I went to the preview day...
Baglux has a comfy looking seat, which looks nice - or it would look nice if it weren't done out in seven shades of sheite.
BMW stand has two 12's a stripped own one, an 1150 and Charlie Borman's 1150 too.
A number of stands feature an 1150 or 1200 (GS is the most represented model at the show in terms of numbers) with various bits and bobs added.
Your best bits in terms of accesories are a screen and seat, didn't see huggers for sale.
In reference to a different thread, no mention of more poke, adventure 12 version or colour changes. In short, I think that's forum members idol speculation - now't wrong with that, just nothing factual to back it up as yet. A simple question or observation to note though: is 'if you were BMW would you announce a 1200 Adventure if you hadn't outed all the 1150 engine first'? Maybe it'll be announced post R1200RT launch, so basically not worth the wait.
As for a personal view on the NEC Show, I've been every year in a row for about the last decade, I always go on the Preview Day, and I think this year attendance is down and there's a definite tread away from sprots bikes towards street-bikes (hurrrah - at last, etc).
The KTM 950 Supermoto and SuperDuke 1000 look nice, except build quality and mickey-mouse clocks and screws etc. Bikes like the ZX6R and Gixer thou (tri-exhaust) I expected to like looked a but cheap and nasty in the flesh.
The three suprises of the show for me which were tops (subjective obviously - but just my personal opinion donchano) were the Triumph Sprint ST, Speed Triple and Yamaha MT-01.
The Yam has a useful 1100lb/ft at 3750 rpm but has an weight problem. The old trumpet engine was a good'un, but the new 128 bhp mill puns out the (already decent) torque of the old one did at 6 thou, at a very handy 3,000 rpm, instead.
The Sprint pipes through the rear are take it or leave it, but the headlights look nice, build has improved to VFR levels (I've owned a Sprint and VFR) and it feels well comfy. At last a visually aesthetic and on-paper quantifiable leap ahead of the VFR in terms of finish, performance and expect it to be cheaper too.
The Speed Triple is simply 'right'. Sawn-off rear-end, smaller headlights, new frame, brakes, forks, engine (1050cc, 128 bhp), gearbox; but still the same character and more torque. Triumph for my money were manufacturer of the show, their bikes were had to get a sit on and their seperate huge clothing stand shows their lifestyle range is picking up.
In short I'm happy if Harley, BMW or Triumph are giving the Japs and Italians a bloody nose - and Triumph have currently picked the ball up and are sprinting away into the distance. Fair play to John, Bruno and the Hinkley boys.
BMW stand was decent enough; the K1200S (and GS) well represented (as you'd expect); although please stick to the classier graphite grey anyone moving away from their GS to a K-S; or better still stick with what you've got.
I'm fickle, buy a new bike every year, but this is the first year I went away from the show saying that if I didn't have a bike I wouldn't place an order for any of them.
That is... I wouldn't place an order because I already have the 'bike of the show' in my garage - BMW R1200GS - accept no substitutes!
