

[giler]

:heart: :heart: :heart: :hail:
Where's the DROOL icon? WAAAAANNTT :hissy:

Miles

WOULD MAKE A LOVELY CAFE RACER!

[Fraser]

six of us went ryanair for £21 each return on thursday so avoided the sat scrum. still 'kin busy though and wouldn't rush back. My summary, no trade stands with dealers selling cheap kit at all, 40% of exhibitors must have been new chinese manufacturers and engineering companies..............but the ducati and mv agusta stands were awesome - when you could get on them - and the beer and pasta went down well as well!!

[gremlin]

Hey Fraser did you go with Robin, Simon etc, Clive used to ride with them on Fridays and I'm sure last time we saw them they mentioned Milan.

[singletrack]

Lovely pictures Gary - Thanks.

But OMG what HAVE they done to that Hypermotard?

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/GeeTee_album/PICT0070.jpg

[JerryXt]

someone went mad with the red pen :fou:

[Fraser]

certainly did Gremlin. we must have met before, i've been with MAD as was since Assen 98 trip. and a rare contributor/member on this forum since got the fist monster four years ago. we spent most of milan sorting out next Ring trip in the spring!

[gary tompkins]

Glad you liked the photo's so far - here's my final batch :spin:

Fantastic CRS racer - handbuilt to order, tuned Rotax engine & only 128kg

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/GeeTee_album/PICT0042.jpg

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/GeeTee_album/PICT0043.jpg

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/GeeTee_album/PICT0048.jpg

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/GeeTee_album/PICT0041.jpg

Road legal - base version (which this isn't) costs Euro 11,000

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/GeeTee_album/PICT0046.jpg

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/GeeTee_album/PICT0047.jpg

ARRGH! my eyes... I appreciate the owner may like orange - but painted spokes FFS!?

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/GeeTee_album/PICT0044-1.jpg

[gary tompkins]

Superbike stand - business as usual :D

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/GeeTee_album/PICT0053.jpg

Chilling out with Baldy tours in Milan

Left to Right - Malcolm, Kev and our "tour Rep" Chris

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/GeeTee_album/PICT0035.jpg

Errr... :look:

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/GeeTee_album/PICT0036.jpg

Stumbled across this "commuter hack" in Milan

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/GeeTee_album/PICT0037.jpg

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/GeeTee_album/PICT0038.jpg

A couple of shot's of Milan's castle

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/GeeTee_album/PICT0039.jpg

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/GeeTee_album/PICT0040.jpg


************************************************** ********

I've already stuck photo's of the new monster here.....

http://www.ukmonster.co.uk/monster/showthread.php?t=25230

Cheers :)

[Pingu]

They certainly know how to put on a show! Much better than the NEC. Pity you couldnt buy stuff though. Saw a chinese off roader 125 with a 500 euro price on it if you could take it away. Next show for me will be Excel.

[DevilBoy]

What bike is that "Commuter Hack"?
I am in love!!!

[gary tompkins]

What bike is that "Commuter Hack"?
I am in love!!!

It's the new 910R MV Brutal - with a few custom what nots & arrow pipe

In fact....

here's a couple of shots of the custom 1098 Brutal on the Moto Corsa stand

left them out of yesterdays photobucket upload - oooh I'm such a tease ;)

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/GeeTee_album/PICT0057.jpg

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/GeeTee_album/PICT0056.jpg

[JerryXt]

Is that a titanium frame on that CRS? It's a great piece of engineering.

That orange thing is truely offensive. Not orange enough for some tho :D

[gary tompkins]

Is that a titanium frame on that CRS? It's a great piece of engineering.

That orange thing is truely offensive. Not orange enough for some tho :D

Possibly too orangy for crows? :chuckle:

Not sure if CRS frame was titanium, but damn sexy for sure & floaty light.

Pity Chris let the side down by dribbling all over it :biggrin:

[Rusty35]

Really enjoyed looking at the pictures, thanks alott! :chuckle: some awesome machines there. I actually also liked the Guzi with the big screen! must be getting old. It would make a great second Bike. The new Ninja looks great as well.:thumbsup: Did you not see the new Monster there? 696, I thought it was there?

[gary tompkins]

Monster pics are posted on the "new monster" poll thread

oooh.. look what I found :spin:

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=npwJu_82uiM&eurl=http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/News/newsresults/videos/2007/july/jul3107ncrducatinewblue/?&R=EPI-93167