Tony Toner reports on the weekend's Motorcycle & Scooter Show at the RDS.
Next year's SSIA bonanza could mean good news for the Irish motorcycle industry if the turn-out at the weekend's Motorcycle and Scooter Show is anything to go by.
If you took your eyes off the models on display and looked at the people wandering the aisles at the RDS, Dublin, it was impossible not to note the spread of interest in motorcycles across the age demographic. Show organiser Ruth Lemass was delighted with the turnout, confirmed at 20,864.
We had a world debut for BMW's R1200R, a bike with 163bhp and the looks of something that sprinkles tarmac on its cornflakes.
Based on the R1200S but with added attitude, it would melt your licence with sheer intent. A "conquest" machine, it charges you €15,300 (no ABS) to share its bad company.
Also vying for your garage space is the R1200ST, more sporting than the RT, for those not quite ready to join sedate sit-up touring.
The Italians were there in force with sublime offerings, including Benelli's TNT Streetfighter. Beautifully crafted this 1130cc triple would probably appeal to the rider who doesn't want an out-and-out superbike, but still wants to boogie.
The Ducati stand was up to its usual high standard, emblazoned in fiery red exotica. The new Multistrada DS in sportier clothes is well worth a test drive. Looking like a trail bike, but with bad intentions, it's a brilliant tourer, commuter - and perfect for those days when you just have to do a track day at Mondello Park.
A new monster from Ducati, the S2R is an air-cooled 803cc, twin offering 77bhp to add some naked street style to your motoring. The new introductory Monster 400 is very affordable street candy at €7,250 on the road, coming with the usual Ducati design features and a Group 5 insurance rating.
The MV Agusta stand had the salivating M4 Tamburinni. One of only 300 being built, this 998cc, 4-cylinder icon of sheer loveliness was faulted only in its inability to sign autographs. At some £30k sterling, consider them sold.
NMC from Dun Laoghaire was there with its full range of KTMs. Resplendent in orange and black livery, the new 640 LC4 and the high-rise 950 Adventure had many wondering if they should go Supermoto or simply head for the hills.
The assessory stands relieved many of their cash, with protective clothing and helmets topping the list. Helmet leader Arai had its new Pinlock visor system on show - its clever anti-mist facility is a must for our weather.
Out in the arenas, Steve Colley put his trials bike into places mountain goats would resist. In another area the World Stunt Champion Christian Pfeiffer's ability to simultaneously put his bike out of control yet under his every command was breathtaking.
With no representation from the "big four" Japanese importers at this national event, questions must be asked. The industry saw registration figures dip well below 4,000 units last year.
With 85 per cent of show visitors already single-track orientated, there is urgent need for market expansion. The industry is facing a massive battle to increase sales and bring it back to the heady 6,500 unit sales of 2000, a figure surely below what could be attained.
Insurance costs are crippling for those at entry level, with pillion passenger claiming a major cause. The fact that we are almost alone in Europe in not having compulsory basic training is a damning indictment of our attitude towards road education - and none more so than with motorbikes and scooters where vulnerability carries a lethal penalty.
During the SSIA bonanza over the next two years, people are going to treat themselves to that special something. Car showrooms are bracing themselves and there's little doubt that some serious window-shopping went on at the RDS.
But, as most visitors to the show are already committed motorcycle enthusiasts, where is the strategy to lure the new customer? A small number of distributors and dealers are gearing up, but it may pass others without them ever noticing.
Someone told me recently: "Motorcycle dealerships are never sold, they simply close down". Sad but true.
Taking in the heady aroma of burgers and heated 2-stroke engine oil
By Patricia Weston
The outdoor sand arena at the bike show in the RDS was an electrifying amphitheatre of two-wheeled entertainment. Encircled with simulators, mini-moto racing, stunt shows and supermoto racing, there was plenty to see and do.
Burger and chip vans lined the arena, their hot greasy smells mixed with the acrid 2-stroke oil from the bikes making quite a heady aroma.
The waspy sound of freestyling bikes could be heard in the distance punctuated by gasps from a delighted crowd as world stunt champion Christian Pfeiffer, British freestyle stunt champion Gary Taylor and Ireland's stunt champion Mattie Griffin took to the air in spectacular acrobatic action. Performing three shows a day the supple stunt riders writhed their limbs across their machines to impress the audience.
Further inside the arena trail bike stars rebounded over a circuit imaginatively constructed of railway sleepers, upturned skips and huge felled logs. Diane Moss watched with her seven year old son Brian. "I think it's a great show for the children, my son Brian absolutely loves it," she said.
Undersized mini-moto engines screeched in the background as adults and children mounted the mini bikes to negotiate and tumble onto the miniature racetrack.
Moving away from festival of bike fun, the RDS main hall was filled with stands overflowing with machines and merchandise. The cramped hall exhibited motorcycles, leather gear and motorcycle helmets with a sprinkling of biker babes meandering through the crowd. Jim Leonard thought it was over-crowded: "It's so cramped it's hard to move between the stands."
Taking up a prominent position at the entrance to the main hall, Ducati Dublin displayed an impressive selection of sleek and stylish Ducati's. The Multistrada MTS 620 and the MTS 1000 S DS had spectators lining up to hop on their saddles and imagine they were racing through the streets.
Road racer Martin Finnegan's brilliant yellow Ten Kate Honda graced the arena ready to take him through the 2005 season.
BMW's stand displayed their R series. The new R1200 RT luxury tourer stood out as a sophisticated and solid machine.
But John Curtain was disappointed with this year's displays, he said, "It's not a patch on last year's show, the main dealers like Honda, Suzuki and Triumph are not here."
There was a distinct lack of scooters on show, which reflected the decline in sales due to increased insurance premiums. Green Machines displayed their environmentally friendly mopeds and Quadrophenia, a new range of lower priced scooters imported from China, had a large stand.
"Insurance is too high in this country which no longer makes riding a scooter a cheap option," according to David Langley of Quadrophenia. "It's a pity because 16 - 18 year olds need to get around and a scooter is ideal for them," he added.
Over-bronzed and barely clad babes were also in short supply at this year's show. "There aren't too many babes around," observed Jim Leonard, " but I take my bikes before babes anyway so I'm not too bothered," he added.
Brian Fox wasn't too bothered either by the lack of female flesh on show, he said, " I wouldn't be looking at them anyway, I'm just here for the bikes. "