Today was your last chance to see the shiny new machines (and a lot of bicycles) at Earls Court as the 1958 Cycle & Motorcycle Show drew to a close. A smidge under 159,000 people passed through the doors over the course of the week.
The issue of The Motor Cycle following the show had reports, including some observations by Ixion on his regular ‘Occasional Comments’ pages.
Norton responded to new legislation restricting learners to 250cc bikes with the Jubilee, named to celebrate their 60th year.
Mike The Bike nearly got his Dad in to trouble.
Velocette were at the show with their 499cc Venom with fibreglass engine covers.
And the Venom Clubman, looking a bit more traditional.
A significant trend with motorcycles noted by ‘Titch’ Allen of The Motor Cycle, was for more enclosed machines,
Further thought on the Earls Court display confirms the forecast in our leading article published a fortnight ago : most prominent impression is that the 1958 Show signified the beginning of a new in machine enclosure. With past experience in mind, designers have wisely been reluctant to try to force developments without gauging the reaction of motor cyclists. It was necessary to establish that the changes were acceptable before plans could be made for the future. So far as could be judged at Earls Court the initial hurdle has been crossed. All machines with forms of enclosure were well received aid taken for granted by the great mass of visitors.
And finally, the BBC were on hand to provide almost no helpful details whatsoever.