Like many other bikers, I grabbed at the chance to go to the MCN London Bike Show over at the ExCel Centre. And what a show it was too!

Every hour on the hour there was something going on, whether it was a stunt performance by European Stunt Riding Champion AC Farias, whose tricks include non-handed circle wheelies or the UK FMX freestyle motocross team, who wowed the crowds last year with a backflip. And of course, the MCN Hot Babes competition...

But really, I was there for the bikes. Thing about stunts is that I can't do any, so I hate to have my machismo threatened, and as I had brought Mrs Tobbot along, I really couldn't oogle the babes, though she did provide a running commentary!

No, I was more interested in getting myself a new lid, and that was really the reason why I'd brought the missus along; so I wouldn't overspend on the gear! She also knows that I'm hankering after a new set of leathers, so my cunning plan was to show her how much good gear really costs, (for example, the 400 pound plus Arai lids) and then go for something a lot cheaper. Plan worked, and I'm now the proud owner of a Nolan flip-top. Result!

But what really made my day, was seeing the new Ecosse concept bike, which will apparently come out in 2009. At the moment the only colour was apparently a weird orange, though I'm sure they'll come out with something a bit less garish.

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Ecosse are an American firm, and their forte is in hand-building most of the bike: currently they produce a beaut which I first saw a few years back in Goodwood, the Heretic

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Yep, it sure is a stunning bike, only problem is the price tag: over 50,000 pounds!

Still, one can dream...

Tobbot, aka Tobstv