Well, I've lived in or around London for so long I've never missed a London bike show. Always managed to make it for at least a morning to have a look at the latest offerings and be increasingly appalled at the expensive and shite food on offer.

But I'm sat here watching the dawn break into another wet, windy and cold day and the thought of riding up to London in this is just not doing it for me. Problem is the bike shows are not as good as they used to be, there's little at them that I haven't seen before and there aren't really any bargains to be had.

I really only wanted to go to have a chat with ARRacing about the likelihood of them making a low level silencer for the SD and meet Neo. Oh and also ask at the KTM stand about their badly organised 1290 launch with not enough demo bikes available and not enough stock to meet demand.

So, I think this year I will give it a miss and spend my twenty quid and petrol money on a bag of popcorn and a CD to watch in front of a warm fire with the kids.

I agree, but I'm still going... Will let you know if you missed anything

A few mates went yesterday but I couldnt be arsed. I much preferred it when it was at Ally Pally but even the first Excel shows used all 4 exhibition halls. Now it is all in one and if it didnt have the Revolution display it wouldnt half fill that.

Every year for the last 6 I have come away and said wont bother next year. Ironically this year would have been the first for many where there was actually a new bike I would be interested to see (assuming KTM turned up) but I can sit on one at a local dealers in a few weeks. Not sorry I missed it, 20 quid to get in 20 quid to park and about 20 quid for a ratburger and a pint.

Luke - how come you're not dead yet?

I thought those RC8 bad boys had your number

Perhaps they are waiting for dry weather before risking their precious steeds on the raid......

I bet you chose the conical design with the letter D on the front again!

Well, that was a waste of 20 quid.