The event formally known as the Shepherds Hill Bike Show (now Reading MAG Bike Show) was moved to a new site this year to Reading Abbey Rugby Club, and what a site it was, it seemed much bigger, and from my point much better, I arrived early (as usual) and it was already pretty busy with the Mag reps and stall holders busy organising things that needed organising.
The main tent was one belonging to The Thames Vale Vultures, and had a great range of music playing from it, a bit of everything, not just metal, I found it a lot more enjoyable than when some shows have the music screaming out.
Onto the important stuff, the bikes, there were a lot, a lot more than usual, I guess the break in the weather helped. There was a big turnout of HOG members and various clubs. With bikes ranging from 50cc scooters, to supercharged Harleys.
Bikes that stood out from the rest for me, were an immaculate FS1E along with an equally pristine Gt750 Kettle, A beautiful Triumph Chop, an orange Honda Super Magna, and a realy cool GSXR1100F Rat called ‘Punk as Fuck’ with a 165bhp tuned engine.
Custom trikes were a little light on the ground, this year, there didn’t seem as many, Robs reliant speedboat trike was there with a new makeover since last years show, it was in bright orange with clockwork orange decals on it, and I loved the 1954 BSA 600 with sidecar, and a note saying ‘has even reached 50mph’.
Paintwork seemed to standout more this year, with Chromaflair being the main choice for quite a few people, A few paintjobs that stood out were a flamed supercharged Harley and a pinstriped Roadking.
The Ultimate bike for me was Steve Nicholls V-Rod, finished in blue with stealth lines to the tank and a leather and stingray seat, it was fantastic, he also walked away with best engineering and best in show.
there was a tug of war between the Grandfathers and reading Mag, with the Grandfathers coming out on top, they then went on to do a best of three pull with the 3B’s they had both won one pull each and the decider went to the (very tired) Grandfathers.
A very impressive turnout, which can only lead to bigger and better things, and a big thanks to Steve (reading Mag Rep) and all the other members of reading Mag for organising another great show

Winners
Best in Show
Steve Nicholl HD Vrod

Best Engineering
Steve Nicholl HD Vrod

Best Paint
Graham Akar: Supercharged Custom

Best Custom
Graham Akar: Supercharged Custom

Best American
Glen Blake: HD Roadking

Best Brit
Burt Chandler Triumph Chop

Best Jap
Derek May: Suzuki GT750 Kettle

Best Other
Tim ‘Odd Bod’ Sipson: Enfield Bullet 500

Best Trike
Rob: Reliant Speedboat Trike

Best Rat
Andz Howard: Punk as Fuck GSXR100F

Best <125
Colin Woodwary: Yamaha FS1E