This year ’ s Motorcycle Trade Expo in the UK ( January 14-16 ) was another success for organisers Mayo Media – the publishers of leading motorcycle industry trade journal British Dealer News . Europe ' s biggest motorcycle trade only show , this was the 24th year for the show , and the Stoneleigh Park , Coventry venue , in the geographic centre of England , continues to serve the event well with a strong attendance drawn from all quarters of the country . |
As usual , the strong turnout of exhibitors from the UK – most of the British market ’ s major players were there – was added to by a burgeoning number of exhibitors and brands from elsewhere in Europe . Backed up by a popular industry awards programme and dealer seminar sessions , the show beat expectations in a market where the growth in new registrations has stalled and done so to a greater extent than can be expected from factors such as the Euro 3 / Euro 4 registration |
effects alone . The nature of the once sports bike dominated UK market continues to morph , with naked style bikes and adventure tourers becoming ever |
more dominant , alongside a healthy custom bike scene . Some fear that there is still oversupply in the UK market , as elsewhere , especially in the apparel and helmet markets where price-points appear to be being driven ever lower . But Motorcycle Trade Expo showed that the “ hard miles ” are still being ridden in the UK with a strong contingent of service items , workshop equipment and performance vendors alongside several new and emerging motorcycle brand franchise opportunities , especially in the light and middleweight sectors , demonstrating that the industry is continuing to adjust to the riding needs and price-points of new generations of riders . |