2018 Motorcyle Live show guide

Posted on Nov 02, 2017

When is the 2017 NEC Bike show?

Motorcycle Live 2017 open on Saturday 18th November and runs through until Sunday 26th November. Weekend doors open at 9am and close at 6pm with weekday hours 10am-5pm. A free bike park opens and closes one hour either side of show times. Parking is subject to availability.

How do I get to the NEC?

In terms of roads, then, traffic permitting, the NEC is pretty perfectly placed. It sits just off the M42, close to junction 7 of the M6. This makes it accessible from every direction, with links via the M1, M5 and M40 and M6 Toll motorways. If you're using a sat-nav, use the B40 1NT postcode. Directions to NEC Birmingham

As always, it's better by bike. Not only do you have a better chance of beating any traffic delays, but the bike park is free (subject to availability). In contrast car parking costs a hefty £12 on the day, £10 in advance. If you come by train head for Birmingham International, which is adjacent to the NEC. Some services will run direct whilst others will require a change at Birmingham New Street some 10-15 minutes down the line. You can even jet in, with Birmingham International Airport also next door.

How much are Motorcycle Live show tickets?

As always, it's cheaper to buy NEC bike show tickets in advance. You can pre-book right up to November 17th - the day before the show opens - and save almost a third on the cost of adult entry (although there's a £1.50 booking fee per order). A special Adult ticket plus Strada bag bundle priced at £25 is only available in advance, subject to availability. You can book tickets online by clicking here. Alternatively you can book by phone on 0844 5812345, but beware that a service charge of 7p a minute plus any access charge your telephone provider may levy will apply (general details here). Motorcycle Live ticket prices

All tickets include access to the FMX Live arena (subject to availability) which will be hosting 30 minute freestyle motocross shows. Performances are scheduled three times daily on weekends, twice daily on weekdays.

What's on at Motorcycle Live 2017?

It's the UK's biggest motorcycle show, so the short answer is a lot! It is, of course, the showcase for manufacturers to display their very latest wares. Marques major and minor will be represented with the exhibitor list including the likes of - *takes deep breath* - Aprilia, BMW, CCM, Ducati, Harley-Davidson, Honda, Husqvarna, Indian, Kawasaki, KTM, Moto-Guzzi, Norton, Peugeot Scooter, Piaggio, Suzuki, Triumph, Vespa and Yamaha. Among those set to unveil new models is Ducati. The Italian will be bringing the curtain down in some style on its larger capacity twins with the Panigale Final Edition. As MCN pithily put it, this era-ender is "sort of a greatest hits that combines elements of the 1299 Panigale, the Panigale R and the 1299 Superleggera." Quite a thing then. With the newly upgraded Monster 821 reportedly set to hit showrooms on December, it seems a fair bet it too will star at the NEC. Yamaha is also promising fresh metal. Could an SP version of the mighty MT-09 make its debut, perhaps alongside a production model of MWT-9 leaning three-wheeler? The latter was first unveiled as a concept at the 2015 Tokyo Motor Show but hints coming out of Japan suggest the real deal will soon be on its way to dealers. Kawasaki has also pledged to display new-for-2018 models. We'd bet on the retro Z900RS appearing, in both its standard and café racer form, following its Tokyo launch. Keep an eye out too for the supercharger the manufacturer has teased us with on YouTube in advance of the Milan show. It would be a weird old NEC deal were Honda not to bring a new model or two to the show. The all-new Gold Wing seems one of the likely candidates as does the Neo Sports Café which Honda has given a nod and wink will be revealed in Milan.

Customs and classics

Along with the hardy perennial that is the Custom Extreme zone, this year will see the climax of the Motorcycle Live Ace Builds contest. This is a UK-wide search for the very best hand-built and custom motorcycles. A shortlist of 14 machines is currently being judged by the great British biking public. The four gaining the highest votes when the polls close on November 5th will go through to the NEC finals with the ultimate winner chosen by an expert panel. You can view the gallery and vote (until November 5th) here. Over in Hall 2, the National Motorcycle Museum (NMM) will be proudly displaying some classic and vintage adventure and off-road motorcycles. Located just down the road from the NEC, the NMM houses the world's biggest collection of British motorcycles, so expect it to bring some proper bike booty!

FMX freestyle motorcycle show

For the very last time, Arenacross Tour will be bringing FMX Live to the NEC bike show. Always guaranteed to get the adrenaline pumping, the 30 minute performance will see pulling off all kinds of amazing two-wheeled tricks. The organisers are promising to stage "their biggest, loudest and most insane show ever" which sounds good to us. That entry is free (subject to availability) with your Motorcycle Live ticket is also music to our value-conscious ears. Performances take place at 12 noon and 2.30 pm on weekdays and at 11.30am, 2pm and 3.30pm at weekends.

Principal Insurance at Motorcycle Live

As sure as night follows day, you'll find our motorcycle insurance team back at the NEC. We wouldn't miss it for the earth. This year our shiny new stand will again play host to some magnificent metal.

Among them will be this tasty twin two-stroke (pictured left) from the days when hair was big and the world was well Into The Groove. Believed to be one of only six remaining 1985 Yamaha RD350s , we'll be dragging this yellow fellow out of the garage to join our other biking beauties on the stand. Naturally we'll also have some goodies to give away. These include our glorious glossy 2018 calendar which features stunning pictures of stunning bikes. These include an air-borne Africa Twin, Indian's lush, low slung Scout Sixty, Triumph's "brutally beautiful" Bonneville Bobber and Rough Crafts' Yard Built Yamaha XSR700. You'll find the Principal posse on stand 4B20. Be sure to drop by. The crew will be happy to discuss any bike insurance questions you have, whether you ride a custom, classic, scooter, moped, trike or whatever variety of modern motorbike! Principal Insurance acquires rampdale

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2018 Motorcyle Live show guide