Londonl Motorcycle Show.......

[Flip]

Your thoughts...... sh!te or not??

Apart from Ducati having a couple of attractive models there wasn't anything that would make me sell my old '97 900 (I came close a few years ago when CMW in Chichester had an MH900e about a year after they came out that they couldn't shift for around 7k- funny how prices fall and rise eh?).

http://i1372.photobucket.com/albums/ag329/fluke900/IMG_6026_zpshpovyvbi.jpg (http://s1372.photobucket.com/user/fluke900/media/IMG_6026_zpshpovyvbi.jpg.html)

The best stand in my opinion was probably the most out of place there, the chaps at Mac Motorcycles (http://mac-motorcycles.com/spud_black.html) were perhaps a bit too cool for skool but their work was pure quality and their use of a tea trolley simply inspirational.

http://i1372.photobucket.com/albums/ag329/fluke900/IMG_6047_zpsxgwli2s2.jpg (http://s1372.photobucket.com/user/fluke900/media/IMG_6047_zpsxgwli2s2.jpg.html)

Leaving my own 1970's themed Christmas effort in the shade:

http://i1372.photobucket.com/albums/ag329/fluke900/IMG_5792_zpshtgz0qqh.jpg (http://s1372.photobucket.com/user/fluke900/media/IMG_5792_zpshtgz0qqh.jpg.html)

Award for the person to put all those people struggling to get luggage on a Monster to shame easily goes to Gareth Jones who proves you can tour on anything and who has done over 120,000 miles on his 1951 hard tail Pan head Harley. If you need inspiration for a tour then look here:
http://www.deelipmenezes.com/?p=1745

http://i1372.photobucket.com/albums/ag329/fluke900/IMG_6028_zpswmkfg0mp.jpg (http://s1372.photobucket.com/user/fluke900/media/IMG_6028_zpswmkfg0mp.jpg.html)

Other than those above it was lovely to see the Joey Dunlop display and especially his OBE which was awarded for his little known about humanitarian trips (loading up his van with food and supplies and driving it there himself) to orphanages in Romania, Albania and Bosnia-Hercegovina before the annual racing season began.

http://i1372.photobucket.com/albums/ag329/fluke900/IMG_6032_zpsvpwrvlsw.jpg (http://s1372.photobucket.com/user/fluke900/media/IMG_6032_zpsvpwrvlsw.jpg.html)

[J.P]

It's expensive to get in at £17 for an advanced ticket. Lots of the main manufacturers bikes you've seen to death in the press anyway, and if you're buying stuff, there seemed very little , if any, extra discount for anything new from the stands.
If you want old stock, and lower quality clothing, it's definitely the place to visit.
Best value, as Shuffy pointed out, was lager at only £4.50 a pint.

[J.P]

And, on behalf of all girls and women visitors to the show. Can we stop this sh*ty sexist strippers helping manufacturers promote motorbikes. It's out of place.

[Shuffy]

I'll put my clothes back on then....

[Ursa]

And, on behalf of all girls and women visitors to the show. Can we stop this sh*ty sexist strippers helping manufacturers promote motorbikes. It's out of place.

I felt so sorry for the poor girls in the MCN catsuits, it was like a camel toe gallery. Mates of mine from my old roller derby league were doing the skate outs before the Slide show, which appeared to be more like roller derby on bikes, so not so bad.

Gear wise it's good to be able to try a load of stuff on without traipsing round a dozen dealerships searching for trousers, and sure there was a load of old gear, but I treated myself to a nice new Dainese Ducati jacket at a show discount (new 2016 model just out this week)

[J.P]

Yes, actually you're right about trying on a range of products. That is a really good thing about it.
But places like www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk let you buy what you like and return stuff that doesn't fit for free anyway.

[BLUNT]

And, on behalf of all girls and women visitors to the show. Can we stop this sh*ty sexist strippers helping manufacturers promote motorbikes. It's out of place.

You're no biker, saying that.

[Mr Gazza]

I've been involved with Motorbikes for over forty years and if I really must have a tag, I would prefer Motorcyclist or Motorcycle enthusiast, to "biker".

I think that the sexist way that women are employed to promote bikes is well out of place today...It can be quite embarrassing for women and men alike.

Keira, on the other hand, selling perfume on a 750 Sport, round case bevel, is another thing entirely.

[slob]

I took some extreme closeup photos... of Bimota chain adjusters and got a healthy discount a new lid, I'll keep it in the box until required, which shouldn't be too long given the length of time I've been living in my current one. Tried on loads of race gloves but still can't find anything I like that doesn't cost what a cheap jacket should. My mate Ant texted me to say he was already there and "should be easy to spot, balding middle-aged man in bike gear"

[alan s4]

More Pics please - of Bimota chain adjusters of course:D

[Aviatore]

As long as the target audience remains young men, companies will continue to use the "sex sells" tactic and we'll all just have to lament the untapped resource that is Shuffy's promotion pitch.:D

[uksurfer]

I enjoyed the show, even managed to leave early and catch the rugby :woot:


http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d125/Uksurfer/70776BB2-BE84-480D-8D2E-24F0A92EA83F_zpst5tifnmy.jpg (http://s34.photobucket.com/user/Uksurfer/media/70776BB2-BE84-480D-8D2E-24F0A92EA83F_zpst5tifnmy.jpg.html)

[Nottsbiker]

That Yamaha looks lovely, especially how they've done the headlights - my idea of a road going sports bike :):)

Yamaha my favourite brand after Ducati

[Flip]

And, on behalf of all girls and women visitors to the show. Can we stop this sh*ty sexist strippers helping manufacturers promote motorbikes. It's out of place.

Strippers??? Where??? I waited for ages at the Ducati stand for that girl to get off the bike but not one fairing was removed!!! :D

I felt so sorry for the poor girls in the MCN catsuits, it was like a camel toe gallery.

Isn't that in the Tate Modern???

As long as the target audience remains young men, companies will continue to use the "sex sells" tactic and we'll all just have to lament the untapped resource that is Shuffy's promotion pitch.:D

A few years ago I think that would have been the target audience but few motorcycles are used as cheap everyday transport and they are no longer seen as a means of sticking two fingers up to society by the rebellious and so have dissolved into a leisure pursuit kept buoyant by middle aged men that can afford to buy, insure and run that latest crop of near 200hp superbikes and are prepared to swap them almost every year for the new colour scheme.
Massive generalisation I know, but you know the ones I am talking about I am sure and I fully appreciate that motorcycling needs new motorcyclists or else it will just get regulated into the ground (like it almost is) so whatever walk of life they come from can only be a good thing for the industry I suppose.

Maybe Shuffy's promotion would actually help weed out those only looking for bragging rights of the latest model rather than a pure love of motorcycles though. I've met him and bloody nice bloke that he is, I don't want a photo of him sat on a Panigale thanks!!

I've been involved with Motorbikes for over forty years and if I really must have a tag, I would prefer Motorcyclist or Motorcycle enthusiast, to "biker".

I think that the sexist way that women are employed to promote bikes is well out of place today...It can be quite embarrassing for women and men alike.

Keira, on the other hand, selling perfume on a 750 Sport, round case bevel, is another thing entirely.

Yes I remember back in the late '80's at a time when there were several 'back patch clubs' round this way (Sussex Reapers, Nomads and Vikings) and I purposely pulled into a country pub on my XJ600 with the girl I was seeing at the time on the back one Sunday lunchtime (no all day opening back then) just because they had a 'NO BIKERS' sign at the road side entrance.

So when declined a drink I tried reasoning with the Landlord that I was a 'motorcyclist' not a 'biker' and offered him the chance of looking over my shiny red and white Yamaha parked outside to see that it wasn't the flame painted or matt black chopped Japanese inline four that so many bad ass bikers of the time favoured. Funny how now those kind of bikes are all in vogue and most country pubs would welcome whatever trade they can get.
I'm sure there were isolated incidents of trouble between clubs but I never saw any and if only those country pub landlords knew back then that many of those patch club members were the mainstay of Easter Egg and Toy runs to the children's wards of local hospitals and animal food runs to the shelters I wonder if they would have still got refused a beer? Maybe if they wore Coco Chanel? Funny old world eh?


I enjoyed the show, even managed to leave early and catch the rugby :woot:

Yep I caught some of it too over a couple of Ales in the very lovely Southwark Tavern at Borough Market before train home to LA then a swerve into a local bar for a couple more pints and to watch one of my favourite local bands rock out.

A good day out even if the show was a bit lack lustre.

[J.P]

And we'll all just have to lament the untapped resource that is Shuffy's promotion pitch.:D

Oh my God.

[J.P]

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d125/Uksurfer/70776BB2-BE84-480D-8D2E-24F0A92EA83F_zpst5tifnmy.jpg (http://s34.photobucket.com/user/Uksurfer/media/70776BB2-BE84-480D-8D2E-24F0A92EA83F_zpst5tifnmy.jpg.html)

I do love that colour scheme.

[utopia]

I can't look at that picture without thinking of those kiddies machines where you put a coin in the slot and it starts playing music while rocking gently. :D
I think its the wheel chocks that do it.

[Dirty]

And, on behalf of all boys and men visitors to the show. Thankfully strippers are still helping manufacturers promote motorbikes.

If 'simple' equality is the mantra why don't they hire equal numbers of pretty boys to market to women? The fact is it's a lot more complex than that and simply removing something because it only employs women is a blunt tool for a delicate problem. Real feminists understand that there are differences between the sexes and that denying that basic fact does neither side any favours.


There were some very nice and cheap carbon lids at the show

[Ursa]

And, on behalf of all boys and men visitors to the show. Thankfully strippers are still helping manufacturers promote motorbikes.



So I went on Sunday with my friend who's a personal trainer and burlesque dancer, and every time she tried to sit on a bike to see how it felt, blokes interrupted and wanted to take her picture... I don't think it's helpful in this day and age, as I don't think umbrella girls at races are helpful. When Ana Carrasco got herself a brolly hunk in protest, she got a lot of stick for it...

My friend is buying a Monster by the way.

[Dirty]

, blokes interrupted and wanted to take her picture... I don't think it's helpful in this day and age,

Which is a totally different thing to having attractive women in a marketing role (and to brolly girls).

There are far bigger and more important and relevant fish to fry. Unequal pay is still a thing sadly, the lack of women in the boardroom, the lack of women in high end jobs in blue chip companies. The fact that women that are in the boardroom or in BC companies are likely to be pleasing on the eye as well as more qualified than their peers. This last fact also applies to men to some extent. Good looking people are more likely to be successful applicants. Lets get rid rid of brolly girls and replace them with fat ugly men? Not a world I want to live in!

[Shuffy]

As long as the target audience remains young men, companies will continue to use the "sex sells" tactic and we'll all just have to lament the untapped resource that is Shuffy's promotion pitch.:D

FOR SALE: One 'super-stretchy' Ducati branded Mankini. Worn once. Offers....

[slob]

More Pics please...
http://www.thelasturl.net/img/bimadj01.jpg

http://www.thelasturl.net/img/bimadj02.jpg

http://www.thelasturl.net/img/bimadj03.jpg

[Grumpy]

FOR SALE: One 'super-stretchy' Ducati branded Mankini. Worn once. Offers....

Sold!......as long as you haven't washed it yet!!!! 😅😅😅

[slob]

... When Ana Carrasco got herself a brolly hunk in protest, she got a lot of stick for it...

I see the point she was trying to make but I'm not convinced it's progress. One of the things that I found endearing about Casey Stoner (there's a sentence you don't see every day) was his wife wearing jeans and a t-shirt holding his brolly.

Many of us have chequered pasts :-O

http://www.thelasturl.net/img/brolly_dolly.jpg

just think yourselves lucky I couldn't find a picture of fatbloke (club founder) on the grid at Brands BSB in '03, wearing cutoff jeans and t-shirt for a bet.

[Dirty]

I see the point she was trying to make but I'm not convinced it's progress. One of the things that I found endearing about Casey Stoner (there's a sentence you don't see every day) was his wife wearing jeans and a t-shirt holding his brolly.

I'm pretty sure that was for different reasons. If my wife raced in a series that had brolly hunks I might insist on holding her umbrella as well :)

Thing is, although no man would want to look at brolly hunks neither would most of us find them offensive or want them banned. Some things are just the way they are and no amount of social engineering will or should change that. Let's concentrate on the important things like FGM first!

[jonzi]

http://www.thelasturl.net/img/brolly_dolly.jpg

Is that your slimmer, younger brother?

[Ursa]

Some things are just the way they are and no amount of social engineering will or should change that. Let's concentrate on the important things like FGM first!

FGM, and useless dolly birds at bike shows are different sides of the same patriarchal society coin and being concerned about these wildly different issues is not mutually exclusive.

In the context of the bike show discussion the underlying message is that is how women are perceived in the bike world. How many female speakers were there let alone sales people actually doing a job? It's an underlying and pernicious message to women that they don't belong in the bike world bar in a decorative role.

Last week a female friend was bike jacked on Old Kent Road, the assailant hitting her off her R6, and beating her repeatedly as she fought to keep the bike. Was his thinking "that woman should not have an R6"? Where would he have picked that idea up from??

I'm away to burn my bra. Oh hang on, I'm not, it's my favourite one :D

[Char]

I'm sure over the fullness of time they will disappear (not men - oh hold on we don't really need them either do we? ;))

We will then look back at the camel toe posse with the same fondness as our previous follies

http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd401/Char66/equal_zpsr07phhk1.png (http://s1218.photobucket.com/user/Char66/media/equal_zpsr07phhk1.png.html)



I don't have the answer other than to switch on the ignore button - just glad I have sons not daughters


The one time some old bloke commented to me at the NEC that was I testing the EBR for my 'bloke' he left the stand visibly shaking and I hate being called a biker or biker chic

[Dirty]

FGM, and useless dolly birds at bike shows are different sides of the same patriarchal society coin and being concerned about these wildly different issues is not mutually exclusive.



I disagree, they are completely different coins. The vast majority of 'people' have no issue with the female form being 'used' to sell because that is the issue. Attacking show girls is just the thin end of the wedge. Should we remove women from perfume and underwear adverts as well.


In the context of the bike show discussion the underlying message is that is how women are perceived in the bike world. How many female speakers were there let alone sales people actually doing a job? It's an underlying and pernicious message to women that they don't belong in the bike world bar in a decorative role.


Sorry but that is utter rubbish. We can all make up whatever message we like from any experience we get. If you prefer to take away a negative message then so be it but don't project it on everyone else. You could equally say it's an underlying message to women of how easy it is to influence men to do whatever.
The lack of females in roles in the motor industry is a separate issue. That said last time I was at the show I spoke to a female market exec from Ducati. Sometimes women (and other traditionally non represented groups) are very much there if not obviously visible. I don't remember seeing any black or gay sales people!


Last week a female friend was bike jacked on Old Kent Road, the assailant hitting her off her R6, and beating her repeatedly as she fought to keep the bike. Was his thinking "that woman should not have an R6"? Where would he have picked that idea up from??


Really? Seriously! Are you projecting feminism onto crime now? Do you think he chose to attack her because she was a woman on an R6, that he watched a number of male ridden R6's go by as he thought 'I shall not attack my brother men, I'll wait to attack women as my gender politics say they are worthless because they are made to wear lycra at car shows' or because he's a feckless criminal who needed to steal an R6 and chose the easiest path. All you are highlighting in this instance is the general physical differences between women and men, that is evolution and genetics, not feminism or brolly girls. We could live in a grey castrated world where all marketing is done without humans to make it fair and he would still have attacked a girl on an R6 instead of a man. Say I'm wrong!

[J.P]

Whoah, calm down dear.
I just said strippers in lycra with their T&A hanging out, sets the wrong sort of example.

[Dirty]

Sets the perfect example if you want to be a stripper!

Taking comic cues from Mr Cameron via patronising language a la M Winner? That's gotta be the definition of a 'lose/lose' situation :mand:

[jonzi]

Whoah, calm down dear.
I just said strippers in lycra with their T&A hanging out, sets the wrong sort of example.

You're not a biker.

[Ursa]

I disagree, they are completely different coins. The vast majority of 'people' have no issue with the female form being 'used' to sell because that is the issue. Attacking show girls is just the thin end of the wedge. Should we remove women from perfume and underwear adverts as well.



Sorry but that is utter rubbish. We can all make up whatever message we like from any experience we get. If you prefer to take away a negative message then so be it but don't project it on everyone else. You could equally say it's an underlying message to women of how easy it is to influence men to do whatever.
The lack of females in roles in the motor industry is a separate issue. That said last time I was at the show I spoke to a female market exec from Ducati. Sometimes women (and other traditionally non represented groups) are very much there if not obviously visible. I don't remember seeing any black or gay sales people!



Really? Seriously! Are you projecting feminism onto crime now? Do you think he chose to attack her because she was a woman on an R6, that he watched a number of male ridden R6's go by as he thought 'I shall not attack my brother men, I'll wait to attack women as my gender politics say they are worthless because they are made to wear lycra at car shows' or because he's a feckless criminal who needed to steal an R6 and chose the easiest path. All you are highlighting in this instance is the general physical differences between women and men, that is evolution and genetics, not feminism or brolly girls. We could live in a grey castrated world where all marketing is done without humans to make it fair and he would still have attacked a girl on an R6 instead of a man. Say I'm wrong!

Sigh... you are wrong, you are experiencing the show from the point of view of a heterosexual man, who clearly enjoys looking at ladies. I am experiencing it from the point of view of a female who has regularly been patronised in the bike world, talked down to and told on many occasions told I shouldn't have the bike I choose to ride because I am female. The bike show should be welcoming to all, equally.

I get comments on an almost daily basis on my commute, from guys on other bikes and scooters, car and best of all, your buddies the cab drivers. "Oi luv does your boyfriend know you're out on his bike" being a choice and oft repeated phrase.

So you will have to accept your experience will never be the same as mine, and the things that I see holding women back from equality may be the things that you enjoy. It's not just "bants" you know. The fact last week that my friend was mocked and filmed on mobile phone by the first two "men" on the scene didn't help either. There is a difference between being personally offended (or not) by something, and knowing when something is harmful to to others, maybe try see it from another point of view.

Anyway Dirty I still love you, even though you clearly are abusing my female femaleness and stereotypical view of my supposed caring abilities, by abandoning Ted Biker on me. He misses you and is asking when Dirty Dad is taking him out next. :kiss::kiss::kiss:

[bex]

I'm absolutely a biker and having wandered around the show and been blatantly ignored by the women handing out freebies/leaflets/ generally trying to encourage people onto the stands etc I think it's fair to say they are only there to be eye candy and encourage men to hang around or purchase.

And looking around the show there was probably a 60:40 male to female ratio, so it's completely out of order in this day and age to treat the thing like its a male only environment, which is what annoys me about it. What about all the women who are there looking to buy something? It's just off putting and they are likely loosing themselves business.

Perhaps they could spend the money on more sales staff, which after seeing Shuffy queue up on more than 5 separate occasions to get a price for a helmet at a large stand manned by only one bloke, and being ignored, would frankly be more useful than the women standing around having blokes take close up pictures of their arses and still not buying anything (saw it all over the place).

I have nothing against the women, their right to earn money or the fact that it is entirely their choice to be there, it's just a bit pathetic for 2016 and it actually makes a bit of an uncomfortable environment for women attending the show.

Show itself was alright I suppose, a lot of the usual tat. Bought a new pair of gloves in a bid to keep my hands in one piece for another year.

[Dirty]

Sigh... you are wrong, you are experiencing the show from the point of view of a heterosexual man, who clearly enjoys looking at ladies. I am experiencing it from the point of view of a female who has regularly been patronised in the bike world, talked down to and told on many occasions told I shouldn't have the bike I choose to ride because I am female. The bike show should be welcoming to all, equally.

I get comments on an almost daily basis on my commute, from guys on other bikes and scooters, car and best of all, your buddies the cab drivers. "Oi luv does your boyfriend know you're out on his bike" being a choice and oft repeated phrase.

So you will have to accept your experience will never be the same as mine, and the things that I see holding women back from equality may be the things that you enjoy. It's not just "bants" you know. The fact last week that my friend was mocked and filmed on mobile phone by the first two "men" on the scene didn't help either. There is a difference between being personally offended (or not) by something, and knowing when something is harmful to to others, maybe try see it from another point of view.


You've made my point for me. I see it from a heterosexual male PoV, of course. You see it from the point of view of someone who has been a victim of bad experiences and is seeking a reason for them. Trust me that reason is not a few girls in tight dresses. What has happened to you is simply bad behaviour on the part of a small minority of males. The cabbies you refer to are not my buddies. We call them 'dinosaurs' and look forward to their extinction. They are more than likely racist, zenophobic and bigoted as well as mysoginistic, they represent neither me nor the rest of the majority of hetero males (and certainly not the majority of my comrades). The fact is most of us don't behave that way despite strippers and brolly dollys. I don't wish harm to you, nor for what I do to be harmful to others but none of these things are harmful to others and banning them would not change the idiots who shout things out at you. Even worse the move to ban such things dilutes the very fundamentals of feminism and gives it a bad name amongst the middle ground and popular opinion. It is not 'feminism', it is more akin to 'fascism'. I don't like it, it offends me - ban it! True 'Feminism understand the acute differences and focuses on equality, social equality, not physical or emotional. Everyone should be a feminist and when that happens the loud mouthed idiots will keep quiet, (like loud mouthed racists have) AND we can still have pretty girls holding the umbrellas.

And your friends bike was nicked for the same reason that a little old lady is more likely to be mugged than I am. Criminal go for easy targets.




Anyway Dirty I still love you, even though you clearly are abusing my female femaleness and stereotypical view of my supposed caring abilities, by abandoning Ted Biker on me. He misses you and is asking when Dirty Dad is taking him out next. :kiss::kiss::kiss:

Haha, I know. Don't worry, I'm not the sort of idiot who sulks because of an intellectual disagreement and discussion. If anything I think friendships are often made stronger by robust discussions. Yes, I'm a feckless teddy father. I have no interest, will pay no upkeep nor do I want visitation rights :biggrin:

I did take a pic for you whilst at work the other day though

http://s16.postimg.org/3vstyghn9/IMG_4481.jpg

[Ursa]

Awww fanks Dirty, you are a rare bear :biggrin: