bike show - deals

[Dominic_the_TA]

Im off to the NEC bike show on 5th Dec.
Im after a new lid and new jacket, and to oggle over lots of other bits and bobs too including the women - (only kidding - ish)

The specific lid i've got my eye on is the Shoei Hornet DS (ebay has 'em for £260 ish) but what kind of deals can you get, should i try to 'negotiate' prices or will i be laughed at?

I've never been to these doo's with any intent on spending money, i dont wanna walk away thinking i've got a bargain and finding out i was robbed !

Anyone else going, got your eyes on anything in particular ?

[Snaphappy]

You may find that manufacturers are not allowed to sell, and any bargaining will have to done with retail outlets,
who
1 wont have the newest brightest just been released in Hall3 on their shelves
2 have paid a hell of alot of money on their stand just to try and gain customers that are "from out of town"

Dont expect to walk away with a great deal on something really as specific as model no XXXXX, you can pick up good deals on what they have on show, but everyone else wants exactly the same deal so you have to bloody good to get a bargain,
You will get the same answer " I can go down by £x but then there is nothing in for me" or "I cant make those decisions and the boss is not here at the moment"
Good luck and have fun

[Dominic_the_TA]

You may find that manufacturers are not allowed to sell, and any bargaining will have to done with retail outlets,
who
1 wont have the newest brightest just been released in Hall3 on their shelves
2 have paid a hell of alot of money on their stand just to try and gain customers that are "from out of town"

Dont expect to walk away with a great deal on something really as specific as model no XXXXX, you can pick up good deals on what they have on show, but everyone else wants exactly the same deal so you have to bloody good to get a bargain,
You will get the same answer " I can go down by £x but then there is nothing in for me" or "I cant make those decisions and the boss is not here at the moment"
Good luck and have fun

ahhhhh i thought as much, oh well it'll have to be 'beg / borrow / steal'....what jacket?...where,...oh you mean this one,...i arrived in it - honestly officer......lol

[jasonbc]

ahhhhh i thought as much, oh well it'll have to be 'beg / borrow / steal'....what jacket?...where,...oh you mean this one,...i arrived in it - honestly officer......lol

I'm going up on the 4th the last time i went up (last year) there ween't many bargains at all if you didn't have a supersports bike and the clothing being sold cheap was because it was cheap obscure brand stuff not good makes at seriously reduced prices but still a good day out

[BobA]

All I would say is, do your homework first, before you go.

Try on anything you intend to buy at a Hight Street outlet like Hein Gericke or similar, and know the price in your head.

Last year, I was tentatively looking for an Arai TourX, but the only one I could find had a couple of really minor scuffs on it. The guy selling it more-or-less intimated that it was either a customer return or ex-display, but he was very firm on the price. For me, it wasn't worth the £35 saving, as I'd much rather be able to take something back I'm not happy or have a problem with.

I'm not saying that there aren't bargains to be had, but be very careful. All that glitters isn't always gold under the lights of the NEC. I was particularly worried about the dubious quality, and safety claims regarding protection on some of the stalls selling REALLY CHEAP race-rep leathers. The quality was appalling, the graphics and liveries obviously very wrong, but there were people buying the stuff. First thing in my mind was, "how well will that stuff hold up when you're sliding along the road on your butt??!!"

So, it is almost certainly "BUYER BEWARE" you can't take any of your bargains back!


Bob

[StumpyFingers]

I am going up on the 2nd, I know what I want and I just need to be able to check out all the brands and compare prices in one large Hyper Store.
I want three more neck tubes, I get them for "free" having paid for them on the ticket. Just got to remember to take the panniers as I had to buy some last year because I forgot.

[Snaphappy]

The comments on cheap replicas reminds me of the Intermot in Cologne.
The Customs and Excise inspectors had their work cut out and were IMPOUNDING stuff by the lorryload and not all Asian, this includes bikes as well, mainly pit & pocket bikes but also clothing and bolt on accessories.

[Aubrey]

I was at the Peterborough end of season show this year, hoping for the great deals and crazy prices that you get at most shows. However, I quickly realised that almost all of the large reputable companies stay well clear of such events and instead the show ground was full of really poor quality crap. After paying so much to get in it was a real disapointment. The only good thing was the stalls selling aluminium sections and plates if you have any little projects you're thinking of. I got some great bits for my own bodging at good prices, a few quid here and there, and did not have to buy it in 4m sections as you do in many stores.

Why, if the country fairs get it right and the boat shows, is it that bike shows are full of rip off merchants and bandits?

[StumpyFingers]

Why, if the country fairs get it right and the boat shows, is it that bike shows are full of rip off merchants and bandits?

That is because bikers are are larger group than the others so the tighten the screws more on the things you could want.

[BobA]

I for one will definitely NOT be going to the Bike Show.

Last year, I just found it such an unpleasant experience that I promised never to go again. Personally, I don't see the need to ram so many people in over so few days, when it could be so much better if the organisers held the event for a bit longer.

Obviously, there are some great things to look at, but most of it I could see at my local bike dealer or Hein Gericke.

There are bargains to be had (my mate got a Rukka outfit with a nice discount) but all that cack stuff masquerading as motorcycle clothing really annoys me, and so do all those stalls with video displays of tossers riding bikes like idiots on the public road which they condone by selling the crap.

Maybe it's my age, maybe it's a mid life crisis, or I'm just being too sensible, but as a biker I just think there's everyone trying to make a quick buck out of us, and that really gets my goat.

My advice if you're going to the bike show??

Get there early
Take a packed lunch (to avoid queues and getting ripped off)
Take drinks
Know what you want and how much it is in the shops
If they have a red one on display, ALWAYS say you actually want green
Be prepared to take all day
For Gods sake, Remember where you parked your car!!


Have a Great One


Bob