British Dealer News August 2022 by British Dealer News

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key business information for the UK motorcycle and scooter industry

Key business information for the UK motorcycle and scooter industry • August 2022

UK NEWS

BSA announces UK distributor Market Watch by cap/hpi IOM TT NEWS

Profitable TT+ streaming coverage Italian brands join forces DFT STATISTICS

First quarter data for 2022 Triumph TE-1 R&D concludes

OFF-ROAD NEWS

ABR Festival is a winner

D E W O L L A W S head buys up w o r r A t n ia g n America together r to u ib tr is d n a major Europe story page 18 – s g in ld o h K with all its U

UP!

August 2022

We could tell you all about how our customers have voted us as the UK’s number one motor finance lender, or that we were voted ‘Sub-prime Finance Provider of the Year’ for seven years by our dealer partners. But we don’t like to blow our own trumpet. Instead, we let our customers do the talking…

Absolutely amazing. Helped me as much as they could and got me my first ever bike. I would highly recommend. August 2021

Scan the QR code to join our Dealer network and receive a Welcome Hamper* *Subject to the information provided, meeting our onboarding criteria. First Response Finance Ltd, 5 Regan Way Chetwynd Business Park, Chilwell, Nottingham, NG9 6RZ. Authorised & Regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered in England No 03560611.

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Expansion for Pure Moto Time for bike test regime change? Bullit rebrands bikes to Bluroc Mutt goes large with new HQ

NMDA switches on survey Sunra broadens its network DfT half year registration data New and used sales data

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October 12 Sept

November 12 Oct

the business

34 MARKETING MATTERS Lights, camera, action! 46 THE BUSINESS ESSENTIALS Bullying in the workplace

38 PYRAMID SOFTWARE BY TRUE TRACK Blue sky thinking, cloud-based technology 40 PRODUCTS The latest retail profit opportunities 47 FERODO 125 years of braking experience

the knowledge 52 DFT STATISTICS First quarter data for 2022

54 ON THE MONEY Market analysis by Roger Willis 55 INTERNATIONAL SHARE PRICES A snapshot of global performance 56 NEW REGISTRATION DATA MCIA and ACEM statistics 58 REGISTRATIONS ANALYSIS By Glass’s and BDN 60 USED BIKE DATA From Auto Trader, Glass’s Guide and MCN 62 MARKET WATCH Market report by cap hpi

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on after two decades 12 Full report page

Dirtbike showtime Staffs Triumph celebrates Shipping still in crisis

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Contents

British Dealer News, 10 Daddon Court, Clovelly Road Industrial Estate, Bideford EX39 3FH

Tim Maccabee moves

2021

PUBLISHER Colin Mayo: editorial@dealernews.co.uk

ntary Complime Planner 2022 Wall Honda dealers honoured New head at Private investment Visordown for British bike builder in its golden anniversary Full reportrebuilds year – page 10 Norton

November

TAIWAN AGENCY Albert Yang, Pro Media Co: info@motopromedia.com; tel +886 4 7264437

exit data n Autum e NMDA Attitud Dealer results Survey ycle Live Motorc t hits paydir recall Oxford n Furyga ance renaiss kicks back Kymco zero Zemo’s ch resear

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for the UK for the UK motorcyclemotorcycle and scooter and scooter industry • November industry 2021

Profitable TT+ streaming coverage Great expectations for BSA’s new UK distributor Sycamore doubles up on Harley Indian opens London store On the Move – Exciting times at MotoMondo Dainese and Momodesign join forces Brexit confusion on Euro transport BDN JobScene – Dealer4sale International news – Bihr goes west to Arrowhead High inflation leaves businesses with conundrum Electric news – Triumph TE-1 Pages with blue tabs contain supported content Alternative power registration analysis Off-road news – ABR Festival success 32 BUSINESS BEAT Reaction – Sad passing of Charlie Harris Proposed new powers for Companies House

ADVERTISING EXECUTIVE/AGENT Alison Payne: tel 07595 219093 Paul Baggott: tel 07831 863837 adsales@dealernews.co.uk CIRCULATION circulation@dealernews.co.uk

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ACCOUNTS MANAGER Mark Mayo: accounts@dealernews.co.uk

British Dealer

CONTRIBUTORS Roger Willis; Dan Sager; Alan Dowds; Rick Kemp; Adam Bernstein; Suzanne Potts

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EICMA

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BON 2022 CAR

information

CCM’S BUSINESS BOOST

December 2021

COMMERCIAL CONTENT MANAGER Maurice Knuckey: creative@dealernews.co.uk

News

PRODUCTS EDITOR/DESIGNER Colin Williams: design@dealernews.co.uk

British Dealer

FINANCIAL EDITOR Roger Willis: motobusiness@icloud.com

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Inside!

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20 YEARS AT THE TOP

2022

4 6 8 10 12 14 15 16 18 20 22 24 26 31

Star reborn BSA Gold page 12 Full report

January

the news

HEAD OF CONTENT Andy Mayo: editorial@dealernews.co.uk

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Dealer

August 2022 : Issue 253

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y industr2022 industry scooter • January and scooter • December 2021 industry ycle and for the UK motorcycle and scooter industry motorc information and scooter UKcle for the UK motorcycle key business for the Key business information ation UK motorcy key business Key business for the inform information

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38 AUGUST 2022 3

Business news

TT+ live streaming BDN Exclusive coverage profitable

ccording to the Isle of Man government’s Department for Enterprise (DfE), its TT+ live streaming TV channel launched at the TT races this year was a financial success. More than 57,000 viewers paid the one-off introductory TT+ Live Pass subscription fee of £14.99, which gave streaming access to all qualifying practice sessions and the entire race programme – and the ability to repeatedly watch content again at their leisure. Resultant revenue received to date therefore reached at least £855,000. And the DfE has confirmed this tally exceeded the cost of production. However, due to future tender processes,

it added that such costs are “commercially confidential”. Overall, associated data claimed the TT+ channel attracted about 130,000 individuals from 185 countries. DfE minister Tim Crookall said that since implementation of a digital

broadcast strategy in January 2022, the Isle of Man TT has seen almost 50% growth in the size of its total audience across social media. This is apparently in line with an ambition to grow the audience by 450% over the next five years.

Growthdeck backs Bike Datatool forms Shed’s LA expansion

security partnership

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ondon’s Bike Shed has quickly become a vital part of the motorcycling scene in the capital. Set up by husband and wife team Anthony ‘Dutch’ and Vikki van Someren in 2011, the firm runs both the Shoreditch-based restaurant/bar and the eponymous custom bike show, tapping into the thriving modified bike culture. The Bike Shed company recently kicked off the next phase of its development, opening another branch of its slick bikers’ bar/restaurant/hangout in Los Angeles, California. Private equity firm Growthdeck is backing Bike Shed with investment funds for the LA location, and is aiming to support further expansion in the

US, Europe and Asia. Charles Williams, investment director at Growthdeck, said: “We’re delighted to back the expansion of one of London’s coolest businesses into a global brand. Bike Shed has been a huge success in London and there is no reason why that success can’t be replicated in Los Angeles and beyond. “As well as being an enormously influential part of motorcycle culture in the UK, Bike Shed has also become a very profitable enterprise. The quality of the company’s leadership is extremely high and they have proven their concept well in London. The next stage of growth is going to be a very exciting one.”

BIKE ELECTRONIC SECURITY firm Datatool has teamed up with physical security specialist Image4Security to produce a new strategy for a multi-layered security solution. The new ‘Lock it. Track it. Mark it.’ scheme combines Datatool’s digital tracker and DNA marking kits with garage and bike security products from Image4Security. The firm’s Apex Pro Ground Anchor has earned a Sold Secure Diamond rating and combines with the Datatool products to provide an all-round protection setup. “We are really excited about this new partnership” said Dan Balsamini of Datatool. “We have been watching what the guys at Image4Security have been doing for a long time and we are excited to partner with them as part of our ‘Lock It. Track It. Mark It.’ scheme.”

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Global Moto will share its Midlands base with new BSA distributor Lukas Distribution

Great expectations E

very now and then, you get a very early inkling that something big is coming. And the first clues that BSA’s relaunch would make a bit of a stir came in December last year. Some rather basic social media posts about a new 650 single retro-roadster, with classic styling and bearing the BSA Gold Star name, went crazy in terms of response. There were five, maybe ten times as many comments and reactions as you’d get for a new retro machine from one of the mainstream manufacturers. And the levels of interest continued into the start of 2022 – although the actual bikes were still nowhere to be seen. BSA had no dealer network – it didn’t even have an importer or distributor. There were no machines being built or sold anywhere in the world. And potential customers were getting more and more frustrated by the lack of news. Behind the scenes, though, one

Massive trade interest as new BSA distributor promises autumn delivery. Alan Dowds reports man was busy, working flat-out to sign a deal which would see him become distributor for the new bikes here in the UK. That man was Luke Gregory, and he told me all about how the deal was signed, and what his plans are for the first new BSA dealer network in the world.

do it on the side, but otherwise my mind is on motorbikes.” How did Gregory get the BSA deal then? It was fairly simple it seems – he put his hand up and asked nicely. “I went to the NEC bike show and the BSA stand where I looked at the bikes and approached them. We’re always

Since yesterday when the press announcement was made, we’re up to 130 dealer applications already … and they are all kinds of dealers, small independents to the large retailers that everyone will know

Gregory is well known in the industry – he started out at Lloyd Cooper Motorcycles in Watford 21 years ago, bought Colchester Kawasaki in 2012, opened Northampton Moto and took over Clay Cross Kawasaki, before setting up his new Global Moto business in Coventry – where the new BSA importer, Lukas Distribution, is located. He’s also an acclaimed DJ and has worked at the Capital and Heart radio stations – though as he says, “That’s Luke Gregory confirms UK my hobby, I love it, I exclusive distribution of BSA

forward thinking, looking for different opportunities, what we’ll do next and how we will do it. So, I had a brief chat with them, and they said ‘we need a distributor and then we need to sell’. And it’s taken since that day at the NEC till yesterday [27 June] to get a press announcement out”. Amazingly, this is the first bike distribution deal that Gregory has signed. “We haven’t done any distribution before. Lukas Distribution is a completely new company headed up by me in a new 100,000sq.ft distribution centre in Coventry. What is the plan and timeline for setting up the UK operation then? Gregory really is starting from scratch. “Right now, there are two things: I’m recruiting

people to work here; sales reps, administration and accounts staff, a parts team, warranty personnel, and a service team, and we’re doing that now. Once that’s sorted, and it’s pretty much done, then we move onto dealers. Since yesterday when the press announcement was made, we’re up to 130 dealer applications already … and they are all kinds of dealers, small independents to the large retailers that everyone will know. So, the next step is talking to them, and telling them what we’re going to require as a brand. BSA has said it’s down to me how I run the UK. The bikes are due at the end of August/beginning of September, and the price will be £6500 to £7000.” Gregory is planning to go steady while building the new network. “Right now, the priority is getting our team in place and then to go through all the dealer applications. We’re going to start with a small number, probably 1520 dealers by end of year. We need to make sure we can give them the stock, get the bike out there, get the bike tested, get the public loving the motorcycle.” Will he be able to meet demand for the new Gold Star 650? “I hope so. Initial interest is huge: as well as the number of dealers who have applied through our website, hundreds of bikers have been contacting us as well. I’m personally taken aback by the amount of people who want to know more. It’s been crazy”! Perhaps fittingly, the UK will be the very first market to open in the world for BSA. And there’s a

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Gregory is planning to go steady while building the new BSA dealer network and is aiming for 15-20 dealers by the end of the year, and he’s already got the bike and the T-shirt!

neat link in the firm’s heritage between Luke Gregory and the new brand. “We’re the first in the world, the first to get the motorcycles. They’re quite keen on that happening. I’ve been able to meet with the CEO of Classic Legends which owns BSA, and they’re really behind us. “An interesting point to mention is that one of the reasons we’ve been made distributor (and there were quite a few other parties interested) is our history. Lloyd Cooper in Watford was established in 1900, and it sold BSAs from 1910 until the 1970s. So, to make Lloyd Cooper the first dealer to sell BSA is a lovely thing. They are so keen on the heritage. “I think BSA is going to be massive. I’m so proud and excited

Lukas Distribution’s 100,000sq.ft Coventry distribution centre awaits the first shipment of bikes

that we’ve managed to get its distribution and that our Global Moto showroom will become the first BSA dealer, followed by Lloyd Cooper and then our Colchester and Clay Cross sites.” Lukas Distribution 024 7531 2141 info@lukasdistribution.co.uk

FIVE COLOURS, THREE PRICES SINCE THIS INTERVIEW, confirmed prices have been announced for the Gold Star, which is being offered in a choice of five colour options across three models. Prices start at £6500 for the Highland Green Edition, increasing to £6800 for the Insignia Red, Midnight Black and Dawn Silver Editions. A Silver Sheen Legacy Edition with chromed guards and mirrors, polished engine covers and gloss black finish to the instrument and headlight covers will retail at £7000. First deliveries are scheduled for mid to late August.

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AUGUST 2022 7

Business news

SHORT CUTS CLOSE BROTHERS

CLOSE BROTHERS MOTOR FINANCE HAS added online electronic signing to its hire purchase bike financing product. The new function allows customers and guarantors to sign an HP agreement from anywhere, at any time. It’s designed to offer complete flexibility and to speed up the application process. Witnesses need to be present with the customer, and acknowledge they have seen the customer physically sign – but this is also done electronically. All Close dealer partners will have access to the electronic sign solution, which aims to streamline processes and make buying a vehicle as flexible as possible for both dealers and customers.

IVENDI

IVENDI IS ADVISING CAUTION ABOUT THE NEW Google Vehicle Ad technology that is about to hit the internet – saying that dealers need to work to make their bike description pages more ‘sticky’. Rob Severs, senior VP at iVendi, said that the structure of new customer journeys involving GVAs meant it was easy to click straight from a search engine to a specific bike page but to then click straight back out. “We’ve seen data from the US, where GVAs have now been in effect for some months, showing that the visit for each customer to the dealer website involves only 1.2 to 1.4 pages. That indicates many are looking at a vehicle and then hitting the back button. The challenge for dealers is to find new ways of making those vehicle pages ‘sticky’ so that potential buyers stay on the website, looking at other stock and, importantly, options such as vehicle finance and value-added products. “It could mean something of a redesign for the kind of standard vehicle pages we see most dealers using today, moving towards approaches used in other areas of online retail.”

Sycamore doubles up on Harley R utland-based Sycamore Harley-Davidson has doubled its portfolio of dealerships, taking over the Wolverhampton HarleyDavidson dealership last month. The new West Midlands store complements the firm’s existing branch in Uppingham, which has been operating for almost 20 years. “This is a hugely exciting move for Sycamore,” said MD Andrew Winham, “and I’m delighted to be

on board with the new site. As a family-run company, we strive to provide the personal touch that comes from having a team that are very passionate about the products we provide.” “It’s pleasing to be able to extend our partnership with Sycamore Harley-Davidson,” said Harley sales and operations planning director Paul Lilly. “We can’t wait for them to bring their unique blend of customer experience to our customers in the Midlands.”

The new Wolverhampton site was officially opened on 2 July, with a well-attended BBQ and live music event which saw Sycamore staff handing out free T-shirts to the first 150 customers through the doors.

BikeTrac recovers stolen bike on BBC TV BIKE CRIME RARELY GETS A sympathetic hearing on mainstream TV. But security firm BikeTrac earned some welcome publicity last month when it recovered a stolen Husqvarna 701 on the BBC One daytime crime-fighting show Frontline Fightback. The show focused on the threat of bike theft and outlined the advantages of tracking devices.

AUGUST 2022

BikeTrac’s Bill Taylor provided us the background to the story: “The theft featured was of a Husqvarna that had been stolen from Fulham and had been missing for 24 hours. That’s an unusually long time for a bike to be missing for us, but the thieves had driven the stolen bike around in a van, so we had to wait for the signal to come to rest. When it did, we deployed our radio

frequency technology, using the signal to check several vans in a car park, until it led us to the offending silver Ford Transit. “We were very proud to be asked to feature on Frontline Fightback, but importantly it’s a great educational piece for viewers with scooters or motorcycles. Bike security should be a layered approach, and while we have obvious confidence in our own

technology, we always suggest that owners lock their bikes securely and try to minimise exposure to potential thieves.”

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Business news

Indian opens London store

NGK Plugs rebrands

merican manufacturer Indian Motorcycle announced the arrival of its official Brand Experience Centre in west London earlier this year, and the official opening was held last month, over th e same weekend as the Bike Shed motorcycle show. More than 70 guests celebrated the new showroom’s opening at a premium location on Kensington High Street, which used to be the home of the Bristol Car Company. It is part of the Hilton Olympia Hotel site, and is big enough to display the entire Indian range of bikes, clothing and kit. “We’re extremely proud to be able to officially launch a Brand Experience Centre here in the UK, especially in such an iconic location”, said Indian Motorcycle national sales manager Andy Simpson. “Thanks to fantastic support from the team at Krazy Horse we’ve been able to make this project not just a reality, but a place that our customers the world over will choose as a destination to visit when in London.”

Kickback custom bike show goes behind bars

ohnny Cash’s Folsom Prison gig is probably the most famous performance to take place behind bars. But now the Gloucester-based Kickback custom bike show is following in the Man in Black’s footsteps by taking place in Gloucester Prison. Sadly (or luckily), HMP Gloucester is now closed as a jail, but it still retains the cells, bars and canteen, all of which will be filled with slick café racers, bobbers, scramblers and cutting-edge restomod builds. There will also be the usual range of trade stalls, food and drink trucks, and a licensed bar. It all kicks off at 10am on Sunday 18 September. More info: www.kickbackshow.com.

THE NGK SPARK PLUG COMPANY is one of the genuine stalwart brands of the bike and car world. But the big bosses reckon the parent corporation needs a new name, and have rebranded it as Niterra. That’s because the firm now produces a much wider range of products, including electronic sensors, technical ceramics and much more. And with the internal combustion engine looking like an endangered species over the next few decades, calling your entire company after a defunct component might hold you back. Luckily, the Niterra firm will continue to brand its spark plugs as NGK components for the foreseeable future. “Niterra is a key milestone in the transformation which we are undergoing,” says Damien Germès, president and CEO of NGK Spark Plug Europe, regional president EMEA and corporate officer of the global headquarters in Japan. “In the coming generations, it will be necessary to think even more about sustainability and what is good for the Earth. With our new name, we have taken one more step on our journey to become a company that not only is successful, but also provides new value to the world.”

Damien Germès

Cardo unveils new sound lab THE MARKET FOR HELMET-MOUNTED wireless communication devices continues to expand and leading firm Cardo Systems has opened a brand new European R&D centre, aimed at developing the next generation of gadgets. Based in Straubing, Germany, the new 600m2 facility will concentrate on acoustics, speech processing and other technologies, aimed at improving intercoms, Bluetooth headsets and noise-cancelling systems. It’s staffed by a veteran team of scientists with

AUGUST 2022

more than 150 years of experience in audio research between them, and includes an anechoic chamber, prototyping labs, NVH (noise vibration and harshness) labs and fullyfurnished sound labs. Alon Lumbroso, CEO of Cardo Systems, said: “For many years, Cardo has identified in-helmet audio and acoustics as one of the key factors in today’s riding experience. In 2018, we were the first to bring premium sound by JBL, and now, with the addition of the new Cardo Sound Labs, we aim to increase the audio gap even further.”

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ON THE MOVE

Exciting times at MotoMondo

here’s plenty going on at MotoMondo UK, the importer for Mash, Moto Morini and Rieju. Founded in 1998, and operating in five EU countries, it launched a UK arm in September 2020, in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic, and just before Brexit was finalised – a difficult time for sure. Fast forward 18 months, and the firm has gone from strength to strength, with a new range of 650cc models on sale from Moto Morini – the X-Cape, 6½ Street and 6½ Scrambler. There are also 700, 900 and 1200cc machines on the way, with brand new powerplants developed in-house by Moto Morini. The Mash brand has launched a new 650cc naked bike, the Six Hundred, to complement its small-bore range, while Rieju is extending its range of 200-300cc two-stroke off-road bikes and 50-125cc street machines. Now MotoMondo is expanding its team to cope with all the new machinery. It has announced two new senior staff members – Dave Wilson and Dave Cotterill. Wilson was UK & Nordics country manager

Left to right: MotoMondo’s expanding UK team – Andrew Davidson, UK and Ireland country manager, Dave Cotterill, area sales manager, Jan Ykema, managing director and David Wilson, UK operations manager

for MV Agusta over the past eight years, with roles at Piaggo and Triumph before that, and is the new UK operations manager for MotoMondo. Dave Cotterill joins MotoMondo from Oxford Products and Bike-it and is the new area sales manager for the Midlands and the South. Contact the two Daves on: david.wilson@motomondo.com; dave.cotterill@motomondo.com.

New head for NMDA

Norton hires chief commercial officer NORTON MOTORCYCLES HAS RECRUITED Christian Gladwell as its chief commercial officer. He comes from a 15-year background of senior management experience, most recently as global chief executive at M&C Saatchi Performance. A self-confessed motorcycle enthusiast whose first career was in the British Army, Gladwell has previously worked with luxury, entertainment and retail brands designing, building and delivering best-in-class customer experiences. These included brands such as Burberry, Breitling, and Bulgari, as well as entertainment platforms including the London Olympics and gaming titles such as Mobile Strike and Final Fantasy XV. Commenting on his new role with Norton, Gladwell said: “I couldn’t be joining the brand at a more exciting time, following the recent TVS investment, government funding win and the launch of the V4SV. This is a wonderful opportunity to help lead the business and deliver against this iconic British brand.”

AUGUST 2022

ymon Cook has been appointed as the new head of the National Motorcycle Dealers Association (NMDA) and replaces Steve Latham. Cook started his new role at the NMDA in early June and has extensive industry knowledge, having previously worked in the motor vehicle retail aftersales sector for more than 30 years and most recently as the head of aftersales at Battersea Land Rover for Lookers plc. Cook commented: “Having worked in the motor vehicle industry for the past 30 years, I bring a wealth of knowledge of the aftersales sector having worked with motorcycle and car retailers and workshops. My experience will hopefully give me the ability to support our members’ needs within their businesses and to help our industry be better

informed with what is going on with the latest manufacturer and government relationships. Being able to engage with our members and give them a voice will be an essential part of my role.”

MCE rewards long-running staffer

nsurance broker MCE has promoted Sharon Steadman, its longest-serving employee. Steadman has worked at the firm for more than three decades in the finance department, and her experience will be a big asset in her new role as finance manager. Jackie Carter, MCE’s director of people

50%

said, “Sharon understands MCE more than many and has seen a huge amount of change over her time. Her ability and knowledge of the company and finance are second to none and something you can’t just create with a new hire. One of MCE’s key goals is to nurture talent so when this opportunity came up Sharon was a clear choice for the role.”

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Dainese and Momodesign join forces

t’s probably fair to say that Dainese has got a massive chunk of the riding gear market completely sewn up. Its high-end technical race wear is top-drawer in terms of crash protection, while its advanced technical adventure and touring ranges adds state of the art comfort, waterproofing and thermal performance to the rider protection package. And now, the firm is expanding its urban design appeal via a licensing agreement with Italian brand Momodesign. The deal will bring a new range of riding kit, footwear, helmets and accessories, focused on the urban mobility

sector, that combines the two firms’ know-how in terms of protection, function and design. “Dainese and Momodesign share a common goal – to spread Italian design and quality worldwide” said Dainese Group CEO Cristiano Silei. “I welcome the partnership with this prestigious brand with great enthusiasm, and I’m sure that our brands, united by shared values, will enhance the range that we offer our customers still further.” Paolo Cattaneo, MD of Momodesign, added: “Innovation and style have always

underpinned Momodesign’s strategy. We are proud to be able to collaborate with Dainese, a leading global company that will be able to add even more value to our identity with development of the brand at an international level.”

Bus lane petition New European partnership for has been snubbed motorcycle campaign groups ritish riders’ rights group the National says MAG Motorcyclists Council (NMC) has THE MOTORCYCLE ACTION GROUP HAS HIT out at the UK government, claiming it has snubbed the campaigning group’s petition on bus lane law reform. MAG has been fighting for a blanket approval of bike use in bus lanes across the country, rather than the current postcode lottery, where it is legal in some places, like central London, but unlawful in other areas. MAG’s director of campaigns and political engagement, Colin Brown, said: “I was disappointed by the government response. It was as predictable as it was blinkered. They have shown that they are willing to demand action from local authorities on, say, cycling infrastructure. On the other hand, they say they can't make similar demands in support of motorcyclists. Our members voted it as the top priority action they want the DfT to take.” Sign up at: petition.parliament.uk/petitions/614294.

announced a new partnership with two European motorcycling groups. The new tie-up between the NMC, the Federation of European Motorcyclists Associations (FEMA) and the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme Europe (FIM Europe) will “extend the cohesiveness of the motorcycle lobby internationally and create new potential to impact positively on public policy which affects motorcycling in a range of areas”, says a joint statement. All three groups have worked closely on a range of issues related to two-wheeled safety policies, transport policy and the future of motorcycling. And they’ve signed a new memorandum of understanding as a foundation for the new relationships. Craig Carey-Clinch, executive director at the NMC, told us: “The NMC’s members are delighted with this new partnership. It is

very clear that many of the issues affecting riders have an international, not just national, basis. In the short time since the NMC was founded there have already been a number of issues where positive work with FEMA and FIM Europe has been and will be to the benefit of riders group work. We look forward to very positive joint working in the years ahead.”

GardX Moto signs up as official BSB sponsor

he British Superbike championship is still one of the top productionbased race series in the world, with massive reach and recognition. Now British firm GardX Moto, the motorbike protection, insurance and digital solution provider, has signed up as an official sponsor. GardX Moto launched its range of products and services to UK bike dealers earlier this year, including its CX2 ceramic motorcycle paint protection system, GardXCP Xtreme anti-corrosion protection,

AUGUST 2022

GardX Moto Total Protect, GAP insurance, tyre insurance and extended warranties, as well as a suite of digital services. It believes the BSB tie-up will expand the brand’s profile in the UK and beyond. “To say we are excited to be a BSB sponsor for 2022 is an understatement,” said Steve Keys, head of GardX Moto. “The long-term aim for GardX Moto has always been to support the motorcycle industry in achieving the highest levels of customer

satisfaction and experience through our innovative range of services and products. Having the opportunity to support

the BSB series highlights our commitment to the industry, alongside our shared goal of striving to exceed expectations.”

www.britishdealernews.co.uk

Business news

Brexit confusion on Euro transport

espite seemingly being resolved in May, there are still questions over the ability of British bikers to take their motorcycles into the EU in a van or on a trailer without running into customs problems. The Federation of European Motorcycle Associations and the UK National Motorcyclists Council had been pushing hard in talks with the EU and UK authorities to solve problems with people taking bikes in vans from the UK to the continent for European track days and other purposes. Since they weren’t being ridden across the border, they could be seen as commercial freight – meaning they would need either paperwork for importation or an expensive carnet to cover them for temporary importation into the EU. And if the bike was being transported by a third party such as a trackday company, the situation became even more complex. In May, FEMA published a letter from the European Commission, which stated that “Means of transports entering the EU temporarily and returning back to the UK after a few weeks can be placed under temporary admission and declared to customs by the sole act of crossing the frontier.” Minor celebrations amongst European trackday fans then? Well, no. It turns out that ‘means of transport’ might not strictly apply to a motorcycle in a van, especially a track or dirt bike which isn’t road legal, or a non-running show bike. As before, a strict customs agent might slap charges onto anyone bringing a bike from the UK into the EU in a truck.

European inflation soars

The NMC’s executive director Craig Carey-Clinch said: “The work done jointly by FEMA, FIVA and the NMC has shifted the dial on this issue and led to the reopening of talks between the UK and individual EU member states, which had stalled. The NMC has proposed a potential solution which the UK government will consider internally and also discuss with counterparts within the EU, but we fear that it could be some months before this is finally resolved. In the meantime, we urge riders to check the rules carefully before transporting their bikes to and from the EU in a van or on a trailer.”

EUROZONE INFLATION ROSE to another record high in May. Annualised consumer price inflation across 19 EU countries sharing the euro currency climbed to 8.1% in May from 7.4% in April, beating a European Central Bank forecast of 7.7%. Analysts noted that price growth had continued to broaden, indicating it isn’t just energy pulling up the headline figure. They also saw the data as a challenge to the Frankfurtbased ECB’s view that gradual interest rate increases from July will be enough to tame inflationary pressures.

Vouchers for BMW rookies IT HAS LONG BEEN ACKNOWLEDGED BY training professionals that a customer who is new to two wheels is heavily influenced towards the brand they first come into contact with, especially when this is through organised, professional and well delivered training. BMW is seeking to exploit this fact further with the introduction of a new Rookie to Rider voucher scheme to its existing rider training programme. Customers now have two different options to kick-start their motorcycle journey: • A finance package starting from £119 per month, which covers the cost of learning to ride as well as access to a new BMW motorcycle • A new Rookie to Rider voucher that can be redeemed at any BMW dealer for up to £1000 off a new motorcycle, depending on model, and also receive a 20% discount on clothing and accessory purchases BMW Rider Training has five training centres across the UK based in Scotland, Darlington, Stoke-on-Trent, Royston and Exeter.

www.britishdealernews.co.uk

Kevin Bryan, who has been running Bryan’s Motorcycle Training in Stoke-onTrent for 33 years and is one of BMW’s five authorised Rider Training Centres, believes this is a welcome addition to the BMW offering. Bryan says “It provides customers with a straightforward, easyto-understand offer and further enhances the existing programme. It is particularly of interest to those customers who are not looking for finance on their purchase and therefore widens the appeal of the Rookie to Rider voucher to encompass all potential customers.” Bryan adds that with business returning to pre-Covid levels the new offering will further boost interest in the Rookie to Rider scheme. The new all-in-one packages can transform an aspiring rider from complete beginner to full licence holder, and the proud owner of a brand-new BMW motorcycle, all within a week. Ian Biederman, chief instructor at BMW Rider Training explains: “The new voucher scheme is a great addition to the programme, giving customers the freedom to choose their brand-new BMW motorcycle after their

Kevin Bryan, owner of Bryan’s Motorcycle Training, has been offering professional motorcycle training since 1989 and has trained more than 20,000 new riders training and secure a great discount.” To secure their Rookie to Rider voucher, students just need to book their training through World of BMW and successfully complete their Direct Access Course at an authorised BMW Rider Training Centre. The voucher can then be used at any participating BMW Motorrad retailer. For more details visit: www.bmw-motorrad. co.uk/en/offers/Rookie-to-Rider.html

AUGUST 2022 15

JobScene/Dealer4sale

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AUGUST 2022 17

JobScene/Dealer4sale

BUSINESS FOR SALE

International news

International news With financial editor Roger Willis

Supply issues hinder Harley BMO CAPITAL MARKETS ANALYST Gerrick Johnson has released a quarterly survey of US Harley dealership performance. “Retail checks indicate strong demand,” he said. “Despite macroeconomic uncertainty, dealers continue to see demand outpacing supply, putting a governor on nearterm sales, but aiding in the brand’s perception of exclusivity.” According to Johnson’s sources, many new models are sold before they reach showrooms. “Traditional touring base models may last on the floor for a week or two,” he added. “But we have not had any feedback that customers are cancelling their pre-orders, and dealers continue to plead for more product.” However, the BMO Capital Markets report adds that Harley’s production suspension from 19 May to 6 June, due to a “regulatory compliance matter” relating to an outsourced component, has had a deleterious impact on both domestic and export markets. Although production resumed in line with the original timeline, shipments were subsequently sporadic. Many dealers only received deliveries in the final week of June, and some got nothing at all before the quarter ended. Johnson has therefore taken 8075 bikes, equating to about £130m in revenue, out of his Q2 estimate and into Q3. “The net effect is no change for the year,” he concluded. “But we now expect worldwide retail sales to be 19% down in Q2, but 21% up in Q3.”

Bihr goes west to Arrowhead

ulti-brand US powersports aftermarket giant Arrowhead Engineered Products has bought leading European motorcycle parts, accessories and apparel distributor Bihr from Belgian private equity firm Alcopa for an undisclosed sum. Bihr, which is headquartered in Belgium, has operations in 20 countries across continental Europe and the UK, supplying more than 15,000 dealers with around 350 brands and more than 200,000 product lines. Its British assets include Arai, AGV, Motul, Wolf and RST distributor Motodirect – plus ownership of Motodirect’s Wolf and RST apparel brands – as well as off-road trade specialist Race FX. These UK businesses respectively joined Bihr’s stable in October 2019 and March 2021. And in June 2021, Bihr also swallowed German parts and accessories trade purveyor Paaschburg & Wunderlich. Alcopa, which acquired Bihr in 2010 and invested heavily in the company’s Europe-wide development from its origins in France, says, “It has been convinced by a strong rationale behind the acquisition by Arrowhead”. This, it claims, “will create a truly global leader in a consolidating industry”.

Consolidation is also very much the name of the game for Arrowhead, which is a much larger entity. It already has a UK presence, having acquired Doncaster-based major bike parts wholesaler HiLevel from the Levine family eight years ago. Built up from predominantly manufacturing roots in Minnesota by US private equity partners Riverside and Investcorp, Arrowhead was sold on last autumn to a really big-league private equity firm in San Francisco, Genstar Capital. Armed with a portion of Genstar’s enormous resources – currently boasting about £29bn of investments in various enterprises – Arrowhead has quickly brought deals to fruition for this new parental relationship. At the beginning of 2022, it took over US distributor Western Power Sports, serving a nearly 12,000-strong American dealer network with more than 150 sales reps on the road and seven strategically-positioned warehouses. The purchase of Bihr barely six months later, including another seven distribution centres and 24-hour logistics turnaround throughout most of Europe, has followed with remarkable rapidity.

Regulator spanks Harley THE US FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION (FTC) has initiated an action against HarleyDavidson, for illegally restricting the rights of its customers to have their motorcycles repaired at anywhere other than a Harley franchised dealership using approved parts. According to the FTC, Harley warranties include terms and conditions that effectively make them void if customers use independent sources for parts or repairs. And these illegal terms must therefore be removed. Commenting on its proceedings, FTC Bureau of Consumer Protection director

AUGUST 2022

Samuel Levine said: “Consumers deserve choices when it comes to repairing their products, and independent dealers deserve a chance to compete. This order requires Harley-Davidson to fix its warranties, come clean with consumers and ensure fair competition with independent providers. Other companies that squelch consumers’ right to repair should take notice.” Mike Kennedy, chief executive of leading US aftermarket exhaust supplier Vance & Hines has issued a statement supporting the FTC’s move against Harley-Davidson –

where, ironically, he once served as a senior vice president. “This action taken by the FTC is a huge win for motorcycle riders,” said Kennedy. “While we still need to see how it plays out, we anticipate that riders will have more choices in how they repair and update their motorcycles during the warranty period, which is clearly a big deal for companies in the aftermarket too. I hope that the threat to void a warranty for someone who just wants a better-sounding or smoother-running Harley is a thing of the past.”

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Business news

Inflation risks

e’re in a time of high inflation – something that few business owners and managers have experienced unless they were in the trade during the 1970s and 1980s when double-digit inflation figures were common. Just a few months ago central bankers were suggesting that the currant increase in the rate of inflation was transitory and would be a short-term problem. However, as has become apparent, that is not the case, hence the chancellor’s mid-May mini-budget and the steps being taken by governments elsewhere around the world. Rising inflation was expected as societies re-opened post-Covid, but a combination of consumer demand, factory shutdowns, and labour shortages has exacerbated the problem. And the matter was made worse as central banks raised interest rates to damp-down consumer-led inflation by encouraging saving and making borrowing more expensive. However, much of the more recent rises follow the international response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. As background, central banks such as the Bank of England or the US Federal Reserve, are tasked with keeping inflation low or rather, preventing falling prices and deflation. Although on the face of it, the latter seems ideal, the reality is somewhat different. The problem with deflation is that it kills demand for consumer-led products and services because it encourages buyers to delay any purchases that they were planning because

whatever they buy today will be less expensive tomorrow. Worse, firms in those sectors seek to keep stock as low as possible – or almost non-existent – since again, what they hold would drop in (retail) value. On the other hand, low levels of inflation help those selling to consumers for the opposite of the reasons above – consumers have a reason to buy today as prices may rise tomorrow. Moreover, inflation devalues debt in the long-term and helps firms mask price

Inflation means higher input costs and the conundrum of whether to absorb or increase prices rises while keeping markets on their toes as prices are not static. It’s important to remember that inflation affects individuals and businesses differently depending on what they buy and their obligations; sub-groups of a population often have different personal inflation rates. Further, official figures on inflation don’t reflect the fact that people will still buy goods and services but may substitute for less expensive brands and alternatives. Regardless, inflation means higher input costs and the conundrum of whether to absorb or increase prices, both of which can affect the

attractiveness of a retailer’s position in the marketplace. Alternatively, inflation reduces the purchasing power of consumers and in turn, leads firms to record lower revenue.

WHAT TO DO How businesses and consumers react depends on the product and how essential it is. The concept of ‘price elasticity’ illustrates the impact of rising prices on sales. Essential items such as food, fuel, and even mobile phone contracts (not the phones themselves) are price-inelastic in that while volumes sold may drop as prices rise, the fall will be gradual. But non-essential items such as TV subscriptions and gym memberships will see greater drops as prices rise. This means that retailers must understand the demand curves for their stock before raising prices. For many retailers one solution to rising inflation and faltering sales may be to change the product mix to match the demand of what people are now buying. Consider, for example, how some distillers moved from making gin to hand sanitiser. A change such as this may permit a move toward more price-inelastic goods which suffer less as prices rise. Regardless, goods shouldn’t be sold without examining the profitability and level of demand for each product line. With a true understanding retailers can drop poor selling items with low profitability in favour of higher margin products or lines that sell in volume. There is, after all, little point in being a busy fool.

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Electric news

Electric news Triumph concludes R&D on TE-1

ritish bike builder Triumph has been slowly drip-feeding press information on its batterypowered electric road bike project over the past 18 months or so. And it has now released the final results, alongside some stirring video footage and imagery of the TE-1 being ridden round Oulton Park and run on a dyno. The raw numbers released are encouraging for fans of electric bikes: a peak power output of 175bhp, kerb mass of 220kg, range of 100 miles, and a 0-80% charge time of just 20 minutes, using DC fast charging from the car world. The 80-100% charge time will be a fair bit longer though, and there’s no word on what the likely price point might be. The TE-1 programme was designed to help the firm develop the new technologies needed for an all-electric powertrain, rather than being a straight

route to a production bike. So there was a lot of focus on mundane-but-essential stuff like throttle mapping, regenerative braking strategies, battery management and producing a chassis that works with the very different characteristics of an electric drivetrain. Having said that, the final prototype looks remarkably close to a showroomready machine – and Triumph has also addressed one big criticism of EVs; the lack of sound. The Hinckley engineers have designed in a helical-cut primary drive gearset, which gives a satisfyingly high-tech whine as the bike accelerates. Will we be hearing that whine on a production electric Triumph any time soon? The smart money seems to be on an announcement on that at some point next year.

Yamaha funds green start-ups

ustainability is a massive buzzword these days – and in a move to boost its sustainable credentials, the motorcycle arm of Yamaha is putting its money where its mouth is by setting up a $100m

AUGUST 2022

investment fund aimed at startup companies working to address environmental problems. The new Yamaha Motor Sustainability Fund will run over 15 years and is intended to “foster collaborative

relationships with the numerous companies striving to solve environmental issues and to contribute as a like-minded partner toward creating a better world while mutually enhancing each company’s own pursuits.”

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Alternative powered two wheeler registrations for June 2022

subsidy support, is now pushing impecunious consumers back towards the latter – despite mounting hydrocarbon fuel costs. Identifiable over-11kW machines were registered in lamentably trivial quantities as ever during June. Some 27 of them equated to a 28.6% increase, for what that’s worth – six more bikes than in June 2021. Nearly half were premium-priced steeds (eight BMW CE04 scooters and five Harley-Davidson LiveWire motorcycles) far beyond qualification for government subsidies. While electrified volume in the first half of 2022 has risen by 37.1% to a 5.6% PTW market share, the dire economic outlook and associated back-pedalling on zero emissions targets is bound to chip away at such progress.

aving bucked May’s overall negative registrations trend, there was a notable absence of any repeat performance for the electric PTW sector in June. Electric-powered market share declined to 4.3% of total registered volume, against 4.8% in the previous month. And the cost-of-living crisis knocked 15.6% off all electrified numbers to 534 – almost matching a headline 15.7% retreat to 12,523 for registrations in general. The dominant up-to-11kW power band, ridden on AM and A1 licences, fell by 19.6% to 459 machines year-on-year. And it was 7.1% down on the tally in May. Anecdotal evidence suggests that the yawning price gap between electric and petrol-engined mopeds, abetted by drastic reduction in electric 2022 / 2021 Registrations by power band Jun 2022

POWER BAND Under 1kW

Jun 2021

Year to date

% Change

Jun 2022

Jun 2021

% Change

Highest registering model by power band

Jun Regs

54.5%

138.9%

Keeway E-ZI Mini

1-4kW

377

543

-30.6%

2748

2186

25.7%

Vmoto Super Soco TC Max

36 18

4-11kW

282.4%

367

353.1%

Silence SO1

11-15kW

700.0%

2466.7%

BMW CE04

15-35kW

-80.0%

-43.5% Zero Motorcycles DSR ZF14.4

33.3% Harley-Davidson LiveWire 20

Over 35kW

20.0%

Unknown

17.1%

223

233

-4.3%

534

633

-15.6%

3590

2619

37.1%

TOTAL REGISTRATIONS

2022 / 2021 Registrations by style Jun 2022

MOPEDS Adventure Competition

Jun 2021

Change

0.0%

Competition

-50.0%

Modern Classic

0.0%

63.0%

-50.0%

183

245

-25.3%

60.9%

-100.0%

Naked

-46.9%

Naked

Scooter

159

236

-32.6%

Road Sport

-33.3%

Scooter

252

318

-20.8%

Unspecified

Jun 2022

TRICYCLES

Jun 2021

Change

Other L-Cat

14.3%

Scooter

-50.0%

TOTAL

0.0%

TOTAL TOTAL ALTERNATIVE POWER REGISTRATIONS

Alternate power rolling year

0.0%

309

-10.7%

537

Jun 2020 636

Change -15.6%

BEST SELLING MODELS 2022 YTD

1200 2020/21

1000

1 276 Jun 2021

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

2021/22

800 600

Vmoto Super Soco CPX E-Max LB1 - VS2 Yadea G5L Sur-Ron Light Bee Vmoto Super Soco TC Max

510 283 200 197 155

400 200

AUGUST 2022

Jun

Ma y

Ap r

Ma r

Feb

Jan

De c

No v

Oc t

Sep

Au g

Jul

Team grows at LiveWire HARLEY-DAVIDSON HAS recruited Tralisa Maraj as chief financial officer of its LiveWire electric motorcycle operation, which is in the process of being hived off into a stand-alone business. Having started her career with a 14-year stint at bean counting giant PWC, Maraj joins LiveWire with extensive experience in corporate leadership, governance, accounting and finance. She formerly served as CFO and corporate secretary for CGX Energy, after stepping up from a chief accounting officer role. Prior to that, Maraj was corporate controller at Remora Energy Management. “It’s great to have Tralisa join the team at such an exciting point in LiveWire’s journey to becoming the first publiclytraded EV company in the US,” said Harley-Davidson supremo Jochen Zeitz, having forgotten that Tesla and many others have already achieved such status.

Change

TOTAL

Jun 2021

Adventure

Unspecified

Jun 2022

M/CYCLES

EPAC

Jun

Electric news

Registration data H

Registration statistics supplied by the MCIA; tel 02476 408000; www.mcia.co.uk

Zero interest on Zero bikes

ith petrol prices seemingly stuck at “how much!” levels for the foreseeable, electric bikes have never looked more tempting. And now US EV maker Zero Motorcycles has ratcheted up the appeal with a 0% finance deal across its full range of bikes over the summer. Organised through its finance provider MotoNovo, the deal offers consumers an interest-free HP offer over four years, or a £99 deposit PCP deal with a manufacturer contribution of up to £1100 on the retail price. The offer runs until the beginning of September, and covers all models in the range, from the FX dirtbike through to the range-topping SR series. More info: www.zeromotorcycles. com/en-gb/financing.

www.britishdealernews.co.uk

Off-road news

The UK’S TOP SELLING OFF-ROAD RACE WEAR 01900 873456 www.wulfsport.com

Off-road news With off-road correspondent Rick Kemp

ABR Festival returns with best show yet

his year’s post-lockdown ABR Festival had a real jamboree feel to it: people could eat, drink, hug and kiss and be united by a common interest – motorcycles. Festival organiser Adventurize has declared the fourth event at Ragley Hall its most successful show to date, a sentiment supported by overwhelmingly positive visitor and exhibitor feedback. Promising to deliver its “biggest and best festival ever”, the event showcased guest speakers, live music, test rides, off-road tuition and motorcycle exhibitors, as well as top services and caterers. Adventurize boss Alun Davies sums it up: “We’ve done extensive reader, exhibitor and attendee research and the numbers rebooking says it all.” A significant investment for 2022 was the Rev’It! Live Music Stage, the first year an open-air stage has been used at the festival. As the sun went down, visitors were treated to performances from a line-up of cover and party bands. Legendary rhythm and blues outfit Dr Feelgood opened the festival with a special performance for VIP ticket holders on the opening night. In addition to the music stage there were the Ténéré Speaker Stage, the Masterclass Tent, the Harley-Davidson Campfire, the TRF Stage, the Ducati Stage and the Film Stage. Ragley Hall hosted a photography exhibition and the VMCC bike concours with various

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categories of adventure and trail machines. Among the guest speakers was Craig Carey-Clinch, NMC executive director, who, on the TRF Stage, explained how motorcycling fits into the great scheme of things.

The Adventure Arena was where the trade action took place, with over a hundred of the world’s leading motorcycle and adventure brands showcasing their latest accessories, clothing, luggage and hardware. The major motorcycle manufacturers in attendance included Yamaha, Ducati, BMW, Harley-Davidson, KTM, Honda, Triumph, Kawasaki and Suzuki. More than 1200 test rides were taken by visitors over the weekend, with the new Yamaha Ténéré 700 World Raid, Triumph Tiger 1200 and Ducati DesertX amongst the crowd favourites. “The feedback we’ve had has been amazing,” says Davies. “I overheard one senior industry figure conclude that next year they would be at the

NEC, the TT and the ABR Festival, and I thought ‘Wow!’.” Most of the motorcycle exhibitors also had their road bikes on show as, even though the ‘Adventour’ sector is the largest in the two-wheel market, much like the SUV sector in automotive, not all are used off tarmac and owners typically have other categories of motorcycle. ABR’s own attendee research on “How many bikes do you own” has revealed that 27% own two machines, 15% own three, 8% own four and 10.5% own five or more. Not surprisingly, Davies agrees that adventure bikes are, to some extent, fashionable and that

one of the purposes of the Adventure Bike Rider magazine is to provide an answer for the customer who’s bought a BMW R1200GS and thinks ‘Now what can I do with it?’ Cue biking holiday tour exhibitors. He is also quite vociferous when it comes to categorising the ABR festival. “It is the largest motorcycle festival in the UK and shouldn’t be marginalised as off-road.” The ABR Festival has the capacity to grow over time to 20,000 visitors with more exhibitors and festival activities. Davies has always had the vision of it being like “Glastonbury with bikes and posh toilets” but he emphasises that bikes are the “glue” that hold it all together.

ABR 23 THE ABR FESTIVAL WILL RETURN to Ragley Hall on 23-25 June 2023, promising more of everything. Early Bird tickets went on sale to the public on 11 July 2022 at www. abrfestival.com. Interested exhibitors can contact will@adventurize.co.uk.

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Off-road news

Trade opportunities at Overland Event

irst run in 2015 and then annually, including Covid-secure events in 2020 and 2021, the Overland Event presents a unique opportunity for brands and traders to spend quality time with high-mileage motorcyclists. To be held from 1-4 September at the historic Hill End Centre just outside Oxford, there will be food, drink and music from around the world, and hundreds of riders with stories to tell. Visitors will be able to enjoy motorcycle test rides on road and dirt, browse historic and modified motorbikes on show, learn new skills in workshops and enjoy presentations from the likes of legendary author Ted Simon. Ticket-only, with 750 enthusiasts attending over the entire weekend, there are no day tickets, so potential customers are on site from start to finish. Big brands are recognising the benefits of more intimate shows, where they can reach their core users. Dunlop is the headline sponsor for the second year running, while Triumph, Royal Enfield and Benelli will all be offering demo rides.

Some trade space is still available, starting with 3m x 3m pitches, generally sold in blocks. Exhibitors can camp on site or make use of dormitories, keeping costs down. Camping is included in the package and a great way to ensure staff remain involved with customers all evening.

There are also still some opportunities to sponsor specific areas, such as the six presentation venues, centrepiece bike show marquee, café or even the bar, which the organiser says are costeffective ways for brands to raise their profile with adventurous motorcyclists. Visit for more info www.overlandevent.com.

Dunlop backs ISDE

D Polaris Turbo R arrives

LAST YEAR, POLARIS OFF-ROAD EXTENDED ITS SIDE-BY-SIDE RANGE with the announcement of the RZR Pro R and RZR Turbo R. Now, the Turbo R is officially coming to dealerships across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The RZR Turbo R is said to deliver a driving experience that pushes the limits of what the most demanding and passionate off-roaders expect. Customers won’t be needing to spend too much on upgrades as the factory has done it all. Polaris claims 181hp from the 925cc turbocharged four-stroke, twin-cylinder, liquid-cooled, fuel-injected engine which also offers plenty of torque at low RPM, and rolls on the power smoothly to capably crawl around demanding terrain. A fortified roll cage maintains the integrity of the machine and adds peace of mind for the pilot, along with the stiff one-piece chassis which allows the machine’s suspension to operate at peak performance – providing 27in of travel at the front and an inch more at the rear. The L7e homologated Ultimate model features active suspension and offers the industry’s first independent compression and rebound control system. This comprises four new suspension and steering modes that monitor inputs from the driver and machine hundreds of times every second and automatically adjust compression and rebound damping independently to keep all wheels in contact with the ground. For the full picture go to: polarisbritain.com.

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unlop has renewed its partnership as an official sponsor of the FIM International Six Days of Enduro (ISDE), which this year takes place on a demanding route at Le Puy-en-Velay, France, from Monday 29 August to Saturday 3 September. This continued partnership will include the return of the Dunlop Geomax Challenge for club-level amateur teams as well as support for all Dunlop partner teams and riders. In 2022, Team USA’s A-team will be amongst the challengers racing with Dunlop and the Geomax EN91 tyre. If motocross is your game, then Dunlop’s new Geomax MX14 motocross tyre, which was

developed in collaboration with top riders in the FIM Motocross World Championship, is now available for all motocross riders. As the successor to the Geomax MX12, the MX14 is tailored to the softest sand and mud surfaces in motocross and its performance was acknowledged with a victory for Kawasaki factory rider Romain Febvre last year in Lommel. The tyre was developed in the championship and is now available as an off-the-shelf product that suits every style of riding. Amateur motocross riders can now get the same level of traction, braking performance and slide control as top riders in MXGP.

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Off-road news

Adventure Country Tracks come to the UK A NEW ARRIVAL ON BRITISH SHORES IS ADVENTURE COUNTRY Tracks (ACT eV.), a German-based not-for-profit organisation creating motorcycle adventure rides across Europe. After plotting five cross-country routes on the continent, this year the organisation has taken on the challenge of creating a UK route. ACT is funded by adventure industry players including Touratech, Yamaha, Harley-Davidson, Sena and Metzeler, and is on a mission “to bring together the last remaining off-road tracks in Europe to form (selfguided) tours and preserve them with the cooperation of local authorities and partners”. The routes are available free to download from the organisation’s website, which also contains supporting information and links to the ACT community. The ACT UK route, due to be released to the public at the end of the year, has been planned and scouted by British journalist Jonathan Bentman. “In short, these are carefully curated five-day routes, where the route needs to fulfil several key criteria, bringing together stunning landscapes and bigbike off-road capability while ensuring full legality and sustainability. “Planning the UK route has been challenging as we have a limited resource in terms of tracks, and particularly those suitable year-round for big adventure bikes. That said, the route we have created is stunning, featuring long tracks which take in the wilderness landscapes of five national parks plus several areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It’s something that would not have been possible without the support and input of the Trail Riders Fellowship, nor the inspiration of Robert Hughes’ Rally Moto team who have blazed a trail for big bike adventuring in the UK. It’s a case of ‘standing on the shoulders of giants’.” The ACT UK route will join the other five European routes on the ACT website www.adventurecountrytracks.com in December. Look out for details of a UK premiere of the accompanying 60-minute film of the route around that time, too.

V-Strom gets the treatment

he SR75 World Team Suzuki has revealed a special V-Strom 650XT project. Launched at the ABR Festival, the standard V-Strom has been stripped back to its component parts, before a number of elements were modified or replaced to boost its off-road capabilities and performance. The standard 19in and 17in wheels have been replaced with 21in and 18in rims with bespoke Envy hubs, shod with Pirelli tyres. The whole chassis has been raised with in-house suspension mods and upgraded springs. SR75 team

owner, Geoff Walker commented: “With the taller, tougher stance, the modifications to the seat, pegs, and bars and heavy duty crash protection, it’s going to be a proper thing off-road, and we’ve got some big plans to do some cool things with it this summer. And for any V-Strom owners looking to recreate or take inspiration, we’d be happy to help with parts and to share our knowhow.”

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AUGUST 2022 29

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Your thoughts and opinions on the trade’s top topics

Your thoughts and opinions on the topics that make the trade tick are welcomed: editorial@dealernews.co.uk BDN, 10 Daddon Court, Clovelly Road Industrial Estate, Bideford, EX39 3FH

UKCA – No long grass here!

for UKCA certificates to be issued, however, and there was a risk that many (including those oblivious to the prevailing, already-extended deadline of 31 December 2022, and who had therefore not yet submitted their applications) would not receive their documents in time. Consequently, the easement which is now in place permits products to be UKCA marked where a manufacturer already holds for those products an EU certificate for CE marking issued by a European Notified Body. This easement can be applied only in respect of EU certificates issued between 21 April 2018 and 31 December 2022. It is this final date which sets the expiry date for the easement of 31 December 2027, since EU and UKCA certificates have a validity of five years. No connection whatsoever between that date and unkempt lawns! From 1 January 2022, however, an application for UKCA certification will be required to be submitted to a UK Approved Body for any product for which an EU certificate has not been issued by or on 31 December 2022, and for all new products.

he article “UKCA Accreditation Fades Away” (BDN newsletter 1 July 2022) may have elicited a range of emotions from readers, but for those involved in the manufacture, importation, distribution or retailing of motorcycle clothing, it is essential to have a full understanding of how recent measures introduced by the British government actually affect them. Increased Trading Standards activity this year on motorcycle clothing suppliers has already proved the need for better awareness and the consequences for failing to take note. Contrary to the inference which some may have drawn from the article, the requirement to UKCA mark motorcycle clothing has not been “kicked into the long grass” as a result of the recent government announcement. UKCA marking is already happening. The legislation covering UKCA certification and marking has been in place since the United Kingdom left the European Union, following which a number of motorcycle clothing brands have applied for and received their UKCA certificates, with their products bearing both CE and UKCA marking. Substantial backlogs have developed for companies waiting

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In summary, any new stock first placed on the UK market with effect from 1 January 2023 will still be required to feature the UKCA mark, either integrated into the product labelling, or attached as a sticker to the packaging immediately surrounding the product. When one

Your thoughts and opinions on the topics that make the trade tick are welcomed: editorial@dealernews.co.uk or BDN, 10 Daddon Court, Clovelly Rd Ind Est, Bideford, EX39 3FH

strips away the complexities of the government’s latest announcement, very little has in fact changed. Paul Varnsverry, Technical director, PVA-PPE Group

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Charlie Harris – a talented friend

t was with a heavy heart that I learned of the recent death of Charlie Harris from pneumonia after a short spell in hospital; he was 78. As he was affectionately known, CH was one of my longest surviving two-wheel chums, for it was at a muddy trial near Guildford during winter 1960 that I first encountered this talented Greeves-mounted 16-year-old, who was riding for the Reigate Redhill and North Downs Club. I’d been competing for six years by then, and I noticed this young nipper because he pipped me for a particular award I coveted that day! When I spoke with his father, Harry, who was helping the youngster, I was delighted to discover he was a fellow car racing enthusiast. We spent ten minutes talking about Brooklands, Rob Walker, and Stirling Moss, whilst Charlie listened politely, before reminding his father that he had to ride his bike to London early next morning [he was working at the Evening Standard], and that his commuter transport was still covered in mud! Local dealer Don Barratt was quick to spot the Harris prowess, and I know that Charlie was eternally grateful for Don’s help in his early days. That memorable first meeting was often repeated when CH began riding in scrambles a few months later. Astride a 250 Greeves he swiftly became healthy opposition, leading to many enjoyable battles … not necessarily for the lead, of course, but whichever of us came out ahead

secured a slightly thicker ‘brown envelope’ from the treasurer of the club involved. Fast forward to my time flogging Triumphs and Nortons, circa 1970, by when CH was an energetic figure in the motorcycle advertising world, despite at one point having done a stint with Antique Dealer & Collector Guide. Our paths frequently crossed at shows and product launches; we would talk shop, and I recall asking Charlie for the latest news concerning Bunch Books or Emap, or who he was working for: Keith McGee, or Andy Foulkes, or Mark Williams, or Peter Strong. CH always knew the score, for the personnel under discussion were inevitably either his contemporary colleagues, or had been. Over the same period in the sporting world CH had by now earned himself a place in the Montesa factory trials team, a relationship that continued through the 1980s. CH was consistently modest concerning his competition achievements; for years I tried to elicit a list of his major results, but he always changed the subject. At his peak he won countless prestigious events, including the Southern Experts and National Cotswold Trials, heading Sammy Miller in the process! He rode the Scottish Six Days, too, commendably winning several Special FirstClass Awards, as well as competing in enduros and the Circuit de Pyrenees, in south-west France, near where he had bought a house. His love of France was confirmed when, aged

Charlie and Gwen White at the 2005 Dieppe Off-road Reunion Parade on Gwen’s 1930 250cc Ariel Colt, upon which her late husband Jack finished 3rd the 1935 Scottish Six Days Trial

sixty-five, he joined with Gordon Adsett to ride in a series of French MX classic events, a partnership that endured until 2018, whereupon CH suffered a sufficiently serious injury to curtail his half-century riding career. Charlie appreciated a different sort of day out. Over the past 20 years I managed to involve him with a handful of fringe events which weren’t perhaps on his planned itinerary; these included the Goodwood Revival Scramble, a handful of high-end concours gatherings hosted by Louis Vuitton and Salon Prive; the Race Retro Show, the classic auction scene, and the Perce Simon Reunion in the New Forest, at each of which his eager participation was a joy to behold. I feel sure that a great many kindred spirits will agree that our dear friend’s sad passing creates yet another vacuum in the two-wheel community. Mike Jackson, Romsey, Hampshire

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Business Beat

Business Beat WHITE PAPER PROPOSES NEW POWERS FOR COMPANIES HOUSE Company registration and regulation changes will mean less fraud and more paperwork

gainst the backdrop of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the government recently enacted the Economic Crime (Transparency and Enforcement) Act 2022. At the same time, it published a white paper, corporate transparency and register reform, in an attempt to increase the suite of powers that its agencies possess in tackling attempts to thwart sanctions, money launder and commit fraud. Long before the invasion, the government outlined its intention to reform Companies House to clamp down on fraud and money laundering activities. With this in mind, the white paper was given a particular focus on changing the way in which UK companies are registered and regulated.

CURRENT POSITION OF COMPANIES HOUSE Currently, anyone may apply to Companies House to incorporate a company and nominate its director(s). All that is needed is a UK address and one individual over 16 who is prepared to act as a director; UK PLC often celebrates how easy it is to set up business in the UK. The checks undertaken are not particularly stringent. The registrar at Companies House has

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limited powers to query any information provided to it or to remove any information from the register. And this has led to a lack of transparency as to the real ownership of companies on the register, including those that are used to launder money from illicit gains. At the present, only the courts are empowered to demand changes to the register such as ordering a company to change its name.

THE WHITE PAPER The government’s white paper proposes reforms to Companies House by transforming its powers and processes: Powers of the registrar: Taking the first, the powers of the registrar, the white paper

outlines a new statutory role for the registrar to promote and maintain the integrity of the register of companies. And to enforce this, the registrar would be granted a new suite of powers including the power to query information, both prior to and post registration if it is apparent that information may be fraudulent, suspicious or could impact on the integrity of the register. This power will also allow the registrar to reject documentation where there is a reason to query the accuracy of information provided. Another is the power to impose sanctions. Here, if a company fails to respond to a query or provide sufficient evidence in response to a query, the registrar will have the power to

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identity of all new and existing directors, corporate directors, and people with significant control (PSC). The proposal would impose a minimum requirement on companies to have at least one director fully verified on the register. Under these powers, a director or PSC that has not verified their identity by the end of a set period will be liable for a civil penalty and the company which they are a director of will also have committed an offence. This will be accompanied by a note on the register to indicate that the director has not been verified. Corporate impose sanctions on the company or individual. The third proposed new power allows the removal of information from the register on the basis that it impacts its integrity. However, information that would have legal consequences for the company would still be for the courts to decide upon. Lastly, the registrar would be granted the power to change the registered address and name of a company where it is apparent that they are not authorised to use that address. The registrar may also direct a company to change its name if it does not answer queries within 28 days. If implemented, this could potentially impose greater requirements on companies or individuals when filing for incorporation or any updates to their companies. The white paper proposes that this suite of powers would be accompanied by enhanced data sharing between the registrar and other law enforcement agencies. Measures relating to identity verification: Currently, a company may file the appointment of new directors by providing information relating to their name, date of birth and occupation. There is no additional evidence required to have this approved and displayed on the public register. The white paper proposes the development of a digital identity service to verify the

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The registrar would be granted a new suite of powers including the power to query information, both prior to and post registration if it is apparent that information may be fraudulent directors would also be required to be a UK company, all their directors would have to be natural persons, and those persons must have had their identities verified. This would also assist in allowing the registrar to void the appointment of, and prevent the registration of, directors that are disqualified, in bankruptcy (not discharged), or a sanctioned individual. One of the more significant changes is the proposal surrounding the threshold of who is considered a PSC. The current threshold to be listed as a PSC is ownership of 25% of the shares of the company, but the white paper proposes lowering this to 5%.

Measures relating to the filing of financial information: In addition to identity verification, the white paper proposes enhanced validation checks on financial information that is displayed on the public register. This would include a new power to query financial information to ensure that that provided is coherent and consistent. Another proposal is to require companies’ accounts to be filed in Inline Extensible Business Reporting Language (iXBRL), an industry standard coding language that allows information to be tagged and made easier to navigate and interrogate. The white paper also pledges to further explore a system of a single filing of financial information for companies, rather than separate filings to each government agency such as Companies House and HMRC.

MOVING FORWARD At first glance, the proposals could add additional demands on companies when providing information in their usual filings with the registrar. It may also reduce the attractiveness of the UK as a place to quickly incorporate and start a business. By extension, it could also present uncertainty as to whether filings with Companies House will be accepted or queried; this may cause additional pressure on companies regarding deadlines for accounts and confirmation statements. But the white paper is simply a proposal at this stage, it’s not known what will be implemented or whether another review will be launched to refine some of the processes proposed in the current white paper.  Paul Taylor and Fawad Rashid Paul Taylor is a partner, and Fawad Rashid is a solicitor, at Fox Williams LLP

AUGUST 2022 33

Business Beat

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Marketing Matters

MARKETING

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Expert adv ice to improve how you promote and sell you DAN SAGER FOUNDED THE FAB-BIKER PR AGENCY IN 1996 AND r currently represents many well-known businesses and brands in the products or motorcycle industry. In a new series, exclusive to BDN, Dan asks us to use our services imagination to solve common marketing challenges. fab-biker.co.uk

LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION!

Cost may not be a problem, but you still need to get the basics right in a promotional video

magine that you’ve decided to produce a corporate video to promote your business and, thanks to a grant from the local council, (if only), you have a huge budget. Who would you book to present it and, just as importantly, what would you ask them to say?

IT COULD BE YOU Nobody knows your business better, so you could be the perfect person to share your passion with the paying public. This can be particularly effective for large organisations, because it makes them appear more personal to customers. Better still, you won’t charge a fee, leaving money to spend on special effects or whatever else you fancy to create the wow factor. TEXA-210x76-alt2.pdf 1 01.07.2022 Unless, of course, you are14:12:55 camera-shy. Some people, many in fact, struggle with

public-speaking and can come across as uncertain or even insincere – neither of them look good to customers. At the opposite end of the spectrum are those who may be overconfident about their ‘charisma’ and that can be equally problematic. Just because you nailed your performance as the innkeeper in the school nativity play does not necessarily mean you have the X-factor. It’s also worth mentioning that putting yourself front and centre can encourage people to contact you directly, which may not be such a good thing.

TEAM PLAYERS Alternatively, there may be a bright and bubbly member of staff, who’d be honoured to star in your promotional video. On one hand, this looks authentic to customers since they’re more likely to deal with a regular member of staff than the boss. On the other hand, you need to consider what you’ll do if they leave. Would you still be able to use them in your video? What if they went to work for a competitor?

STAR QUALITY Since money is no object, you could employ the services of a celebrity, maybe even your personal favourite, be that a Hollywood A-lister, musical superstar or sporting hero. This brings with it instant attention from their fans and the wider public, but what would you ask them to say? Whether it’s Scarlett Johansson, Ed Sheeran or Valentino Rossi, they should talk about the things that matter to your customers. That could be the expertise of your technicians, the unrivalled selection of helmets on display or the fabulous fry-ups in your in-store café. Your presenter has to give people a reason to pay you a visit. Just like producing a movie, you don’t just need a star name to guarantee box office success, it also needs to be backed up by a great script with a compelling storyline. Back in the real world, where every penny counts, that’s also true for promotional videos. 

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11.07.22 13:03

Business Essentials

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The latest news and views in the world of business

Workplace bullying is a serious issue and can have consequences for employers and employees alike

he term bullying is often used interchangeably with harassment. However, the Equality Act 2010 gives harassment a very specific meaning – “unwanted conduct related to a relevant protected characteristic, which has the purpose or effect of violating an individual’s dignity or creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment for that individual”. According to Mark Stevens, a senior

AUGUST 2022

associate at VWV LLP, bullying is not specifically defined in UK law. He says, however, that “ACAS, the government’s arbitration service terms it as meaning ‘Offensive, intimidating, malicious or insulting behaviour, an abuse or misuse of power through means that undermine, humiliate, denigrate or injure the recipient’”. He adds that harassment related to a protected characteristic under the Act (age, disability, gender reassignment, sex,

pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, marriage or civil partnership, or sexual orientation) is unlawful. “Interestingly,” he says, “harassment which is entirely unrelated to a protected characteristic isn’t covered by the Act but is still something that an employer ought to be concerned about.” He also explains that “individuals are protected from harassment throughout their working relationship and beyond.”

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CONSEQUENCES FOR EMPLOYERS Employers can be liable for harassment between individual employees. They can also be liable for harassment which employees have faced from a third party where it occurs in a work context or at a work-related event. But Stevens adds more: “Employers can also be liable for the actions of those working for them if they harass others, and the consequences of this are costly both in terms of expense and reputation.” And it’s a fact that for a workplace discrimination claim, Employment Tribunals can make uncapped compensation orders (including for injury to feelings); they can also make recommendations to employers to counter the adverse effect on the claimant – failure by the employer to comply with this can result in increased compensation. Another point of concern for employers should be that Employment Tribunal decisions are published on gov.uk; dealing with a harassment claim can therefore damage an organisation’s reputation.

DEALING WITH COMPLAINTS If a complaint is made Stevens says that “it should be dealt with promptly … it may be that, initially, it can be resolved informally. Either way, it is important that employers have formal procedures in place.” Good practice suggests that a policy should cover all types of grievances and disciplinary issues, including bullying and harassment. It is also important to provide workers with alternative points of contact in case the named contact is the alleged harasser. One suggestion from Stevens is for employers to “use an independent third party to help resolve workplace conflict; this might take the form of mediation. This won’t always be appropriate though.” But should the informal option fail, or the situation is considered too serious for the informal route, then Stevens says that the employer will need to trigger its formal procedure.

He says that “investigations must be commenced in good time after the complaint is raised. It is important that the investigation is impartial; this means employers should consider any conflicts of interest before assigning investigation roles. Investigators should ensure they take evidence from witnesses, listen to both the alleged harasser and the complainant’s version of events, and ensure confidentiality.”

Employers can be liable for harassment between individual employees It’s good practice that employers make a record of complaints and investigations. These should be sufficiently detailed and include the names of the people involved, dates, the nature and frequency of incidents, action taken, follow-up and monitoring information. Stevens thinks it wise here that “records should be made as soon as possible following the receipt of the complaint.” And if a complaint is upheld, Stevens thinks that relocating or transferring one of the individuals involved might be an appropriate measure if it’s practical. At the same time, he says that “it is sensible to seek legal advice if employers wish to put in place a confidentiality or non-disclosure agreement.”

STEPS EMPLOYERS CAN TAKE Looking to avoid trouble in the first place, Stevens thinks employers should “have a clear and thorough policy that states their commitment to promoting dignity and respect at work. They should be aware that their responsibilities also extend to work-related activities, such as parties or external events, remembering that they could be liable for what happens at these occasions unless they took reasonable steps to prevent trouble arising.”

The problem for some is the rise of hybrid working where the line between work and home has become increasingly blurred. Employers need to be aware of the risks of ‘cyber bullying’. A picture uploaded to an external website, for instance, of a colleague could amount to bullying for which the employer could be vicariously liable. For Stevens, this means that “employers should make it clear that there is zero tolerance for any type of inappropriate, aggressive, or intimidating behaviour. So, during the induction process employees should be told about the organisation’s expectations and undergo onboarding training on the relevant policies and be provided with information concerning their rights and personal responsibilities.” As to the policy’s contents, Stevens thinks it should stress that each employee is responsible for their behaviour while giving practical examples of what constitutes harassment and bullying to set expectations. He adds that “the policy should clarify that harassment and bullying will not be tolerated and make clear that allegations of harassment and bullying may be dealt with under the disciplinary policy and could potentially amount to gross misconduct.” It should also clarify the legal implications of bullying and harassment - which might include consequences for the individual. Also, Stevens would add detail on how, if someone is feeling bullied or harassed, they can get help and make a complaint, whether formally and/or informally and what the relevant process is. Stevens’ parting words are aimed at managers as “they need to understand their accountability and implement policy, ensuring that it is understood by all.”

IN SUMMARY Workplace bullying and harassment can have significant consequences, both for employees and employers who may find themselves defending a claim that they did not do enough to stop it from taking place. 

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AUGUST 2022 37

Business Essentials

s Essentials

with Adam Bernstein www.abfeatures.com

True Track

Blue sky thinking,

cloud-based technology A pioneer of the first cloud-hosted dealer management system for the motorcycle trade, Jez Shave, managing director of True Track Software, extols the advantages of his ground-breaking system. Rick Kemp reports

Jez Shave

AUGUST 2022

rue Track Software has been around long enough to inspire confidence in its main product: Pyramid Dealer Management System (DMS), a cloud-hosted DMS specifically tailored to meet the requirements of the motorcycle industry. Pyramid has been developed by Jez Shave, and being cloud-based, it does away with expensive servers and can be accessed from multiple devices anywhere in the world. The company began trading in 2012 with Shave as a sole trader; the last six years have seen it operate as a limited company with ten staff. Initially Shave had been working at another DMS company, Catalyst, but left to join D&K Motorcycles, which provided him with the opportunity to work with what is now the UK’s largest trade and classic bike dealership for a couple of years before setting up on his own. He had no intention of returning to the motorcycle industry, but that’s what happened. “I ended up rewriting my own dealer management system. Coding is in my blood – my father was an electronics engineer at Lucas Aerospace as well as a programmer, and he was the one who convinced me that cloud-based product was the future. He came up with the names True Track and Pyramid DMS. I’d never written a programme, but I knew I could do it because everything was in my head. I knew exactly what I wanted.” While at D&K, Shave helped to streamline the business. Through writing an eBay integration programme for D&K, he met Harry Sales, his current business partner. They worked well together, as they both used the same programming language and devised

a DMS system that would turn the business around. At that time, D&K was importing containers of bike parts from China and selling the contents online. Shave’s reporting and analysis allowed them to see that they were being ‘busy fools’. Over time the spares operation was wound down in favour of other aspects of the business. After leaving D&K, Shave and Sales started working with MotoGB, where they spent a few years developing the company’s B2B system, which in turn was polished into a DMS (Pyramid DMS) and operated successfully at both D&K and MotoGB. As a result, they then set up on their own. “What sets Pyramid apart from other dealer management systems is that we can modify the core programme to work with existing internal systems,” explains Shave. Pyramid now has more than a hundred dealers on its books, most of whom have come through personal recommendation. Other corporate clients include ASE Global Automotive Solutions, Ducati, Triumph, Suzuki, Honda and most recently, Completely Motoring. “We can cater for the larger customers right down to the one-man bands – all are equally important to us. On top of the standard system, we can offer e-commerce integration. We’ve got a warehouse module and the B2B system, which Herald Motorcycles has just taken up, and we can also handle warranty claims and the customer portal.” As Shave points out, lockdown did Pyramid a few favours as, with people working from home, the system could equally be accessed via a laptop or tablet.

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True Track

This feature also benefits the accounts package, including the full cost of sales for any vehicle, PDI, replacement parts, etc. There’s also a vehicle health check module as part of the DMS, and workshop technicians can access this feature through a tablet too. Any DMS developer will obviously try to cover all the angles dictated by the client’s business. Pyramid offers weekday telephone support and emergency weekend cover – you might even get to talk to the boss. “Everything we do is in-house, within the walls of the building,” confirms Shave. “All our developers are fully contracted and on the payroll. I actually wrote the system as well and, as the managing director, I can control the team and the direction of the business, so that gives me the edge when I’m in front of potential customers. I can say, ‘Yes, we can do that’ – and mean it.” Although True Track Software does create dealer websites, it’s moving away from that area to concentrate on the Pyramid B2B and warehousing systems. Shave responds to

any initial enquiries before moving on to a consultation, preferably face-to-face. Then there is an on-site visit to meet the staff and find out exactly how the business operates. If both sides are satisfied, a full proposal is

Being cloud-based, it does away with expensive servers and can be accessed from multiple devices anywhere in the world put together, after which the installation can begin. Shave illustrates another key sales factor when considering Pyramid. “We can migrate customer data from an existing DMS, including Evopos, Catalyst and Deep Blue,

which is important because you don’t have to start from scratch. Our current aspirations are to explore warehousing further with the trade distributors and continue the DMS within the retail sector. But, as Shave says, he’s not in the business of trying to convert dealers or manufacturers to Pyramid from other dealer management systems if they’re happy with the one they’re currently using. In other words, he’s not desperate to sign up new business at any cost. However, to expand, True Track needs to look at other markets. This doesn’t mean that True Track is abandoning the motorcycle industry, far from it, but in the grand scheme of things, it is relatively small and True Track has quite a big chunk of it already. As Shave intimates, “We’re now looking further afield – at agricultural applications, for example, which seem like a natural progression.”  True Track Software 01782 789317 sales@truetracksoftware.com

“THE PYRAMID INTEGRATION WAS SEAMLESS, and support is first class. The DMS is so intuitive to use it’s a pleasure to work with. Moreover, it has improved our retail and management information beyond expectations. We are delighted with our partnership with True Track.” David Hackshall, managing director, West Coast Glasgow

WEST COAST www.britishdealernews.co.uk

AUGUST 2022 39

Product news

Products The latest products for your showroom

Sinnis SM-XE A NEW SMALL CAPACITY ENDURO STYLE motorcycle has been launched by Brighton-based brand Sinnis. The SM-XE is an ABS-equipped 125cc machine which Sinnis claims is as good on the trails as it is on the road thanks to its 21in/18in wheel set up and light weight of 140kg. The Euro 5 compliant engine is said to be the manufacturer’s most powerful 125cc to date, powering the SM-XE to more than 60mph. It comes in white/Forest green for a retail price of £3399 +OTR. Sinnis; 01273 506306; sales@sinnis.co.uk

Tucano Urbano Texwork

Jekill & Hyde

Oxford Hotgrips 5

AFTERMARKET EXHAUST MANUFACTURER DR JEKILL AND MR Hyde has updated its Nomad exhaust fitment for the BMW R1200/1250GS and Adventure models. The new system is said to be quieter than the OE exhaust when in the quiet Dr Jekill mode, but deeper and louder when the button is pushed to move it into Mr Hyde mode. There’s also a dynamic mode which is somewhere between the two in terms of volume. As well as sound options, there is a choice of finishes too – either black or pearl grey end-can fitted with a gloss carbon cap and a carbon heat shield. SRPs are £1537 for the grey version, £1588 for the black. The Jekill and Hyde Co; +31 (0)77 308 1070; info@jekillandhyde.com

AN EASY-TO-FIT ALTERNATIVE TO standard heated grips, these new Hotgrip Wraps simply wrap around existing grips up to 32mm in diameter. The kit includes everything needed to get warm digits – grips, controller, wiring loom and waterproof connectors. They draw less than 3A when in operation and have two heat settings to suit various climatic conditions. SRP is £69.99. Oxford Products; 01993 862300; info@oxprod.com

Ducati Streetfighter V2 FOR RIDERS WHO LIKE TO STAND OUT FROM THE CROWD, THE LATEST version of the 955cc Streetfighter V2 sees Ducati plump for a novel matt metallic green colour scheme paired with five spoke black wheels. However, for those who prefer to stick with tradition, the model is still available in Ducati Red. Ducati; schappell@ducatiuk.com

AUGUST 2022

WHEN THE MERCURY STARTS rising, riding in leathers or a heavyweight textile jacket can be a bit of a sweaty chore. But given that the British summer might be in full swing for only a few weeks, justifying a big outlay on a summer-specific jacket can be difficult. Enter stage left the Tucano Urbano Texwork and Texwork Lady, a lightweight summer jacket for under a ton. The CE-approved Texwork is made using a polyester outer shell with shoulder and elbow armour fitted, plus a pocket for an optional back protector. Inside is a lightweight mesh liner and not much else. It comes in black or black/grey/ yellow options in men’s sizes S-3XL, or in black/fuchsia in ladies’ sizes XS-SXL for an SRP of £99.99. Tucano Urbano; 07799 626635; info@tucanourbano.com

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Product news

LS2 Advant THE LATEST NEW HELMET FROM LS2 IS THE ADVANT, A flip-front with a chinbar that can be swung back 180deg to turn it into an open-face configuration. The shell is made from KPA (Kinetic Polymer Alloy), which helps to keep overall weight down, and it is dual homologated, meaning it can be ridden in both the open and closed positions. Other features include a drop down sun visor, emergency release cheek pads, washable interior lining and a Pinlock antifog visor insert. The Advant comes in a choice of five solid colours at an SRP of £249.99 and four graphic options at £269.99 SRP. LS2 Helmets UK; 01670 856342; ukservice@ls2helmets.com

Scrambler silencer 5 THE NEW AKRAPOVIC SILENCER TO FIT 800CC versions of Ducati’s Scrambler features a twin-exit, black coated titanium end can and a stainless steel link pipe which eliminates the OE pre-silencer. It promises imp roved power throughout with a peak increase of 2.2hp at 8600rpm, and a 3Nm improvement in torque slightly lower down the rev range. Weight is also reduced, slicing 3.8kg off compared to the OE system. SRP is £937. For those wanting to delve even deeper into their pockets in the pursuit of performance there are an optional titanium header set for £731 SRP and a new carbon fibre heat shield for the comparative bargain of £82. Performance Parts; 01327 706139; enquiries@performanceparts-ltd.com

Norton V4SV 5 THE TROUBLED GESTATION AND PRODUCTION OF NORTON’S FLAGSHIP V4SS SUPERSPORT MACHINE under disgraced former boss Stuart Garner still reverberates across the motorcycle industry. That machine’s issues, and the lack of any factory capability to rectify them, may not have irredeemably tarnished the Norton brand but it has certainly made the launch of the first “new” model since Indian brand TVS took control a crucial step in defining the intent and ambition of the reinvigorated company for the future. The V4SV is a re-engineered version of the V4SS, retaining the original model’s carbon bodywork and hand TIGwelded aluminium frame, but making literally hundreds of changes to the engine, drivetrain, onboard electronics and suspension to create the bike the original promised, yet spectacularly failed, to be. The 1200cc V4 engine now produces 185hp with an electronics package which offers three riding modes and lean-angle sensitive traction control. A full quickshift and auto-blipper are also installed, along with adjustable Öhlins suspension front and rear and Brembo brakes. Lighting is full LED, the dash is a 6in TFT colour screen and as well as the usual instrumentation it can, in what might be a first for a sportsbike, display the view from a rearfacing camera. Two colours are available – Manx silver or gloss black carbon – fitted with OZ forged or BST carbon fibre wheels respectively. Orders are being taken now at an on the road price of £44,000, and TVS has admirably promised that it will prioritise customers who placed orders under Garner’s tenure. Norton Motorcycles; 0121 565 4411; www.nortonmotorcycles.com

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AUGUST 2022

Product news

Buell cables IN RECENT YEARS GETTING PARTS FOR BUELL MOTORCYCLES HAS BECOME increasingly difficult. Buying from the USA has always been an option but, for relatively low value items, shipping costs and import duties added an off-putting amount to the final bill. So good news for British Buell owners as now Venhill has started making uprated clutch and throttle cables for the S1 Lightning, S3 and S3T Thunderbolt, M2 Cyclone, XB9R and XB12R models. The Featherlight cables feature a stainless steel inner wire, a PTFE liner to reduce friction and a nylon-coated spiral wound steel outer protective sleeve. Prices start from £30.92. Venhill Engineering; 01306 885111; sales@venhill.co.uk

Oxford Spartan THE SPARTAN RANGE TAKES ITS NAME FROM THE ANCIENT warrior tribe of southern Greece, a name that has become synonymous with toughness and lack of frills. Oxford’s Spartan jackets and matching pants live up to their illustrious name by providing the essentials necessary for commuting or leisure riding without any extra fripperies adding to the cost. They are CE approved and come with a waterproof liner, armour in the predictable areas and lots of pockets, but precious little else apart from a choice of plain black or black/ fluo colour options. The long jacket is £99.99 SRP, the short jacket is £89.99, and the pants are £79.99. Oxford Products; 01993 862300; info@oxprod.com

Ducati hot and cold 5

OptiMate Pro-1 Duo

GBRacing 5 IT’S NOT ONLY TRACK BIKES THAT CAN benefit from crash protection – chuck any example of modern machinery down the road and you are going to be looking at big bills. To counter this, GBRacing has developed protective engine covers for the Suzuki GSX-S750 middleweight naked. Made to the same spec as the firm’s racing covers, an alternator cover is £83.56, clutch cover is £86.52, pulse cover is £66.86 and a starter motor cover is £56.68 – or the full set is £281.78 SRP. GBRacing;020 8275 2630; enquiries@gbracing.eu

AUGUST 2022

A WORKSHOP-LEVEL BATTERY CHARGER AND maintainer, the OptiMate Pro-1 Duo is suitable for charging 12V lead acid and 12.8/13.2V lithium ion batteries in the workshop. It outputs 10A, so can be used for charging batteries up to 50Ah (lead acid) or 20Ah (lithium), or it can activate a new battery or recover deep-discharged batteries that have dropped as low as 0.5V. It can also work in Power Supply mode, keeping batteries topped up during diagnostics, troubleshooting or tuning. It comes with a long reach 1.8m charging lead, fused battery clips, wall clip for storage and a handlebar hanging hook for an SRP of £170.69. Motohaus; 01256 704909; info@motohaus.com

DUCATI HAS LAUNCHED TWO new base layer sets with opposing aims – either to keep the rider warm, or to help cool them down. The garments are made in collaboration with specialist company Aquafil and use Dryarn, a lightweight and waterrepellent microfibre fabric that helps keep the body dry and at the right temperature. The Cool Down 2 range comes in grey, red and black and consists of long sleeve (£49.90), short sleeve (£40) and sleeveless (£34.90) T-shirts, balaclavas (£16.90) and socks (£16.90), all designed to reduce sweating and eliminate excess heat in hot climates. Conversely, the Warm Up 2 line is designed to do the opposite, providing thermal insulation and wind protection. It comes in black, red and grey and consists of longsleeve T-shirts (£59), thermal tights (£40) a balaclava (£24.90) and Merino socks (£16.90). Ducati; schappell@ducatiuk.com

Probike; 01604 660555; www.probike.co.uk

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S G N I V A S R E M M U SENSATIONAL S

The choice of the professionals 01394 604040

www.bickers-online.co.uk

Product news

Motorex 6

CCM Classic Tracker FOR RIDERS WANTING A RAWER AND MORE AUTHENTIC SHORT TRACK EXPERIENCE ON THE ROAD, British manufacturer CCM has reimagined its Street Tracker to create the Classic Tracker. The new model builds on it’s sibling’s 600cc engine and tubular steel chassis package and adds in a carbon-tipped exhaust system, new scrambler-style handlebars and new style front and rear lights. Lots of components have been black anodised or powder coated, including calipers, springs and forks. The wheels are 19in spoked affairs from Haan shod with Mitas tyres, and a new perforated double-ribbed saddle is fitted. In Petrol Blue, the SRP is £10,695 +OTR, while the Infinity package adds chrome bodywork, a brown diamond stich saddle and gold wheels for £11,495. CCM; 01204 544930; www.ccm-motorcycles.com

SWISS LUBRICANTS specialist Motorex has launched two new versions of its popular Moto Clean bike cleaner. Moto Clean Universal is an environmentally neutral, biodegradable, water-based cleaner for motorbikes, scooters and bicycles which comes in a refillable 1-litre spray bottle. Moto Clean Plus is also water based and biodegradable, but is a fast acting organic formula in a 1-litre bottle with a unique spray head for fast application. Once cleaning is completed, spraying with new Moto Shine MS1 gives a lasting gloss finish shine to painted, plastic and chrome surfaces and its dust and dirt repellent formula helps to prevent mud from sticking. It comes in a 500ml aerosol for an SRP of £12.79. Bickers; 01394 604040; sales@bickers-online.co.uk

HJC

Givi’d Interceptor 5 NT1100 protection HONDA’S NT1100 TOURER IS PROVING POPULAR with punters, but is obviously providing a few issues for accessory suppliers. In order to provide a sturdy mount for its new Extenda Fenda Extra without requiring customers to drill rivet holes in the OE mudguard, Pyramid Plastics has designed an ingenious and sturdy bracket which mounts the 265mm-long ABS guard to the front calipers. SRP is £65. At the other end of the bike, Pyramid can supply a Shock Shield which blocks the gap between swingarm and undertray to protect the expensive shock unit. SRP is £31.99. Pyramid Plastics; 01427 677990; sales@pyramid-plastics.co.uk

AUGUST 2022

ROYAL ENFIELD’S INTERCEPTOR 650 HAS PROVED to be a substantial hit for the Indian manufacturer – comfortably the brand’s biggest-selling model and the 11th-best selling machine of 2021 overall. The retro-modern roadster is now the recipient of a raft of accessories from Italian firm Givi. The parallel twin has been given some better touring credentials with a bespoke mounting system for Givi’s Corium soft luggage, or there are pannier racks to take a pair of compact E22 cases for those who prefer rigid luggage and a Monolock rear rack which can take a topbox if desired. To protect the rider from windblast there is a fitting kit which allows fitment of either the Race Cafe universal screen or the larger 140 universal screen. Finally, to protect the machine itself there is a model-specific engine guard made of 25mm tubular steel with a gloss back finish. Givi UK; 01327 706220; info@givi.co.uk

HJC’S GRAPHIC DESIGNERS have been hard at work creating new designs for some of the Far East manufacturer’s huge range of helmets. The HJC CS-MX II is a motocross-style lid with a polycarbonate shell and extensive ventilation which now comes in a new Creed graphic in blue/orange, blue/white or black for an SRP of £99.99. The carbon fibre full-face F70 has been graced with the Kesta graphic to give it a mid-season update. Available in red, orange, blue and black versions in sizes XS2XL for an SRP of £399.99. Oxford Products; 01993 862300; info@oxprod.com

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BDN strip ad May 2022.qxp_Layout 1 11/05/202

Product news

Sena Spiders THE SENA SPIDER ST1 AND RT1 HAVE FINALLY BECOME available in Europe. Launched last year in the US, the new units are more affordable versions of Sena’s premium communications headsets, offering intercom capabilities between compatible Sena units and smartphone compatibility to the budget-conscious rider. The two models each pack the same features, differing only in control method – jogwheel for the ST and a three-button control for the RT. Features include one-touch intercom connectivity using Mesh 2.0, Bluetooth 5.1 for smartphone pairing (for music, satnav audio and calls), HD speakers, and rapid charging. Euro prices are €229 for a single unit, €419 for a pair. Feridax; 01384 413841; info@feridax.com

Retro cool

Touring screen FOLLOWING LAST MONTH’S launch of a screen for the Honda NC750X, this month it is the turn of its stablemate, the NC750D Integra, to be graced with a new sheet of acrylic. The big scooter’s new screen is 64cm tall with a flip at the top to deflect wind blast and is a simple replacement for the OE item. It’s available in clear or light grey tints for an SRP of £99.95. Skidmarx UK; 01305 780808; sales@skidmarx.co.uk

BMW M1000RR 50 5 TO CELEBRATE THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE M-SPORT designation of its top-tier racing and sports models, BMW has produced a special edition of the only motorbike to carry the hallowed badge thus far. The Anniversary M1000RR features São Paulo Yellow paint and a is fitted with the M billet package of levers and rearsets, as well as a full complement of carbon fibre wings and trinkets and a GPS datalogger and lap timer access code for the not-inconsiderable price of £35,200. On the plus side, you are unlikely to meet another one at the local biker café. BMW Motorrad;0800 777155; www.bmw-motorrad.co.uk

Avant extender A SIMPLE BUT EFFECTIVE WAY OF PROTECTING the underside of a motorbike is through fitting a fender extender. Until now, BMW R1250RT owners hadn’t got an option to do that, but now Avant has produced an easy to fit injection moulded polypropylene version which adds an extra 50mm width and 150mm of length. Only available in black, to match the OE front mudguard, the extender has an SRP of £64. Nippy Normans; sales@nippynormans.com

Scout The ideal match for long hot summers.

£129.99RRP

COLOUR: BLACK, OLIVE, STONE, CAMO SIZE: S - 5XL

FOR MORE INFORMATION: W: www.weiseclothing.com

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E: info@weiseclothing.com

AUGUST 2022 45

Product news

SHORT CUTS

AIROH

AIROH’S ADVENTURE STYLE COMMANDER helmet has received new colours for 2022. With a removable peak and visor, the lid can be configured to suit all sorts of riding terrain, and it comes with a selection of action camera mounts as standard, as well as a Pinlock visor insert. The new designs are the Boost graphic in red, orange and white/blue options, and Skill graphic in gloss white. SRPs are £349.99. Bike It; 02380 658700; tradesales@bikeit.co.uk

OPEN BLUETOOTH STANDARD

NOT EXACTLY A NEW PRODUCT, BUT AN important strategy agreement that will change future product compatibility. As helmet mounted communications systems become more common, the issue of cross-brand compatibility rears its ugly head. While pairing two intercoms from different brands isn’t impossible, it tends to be complicated and frustrating for users who expect a “plug and play” experience. So, to improve user experience in the future, communications systems manufacturers Cardo Systems, Midland and US firm Uclear have come together to create the Open Bluetooth Intercom standard. The implementation of OPI will, say the firms, mean that users will be able to enjoy seamless connectivity between the three brands. Cardo; cardo@pama.co.uk Midland; sales@moto-direct.com Uclear; www.uclear.eu

Bike It boots

Merlin jackets 5 SUSTAINABILITY IS THE NEW buzzword when it comes to all sorts of products, but it’s one that hasn’t had a lot of impact upon the petrol-guzzling folk of the motorcycle world. However, even bikers are becoming gradually more aware of their hobby’s impact on the environment, so the introduction of two new sustainable jackets from Merlin seems a prescient move. Both jackets are made from organic ripstop cotton with a fluorocarbonfree water repellent coating, which reduce CO2 creation during manufacturing by 45% and water usage by 50%. Each also has a Humax waterproof membrane to further improve weather protection and D3O armour fitted at the shoulder and elbows, plus a Stealth back protector and pockets for an optional chest protector. The Drifter has a traditional zipped style with multiple pockets and adjustment points and comes in black or olive, in sizes S-4XL for an SRP of £299.99. The Outlaw is a more unusual pull-over smock design with a large central pocket on the front and a drawstring hood for off-bike use. It also comes in a choice of black or olive, in sizes S-4XL for an SRP of £329.99. Merlin; 01543 270299; info@merlinbikegear.com

THE TRIPLE-BLACK IS A NEW CEcertified adventure style boot which, rather perversely, is available in brown as well as the more predictable black. Whichever of the colours is picked, you get a full-length Aniline leather boot with a waterproof liner and a heavy-duty treaded sole. Protective armour is fitted on the shin and around the ankle, and fastening is by a pair of quick release buckles and a Velcro upper flap. The boots come in UK sizes 6-12 for an SRP of £149.99. Bike It; 02380 658700; tradesales@ bikeit.co.uk

HJC i100

BIKE IT MATS

BIKE IT HAS CREATED 15 NEW DESIGNS FOR ITS garage mat range. The new designs span the 190x80cm Series 7 and Adventure mats, as well as the larger 250x100cm Custom series. All mats are oil and water resistant and comply with FIM regulations for fluid absorption, so they can be used at both track days and races. SRPs for the smaller mats are £44.99, and the larger sizes are £69.99. Bike It; 02380 658700; tradesales@bikeit.co.uk

AUGUST 2022

THIS NEW SYSTEM HELMET FROM HJC HAS BEEN DESIGNED to look, says the manufacturer, indistinguishable from a high-end full-face lid when in the closed position. The angular styling certainly helps to hide the fact that the chinbar can be swung back 180deg to give an open-face helmet – and the double homologation means it can be used on the road in both open and closed configurations. The polycarbonate composite shell makes it ECE22.06 compliant, and other features include a twin vent ventilation system, Pinlock anti-fog insert, drop-down sun visor and a removable and a washable interior lining with glasses-friendly grooves. The i100 is compatible with HJC’s SMART bluetooth headset and comes in sizes XS-2XL for an SRP of £279.99 in a choice of white, matt black, black and titanium. Oxford Products; 01993 862300; info@oxprod.com

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Focal Point

BICKERS

Ferodo – 125 years of braking excellence For more than 125 years, Ferodo has been synonymous with excellence and a continued commitment to innovation. Pioneering research and development, bold engineering and extensive road and track testing, ensure performance, safety and reliability

hen it comes to “Race on Sunday, sell on Monday”, it doesn’t get much more authentic in race support terms than the decades-long pedigree that the Ferodo brand has been famous for. After a stunning FIM Superbike World Championship season in 2021, which saw the Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK team complete the “triple crown” of rider, manufacturer and team championships, Yamaha and technical partner Ferodo will continue the fight to out-brake the competition in 2022. Turkish sensation Razgatlıoglu’s spectacular “stoppies” and unbelievable bike control have become a talking point across top-level motorcycle racing worldwide, and in 2021 a total of 13 race victories and 29 podiums broke Kawasaki’s stronghold on the WorldSBK Championship in one of the most thrilling seasons of the production racing series’ history. While the spotlight has been on Yamaha’s recent achievements, its success certainly hasn’t happened overnight. Ferodo has supported the team – and its operations partner Crescent Racing – since Yamaha’s return to WorldSBK in 2016. Ferodo and Crescent’s partnership spans more than ten years in WorldSBK and UK off-road championships. Bickers tel 01394 604040 www.bickers-online.co.uk

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RACING TECHNOLOGY

FERODO BRAKES HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED TO EXCEL IN THE FOUR PHASES OF BRAKING

PHASE 1 – INITIAL BITE This is how quickly the brakes reach their operating torque. When pulling the lever, a racer wants to feel the brakes “bite” instantaneously.

PHASE 2 – STRAIGHT-LINE DECELERATION Most of the deceleration needs to be made when the motorcycle travels in a straight line when the tyre grip is at a maximum. In this phase, the rider wants the highest possible brake efficiency (deceleration for a given lever pressure.) The brake pad’s coefficient of friction (µ) represents this efficiency. The higher the coefficient of friction of the pad, the lower the lever force required to decelerate.

PHASE 3 – MODULATION PHASE The coefficient of friction can be affected by several factors, including disc temperatures, brake disc rubbing speeds and clamping forces. Ferodo develops its brake pads to provide

consistency during these changing operating conditions. This is key to the brake performing well in the final braking phase, when disc temperatures increase and rubbing speeds reduce. This is known as the modulation phase. A pad with good modulation maintains a linear relationship between lever pressure and deceleration, which means the brake is more “predictable.” This is extremely important as the tyres will often have reduced longitudinal grip (as the bike turns) and will be easier to lock during this final phase.

PHASE 4 – RELEASE At the end of the braking event, when lever pressure is released, it is essential that the brake pads release instantaneously from the disc and then cause low residual brake drag. When the brakes are not being used, it’s very important that pad-disc contact is at a minimum. This keeps drag at a minimum and hence speed at a maximum.

AUGUST 2022 47

Product news

iGet performance kit

Cardo goes branded 5 CARDO SYSTEMS HAS ANNOUNCED TWO NEW manufacturer deals that mean its Packtalk Edge communications units will be available as official Honda branded and KTM-branded accessories. The Honda version just has a Honda logo applied to the unit, whereas KTM has been a bit more daring with an orange shell and branded packaging. Both versions feature the new Air Mount magnetic helmet mount system, and can be connected to suitable systems to allow some operations from the bikes’ TFT screens. Both branded units have an SRP of €389.95. Pama & Co; 0161 494 4200; cardo@pama.co.uk

MALOSSI HAS DEVELOPED A KIT OF PARTS to improve the performance of scooters using the Piaggio Group iGet 125 engine. The iTech replacement cylinder kit takes the 125 four-strokes up to 182cc and comes with a Forcemaster ECU with four different maps. The cylinder liner has a silicon carbide coating, while the piston has triple rings with low mechanical resistance for improved efficiency and a higher rev limit. SRP is £523.06. To go with the enlarged iGet engine, Malossi can provide a straight-cut final gear set with an increased 15-41 ratio (£68.69 SRP) and a Multivar 2000 variator kit, which is said to improve acceleration and top speed, as well

as offering smoother shifting under power. SRP is £106.43. To finish it all off, a version of the Malossi RX Black exhaust system has been developed to suit iGet-powered models. Its biggest selling point is reduced mass, with the RX weighing a fraction over 3.5kg. The internal baffling and the DB killer have been redesigned to maintain legal noise levels, and by adding an optional catalyser it still complies with Euro homologation regulations. The manifold is made of stainless steel, and the end can is made of black anodised aluminium with a gloss finish carbon fibre endcap. SRP is £490. VE (UK); 01159 462991; sales@ve-uk.com

MOTORCYCLE BUYERS’

GUIDE

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Husqvarna FS450 AN ALL-NEW REPLACEMENT MODEL, HUSQVARNA’S FS450 IS A supermoto racer powered by a new 450cc four-stroke motor with switchable mapping, operated by a handlebar mounted controller which also looks after the customisable launch control, traction control and quickshifter settings. The new hydroformed chromoly steel frame is combined with a Polymide-reinforced aluminium subframe, and is fitted with Alpina wheels, WP suspension and Brembo brakes. New plastic bodywork panels allow better ergonomics and a lithium ion battery helps to reduce weight. Prices start at £10,499. Husqvarna Motorcycles; sales@husqvarna-motorcycles.com

Oxford Arizona Air 1.0 5 THE ARIZONA AIR HAS A SIMPLE BRIEF – TO PROVIDE SUFFICIENT protection for the rider while also allowing as much cooling airflow as possible. To that end, the CE-approved jacket and pants are largely made of high density polyester mesh, minimising any material that could block the wind. CE level 1 protectors are fitted at the elbows and shoulders, and there is a pocket for an optional back protector. Other features are minimal – just a pair of hand-warmer pockets, fit adjustment on the upper arms and waist, a short connecting zip to link the two together and a load of reflective printing to make them more visible. The jacket comes in black, navy blue or Arctic grey for an SRP of £99.99, and the pants in black or grey also for £99.99. Oxford Products; 01993 862300; info@oxprod.com

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Dft statistics

Quarterly stats Jan-Mar 2022 new registration figures from the DfT Best selling models 1. Honda PCX125

792

2. BMW R 1250 GS Adventure

561

3. Honda NSC 110 (Vision 110)

558

4. BMW R 1250 GS

552

5. Honda CRF 300 L

511

6. Royal Enfield Meteor 350

420

7. Honda CBF 125

416

8. Honda SH 125

394

9. Vmoto CPA (Super Soco CPX)

391

10. Triumph Tiger 900

342

11. Yamaha NMAX 125

338

12. Kawasaki Ninja 1000 SX

278

13. Kawasaki Z 125

269

14. Yamaha MT-07

269

15. Triumph Tiger 660 Sport

267

16. Honda NSS 125 (Forza 125)

259

17. Honda Africa Twin 1100

257

18. Yamaha Tracer 9

253

19. Kawasaki Z 900 RS

249

20. Royal Enfield Interceptor Int 650

229

he latest figures from the DfT show that 2021's all-conquering Yamaha NMAX 125 has been comprehensively de-throned in the first quarter of 2022. In Q1 2022, just 348 examples of Yamaha's fleet-friendly scooter were registered – slim pickings when compared with the 1102 registered over the same period of 2021. The most-registered PTW in the first three months of the year was still a scooter though; Honda's perennially popular PCX125 taking top honours – one of eight A1 licence-friendly scooters and commuters to grace the top 20 list. Bigger-capacity bikes were headed up by the BMW R1250 GS Adventure, followed closely by the regular GS. Other adventure machinery populating the top 20 list included two versions of the Triumph Tiger and the Honda Africa Twin. Electric bikes overall sold nearly double the total from Q1 2021 (1865 vs 974), with the Super Soco CPX scooter head

and shoulders above the following pack. Lexmoto maintained its usual authority over the moped sector, and Honda nearly swept the board in the sub-125cc sector, taking the top four slots. There was similar success for Royal Enfield as it held four of the top-five positions in the 126-650cc class thanks to more than doubling sales compared with 2021. The top 50 manufacturers chart was headed, as always, by Honda which improved its market share by a plump 5.47% while most other major brands either lost share or made diminutive gains. Brands making notable gains lower in the ranks included Mutt, whose vintage custom style machines were popular enough to move it into the upper half of the top 50 table, and Lambretta, which also rode the retro wave with its evocative scooters. Several electric-powered brands posted stupendous percentage gains in terms of sales, but these were all from low, or non-existent, Q1 2021 data.

Top 10 brands by capacity Electric

Total: 1865

0-49cc

Total: 853

50-125cc

126-650cc

Total: 8179

Total: 5666

1. Vmoto................................519 2. E-Max............................... 164 3. Yadea................................. 161 4. Niu....................................155 5. Sur-Ron............................. 149 6. Askoll................................. 115 7. Piaggio................................56 8. BMW.................................. 53 9. Zero....................................44 10. Silence................................40

1. Lexmoto............................ 189 2. Yamasaki.............................69 3. Peugeot..............................64 4. Sym....................................59 5. WK Bikes............................. 52 6. Piaggio................................44 7. MGB...................................42 8. Aprilia................................. 37 9. Skyteam.............................. 32 10. Longjia................................ 31

1. Honda............................. 3033 2. Lexmoto...........................1055 3. Yamaha............................. 923 4. Sym..................................394 5. Sinnis................................306 6. Keeway.............................264 7. Benelli............................... 233 8. Piaggio.............................. 224 9. Zontes.............................. 202 10. Mutt................................. 168

1. Honda..............................1482 2. Royal Enfield.................... 1120 3. Kawasaki...........................446 4. KTM.................................439 5. Beta...................................316 6. Suzuki...............................249 7. Husqvarna......................... 186 8. Piaggio...............................185 9. Royal Alloy.........................172 10. GasGas............................. 166

Highest Registering Models

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Vmoto CPA (Super Soco CPX).. 391 Emax LB1..................................147 Sur-Ron Light Bee.................... 128 Askoll 02 Espro 70..................... 115 Niu NQi GTS ............................76

Lexmoto Echo......................95 Lexmoto Echo Plus 50...........66 Yamasaki YM 50...................44 Peugeot Kisbee 50................40 Aprilia SXR 50...................... 37

Honda PCX125................... 792 Honda NSC 110 (Vision 110). 558 Honda CBF 125................... 416 Honda SH 125....................394 Yamaha NMAX 125............. 338

Honda CRF 300 L................ 511 Royal Enfield Meteor 350....420 Royal Enfield Interceptor.... 229 Royal Enfield Himalayan......221 Royal Enfield Classic 350......176

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DfT statistics

REGISTRATIONS BY CAPACITY

Top manufacturers 2022 vs 2021 Brand

16000

14000

12000 >1000

10000

651-1000 126-650

8000

51-125 <50

6000

Electric

4000

2000

0 Jan Feb Mar

650-1000cc Total: 5563

1. Yamaha............................1268 2. Triumph...........................1226 3. BMW................................ 790 4. Kawasaki...........................484 5. Ducati...............................463 6. Honda............................... 354 7. KTM................................. 258 8. Suzuki................................ 211 9. Aprilia................................170 10. Moto Guzzi........................ 151

Over 1000cc Total: 4812

1. BMW...............................1647 2. Harley-Davidson................ 623 3. Honda................................617 4. Triumph............................ 597 5. Ducati................................341 6. Kawasaki........................... 338 7. KTM.................................294 8. Aprilia................................126 9. Suzuki................................122 10. Indian................................103

Highest Registering Models

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Triumph Tiger 900............. 342 Yamaha MT-07..................269 Triumph Tiger 660 Sport..... 267 Yamaha Tracer 9................ 253 Kawasaki Z 900 RS.............249

BMW R 1250 GS Adventure..561 BMW R 1250 GS................. 552 Kawasaki Ninja 1000 SX...... 278 Honda Africa Twin 1100...... 257 BMW R 1250 RT................. 225

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44. 45. 46. 47. 48. 49. 50.

2022 Regs

2021 Regs

Regs change

Honda 5486 BMW 2632 Yamaha 2332 Triumph 1824 Kawasaki 1327 Lexmoto 1299 Royal Enfield 1120 KTM 1039 Ducati 804 Harley-Davidson 628 Suzuki 582 Vmoto 519 Piaggio 509 Aprilia 470 Sym 460 Husqvarna 353 Beta 341 Sinnis 338 Benelli 322 Royal Alloy 303 Keeway 298 Zontes 209 Mutt 181 GasGas 169 Emax 164 Yadea 161 Niu 155 Moto Guzzi 151 Sur-Ron 149 MGB 145 WK Bikes 130 Sherco 123 Peugeot 119 AJS 116 Askoll 115 Indian 104 Kymco 97 Motorini 82 Fantic Motor 77 CCM 71 Yamasaki 69 Blueroc 59 Neco 59 Lambretta 58 Mondial 57 Zhongneng 50 TRS 46 SkyTeam 45 Vertigo 44 Zero 44

2687 1976 2056 1470 799 1025 537 874 573 433 478 264 417 278 264 191 267 216 190 242 233 128 71 149 0 4 195 77 85 0 54 52 109 111 13 110 60 60 48 77 0 0 117 20 24 35 31 4 20 17

2799 656 276 354 528 274 583 165 231 195 104 255 92 192 196 162 74 122 132 61 65 81 110 20 164 157 -40 74 64 145 76 71 10 5 102 -6 37 22 29 -6 69 59 -58 38 33 15 15 41 24 27

Regs change

2022 Market Share

104.17% s 20.37% 33.20% s 9.77% 13.42% s 8.66% 24.08% s 6.77% 66.08% s 4.93% 26.73% s 4.82% 108.57% s 4.16% 18.88% s 3.86% 40.31% s 2.98% 45.03% s 2.33% 21.76% s 2.16% 96.59% s 1.93% 22.06% s 1.89% 69.06% s 1.74% 74.24% s 1.71% 84.82% s 1.31% 27.72% s 1.27% 56.48% s 1.25% 69.47% s 1.20% 25.21% s 1.12% 27.90% s 1.11% 63.28% s 0.78% 154.93% s 0.67% 13.42% s 0.63% – u 0.61% 3925.00% s 0.60% -20.51% t 0.58% 96.10% s 0.56% 75.29% s 0.55% – u■ 0.54% 140.74% s 0.48% 136.54% s 0.46% 9.17% s 0.44% 4.50% s 0.43% 784.62% s 0.43% -5.45% t 0.39% 61.67% s 0.36% 36.67% s 0.30% 60.42% s 0.29% -7.79% t 0.26% – u 0.26% – u 0.22% -49.57% t 0.22% 190.00% s 0.22% 137.50% s 0.21% 42.86% s 0.19% 48.39% s 0.17% 1025.00% s 0.17% 120.00% s 0.16% 158.82% s 0.16%

Market Share Change

5.47% -1.19% -2.74% -1.38% 0.50% -0.86% 1.18% -0.99% -0.19% -0.07% -0.49% 0.46% -0.42% 0.20% 0.24% 0.25% -0.21% 0.06% 0.14% -0.22% -0.19% 0.07% 0.28% -0.20% 0.61% 0.58% -0.51% 0.13% 0.08% 0.54% 0.18% 0.17% -0.16% -0.18% 0.35% -0.22% 0.03% -0.03% 0.02% -0.16% 0.26% 0.22% -0.43% 0.10% 0.08% -0.01% 0.00% 0.14% 0.05% 0.07%

s t t t s t s t t t t s t s s s t s s t t s s t s s t s s s s s t t s t s t s t s s t s s t t s s s

*Data does not include vehicles registered in Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands

hello@pib-insurance.com www.britishdealernews.co.uk

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AUGUST 2022 53 20/05/2021 15:59:10

On the Money

On the Money I

’ve been composing this column for considerably more than a decade now. In that time-span, history has repeated itself to bracket my endeavours through a pair of fairly cataclysmic events impacting on the motorcycle industry. And, almost accidentally, US biker lifestyle icon Harley-Davidson became a bellwether for those woes. Let us start with the “credit crunch” global financial crisis in 2008, the aftermath of which was a subject for many of my early columns. At its heart was the international securitisation market’s collapse and subsequent dire distress for the entire banking sector. Initially, easy mortgage access generated a huge residential real-estate bubble in America, as borrowers expected remorselessly rising house valuations to outpace their repayment burden. Most of this mortgage finance came from lenders who promptly securitised their loan portfolios. They were repackaged into what are variously described as asset-backed or collateralised debt obligation securities. These were then sold on through the banking system, so lenders could recycle the same capital over and over again. A similar principle was applied to point-of-sale consumer credit for other large

discretionary purchases. When the property bubble burst, it transpired that many mortgage-associated securitisation deals, characterised as lucrative lowrisk investment opportunities by vendors, were blatant mis-selling. Their content was actually sub-prime, ripe for default and therefore often effectively worthless once sufficient disgruntled lowincome rednecks had ceased paying and walked away from the

were required, HDFS profit sank to just £70m. There was far worse to come. At the beginning of 2009, the securitisation market vanished altogether. Faced with empty coffers and a forecast annual credit requirement of about £840m to keep trading, HDFS was obliged to take desperate measures. In February that year, it went calling on Harley’s biggest shareholder Davis Selected Advisers and multibillionaire Warren Buffett’s

Faced with empty coffers and a forecast annual credit requirement of about £840m to keep trading, HDFS was obliged to take desperate measures negative equity trap into which they had fallen. To minimise its own roll-over capital requirements, HarleyDavidson’s POS and dealer inventory funding arm HDFS had been a keen advocate of, and heavily dependent on, securitisation. But it was careful to avoid exposure to toxic sub-prime risk. In 2007, HDFS trousered an operating profit of £179m from this income stream. However, as the financial crisis began to unfold in 2008 and much greater bad-debt provisions

Berkshire Hathaway investment company for solace. Together, they coughed up £500m, but at an absolutely extortionate 15% interest rate annualised over five years. HDFS also got a hand-out from the US government’s “troubled asset relief programme”. March 2009 saw HarleyDavidson’s NYSE-listed share price dive to a record low of $7.99, compared to an all-time high of $75.50 in November 2006. In May 2009, acknowledged corporate cost-

cutter Keith Wandell was hastily recruited from outside the company as new-broom chief executive, although immediate respite was beyond his reach. By the year’s end, HDFS had posted a £99m operating loss and Harley as a whole copped a net loss of £46m. It nevertheless managed to make and ship 223,023 motorcycles, 162,385 of them destined for domestic consumption, during 2009. A considerable quantity were still gathering warehouse or showroom dust in 2010, when shipments were slashed to soak up inventory backlog. Profligate growth strategies were abandoned in short order, to focus on survival. The Buell sub-brand was sentenced to death and MV Agusta sold back to its erstwhile Italian owner for a pittance (exactly €1). Production and shipments were cut, workers laid off or made redundant, and factories shuttered. Matt Levatich, who had joined Harley-Davidson in 1994 and briefly acted as managing director of MV Agusta after its foolhardy acquisition in 2008, was elevated to chief operating officer, to became Wandell’s principal hatchetman. In retrospect, Levatich and Wandell did a pretty good job of reviving Harley’s fortunes. By April 2014, its share price had

International Share Prices USA – INFLATION OUTPACES ESTIMATES News that US consumer price inflation had defied expectations of a fall and instead risen to an annualised 9.1% in June, from 8.6% in May, was hardly going to calm investment prospects. American energy prices had also climbed to a new high of 41.6% up over the past 12 months too. Wall Street market indices all finished the week in negative territory. The blue-chip S&P 500 index and S&P’s MidCap 400 respectively closed 0.9% and 0.7% in arrears. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was a more marginal 0.2% down. Harley-Davidson share movements saw Monday’s 1.8% loss replaced by a 1.4% gain on Tuesday. Then retreats of 0.2% on Wednesday and 2.6% on Thursday were followed by Friday’s 3.7% rise. This still left Harley with only a very marginal

AUGUST 2022

advance and analysts are predicting imminent pain from underperforming half-year results due for release shortly.

EUROPE – DOLLAR PARITY Concerns over global economic health have been strengthening the US dollar and the euro has now sunk in value to virtual parity. This will dramatically raise oil and gas costs for countries forced into greater dependence on imports from the US by their supply stand-off versus Russia. European equity traders ran for cover and eurozone market indices dropped. Frankfurt’s Xetra Dax index closed 1.2% down and the Borsa Italiana MIB in Milan took a harsher 3.9% dive. All four biker-related listings were negative – KTM parent Pierer losing ground for a sixth consecutive week.

JAPAN – RISING SUN, FALLING YEN The assassination of former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe caused remarkably little angst among traders on the Tokyo stock exchange. Its Nikkei 225 index put on 1% while the rest of the nation mourned. Burgeoning US currency strength is generating raw nerves, though – the yen having just hit a 24year low against the dollar.

INDIA – THE PRICE AIN’T RIGHT Mumbai’s BSE Sensex 30 stock index fell by 1.3%, breaking a four-week run of gains. Main driver was apparently the fear of aggressive interest rate hikes by central banks globally, forcing up the cost of overseas borrowing. However, ongoing domestic retail motorcycle sales growth ensured that bike producer share

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Contact 01237 422660 or adsales@dealernews.co.uk staged an impressive recovery to a high of $72.68. Cheaper entrylevel Street 750 models were launched that year, targeting younger customers to replace ageing-out Hog traditionalists. And the radical Harley-Davidson LiveWire electric motorcycle prototype made its debut. Shipments peaked at 270,726. Levatich was promoted to replace Wandell in 2015, assuming the three-moniker mantle of president, chairman and chief executive. The die was cast, though, and he oversaw an uninterrupted downhill trajectory. The Street initiative was a disappointment, US dealer discounting became rife to clear unsold stock and shipments steadily declined year-on-year. By the end of 2019, annual production was down to 213,939 bikes, retail sales were shrinking faster and Levatich’s scalp was on the line. A pack of activist investors

were plotting his demise. They succeeded. He reluctantly resigned in February 2020, to be replaced by a non-executive director as interim chairman. Like the Spanish Inquisition, nobody had expected either a global pandemic or Jochen Zietz. The former disrupted production, distribution and sales – knocking Harley’s share price down to a painful low of $15.04 in March 2020. The latter, once confirmed as Harley supremo, dismissed serried ranks of senior, middleranking and junior managers. He then introduced sweeping reforms to make HarleyDavidson into “the world’s most desirable motorcycle brand”. These certainly didn’t come to fruition in the first year of Zietz boardroom hegemony. Deftly avoiding blame for LiveWire’s commercial failure, a project which he

A snapshot of share performance across key manufacturers and markets prices were generally unsullied. The only loser was market leader Hero MotoCorp, which had just announced yet another set of across-the-board price rises to counter inflation – a move that was clearly unpopular among investors.

CHINA – NUMBERS CRUNCH Chinese government statisticians revealed that a strictly applied lockdown policy had resulted in sharp contraction for China’s economy during Q2. Although overall growth was up by 0.4%, way below previous official forecasts, GDP in the quarter fell by 2.6%. That news spannered six consecutive weeks of rising indices. Shanghai’s SSE Composite plunged 3.8% and the CSI 300 suffered a bigger 4.1% dive. Only three of the eleven listed Chinese motorcycle manufacturers remained in positive territory.

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had championed prior to mass production and pathetic sales in late 2019, Zietz claimed all the plaudits for Harley’s Pan America 1250 entry into the adventure market – a swansong legacy that should have been rightfully attributed to his predecessor Matt Levatich, under whose aegis it had been developed. He even shrugged off responsibility for the worst set of full-year financial results since those dire days of 2009, with a litany of excuses. For the record, In 2020, Harley-Davidson wholesale bike shipments plunged by 32.1% to just 145,246. Worldwide retail sales were 17.4% down to 180,248. Revenue sank by 24.4% and the company was hammered by an operating loss on motorcycles and related products of £136.6m. Operating profit of £143.7m from the HDFS funding arm was a saving grace, boosted

Price

Week Month

USA (dollar) Harley-Davidson Polaris Industries Textron Ideanomics (Energica)

32.57 107.86 60.15 0.71

+0.4% -3.7% -1.5% -2.7%

+5.8% +10.6% +2.3% +6.0%

Europe (euro) BMW Volkswagen Pierer Mobility Piaggio Group

75.12 184.40 62.00 2.29

-1.2% -2.3% -1.0% -1.3%

-3.2% +1.5% -8% -1.3%

India (rupee) Hero MotoCorp Bajaj Auto TVS Motor Eicher Motors Mahindra

2800.05 3913.35 871.65 3034.00 1172.50

-1.7% +2.3% +3.9% +3.5% +3.4%

+13.5% +7.7% +23.8% +16.5% +17.5%

Share performance as of 15 July 2022

by lavish decreases in provision for bad debts. But the combined operating profit figure was peanuts, 98.3% down to a mere £7.1m. Net profit was almost non-existent, plummeting by 99.7% to under a million quid in loose change. To be fair, Harley’s 2021 full-year results were a vast improvement. However, firstquarter data this year was less enthralling, as electronic component shortages queered the production pitch and operating profit fell by 16.4%. Analyst estimates suggest there will be no relief from semiconductor traumas and the added burden of price inflation in half-year numbers, which you should be able to peruse in next month’s BDN. And, as far as I’m concerned, the jury is still out on Zietz. Harley’s share price, by the way, is currently struggling to stay above the 30-buck mark. 

Price Japan (yen) Honda Yamaha Suzuki Kawasaki

+3.8% -1.9% +2.1% -1.6%

+3.4% -3.8% +7.0% -11.4%

16.00 6.66 2.36 10.15 5.00 4.44 8.12 16.07 115.10 17.28

-1.8% +11.4% +0.9% -7.1% -6.5% -3.7% -0.9% -3.6% -7.5% +15.7%

-20.6% +7.8% +8.8% -7.8% -4.6% -10.7% -7.5% -6.6% -10.6% +16.3%

China (HK dollar) Jianshe 5.30

-1.3%

+1.5%

China (yuan) Qianjiang Zongshen Sundiro CETC (Jialing) Lifan Loncin Linhai Guangzhou Auto CFMoto Xinri E-Vehicle

3373 2458 4329 2451

Week Month

AUGUST 2022 55

On the Money

Market analysis with financial editor Roger Willis

New registrations

UK registrations New scooter and motorcycle registrations for June 2022 2022 / 2021 Registrations by style MOPEDS

Jun 2022

Year to date Jun 2021

Change

Jun 2022

Jun 2021

Jun 2022 registrations

Highest registering model by style

% Change

Moped Naked

-24.7%

324

309

4.9%

Yamasaki F31-50

Moped Other

109

67.7%

528

348

51.7%

Sur-Ron Light Bee

Lexmoto Echo Plus 50

212

Moped Scooters

468

633

-26.1%

2800

2552

9.7%

TOTAL MOPEDS

635

775

-18.1%

3652

3209

13.8%

MOTORCYCLES 2673

2999

-10.9%

12163

10558

15.2%

BMW R1250GS Adventure

Competition

Adventure

425

346

22.8%

3309

2827

17.0%

Aprilia RX125

Custom

826

1124

-26.5%

4322

3810

13.4%

Royal Enfield Meteor 350

143

Modern Classic

1410

1429

-1.3%

6452

5530

16.7%

Royal Enfield Classic 350

143

Naked

2741

3102

-11.6%

12461

12691

-1.8%

Triumph Trident

225

Road Sport

1035

1191

-13.1%

5278

4271

23.6%

Suzuki GSXS1000GT

147

Scooter

2367

3449

-31.4%

14206

13311

6.7%

Yamaha NMAX 125

255

Touring

300

329

-8.8%

1628

1355

20.1%

Honda NT1100

100.0%

-13.5%

11801

13981

-15.6%

59864

54405

10.0%

Unspecified TOTAL MOTORCYCLES TRICYCLES Other

-21.4%

144

232

-37.9%

BRP Can-Am Ryker 900 ACE

Scooter

-15.7%

303

259

17.0%

Piaggio MP3 300 Sport

TOTAL TRICYCLES

107

-18.7%

447

491

-9.0%

12523

14863

-15.7%

63963

58105

10.1%

TOTAL REGISTRATIONS

2022 / 2021 Registrations by Engine Band (inc Electric) ENGINE BAND

Jun 2022

0 - 50cc 51 - 125cc

Jun 2021

Year to Date

% Change

Jun 2022

Jun 2021

Highest registering ICE model by capacity

% Change

Jun 2022 registrations

918

1091

-15.9%

5596

4640

20.6%

Lexmoto Echo Plus 50

3905

5017

-22.2%

20420

19668

3.8%

Yamaha NMAX 125

255

126 - 650cc

2513

2542

-1.1%

13318

10977

21.3%

Honda CRF300L

194

651 - 1000cc

2781

3221

-13.7%

13362

11926

12.0%

Triumph Trident

225

over 1000cc

2406

2992

-19.6%

11267

10894

3.4%

BMW R1250GS Adventure

212

12523

14863

-15.7%

63963

58105

10.1%

TOTAL REGISTRATIONS

Registration statistics supplied by the MCIA; tel 02476 408000; www.mcia.co.uk

International registrations TOP 20 BRAND REGISTRATIONS BMW Yamaha Kawasaki Honda KTM Suzuki Harley-Davidson Triumph Piaggio Ducati Royal Enfield Moto Guzzi Husqvarna Aprilia Indian Benelli Zero Beta GasGas Kymco

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2020 1836 1842 1210 1111 1162 1022 643 439 586 16 36 137 49 57 80 51 121

2074 2012 1808 904 1287 1148 1055 669 594 510 39 31 161 51 80 39 80 55 5 82

2294 2157 1916 1275 1256 1069 988 598 671 539 138 127 221 74 110 45 96 60 5 83

2534 2472 2196 1228 1173 993 888 610 577 446 178 161 216 65 126 121 112 69 7 57

2386 2307 2049 1683 1316 907 831 779 627 553 275 224 212 162 151 127 114 92 58 55

AUGUST 2022

SALES BY SECTOR

NEW MOTORCYCLE LICENCES 35000

Spo

rsp

30000

Other

25000

Naked

ort

20000 15000

Custom

10000 5000

r Tou

Scooter

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

MOTORCYCLE PARC n/a 18-25 BY OWNERS AGE

All Road

>65

2020

2021

26-35

TOTAL REGISTRATIONS 70000

36-45

60000 50000

56-65

40000 30000

46-55

20000 10000 0 2016

2017

Motorcycles

2018

2019

Snorfietsen*

2020

Bromfietsen*

2021

www.britishdealernews.co.uk

June 2022 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

June 2021

Honda. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2200 (-17%) Triumph . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1514 (+18%) Yamaha. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1234 (-35%) BMW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1018 (-30%) Royal Enfield . . . . . . . . . . 584 (+15%) Lexmoto. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 570 (-9%) KTM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 487 (-17%) Suzuki. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 464 (+4%) Kawasaki . . . . . . . . . . . . . 439 (-50%) Piaggio. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 351 (n/a)

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

Honda Yamaha BMW Triumph Kawasaki Lexmoto KTM Ducati Royal Enfield Suzuki

2661 1901 1464 1278 871 629 590 514 508 445

Rolling YearComparison Comparison Rolling Year 18000 16000 14000

MotoRate gives your customers confidence in the buying process with an APR that’s personalised to their credit rating.

12000 10000 8000 6000

2020/21

4000

2021/22

2000

Jun

r Ma y

Ma r

Feb

Oc t No v De c Jan

g Sep

Jul

0 Jun

Helping you deliver an unbeatable customer experience.

For registration statistics for alternative power two-wheelers, see page 20

Registration statistics supplied by the MCIA; tel 02476 408000; www.mcia.co.uk

Find out more visit

dealer.motonovofinance.com/ motorate

2021 motorcycle registrations data from the Netherlands Mixed results for Dutch sales DUTCH MOTORCYCLE INDUSTRY association RAI Vereniging collates and publishes the country’s annual registrations figures and related statistics. Its most recent data, for the 2021, shows that motorcycle registrations rose 5.1% to 15,301 for the 12 months, but mopeds didn’t fare so well. *The Netherlands has two moped categories – “bromfietsen” can do 45km/h and use the roads, but “snorfietsen” are lower performance models limited to a maximum of 25km/h that can be ridden on cycle paths and currently don’t require the rider to wear a helmet (although this will change in January 2023).

Registrations for the two categories fell 12.6% to 73,973. BMW and Yamaha vie for top honours most years, with the German brand generally edging it to take the honours as the country’s most popular brand. Further down the rankings Triumph, Royal Enfield, Aprilia and GasGas are brands in the ascendency. As well as the usual annual registrations by brand and style, the RAI also collects information on owners’ ages, which show that the majority of motorcycles are in the possession of 46-65 year-olds, echoing a similar bias towards the middle aged as found in the UK.

www.britishdealernews.co.uk

AUGUST 2022 57

New registrations

Top Ten Manufacturers

New registrations

Registrations retreat again in June BDN analysis of the MCIA June 2022 registration statistics

Poor supply hinders June trading Data published by the Motorcycle Industry Association (MCIA) showed that registrations in June declined by 15.7% compared to last year THIS IS THE SECOND consecutive month where registrations have fallen short of 2021. That said, compared to last year, registrations have grown by 10.2% in the first half of 2022, so the outlook remains positive. Feedback from dealers suggests that as in previous months, demand in June held up well but sales conversion was hindered by poor supply. Some dealers are not even able to take orders or deposits on certain models and are waiting for

AUGUST 2022

2023 models to be announced. Despite the ongoing challenges, the market remained fairly strong with the cost-of-living crisis not having too much of an impact. However, there is concern that this could be felt more during Q4 when energy prices are due to increase further and combined with stock shortages, it could be a tough quarter. Interestingly, some dealers have seen an uptick in demand for commuter machines recently as a cheaper alternative to driving to work, so this end of the market could benefit during a difficult financial period. Paul McDonald Leisure Vehicles Editor

WITH NEW BIKE REGISTRATIONS now firmly negative for a second successive month, the rate of attrition is also tracking an increasingly severe cost-of-living crisis and its deleterious effect on consumer demand. BDN financial editor Roger Willis reports. According to MCIA statistics for June, overall headcount suffered a 15.7% decline to 12,523. Motorcycles fell by 10.4% to 9434. Scooters were a more painful 31.4% down to 2367. Mopeds sank by 18.1% to 635 and trikes lost 18.7% at just 87. The up-to-125cc mobility sector was hardest hit by a 21% plunge to 4823 machines. Yamaha did best out of the scooter slump, mainly encapsulated within that sector. Some 255 samples of its delivery fleet-friendly NMAX 125 claimed highest-registered status, both style and capacity-wise. Middleweight 126-650cc products, crossing over from mobility to entry-level enthusiast

appeal, almost broke even on a loss of only 1.1% to 2513 units. In an inevitably mixed bag, Honda’s CRF300L trail bike technically topped registrations on 194. But a combined tally of 286 value-for-money Royal Enfield Meteor and Classic 350 models actually led the field. The 651-1000cc range was 13.7% down to 2781. Triumph’s 660 Trident bargain ruled that particular roost, thanks to 225 registrations. Over1000cc stuff dived by 19.6% to 2406 bikes plated. However, of these, 8.8% were premium-priced (and highest-registered) BMW R1250GS Adventure steeds, so at least the odd BMW dealer must have been among gesturally happier bunnies. Most major brands were on the back foot year-on-year, though, some of them to grievous degrees. Logistics issues and resultant inadequate model mixes could have been a contributory factor, besides increasing customer reluctance to open wallets.

www.britishdealernews.co.uk

BDN

to 1514. Royal Enfield, harnessing crucial budget prices to attractive products, added 15% to 584. Suzuki managed a smaller grin with a 4.3% increase to 464. More than 30% of that tally comprised the brand’s new GSX-S1000GT, presumably in plentiful supply at an acceptable price tag. For the six months of 2022 to date, total registrations are now 10.1% up to 63,963. In May, YTD stood at a 19% advance. And in April, YTD was 32.4% ahead. A sliding scale is evident, and excuses for optimism lacking in the current economic climate.

Disappointing month for PTW sales

A “

lthough June looks to have been a difficult month for motorcycle sales as a whole, the year-to-date figures are still holding up well against the previous year even with supply shortages,” said Symon Cook, head of NMDA, commenting on the latest MCIA registration figures. “The latest registration figures for June 2022 display broad decline across bike categories in comparison to June 2021. Nevertheless, there were rises in the ‘other’ mopeds (67.7%) and ‘competition’ motorcycles (22.8%) sectors. “It is pleasing to see year-todate figures rising for mopeds from 3209 units in 2021 to 3652 in 2022 (an increase of 13.8%) and for motorcycles from 54,405 units to 59,864 (a rise of 10%). In addition, engine sizes of 126650cc experienced an impressive increase of 21.3% year-to-date, from 10,977 units to 13,318. “As petrol prices increase, environmental concerns rise,

and demand for home delivery shoots up, electric powered two wheeler registrations continue to accelerate in all power bands bar 1-4kW and 15-35kW. “Honda remains the highest registering bike brand for June with 2200 units, Triumph followed with 1514 new bikes hitting the road, and Yamaha was in third position with 1234 units.” Cook added: "As with the car and van markets, the motorcycle and scooter market is showing lower registrations, which can be attributed to a combination of the cost-of-living crisis and ongoing issues within the supply chain. Demand has dropped in comparison to June last year, however franchised dealers remain optimistic as we enter the tail end of summer, a popular time for seasonal riders.”

New registrations

The losers included BMW, which copped a 30.5% fall to 1018 units. Yamaha plummeted even further, 35.1% down to 1234. Ducati, which didn’t actually achieve a top-ten chart rating, was at least 32% in arrears to fewer than 350 bikes. Kawasaki took the most brutal spanking, 49.6% down to 439. Honda numbers deteriorated by 17.3% to 2200. Lexmoto lost a more modest 9.4% to 570. And KTM dropped by 17.5% to 487. There were a few lucky winners too. June is the final month of Triumph’s financial year, and its dealers are exhorted to jump through hoops accordingly. They did, pushing registrations 18.5% up

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E: sales@wmsgroup.co.uk

W: wmsgroup.co.uk AUGUST 2022 59 11/04/2022 16:11:25

The Fleet Auction Group

Used bike data

Professional Vehicle Auctions For Professional Vehicle Buyers

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TRADE ONLY

Motorcycle Auctions Every 3rd Thursday of every month @11.00am Entries invited

Used bike data What’s hot and what’s not in the used-motorcycle world

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fleetauctiongroup.com

ONLY TWO SPORTS BIKES MAKE THE TOP 30

e are now nicely into the summer and used bikes on Auto Trader are moving on very quickly. This month we look at the fastestselling used bikes between 1 April to 12 July with a capacity above 125cc, based on the median days on site. We have a wide variety of bike styles, including adventure, cruiser, naked and some off-road, making up the top 30, which is headed up by the ever-popular Triumph Tiger 900, currently taking just seven days to sell on average. Sports bikes are represented just twice – by the middleweight Honda CB650R and Ducati Panigale V2. Market Insight is a tool available to all trade customers through our Dealer Portal, and

if we look at the data for the last four weeks (14 June to 11 July), we can see that demand for bikes is up 7% in the same period versus the prior year. In

Interest in electric bikes, is up 41%, but the number of adverts has dropped by 6%

to the significant increase in demand resulting in a lot of purchases! Analysing pricing data over the same period shows the average used bike to be priced 4% higher than 12 months ago. PAUL EDMONDSON Product lead, Auto Trader Bikes

comparison, the number of used bike adverts listed is up by 5%. It’s also interesting to look at the market for electric bikes, where interest is up 41%, and the number of adverts has dropped by 6%. Presumably, this is due

The fastest selling bikes on Auto Trader

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

Average days advertised before sale

Triumph Tiger 900______________ 7 Honda NC700________________ 10 Kawasaki Ninja 1000SX_________ 10 Kawasaki Z800_______________ 11 Suzuki Intruder 1800_________ 11.5 Triumph America______________ 12 Triumph Thunderbird 1600______ 12 Honda NT650V Deauville______ 12.5 Indian Scout Bobber____________ 13 Yamaha XV535_______________ 13

11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20.

Honda CBR650R____________ 13.5 Suzuki Bandit 600_____________ 14 Ducati Panigale V2___________ 14.5 Husqvarna 701_______________ 15 Triumph Trident_____________ 15.5 Yamaha MT-07_____________ 15.5 Suzuki Burgman 650___________ 16 Honda CRF250L_______________ 16 Honda CB650R_____________ 16.5 Honda CMX500 Rebel__________ 17

21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30.

Yamaha XVS650_______________ 17 Honda CB650________________ 17 Honda CMX1100 Rebel_________ 17 Suzuki Intruder 800____________ 18 Suzuki Gladius 650____________ 18 KTM EXC____________________ 18 BMW F900XR________________ 18 Ducati Streetfighter V4S_________ 18 Royal Enfield Himalayan_________ 18 Honda VFR800X Crossrunner_____ 19

PRE-OWNED PREMIUM PRICES SALES AND DEMAND REMAIN buoyant across the board for ‘clean’ motorcycles and scooters according to dealers, with retro style machines proving particularly popular. Stock availability remains challenging. Whilst there is stock available, dealers report needing to be very proactive and to pay premium prices in order to secure units. There has been continuous pressure on dealers to source more used stock this season, to make up for the shortfall in availability of new

AUGUST 2022

There has been continuous pressure on dealers to source more used stock this season, to make up for the shortfall in new machines

machines and to avoid having empty spaces in expensive showrooms.

OUTLOOK A glorious summer and recordbreaking temperatures means riding conditions have been at their best, encouraging bikers out onto the roads and whetting the appetites for new metal. Taking this into account, and with stock at a premium still, Glass’s expects market prices to remain strong across all segments in the coming weeks.

PAUL McDONALD Leisure vehicle editor, Glass’s

www.britishdealernews.co.uk

Used bike data

SUMMER SPORTS BIKE SURGE IN THE RECORD-BREAKING HEAT OF JULY, thoughts turned to hot sticky tarmac and stickier tyres, so sports bikes found favour among our website bike review readership and in our bikes for sale, with that category the second most popular on the site behind naked bikes. Specifically, the most popular sports bike reviews are the Honda Fireblade SP, the Aprilia RS660 and the new Norton V4SV. Within the naked sector, the mid-range bikes ruled the roost at the expense of hypernaked over-1000cc machines. Triumph’s Trident 660 proved the most

popular, with KTM’s 390 Duke and the Ducati Monster coming second and third, respectively. In adventure bikes, Honda’s ever-popular NC750X is top in both reviews and bikes for sale. The Ducati Multistrada V4S and Yamaha Ténéré 700 World Raid make up the most popular reviews, while in bikes for sale, the Honda NC750 sits ahe ad of the CB500X and the Yamaha R1. GARETH EVANS Online editor, MCN

Bikes for Sale

Trail

Retro

Classic

Supersport

Sport/Tour

Scooter

Naked

Custom

Adventure

1. Honda NC750X 2. Honda CB500X 3. Yamaha R1 4. Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade 5. Kawasaki Z900RS 6. Honda GL1800 Goldwing 7. BMW S1000RR 8. Honda VFR800 9. Harley-Davidson Fat Boy 10. Yamaha R6

Touring

Percentage of views by type