On your bike - Milan for less than £50

Oct 28 2009 Harriet Ridley

On your bike - Milan for less than £50

THE Milan motorcycle show used to be a bi-annual affair, alternating with Germany's Cologne event.

That was until 2005 when the Italians decided to go big and annual, and host a lavish motorcycle show in their posh new pavilions in Milan's industrial area. And who can blame them?

The Italians are passionate about their motorcycle industry. Look at the Piaggio Group with its eight brands including Aprilia and Moto Guzzi.

There's also a host of other resurrected marques such as Moto Morini, and Benelli (now more Chinese than Italian). And best of all, there's Ducati that has paid off its debts and is back in profit, showing the might of the Japanese how it's done in MotoGP. Then there's all the kit Dainese, Spidi and Alpinestars are all Italian brands. And the Italians love nothing more than to show off.

And what a show the Italians put on. Milan's motorcycle show is such big news that Italy's Prime Minister, Silvio Berlusconi opens it up, and you feel underdressed in your best clothes.

Milan's new pavilions are huge, with more than a dozen halls dedicated to the coming year's new motorcycles, clothing and accessories.

And it's not only the Italian manufacturers that unveil their upcoming models here. The Japanese, Austrians (KTM) and Bavarians (BMW) among others launch several rocketships there too, not to mention an entire hall dedicated to the Chinese

You don't have to book way in advance to secure cheap air tickets. I logged onto Easyjet's website last week to book a 7am outbound flight for £28, and a 9.20pm return flight for £13 for when the show opens on November 10.

The flight's two hours and because Italy's an hour ahead, you get there nice and early and don't get home too late. Finally, a shuttle bus from Malpensa airport, put on especially for the show, takes you straight to the Fiera and back again for six euros.

So you'll be flying out nice and early, spending all day at the Fiera, then home again by midnight. You'd be tired but you'd have done the show for less than £50.

That's if you manage to wangle a free pass from the website, otherwise add an extra 18 euros for the show ticket.

And forget the overpriced dishwater coffee and dodgy burgers you get at your average UK bike show. The Italians don't do food poisoning.

However, visiting the 'Fiera' in one day is like walking ten marathons. Comfortable footwear and two days are advisable.

If you are staying that extra night, make sure you find a hotel next to Milan's red tube line, which will drop you off inside the Fiera (the stop's Rho).

Milan's metro costs one euro wherever you go (that's still less than a pound). And a conveniently located three-star hotel will set you back £40 per night, with the surrounding restaurants being just as delicious as in the tourist areas but half the price.

Don't worry about having to bring an extra suitcase. While Birmingham's NEC has a Marketplace section where you can pick up loads of bargains on yesterday's kit, the Milan show is a lavish display of all the very latest motorcycles and kit - full stop. In Milan, you gawp at ALL the latest goodies, but you don't buy; most helmets are pre-production for instance. It's a feast for the eyes, not the wallet.

And I'm not just talking motorcycles. Take the totty for instance. It's raining tall, dark, handsome men in Milan. But since most of you are red-blooded males, man-friends have reliably informed me that the girls that drape the stands in Milan are drop-dead gorgeous.

The Milan show runs from November 10 to 16 , with the 10 and 11 reserved exclusively for press and trade. Check out the website www.eicma.it for all the information.