Show time success! Motorcycle Live 2023 welcomes nearly 90,000 bikers

The annual Motorcycle Live Show at Birmingham’s National Exhibition Centre has concluded with just shy of 90,000 visitors across nine days of biking action.

Offering enthusiasts the chance to clamber aboard the hottest new models of 2024, as well as meet their racing heroes, and take test rides both on- and off-road, it began on Saturday, 18 November before concluding on Sunday, 26 November.

“The enthusiasm and passion of the motorcycle community have made Motorcycle Live a true celebration of the culture, innovation, and camaraderie that define our industry,” Managing Director of Motorcycle Live Finlay McAllan, said. “We are thrilled to see manufacturers, riders, and enthusiasts come together and share their love for motorcycles.”

Across the event, event organisers laid on a number of themes, including the annual ‘BSB Day’ on Sunday, 19 November. Having run at the show since 2018, it gave fans the chance to meet their domestic championship heroes, including 2023 champion Tommy Bridewell.

Also attending was this year’s runner-up Glenn Irwin, plus British Supersport champion Ben Currie, BMW F900R Cup winner Richard Cooper, and many more.

“We’ve sold more tickets in advance; we’ve sold more space, we’ve got more manufacturers,” McAllan further told MCN during the event. “There’s a lot of new products to be looked at, sat on, and ridden.”

Alongside British Superbike riders, Saturday, 25 November also played host to FIM Champion’s Day ahead of this year’s FIM Awards in Liverpool – welcoming a roster of world champs from a variety of motorcycling disciplines. This included Jonathan Rea, Emma Bristow MBE, Dougie Lampkin MBE, Carl Fogarty MBE, and many more.

On Thursday, 23 November, BMW fans were also treated to a live reveal of the firm’s new R12 and R12 nineT retro models (p6) which were then displayed on the stand for the rest of the show.

“Unveiling the new R12 family at Motorcycle Live on the BMW Motorrad stand was fantastic,” Brand Communications and Partnerships Manager, Olly Downing said. “A true ‘world launch’, it was the first time the bikes had ever been seen publicly.”

Also on show was the MCN Dream Garage stand, which showcased 12 of the most desirable motorcycles on the planet. This included an original Yamaha R7 OW02, Suzuki GT750 Kettle, Kawasaki H2R, Yamaha TZ250, original Honda CBR900RR FireBlade, and more.

MCN spoke with showgoer Paul Jones, who travelled up from Bournemouth after a years away from the event.

“It’s good. It’s nicely laid out, with quite a bit going on,” he said.

Talking about the MCN stand, he added: “It’s quite interesting. I look at some of it and think ‘I had one of those, I had one of those…’ I’ve still got a Ducati 996 at home.”

This was added to by Terry Springall from Southend who said: “It’s just a social thing really. Me and my mates stay in the Premier Inn and come for the weekend and drool over the machinery really! I might pick something up on the trade stalls.”