An Amusing Walk-Around Chat About Custom, Classic & New Motorcycles at The Bike Shed Show 2024

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We attended the Bike Shed Moto Show this year for the first time ever! We were blown away by the incredible array of custom, classic, and concept bikes on display. Including two new Ducati Scrambler concepts! Norton also unveiled their new one of one custom paint job scheme but it comes at a price tag!
What is your favourite bike of the show?
We also meet a few other motorcycle channels and motovloggers including Freddie Dobbs, Courtney Scarlet, Harvey Rides Bikes (we don’t reveal him!), Mancave Moto & Username Kate to mention but a few.
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[@psypsy751]

I find it incredibly cool that you two manage to do this stuff together as father and son. Cherish it, not many people get the opportunity to share this kind of passion with their loved ones. And that brings a community with it as well? That's what life should be.

[@MrDarcy-OlMan]

💯

[@FreddieDobbs]

Brilliamnt! A pleasure to finally meet you both.

[@MrDarcy-OlMan]

A pleasure to meet you too Freddie! You’re even more charismatic in real life

[@markwilliamson2795]

@@MrDarcy-OlMan Easy now.....I think hes spoken for......lol...I love the Freddie & Monika show....Good to see the Ol Man getting aired out now and again...love the older classic bikes ran Castrol in my old 1970 Husky out near Indian Dunes race track in Calif back in the day..Steve McQueen was there then and most likely having a beer afterwards at the " Fast House " after with all the others ....

[@walidhendrix7495]

Darcy and Freddie !!!!! Nice

[@MrDarcy-OlMan]

Yes it was great to meet him 👍🏼

[@garys7828]

Your dad's like crocodile Dundee with his expression on the tube 😅😅

[@paulstokes393]

Total fish-out-of-water 🤣

[@darrenhall6509]

Yep, I`m old enough to remember Castrol R. The Box Hill lads used to run it on their LC`s back in the early eighties, glorious smell, but you had to be careful as its racing oil. You had to pin it everywhere or your plugs would foul. You could pin it everywhere in those days...

[@GreyManGamingGMG]

So cool that you guys met Freddie, he is such a cool guy. Love his channel!

[@MrDarcy-OlMan]

We’re completely on the same wavelength regarding motorcycles! He’s a genuinely nice guy 💯

[@indigokiller]

I have enjoyed the rise of this channel. Father and son tandem makes it unique. Great to see you mix it up with Freddie, hope you guys can do a crossover episode in the future

[@MrDarcy-OlMan]

Thank you and yes we hopefully will be doing something with Freddie 👍🏼

[@tomoates8568]

It's so heartwarming to see the two of you together in these videos. I haven't got the best relationship with my dad, not to mention the fact that he lives approximately 1200 miles away from me. So to be honest I'm a bit jealous that you get to do this kind of thing with yours. Love to see it! Ride safe both of you

[@WonhoTraveler]

Old man and Freddie in one video I've won! Amazing looking bikes glad you enjoyed your trip to London 😊

[@jeffwatson4908]

A nice walkabout showing some fine and some stunning bikes. That Norton and the Vincent were standout contrasts and both exquisite in design and quality. I was at the National Motorcycle museum a few weeks before the fire. It brought tears to my eyes first due to the loss of such great examples through the decades but also, when touring the exhibits, seeing the amazing tech innovations long before they became common practise. The lack of metallurgical progress was the inhibitor. Thanks to innovators like Honda that was addressed.

[@wboeren1]

Funny, the old man looks like he was transported from a different time zone into the subway. Its all very strange and new. 😂

[@kennethszpindor1723]

I remember castrol R from my scooter days in the early 70s what a smell ace the Norton you where looking at for a disgusting amount was in Steve hislops winning Norton way back his Norton was 19 and with all the sponsors on it some great bikes there I wish would bring it up north as well for us common people to see them lol

[@jvl4832]

Thank you for the take along, from all those who could not make it to London…beautiful bikes!

[@MrDarcy-OlMan]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@JoJo-hc4dj]

Awesome video I really enjoyed it and what a fantastic range of customised bikes ❤

[@millwall007]

Absolutely brilliant lads, well done, thank you so very much.

[@MrDarcy-OlMan]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@smokinjoe7625]

Legends great to see the old man back on the show . Love the content guys been a follower from the start your videos and presentation make me feel good and relaxed loving the vibes . A Sportglide rider watching in Sydney Australia .

[@MrDarcy-OlMan]

Much appreciated buddy 👍🏼👍🏼

[@Cj-nu7nx]

Great vid! Appreciate your content! Bike jacket on for the train ride 😂 Awesome!

[@HarleyGeezer1954]

I wish we had a bike shed show in the US. LA doesn't count. Nobody goes to LA. Freddie Dobbs has a great channel as well.

[@mryorkshire3623]

My mate had a fizzy back in the 70's which he ran on Castrol 'R'. It doesn't mix with normal oil so he had to flush all the bearings with petrol first before tuning it. He welded a water jacket on to it to convert it to a water cooled bike and added a expansion chamber. It smelt and sounded awesome.

[@cezarmartins3489]

My two favorite channels!

[@MrDarcy-OlMan]

Thanks!!

[@kwakithailand]

Awesome stuff, thanks for taking us along with you. My 👍 as well as comment are well deserved for your restless work, lads.

[@garethholden301]

£20k for a paint job, Norton are taking the p*ss!

[@kevinmurtagh3434]

I can do it for £50

[@paulobrien8600]

If you didn't even like bikes these two have an absolutely brilliant father and son relationship that no bike or money can substitute. Well done from Paul in Ireland 🇮🇪

[@MrDarcy-OlMan]

Ahh thank you 😊

[@jamesball3942]

lovely video.... so envious !! you guys are great together 😊

[@stubyourtoe6521]

OMG. That is the custom Super Meteor 650. (At 2:35)

[@stubyourtoe6521]

I've got a Super Meteor 650. I love that bike

[@danielwilliams8397]

Just beautiful bikes!

[@robmance1611]

Really enjoyed that good one!

[@TheNorthernClassicRider]

I remember going to watch grasstrack racing as a kid. The smell of castrol R and burning grass was something else! Great to see you both back 👍

[@skynyrdd1]

A fun day out. A lot of stunning bikes. Great video guys

[@Fizz1961]

Great walk through guys… so far I’ve managed a year with a black/white number plate here in Wales without being pulled over.

[@morrisminor56]

Great bikes and interesting building.

[@carver7689]

Norton makes some beautiful bikes, but good god the prices! That BMW R1200R was unrecognizable, too. Somebody put a lot of thought and love into those mods. Beautiful bikes all over the floor, thanks for taking us along! An aside: what's that music at the end of this video? I thought it was catchy.

[@MrDarcy-OlMan]

Its a standard KZbin creators music 👍🏼

[@staffordvideoproductions5788]

Thanks for taking us along. I greatly enjoyed your conversation and adventure.

[@MrDarcy-OlMan]

Our pleasure 😊

[@timothybrockbank7474]

Some stunning bikes

[@MrDarcy-OlMan]

Agreed!

[@1984FXE]

Great to see you guys filming together again and welcome back to the Old Man! Haven't been to the Bike Shed show since 2016 but looks like it's just as good these days. On the black plates, I got pulled with one when I lived/rode in Central London. The copper was fairly reasonable about it but did say they're not legal on modern bikes and to change it asap. However! You can get pressed yellow/black ones that look equally tidy and are still legible. Caveat here is that I'm not 100% sure on the legality but I've had the odd police car behind me with no probs so far.

[@statuescher]

Enjoyed the vicarious pleasure of your walk around and comments. My 2010 Enfield has a nice black and white plate beginning R500 which is really nice but I had to put a black and yellow one over it to be legal and also to get through the MOT.

[@Life_of_Gavin]

What a great bike show and great looking venue. Wish I could have gone and seen it.

[@BlakesPipes]

What a nice place to visit when it was calm! Enjoyed seeing this video! 😊 what a treat

[@MrDarcy-OlMan]

Glad you enjoyed it! It was lovely to see it before the big crowds

[@ramonemoto]

Wow 🤩

[@rossm9676]

Re, the silver & black pressed plates. I've had one on my 2003 Bonnie T100 for a year or so, never been pulled up, or had any problems, its about 7" x 5" I think, and really suits the overall look of the bike.

[@_Ulisses_]

Nice to have the old man back and well. Welcome back, Sir. Nice video, great bikes. On the "Honda Classics" subject, the Honda India has in its line up there the Honda H'ness CB350, the 350 RS version and now the CB350 (no H'ness name on it) which is a copy of Royal Enfield Classic 350. All those are pretty much classic bikes. Sadly those bikes are only sold in India market, exception made to the H'ness 350 which is also sold in Japan Market under the name GB350 and GB350S, which have slightly differences, being more minimalistic in Japan's version, tho some people might prefer that way. Cheers.

[@MrDarcy-OlMan]

Thank you, I am pleased to be back 👍🏼

[@fredstraw]

Yes used Castrol R and love the smell

[@IanSixbikes-by6ei]

Great to see you both at Bike Shed 24, it's probably the best motorcycle show in the UK and well worth a trip down to London , on the subject of the silver on black number plates, young Mr Dobbs has one fixed to his Bonneville and he doesn't appear to attract any unwanted attention from the "plod" so one must assume you will be on safe ground fitting one to the Ol Mans R18.

[@gwynnromano5881]

Your mention of the smell of burning castor oil brought back memories from my youth of attending races. Something I hadn’t thought of in years.

[@antonoat]

Great stuff guys, really good to see you back together again on our screens ! Difficult to choose a favourite from the bikes you featured though a couple of the BMW's were really striking.

[@MrDarcy-OlMan]

Thank you! Lots of impressive BMW’s for sure 👌🏻

[@triumphthunderbird1]

I really like the Bike Shed, been a number of times and will go to this show at some point. Honestly though, my Triumph Rocket 3 TFC has the looks to match its incredible performance.

[@stevemartin9179]

Great video guys, you even managed to make the city look appealing! Where i hail from we only have black and silver number plates and no letters just numbers! 👍

[@AdamForeman]

I'm so glad that motorcycle manufacturers recognise that retro style motorcycles are still very much desired just as much as sports bikes and adventure bikes. Ducati has a huge hit on their hands if they bring them both to market as they are now

[@MrScallops]

LMAO trying to get on the train that’s me too!

[@tonybrett7974]

Excellent video chaps. Good show overall, unfortunately not as many shed builds as previous years. Had the pleasure of seeing the Vincent in the wild being ridden on the Bishops Stortford DGR the previous Sunday.

[@MrDarcy-OlMan]

That’s amazing, bet that was cool!

[@ilejovcevski79]

That 76 Honda! Mates..... so this is how bike heaven looks like...

[@madbrianthepirate]

My meteor has been wearing a small, black and silver plate for the last two years. Looks proper and never yet been pulled for it.

[@Crafty-Scamp]

Hi folks I've been riding my 1995 triumph thunderbird for 21 years with a black and silver number plate only change it for MOT time never been pulled over for it , Keep up the good work ride safe guys 👍

[@AjaySingh-228]

If I won the lottery, the first thing I would buy is a Norton motorcycle. Just kidding, I would buy two! 🏍🏍I love the smell of castor oil! It brings back memories of the old days when scramble bikes used to put it in their tanks. It lubricates the engine and smells lovely..This 1976 Honda CB 550 is stunning! I wish Honda would make more modern classic bikes that look like this..In Tamilnadu,India people prefer to write RX 100 its amazing old classic bike

[@philelsey7639]

You and your dad make a great team and what a proper gent the old man is,I totally agree we need some old skool styling I had a yamaha SR500 a super moto style? What about the royal enfield woodsman based on the old style trial bikes and the 4 cylinder hondas,400/4 750/4 proper looking bikes.oh and I've subscribed.

[@jameskelsey1907]

Just had a bike fail it’s MOT test for having a small number plate. The test centre guys told me that have recently been instructed to police this issue properly otherwise they will be penalised.

[@roygardiner2229]

That was SO very enjoyable, even for me, a non-biker. Machines can be truly works of art 🎨, as witnessed in your video. Thank you!

[@MrDarcy-OlMan]

Glad you enjoyed it! Maybe you’ll become a biker after watching a few of our videos 😁🤞🏻

[@JordyPressman]

Love this style of vlog would love to see more of just days out with you and your old man! Reminds me of me and my dad! Love it! Shame we didn’t bump into you guys there would have loved to of met you guys!

[@MrDarcy-OlMan]

Many thanks 😊 Arranging a meet up soon so hopefully you will be able to make that 👍🏼

[@sritejakallepu890]

I love you guys and the way you produce content . Love from India.

[@MrDarcy-OlMan]

Thanks very much! 😊

[@ryanh4707]

Can we get an exorbitantly expensive spin off series whereby the Ol’ Man is sent around the world to various metropolises for our amusement?

[@KJRS3001]

Excellent video, what a great bike show. Old Man is one super cool dude too 😎

[@DucatiDiaries]

Beard's looking good Mr. Darcy! Good to see you guys together.

[@MrDarcy-OlMan]

Thank you 😊

[@The1977andi]

Great video, not too long

[@MrDarcy-OlMan]

Glad you liked it!

[@nicholasjarrold8649]

Hi yes 2stroke oil best smells ever I use to go scrambling back in the seventies and eighties all scramble season he rode with Dave Thorpe most wkends in the season but early seventies I think it was belray oils came over I think from America incorrect me if I’m wrong great video seeing bikes you wouldn’t see hardly on the road hope you had a good train journey home

[@martynlaverick3405]

Great vid guys and how cool must it be to work together👍

[@MrDarcy-OlMan]

Thanks and yes it is 👍🏼

[@TheBikerFormerlyKnownAs]

Thought you were going to pan around and show my bike, which was on display for a minute. Friday afternoon was the best time to get around and see the bikes, especially for photos. Great video, guys

[@MrDarcy-OlMan]

Ahh! What bike is it?

[@TheBikerFormerlyKnownAs]

@MrDarcy-OlMan it was facing the car which you looked at in the LiveWire shop. On the opposite side of the door. Just caught the corner of it on your video, the Prince Purple Rain bike. I hope you both had a great show.

[@Howard1776]

I have had ‘black & silver’ plates on a few modern bikes ( the black ones) over the years and have yet to have an issue. However, I do low miles and live in the country so rarely have had an incidence when the police have been immediately behind me for them to notice.

[@chrishart8548]

It would be better to have non age related plate like a 1981 W reg on a newer bike that looks like and older bike. If the reg is fairly new and it's black and silver you're going to be in trouble.

[@Howard1776]

@@chrishart8548I have a 6 digit plate on a Triumph Thunderbird so it’s fairly innocuous.

[@user-hf6ok2tj5h]

Thanks for giving us a look at some truly unique bikes. Eye candy everywhere. As for the event, genuine classics and custom builds are clearly what Bike Shed is all about, so I found it interesting that BMW as well as Ducati had a pretty big presence there too (and Norton). Were any other mainstream manufacturers at the show?

[@MrDarcy-OlMan]

No we didn’t see any other manufacturers there.

[@stewartnorton6386]

Totally agree about Honda and retro bikes. Can't understand why they haven't got one to compete with RE or Triumph. Saying that I've heard rumours that the H'ness is at least coming to the UK.

[@backontwowheels9469]

Definitely loved the smell of Castrol R and two stroke machines

[@Drive_Camp_Ride]

I have black plates on my HD48 and my Mutt 250 hilts, I think you can definitely get away with it on an old looking, retro bikes (Like mine)

[@Yourtimewillcome999]

Great video Gents…. Reference the black & Silver number plates …..I’ve had one on my Harley for 20 years and I’ve never once been pulled over by the police. It even goes through an MOT although I do take my yellow one just in case but it’s never been required.

[@michaelmclarney1994]

O'l man on the tube was like me last summer visiting my nephew last summer! 😂 Before that, I also went into a McDonald's for the first time in over 25 years and couldn't figure out the touch screen and just randomly prodding it with my finger like someone from another era! 😂😂

[@MrDarcy-OlMan]

That’s so funny, the Ol’Man also had a very similar McDonald’s experience recently 😂😂

[@michaelmclarney1994]

@@MrDarcy-OlMan well, at least there's two of us! 😂😂

[@Shinysideup]

I still use castrol R the smell is amazing

[@Motobrummie]

I’ve had a silver and black small number plate for years , no issues from police etc 👍👍

[@MOTOUK1]

Loved that Guy’s thank you…. Didnt manage to get down this year. Some lovely bikes and you’re all correct why don’t manufacturers build similar to these, i am sure there is a market for them! Saying that Triumph stopped making the Thruxton :( sad day… Cheers to you both 🍻 and congrats again on the 100K and the hanging ornament from youtube 👍

[@MrDarcy-OlMan]

Thanks 😊

[@Borntobemild2625]

Great video. It's so funny to see how you fellow youtubers interact around each other. There's a sort of typical british shyness, like back in the day when you would hover around a group of girls at a night club waiting for that split second eye contact that would give you the OK to ask them for a dance 👍

[@jamesgordon4754]

Great to see a youngster recognise the sheer beauty of the CB550/4.

[@nickturnbull4302]

Lovely video, thanks guys. Yep I have a black and silver reg plate on my 2023 BSA gold star. Never been stopped (yet) and I’m guessing as I’m old and don’t go tare arsing around they turn a blind eye to my small indiscretion.

[@MrDarcy-OlMan]

Thanks, good to hear 👍🏼

[@AlexOnABoat]

Ahh, I love the smell of Castrol R in the morning, I used to pop a bit in the tank of my Mini Cooper S just for THAT smell. What I want to know is how did I not manage to see half these bikes, given that I was mooching round the same day. I guess I must have gone bike-blind, I'll admit yet a while they did all start looking the same.

[@caldaemon]

Proper mud guards! 😄

[@MentatOfDune]

Ive had black and silver number plates on my bikes (here in Ireland) and have never had issues down South or up North. Have had police admire the bikes though (Meteor350 and CB1100ex) and they never mentioned the plates.

[@MrDarcy-OlMan]

That is good to hear 👍🏼

[@sussexbikerpillion]

Some beautiful bikes. As you say perhaps a turnaround point with design. Feeling your pain on the train and tube. lol.

[@chrisaris8756]

Castro R is the smell of racing to me! A bike needs to be pre 1980 to wear black and silver plates.

[@sadletrampsscooby]

I’ve been running these on my Harley’s last 10 years as long as your bike looks classic is all good go for it

[@markjordan899]

Down here in the lovely county of Hampshire it,s a "on the spot fine of £100 "for any numberplate which is non-standard.....thing is, you still see loads of cars with plates modified to try and read as a silly name???.ie letters and numbers close together all in a row........

[@terrybarton8388]

Yep same here in South Lincolnshire, you’d be pulled up very quickly yet cars with altered letter and number gaps etc get away un challenged?

[@Matt-cl2qr]

great video! Those london underground trains are sketchy as hell, they sound like they're falling apart. black & white plates aren't legal on modern bikes but i think if you've got one on a retro style bike its unlikely a copper would give you a second look unless you'd given them another reason.

[@majormayhem8442]

Please make a colaboration video with Freddie, that would be incredible to watch!

[@MrDarcy-OlMan]

🤞🏻😊

[@createmate]

Absolutely remember the Castrol R and I totally agree about the pleasing aroma 😊 Also, re the black and silver number plate, I ride with a smaller one on my custom Bonnie, but have two black Velcro strips on it (which aren’t noticeable) to which I attach the regular plate for MOT. I have been stopped once and told the very pleasant policeman who was admiring my bike, that it’s a show bike and the plate is for shows, but that the legal one must have come off 😉 He let me go on my way 🙏😎 PS: I have never shown the bike but it was originally a show bike for Performance Parts.

[@MrDarcy-OlMan]

That’s great to know, thank you for commenting! 😊

[@longbeard_rider]

Umm, Castrol R, love it!

[@YangCalgary]

You guys turned into kids. Love it!

[@MrDarcy-OlMan]

😁like a sweet shop

[@tirgod100]

honda should def. do some modern classics.. finally someone who pointed this out.

[@carlhutchins7091]

I use castrol R on a rag to cleam my 2003 Harley and she smells geogous when warm !

[@BUGBYTE_]

I agree Honda really needs to bring out some new modern classics. I really miss my cb1100ex. My aunt just moved in with us from Poland and she brought her 75 cb750 with her. She literally brought 3 bags and her bike and moved to Texas. It's a really great bike and I can just imagine what Honda could do with their modern components.

[@Bertybeansprout]

I remember Castrol R from early days. My father used to say that he would prefer it to Channel no 5. On my mother

[@mockbattles]

I agree with you on Honda.

[@loddude5706]

7:55 - 'Oh, look Wilbur, they've built themselves an Edsel! - maybe H-D could follow suit, eh?' . . . 'Er, . .Wilbur, why are you looking at me like that? . . . Wilbur!!!' (FX. Ominous pistol shot : )

[@mantarayal]

Aaaaaah....nostalgia. I remember it fondly. And yes. Trail bikes are awesome. Sorry, were awesome. Honda 250 Motorsport? Or SL100 and SL125? Suzuki TM and TS 250? Or TM 125? Yammie 100s? 125s? The radial fin 360s? Hell yes. We rode them all and now the glaciers are melting. Sorry. Our bad. Oh yeah...let's not forget the Honda Elsinores of the 70s. I can hear them in my mind as I write. Aaaaah...nostalgia.

[@markflowers1814]

It’s both of your bloody fault I’ve got back into motorcycling. After over a 20 year layoff I went and got a RE 350 classic after watching your videos ( last bike was a ZX7R ) and I love it. I don’t need the power just enjoy pottering around enjoying the scenery , I couldn’t hold on to a bigger bike as every limb is held together with some sort of metal work and I have limited strength in my arms, not a motorcycle accident I will add. I have a black and silver plate with no issues so far ( hope I haven’t jinxed it ) , I think having an old style looking bike and not doing a million miles an hour helps. Thanks for making me fall back in love with the simple joy of biking

[@MrDarcy-OlMan]

Awesome to hear 👍🏼

[@ianhalliwell8604]

I'm with you D'Arcy Honda need to bring back the CB 500 and CB 750 with a new 4 cylinder engine. I did have the 1100 air cooled version, a few years back, but it was very heavy with a front brake at best you could call keen, at worse, vicious.