Paris Show ? The Bikes!
And again my apologies about the length of this.
So what did I see and what seemed popular at the show??
Firstly the show has a great many scooters as they are just as popular as bikes in Paris, maybe more so.
I also noticed some contrasts with our own N.E.C. event. Although there are many bikes parked outside and many of the visitors are wearing bike gear there?s just as many folks wearing smart normal or office clothes ? manly because it seems that?s what the Parisians often wear when on two wheels. The visiting public look more like what you?d see at something like the ideal home exhibition in the UK.
Also noticeable was that the big manufactures had very big stands and a lot of space given over to their finance departments who seemed to be very busy. It seems the French must do a lot of actual bike buying at the show.
There was also a large selection of second hand bikes for sale in one of the halls, again evidence that they use the show for buying and not just looking.
As for the bikes themselves, well the French do love their sports bikes and street fighters. Having seen how they ride that?s not surprising!
Crowds around the Triumph?s Daytona 675 seem to bode well. Shame I can?t say the same about the new retro scrambler. While I like it I seemed to be the only one who even gave it a glance. In fact most of the Triumph retro's seemed to be getting little attention, apart from an old bald chap on a Thruxton.
The French built Voxon?s were getting some attention but to me it looked more like novelty impact rather than buying interest. They certainly do look interesting; I do like the impact of the suspension under the swingarm.
As a blackbird rider I was pleasantly surprised to see that this was getting a lot of attention on the Honda stand, with a continuous queue of people waiting to sit on it and take pictures.
Of course I had to take a look at the ZZ-R1400. Well the figures look impressive but I didn?t find its figure that impressive. Maybe it?ll be like when the Ford Sierra first came out ? the shape was so weird it took a while to catch on. As it stands I didn?t like the fairing shape much, just my personal view.
The Deauville, best described as ?practical? rather than looking attractive
The MT-01 was getting plenty of attention and seems to be just the sort of thing the French in particular like. I liked it too actually.
All of the various sports bikes were getting lots of attention so it was hard to spot any one manufacturer getting more looks than another.
The new Far East manufacturers were there in force. Have to say that the bikes looked just what they are. Made down to a price and with limited engine types. Reminded me of 70?s Japanese bikes with thin chrome and metal that looks like you could mould it with you?re fingers. Good value for money but not long lasting in the frame and furniture department. I wouldn?t count them out though, I suspect they?ll progress just like their predecessors did and we?ll see them up with the best in a few years time.
The biggest stand for the ?new boys? was the Sima one. They also had the most interesting show. Four rather scantily clad females doing an ?interesting? dance to loud music and ended up throwing a lot of goodies into an appreciative crowd.
Also big crowds around the Suzuki stand as Troy Corser and Yukio Kagayama made an appearance.
I can?t not mention that stalwart of the French scene?? Solex. They seem to have been around in France since the Stone Age and are still going strong it seems. New models using new age materials (and I don?t mean wood) but all with the classic little engine sitting on the top of the front wheel. I guess they strongly believe in the ?if it ain?t broke, don?t fix it? philosophy.
The accessory areas were well represented with all the usual names present. Being France there was a Pierre Cardin helmet/gear stand. What next?
Well that?s an abbreviated run down and what I saw and thought about it.
While both bikes and gear are available it doesn?t come across as the ?street market? gear sell off that we have at the N.E.C. All in all a much more upmarket type of event.
Oh, and the food was great!!!
And again my apologies about the length of this.
So what did I see and what seemed popular at the show??
Firstly the show has a great many scooters as they are just as popular as bikes in Paris, maybe more so.
I also noticed some contrasts with our own N.E.C. event. Although there are many bikes parked outside and many of the visitors are wearing bike gear there?s just as many folks wearing smart normal or office clothes ? manly because it seems that?s what the Parisians often wear when on two wheels. The visiting public look more like what you?d see at something like the ideal home exhibition in the UK.
Also noticeable was that the big manufactures had very big stands and a lot of space given over to their finance departments who seemed to be very busy. It seems the French must do a lot of actual bike buying at the show.
There was also a large selection of second hand bikes for sale in one of the halls, again evidence that they use the show for buying and not just looking.
As for the bikes themselves, well the French do love their sports bikes and street fighters. Having seen how they ride that?s not surprising!
Crowds around the Triumph?s Daytona 675 seem to bode well. Shame I can?t say the same about the new retro scrambler. While I like it I seemed to be the only one who even gave it a glance. In fact most of the Triumph retro's seemed to be getting little attention, apart from an old bald chap on a Thruxton.
The French built Voxon?s were getting some attention but to me it looked more like novelty impact rather than buying interest. They certainly do look interesting; I do like the impact of the suspension under the swingarm.
As a blackbird rider I was pleasantly surprised to see that this was getting a lot of attention on the Honda stand, with a continuous queue of people waiting to sit on it and take pictures.
Of course I had to take a look at the ZZ-R1400. Well the figures look impressive but I didn?t find its figure that impressive. Maybe it?ll be like when the Ford Sierra first came out ? the shape was so weird it took a while to catch on. As it stands I didn?t like the fairing shape much, just my personal view.
The Deauville, best described as ?practical? rather than looking attractive
The MT-01 was getting plenty of attention and seems to be just the sort of thing the French in particular like. I liked it too actually.
All of the various sports bikes were getting lots of attention so it was hard to spot any one manufacturer getting more looks than another.
The new Far East manufacturers were there in force. Have to say that the bikes looked just what they are. Made down to a price and with limited engine types. Reminded me of 70?s Japanese bikes with thin chrome and metal that looks like you could mould it with you?re fingers. Good value for money but not long lasting in the frame and furniture department. I wouldn?t count them out though, I suspect they?ll progress just like their predecessors did and we?ll see them up with the best in a few years time.
The biggest stand for the ?new boys? was the Sima one. They also had the most interesting show. Four rather scantily clad females doing an ?interesting? dance to loud music and ended up throwing a lot of goodies into an appreciative crowd.
Also big crowds around the Suzuki stand as Troy Corser and Yukio Kagayama made an appearance.
I can?t not mention that stalwart of the French scene?? Solex. They seem to have been around in France since the Stone Age and are still going strong it seems. New models using new age materials (and I don?t mean wood) but all with the classic little engine sitting on the top of the front wheel. I guess they strongly believe in the ?if it ain?t broke, don?t fix it? philosophy.
The accessory areas were well represented with all the usual names present. Being France there was a Pierre Cardin helmet/gear stand. What next?
Well that?s an abbreviated run down and what I saw and thought about it.
While both bikes and gear are available it doesn?t come across as the ?street market? gear sell off that we have at the N.E.C. All in all a much more upmarket type of event.
Oh, and the food was great!!!
