Find or Sell Motorcycles & Scooters in USA

Press Launches - the ugly truth. Part 1

Thu, 31 Mar 2011

For the nosey amongst you, you might be interested to know what goes on during a 'press launch'. The phrase is used in passing in new model reports as if you should all know what it is. Like some kind of given. An assumption. 

New bikes tend to be launched to the press (often a two week-long event catering for every country under the sun) in hot, sunny climes. This happens because you need good weather to really enjoy a bike and pictures usually look better with a bit of sunshine.

The Honda Crossrunner was launched in Majorca today. I took some snaps on my camera phone from beginning to end. It probably pissed everyone else off but I thought it was an easy way to explain what happens on these events.

As events go, this was a pretty good one. Surprisingly good bike, amazing scenery, cool hotel (except the internet connection), good company and stonking roads.

Weirdly, today everyone has started falling down with a really bad vomiting bug. Out of a party of twelve, only six were fit enough to eat dinner tonight. It's yet to hit me but the amount of gloating I've been doing I fully expect it to be really spectacular when it does...

Back with more pics later...


By mark forsyth


See also: MotoGP 2011: 'Expert' Predictions, Japan Needs Your Help, Schoolboy Heroes .