As you read this, Birmingham’s NEC will be bracing itself for the onslaught of big crowds clad in Alpinestars T-shirts, RST beanies, and Valentino Rossi hoodies. Yes, it’s bike show time!
The Motorcycle Live team is still beavering away to put on a tempting spectacle. As BDN went to press, the organisers announced a few more last-minute attractions, led by a stellar list of celebrity racers such as Peter Hickman, Leon Haslam and Alex Lowes, as well as plenty of live riding attractions and all the new bikes for 2026 from the major manufacturers.
From a trade perspective, there’s an interesting new initiative: live product demos on the Expert Lab stage, introduced by TV presenter and influencer Grace Webb. The organisers are keeping some of it as a surprise, but there’s talk of exploding airbag demonstrations from Dainese, and massive showers of sparks as Hiplok bike locks are attack-tested with power tools live on stage. The idea is that exhibitors will be able to show their products in action to the show-going audience and answer questions on their performance.
Ben Smith, Hiplok co-founder, said: “Since launching the first portable anti-angle grinder bike lock in 2021, we’ve continued to push what’s possible in motorcycle security. The new MD1000 disc lock is our lightest anti-angle grinder lock yet, and we’re showing it for the first time at Motorcycle Live alongside the full 1000 Series. We’ll also be joining Grace Webb on the Expert Lab stage to talk about the engineering behind the range and put the locks to the test against an angle grinder, live on stage.”
It’s the last call for discounted trade access too: bona fide bike industry firms can apply for up to four tickets for Trade Day (Monday 17 November) at £5 each. Trade ticket holders get access to the in-show Exhibitor Lounge, an excellent place for a quiet lunch, a more private setting for meetings, and a chance to take a break. The Trade passes are only valid for Trade Day, and applications close on 14 November – be quick!