back from the dead ......its life Jim but not as we know it [Archive]

Jockney Rebel

06-04-2025, 10:57 AM

so.. this happened
UK Bike Show 22

So I left the golden beaches of the Land Down under to go home to Scotland with my Aussie Bride during 2021 ..but that’s a whole other story .
Late last year I decided to visit the UKs premier bike show at the NEC in Birmingham to see what’s new what’s coming and what’s cool.
As you enter the arena your met with someone’s idea of a dream bike garage consisting of, in no particular order,
A Vincent Black Shadow, Ducati 851,an early Fire blade an early R-1,Yamaha Fs1-E,VFR750R,Gsxr 750 Slingshot, and a ’73 Z900 all in immaculate condition . These bikes were on the walls of every young blokes bedroom in the 70s and 80s.
Moving on , we came across a stand that displayed a new very trick 2-stroke from Langen a company in the north of England. Churning out a claimed 76bhp from a V-Twin counter rotating 250 and weighing in at only 114kg. The guys tell me its got computer controlled oil injection and custom fuel injection and will push it to around 140mph[224kph] but ...kit like this doesn’t come cheap though at £28,000.
Next to catch my eye was the Maeving RM-1 this oriental sounding bike is also home grown in the UK .A lightweight electric café racer /bobber style city bike. It sounds like so many others except for the fact it sports not one but two removable batteries that can be charged using any ordinary plug socket .
At a top speed of 45mph [72kph] its not going to break any records and its range with both batteries in is a modest 80 miles [128kms]. The £5,995 price tag is average I guess, but it’s a step towards affordable versatile two wheeled city transport .. and it looks cool.
As I tripped through the usual major manufacturers stands there were few offerings that turned my grey haired head.
Honda’s CVT Auto 750 planted seeds of getting my missus on two wheels at last, quickly dispelled by financial constraints . I was tempted by the new breed of naked bikes , but found myself drawn to things like Kawasaki s Z900R proving that I’m well and truly stuck in the past, nothing peaked my interest.
So off I went to find the retro lot, BSAs new 650 single looked nice and id love a ride on it but to my mind it’s a grand too dear when you can get the same, if not better, jollies on a Royal Enfield Interceptor, the BSA trail bike looks interesting though .
The I stumbled across a wee stand with a typical “Pommie built in his shed” bike The Mac bike company is owned and run by two blokes that are the epitome of the independent British bike builder. A hand built 500 Single with a beautifully crafted frame and minimal looks, it embodies that spirit of engineering that we are so famous for. It handles well so I’m told and is no slouch in its class.
Onwards to the Back Street Heroes stand and some really impressive custom bikes , a really nice replica of the Gooses kwaker Z1000 from Mad Max ,a Rat bike RD400 winning “best butchered classic” and some nice chops with awesome iron Maiden paint jobs.
It wasn’t as big a show as I remember from years ago but maybe that’s just a sign of the times I dunno ..we wait with bated breath
So that’s about it until I get another bike and get out on the road again, I’m planning to get to the IoM next year with my little brother and maybe do the north of Scotland 500,till then tootle pip, me old mukkas .