Smaeb 2011 – The Low Budget Moto Convention
Personal thought: “If you want to know when a motorcycle exhibition sucks, it’s when they put the ATVs / snowmobiles / Spider 3 wheel vehicles out in front, right at the entrance…”
It has been a while since I’ve written something here, almost 9months…well today proved that I should keep on doing the reviews I do. SMAEB or “Salonul Motociclistilor, Accesoriilor, Echipamentelor Bucuresti” in raw English that is: Bucharest’s accesories, equipment and motorcycle’s convention. Over the recent years the show draws more and more people (specially bikers) from all around Romania… What I can say is that, from my past experiences and visits to both Motorcycle and Car conventions the “SMAEB” show is going downhill at alarming rates. I understand that the economic recession has everybody on a short budget but COME ON… I’m not paying 2.5 euros to get slapped in my Canon 5D 24mm wide camera lens and go “I beg your pardon, could I move on” routine every 2 minutes. To keep this short, I’ll put down my top 5 disappointments with this year’s “SMAEB” convention:
1) Location:
Usually, the conventions are held at the renowned Romexpo center, a place designed for massive exhibitions, with very good parking. This year the moved it at ROMAERO in Baneasa, the entrance being at Aerogarii Bd. Behind the facts that you’d spend around 2 hours in traffic, crossing a bridge over the the railways, this year that road is under construction, so from a nice 3 lane road to a 1 1/2 lanes. Lovely. Of course, the cops were overwhelmed by the situation and decided to do what is only natural, let the problems solve themselves. So, that’s 2 hours off my life. Besides the transition matters, the show itself was located beside an active runway, in a plane hanger (a 4 Cessna airplane hangar), with poor ventilation and terrible lighting (one place too bright another nearly pitch black). Good thing I brought my flashgun.
2) Beverages
You may say I am picky… Yeah they didn’t have Martini on the Rocks or Pina Collada so I have to resume to draft keg beer. Which reminds me, I’m driving *throws the beer away*. Seriously, I don’t see how biker shows mix with beer, specially when you are having over 1000 bikers attending the convention. Yeah, there’s nothing like “Born to be wild” with “a few on board”. Public safety has never been better… Or maybe it’s a way of getting budget money from fines… Do I see a cop with a breathalyzer at the next intersection? *looks again* no, it’s a street worker with a shovel… must be that alcohol I’ve tasted earlier…
3) Overpopulated and Overexhaused
Hanger 2 – Population 3000/h … Rubbing shoulders and trying to get a decent shot of a vehicle without capturing more than 5 people in the background. If you’re after stock photography…well, you’ll need a lot of *MRFs but I’m telling you, don’t bother. I really missed the experience of traveling in the 41 tram at rush-hour, however this year, “SMAEB” offers that same experience for just 2.5€ . 
I am not a crowd person, I like to have my open space, to be able to glare at something without going “Excuse me!”, “Coming through”, “MOOO! MOVE YOU COW!”. Of course, every show has it’s fun moments, specially when you have exhibitors that want to really sell their overpriced bikes. Recipe for success: have your girlfriend show her ass and tits through tight clothing while you jerk the throttle up and down, trowing a the engine at 16000 RPM and polluting nearby stands. There’s nothing like unburned gasoline in closed quarters… Also there’s nothing like getting around on an ancient piece of bike burning ’74 leaded gasoline.
4) Not enough skin on the glass
I miss the good old times when you could see a some great models from the entrance to the exit, even hanging and dancing in cages 3 feet away from the ceiling. This year, overall counting the models, I’d say, 10 maximum 15… Guess some marketing policies die out… Too bad, that was a good marketing policy: Glitter finish + beautiful model in tight leather + fake discount (price being the same after VAT) equals purchase. But since models don’t come cheap, guess they can sell them in their raw form… Like anyone would buy a bike without a great butt-print on the seat. That way you can brag to your mates: “See that bike in the parkin’ lot? I had the expo girl sittin’ on that baby for over 2 days, more than you losers (to the other co workers) ever had on your bikes. Here take a look at my phone! See see! Ain’t she a beauty (*picture taken from behind*)…
5) No freebies *heartbroken*
I <3 exhibitions, I <3 freebies, I <3 key chains. Even lacking facilities (*must hold in in a lil longer…*) there’s nothing like a freebie at an exhibition. Don’t expect that I want mugs or anything, I, however, love stickers, key chains and other small souvenirs that remind me of a particular exhibition. This year, it came to my disappointment to see that there were no freebies, no “Atentie la Motociclisti” (Be aware of bikers) stickers or any decent thing you can take home and put in a fairly visible place, such as a shelf/wall etc. Personally I couldn’t find any SMAEB 2011 branded accessory anywhere, plus the accessories were moved next to the tattoo parlor (another great thing to include at a motorcycle exhibition….NOT!). And since the beverages were not enough, who thought you could get decent metal airsoft guns at a bike expo. There’s nothing like a good shootout after a few beers is there? Don’t forget to bring your leather jacket and nun chucks! Fight on!
With these things said, I’ll let you decide if it was worth it or not. 
Personally I wouldn’t recommend to attend it, not because of the entry fee but because of the minor inconveniences that you’ll find. As for motorcycles, I would award 2 stands: The Harley Davidson stand which brought up all the American brand respect with it… the great bikes, REALLY GREAT BIKES, the total space they had in their pavilion and the staff that informed you without making a purchase. Second comes the BMW stands, for the diversity of motorcycle models and stand space. With that said, I’ll be waiting for your comments/feedback if you would attend this year’s SMAEB, or if you already been there feel free to bring it to the table.
Some of the pics taken at the event:
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Great article! Congratulations!
Kawa rullzz.. si imediat dupa.. 848.
Nice article. Greetings from Galati…
2x Greets from GL.
a uitat lumea limba RRomana…
Poate asa ne mai cibilivizzam si noi mancati-as
WORD!