John Wheeler
There are motorcycle shows aimed mainly at the media and there are those which are more general celebrations of motorcycling with something for everyone in the mix.
The Irish Motorbike and Scooter show at the RDS, now in its fourth year, falls into the latter category. Even outside peak times, a testament to the show's popularity, it was often difficult to get around. Outside the halls there were displays of Enduro- MotoCross riding and a 'Wall of Death', once a familiar fairground attraction, now believed to be one of the last of its kind.
At the time of the first Irish Motorbike and Scooter Show it was almost wall-to-wall mopeds and small scooters. Today we saw just four mopeds, and four scooters, in contrast to the hundreds of motorcycles on display.
Motorcycling in its broadest sense has come far from its original roots. Young people are increasingly finding that the extremely high cost of moped, scooter or motorcycle insurance means it is hardly any more costly to buy and run a second-hand Fiesta. Increasingly, those buying new machines today are the more mature, typically 35-plus more affluent people.
Belatedly, the Irish bikes 'industry' is beginning to wake up to this fact and dealers are starting to come to terms with satisfying a quite different type of customer than they were used to.
It was disappointing to see several marques not displaying their latest wares. It was also sad to see that several popular makes, such as Aprilia, Cagiva, Hyosung, Piaggio , Peugeot and Kawasaki were not represented.
BMW: On the BMW stand were the sports and touring versions of the all-new parallel twin F800 series to be launched, along with the all-new R1200S, in dealerships on May 13th. Also there was the globetrotter R 1200 GS Adventure due to be launched, along with the eagerly awaited GT version of the K 1200, on March 25th.
Also shown were its popular F 650 GS, R 1200 GS and R 1200RT models, with the 2004's show highlight, the K 1200 LT outside in their Motorrad Academy area. The Germans demonstrated just what a bike show stand should be about.
Web: bmw-motorrad.co.uk
CCM: The off-road specialists exhibited the recently launched American style Street Tracker, the FT35. Web: ccm-motorcycles.com
DUCATI: Another brand that deserved full marks for a well laid out stand, the 'Ferrari of motorcycling' showed off its hyper sports 749R and 999s, both at €22,500 and the ultimate 999R at € 32,000. The sports touring ST3, also available with ABS at €13,995 is a highly regarded, practical touring machine. Especially attractive was the retro sports classic Sport 1000, € 12,750, soon to be the subject of a road test in Motors.
Web: ducatidublin.com
HONDA: This was an eye-catching if slightly crowded stand, with a full range of machines on display. These included the Nick Hayden works RCV211 racing machine; it was strictly not for sale, simply there for adoration.
In total contrast, the Japanese marque showed off its funky 50cc Zoomer moped which, in some countries, has acquired a cult status.
Most eye-catching, better looking than its big-sibling ST1300 Pan European, was the new NT700V Deauville now available with optional ABS. This is possibly Honda's most practical, reasonably priced, thoroughly versatile machine.
KTM: The orange Austrian-made KTM road-going machines are now distributed by Motomax in Churchtown & Rathfarnham. (web: motomax.ie) whilst the off-road bikes continue to be sold by NMC Motorcycles of Dún Laoghaire. Web: nmcbikes.com
SUZUKI: Of greatest interest to most was the GSR-R shown in 600, 750 and 1,000 guises. These extreme super sports machines are regarded by many as 'the ultimate'. Also shown, the 1,300cc Hayabusa which first appeared in 1999 and, delivering around 170bhp and capable of 190mph, is about as adrenaline-inducing as one could wish for. Web: suzuki-ireland.com
TRIUMPH: Just two machines from the large Triumph range featured on the minuscule Bikeworld stand; the new and much acclaimed Daytona 675 in-line triple, priced at €12,500. Stacked above it, the classic-looking Triumph Scrambler, an 865cc parallel twin costing €9,950. The Bikeworld stand was clearly organised on the basis of premium land usage in Dublin 4, with every inch being fully utilised. web: triumph.co.uk
URAL: Perhaps the most quirky, was the new 750cc Ural motorcycle, shown at the RDS in sidecar form selling at €7,600. In solo form this 750cc horizontally opposed twin - a Russian-built clone of the 1940s BMW costs just €5,000 - making it the biggest engine you can buy for the least money. With only modest changes these machines have been doing loyal service all across the Russian continent for over half-a-century.
Web: uralmoto.com
YAMAHA: This stand included the new automatic FJR 1300AS. It remains to be seen whether this clutch-less bike is a significant improvement or just a gimmick.
Alongside it, for more conservative tastes, the FJR 1300. The full range included the extreme YZF-R6 which we reviewed recently. Also there was the new MT-03is. This is a naked 660cc machine, attractively priced at €8,500. Web: yamaha-motor.com