Licks Cycles: BikeShed London Motoshow 2023

As I’d by no means been to the BikeShed Motoshow and simply knew it by popularity – as one of many premier customized motorbike reveals on this planet – I used to be thrilled to have two of my Arduous Motos bikes chosen to be exhibited there. Couldn’t resist, even when it meant travelling from Amsterdam on Pentecost weekend – and that I needed to spend a pair days sharpening my bikes to make them look the half!

So off to London and the venue, Tobacco Dock close to the Thames River and the Tower of London…

That was the very first thing that struck me, such an amazing place – outdated buildings however tastefully restored with a few outdated crusing boats outdoors for adornment. A great deal of rooms, all laid out for the a whole lot of bikes on show. And for the assorted bike manufacturers displaying off one of the best customs primarily based on their numerous fashions… Plus a sampling of motorcycle-related distributors starting from clothes clearly, to artwork, to tea – how British!

Second factor I seen was the environment friendly group and nice (largely volunteer) employees readily available that will help you get sorted. A great deal of safety – reminiscent of particular person tie-wraps on the bikes, so you might solely take away your personal on the finish of the present. And by having safety employees all over the place.

Not that I felt it was wanted, the environment was genuinely pleasant and relaxed all via the occasion, even on Saturday morning when the strains went for a whole lot of meters earlier than the present opening at 10:00AM.

After which the bikes! The theme this 12 months was ‘Previous, Current and Future’, and quite a few bikes becoming all three classes current…

For ‘Previous’, a great deal of nice bikes, going from pre-war restored to raised than unique, to choppers, bobbers and caféracers.

For ‘Current’, fairly a number of retro-bikes, new however transformed/modified to sure – choppers, bobbers and caféracers. However remarkably there’s one other sort of customized turning into fairly distinguished on this class, enduro bikes! Much more colourful on common than what we’re used to from customized bikes – with the doable exception of choppers from the seventies.

‘Future’ – fairly a number of electrical bikes in fact, together with what Dutch regulation considers bicycles – fats bikes like Super73. I noticed a prototype of a extra performant bike although, so that could be coming…

There additionally was a digital presentation of a form of chameleon bike – taking totally different shapes for various rides – that you might entry by scanning a QR code, however I suppose I’m old school; favor to see the true bike…

There was a pre-opening night on the Friday for press and VIP invitees, with some good music however infinite strains on the three solely meals distributors open that night time, so we snuck out to get dinner on the Smoking Goat – close to the BikeShed HQ in Shoreditch – wonderful!

So obtained there Saturday early to discover a mind-blowing variety of people already in line ready for the opening of the present. Fortunately, we may get in round again – simply by displaying our exhibitor wristband. And certainly, Saturday was crowded, however by no means overcrowded, the venue is massive sufficient to accommodate an enormous variety of guests with out it feeling cramped.

Sunday was a bit much less crowded, so loved taking within the 300-plus marvelous bikes on show once more!

There was leisure – each dwell music in any respect hours in the primary corridor and displays plus panel discussions within the Shed Talks constructing. There was meals and drinks galore on the Saturday and Sunday, quite a lot of meals vans had been parked simply outdoors the venue. Good climate, so getting a little bit of a tan whereas having a pleasant latte was undoubtedly a part of the morning routine…