For those in the UK the cheap supermarket chain 'Lidl' currently have lots of bike gear in (seen them in Scotland and in London). Jackets c£40, trousers c£30, bike covers, chains, brake-disk locks, communication systems (passenger & driver not bike-to-bike), closed face helmets and open face helmets, tank bags...few more things too but can't remember what exactly but all nice and cheap.

Definately worth a browse.

Chris

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Chris
www.motocrossafrica.co.uk

Same goes for the netherlands next week

(not cheap but not highway robbery either) and fitting
cost almost nil.

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Patrick passed Dec 2018. RIP Patrick!

The BMF show is nowhere near as good as it used to be. As with most of these shows you just seem to get loads of stands selling cheap chinese made tat, along some traders selling decent kit at nearly full price. I've been going to the NEC Bike show for a few years, and didn't bother getting anything. You can get cheaper kit by shopping around on the internet.

Andorra's good, but again not as cheap as it used to be. When you could get 1.65-1.70 euros per pound there were some real bargains to be had. Still quite a bit cheaper than the UK though.
Since the advent of the Euro and the spread of the EEC prices in Europe are reaching the same (high) levels in most countries. This isn't just bike kit, but electricals, cameras, etc as well.

Lidl in Spain are also selling cheap bike gear at the moment. My hubby bought some waterproof socks yesterday. Doh!!! (Saving them for the UK I think.)

MOLLYDOG are you crazy or something? "as a yank shopping in UK" if i was a responsible adult i would lock you up for your own good.

as a brit whose just spent a week in New York i only found two things more expensive than here, that was car parking (who wants to drive in manhattan anyway?) and a few (very few) toys for my nipper. everything else was the same price but with a buck instead of a quid sign in front of it, and with the £ at about $1.80 everything was at least 40% cheaper.
including the bikes, we went in a ducati/aprilia dealer i just happened to walk past ("oh yes love, this was where Harry bought Sally a 916 but they cut the scene in the film, i think its in the directors cut version") and they were cheap too even though theyve crossed the atlantic. shows up how much tax we pay i guess.

as for the BMF show, it has been going downhill. if it aint broke, dont mend it, but they get a new show manager in and she (not anna zee) has a "new broom" attitude and just ends up shagging it. change for the better is good, change for change sake is bad and change for the worse is incompetence.

theres talk this might be the last BMF show, if it happens at all, and that will be a shame. i agree with MarkLG, theres too much sweatshop shite and too many traders selling stuff barely cheaper than the shops

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dave

the lidl stuff is good.
got 2 tank bags - 14 pound each ...85 if you want oxford or similar.
waterproof socks, even the open face helmet is cool, if a bit noisy.

I always say that a person with a $10 head buys a $10 helmet...... I think my head is worth more so I spend a lot more on protecting myslef with the best I can afford. Granted the Lidl stuff is cheap but I wonder how it would stand up to a slide down the tarmac. My experience of cheap bike gear is that it is just that - cheap.
A freind of mine slid down the road on his front after hitting a deer last summer . He was wearing expensive BMW gear and except for some bruised ribs and gravel rash where is gloves wore through on the asphalt he was able to walk away. His BMW flip up helmet saved his chin and nose and he went straight back and bought new BMW gear. I know it's damn expensive but as with Rukka, BMW and othet 'A' brands you do get good gear which may just save you a lot of pain. It's painful to buy but .....I think I'm worth it
Anyone had an off in Lidl gear and able to tell us how it was ?

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...on the road to nowhere...

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ALDI doing a motorcycle gear promotion starting today, anyone seen any of it ?

I just checked out the Aldi stuff online.
I reckon if you want to get some of the basic stuff, rather than the protective gear, then it's definitley worth a look. It looks like you can pick up some clothing layers, and tank bags that don't look too bad (ladies, it looks like we've been left out of this one when if comes to the clothing).

The rain suit might prove useful at the moment

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i got a kidney belt,some very good thermal underwear, waterproof sock,s and an excellent small first aid kit that fit,s under the seat and all for less than £20.00
the kidney belt is terrific value for money as is the thermal underwear,and sock,s. however ,when it comes to saving my skin i would never trust such a cheaply made helmet as the one that lidl are selling , but their jacket and trousers would be acceptable if you had some decent body armour to go along with them . just because something is cheap does not have to mean it is bad ,
and just because something is expensive, or has a big brand name, does not always mean that it is superior to less expensive gear .

I bought last year the bigger tank bag and I have to admit that it´s a real bargain. I really like it as it´s easy to use and has plenty of storage volume. Some clever innovations as it doubles as a rucksack. I also bought their driving boots. The zippers are not very sturdy but I think they are easily replaced if needed.