Stuart’s GoldWing Blog

Appleyards Open day has become a major gathering on GoldWing Riders at the start of each season, when large numbers travel, some great distances, to meet, chat, eat and rummage through a large selection of new (and used) GoldWing accessories, parts and of course bikes and their relatively recent specialisation – trikes.  Appleyards now specialise in selling GoldWing trikes as well as solos and usually have several in stock.

They have always discounted the shiny bits extra generously for the day – and not necessarily having put the prices up prior to doing so either, as some Wingers have suggested.  And the Open Day is also the once-per-year opportunity to see their accumulated stock of second hand bits – a veritable Alladin’s Cave for Wingers.  As one of the busiest GoldWing traders in the Country, even if they are no longer a Franchised Honda Dealer, Appleyards accumulate a lot of potentially useful leftover bits, which they take this annual opportunity to clear out by letting Wingers buy them at knock down prices.

Open Day at Appleyards Keighley Showrooms is also neutral ground for the GoldWing club scene, continues………

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Oh dear, Big Brother Honda seems to be at it again, chucking a spanner in the works of a seemingly harmless service which benefits GoldWing riders, especially of the older models, which Honda no longer supports itself.

The well known GoldWingDocs reference and bulletin website has long been a very useful internet source of technical reference material for GoldWings, especially for older models, for which all sorts of Service and other Manuals are available for downloading free of charge.

There is some useful information on current models too, for example a complete lest of service bulletins (including recalls) for the GL1800.

Maybe that’s what Honda really objects to; the stuff on current models.  It’s difficult to see what continues………

This is just one corner of Knutsford Honda's GoldWing Accessory Store above their Showroom

Knutsford Honda are holding an Open Day for GoldWing Owners and Riders this  weekend (Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th March) and offering special discounts and deals, especially on chrome accessories, of which they keep an extensive stock, probably the best in UK.

With the weather forecast looking good, dry and sunny with no overnight frost, so no salt being spread on the roads, there is likely to be a good turn out of Wingers to see what goodies and shiny bits are on offer – as well as to meet, chat and, of course, is eat.

Knutsford Honda is one of only two Franchised Honda Dealerships in UK  which are taking a  special interest in GoldWings and stocking accessories – and the only one in the North of England.  They can already claim to be the premier GoldWing Dealership and Accessory Stockist in the North West and although relatively new on the scene they are clearly setting out to give Appleyards some competition.

A few months ago they took over PricedRight Ltd, a prominent UK mail order GoldWing Accessory Supplier, and now operate a mail order service for GoldWing accessories from their Knutsford site as well as stocking GoldWings for sale and providing servicing and repair facilities too.  Click here to visit their GoldWing Mail Order Website which shows the range of their stock.

Click on the Map for a larger image

Knutsford Honda will be open all day on Saturday and Sunday to welcome GoldWing riders and interested visitors and there are refreshments on offer as well as demonstration rides.

If you haven’t been to Knutsford Honda yet this will be a good weekend to pay your first visit – and you will be sure to meet lots of other GoldWings and their owners there, there’s sure to be a good turn out.

Knutsford Honda are on the A50 just a few miles east of Junction 20 of the M6, about half way to its junction with the A556.  It’s the site once occupied by GoldWings International, which was when Chrome Crazy Days first started.

The Organisers of the Blackpool Illuminations  GoldWing Light Parade, Britain’s original, brightest and best, have finally revealed the new Venue for the popular social weekend which is part of the Event – and it’s a whole Crescent of hotels and apartments, right on the Promenade.

On the face of it they were going to have real difficulties replacing Pontin’s Holiday Centre when it closed abruptly soon after last year’s Event.  It had been the Event’s home for several years – not perfect but it worked, or at least it worked in most respects for most of the time.

But the new Venue turns out to have a number of real advantages over Pontin’s and not many drawbacks – well, nothing that can’t be sorted one way or another.

The new Venue also takes the Event, now in its eight year, into Blackpool proper, and into proper Blackpool accommodation – hotels and B&Bs.  A group of these, all located along the same Crescent, on but set back from South Shore Promenade, are cooperating enthusiastically with the BLP Organisers to make the 2010 Light Parade innovative as well as successful.

The Crescent where the participating hotels are located also provides useful parking, display and Parade mustering space, although the Hotels all have out-of-sight off road overnight parking too.

The new venue will allow the Organisers to provide much better for day visitors as well as those coming to stay.  All the parking and display spaces will be open to non-resident GoldWings and the participating Hotels are all offering catering and other facilities for non-residents.

The location is a short stroll south of the Pleasure Beach, close enough to be handy to pay a visit on foot and handy for the Trams, yet far enough away from the really busy parts on the Prom (eg the Golden Mile) to provide, for example, crowd-free Parade mustering.  The Crescent is also right opposite the formal start of the Illuminations, so it’s ideally placed for purposes of the Parade Route.

As well as support from Blackpool Council and Knutsford Honda again this year, the event has the support of an enthusiastic bunch of Blackpool Hoteliers and Landladies.  They are combining to welcome Wingers to their Crescent by coordinating their entertainment programmes for the Event as well as offering specially discounted accommodation and even discounted bar prices.

This year’s event can also look forward to cooperation from Blackpool Police and there will be no risk of a repeat of last year’s misunderstandings.

Let’s hope that 2010 will see the return of genuine friendliness to the UK GoldWing community and an end to the factionalism.  The Blackpool Light Parade is organised for the benefit of all UK Wingers, regardless of whether and to which club or clubs they might or might belong.

For further information, including about the new venue and how to book your accommodation,  visit the GoldWing Light Parade Website.

You can also go directly to the Accommodation page.

It’s going to be a Great Weekend!

Click on the image for an enlargement

Holding a non-camping social weekend for GoldWings at the darker ends of the biking season, to allow Wingers to show off their display lights, is catching on.

Norfolk Wings are holding one in their part of the Country for the first time this year and would welcome plenty of support.

The Parade itself is on the evening of Saturday March 27th in Hunstanton, Norfolk, a small holiday town on the North Norfolk Coast.

Proceeds are to be donated to the local Air Ambulance so it’s all in a good cause – and the Town Mayor is joining the Parade as a passenger on a trike.

The social weekend is based on Manor Holiday Park, where the accommodation is in chalets but they will also allow caravans and motorhomes on site but no tents.  Day visitors are welcome to join in the Parade too and they can also enter the Holiday Park on payment of a visitors fee.

Inscription (i.e. event registration, payable to the Organisers) costs only £2.  The Event is being run continues………

The Manchester Bikes Show, which had to be cancelled during the snow and icy weather we suffered earlier this year, has been rescheduled for Easter Weekend, April 3rd and 4th 2010.

It takes place at the Manchester Arena (formerly GMEX) and advance tickets are only £10, children and OAPs £5.  It will cost £12 for adults if you pay at the door.

There are stunt shows and an opportunity to get a feel for doing wheelies on the safety of a tethered trianer/simulator.

There are also said to be lots of dealer and trade stands.

The Federation of UK GoldWing Clubs was to be exhibiting at this Show – it would have been the first outing for its posh new Exhibition Stand – but unfortunately the new dates clash with other commitments, so maybe next year.

Further information by clicking here.

Graham Whitaker's stunning Hybrid GoldWing at the 2009 BLP - photo by Nigel Mackintosh

The Organisers of the Blackpool Illuminations GoldWing Light Parade, now in its eight year, have found a new Venue, which is to be announced on the BLP Website shortly.

It became necessary to find a new home when Pontin’s Blackpool Holiday Centre, where the Event had been based in recent years, suddenly closed down towards the end of the 2009, even before the end of the Illuminations Season.

Sometimes Fate takes charge with beneficial effect and so it is with this new BLP Venue, which the Organisers believe will offer considerable overall improvements.  Details of the Venue will be announced on the BLP Website within the next week or two – they are being delayed purely because continues………