NEC 2002.

Okay okay I came last year and knew pretty much what to expect:- A bargain basement cheap as chips market where traders blow out the last of this years stock and cheap crap imported leather suits only good for drying you car with. And of course the odd manufacturers stand with loads of plastic and carbon for us to lust over (or not).

The Carole Nash stand was once again by far the best stand, with it's waterfalls and concept bikes. These guy's should go to proper bike shows where their bikes will be appreciated by people who appreciate the workmanship gone into every fine detail from the paint to the trick swinging arms. But maybe it'll help pull the pocket rocket boy's away from the same old theme's of red plastic and red and white plastic.

To be fair and I realise this article will upset as few people, (But if it does you may be on the wrong site! Try google search for little boy's toys and come back when you see sense.) I've taken a few pictures show I'm not too prejudice.

I forgot there was orange as well.

The three pictures above really show that the manufacturers are loosing the plot where bike designs are concerned. I guess it's hard to turn out great new bikes year in and year out but these are way off the mark.

I hunted around and found these streetfighters and chops. What I keep forgetting is that it's not a custom show. A fact I find hard to come to terms with as I only go to custom shows as a rule.

These trikes stood out from the dross as well. The V rod was on Carole Nashes stand, surprise, surprise. I did pose the question to Nashes as to why Trike's cost so much to insure? They are going to get back in touch with me when they are at the office.

I liked this R6, It's been cut away to show the trained engineer only internals. Or did I like it just because someone chopped an R6 in half? All the pictures below are well worth a look at, despite my slagging off of the show there where a few nice machines hidden in dark corners.