As suitable bikingdays are few and far between in the dutch winterseason I was tempted to visit a few bikeshows. Here's a few pics to give you an impression of the highlights in my eyes.
Motorrai Amsterdam 2003, 27-30 November 2003
This is an annual event where all the suppliers show their stuff. Quite a lot of the 2004 models and also some of the original racingbikes of the Grandprix and Supersport season. Nice to see with your own eyes what they actually race.
Of the 2004 bikes, I thought the new Yamaha R1 is a stunner. With 180 bhp and 172 kilos this is not a bike to mess with. I wouldn't trust myself with it, but it is a very smart bike all the same.
One of the reasons for visiting the fair was also that the bike of a friend was exposed on one the stand of Kicxstart magazine as an example of a 'streetfighter'. Theo den Oudens Spondontrx is the sexiest TRX on the roads that I've ever seen. Judge for yourselves.
Fighterama 2003, 6-8 November 2003
The Fighterama motorshow in Rheinberg near Duisburg is a very different kettle of fish. Thomschek drew my attention to it, it is a good place to try and make a bargain on bikeparts, as he did. I just came to have a look at the indoor stunt and at the bikes on display. It is not a very conventional bikeshow, the orange Triumph Dayton 600 was one of the few new bikes. Most were streetfighters with raised tails, wide tires, adventurous paintjobs and loud loud pipes. Quite a few bikes used the specialist frames of Spondon. The bikes were definitely dressed to impress!
A few examples of the more exotic designs. A bike with a reartyre that makes the 180 on my Triumph look dinky and a creative headlight design. Of course the gasmask also refers to the laughing gas injection on this scary bike. It is an amusing motorshow. If you are not put off by heavy metal music and black clothed germans with as many piercings as tattoos you'll find it a friendly and relaxed event.
