When Roy and Chris sent in the report on the Newark Show they reminded me that the Springfield Bike Show at Spalding would be taking place on the weekend 14th / 15th Jan, so I planned to go on the Saturday.
It was a cold start with a good frost but at least it was sunny, I meandered my way across the fens following partly frozen drains until I arrived at the Springfields Events Centre
http://springfieldsevents.co.uk/4988/welcome this is part of a shopping complex / outlet of 55 stores with restaurants, cafes, takeaways and large garden centre www.springfieldsshopping.com
So if you do take the mrs when she gets bored of looking at the bikes she can go and do a little retail therapy while you talk nuts and bolts with the Triumph owners.
The show is under cover in heated buildings; there were a few stands outside with a burger bar and hot drinks stall. After paying my £8 I was greeted with raffle tickets to win a bike so the £2 change was handed over, well you never know, someone has to win.
The first hall was mainly full of bikes with a few other stalls, Marshalls Honda were there with a small stand www.marshallmotorcycles.co.uk they had a NC700X on display, so at least I could now have a good look round one. It looks well finished and of the usual Honda quality. They must think one disc up front is enough but I can’t help thinking two would have been so much better as weighing in at 214kgs, add full touring kit and two riders, leaves me wondering will the single disc cut it. Somehow it reminds me of the old single disc CBF500, fine one up but a little hairy when trying to haul it to a stop quickly with a passenger and kit on board.
Yes, the NC700X twin has only one exhaust port, (and only one inlet port) but with that lovely cut out it will get covered in road crud from the front tyre !!!!! Look on the bright side, I guess (as I didn't look)
you will only have two exhaust bolts/nuts to undo,
or should I say, ring off !!
Helmet storage or sandwich box?
Yep, they are right the water pump is driven off the end of the camshaft. The engine is apparently loosely based on half a Jazz car engine.
In one of the other halls I found Wheels Motorcycles www.wheelsmotorcycles.co.uk the result of a merger between Taz Motorcycles and Stamford Superbikes.
There was a good range of Kawasaki bikes with a new special edition W800 for sale on the stand. The new ER6F was also available, now it would have been interesting what deal could be struck on the new 2012 revamped ER6 or Versys compared to the new Honda twins, somehow I think you could get a pretty good deal with the Hondas being priced around £5800.
W800 Special Edition click on the pic for more info
I picked up a free Motorcycle Monthly and, would you believe it, there was a road test on the new Honda NC700. While Honda may quote over 78mpg (Note; this is under WMTC prescribed conditions, conducted on a standard bike, on a rolling road, with only one rider and no additional equipment) the actual road test ride figures were 64mpg (and that was without a top box or panniers). Um, Lesley’s CBF600 (2006 carb model) does that out on the open road, in fact a bit more and that is with a top box and panniers, fully loaded. The article says “Motor is impressively economical” well, economical “yes”, impressively economical “no”, as it really doesn’t look that much better on the MPG front than the CBF600 which I guess the S model will replace. So if you think you will be doing 250 miles to the tank on the NC700X as Honda says in their blurb, forget it as it looks you may well have a bone dry tank well before you covered 200 miles, not good for what they bill as an “Adventure Bike”.
Now Mr Honda let me explain.
Adventure riders, or seasoned campers, the last thing they pack is normally the tent and this gets strapped on across the passenger seat along with other kit.
So the last place you want a filler cap is under it.
Why isn't it a designed a little further forward and
the riders seat that hinges up.
There was a nice pale blue Triumph and Manx Outfit on display on the Triumph owners stand and the only other sidecar outfit I saw, was a vintage racing one. There were quite a few clubs, Virago Star Owners and Royal Enfield Owners to name two. There was plenty of kit, tools, accessories, clothing, helmets etc, but nothing with any real discounts.
Victory Motorcycles http://victorymotorcycles.co.uk/about-us had a stand with a few of their customs, it seems matt black is all the rage, I overheard one person say “I would buy one cos they haven’t put a lacquer coat on the paint” that Victor Meldrew saying sprung to mind.
There was a Can-am trike
http://en-gb.spyder.brp.com/Home.aspx stand and motorcycle dealers Twist of the Wrist http://www.twistofthewristmotorcycles.co.uk in attendance.
It took me about an hour to do a quick walk around as I wanted to have a cupper and a bite to eat. Afterwards I then took more time and had a chat with one or two of the owners. Outside the weather, although chilly, was nice, but not that many actually turned up on bikes, I would say at 13:00 maybe around 30 to 40 bikes. Overhearing some chatting to others, they came by car as the temperature was -1, so it appears most opted to attend by car.
So to round up, the show is very easy going, plenty of local dealers, a place to look and even buy bikes. About 2 to 3 hours and realistically you will have covered the whole show. It is not a big event but then there are some other shops of interest close by to make it a day out.
As they park those who attend on bikes in front of the buildings / entrance they in themselves make a display and it appeared all attending took a look down the line up. It got me thinking, maybe if those attending on bikes got in for free or with a discount it is possible they may get an even better and bigger display of bikes.
Martyn