NEC Bike Show 2002

A very early start for me because I hate to queue, before I even left home had a call from RB, have I
got a fold up chair he can borrow for his stand, he obviously thinks he is going to have time to sit around,
 just wait until the weekend... Booked in at the media centre just after 8am, lovely no queues, fresh coffee
 and read through the press releases, full day of events planned boy its a hard life disguising yourself as
 a journalist, loads of little goodies around so the guys and gals from fleet street don’t forget the brand
names afterwards, went into the main halls a few people putting the finishing touches to the stands but
very few viewing, good makes it a lot easier to get around, did I tell you I hate queuing,

First stop RB on the zorstec stand, passing Steve Taylor & Exactrep on the way, Paul Roberts max is on
view outside the Zorstec stand,

Quick photo shoot with the young model on the Born to be Wild stand who we also managed to get on Steve
Taylor’s stand astride his Vmax. 

Then for me it was off to Yamaha see what they had done to the 03 Max, its really a cosmetic makeover which
includes matt black bodywork, engine, frame and restyled instruments including Speedo and of course two go
even faster stripes down the tank cover, my impression liked it made the max look kind of aggressive. Amusingly
the spec sheet fitted in place of the number plate had 102bhp crossed out and 140bhp felt tipped above it, I wonder
 if their Japanese masters know about that slip up.

Just across the way was the data tag stand not surprising really because I believe its part of the Yamaha conglomerate
 On it was the Axis Max trike, this is the one with the two wheels at the front rather than the traditional trike set up two
 wheels at the back.

Then off to the First Launch of the day on the Suzuki stand (with glamour girls), all of a sudden the stand was buzzing
with photographers & pr people could hardly get a good view.

This was pretty much how the early morning went

9.00am Suzuki Launch

9.20 BMF presentation

9.40 Kawasaki featuring Billy the Whiz Baxter, blind rider attempting speed record.

10. Am World unveiling of the new model 999r (I think) Ok if that’s your poison, and no girls just Neil Hodgson & Reuben Xaus?

enough's enough, went back and got a coffee for RB by then Andy P and Martin had arrived so we wandered around together
after that, back to Steve Taylor’s stand where another attractive lady was posing with his equipment, disaster strikes (camera
battery dies) rushed back to RB to borrow his but she had moved on by this time however as luck would have it she’s walking
this way so onto the Zorstec stand for a photo shoot with one of the Zorstec weapons to hand.

Wandered off and around the show, lunch then left Martin 7 Andy p to their own devices and shortly met up with Griff/ maxballisitc
 sporting his newly embroidered jacket

Spent the rest of the afternoon and early evening with Griff and Mark, ending up at the Streefighters stand with an old friend of
Griff's who happens to run the show, he (Griff) knows loads of people.

In conclusion plenty, of bikes to see, leather & lids to try on and spend your hard earned, the rest of my glamour photo’s will be on the
CD to be published shortly. If you are coming to the show make sure you look in on Rusty on the Zorstec stand, dogsbody on the sound
distribution stand and some very nice customised machinery...

 The 'new' 2003 Max with a Matt Black finish