Did the NEC on Tuesday.....anyone else?

First visited Norton who gave us a guided bench tour of their shiny new engine bits. Hydraulic lifters look familiar! Some nice looking metal, but what do I know? Clever crankshaft central main bearing installation, tiny spark plugs, roller tappets, cassette gear cluster, etc. Don't like the too narrow seat front and rear of tank (answer to a question no one asked?). Footrests oddly positioned.

Not that I can afford one, but good luck to them.

Ducati Deevil was actually quite funky from the riding seat, a sort of mix between Buell and a cruiser.

Victory Hammer S was as comfy and ergonomically right as cruisers get for me.
Triumph 1700 Storm looked cool, but had odd bars. Attitude?
New 800 Tiger was not as comfy as the old 1050 to my mind. Suggested to designer that they put the 800 motor in the Street Triple chassis......would confuse potential buyers?

Metisse appear to be launching their own bike with all new engine? Looks the 'Muts Nuts' if you are a Metisse fan.

Got myself some polishing bits from one stand and some useful business cards....oh yes and a new Knox Contour back protector with a free stay dry T shirt thrown in.

All in all a better show than last years with a little something for everyone....but the glamour girls seemed thin on the ground this year. Maybe the chilly weather put them off, despite it being hot inside the halls?

I went yesterday, shame on the lack of women

The Norton stand was the best for me, loved the bikes, and watched the milling machine in action making yokes and other nice bits.

The Ducati stand always gets my attention, but up untill yesterday i have never wanted to buy another bike, i now have an itch, that needs to be scratched

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLSdBS0TSts

http://hellforleathermagazine.com/tagge ... tuono-v4r/

Its like how i felt over the 1125 when i first saw it, but once these have been out a couple of years, ill buy a good used example just like my Buell, i can't wait

Oh yes, forgot to mention good old Steve Parish who is always there every day doing his stand up talk show and working up everyones enthusiasm. Fair play to him.