British Dealer News August 2023

WE DID IT AGAIN IN 2022 THANKS TO YOU!

all very proud of.

Our customers voted First Response Finance as the ‘Best Car Finance Provider’ in the Consumer Credit Awards 2022 - for the second consecutive year. In addition to that, we also won the prestigious ‘Firm of the Year’ award!

The second recognition came from our dealer partners, who voted us ‘Finance Provider of the Year (Sub-Prime)’ in the Car Dealer Power Awards. We are honoured to have won this award 8 times!

Vans, cars, motorbikes - it doesn't matter what type of vehicle we’re financing, our award-winning service remains the same.

If you want to set up an account with us, email us at marketing@frfl.co.uk

HEAD OF CONTENT

Andy Mayo: editorial@dealernews.co.uk

FINANCIAL EDITOR

Roger Willis: editorial@dealernews.co.uk

PRODUCTS EDITOR/DESIGNER

Colin Williams: design@dealernews.co.uk

COMMERCIAL CONTENT MANAGER

Maurice Knuckey: creative@dealernews.co.uk

CONTRIBUTORS

Roger Willis; Dan Sager; Alan Dowds; Rick Kemp; Adam Bernstein; Brian Crichton

ACCOUNTS MANAGER

Mark Mayo: accounts@dealernews.co.uk

ADVERTISING

Alison Payne: tel 07595 219093

Paul Baggott: tel 07831 863837 adsales@dealernews.co.uk

CIRCULATION circulation@dealernews.co.uk

TAIWAN AGENCY

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

PUBLISHER

Colin Mayo: editorial@dealernews.co.uk

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

Six months of slim sales

fter what can only be described as a difficult and often disappointing first half of the year, total registrations were 2.6% down at 62,277 units. The market is essentially static. But motorcycles, the meat and two veg of dealer prosperity, managed a narrow 2.9% rise at 47,004, including a miniscule snack of electric steeds. Best of that was to be found in the 5011000cc spectrum, which climbed by 17.3% to 19,553. Above, 1000cc-plus machines finished 1.2% in arrears on 11,129. Below, 126-500cc tackle, which was also inevitably polluted with some scooters, declined by 7.2% to 9292.

The mobility sector’s bread and butter, combining up-to-125cc ICE and up-to-11kW electric products, collectively sank by 13.9% to 22,163. And just to stir in some extra confusion, scooters (excluding moped scooters) were 13.2% down to 12,335.

As you might note from our “numbers crunch”, some brands have prospered. However, market

leaders Honda and Yamaha are not really among them. KTM recovered well from a low base post-pandemic and Triumph’s made a more modest but still satisfactory advance.

However, BMW Motorrad stood out, and also enjoyed the benefit of premium pricing.

UK marketing and PR manager Scott Grimsdall avoided specific predictions, saying: “It’s certainly tough at the moment. But we’re doing alright.”

The same cannot be said for prospects in general. The Bank of England was lamentably slow to respond when inflation started to spiral upwards, engendering the cost-of-living crisis. And although its base interest rate has now risen from almost nothing 18 months ago to 5%, this key anti-inflationary measure has been dubbed “too little, too late” by many economists.

Much of the opposition is rolling on the basis of rapaciously budget-conscious alternatives. BMW would theoretically be on course to hit its German supremo Markus Schramm’s 10,000-unit annual aspiration for the British Isles if the second half of this year didn’t look so grim. Speaking to BDN recently, BMW Motorrad

Against an increasingly puerile economic and political climate, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt have sworn faithfully to halve inflation before the year-end. But how they intend to achieve this objective, without undermining growth and causing a recession, is as much a mystery to them as it is to us. Their favoured pocket weapon of choice, blocking wage rises for already under-paid staff in the public

Motorcycles, the meat and two veg of dealer prosperity, managed a narrow rise

This summer take flexibility to the next level.

sector, won’t work. It’ll just force more people into food banks to feed their children (and discourage them from venturing into dealer showrooms).

Headline annualised CPI inflation has ameliorated to 8.7% at the time of writing. But that’s nevertheless more than four times the BoE’s 2% target comfort zone. A BoE base rate of 6.5% is in the offing for this autumn, and may reach 7%, according to some analysts. The immediately deleterious effect is hammering fixed-rate domestic mortgages due for renewal with excruciating repayment burdens for householders – yet another obstacle to making discretionary purchases in motorcycling’s orbit.

Another knock-on is the mushrooming cost of retail consumer credit. Take a glance through some of the figures now on offer in our trading environment, for regular HP and PCP borrowing. The Honda Financial Services in-house funding arm is currently flagging 8.9% APR. Kawasaki’s K-Options Finance backed by Black Horse has climbed to 9.9% APR. Yamaha Motor Finance from Santander now tops the lot, reaching 10.9% APR for mainstream purchases and 12.9% for junior products. Don’t for one minute assume these rates are set in stone. When the BoE base rate goes up, margins have to be maintained and they will follow suit, savaging affordability further.

To conclude on a meteorological metaphor, stealing William Shakespeare’s immortal prose attributed to the unfortunate King Richard III: “Now is the winter of our discontent”. It’s just come a bit early.

HALF-YEARLY NUMBERS CRUNCH

THESE “MAGNIFICENT SEVEN” TOTALS (IF we forgive Kawasaki for being awkward) are extracted from MCIA top-ten brand charts destined for press consumption, whereby each featured manufacturer appeared in every chart for the full six months to June 2023. Percentage movements are calculated for those which also appeared in every chart for the six months to June 2022.

Kawasaki failed to make the grade in February 2022 and therefore lacks a reliable movement indicator. Suffice to say its recent full six-monthly performance roughly matched the same level as last year, in both cases due to intermittent supply-chain grief appertaining to the European market –freely admitted as a problem by the parent company in Japan – rather than purely weak demand.

In contrast, leading Chinese flag carrier Lexmoto registered 3038 units spread across every month of the relevant period in 2022 but dropped off this year’s radar briefly in March and is therefore absent. However, Lexmoto’s tally for the remaining five months amounted to just 1361 units. So sales have approximately halved. And severe inventory sourcing difficulties from factories in China aren’t exactly a trade secret.

Despite well-evidenced recovery driven by a bevy of new models, Suzuki is still missing too. The brand was a no-show in January and February last year, so we were only able to count 1590 units in the subsequent four months, and disappeared again from the MCIA chart in February 2023. However, a total of 2703 units spanning five months was very promising, and easily beat Royal Enfield’s weakening six-monthly figures. The plight of Royal Enfield, sole significant loser overall, is addressed elsewhere in this issue of BDN.

Minister meets united bike lobby

WITH LESS THAN 18 MONTHS left of the current government, there’s perhaps the faint hint of a band playing Nearer my god to thee on the decks of a sinking ocean liner. So praise to the UK motorcycle industry and rider’s rights groups for fighting the current regime while they can.

21 June saw the Motorcycle Action Group (MAG), the Motorcycle Industry Association (MCIA) and the National Motorcyclist’s Council (NMC) assemble for a meeting of the Motorcycle Sector Ministerial Roundtable at the Department for Transport in London. The central part of the agenda covered how the government’s decarbonisation strategy will affect motorcycling, and the industry delivered a united message to the DfT decarbonisation minister Jesse Norman. That message covered several areas but was broadly sceptical. MAG is unconvinced by the entire premise, questioning the cost-benefit analysis of ‘net zero’ and the phase-out of liquid fuels altogether. The MCIA and NMC are more measured, accepting

the need for motorcycling to play a part in a ‘zero-carbon’ future while questioning the current ‘battery-first’ approach and the time scale. The meeting also saw several leading bike manufacturers’ representatives warn the minister that current proposals risk so-called ‘market withdrawal’. Bluntly, suppose the UK goes it alone, implementing a cliff-edge end to petrol-powered bikes before the EU and other countries and before commercial alternatives are available. In that case, big bike firms will have to pull out of the UK. The British market simply isn’t big enough to justify a bespoke UK-only model range of novel batterypowered, high-output, long-range leisure motorcycles – even if such a range was possible.

The MCIA spelt out the key considerations it deems essential to avoid harm to the sector. Firstly, it says manufacturers recognised their economic and job creation contributions while pointing out their minimal impact on total UK domestic transport emissions (just 0.4% of the total). The phase-out dates for the industry should be

proportionate to its emissions, miles travelled, and the urban mobility benefits it provides.

Secondly, the MCIA states that bikes are complex vehicles with unique challenges that require a bespoke approach, similar to aviation and heavy goods vehicles (HGVs). Transitioning to zero emissions presents numerous challenges that need to be addressed comprehensively.

The MCIA’s next concern is over cost and commercial viability. Largecapacity electric-powered twowheelers (ePTWs) face a significant price point hurdle due to supply chain development, making them commercially unviable for both manufacturers and consumers. And the MCIA suggests all technologies, including electric, should be equally supported, as electric solutions have proven effective for lower-powered L-category vehicles but not for highpowered ones.

That, in turn, leads to the next point: the need for a technologyneutral approach that considers clean synthetic fuels alongside battery technology and alternative fuels.

Finally, the MCIA outlines

the potential market impacts: current government proposals risk major manufacturers reassessing their position in the UK market, particularly if UK phase-out dates don’t align with international manufacturing and regulation developments. Imposing separate regulations could diminish the attractiveness of the UK market due to its smaller size, leading to the prioritisation of larger markets. The industry also requires guarantees from the government on infrastructure and the implementation of policies.

Colin Brown of MAG said, “There was little change from the major manufacturers, who all state that battery electric cannot be the only answer. Recent events in the EU that look set to create a window for synthetic fuels in internal combustion engines are a sensible compromise.

“I was a little disappointed, however, that the manufacturers seem less awake to the fact that the UK’s ZEV mandate for cars and vans has already cut the legs out from beneath any pathway to this technology in the UK. We

Husqvarna 120th birthday party at Fowlers

This year marks several notable anniversaries: BMW is 100, Harley-Davidson hits 120, and Norton celebrates 125 years. Husqvarna Motorcycles is also celebrating, as 2023 marks the Swedish brand’s 120th year, with the firm building its first bikes in 1903 after more than 200 years as an arms maker.

As one of Husqvarna’s biggest UK dealers, Fowlers of Bristol hosted a party to celebrate the anniversary on 15 July at its Bath Road showroom. Guests, included adventurer Lyndon Poskitt, who marked the event with a Q&A session and stories of Dakar racing and circling the globe.

There was also a programme of guided test rides and displays of the firm’s full range of street bikes, including the new 901 Expedition, Vitpilen, Svartpilen, Enduro and Supermoto models.

Despite the weather throwing everything possible at customers, the Husqvarna demo fleet just about kept up with demand

need not just to secure the change for motorcycles but to revoke the already fixed UK pathway for cars and vans. Without that win in the car and van sector, the commercial viability of a supply network of liquid fuels evaporates. Motorcyclists alone will not be a big enough market to sustain commercial viability.

“Overall, we have made a couple of steps further in our efforts to reverse this policy. The minister has suggested that the conclusion of the consultation will be further delayed into the autumn, meaning that our window of opportunity remains open. We are far from finished and have many more angles to discuss. The fight is not over.”

However, NMC executive director Craig Carey-Clinch was more hopeful about the minister’s reaction. “This landmark event illustrated the impact that the motorcycle lobby as a whole can make when it acts together. This session was a genuine first in terms of the strength of the argument put forward by riders and industry in

what is the key issue of our times. The minister was in listening mode and seemed willing to discuss further the points that were made in the meeting. But with no date yet announced for the government’s policy announcement on motorcycle decarbonisation, there is still much to do to make sure that our messages are fully taken on board. As a result, the willingness of Mr Norman to keep the dialogue open on areas such as eFuels is very welcome.”

MCIA chief executive Tony Campbell commented: “We were grateful for the recognition our sector received for its important role in shaping the future of transportation. The minister showed genuine interest in our concerns and actively participated in the discussion. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with officials to ensure the right decisions are made on phaseout and that the government fully harnesses the potential of our vehicles for the benefit of everyone.”

Suzuki extends finance deals

Ducati doubles up in Scotland

Bologna bike builder

Ducati has added another dealership in Scotland, with a new Ducati Dundee outlet opening on 15 July. The new store, part of the Ducati Manchester Group, partners the existing Ducati Glasgow store and gives the brand an outlet on the country’s east coast.

The firm marked the event with a week of celebrations, dubbed Scottish Ducati Week, which kicked off on 14 July with a host of VIP guests and activities. Legendary names like Carl Fogarty and Ruben Xaus were joined by adventurer Charley Boorman, boxer Carl Froch and Coronation Street actor Jimmi Harkishin – all enthusiasts of the Ducati brand. They met fans at an exclusive Ducati Official Club GB event featuring the official MotoGP MotoTrainer track simulator

before the main Dundee opening events on Saturday, 15 July. Next day the action moved to the Knockhill racing circuit in Fife for demo rides on the 2023 model range, including e-bikes, adventure riding experiences, stunt shows, pillion rides, Lamborghini Edinburgh on track, MotoTrainer Experience, kids’ rides and activities, a parade lap for all Ducatisti, and competitions, along with food and refreshments.

There were also road bike riding sessions and expert on-track guidance from TT and Northwest 200 legend Ian Simpson, ex-World Supersport star Iain MacPherson and Oxford Products Racing Ducati British Superbike racer Christian Iddon. Finally, the event moved over to Edinburgh for an evening of food and entertainment with Carl Fogarty at Carlowrie Castle.

Speaking in advance of the

event, Fabrizio Cazzoli, MD at Ducati UK, said, “Ducati UK is delighted to see the expansion of Ducati in Scotland, as this is an important market for us. To be able to announce the event, which is being organised by our newest dealer, Ducati Dundee, is exciting. I am looking forward to seeing the new store and also being able to meet and talk to our Scottish customers.”

Chris Booth, owner of DMG said, “Since acquiring Ducati Glasgow in 2021, it has been apparent Scotland required a second store to serve the east of the country and provide the outstanding customer service and care we pride ourselves on. We quickly decided to invest in a second store and share our passion for Ducati to a wider audience in Scotland to make Ducati more accessible. I’m extremely proud of the team for creating such a fantastic store.”

SUZUKI’S HAVING NO problems selling its criticallyacclaimed 800cc twin-cylinder models – both the GSX-8S and V-Strom 800 are doing well. Now the firm is pushing hard to provide tempting finance packages on the rest of its range. First up is the extension of the “2-3-4” programme, which allows customers to pick a PCP or HP deal over two, three or four years with a £500 minimum deposit. That scheme covers the GSX-S1000, GSX-S1000GT, GSX-S1000GT+, Hayabusa and V-Strom 1050/DE models, as well as the V-Strom and SV 650 models. The 650s also get an extra £500 bonus reduction after taking a test ride.

Suzuki GB’s head of motorcycles, Jonathan Martin, said: “We know everyone has different needs and requirements when it comes to buying a new bike, and so we’ve set out to make it so customers can really tailor their finance deal to best suit their circumstances, with choice of term and interest rate, and whether it’s a PCP or HP agreement.”

Meanwhile, down in the 125cc class, Suzuki’s popular GSX-R125 sportster (the only GSX-R on sale now…) and GSX-S125 naked bike have both received an extension to their hefty discount deal, with a £500 retail price saving continuing until the end of September.

Yamaha celebrates milestones for the Ténéré and R1

Adouble celebration at the tuning fork brand, as Yamaha marks four decades of its Ténéré off-road machinery and 25 years since the first R1 superbike was launched.

The first Ténéré was the XT600 Z, launched in 1983, with the name coming from the Tuareg area of the Sahara Desert, made famous by the original Paris-Dakar race route. And the firm has applied the moniker to all sorts of road and race bikes since, from the 600-class singles to the parallel twin

750cc Super Ténéré, the later 1200 Super Ténéré and the current 700 models.

Now the firm is taking a Ténéré 40th anniversary tour across Europe to celebrate, with a collection of historic Ténéré road and race models and guest stars such as Nick Sanders and other adventure legends. The show stopped off at both the UK’s ABR Festival and Spain in June, and will be moving on to Germany later this month and then France in September, with other dates being added throughout the year.

The R1 is younger than the Ténéré, but has had just as big an impact, revolutionising the litre superbike class when launched in 1998 and is still a contender at the top of the sportsbike class today. Yamaha Europe marked the model’s 25th anniversary with a special Yamaha Racing Experience event for R1 owners at Mugello in July, with track action, special guest stars, and riding and bike setup instruction from the likes of WSB ace Toprak Razgatlıoğlu, BSB champ Bradley Ray and Moto2 champion Remy Gardner.

Andrew Duthie, general manager of both Dundee and Glasgow stores

Middleweight showdown

Triumph took a big step forward on a couple of fronts last month. First, it gave its dealers a new range of 400cc entry-level machines to take on the likes of Royal Enfield worldwide and provide an option for novices and small-bore bike fans at home. And secondly, it unveiled the latest stage of its production partnership with the giant Bajaj Auto firm in India, which is building the first tranche of the new machines for its home market.

BDN saw the bikes at an exclusive global press launch at the Bike Shed Motor Co club in Shoreditch, London. There are two new machines: the Speed 400 roadster and the Scrambler X 400 street scrambler. Both use the same all-new 400cc single-cylinder engine and variations of the same steel tube frame, with bespoke chassis mods for each bike’s intended purpose.

Triumph was keen to emphasise that the bikes have the same build quality and finish levels that they apply to their bigger bikes, and while the show bikes may have had extracareful preparation, they matched up to that description. Gold anodised fork outer tubes, high-quality stainless finish exhausts, powdercoated engine cases and deep paintwork all echoed the bigger Hinckley machines, and at first glance, you could mistake either 400 for one of the 900 or 1200 twins.

The spec and tech levels of the bikes are

NEW BIKES

THE SPEED 400 FITS INTO TRIUMPH’S SPEED range of modern classic roadsters. It has a steel tube frame, with aluminium monoshock swingarm, preload-adjustable rear shock and 43mm USD front forks. A ByBre four-piston radial front caliper looks after the stopping with a 300mm disc, and wheels are cast aluminium, 17in at both ends.

also strong. The 40hp engine is water-cooled, with four-valve DOHC heads, and Bosch rideby-wire fuel injection, switchable traction control and ABS. That puts it on par with the best in class – KTM’s Duke/Adventure 390 and the BMW G310 R/GS – rather than the more sedate Royal Enfield Meteor 350 with its 20hp air-cooled two-valve engine.

The seriousness of the partnership with Bajaj was also on show at the event. CEO Rajiv Bajaj was there to shake hands with Triumph boss Nick Bloor, and Triumph CCO Paul Stroud repeatedly praised the Indian giant’s development, engineering and production capabilities. Also showing the power of Bajaj, and perhaps a little surprisingly, the new 400s will go on sale in India before anywhere else, with Bajaj production starting this month. The UK, Europe and other markets will be served by production from Triumph’s factories in Brazil and Thailand, with bikes hitting the UK and remaining markets at the end of 2023. Perhaps sensitive to how that might be perceived, Triumph made a point of saying that the design of the new 400 bikes and engine is exclusively theirs, rather than being a joint deal with Bajaj, and the motor will only appear in Triumph machinery going forward.

As ever, Triumph staff were tight-lipped on other applications, but we’d expect to see this powerplant used in more than the current

The Scrambler X 400 slots in under the Street Scrambler 900 twins, with similar styling touches and a mild off-road design. Compared with the Speed, there’s a larger 320mm disc up front, and a 19in front rim. The ABS is switchable for off-road use, the suspension has longer travel, and there are hand guards, a sump guard and headlight protector as standard. Both bikes also come with premium tyre fitments by Metzeler: Karoo Street on the Scrambler and Sportec M9RRs on the Speed.

Perhaps the biggest remaining question is how much they will cost? The Royal Enfield 350s are around £4000, and KTM’s Duke 390 is around £5500, so that would be the expected range to fit into.

NEW ENGINE

THE NEW TRIUMPH TR400 ENGINE IS A totally new, and utterly modern design. It’s a water-cooled 398cc single, with DOHC, four valves, 89x64mm bore and stroke, balancer shaft, Bosch ride-by-wire fuel injection, sixspeed gearbox and slipper/assist clutch. Peak power output is 39.5hp at 8000rpm and it has 28ft.lb of torque at 6500rpm.

two bikes in the near future – a modern Street Triple type roadster, a proper mini-adventure tourer and a Bobber-style retro would all be obvious routes to take. Added to the upcoming launch of a range of 450 and 250 motocross and enduro bikes, it seems like exciting times ahead for Triumph dealers.

Rajiv Bajaj and Nick Bloor

Scrambler X 400

Broadcast boost for TT

The Isle of Man government has been understandably quick off the mark to release a battery of statistics displaying significant 2023 audience growth for its TTrelated digital TV broadcast and social media platforms – stacking on 228% in audience size since first launched last year.

The core digital broadcast strategy’s TT+ online streaming channel has once again proved to be a resounding success. With a 66% increase in the total number of subscribers this year so far, TT+ has now accumulated 220,000 subscribers from some 180 countries.

TT race fans worldwide were able to access full real-time coverage of every race and qualifying session for the second year in a row, thanks to the TT+ Live Pass, available as a one-time online purchase for £19.99 or equivalence in euros and US, Canadian and Australian dollars. Live Pass broadcast coverage also included commentator insights and analysis, along with exclusive rider interviews both before and after each race.

The 2023 TT+ Live Pass achieved an 11.9% uptake increase to 64,000 individual purchases, equating to an approximate gross revenue of £1.28m. Set against the harsh reality of annual Manx government motorcycle sport insurance costs approaching a million quid, this has to be a useful sum.

The peak live television audience was on Sunday 4 June for the RST Superbike TT, followed by Saturday 10 June for the Milwaukee Senior TT. European viewers accounted for 81% of the total audience, with America and Australia taking up a large proportion of the remaining market share. While the UK audience also grew, its overall share compared to overseas uptake dropped by 11%, stressing a global reach increase.

A post-event TT+ Pass is now available, discounted to £9.99, offering the opportunity to watch 40 hours of previously broadcast coverage on demand. UK fans could also

Peter Hickman’s new outright TT lap record. Highlights of the 2023 TT races were broadcast across various international TV networks too.

In addition to paid-for coverage, there were also a number of free services for following TT race action. These included enhanced official online live timing, which enjoyed an increase in the proportion of global users, and Radio TT.

The latter continued a long-established history of providing sound race commentary on 1368AM, now supplemented by splitsecond timing data to provide a new level of immediacy and accuracy. Radio TT saw 29% growth in unique reach this year. And although the majority of listeners came from the UK, Isle of Man and Ireland, commentary via Manx Radio’s website meant a wider audience in the USA, Germany, Australia, Netherlands, Spain and France.

Daily web-enabled TT Podcasts, featuring indepth discussions and analysis, plus “access all areas” coverage from the riders’ motorhomes to the startline, went online throughout the TT fortnight as well. This daily TT Podcast edition featured in the UK Top 20 Sports

content via official social media channels across Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube. Since January 2022, these have grown by more than 180%, with a total audience of more than one million from a near-standing start 18 months ago.

Video-based platforms are primarily responsible for the high levels of growth. TikTok was the fastest growing during the event period, increasing followers by more than 110%. The TT’s YouTube channel has also grown its audience size by 90% in the past 12 months, increasing impressions by 123% compared to the previous period.

Commenting on this undoubtedly strong performance, Isle of Man government head of motorsport Paul Phillips said: “Through our broadcast strategy, we have managed to remove geographical barriers to fans worldwide wanting to access the Isle of Man TT Races. This level of visibility will bring wider benefits for the Isle of Man as well as ensuring the longterm sustainability of the event itself.

“As the TT gains more followers and customers from around the globe, the event

New owner for Premier Bikes

Triumph and KTM main dealer Premier Bikes of Abingdon, Oxford, has been sold to private investment firm Merino Capital. Premier, established in 1997, is a well-established destination store with a sizeable 400-bike showroom, 40-seat café, new and used bike sales and extensive kit and accessory departments. Post-pandemic, the business owners were looking to exit the trade and began looking for a buyer in the summer of 2022. Merino took over the £13m turnover business in May and has retained the existing 20-strong team of staff to run the operation.

Merino Capital is a private investment company specialising in acquiring and investing in small and medium-sized UK businesses. It invests its own funds, alongside those of institutional investors, and claims to take a long-term view of its investments.

Merino Capital MD Mark Colley commented: “We are delighted to complete the acquisition of Premier Bikes and Triumph Oxford. The business has built

LMT moves to bigger premises

Louis Taylor is an example to us all: he started his own bike dealership in the middle of a global pandemic aged just 20, setting up LMT Motorcycles in June 2020. Specialising in classic bikes and customs, he has gone from strength to strength, and his Little Addington, Northants, showroom is now set to double its capacity. LMT is moving next door to a new unit with a mezzanine floor which will double inventory potential from 125 to 250 bikes.

Now 23 and probably the youngest dealer in the country (tell BDN if you know better – Ed), Taylor says: “We plan to have 120 bikes on the mezzanine and 120 downstairs. We also plan to introduce a coffee shop. And I want to move into the more expensive £30,000 classic bike sector.”

Taylor worked for CT Autoparts of Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, before starting his own business. He reckons to work 12 hours a day, seven days a week to buy, sell and expand the business, advertising stock on eBay. He employs one mechanic.

a strong reputation for excellent customer service, and we look forward to working with the team to continue to grow and develop the business over the coming years.”

MCE goes into administration

NORTHANTS-BASED MCE INSURANCE, WHICH once claimed to be the UK’s leading motorcycle insurance broker, is reportedly teetering on the brink of insolvency.

The company had posted a “notice of appointment” to call in administrators, through law firm Womble Bond Dickinson, and then formally went into administration on 17 July. MCE’s accounts up to 31 May 2022 are overdue, according to Companies House records. And several MCE directors have resigned in recent months.

Earlier filed accounts for MCE, made up to 31 December 2020, had suggested the company was prospering. Annual turnover was £36.8m and profit almost doubled to £7.3m. Dividends approaching £10m were paid out to shareholders at the end of 2020. At that time, directors said they were confident of growth based on “developing new opportunities in the insurance market”.

Commenting on its entry into administration, MCE’s underwriter Sabre Insurance said in a statement that it is not impacted by this development: “Customers’ policies remain in force and we will continue to handle and pay all valid claims.”

The directors of MCE Insurance have appointed Mark Holborow, Vincent Green and Steven Edwards of insolvency practitioner Crowe UK as joint administrators. For more info contact: Crowe.MCE@crowe.co.uk

OVERLAND

ADVENTURE RIDING MAGAZINE OVERLAND has announced more than 30 speakers and guests lined-up for its Overland live event on the last weekend of August. Show regulars Ted Simon and Sam Manicom will be there, alongside some less well-known names, like round-the-world rider and academic Esa Aldegheri, German roundthe-world Vespa rider Markus Mayer and Irish policeman Ken McGreevy, who headed east on a GT550 Kawasaki twelve years ago and subsequently wrecked it in the Kazakhstan desert… Alongside talks, there are workshops covering everything from first aid to photography, chances to test ride some of the latest motorcycles, an introduction to off-road skills and live entertainment in the evenings, all included in the ticket price. Weekend tickets cost £108 and give access to the whole event, including three nights camping. Overlandhas also announced that it raised more than £3000 for African motorcycle charity Pikilily at last year’s event. www.overlandevent.com/overland

OXFORD PRODUCTS

OXFORD PRODUCTS MARKETING MANAGER PAUL

Renshaw took on the gruelling Pan Celtic 1425-mile cycle race last month, riding from St Malo in France around Normandy, then over to Portsmouth and up to Llandudno in Wales. He finished in 49th place after a week in the saddle.

BEN AUTUMN EVENTS

AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY CHARITY BEN IS running two events in September and October to raise funds for its work in the automotive sector. First up is the BENathlon over the month of September, when sponsored participants will exercise for half an hour each day. Then from 9 to 15 October, BEN’s Big Breakfast takes place, with participating firms running fundraising breakfasts at workplaces. Matt Wigginton, director of partnerships, engagement and income at Ben, said: “We can’t wait to get cracking with our next fundraising events later this year and hope to see many of our automotive family take part in both. Demand for BEN’s support services has reached new highs due to the cost-of-living crisis, so we can’t continue to support the increasing demand without your support.”

ABR adventure knockout

This was the year that the ABR Festival finally came of age. It had everything going for it: no lockdown legacy; more live music, guest speakers, test rides, more exhibitors and food caterers than any previous event; and 130 leading motorcycle and adventure brands in the Exhibitor Village. There were more tribute bands than you could shake a mic stand at, and, to top it all, the weather was brilliant all weekend – the grounds of Ragley Hall had never seen so many tattoos!

Adventurize, the organiser behind the festival, has declared this year’s event its most successful show to date, with a record-breaking number of visitors passing through the gates. The sold-out festival welcomed more than 12,500 bikers, surpassing all prior attendance figures.

Constant entertainment was provided by guest speakers and activities on the various stages from early morning to early evening, kicking off with Biker Yoga at 7.30am on the Masterclass Stage. Adventure-biking legends and John McGuinness held forth on the Ténéré Speaker Stage and at the Bridgestone Campfire. The music kicked off on the ABR Stage in the afternoon and stopped at 11pm to ensure a good night’s kip in your tent, campervan, motorhome, pre-booked glamping site or wherever you fell.

The array of motorcycle manufacturers –45 to be precise – displaying their wares was impressive, as were the available test rides on 27 brands from Aprilia to Zontes, including electric brands Cake, Caofen, Energica and Horwin. There were several dedicated trails and riding skills display areas, and these were busy all day. Several trails in and around Ragley Hall included a 5km Beginner’s Loop, an 8km TRF Trail and the impressive 30km Bridgestone Trail. There was also a mix’ n’ match element, as with the Phoenix

Trail run by Phoenix Motorcycle Training, which was a festival partner along with Alpinestars, Bridgestone, Halvarssons, In&motion, Kriega, Metzeler, Muc-Off, Nexx, Öhlins and Yamaha.

More than 1600 test rides were taken by visitors over the weekend, a festival test-ride record, with the new-look Yamaha Ténéré 700 World Rally, Suzuki V-Strom 800DE and Honda XL750 Transalp creating the longest queues. Harley-Davidson was noticeably absent this year, but it did send an apology. “We’d have loved to have been at the ABR Festival again this year with our demo-rides team and the pop-up Mick Extance Harley-Davidson Adventure Centre, but we’ve got 120 birthday candles to blow out at our anniversary celebrations in Budapest.” Harley has already booked for next year.

The festival layout this year was slightly different to accommodate new elements. There was a self-contained Exhibitor Village devoted to clothing, helmets and accessories. As with previous events, the motorcycle manufacturers, main stages, food outlets and bars were grouped on one side of the lake, but for 2023, the prebooked glamping and VIP camping area were on the other side.

Despite a record number of festival-goers, the welcoming, friendly, respectful and fun atmosphere synonymous with the ABR Festival remained. All those who turned out were brought together by a common interest –motorcycles. A sense of community prevailed throughout the festival, with each visitor making new friends and having a great time in and out of the saddle, a sentiment supported by overwhelmingly positive visitor and exhibitor feedback.

Commenting on the event’s success, ABR Festival founder Alun Davies said, “From the outset, the ABR Festival was all about offering

HAPPY EXHIBITORS

“WE WERE AT THE ABR FESTIVAL WHEN IT was just a few hundred people in a field near Banbury, and to see it where it is now at Ragley Hall is a huge credit to Alun and his team. From our side of the fence, the festival delivers thousands of hugely engaged riders looking to spend as much time as they can on their bikes, which is exactly what we want! We delivered more than 600 test rides both on- and off-road for KTM, and we showed and demo’d Husqvarna Motorcycles and CFMoto for the first time and received great feedback for these brands – as well as welcoming KTM ambassador Chris Birch and Husqvarna ambassador and fivetimes Dakar winner Cyril Despres, who were both blown away by the event and are looking forward to returning next year.”

Simon Roots, head of marketing, KTM

“THE ABR FESTIVAL IS, FOR BIKERHEADZ, A marketing event. We don’t sell directly to the public like some other distributors. Instead, we support these events with a show truck full of our brands and invite the public to loan, use and trial the product first-hand in the environment in which it’s designed to be used.

“This, in turn, means we get time to talk to the end user and direct them to their dealer, giving them the confidence to buy, a win-win situation. This year’s festival was laid out differently from the other years we attended in that we were separated from the manufacturers in a dedicated retail section. To begin with, I thought this may have been a mistake, but having more retailers and a bigger area seemed to work well. This festival is a great motorcycle event for the trade and the customers who pre-paid to get a ticket. We have already booked for next year, bigger and better. Long may it continue.”

Chris Lippitt, marketing manager, TranAm

the industry a premium platform to meet faceto-face with the customer. Our aim was to show respect to the rider by providing a first class venue, first class services and first class value, and judging by the overwhelming feedback (and volume of ticket sales for ABR 2024), it’s an approach that the motorcycle community wants. It’s said that the ABR Festival is now the largest motorcycle festival in the UK, and I’ll not argue with that.

“As I like to say, ‘Think Glastonbury, with motorcycles and posh toilets, and that’s the ABR Festival blueprint’. But we can now go one better. So, a big thank you to exhibitors and staff who made the ABR Festival 2023 such a wonderful experience. See you all in 2024.”

THE INDIAN REBOOT OF THE LEGENDARY BSA BRAND HAS BEEN underway since launching at Motorcycle Live in November 2021. Bikes finally made it into UK showrooms in late 2022, and customers who’d waited patiently are now riding them on the road, with sales of the Gold Star 650 already exceeding 550 units in the UK alone. There are now rumours that new Scrambler 650 and Bantam 350 models are on the way.

BDN caught up with three dealers from BSA’s 30-strong UK network – Cooperb Motorcycles of Northampton, Dearden Motorcycles of Southampton and Matt Williamson Motorcycles of Leyland – to hear how the marque is performing on the frontline.

Ian Cooper from Cooperb reckons there was a strong appeal surrounding BSA from the start – both for the Gold Star 650 itself and the BSA name. “The first thing we thought was the bike looks really nice, and it appealed to all of us. You can’t really be into bikes and not understand how BSA put Britain on the world stage.”

Julie Bentley at Dearden Motorcycles agrees. “We got in before the bike was even shown in the country. As soon as we knew that BSA was coming back, we contacted Lukas Distribution.”

In terms of sales, all three dealers had a strong start when the bikes first arrived in the country, but things are steadier now. “They came out with a lot of hype,” said Matt Williamson. “And people were waiting for quite some time, so we sold a lot very quickly. Now they’re ticking over, but when we took the brand on that’s what I expected.”

“There was a rush at the start,” said Julie Bentley. “But it has slowed down since. We’ve got quite a few makes and models in the showroom, and they’ve all slowed down, though, so I don’t think it’s the brand. I think it’s down to the economy.

“There’s lots of positive feedback on the product from customers and staff, and I love them too. I’ve got a Yamaha MT-09, and I’m buying one of my BSA demos. It goes back to how bikes used to be, it’s so easy to ride and simple to work on. The mechanics love them.”

Who’s been buying the bikes? Williamson says it’s mostly those you’d expect – but with some exceptions. “The majority of our customers have been retired people, but I’ve had a couple in their late 30s, which in biking terms is young! We also have customers who’ve been out of biking for a while but always dreamed of having a BSA.”

As with any new product, there have been some minor teething problems with the 650. But dealers seem happy with how the importer has been managing any issues. “The backup has been really good,” says Bentley. “Obviously, it’s a brand-new model, and there will be niggles, but Lukas Distribution are absolutely spot-on.”

“We’ve had one or two issues,” says Cooper, “but you expect that with a new product and the people at Lukas have been very helpful. They all seem to be enthusiastic and helpful, which is reassuring. I like how you can pick up the phone, speak to someone and get something done. It’s very easy to navigate your way through any issues.”

Home grown talent

Last month, BDN looked at the problems the trade is having with sourcing staff, particularly workshop technicians. This month, we’re looking at how one firm – P&H Motorcycles of Crawley, is taking a different approach to solving this issue. And it’s one which could work for more dealers.

Paul Searle, MD at P&H Motorcycles, started his business in a shed in 1980 and has since built it into a successful multi-franchise dealership – so he knows what the sharp end of the trade is all about.

“Getting technicians, yes, that is difficult,” he told BDN. “But funnily enough, we’ve been working on it for a few years and changed how we do things dramatically.

“We’ve given up trying to get technicians from other dealers because they can be such hard work. They can be set in their ways, and we want to do things differently. If you’re trying to build an outstanding service team, you only need one person who’s a little bit negative, and it stops you from progressing in terms of how everyone thinks. If you want a real high quality, well-motivated, driven, happy set of technicians – because it doesn’t take much to make them grumpy! – you can’t afford to have anyone who’s a bit negative.”

A problem, then. And P&H had tried the traditional way of sorting it out with a conventional apprenticeship programme . But the results weren’t quite what was needed – for anyone.

“A few years back, we looked at the problem and decided that the whole apprentice thing was not working. The problem with it is it takes three years, and what happens is they get bored after three years of being an apprentice and being on poor wages. I think we were like most dealers in that we saw an apprentice as a slow way to get a tech and that it costs time and money when they leave halfway through.

“We really brainstormed the whole apprentice situation and realised that we were looking at it all wrong. We saw it as taking too long to get any benefit out of an apprentice. We

were bound up by the way traditional training is structured. We were expecting it to be all done for us by the training bodies, who work on a three-year process. For dealers, it’s hard to know where apprentices are training-wise and what they are capable of. Because of that, we don’t really push the apprentices along.” Searle and his team re-thought the approach to training new staff with more of a taskoriented training programme. By taking advantage of the quiet months in the autumn

that we could probably get them doing 50-60% of the jobs. We start them on bike uncrating, bike builds, PDI, first service, tyre-fitting, wheels in and out, and so on. We put them with a senior tech who mentors them. At each stage of development, they have to do the task independently with their mentor watching. If they do it correctly, they then need to do the task again on another bike with a different tech observing. If it’s completed satisfactorily on both occasions, we will sign them off on that task. I really need to know the jobs we give them; they can do properly. In the past, they would go to college, but we would not have anything to tell us if they were competent at various tasks.”

and winter, P&H has been able to train new recruits in basic tasks – taking wheels out, changing tyres, and uncrating bikes. Then, the apprentice becomes immediately useful and is building skills from the ground-up. Best of all, as they are making money for the business, they can start to earn more themselves.

“We looked at what we want from our apprentices and what they need from us. We want them to be earning the company money as soon as possible, to develop their skills and become expert techs. We want them to stay with us for a long time, and we need them to have a good positive attitude. To keep them motivated, we need to be able to pay them properly, providing daily training over and above the apprenticeship course. They need to feel they are progressing quickly, are appreciated for their efforts and are important team members.

“Three years ago, we had two lads that worked in parts and valeting who wanted to become techs. It was the end of summer, and we had six months before the season kicked off again. We asked ourselves, ‘How much can we teach them in six months’? We quickly realised

And the programme was a big hit for both parties. “Very quickly, we could see that they were billing out a good amount and earning a surprising amount for the company. We were able to increase their pay which really motivates them. We reviewed their performance every month and were able to give a pay rise each quarter based on their ability and performance. This is such a motivator because they can really see and feel their progression. We get them to do the manufacturer training courses and put them on an apprentice course to get the paper qualification. When they attend courses, they find they are well ahead of other apprentices, which gives them confidence and an appreciation of the advantage of working for a company that gets them ahead of the game.”

And the in-house bespoke training programme is now becoming self-fulfilling, with P&H ‘graduates’ now passing on their skills and knowledge to those following them.

“We now have two apprentices that are qualified and are now learning more in-depth fault finding and doing engine rebuilds. We have another that is two years in and doing well. Our latest joined when he finished school last year and got his Yamaha expert qualification before he was 17. It is self-perpetuating as the first two (just qualified) apprentices are now training the new apprentices.”

We looked at what we want from our apprentices and what they need from us

Tech team (from left): Matt Pohill – two years, Matt Chalcraft – nine months, Zack Staines – three years and Mike Hollington – three years

Experience pays

A STORY ON AN ONLINE forum, The Conversation, makes for interesting reading. It reported on what many know –that employers in many countries worldwide are struggling to recruit and are often unable to fill job vacancies.

Some say that hiring issues result from the pandemic and the “great resignation” or “great reshuffle” where workers sought to leave roles they were unhappy in or wanted to improve their work-life balance. Others point to long-term sickness following Covid-related illnesses.

According to Joop Schippers, Professor of Labour Economics at Utrecht University, the real reason is more subtle. He highlights a general decline in workers aged 35 years and under, along with an ageing workforce.

And his perspective is entirely logical.

Birth rates in many countries have been falling since the 1960s – even China has seen a drop in its population. Many countries have a real demographic problem with an ageing population; Japan and South Korea are especially worried.

Fundamentally, fewer young people are entering the workforce to fill vacancies left by retirees. However, a solution might be to target older workers who have much to offer employers and should be thought of as more than just ‘warm bodies’ that can fill a recruitment void.

A 2017 report from the Centre

for Ageing Better, What do older workers value about work and why? Noted that there are clear benefits to employers in retaining older workers and keeping them engaged.

It found that older workers’ abilities do not suddenly diminish in the period leading up to and beyond state pension age: “Many older workers may actually be more adept in their role because of the expertise they have gained; they often have highly developed communication skills and can confidently solve problems, handle tricky situations and contribute well to teams. Older workers often have unique insights and good judgement gained from their years of experience.”

The report added “the benefits for employers who take the engagement of older employees seriously include better retention, improved knowledgetransfer, better employee relations and lower recruitment and training costs.”

A story in Forbes, a US business publication, adds more to the argument in favour of the older worker. Arlene Donovan, a Forbes Councils member, wrote that older or mature workers know their strengths, address their weaknesses and are not afraid of their own shadow: “They are team players, know how to lead, can drive business needs and create sustainable outcomes. Not only should you not be overlooking this, but

you should be actively seeking out the breadth of knowledge and expertise an older worker possesses. Older workers are determined, innovative, strategic, loyal, revenueproducing and creative problemsolving professionals focused on the big picture.”

While older workers are a great resource, it should also be remembered that many – but not all – have a choice. They are likely to be ‘free’ of children, may have paid off their mortgage, and not only will have accumulated wealth over their working lives but may have received inheritances. In other words, they may not have to work.

This means employers wanting to keep older workers on board need to recognise that they want interesting work that stretches them and makes full use of their skills and experience – a point backed by a 2022 piece in the Harvard Business Review, seven Principles to Attract and Retain Older Frontline Workers. It said: “According to our study, 76% of survey respondents who would recommend their company to others say, “My work has a special meaning: this is not ‘just a job.’”

Of course, there are issues to resolve, such as the flexibility that such workers crave, along with catering for health needs and suitable adjustments. But when combined with a desire to work, learning and serving older workers could be the panacea the trade is looking for.

International news

With financial editor Roger Willis

SHORT CUTS

METZELER AND HARLEY

GERMAN TYRE BRAND METZELER HAS AN extensive cruiser tyre range and a long partnership with Harley-Davidson. So, it was a no-brainer for the firm to turn up at Harley’s 120 th anniversary party in Budapest last month, supporting the gig as an official event partner. And the firm stays on the road with its Metzeler Custom Tour over the rest of the summer. It’s already done Wheels and Waves, the Warsaw bike show and MBE Expo in Italy, and it will be at European Bike Week in Austria.

Hero or villain?

PIRELLI

ITALIAN RACE RUBBER SUPREMO PIRELLI HAS tightened its grip on world championship racing with a new deal to supply tyres to the Moto2 and Moto3 support series in MotoGP. The firm will supply versions of its Diablo Superbike slicks and wets used in the WSBK championship to suit the 765cc Moto2 and 250cc Moto3 racebikes. The deal runs for three years over the 2024-26 seasons.

YUASA STORAGE PLANT

WE’RE USED TO SEEING THE YUASA LOGO on a bike’s battery – but the firm’s electrical energy storage expertise goes much further than that. And the Japanese firm has just delivered the world’s biggest energy storage plant in the world, in northern Hokkaido, Japan. The installation, which stores power from a wind energy transmission network, has no less than 3.3 million cells, a power output of 240MW and a capacity of 720 megawatt-hours. Energy storage will become ever more important if fossil fuels are phased out, and more-intermittent power sources like wind and solar power continue to expand.

BREMBO

ITALIAN BRAKE FIRM BREMBO HAS SNAPPED UP A of Red Dot design award for the 2022 update of its high-end radial master cylinder. The 19RCS CORSA CORTA RR took the award in the ‘product design’ category, with judges recognising the quality and design of the high-end bolt-on upgrade. Machined from billet aluminium and finished with a hard oxidation treatment, Brembo claims the 19RCS is directly derived from the master cylinders used in MotoGP and SBK championships. The unique adjustment setup allows riders to tailor the brake biting point and also uses the firm’s RCS (Ratio Click System), which changes the braking force to suit the rider and the conditions. It’s the second Red Dot award for Brembo – the previous win in 2019 was for an earlier version of the radial master cylinder. The Red Dot Design Award claims to be one of the world’s largest design competitions, running since 1955, and this year featured entries from 60 countries in 51 categories.

The above headline may be cheeky referencing for the world’s second-largest motorcycle manufacturer after Honda – a company with which it fell out spectacularly in 2010 after a previously fruitful joint venture lasting 26 years. But Hero MotoCorp continues to have a torrid time with regulatory authorities in New Delhi, so perhaps “Cowboys and Indians” would be more apposite.

India’s Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) recently ordered an investigation to assess Hero MotoCorp’s relationship with a “third-party vendor” in relation to the alleged improper diversion of funds. This probe into the ownership structure of Hero MotoCorp, and whether it controlled the aforementioned third-party vendor emerged from Reuters news agency sources privy to an internal government directive.

Preliminary sniffing around by the Registrar of Companies had apparently decided further formal sleuthing was necessary in the public interest. As a result, activating various legal provisions, the MCA now has powers to interrogate Hero MotoCorp executive officers and demand pertinent documentation from

them on unspecified corporate governance issues.

Currently, these are as clear as mud but will attract MCA scrutiny of the true ownership and affairs of both Hero MotoCorp and certain linked companies. One

as a disciplinary weapon against both indigenous and foreign enterprises that don’t toe the ruling Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party line, was unleashed upon Hero in March last year.

Tax inspectors raided Hero MotoCorp offices and the homes of senior staff, including the residence of Hero chairman and chief executive Pawan Munjal. Although company PR passed the intrusions off as part of a “routine inquiry”, a subsequent Income Tax Department report identified bogus commercial expenses claims amounting to about £96m and a substantial off-radar real estate transaction, funded by company money on behalf of Munjal individually.

business under suspicion as a “linked entity” is Salt Experiences and Management Private. Hero MotoCorp, meanwhile, denied receiving any communication from the government and declined to comment. “We will provide all information if and when it is sought from us,” a spokesperson told Reuters.

The company has a history of fractious interfaces with India’s political establishment. Its notoriously aggressive Income Tax Department, often employed

However, such shenanigans don’t appear to have done much harm to Hero MotoCorp’s fortunes so far. Its market capitalisation hovers around the £6bn mark. The latest full-year financial results to March 2023 reported a turnover of £3.383bn, a £377.7m operating profit and a net profit of £275.4m. In only the first two months of its current fiscal year, Hero made and sold 915,581 motorcycles and scooters. Pawan Munjal’s personal net worth stands at an estimated £2.834bn.

Preliminary sniffing around by the Registrar of Companies had apparently decided further formal sleuthing was necessary

Pierer and CFMoto grow closer

KTM, Husqvarna and GasGas parent Pierer Mobility has unveiled a major expansion of its joint-venture relationship with Chinese motorcycle manufacturer CFMoto. Outlined in a statement issued on 6 July, the two companies are to strengthen their ties in the areas of product strategy and development, as well as industrialisation and sales.

Having taken over distribution of CFMoto products in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Spain and the UK from January this year, Pierer Mobility’s KTM arm is already leveraging its sales organisations in these markets on behalf of the CFMoto brand. And now the latter is to double

Insider to count Harley beans

motorcycles in China, and in recent years it has expanded its capacities and supply chain to meet this need,” explained Pierer Mobility executive board member Hubert Trunkenpolz.

“We work well together. We have known the Lai family as the majority shareholder of CFMoto for more than ten years and been in partnership for most of that time. Intensification of our joint venture is a further

JONATHAN ROOT, PREVIOUSLY senior vice president of HarleyDavidson Financial Services (HDFS), has become the new chief financial officer of Harley-Davidson as a whole. His appointment was effective immediately on 27 June. He succeeds Gina Goetter, Harley’s first high-profile female executive board member, who resigned her CFO position in April and left the company.

Commenting on this promotion, Harley-Davidson chairman and chief executive Jochen Zeitz said: “Jonathan is a proven leader with extensive knowledge of our business, matched with strong financial acumen. We’re excited to have him in place to lead our finance organisation.”

During his tenure at HDFS,

Insurance and all other HDFS subsidiaries. He was responsible for both strategy and execution of the company’s motorcycle retail lending, branded credit card partnerships and commercial lending, plus both retail and commercial insurance operations. He originally joined HDFS in 2011. Prior to that, Root worked for Ally Financial, GMAC Financial Services

BUSINESS FOR SALE

Family run Motorcycle business for sale in Walsall, trading for more than 10 years with excellent online reviews and large customer base.

Very busy workshop and fully equipped MOT bay with over 1200 MOT’s being carried out each year. New and used sales, selling more than 100 bikes a year. Fully sign written Van. Everything included in sale and new lease available. Family relocation forces sale. For more information, please contact 07889 394282 or mcmotorcycleservices@gmail.com

Motorcycle Mechanic

West London Yamaha, are looking for an additional Motorcycle Mechanic to add to our busy and successful Yamaha workshop team.

Regarded as the #1 Motorcycle store in West London perfectly placed at the edge of Twickenham to serve the whole of West London.

This could be a perfect opportunity for someone with the right level of experience, or with less, as we can offer training to the right candidate.

A very competitive salary and benefits package will be awarded to the successful applicant which will reflect both qualifications and experience.

Please send in CV to Peter email sales@westlondonyamaha.co.uk

SALES REPRESENTATIVE / AGENT REQUIRED

LONDON, SOUTH, EAST REGIONS

GIVI UK are excited to offer an opportunity for an enthusiastic sales representative or agent to join its UK team.

As a leading manufacturer Givi are excited to offer a position within its UK team, we require a professional and self-motivated Area Sales Manager to service our existing dealer base in the London, East and south region.

• Making client visits to present and promote products and services

• Conducting presentations for sales promotions and stock implantations

• Providing after-sales support

URBAN RANGE ATTITUDE

Maintaining contact with clients with a view to securing further sales/orders and offering sales support

Identifying potential new clients within the territory

IF YOU FEEL YOU COULD JOIN OUR TEAM PLEASE EMAIL A CV TO ALAN@GIVI.CO.UK

WE’RE HIRING

HGB Motorcycles/Daytona Motorcycles are both well-established and respected Kawasaki, Suzuki and Honda Motorcycle Dealerships based in Ruislip Manor, Northwest London.

We are currently looking for the following:

An experienced Motorcycle Technician/Mechanic

A competitive salary and benefits package will be awarded to the successful applicants which will reflect both qualifications and experience.

The successful candidate must have experience of modern motorcycle technology and be able to demonstrate an understanding of current diagnostic equipment. The role will be responsible for servicing and repairing predominantly Kawasaki and Suzuki motorcycles.

Sales Person (Honda)

We are looking for a top quality candidate to come and join our very successful team to sell some of the motorcycle market’s most exciting and popular bikes and scooters in our busy showroom.

Please forward your CV with a covering letter to; Dealer Principle, HGB Motorcycles (Ruislip) Ltd, 69-71 Park Way, Ruislip Manor, Middx HA4 8NS or email to brigid@hgbmotorcycles.co.uk

Bombardier appoints new dealer development advisor for Can-Am

Bombardier Recreational Products (BRP) is expanding its CanAm on-road network development team with the appointment of experienced motorcycle sales specialist Craig Morison as dealer development advisor for Can-Am on-road.

Morison has plenty of bike trade experience, having spent more than six years as a dealer principal. In his new role, he will be tasked with adding experienced motorcycle dealers to the network to help Can-Am on-road expand its share of the recreational motorcycle market and to support new dealers during the onboarding process. He’ll also be the main point of contact for prospective dealers

interested in joining the network.

Anita Gobbo, BRP regional commercial manager UK, Italy, Ireland and Spain, says, “Craig’s appointment as dealer development advisor for Can-Am on-road reinforces our commitment to grow our on-road dealer network and market share in the UK. His experience on the dealer side is something we will look to tap into because he understands what dealers want when they add a new line-up to their portfolio. We look forward to Craig hitting the ground running and utilising his considerable knowledge, experience and contacts to ensure we add the highest quality new dealers to the onroad network in 2023 and beyond.”

OBITUARY Peter Starr 1942-2023

Motorcycle sport documentary film maker par excellence, Peter Starr died on 3 July in Colorado, USA, aged 80. His 1979 film Take it to the Limit has gone down in motorcycle history as a masterpiece of insight into machinery, riders and tracks.

Born Graham Wallace in Coventry in 1942, he fell in love with motorcycles as a schoolboy securing a job with Triumph’s export department in nearby Meriden. While at Triumph, he tried his hand at road racing, including the 1964 Barcelona 24-hour race riding a 500 Triumph twin.

At the Triumph factory, he met American Triumph dealer Bud Ekins, a leading Triumph rider who mentored Steve McQueen and occasionally visited the factory. Wallace expressed a desire to work in the States, and Ekins said he would support him if he found himself in financial difficulty.

Wallace took the plunge in 1965 finding work as a radio DJ in Jacksonville, Florida. His love of music and his timing were spot on. The English pop invasion of America was in full swing, and Wallace’s English accent was perfect for the job. But the radio station wanted a trendier name. Taking his inspiration from Beatle Ringo Starr, Graham Wallace became Peter Starr.

He progressed to record producing for four years, but in the 1970s, the pull of motorcycling won him back. He could see the potential in filming motorcycle sport in America and talked Hodaka motorcycles and Pennzoil into financing a documentary on an ISDE qualifying event in Oregon. Black Rock

Al Scott joins Bickers team

BICKERS HAS ANNOUNCED A NEW AREA SALES manager covering the South West of England. Al Scott (above left) is a well-established figure in the region, with more than two decades in the trade. He will be looking after Bickers dealers in Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Hampshire and Wiltshire. Like all Bickers’ area sales managers, he will be available to visit dealerships and discuss requirements, backed up by the firm’s customer service team.

Rob Sheldon, Bickers’s head of sales, said, “We are happy to welcome Al to the team. I know he is looking forward to catching up with all his old customers as well as some new ones too – we wish him all the best”. Contact Al at 07775 661940 or al.scott@bickersltd.co.uk.

aired on Los Angeles TV and then across America.

In 1977 he filmed Mike Hailwood riding the Isle of Man TT Mountain course at the Manx GP as a ‘marshal’ on a Yamaha TZ750. This played a large part in making Hailwood realise he could competitively return to TT racing, which he did in 1978, winning the TTF1 race.

Starr had an enthusiastic and persuasive character that swept people along. On minimal budgets, he performed cinematic miracles portraying the thrills of racing. He was the first to mount helmet cameras and the first to fit a camera on a bike in an AMA national race – Laguna Seca in 1980.

His full-length film Take It To The Limit was a hit because it was a heady mix of action, current pop music and comment by leading riders portrayed on screen. It was an exciting new treatment, Starr infusing the film with his love of music and movement.

In 1984 he scored a national TV series, The Peter Starr Motorcycle Show, running for 13 episodes. He persuaded giant brewer Stroh’s to sponsor national dirt track championships in 1985 and 1986, making one-hour programmes at each round. In 1985 he was the first to provide live video coverage at an AMA national mile flat track.

Over a 20-year period he made more than 40 films on motorcycle sport and was rated by Hollywood’s Variety Daily as the world’s top motorcycle race film producer, winning 14 international awards.

From 1991 to 1996, he performed as a stunt rider, making more than 50 commercials and

working on films including Batman and Robin, Apollo 13 and Lethal Weapon 3

In 2004 he was diagnosed with prostate cancer, which he fought without the aid of surgery, drugs or radiation. He spent more time on magazine articles and writing his first book Taking It To The Limit: 20 Years of Making Motorcycle Movies, published in 2010. This was followed by Motorcycle Traveler charting his adventures riding through 12 countries.

He was inducted into the Trailblazers Hall of Fame in 2011, and the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2017.

An indefatigable workaholic who sacrificed his private life for his art – he had girlfriends but never married – Peter Starr will be remembered for his ability to get his audience into his screen action. He was working on his third book when he died – My Life as Peter Starr, by Graham Wallace.

The electric bike sector is easily the most frustrating part of the motorcycle market, and it’s not becoming any easier to predict where it’s going. While the car world seems to be moving fairly smoothly away from petrol and diesel, swapping internal combustion engines for batteries and electric motors, the bike world seems further away than ever. Sales of ePTWs have plummeted in 2023, even in the previously promising urban mobility sector, and there have been a couple of recent casualties, with SunRa’s UK partner Moto Electric in Milton Keynes and The Electric Motorbike Company both going out of business. Meanwhile, at the other end of the scale, there’s no clear pathway towards dumping petrol on bigger bikes. CEOs such as Dr Markus Schramm at BMW seem to nervously suggest that bikes might have to stick with petrol in the medium term. And at the same time, state authorities, including the increasingly sclerotic UK government, are indicating there’ll be no choice: battery power is the only game in town. The problems have been outlined on these pages many times before. Battery power is plausible for 50-125cc equivalent machinery, where it can easily provide the required power and range. But for larger bike use – 200bhp peak power outputs with a 200-mile range, often used on longer touring rides where recharging would be needed – batteries are too heavy, large and expensive to work on a typical bike platform like a BMW R1250 GS or Honda Fireblade.

But perhaps even more serious than the technology hurdles are the cultural issues. The majority of car drivers don’t care what is under the bonnet of their vehicle: petrol, diesel, battery, nuclear fusion. So long as it gets them to work, shopping, or school and can take them on holiday once or twice a year, they’re not too bothered. But motorcyclists are far more involved in their machinery: they know

Where is the electric bike market going?

the difference between a V-twin and an inlinefour, and many have an almost emotional relationship with their bike’s engine. We might soon have lighter, more powerful batteries – but that love of a petrol engine’s noise, vibration, heat and smell will be harder to satisfy.

CHANGING MARKET

So, we’ve had a look and taken the temperature of the UK electric bike market, speaking to the two biggest names in smaller batterypowered two-wheelers, Llexeter and Vmoto/ Super Soco, and the leading ‘big’ electric bike maker, Zero. And we’ve got some views from overseas, in the form of Kymco CEO Ko ChunPing, visiting London from Taiwan in July. It’s

earlier this year when its UK distributor went into administration. The firm has since moved to a direct distribution model, with the Australian/Chinese parent firm setting up its own UK arm. But there was an unavoidable blip in supply, not helped by a relocation of the UK HQ from Newark to Guildford.

Clive Mann, CEO at Vmoto Soco UK, said, “I think industry-wide, it’s not been a great year so far. I think it’s a combination of fallout from the boom during the Covid time. And it’s maybe a UK thing of people returning to their car. As a company, we saw a slight drop-off because of the change and the restructuring, but we certainly see positive things now with our increased ability to offer better deals.”

Rob Woolley at Llexeter, importer of Lexmoto and Talaria bikes, also recognises the problems as part of a bigger picture and points to cuts in the UK government’s grant support for electric bikes.

fair to say that these specialists in the sector recognise the problems they face, both short and longer-term. But they remain optimistic that electric bikes will be back on track and that they remain the best answer for the future of motorcycling.

First, though, we asked what’s behind the slump in sales of late. As we went to press, electric PTW registrations had fallen by 46.4% year-on-year to 1924 units. And the sector’s market share is down to 3.1% from 5.6% in the equivalent period of 2022. The companies we spoke to pointed to several external factors, like the economy, weather and Covid ending, and some internal to the firms themselves. The Super Soco brand suffered a big interruption

“While combustion models are facing a decrease in sales, electric motorcycles have hit a wall. Initially, electric motorcycles gained momentum with the help of generous government support. However, since the grant was heavily reduced, sales have considerably dropped. It’s essential for us to keep an eye on these trends and adjust our strategies accordingly.”

Woolley is very optimistic about the prospects for the Talaria electric brand, though, despite the challenges. “In late 2021, we took a chance on Talaria, which initially focused on off-road bikes but also offered a road-legal version. It had a remarkable start in the UK market, selling more than 1200 units in its first year alone. One of the standout models is the Sting, priced at £4495 and boasting a peak power of 6kW. This model has gained significant traction, and building on this success, we launched the Sting R in 2023, featuring a peak power of 8kW, and the

While combustion models are facing a decrease in sales, electric motorcycles have hit a wall

Rob Woolley, Llexeter

With this year’s sales down 46%, short-term prospects look grim. But it’s not all bad news, as Alan Dowds found when he spoke to three of the market’s major players

budget-friendly XXX model, with a peak power of 5kW and a retail price of £3495.

“Our efforts to promote Talaria have been fruitful, as evidenced by the impressive growth of our Instagram account. Within 12 months, we have amassed more than 45k followers, which is a fantastic achievement.”

Dale Robinson, country manager at Zero Motorcycles, also points to the end of the government’s electric bike grant as a factor, as well as the Covid hangover and poor weather this spring. “Losing the grant last year definitely hurt us. Then, because of Covid, we had a price rise by the factory for all the vital components; batteries, motors, electronics, and chips. Again, it’s not a surprise, it’s the same for every electronics company. Then we had a very long winter. The weather’s not been great.”

Robinson is positive about the situation, though. “When I go on our demo ride tours, it’s great because you get connected with the marketplace straight away. If you sit and look at spreadsheets every day, you can get disconnected, but when we’re out there, I get to see people’s responses. And the positive news is that it’s still the same, but the challenge is to get the guy from that happy demo ride to then make the commitment to the purchase. That’s the hard part right now.”

That reticence to spend, not helped by the cost of living crisis, can’t be ignored. Electric models are, generally, pricier than petrol-powered machines, certainly in terms of the initial

HOW IT’S DONE IN TAIWAN Government support and dealer operated battery swap stations

BDN SPOKE TO KO CHUN-PING, THE CEO OF Kymco, about his firm’s plans for electric power. Kymco is Taiwan’s biggest bike maker and one of the firms working hard on electrical options. Ko told us that government investment has made a difference, especially with its support for a national bike battery-swapping service, which has made it easier for riders to switch to electric, especially if they live in flats without garages or easy access to charge a bike at home.

“We’ve got 24 million people on the island, and there are more than 14 million motorbikes and scooters. Every household has a scooter; 10-15% are electric, and Kymco has about 20% of the electric market. The market is strong because in Taiwan the government has assisted the customer and has also compensated manufacturers for the cost of setting up a

purchase price (though running costs are lower). Rob Woolley says this has had impacts across the market; “The learner legal sector in the UK is experiencing a decline, but we’ve noticed an interesting trend: parts sales are on the rise. Customers seem to be increasingly looking to repair older bikes from the second-hand market instead of purchasing new. This could be attributed to cost-saving.”

An obvious response could be to cut prices – and that’s what both Zero and Super Soco are promising. Both firms point to internal changes which will allow them to drop prices to consumers while improving the situation for dealers. Zero has recently signed a deal with a contract manufacturer in the Philippines, IMI, which builds electric bikes for KTM. And Umberto Uccelli, MD of Zero Europe, says that will have a big impact on the UK operation regarding supply, lead times and costs. “The deal with IMI will change product availability completely. We’ve suffered logistical challenges, so having a factory working on the supply of bikes to Europe will improve production and the time to market, and we won’t need to store so many bikes in Europe. Producing in California, with most suppliers in Europe, meant we had to collect all the components and then pay the tariffs. Then once you assemble the bike and ship it back to Europe, you pay tariffs again. So this will be a big step ahead in terms of logistics and reacting to the market demand. I also think the quality

battery swapping system. We now have more than 2000 stations now so in Taiwan, the battery swapping system is working well and is accepted as normal.”

Ko says that the battery swap model works for dealers, too. The firm pays to put its charging stations into shops and even pays for the electricity to charge the batteries. That gives the dealer a small income stream and encourages riders to come to the store to swap their battery. “We have exclusive cooperation with dealers, encouraging them to get on board and even pay for the station. We pay £240 every month to the dealer, and Kymco also pays for all the electricity. No floor space is taken up with the chargers which are wall mounted.

“There are different business models with electric and petrol. With petrol engines, there’s servicing, but with electric, there’s none of that, dealers are losing some business. By becoming part of the charging infrastructure, they can offset some of that loss.”

of the product will be improved, and possibly a significant cost reduction in terms of the product, which will also be important for us to be more competitive.”

With Super Soco, the move to a direct distribution model should help with cost cutting, says Mann. “There’s been a lot of teething troubles to sort out with the relocation, but now we are completely supported by the manufacturer in terms of availability of stock and parts. And, most importantly for the dealers and the end customers, a restructuring of pricing. All our loyal dealers have immediately been given an increase in their warranty rate and margin, and we’ve launched a sale, so there’s £700 off the entire range. Then, from the start of August, we moved to a new pricing structure, which is much more competitive and allows us to compete better with our petrolpowered counterparts.”

The final sign of confidence in the future comes from the desire to grow dealer networks – and both Zero and Soco are looking for new retail partners. “Yes, absolutely, we are still looking for new dealers,” said Mann. “There are some key cities we’re looking to fill, and there are some heavy incentives for dealers on sign-up in Manchester, Liverpool, Newcastle, Oxford and Leeds, as well as Edinburgh and Dundee. We are looking for dealers that are prepared to come on the brand journey with us, and we’re going to support them 100%.”

“Zero has some open areas at the moment,” said Robinson. “We have Oxford, Southampton, Newcastle, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen. We want to expand our network to give more people access to the bikes. Every time we fill an open area, it generates a lot of interest.”

Does Kymco see bigger electric models coming soon – would we see an electric version of its AK550 maxi scooter, for example? “Yes, it’s possible in the future, but the battery technology is not ready. There are three major components; the battery, the motor and the controller, and these already exist to go on a big 35-50kW scooters. But the batteries cannot sustain large mileages at the moment. We expect some evolution of battery technology in the future, and after that, the market will be ready.”

Super Soco’s production line at the company’s factory in Nanjing, China

Electric

Registrations data

Alternative powered two wheeler registrations for June 2023

Market share for the battery-electric PTW sector in June shrank to 3.3%, from 4.3% a year earlier. However, total sparky registrations for the month to some extent brightened, falling by a relatively modest 15.4% to 452 units.

This was primarily due to a turnaround in the dominant up-to-11kW mobility range. Although sales in its entirety were 17.3% down to 405 units, a 36.7% decline for up-to-4kW mopeds to 164 was entirely responsible for the fall, as 4-11kW machines ridden on A1 licences actually grew by 4.3% to 241. Some 56 samples of Super Soco’s E-Max VSA-VS1 commercial delivery scooter, signalling a welcome Vmoto return

to the UK ePTW market, were the biggest contributor. Even typically pathetic volume for larger products had its encouraging moments too. The 11-35kW range contained 14 samples of the 15kW BMW CE 04 scooter, which constituted a 55.6% improvement from just nine unidentified contenders in June last year. And while over-35kW bikes were 11.1% lower at 16 units, 12 of these were LiveWire One products from this Harley-Davidson associate.

For the six months of 2023 to date, total ePTW registrations have fallen by 46.4% to 1924 units. Market share is down to 3.1% from 5.6% in the equivalent period in 2022.

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

MAXIMUM DURABILITY

C49 Steel Rear Sprockets

JT steel rear sprockets are manufactured using only the finest grade of Japanese C49 high carbon steel. Designed to minimise weight and maximise strength, these sprockets are accurately machined to achieve balance and a perfect fit and chain alignment.

Z3 GS Super Heavy-Duty X-Ring Chain

Engineered for ultimate strength, offering high performance for all modern superbikes. Featuring a corrosion resistant “Gold & Silver” coating on both the inner and outer links.

OEM Type Rubber Cushioned Front Sprockets

JT rubber cushioned sprockets offer the same quality, design, and OEM proven technology as used by major Japanese motorcycle manufacturers since the early 90s to dampen chain impact.

TheUK’STOPSELLING OFF-ROAD RACE WEAR 01900873456 www.wulfsport.com

Off-road news

With off-road correspondent Rick Kemp

It used to be called ‘scrambling’, and in the 1960s it would be on the telly on Saturday afternoons with Murray Walker commentating. The BBC introduced its Grandstand Trophy with riders such as Arthur Lampkin, Vic Eastwood, Jeff Smith, John Banks and Dave Nicoll, who almost became household names. Then, in the evening, people would go to watch speedway – you could sit in an air-conditioned bar with your favourite tipple and bet on the results.

Seems like a different planet now. Along with the rest of life, off-road motorcycle sport has become more extreme. Scrambling morphed into motocross, which, in turn, became arena or stadium cross or possibly extreme moto or similar. The price has been the loss of grassroots activity: club ra cing. Fewer people want to do it, so they would rather watch, which means putting on a spectacle – faster, higher aerial acrobatics. Add to this the inclusion of mixed-ability riders, and there’s a greater likelihood of injury. And it’s not just the riders who are at risk, as witnessed by the recent tragic accident at the third round of the Revo ACU British Motocross Championship at Foxhill, which resulted in the death of a photographer and serious injury to a marshal, who were both hit by a riderless machine.

This increased risk is starting to impinge on the sales of motocross machinery, particularly for younger riders. As one industry retailer who’s witnessed this transition commented, “In the 1970s and 80s it was all about clubs. You could lay a track out on any bit of rough ground and anyone who was half decent on a road bike could be a proficient off-roader. The tracks back then didn’t have double or triple jumps, so everybody was a potential customer – we were selling upwards of a thousand offroad bikes a year. Since then, tracks have become very specialist, and you virtually have to start at six years old on beginner bikes and circuits and then build your way up to jumps as soon as you can.

“Gone are the days when the local club would mark out a circuit and take it down again at the end of the day. That doesn’t happen anymore because the more extreme tracks need to be permanent, and it takes heavy-duty equipment to create them in the first place. Now that you’ve got spectator sports and fewer participating events, you don’t often get adults coming into the shop to buy a motocross bike for themselves because you have to start at a younger age and work up to the big stuff. If you want to start riding off-road in your 20s it’s more likely to be enduro than motocross. As a result, many motocross dealers are suffering, and some have been forced to close.”

The move away from grass-roots motocross has impacted other areas too. The demise of TMX perfectly illustrates the downward spiral as a weekly paper. Local club events were

Scrambling for a solution

in decline, and fewer readers were looking for name checks, which meant fewer people were buying the paper. Therefore, advertisers were less keen to support it. Fewer sales, less advertising revenue – good night. The fact that it has been revived as a monthly magazine amalgamated with DirtBike Rider speaks volumes. It’s a reflection on a changing market. Whether the manufacturers have taken this on board remains to be seen, sales will tell. If the number of dual-sport trail and enduro machines continues to increase in popularity, and motocross mounts don’t, then the message will be clear: bring back stubble racing and sell more bikes to ‘ordinary’ punters.

I contacted the ACU for comment and spoke to Richard Blyth, who has a motocross background and is business development and media manager dealing with website content and affiliating new clubs to the ACU; also present was Matthew Wear, ACU general secretary, who confirmed that the investigation into the incident at Foxhill was ongoing. He also said that the number of current ACU license holders has exceeded pre-Covid levels.

Blyth acknowledged that the modern motocross club rider had changed, no longer embracing the role of club event volunteer. “Riding members no longer want to volunteer at events and would much prefer to turn up, pay their money, have their race and go home. They no longer bring along a friend to help out. The demand for local motocross is still there; for example, the first event of the season at my local club had all 200 places sold within minutes of entries opening four weeks before the event, and this was similar across the country. But as

the season has progressed, in some areas of the country, riders are less mindful of when they ride and are making entries to certain events at the last minute. The organisers may then have to cancel because they need to know in advance that they can afford to pay the few thousand pounds required for medical and other facilities.”

Wear concedes that entries were affected at the start of the season due to members being unfamiliar with the new Sport80 entry system, but this appears to have settled down now. Another factor affecting numbers is the price of new machinery. No one wants to spend upwards of ten grand on a new bike only to have to take it back to the shop in a couple of weeks and pay for major work to be done. Some dealerships are known to have stopped selling new bikes in favour of used examples. But, of course, all used bikes were new once and if fewer people are buying new machines…

Blyth went on to say that the lack of volunteers has led to more permanent tracks being established, as this is how the sport has evolved. Consequently, these are used by riders of all abilities. Additionally, practice for group placings on race days can be manipulated by the will to win. Some riders deliberately go slower to qualify for a lower group, making them more likely to win. As a result, this can lead to more incidents.

In order for the sport to continue to thrive, it has to attract new riders. Whether they come from spectators being entertained by watching Arenacross or whether they have a mate who rides in a local club and persuades them to come and have a go.

Bolesworth Castle Arenacross

THE AX FEST IS TO BE HELD AT BOLESWORTH CASTLE, TATTENHAL, Chester, from 15-17 September. It will offer three days and two nights of Arenacross in the spectacular castle surroundings. In true festival fashion, in addition to the motocross action, it will offer camping, family fun, live shows, bike experiences, live music and entertainment, food and bars.

There will be races across all classes, from six-year-olds through to Pro class riders (exactly the same as at Arenacross – only outdoors!) on a purpose-built track in Bolesworth’s International Arena. In addition, there will be a freestyle motocross team doing its stuff twice a day. Tickets from arenacrossuk.com

KTM toughens 300 EXC for 2024

Designed to compete in the most challenging hard enduro races, KTM has released the 2024 KTM 300 EXC Hardenduro, which is now positioned at the top end of the KTM Enduro model range. Wellknown German hard enduro rider Manuel Lettenbichler has already given the 2024 KTM 300 EXC Hardenduro his stamp of approval, having taken the 2022 Hard Enduro World Championship title and opening his 2023 campaign with wins at Red Bull Erzbergrodeo and Xross Hard Enduro Rally.

Based on the 2024 KTM 300 EXC, the Hardenduro is specially built to tackle challenging terrain and features an abundance of special protective

parts, including closed hand guards, clutch slave cylinder protection, composite skid plate and brake disc guards, all designed to withstand the most extreme racing scenarios.

Along with an all-new frame, closed-cartridge suspension, refined bodywork, and industryleading TBI technology, the 300 EXC Hardenduro also features dedicated parts like the factory wheelset featuring black D.I.D rims, black spokes, orangeanodised hubs and nipples, a ribbed diamond-patterned factory seat and front and rear pull straps. Metzeler 6 Days Extreme tyres come as standard, as does extra orange detailing. Models should be available from this month.

SLAM DUNK

Slam Bikes has just announced some huge discounts on its range of pit bikes, meaning savings of up to 30% off the previous prices. With models from 70cc to 250cc, there is something for everyone, with prices starting from £549, including VAT. Find out more about the range of Slam pit bikes at: www.slambikes.com

Kawasaki unveils new season KX450

KAWASAKI’S NEW KX450 REPRESENTS ITS FIRST FULLmodel change in five years. It benefits from a new frame and bodywork, plus increased engine performance, thanks to a symmetrically aligned intake and exhaust. In terms of tech highlights, the 2024 KX450 features, for the first time, power modes and traction control, with two engine maps and two levels of traction control selectable from switches on the handlebar. Additionally, smartphone connectivity allows riders to adjust engine mapping directly from their phones, including fuel

and ignition timing, while maintenance logs are also available. The KX450 will be available in November, with pricing to be confirmed shortly.

Beta back on the track

Beta has launched its first European market motocross bike for several decades, the RX300 two-stroke. It was first launched exclusively for the US market in 2021. The success of the US project, plus experience gained racing in the MXGP World Championship with the four-stroke RX450, has led to the Tuscan brand deciding to launch across Europe. This limited-production model will be produced for the first time outside the US.

With the RX300, Beta aims to combine rideability with high performance, providing plenty of power in the mid-range and top end, along with excellent torque. The power-valve motor comes with an electric

start fed by a lightweight lithium battery and two switchable power modes. Suspension is by modelspecific Kayaba units front and rear.

Every RX300 will be supplied with a stand. Prices have yet to be confirmed.

XTRAINER

When it comes to the Xtrainer enduro model, Beta claims, “The latest restyling lends the bike style, modernity and elegance.”

Available in 250cc and 300cc twostroke versions, the 2024 Xtrainer is lighter and lower than previous iterations, and has switchable engine maps and a manually adjustable exhaust power valve. The 8.8-litre, transparent fuel tank has an automatic mixer under the seat.

Beta says the most innovative feature is the electronic kill-switch key:

“The patented electronic key is a security system that simultaneously

MBE for Emma Bristow

EIGHT-TIMES FIM WOMEN’S World Trials Champion, Emma Bristow, has been awarded an MBE for services to Motorsport and Women in Sport.

The award reflects Emma’s long-term career in motorsport and tireless commitment to putting Britain on top of the motorcycle world with a total so far of 44 FIM TrialGP wins, eight FIM Women’s World Trials Championship titles and a further two FIM Women’s World

Super Enduro titles making her one of Britain’s top female athletes.

Commenting on the award, Bristow said, “I am so honoured to receive this award. It was completely unexpected, and all I have ever tried to do is keep improving myself and raise the level of women’s competition. I want to thank everybody who has supported my career, particularly Sherco Motorcycles, who have committed to women in motorsport above and

performs both the function of an anti-theft device and that of motorcycle and rider protection.” It consists of two parts: one is fixed to the handlebars and another, which is magnetic, is attached to the rider by a wrist strap.

If the two parts of the key are disconnected, then the engine is prevented from starting thanks to a unique code that matches the two parts to the bike. The key also operates as a kill-switch, disabling the engine if the two parts become disconnected in the event of a fall, providing greater safety for the rider if they should lose control or the bike is on the ground with the throttle open. Prices are to be confirmed.

Beta UK 01756 793521

charlie@beta-uk.com

beyond any other manufacturer.”

The date for the official award ceremony has yet to be announced, so Emma will have to wait for her visit to meet the Royals at Buckingham Palace.

Xtrainer

RX300

Boss ORV partners with Euromec Contracts

Euromec Contracts is now retailing Corvus Off-Road Vehicles’ products in the East Midlands region. Euromec dates back to 1997, and specialises in industrial cleaning and ground care equipment. Based in Market Harborough, it has more than 25 years of experience in municipal and industrial-powered machinery. As well as becoming a Corvus dealer, it is also an official UK dealer for Kubota, Honda Power Products, STIGA and Mountfield. Phil Everett, MD at Boss ORV, welcomed the company to the Corvus dealer network, which now comprises of 43 dealers, giving a total of 60 outlets across the UK. Euromec will sell the complete range of Corvus Terrain UTVs and accessories, including the professional UTVs, the Terrain DX4, the all-electric EX4 and a new mid-sized model due later in the year.

For more information, contact: 01785 561046; sales@bossorv.co.uk; www.bossorv.co.uk

RFN Rally Pro wins product design award

LAUNCHED IN THE UK IN MARCH 2023, THE RFN RALLY PRO, MADE BY Chinese brand Apollo, has picked up the prestigious German Design Award for Excellent Product Design in Motorcycles. The Rally Pro was recognised for its outstanding design, powerful performance, and comprehensive safety features.

The German Design Award is an internationally recognised accolade honouring outstanding product and communication design achievements. Each year, a panel of experts evaluates submissions based on criteria including innovation, functionality, aesthetics, and user experience.

"We are thrilled to receive the German Design Award for Excellent Product Design in Motorcycles," said Chanel Er, founder of Apollo Motor. “The RFN Rally Pro represents our commitment to delivering cuttingedge design, exceptional performance, and uncompromising safety. This recognition is a testament to the dedication and expertise of our team.”

For more information about RFN Rally Pro contact Urban Moto Distribution: 01522 589461; www.rfnbikes.co.uk; distribution@urbanmoto.co.uk.

From left: Maria Griffiths (finance director), Graham Hill (sales director), Phil Everett (Boss ORV MD) and Nikki Heighton (director)

AI & ChatGPT

they get things wrong!

There’s been a lot of noise in the mainstream media about artificial intelligence (AI) and ChatGPT and, specifically, their misuse. A casual observer might think AI is a relatively recent development, but they would be wrong and probably surprised at how far it already touches our lives in very positive ways. AI guru Jack Watts talks about chatbots and digital twins (not what you think!), illustrating how AI is shaping our industry and customer behaviours and how you can use AI and stay safe in this brave new world

What is AI? The first book to explore the concept of artificial intelligence was written in 1948, and it considered the control and communication mechanisms in both living organisms and machines. In the late 1980s, Machine Learning (ML) arrived. These computer algorithms allowed software apps to generate new outputs based on existing data (e.g. to predict outcomes without being explicitly programmed to do so). Deep Learning (DL) then took off in the early 2000s – these artificial neural networks (similar to how the human brain works) are used in order to create even more advanced AI applications.

CHATGPT

Launched last year, ChatGPT is an AI chatbot that allows users to have human-like conversations, and it can answer questions and assist with various tasks. It is now the fastest-growing consumer technology application in history. In less than two months, it had 100 million

monthly active users. To put that into perspective, it took TikTok about nine months to attract that many users. I like to describe ChatGPT as everyone’s favourite seven-year-old who’s a bit of a know it all!

Can we rely on AI/ChatGPT? While it is immensely powerful, question marks remain about

These have already been around for a few years, but more recently, it is AI developments which have led to fully autonomous driving. While this is designed to improve safety, we all know that these systems are not yet infallible. However, the newest systems can draw on the combined experiences

replica that functionally operates the same, but in a simulated environment and enables BMW to run thousands of simulations of vehicles being manufactured to inform the optimum allocation and placement of resources for maximum efficiency.

bias, privacy, copyright and, more importantly, accuracy. This isn’t surprising as AI/ChatGPT derives its learning from sources all over the internet (which aren’t always accurate) and then makes a general assumption, so it can often generate incorrect information – Don’t believe everything you read unless you can verify the source.

AI is already everywhere: Most of us drive cars, and some will be equipped with Automated Driver Assistance Systems.

of the vehicles in use (and their drivers’ habits and weaknesses) to improve the systems through learning and making them safer.

PUTTING AI TO WORK

BMW recently broke ground on a brand-new factory in Hungary which is expected to start mass manufacturing vehicles in 2025. In order to understand the best placement for humans and robots to build their vehicles, they created a Digital Twin factory. This is an exact digital

Consumer buying behaviours: eBay is a further example of how AI influences consumer purchases. There’s a huge algorithm behind the madness that provides consumers with targeted product placement. It understands each user’s preferences and what else they may want to add to their basket. These ‘recommender systems’ are slowly becoming commonplace among large retailers and service providers (think Netflix) and are personalising the user experience to ever-greater levels.

Fraud and misinformation: Inevitably, with a tool so powerful, there will always be scammers who seek to take advantage of AI for wrongful and fraudulent purposes. Videos of

If you put to one side that AI can be misused, it has great potential to help businesses of all types

individuals such as politicians can be synthesised into new data, and this Deepfake technology is already being employed to spread misinformation and/ or steer public opinion. Just take a moment to think about whether a telephone call from a well-known customer or supplier of yours asking for a refund or a payment is really them. Now more than ever, everyone needs to be on guard.

Of course, not all AI is out to get you. Many of you will have AI technology in your pocket – Apple’s Siri uses AI to run its speech-to-text (and vice versa) algorithms and voice recognition software. Whilst you may not always get an error-free transcription, remember that we all speak with different dialects, intonation, etc., so these neural networks are phenomenally clever and powerful systems, and as they are used more, they learn more and will become progressively more accurate.

HOW CAN I USE AI?

If you can put to one side that AI can be misused, it has great potential to help businesses of all types; If you have a consumer-facing website, or an eBay or Amazon store, AI can help optimise the way you present your products to your customers and link products together in order to increase sales. If you’re in distribution/ logistics, AI-based simulation tools can help optimise your warehouse stock and delivery routes. Likewise, if you are a manufacturer, you can optimise your tooling, manufacturing processes, and so much more –the scope is almost endless.

A great example of how AI can be a power for the

good is in augmenting human intelligence to improve cancer detection. Imagine there are 100 medical scans from patients that radiologists see on a daily basis to assess and decide whether further investigation or follow-ups are required – the time spent would be enormous. Now imagine an AI system that has learned how to accurately determine whether a scan is clear or not. The time and cost savings would be significant, and the radiologist can focus on the targeted patients, review greater patient numbers and therefore catch cancer earlier and treat it sooner.

TECHNOLOGICAL PROGRESS

The advent of AI really started in first gear around 2012, when researchers across the globe found that for an image recognition challenge (namely ImageNet) they could use GPUs (Graphical Processing Units) from popular chipmaker NVIDIA in order to solve the challenge of correctly identifying images from a training set of one million in more than 1000 categories. This meant that when the AI was shown a new image of a particular animal or ‘thing’ it would be able to identify what is in the image with accuracy rates much higher than were previously possible.

NVIDIA is a company that creates GPUs for playing computer games – including for the original Xbox console, integrating into gaming PCs and into laptops so that games can be played with higherfidelity graphics. Now these GPUs are present quite literally everywhere: in your favourite hyperscaler (i.e. cloud

services, such as Google Cloud Platform, Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure) as well as in devices such as drones, CCTV cameras and even in modern vehicles, to not only improve the graphical user interface of infotainment/instrument clusters but also to assist the automated driving systems mentioned previously.

To quote a friend, Eli David PhD: “In the gold rush towards creating these AI applications, NVIDIA is providing the shovels.”

There are thousands of companies vying to create valuable AI platforms – in NVIDIAs Inception Program for instance (a program for startup companies working on a variety of AI applications), there are in excess of 13,000 companies which are now part of the community.

BIG DATA

ChatGPT version 3 (3.5 is currently the version you can interact with for free) was trained using internet content up to 2021. To train this AI, the data set contained more than 170 billion parameters – parameters

in AI training are like adjustable knobs that help the AI learn and make accurate predictions. The AI improves its performance by tweaking these knobs based on its training data and learns how

to solve specific tasks, and this takes several ‘ZetaOps’ of computing power (equivalent to more than 100 billion latest generation Xbox consoles’ computing power).

Although there was a longlived ‘AI Winter’, over the past decade things have been accelerating beyond the rate of innovation, and this is happening because of three key factors:

y Big data is readily available, whether it be images, words, or audio tagged with metadata – training sets to teach these AI machines are readily available for research and experimentation

y Computing is democratised, meaning anyone with a laptop containing a performant GPU, a gaming

INCORRECT INFORMATION

I WAS POINTED TO A POST ON LINKEDIN BY A close friend about the EN 17092 standard for protective clothing where ChatGPT did what is expected when prompted, ‘What is EN 17092?’

It came back with a mix of correct and incorrect information. This is because ChatGPT will have based its response on the official original sourced material as standard, but that material would also have been picked up by media outlets, bloggers etc, that may have interpreted itslightly differently.

So how can you protect yourself against misinformation generated by these Large Language Models, which drive ChatGPT and others? Firstly, I would always take something that ChatGPT ‘says’ or generates with a pinch of salt – if you wish to know truthfully what has

been generated is accurate, check it with its original source. Or you could use Microsoft’s ‘New Bing’, which is actually connected to ChatGPT, but it leverages the Bing search engine to cite and point you to the source material. Accuracy is subject to the garbage in, garbage out mantra; take the generated responses with a pinch of salt and research properly so you are able to make informed and proper decisions based on the information you are being served, whether it is trying a new recipe, or voting for your next MP.

Also, consider your privacy and potential IP (Intellectual Property) sharing through these platforms. The data you are using as prompts in order to generate responses from chatbots,

PC, or Cloud can develop AI platforms

y A proliferation of opensource tools. Open-source tools mean free-touse software enabling innovation from a toolbox level to easily create AI applications across varying fields

GETTING IT WRONG

So why does AI get things wrong? How is this happening even after years of development, and how do you protect yourself when it comes to using tools like ChatGPT?

Remember we said earlier that GPT3 was trained on the entire internet up to 2021. Whilst there is a lot of great

whether it be ChatGPT or otherwise, can and will be used as retraining/reinforcement learning data to improve the platform itself. If you have a privacy or ethical concern around this technology that you can’t answer, perhaps you shouldn’t use the platform.

This then brings into question the trust for these platforms. However, in today’s world, we are incredibly ‘loose’ with our personal and private information, whether it be sharing on Facebook or Instagram, or your emails being scraped for details in order to target advertisements to you. We’re certainly more liberal when it comes to data these days. Who reads privacy policies anyway? There must be one or two of you out there(!)

and accurate information on the internet, there is likely a far greater amount of incorrect information. Consider sources such as Wikipedia – the site is littered with inaccurate information. Databases are all subject to the mantra ‘Garbage in, Garbage Out’, so you can imagine that while GPT3 learnt a lot of good information, it also learnt a lot of bad information. That’s why you will see memes and news articles poking fun at how wrong ChatGPT can get things. Everything is dependent on the accuracy of the core Large Language Models being trained on a massive corpus of data. You can now start to understand how ChatGPT could make things up, get facts completely wrong or generate out-of-date information.

INCREASING POPULARITY

What got us here, and what’s driving AI?

AI has become part of pop culture thanks to tools like ChatGPT being easily accessible and completely free of charge to the masses. In a recent monthly user count review from Visual Capitalist, OpenAI’s ChatGPT has peaked at more than 1.8 billion monthly users. This far eclipses monthly users of LinkedIn (1.6bn) and Netflix (1.4bn), and is getting close to applications

like TikTok(2bn).

AI is here to stay, and the next few years will be pivotal in how it is adopted across different industries, sectors and society as a whole. AI isn’t perfect, but it does learn and will improve the more it is used. As it becomes embedded in more systems used in everyday business life, it apparant the technology is here to stay, and it looks as though it could arguably be the start of the next industrial revolution. 

JACK WATTS IS A SEASONED AI expert and speaker with a 15 plus year long career in information technology at senior level with companies such as Boston, NVIDIA and NetApp. His recently launched consultancy, ‘Jack of all AI Limited’, focuses on aiding companies and individuals, no matter where they are at in their AI journey.

www.jackofallai.co.uk

jack@jackofallai.co.uk

Beat

TRIVIAL BENEFITS –NO TRIVIAL MATTER

For an employer, giving staff gifts can be a great morale booster, and it doesn’t have to be taxing if the rules are followed

Benjamin Franklin famously stated that “in this world, nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” Focusing on the second of these, as a rule of thumb, tax and National Insurance Contributions (NICs) are payable on most types of income and benefits an employer provides to their employees. Trivial benefits – a handy tax exemption – partly disproves Franklin’s statement and may be of benefit in a workplace.

In essence, if employers keep within the rules, the trivial benefits exemption allows them to provide small gifts and other perks to their employees without either party suffering tax or NICs.

WHAT ARE EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS?

Benefits in kind are non-cash items provided to employees by their employer and are often

just referred to as benefits. Common benefits include the provision of a company car or van, private medical insurance, or living accommodation.

Trivial benefits are not subject to tax or NICs for either the employee or the employer

Employees who receive these from their employer will generally pay income tax on the value of whatever they have received. While there is no NIC charge on the benefit for the employee, their employer will pay a special type of NIC every year on the value of taxable benefits provided to its employees.

HOW ARE TRIVIAL BENEFITS DIFFERENT?

Trivial benefits are not subject to tax or NICs for either the employee or the employer. They allow employers to provide employees with small gifts, treats and general perks without creating a tax or NIC cost for either party. As is often the case when it comes to tax, the devil is in the detail.

WHAT COUNTS AS A TRIVIAL BENEFIT?

The main conditions for a benefit to qualify as trivial are as follows:

y The cost to the employer of providing the benefit has to be £50 or less per recipient

y It can’t be a reward for work done by the employee, or an incentive for future work

y It can’t be in the form of cash or cash vouchers

y It can’t be provided as part of contractual arrangements, including salary sacrifice

Common examples might include flowers for a birthday, team meals out to celebrate new staff joining, or chocolate treats at Easter.

PITFALLS TO WATCH OUT FOR

Used correctly, trivial benefits can help employers take care of their employees and build a happier, more productive working environment.

But while the rules might appear straightforward at first, it’s important to look at some of the hidden quirks, which can catch out a well-meaning employer.

COST

The £50 limit applies to the cost of providing the benefit, including VAT. If the cost exceeds £50 per employee, the entire value is subject to income tax for the employee and NIC for the employer, like a normal benefit. So, a £60 bottle of champagne given to an employee on their birthday would result in tax and NIC being charged on the full £60, not just the £10 excess over the trivial benefits exemption.

The value of benefits can be linked. For example, in May, an employer gives an employee a £30 gift voucher for their favourite retailer, which is not exchangeable for cash. This qualifies as a trivial benefit. A month later, the employer tops up the voucher by £20 and then, in September, tops it up again by a further £15. The £20 top-up qualifies as a trivial benefit as the cost of the voucher is still within the £50 limit. But the top-up in September will not qualify as a trivial benefit because the total cost to the employer of providing the voucher now exceeds £50.

If a benefit is provided to a number of employees and it isn’t practical to work out the cost per employee, then the £50 cap applies to the average cost per employee instead.

Only non-cash vouchers qualify for the exemption. This can include vouchers for online or high street shops, but only if they can’t be exchanged for cash in whole or in part.

FREQUENCY

Providing a gift to employees annually should not make it a contractual entitlement. For instance, a Christmas hamper which costs the employer £50 or less can be provided to employees every year and still qualify as a trivial benefit.

Providing gifts on a very frequent basis (e.g. a different £50 gift voucher every month) is not specifically excluded from the trivial benefits exemption; however, the exemption is intended to cover occasional gifts and gestures of goodwill. It is likely that very frequent gifts to employees could be subject to challenge by HMRC, who may argue they were a reward for work done by the employee or that the frequency created an expectation by the employee such that they could demand the employer kept providing the benefit.

REWARD FOR SERVICES

The trivial benefits exemption is not available where gifts or perks are provided as a reward for services or to incentivise employees to work harder. A lunch for sales representatives who have reached their target will not qualify as a trivial benefit, but a lunch to celebrate the end of a busy year would.

EMPLOYEE BUYS A GIFT FOR A COLLEAGUE

An employee who is asked by their employer to buy a trivial gift for a colleague – and is reimbursed – will be liable to tax on the

reimbursement for that gift as normal pay even though the company or recipient won’t be. This can be avoided if the employer buys the gift directly.

DIRECTORS

A specific rule applies to directors of close companies – that is, a company 50% or more of which is owned by its directors or five or fewer shareholders.

The cost of trivial benefits that close company directors can receive from ‘their’ company is capped at £300 per tax year. This includes the value of any trivial benefits received by members of the director’s household (say, partner, children, parents) unless they themselves are a director or employee of the company.

TAKE-AWAY MESSAGE

Used properly, the trivial benefits exemption can help boost staff morale and build loyalty between employers and employees. However, the pitfalls require careful consideration, and employers would be well advised to keep records of the costs of all trivial benefits provided should HMRC raise any questions later. 

DAVID WRIGHT

David Wright is a technical officer at the Association of Taxation Technicians.

Used correctly, trivial benefits can help employers take care of their employees and build a happier, more productive working environment

Wonders

IN THE WORKSHOP

45 years experience and four warehouses rammed with pattern and OE parts makes WMD one of the trade’s most reliable spares providers

WMD claims to carry the biggest range of motorcycle parts in the UK, and with more than five million pattern parts listed, who are we to argue? These parts cover nearly 37,500 different models from the 1970s to the latest offerings, regardless of country of origin. However, only some of these parts are destined for its 3000-plus UK trade accounts, as global distribution arm Wemoto Franchise supplies customers worldwide and has outlets in Australia, the Czech Republic, France, Italy and Spain, but all orders are fulfilled in the UK.

The company is slightly unusual as there are, in effect, three distinct sides of the business. The retail side is Wemoto, the trade-facing brand is WMD and the distribution operation is Wemoto Franchise. To get this in perspective we need to wind the clock back

a bit. World’s End Motorcycles was established on the borders of Chelsea and Fulham to cater for the London motorcycle courier industry in 1978. Don’t forget this was 20 years before the internet got off the ground, and if you wanted something the same day, you phoned for a part. It was a thriving business, and hundreds of bikes needed servicing and maintenance.

The business later moved premises to Hammersmith and began dealing in Japanese grey imports and carrying spare parts for those machines – you can see where this is going. The parts business began to expand, and as the internet became established, so passing trade became less important, which prompted a move to the more pleasant surroundings of Hove on the Sussex coast, where it resided until 2007.

David Waters, WMD sales manager

The following year the business changed into pretty much what it is today. After a move along the coast to Southwick near Shoreham Harbour, WMD was established, and by 2009 it had expanded into four warehouses and was employing more than 40 staff.

Today there are a few more staff, and according to sales manager David Waters, they are all dedicated to their tasks, most of which are manual. We’re not talking Amazon here. Dealers can phone WMD and talk to someone who knows about the products and can give advice when required. Obviously, most ordering is done online, and generally, the IT is handled inhouse. Waters says that there will be a completely refreshed WMD website up and running in the near future.

When it comes to new models, WMD can use its expertise to cross reference new parts with existing ones, and as it stocks OE and pattern parts, it can offer dealers favourable margins. At the other end of the scale, WMD can still offer parts for classic Japanese models going back to the 1970s. Over the years, the company has built up the knowledge of which aftermarket and pattern parts are at least as good as those supplied by the manufacturers who, after all, buy in many parts like bearings, brakes, cables and hoses from proprietary suppliers anyway. In many instances you could be getting the identical part at a lower price.

As well as standard replacement parts and service items, WMD can also provide upgrades and performance parts. Some of the brands are exclusive to WMD, such as the Slinky Glide range of control cables, which have a polyamide-lined sleeve and a stainless-steel inner cable giving a frictionless feel for a good deal less than the OE item. Slinky Glide also produces

HAPPY DEALER

“WMD OFFERS A GREAT RANGE of quality products at very competitive prices. They’re always willing to help and always deliver on time. Can’t recommend them highly enough.”

Firefox Racing

Waddington St, Keighley

bearing kits for wheels, and suspension linkages, as well as fork components, seals, bushes and retaining clips.

Sticking brake caliper pistons can be eliminated by fitting TRK stainless-steel piston kits which come with a lifetime warranty. TRK also produces clutch and master cylinder rebuild. HiFlo oil and air filters are virtually an industry standard and offer great margins.

Other consumables include EBC and Brenta brake pads, D.I.D, JT and Afam chains and sprockets. And when it comes to shock absorbers, YSS has made a name for itself in a fairly short space of time as the go-to-brand for replacement units.

Apart from generous margins, trade account holders also benefit from new product and applications updates via email. For example, new and replacement

parts for the Royal Enfield Meteor. Dealers can also access wmdonline.wordpress. com to check out products and pertinent motorcycle legislation like emissions and ULEZ expansion. Looking ahead, Waters says he isn’t too worried by the threat of battery electric motorcycles because all cycle parts will still need to be replaced, and perhaps more often with the lack of engine braking and increased weight. For example, Waters says brake pads will have a shorter life not to mention fork bushes, swingarm bearings, chains and belts.

With WMD, dealers like the ability to order online when they know what they want and receive next-day delivery, and if there’s any advice required, there’s always someone on the end of the phone. 

WMD 01273 595746

info@wmd-online.com wmd-online.com

MATTERS MARKETING

IT WORTH HAVING A SALE?

When sales are sluggish and you need to turn stock into cash fast, cutting prices is often an instinctive reaction. Sometimes that’s the best course of action, but this isn’t always the case because discounting has consequences, some of which aren’t obvious. Possibly the greatest danger is something I refer to as the ‘sale tap trap’. This happens when you rely on discounts to boost turnover. Customers are fast learners and will quickly recognise that it’s worth holding off making a purchase until the next discount deal comes along. You then find yourself in the uncomfortable position that you only sell products that are on offer and, when they return to the regular price, sales dry up, just like turning off a tap.

Black Friday is a very good example of this behaviour. This pre-Christmas discount bonanza started in the USA in the 1950s and was brought over to the UK in 2010 by Amazon. Initially, retailers seized on it as a way to stimulate sales at a traditionally quiet time of year. However, it soon became apparent that shoppers knew there would

be amazing deals on Black Friday and waited for it to come around before making a purchase. Basically, retailers had trained customers to avoid paying the full price, even on popular lines.

cross buns or whatever else they start selling in the New Year.

The same is true for end-of-season sales. You won’t sell many swimsuits and bottles of sunscreen in winter, and snow boots aren’t big sellers in the summer, so customers need an incentive to buy these things when they don’t actually need them.

And we’re all familiar with special offers designed to tempt us to spend money during quieter times, such as mid-week bargains in hotels and restaurants and cheaper holidays during school terms.

On the flip side, we have regular events like the January sales that work very well. Everyone understands that some stock will remain on the shelves after Christmas, and that needs to be cleared. Whether it’s wrapping paper or mince pies, shops need to get shot to make space for Easter eggs and hot

A really good rule of thumb with any special offer is that it should be transactional –customers enjoy a cheaper price because they are making some form of sacrifice. That could be buying beachwear months before they go on holiday or eating at an unpopular time of day. But there always needs to be a clear reason for a sale; otherwise, customers expect discounts every time they shop with you. 

NEXT MONTH

How do I keep customers over winter?

Expert advice to improve how you promote and sell productsyour or

A sale needs to be a special one-off event, otherwise customers will expect a discount every time they buy

IS

Customers are fast learners and will quickly recognise it’s

Four-day weeks work

With a redefinition of the importance that individuals attach to workplace flexibility and benefits, employers wanting to recruit in a tight labour market need to consider how they use the tools at their disposal.

THE FOUR-DAY WORKING WEEK DEFINED

To describe the four-day week, Lucy Gordon, a director at legal firm Walker Morris, uses the example of the notional full-time employee who traditionally works five eight-hour days a week. They would simply reduce their hours to work only four eight-hour days a week (totalling 32 hours), while still receiving their full-time, 40-hour week salary.

“The rationale,” she says, “is that employees working those hours will, so the hypothesis goes, give the same level of output as an employee working a five-day week.” She adds that the concept of the four-day week shouldn’t be confused with compressed hours – where the usual 40-hour week is worked over four days.

The four-day week was tested over a six-month period from June to December 2022 in a trial that was organised by campaigning group 4 Day Week Global. Of the 61 participating companies, 56 decided to continue with their four-day working week for the time being, including 18 that made the change permanent.

FOR AND AGAINST

So, why, given the status quo, should employers consider moving to a four-day working week? In answer, Gordon points to a

wide range of benefits such as improved staff health and wellbeing, no loss in productivity – or even an increase in productivity, significantly improved staff retention rates, the ability to attract the best talent, lower rates of sickness absence, the promotion of equality, and a reduction in the carbon footprint of the workforce and business. She quotes other benefits from the trial: “Participating companies were satisfied with productivity and business performance; sick days fell by about two-thirds; and 57% fewer

staff left the companies taking part, compared with the same period a year earlier.”

But it’s not all a bed of roses. Some have voiced concerns that where weekly working hours are not reduced proportionally to match the four-day working week, the requirement to work longer days may increase stress for some employees.

And then there’s the need for employers to give sufficient consideration to the continuity of their business, including the ability to provide an acceptable service

A recent four-day working week trial found that productivity doesn’t necessarily drop

Participating companies were satisfied with productivity and business performance; sick days fell by about two-thirds

level throughout reduced staffing on one or more days of the week. Businesses –especially retail – cannot close entirely for an additional day of the week.

MAKING THE MOVE

So, when an employer is considering moving to a four-day working week, what practical and legal issues should they be thinking about?

The first that Gordon says must be reconciled is the type of four-day working week that is to be adopted. On this, she comments “it’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking that a four-day working week simply means ‘Fridays off’. But that policy won’t suit every industry, departmental structure, company culture, and so on.”

Next, expectations in relation to productivity and any amendments to targets or similar should be explained clearly from the outset.

As for the various options, Gordon details three:

y A ‘staggered’ model where everyone works four days a week, but staff take their new day off on different days each week, ensuring the company is still operative over the usual five working days

y A ‘decentralised’ model. In larger organisations, it may be more appropriate to devolve the decision to department heads, who decide what works best for their team

y An ‘annualised’ model where staff work an average number of hours a week equivalent to four working days a week, annualised across the year. This is likely more appropriate for seasonal businesses with peaks and troughs in workload throughout the year

CONTRACTS AND THE DETAIL

While it may seem that most employees would surely leap at a move to a four-day week, not all will want to change. This means that the employment contract is central to the move, particularly whether it allows for a

change to a four-day working week.

Businesses must consider their employees’ current employment terms and remain mindful of the need for employee consent – in writing – to any amendments to them.

Beyond that is the fact that some employers may wish to remove or reduce certain benefits to reflect the reduction in working hours. However, Gordon points out that even a broadly positive change to employment terms can still amount to a breach of contract.

So, as with any substantive change, it makes sense, says Gordon, to trial a four-day working week to begin with to ensure that it works for the business and workforce. She sees risk in a poorly run trial and potential for “an employee relations disaster should the employer decide to move back to a five-day model at the end of the trial period.” This is why she says that the employer should set out clear, transparent, measurable and appropriate objectives that will need to be met to justify keeping the model.” Fundamentally, she says that care should be taken not to tie the business into making the four-day working week a permanent fixture, even if the objectives are met.

Another concern will be overtime arrangements and how the shift to a four-day working week affects staff. “Thought,” says Gordon, “needs to be applied to covering the

risk of employees essentially just working their previous ‘fifth’ working day through overtime, which could be more costly.”

Then there’s the matter of part-time employees and how the four-day week interacts with them.

Fundamentally, care should be taken to ensure that part-time workers are not treated unfairly during any trial and/or permanent change to a four-day week. Gordon poses a number of questions here –“would staff now become full-time with the accompanying benefits, or would they reduce their hours further? What about other parttime staff?” She says “this is an area where employers will need to be particularly careful because of the obligation not to treat parttime workers less favourably.”

Lastly, Gordon draws attention to what happens to annual leave. She says that employers need to reflect on entitlement and if it’ll be reduced as a result of the change, and whether employees receive a day in lieu if a now normal day off falls on a bank holiday. “Tight drafting,” as she says, “will be crucial here.”

SUMMARY

The four-day week raises a number of questions and issues that need resolving. None can be sidestepped if an employeerelations disaster is to be avoided. 

The latest products for your showroom

DETAIL MAINTAIN WITH MINT

Oxford Dakota 3.0

THE NEW AND COMPLETELY REDESIGNED THIRD version of the Dakota ladies’ suit claims to have improved fit and venting, while retaining the waterproof qualities of its predecessors. Designed as a year-round commuting or touring suit, the Dakota 3.0 has a HD Poly outer shell, which has tight-weave fibres to resist water and dirt, and CE level 1 shoulder and elbow protectors, with a pocket for a back protector. Ventilation for hot days is provided by zipped chest vents and a rear exhaust vent, while for colder days there is a removable quilted thermal liner. The jacket comes in four colour options and in sizes 8-20 for an SRP of £129.99, and the trousers come in black, in three leg lengths, for £109.99. Oxford Products; 01993 862300; info@oxprod.com

Disney + Vespa 4

IF THERE WAS EVER A SCOOTER BRAND YOU COULDN’T accuse of being a Mickey Mouse operation it would be Vespa. Until now, that is, as the iconic Italian marque has teamed up with the Disney Corporation to create a Topolino (Italian for Mickey Mouse) themed version of the Primavera to celebrate Disney’s 100th anniversary. The Disney Mickey Mouse Edition comes in a combination of red, black, white and yellow inspired by the character’s original colours, with a graphic outlining the instantly recognisable silhouette applied to the side and front panels. Finally, Mickey Mouse’s signature is added to the front shell and embossed into the saddle. It comes in 50, 125 and 150cc versions, and each one comes with a matching helmet to complete the look. Prices and availability details will follow. Piaggio Group; 00800 818 29800; www.piaggio.com

EVS body protection

Dane Faaborg

DANE IS KNOWN FOR HIGH PERFORMANCE, heavy duty clothing designed to take the worst of conditions in its stride, and its Faaborg gloves are no exception. Despite being a summerweight glove, the Faaborg still has a water and wind proof Gore-Tex membrane, perfect to counter the monsoon season. Hard shell knuckle protection is fitted, along with foam shock absorbing reinforcements on each of the fingers and double thickness leather on the thumb and palm to get a CE level 1 certification. Practical features include Scotchlite reflective piping and an rubber wiper visor on the index finger. The Faaborg come in black, in sizes S-4XL for an SRP of £139. Dot4Distribution; 0203 514 2413; info@dot4distribution.com

CALIFORNIAN COMPANY EVS DESIGNED AND PRODUCED the ever first motocross-specific knee brace back in 1985, and has since gone on to produce a wide range of braces, supports, helmets and protective armour for extreme sports activity protagonists. Its latest product is the F2 roost deflector, which protects the shoulder, chest and back using a modular system. The F2 has a two-piece polypropylene chest plate with lateral articulation to provide ease of movement, supported by a grid of impact dampening pads which lift the armour away from the skin to increase airflow. There are lots of vents and there is a bio-foam moulded liner for better comfort. It’s fully adjustable to fit a wide range of riders and meets CE standards for roost and back protection. It comes in two sizes (S/M and L/XL) and a choice of black or white, for an SRP of £253.99.

EVS Sports; cs@.evs-sports.com

Givi 50.7

THE LATEST BUDGET PRICED FULL-FACE HELMET from Givi, the ECE 22.06-homologated 50.7, features a thermoplastic shell in two sizes fitted with a hypoallergenic removable and washable liner, plus removable nose pad and a Pinlock-ready anti scratch treated visor. An advanced ventilation system, says the manufacturer, makes the 50.7 ideal for summer touring and hot weather trips. It has three air intakes on the crown and chin and a pair of rear extraction vents. The 50.7 comes in solid matt black or gloss white for an SRP of £132.90, or a choice of two graphics for an extra £7. Givi UK; 01327 706220; info@givi.co.uk

Akrapovič V-Strom

SUZUKI’S MID-RANGE V-STROM 800DE IS THE recipient of a new lightweight slip-on end can from premium exhaust maker Akrapovič. Made from high-grade titanium with a carbon fibre end cap and supplied with a stainless steel link pipe and a carbon fibre heat shield, the system promises a noticeable power increase of 1.5hp and a torque improvement of 1.3Nm at mid and high rev ranges. Weight reduction amounts to 1.2kg, which is a 24% reduction compared to the OE exhaust. SRP is £1156. Performance Parts; 01327 706139; enquiries@performanceparts-ltd.com

AWARD WINNING

CLEANING PRODUCTS

A carefully formulated, award winning range of specialist cleaning products to make your pride and joy ‘best in show’

Kawasaki Eliminator 5

KAWASAKI HAS CONFIRMED THAT IT WILL BE BRINGING THE ELIMINATOR NAME BACK TO THE EUROPEAN market for 2024. Arriving in UK dealerships in January 2024, the 450cc parallel twin powered machine will boast low seat height cruiser styling with a trellis frame and 18in front and 16in rear wheels. Twin rear shocks add further to the traditional look. It will be available in Flat Spark black or matt carbon grey for price of £6600-£6800. Kawasaki; 01628 856750; www.kawasaki.co.uk

SHORT CUTS

DENALI CANSMART

A NEW VERSION OF THE DENALI CANSMART

Controller to fit Triumph’s Tiger 900 and 1200 models has been launched. The CANsmart is a plug-and-play device used to control up to four accessories, including auxiliary lights, indicators, horns, brake lights and much more, without the need to modify the wiring loom. Various customisable settings for the accessories can then be set up using the Denali Accessory Manager – a system that utilises the OEM bike controls. SRP is £269.99 R&G; 01420 89007; alan.garrett@rg-racing.com

LS2 Advant X Carbon

LS2 HAS INTRODUCED A NEW TOP-OF-THE-RANGE

Weise Earhart 5

GIVI OFF-ROAD

GIVI HAS GIVEN ITS OFF-ROAD 60.1 HELMET range a new lick of paint with designs to complement the best selling off-road bikes on the market. A new Gloom graphic blends black and red skull-themed details with splash effects, while there are two new versions of the Invert graphic – red white and black (which Givi says matches the colours of the GasGas EC350) and shades of black for a more subtle look. The new colours, plus the existing 13 other colours in the range, have an SRP of £145.90.

Givi UK; 01327 706220; info@givi.co.uk

Carbon shelled version of it popular Advant flip-front helmet. The new Advant X Carbon is made using a wide weave carbon fibre to give good levels of penetration resistance and energy dispersion while reducing overall weight to 1550g. LS2 says it is the only helmet of its type to include a carbon chin bar, further reducing weight, and it meets the ECE 22.06 standards in both the open and closed positions. Other features include a Pinlock-ready visor and drop-down sun visor, plus a multi-vent ventilation system and a removable and washable liner. Fitting is by micrometric metal buckle. The Advant X Carbon comes with a Pinlock insert, spare tinted visor, bag, and carrying rucksack in solid carbon finish for £379.99 or three graphic options for £399.99.

LS2 Helmets UK; 01670 856342; ukservice@ls2helmets.com

Richa jackets

A CLASSIC LEATHER JACKET with aviation-inspired styling, the Earhart jacket from Weise is named in honour of Amelia Earhart – the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic.

Tailored specifically for women riders, the Earhart is made from natural cowhide with a “waxy” finish to give a soft and supple feel. Design details include quilted stitching on the shoulders and back, YKK vintage-styled zips throughout and zipped adjustment at the hips for improved flexibility on the bike. A pair of external and three internal pockets add a level of practicality. Inside is a removable 75gsm quilted vest thermal liner, plus shoulder, back and elbow armour which helps to bring the Earhart its AA CE-rating.

The Earhart comes in sizes 8-22, in black or a red based on the colour of the Lockheed 5B Vega aircraft in which Amelia completed her transatlantic flight, for an SRP of £249.99.

The Key Collection; 01179 719200; sales@thekeycollection.co.uk

VE ACTIF LOCK

A SIMPLE BUT EFFECTIVE ADDITION TO SCOOTER security, the VE ACTIF handlebar to frame lock can be locked and unlocked in only a few seconds. It fits at seat and handlebar level, which means riders don’t have to bend down and scrabble under the vehicle to access it, and secures the handlebars to the scooter’s frame. Keeping the lock off of the floor also helps to keep it clean from road grime. There are locks to fit Vespa PX E, X and EFL models up to 200cc; the PX125/200 Disc; T5 Mk1 and Classic and LML Star 125 two- and four-stroke models. There is also a universal lock for machines not otherwise covered. SRP is £104.52.

VE (UK); 01159 462991; sales@ve-uk.com London

SUBTLE AND UNDERSTATED IS THE TONE FOR TWO NEW JACKETS from Belgian brand Richa – Universal and London. The Universal is an urban commuter jacket that is A-rated for protection but looks like a regular anorak. It is made from a fourway stretch laminate textile with a waterproof Aquashell 2L Pro membrane and a detachable thermal liner for insulation. D3O Ghost armour is fitted at shoulders and elbows, both of which can be upgraded to Level 2, and there is a pocket for a Level 1 or level 2 back protector. Seven pockets provide more than adequate storage for any personal effects. It comes in navy blue, olive green or anthracite grey in sizes S-4XL for an SRP of £279.99. The London jacket has a more vintage style, featuring a casual shirt aesthetic with four pocket detailing. Made from a cotton and nylon mix, the jacket is AA-rated and has D3O level 1 armour at the shoulders and elbow, plus a D3O back protector as standard – all of which can be upgraded to D3O Ghost or level 2 protectors if required. The London makes no promises about being waterproof, but does have a storm flap over the zipper to offer some protection from the rain, and the only lining is a soft mesh liner for comfort. It comes in olive green, in sizes S-4XL, at an SRP of £219.99. Nevis Marketing; 01425 478936; info@nevis.uk.com

TCX waterproof boots 56

TWO UPDATED BOOT DESIGNS HAVE BEEN LAUNCHED BY TCX FOR THE 2023 season. The Hero 2 Waterproof is a classic lace-up style boot with reinforcements at the ankle, toe and heel areas for added safety. The uppers are full-grain leather with a contoured collar, while the soles boast a tessellated tread for added grip. A T-Dry waterproof membrane keeps feet dry. Fastening is by laces, augmented by a hidden side zipper making it quicker to put them on or off. Available only in back, in euro sizes 36-48, for an SRP of £229.99.

A more modern-styled biker boot, the Clima 2 features Gore-Tex Surround technology, which promises to optimise water resistance as well as channel moisture and heat outwards through the boots’ side vent perforations. There are reinforced polyurethane inserts on the shin, ankle and gear lever area to provide impact protection. They come in sizes 36-48 for an SRP of £289.99.

Nevis Marketing; 01425 478936; info@nevis.uk.com

Alpinestars Supertech R10

ITALIAN BRAND ALPINESTARS IS VENTURING INTO NEW territory with its first foray into the road helmet sector. The Supertech R10, based on Alpinestars’ decades of experience of producing high-tech performance clothing and safety kit for both road riding and racing, features a four-layer composite shell with a carbon outer and carbon composite, aramid and fibreglass under layers bonded by epoxy resin. Aerodynamics play a big part in the shell’s shape, improving efficiency, reducing buffeting and also feeding the voracious ventilation system. Inside is an eight-section multi-density EPS impactabsorbing layer shaped with channels for glasses and a drinks tube. The EPS also has a smooth coating to allow the removable and washable fabric liner to move against it in the event of an impact to reduce rotational acceleration.

Currently the only model revealed is the limited edition Supertech R10 Launch Edition, which comes in a glossy red and carbon finish and includes race and standard spoilers, clear and smoked visors, tear-offs, Pinlock and a storage bag, Expect more widely available and customer friendly versions to appear in the near future.

Alpinestars; 0039 0423 5286; sales@alpinestars.com

DNA air filters

MORE FILTERS CONTINUE TO ARRIVE FROM GREEK HIGH-FLOW FILTER specialists DNA. The latest pair are a Stage 2 Combo kit for KTM and Husqvarna models and a Full Contour Design filter for the latest Honda CBR600RR. The KTM/Husky kit replaces both the filter and the intake top cover and promises to nearly double the airflow rate, but is rated “For race use only”. It fits a plethora of 125 to 390cc models including KTM Duke, RC and Adventure, plus Husky Svartpilen and Vitpilen 125 to 401, from 2017-current. SRP is €150.

DNA says that the CBR600RR filter is made from four layers of special cotton fibre to give a 99% filer efficiency and to improve air flow by over 35% compared to the OE filter. It is specified for both road and race use and has an SRP of €105.

DNA Filters; info@dnafilters.com

Mivv Ducati 4

IN A QUEST TO BOOST THE PERFORMANCE OF Ducati’s DesertX Dakar-esqe adventure bike, Italian manufacturer Mivv has created a Euro 5 compliant titanium slip-on end can which is claimed to improve the engine’s output by 2.2hp. Torque is perked up by 2.6Nm, with improvements over the stock set up from 4300rpm up to the redline. Weight is also reduced by 1.1kg, adding to the performance gains. The end can comes in a “pearled” finish that Mivv says is highly resistant to the rigours of offroad riding.

Moto.GB Distribution; 01706 212102; mivvgb@gmail.com

Hero 2

Clima 2

SHORT CUTS

PUIG LUMEN Z

PUIG’S NEW LUMEN Z UNIVERSAL headlight combines retro styling aesthetic with modern LED technology to improve the light output of a wide range of naked and café racer style motorcycles. Made with a weatherproof powdercoated aluminium shell, the lamp measures a compact 176mm high by 99mm wide, and has a black finish. It comes in white or yellow light versions for an SRP of £112.99. Puig; 0034 938 49 06 33; info@puig.tv

Fire Stick

EVERY WORKSHOP IS EQUIPPED with fire extinguishers. They are an important tool to quench, or at least suppress, a blaze to protect both people and property, as well as being an insurance-stipulated essential.

Knox Calder

KNOX’S CALDER ARE A LIGHTWEIGHT SINGLE LAYER DENIM pair of motorcycle jeans made from abrasion resistant Cordura. Built for all-day use on and off the bike, Calder jeans have a classic cut with a tapered leg, and include Micro-Lock Compact armour at the knees and hips, which can be easily removed through an invisible zipped opening for a sleeker look.

Despite its lightweight construction, the Calder has achieved a Class A CE rating for cut, tear and abrasion resistance for both the men’s and ladies’ versions. They come in black or indigo blue in sizes S to 3XL in short or regular leg lengths for an SRP of £149.99.

Knox; 01900 825825; sales@planet-knox.com

Malossi RX MHR 54

HJC COMMS

HJC HAS DROPPED THE PRICE OF ITS INTEGRATED Bluetooth comms systems. The 50B and 21B models have been co-developed with comms specialist company Sena, and provide four-way intercoms, phone connectivity and music. Prices have been chopped by £50 to £349.99 for the 50B, and £80 to £219.99 for the 21B. Oxford Prods; 01993 862300; info@oxprod.com

While they have the ability to save lives, regular extinguishers have several drawbacks. They are relatively large and heavy, making them awkward to store and use. They also create a thorough mess as they spray water or foam over anything within range at a prodigious rate. Dousing even a small conflagration can result in a major clean-up operation.

So, RS Workshop Equipment is now selling the Fire Safety Stick – a fire extinguishing device which is compact and lightweight, and leaves no residue after being used as it uses a tested and proven technology, created for the space programme, that fights fires on the molecular level, by chemically interrupting the chain of combustion.

VELOCETTE ANALYSIS

A NEW BOOK FROM MOTORING publishers Veloce, Velocette – The Three Twins:Roarer,ModelOandLEis described as an in-depth engineering analysis of the trio of twin-cylinder models produced by the brand. The book has been written by pals Brian Agnew and Ivan Rhodes, who go into the details of the bikes’ design processes and the development history in great detail. It runs to 128 pages, including 97 photos and illustrations, for an SRP of £25.

Veloce Publishing;

01305 260068

www.veloce.co.uk

It works on wood, petrol, plastics, butane and methane, electrical fires and cooking oils and, unlike traditional extinguishers, can be left in an enclosed area to continue to suppress a fire without supervision. Available as 50 or 100 second discharge units, they have a 15 year shelf life and need no servicing. SRPs are £74.50 and £104.40 respectively.

RS Workshop Equipment; 01832 741007; www.rsworkshopequipment.co.uk

A NEW RACING EXHAUST SYSTEM TO SUIT ITALJET’S DISTINCTIVE CULT scooter, the Dragster 125 and 200, the Malossi RX MHR has been designed to be lightweight to improve performance. Made from brushed stainless steel with a carbon bottom plate, the system has a variable geometry casing filled with soundabsorbing material, resulting in an all-in weight of just 2.5kg – 3.5kg less than the OE kit. SRP is £599.99.

VE (UK); 01159 462991; sales@ve-uk.com

Touratech Compañero 5

GERMAN ACCESSORIES FIRM TOURTECH HAS BRANCHED OUT INTO the motorcycle clothing arena, with the Compañero adventure suit being the latest addition to its range.

Touratech says that its suit is the only textile suit manufactured in Europe to attain a AAA CE rating, thanks to the extensive use of Armacor overlays on the Cordura outer shell and the fitment of Level 2 armour at the shoulders, elbows, back, chest, hips and knees. A Gore-Tex Pro triple-layer laminate keeps out wind and rain, and ensures the suit doesn’t get saturated as water beads off rather than soaking through, while a total of 15 waterproof vents positioned in strategic areas keep things cool and dry on warmer days. A

TRADE Powering THE

removable inner jacket made of Polartec Wind Pro fleece provides insulation, and can be worn separately for off-bike use.

As you would expect of a high-end suit, practical touches abound, including a double offset front zip, numerous pockets (including several waterproof ones), an integrated kidney belt for added back support, a removable Gore-Tex storm collar, and lots of reflective elements to improve visibility. Obviously German engineering and production doesn’t come cheap, and this top-of-the-range suit carries an SRP of €1999 for the jacket and €1199 for matching trousers.

Touratech; +49 7728 9279-0; info@touratech.de

Oxford Courier Hotgrips

WITH LONG HOURS IN THE SADDLE, IN WHATEVER WEATHER IS thrown at them, the valiant delivery riders conveying pizzas and parcels across the cities of the UK are the unsung heroes of the two-wheel world. To give them a modicum of comfort as they go about their daily grind Oxford has brought out a heavy-duty version of its popular heated grips. The Courier Hotgrips use a harder-wearing, 40% tougher rubber for the grip for a longer life, along with a waterproof five-setting touch controller to provide the required level of warmth. They draw less than 2.5A, and have an auto shut-off to save the bike’s battery. They are also “Clic Grip ready”, which means they can work alongside Oxford’s Courier Muffs, reducing wear and providing better throttle grip performance. The Courier Hotgrips fit 22mm diameter handlebars and can be cut to length as required. SRP is £119.99. Oxford Products; 01993 862300; info@oxprod.com

hit with the trade, and we have only been live a month!

Wunderlich grilles 4

THE DUCATI MULTISTRADA V4 IS FITTED with a trio of radiators – two for the cooling system and one for the oil cooler. To protect them from expensive damage, Wunderlich has created a trio of protective grilles with a black-anodised aluminiumframe filled by a stainless steel mesh. SRP for a pair of radiator grilles is €149.90, and the oil cooler grille is €119.90.

Wunderlich;

+49 2641 3082-703; sales@wunderlich.de

Kriega rollpacks

ADVENTURE LUGGAGE SPECIALIST

Kriega has launched a pair of new Rollpacks in 20-litre and 40-litre capacities. Made from 420D Cordura Lite with a taped seam inner liner to make them 100% waterproof, the Rollpacks feature double-ended roll-top closure for easy access from both ends. They have integrated cam-buckle straps for easy fitting to a rear rack or pillion seat, and subframe loops for bikes with a rack or exposed frame. They come in a choice of black, Coyote (khaki), Camo, orange or lime yellow for an SRP of £159 for the 40-litre or £129 for the 20-litre.

Kriega; 01244 280487; sales@kriega.com

Trilobite Dual 5

A HOT DAY, AN EPIC RIDE TO THE COAST OR campsite, all spoiled by having to sit in the sun in hot sweaty jeans. Not any more, with Trilobite’s Dual motorcycle pants, which have a zip at knee height to allow the bottom half of the trouser leg to be removed for off-bike use. The canvas material is reinforced with aramid and Kevlar fibres for abrasion resistance, and CE level 2 armour is fitted at the hips and knees for impact protection, with the knee armour being adjustable for height. They come in black or beige, in waist sizes 32-40, for an SRP of £149.99.

Forcefield Body Armour; 01933 410818; info@forcefieldbodyarmour.com

Dane Elling

MOTORCYCLE TROUSERS

designed for harsh conditions, Dane Elling pants are made using Gore-Tex two-layer laminated fabric which is both waterproof and windproof. Slip-resistant Suregrip patches are added to the seat area for a better bum-tobike connection, and there is a removable thermal lining for winter use.

Protection is provided by height-adjustable CE level 2 SaS-Tec armour on the knees, with pockets for optional hip armour. Other features include reflective details, two zips to connect to Dane or other branded jackets, and vent zippers on the thighs to add a little cooling breeze if the weather warms up. The Elling pants are CE level A certified and come in black, sizes 48-62, for an SRP of £489. Dot4Distribution; 0203 514 2413; info@dot4distribution.com

CST Whitewall 4

ONE FOR THOSE WHO ENJOY THE RETRO scooter look, CST’s latest version of its Whitewall tyre brings the classic looks bang up-to-date with a new tread pattern which promises improved water dispersal. It also has a new factory-applied wrap to maintain and preserve the bright white finish of the decorative stripe. The C6017 Whitewall comes in just two sizes – 110/70-12 and 120/70-12 with a P speed rating – but these will fit a wide range of modern and classic Vespa models, as well as other brands’ similarly-styled machines. Bickers; 01394 604040; www.bickers-online.co.uk

Hornet handguards

PYRAMID PLASTICS HAS launched a new set of handguards for Honda’s new CB750 Hornet. They use an injection moulded guard element, which has added material thickness in strategic areas to reduce flex and better protect against impacts.

Available in matt black, the handguards come complete with a specific bracket kit and bar end set for an SRP of £109.99.

Pyramid Plastics; 01427 677990; sales@pyramid-plastics.co.uk

TRADE CLASSIFIEDS

ACCESSORIES

On the Money

All sorts of statistical information lands on my desktop, most of it assiduously pursued. And one recent chunk of data thus acquired contained a surprise. It was an official sales volume report to regulators at the two big Mumbai-based Indian stock exchanges, the BSE and National, upon which shares in Royal Enfield motorcycle manufacturer Eicher are quoted. The document in question covered performance in the first quarter of Eicher’s current fiscal year to 30 June. Figures therein suggested Royal Enfield may soon become a victim of its own success.

Total three-monthly headcount looked fine, 21.6% up to 227,706 units sold. But devilry lurked in the detail. Sure, 202,430 of these represented a splendid 29.9% improvement for products up to 350cc, consisting of Bullet, Classic, Hunter and Meteor models. However, machines exceeding that capacity, Himalayan and Scram 411cc singles, plus the Continental GT, Interceptor and Super Meteor range of 648cc twins, were far less efficacious. Quarterly sales had fallen by 19.5% to just 25,276 – a mere bagatelle set against India’s vast domestic market stretching to millions of utility and small-capacity motorcycles geared to the most basic primary transport.

Even more troubling, foreign business was included in the above overall total and international sales had shrunk by 30.5% to 20,535 units. Within that, it’s worth noting Royal Enfield’s UK export registrations during the same April-June quarter were 18.4% down to 1473 units.

In recent years, the Royal Enfield brand has carved out an ever-larger niche exclusively dedicated to a retro/heritage

motorcycle operation, Mahindra 2 Wheelers. Keen to climb out of the biking gutter, it had acquired a majority stake in French scooter and moped brand Peugeot Motocycles in 2014, since subject to a profit-taking dilution exit, before quietly adding a whollyowned Classic Legends entity to its corporate array.

Holding Royal Enfield firmly in its sights, Classic Legends first bought the defunct British BSA brand for £3.4m in 2016,

to Indian customers, in a direct challenge to Royal Enfield’s 350cc hegemony, and has since doubled production.

Next move for Classic Legends was revival of the BSA brand last year, through an exceptionally well-executed shadow rendition of the legendary 1950s-era DBD34 Gold Star. Cleverly concealing a liquid-cooled 652cc DOHC motor, its single cylinder with a four-valve and twinspark head pumps out 45bhp. Naturally, modern brakes and running gear are features too.

marketing persona, both at home to satisfy a loyal army of enthusiasts and for a polyglot following of fans worldwide. Inevitably, though, this prosperous commercial territory couldn’t remain ignored forever. Now, far more powerful Indian competitors are muscling in to steal its thunder with equally “authentic” products.

Mahindra & Mahindra, an automotive giant making everything from agricultural tractors sold globally to trucks and SUVs, already had a developing bargain-basement

to be stashed away for future exploitation. Then in 2018, it negotiated a licensing deal to revive the originally Czech but also defunct Jawa brand. Previously manufactured under both the Jawa and Yezdi marques by an Indian licensee, Jawa two-strokes were still fondly remembered.

Classic Legends was obliged to ditch now-unacceptable two-stroke technology, but maintained Jawa’s traditional retro styling. Within a couple of years, it was selling more than 50,000 new-wave Jawas annually

Meeting Euro 5 emission rules for ease of export, this bornagain Goldie is widely available from a UK dealer network and elsewhere, and reputedly selling like hot cakes. In terms of pricing and performance, it approximately matches Royal Enfield’s Continental GT and Interceptor twin models, and beats them in the desirability stakes.

Honda’s Indian HMSI subsidiary, which now claims fame as India’s second-largest motorcycle producer, has also joined the retro fray versus Royal Enfield via a CB350 H’Ness model. Although it’s a single, this bike bears a remarkable resemblance to late 1960s and early 1970s K-series Honda 350 twins. But calls for Honda Europe to import the H’Ness fell on deaf ears. Presumably past experience

International Share Prices

USA – PARTY TIME!

US inflation fell from an annualised 4% in May to 3% in June, the lowest figure since March 2021. Understandably, this was cause for wild celebration. Optimists took the news as a signal that interest rate hikes would cease forthwith. Some observers thought otherwise, on the basis that core inflation was still running at a higher level, but were studiously ignored.

Equities trading in New York accelerated, driven both by the welcome inflation data and a boost from strong half-year performance figures from the banking sector, which has been trousering enhanced profits from higher interest rates.

Market indices soared. Wall Street’s blue-chip S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average made respective 2.4% and 2.3% weekly gains. The S&P MidCap 400 did better, 2.7% up, while the

NASDAQ Composite beat the lot with a 3.3% rise. Among powersport stocks, Harley-Davidson and Polaris Industries both made reasonable advances, as did Harley’s LiveWire electric bike spin-off.

EUROPE – JUMPING THE GUN

European investors assumed apparent US success in the battle against inflation would translate into an improvement here too – without any actual evidence that this would be the case. So confidence and market indices across the eurozone improved in parallel. Germany’s Xetra Dax in Frankfurt and the Italian FTSE MIB in Milan rose strongly in unison, to close 3.2% up, with Austria’s Wiener Börse ATX index improving by 1.5%. However, motorcycle-related stocks weren’t all invited to the party. BMW and Ducati parent

Volkswagen incurred minor losses, while Piaggio took a firmer spanking, but KTM parent Pierer Mobility put on 1.8%.

JAPAN – FOR WHAT IT’S WORTH

Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 index flatlined, as bankers dithered over potential currency stimulus. And exporting companies, for which repatriated yen translation is crucial as the quarterly reporting season looms, took the brunt of the discomfort. All four indigenous motorcycle manufacturers qualified for this category and saw their share prices punished accordingly.

INDIA – FALSE PROMISE

Hero MotoCorp unveiled a dose of cheap Harley badge engineering to challenge Royal Enfield parent Eicher in India’s

It’s difficult not to feel sorry for Eicher, as the Royal Enfield brand risks being crowded out of a priceconscious retro market it did so much to create

of insoluble quality-control issues with HMSI-sourced 100cc scooters, briefly shipped for European consumption, knocked that one on the head.

The Big Daddy of Indian motorcycling, high-volume market leader Hero MotoCorp, patently didn’t want to miss out on capturing the crème de la crème of retro-inspired indigenous consumers either. But Hero has chosen a very different route to giving Royal Enfield the middle finger. Instead of plunder extracted from British, European or Japanese heritage, it has got into bed alongside star-spangled American authenticity to create an almost laughably nonauthentic product.

Billed as a “classic retro design statement”, this locally crafted Harley-Davidson X440 is a relatively cheap mock Hog wearing gestural Milwaukeeesque old clothes. Prices start at just over two thousand quid. Inconveniently, the oil-cooled engine has only been allotted one cylinder, therefore an advertised “powerful signature exhaust note” merely murmurs “potato”, rather than the iconic “potato, potato” drumbeat of an historic 45-degree V-twin.

Hero is under the trademarked Harley cosh to confine sales to India and possibly other Asian emerging markets. At least that intimates we’ll be saved from the spectacle of penny-pinching UK

Hells Angel chapters ever sitting astride them.

Finally, it’s retro game-on for Bajaj Auto too, another major-league Indian biker giant based at Pune in Maharashstra. Many years of contractual partnership churning out globally distributed modern smallercapacity KTM and Husqvarna motorcycles for Austria’s Pierer Mobility (in which it also has a substantial shareholding), means Bajaj isn’t afflicted by quality-control hiccups. And having recently established an additional close relationship with Triumph Motorcycles, Bajaj is in a position to flood its home turf with single-pot Triumph 400 Speed and 400 Scrambler models, stylistically derived from Triumph’s classic big-inch

parallel twins. Barely more than a week after the new 400 range’s Hinckley global launch in late June, Bajaj had accrued advance orders for in excess of 10,000 from eager Indian aspirant owners. The versions we’ll get here will be made at Triumph’s own plants in Thailand.

It’s difficult not to feel sorry for Eicher, as the Royal Enfield brand risks being crowded out of a price-conscious retro market it did so much to create. Grasping and maintaining commercial success is a cruel master. In these straitened times, I wouldn’t like to bet against Mahindra’s Jawa and BSA projects, and to a greater extent Triumph’s Bajaj-assisted entry, plucking most available low-hanging fruit in both the UK and India. They’re wearing the right badges. 

“premium” bike milieu, and Mumbai investors rewarded Hero with an 8.2% surge in share value and savaged Eicher, inflicting an 11% plunge. Five sessions later, an inevitable hangover relating to the unconvincing nature of this alleged “HarleyDavidson” put the boot on the other foot. Hero stock turned negative, while Eicher rebounded.

CHINA – DEFLATION DANGER

Recent data shows China’s consumer price index falling month-on-month, and factory gate prices declining at the fastest pace for seven years. But stock trading volume has inexplicably exploded. Shanghai’s SSE Composite index grew 1.3% and the blue-chip CSI 300 finished 1.9% up. However, enthusiasm for motorcycle manufacturers is fading. Eight of the eleven listed biker stocks upon which we report turned negative.

New scooter and motorcycle registrations for June 2023

tumble down under AUSTRALIA IS A VAST AND, LARGELY, barren country when it comes to motorcycle dealerships. According to the FCAI, the national organisation representing motorcycle manufacturers and importers, there are just over 600 dealerships and workshops spread across a country more than 30 times the size of the UK. Fortunately for those dealers, the

Sales

Top Ten Manufacturers

Sun shines on June registrations

Rolling Year Comparison

Motorcycle registrations data from the Australian market

population of 26 million is keen on two-wheeled action, buying roughly the same number of bikes annually as the UK’s 68 million inhabitants and owning a total of 1.14 million bikes, not far short of the UK’s 1.3 million-strong PTW parc.

Actually, the “motorcycle” market in Oz is a bit of a misnomer, as the numbers reported include Off Highway Vehicles – quads, sideby-sides and buggies. The lucrative market selling these to farmers and leisure users was decimated in 2022 after new legislation insisted that all quads sold had roll-over protection fitted, leading to several major brands, including market leader

FEDERAL CHAMBER OF AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRIES

Honda, to simply stop importing quads at all.

Unfortunatley for beleagured dealers down under, they are suffering a double whammy in 2023 as worldwide economic issues of rising inflation and cost of living increases also hit the sales of bikes in both the road and off-road sectors. After a post-pandemic high point in 2021, sales dropped in 2022, and the downwards trajectory has continued throughout the first six months of this year. Latest data shows overall sales are down 5.9% for the year to date compared to 2022, and a whopping 19.3% down compared to 2021.

JUNE’S GLORIOUS HEAT WAVE was inevitably a welcome sales booster for the bike trade, but the current influx of more budgetconscious new motorcycle models and at least one manufacturer leaning on its dealers also provided respite. BDN financial editor Roger Willis crunches the numbers.

Total monthly registrations recovered by 7.9% to 13,518. Petrolhead products were 9.0% up to 13,066, while electric challengers were 15.4% down to a mere 452. Within the overall tally, motorcycles grew by 8.7%, scooters put on 13.3% to 2679, mopeds suffered a 24.6% decline at 485, and trikes rose by 24.7% to 101.

The basic mobility, entry-level and delivery sector, comprising upto-125cc ICE machines and electricpowered equivalents, bounced back from a particularly dire position in May. However, combined volume was still pretty much static, increasing by only 2.3% to 4900.

The 126-500cc slot – a melange of larger mobility offerings, A2 rookie restriction and impecunious enthusiasts – fared worse, falling by 5.8% to 1807 units. And 501-750cc steeds (some also A2-afflicted) weren’t a lot better, essentially flatlining on a marginal 0.7% advance to 1543 machines plated.

Solid paydirt was available in the keenly priced 751-1000cc firmament, though, equipped as it is with a plethora of attractive fresh product choices. Sales stacked on 55.9% to see 2871 bikes rolling out of showrooms, more than a thousand additional transactions compared to June 2022. 1000ccplus machinery marked time, retreating by a negligible 2.3% to 2350. Dealers dependent on this premium end of the market

for profitability will probably be pleased with that.

As usual, the top-ten beauty parade of best-selling brands was headed by Honda, adding 8.3% to 2382. Almost a fifth of them were PCX125 scooters. Runnerup Yamaha put on 29.1% to 1593, light relief from its lamentable performance in June 2022. Triumph took third step on the podium, just 3.8% down at 1457, in what was the final month of Hinckley’s financial year. Pressure on bonus-hungry Triumph dealers to register stock and maybe incentivise sales with an occasional naughty discount could have been associated with elevation of 660 Trident and Street Triple RS models to respective best-seller status in the 501-750cc and 7511000cc brackets.

BMW Motorrad was hot on Triumph’s tail, 39.8% up to 1423. The “cooking” version of its R1250 GS Bavarian tractor accounted for 19% of the brand’s June registrations. Relative star of the show had to be resurgent Suzuki completing the top five with a 56.9% increase to 728, thanks to new-model introductions and dealer network recovery.

Kawasaki and KTM followed, boasting respective improvements of 51.3% to 664 and 22.45 to 596. But then Royal Enfield blotted its copybook with an 11% slump to 520 – despite best-selling “Modern Classic” style and 126500cc accolades for the cheap and cheerful HNTR 350, and a “Custom” style gong for the Super Meteor 650 twin. Ducati crept into ninth spot, having shifted 428 bikes, but lacked an annualised comparison. Lexmoto ignominiously closed the parade 43% down to just 325 bikes plated.

First-half sales down, but only marginally

New bike registration figures are up on last June, and this is a great signifier that summer demand is well underway. The market is down at the halfway point in the year but only marginally. Dealers are reporting sustained optimism and expect the remainder of the year to be positive.” So said Symon Cook, NMDA head of business operations, commenting on June’s MCIA registration statistics.

The latest figures showed a 7.9% increase during June, with overall sales marginally falling by 2.6% for the year to date.

Motorcycle sales performance remains robust, increasing from 11,799 units to 12,932 units in 2023, a 9.6% increase. All style sectors rose for motorcycles, bar Touring which fell by 2.7%.

Combustion-engineed Power Two-Wheelers maintain their dominant position within the market, increasing 9% during June. Electric PTWs are still struggling [see page 22], falling by 46.6% year-on-year, but this is predominantly attributed to lack of product availability.

Honda continues to control the market, with the Honda PCX 125 scooter being the biggest seller in June, achieving 468 registrations.

“In early June, the NMDA held a meeting with Jesse Norman MP, Minister of State for Transport, which fostered positive discussions around the government’s net zero targets and how the sector can be supported with this transition. With Electric sales figures suffering quite substantially, it is vital that the people in charge listen to the challenges our industry is facing and where support is necessary,” said Cook.

“Going forward, the NMDA will continue to represent bike dealers in front of MPs, ministers and government, ensuring retailers’ voices are heard, and we will update members accordingly.”

Glass’s motorcycle market overview

The latest data published by the Motor Cycle Industry Association (MCIA) shows that after a few months of decline, registrations saw an uptick in June of 7.9% compared to 2022. As a result, the year-to-date tally now stands at 2.6% behind last year. In contrast to May, when scooters were one of the main culprits for the shortfall in registrations, they underwent an impressive recovery in June, with the non-moped scooter sector growing by 13.3%.

Dealer feedback suggests that new order intake has been more challenging despite registration growth. However, some dealers reported a strong month with sales ahead of last year, but these were in the minority. The increasing cost of living and rising interest rates are having more of an impact now, and following a period of high spending post-Covid, consumer confidence is now suffering. As a result, there are more manufacturer promotions, including subsidised finance and deposit contributions, which dealers will welcome.

Demand remains steady across the board, with new Suzuki scooters and its GSX-8S midrange naked proving to be particularly popular choices.

USED MOTORCYCLE FEEDBACK

Sales and demand for used motorcycles

have also been more challenging recently, partially a result of promotions on new machines. Although some dealers are achieving similar sales levels to last year, they are having to work harder. With new stock more plentiful and strong manufacturer promotions, this has resulted in late-model used machines falling out of favour, in contrast to last year when they were much sought after.

The majority of dealers report that they are satisfied with their stock levels, and with more offers from the public than is usual at this time of year and a healthy volume of part exchanges, some dealers are reportedly turning stock away due to being at full capacity.

Demand remains strong across the board with pricing and condition key. Modern retro machines continue to be in strong demand.

OUTLOOK

Following the hottest June on record, with some excellent riding conditions, July so far has been more mixed. Taking into account promotions on new machines and stock being more plentiful, Glass’s expects residual values to soften across all segments in the coming weeks.

NATIONAL MOTORCYCLE DEALERS ASSOCIATION

Some dealers are reportedly turning stock away due to being at full capacity

PAUL McDONALD

Leisure vehicles editor, Glass’s

produced by a professional

RIDE YOUR OWN WAY

CUSTOMIZE YOUR UNIT AND PAY ONLY FOR THE FEATURES YOU NEED

CUSTOMIZE YOUR UNIT AND PAY ONLY FOR THE FEATURES YOU NEED

CUSTOMIZE YOUR UNIT AND PAY ONLY FOR THE FEATURES YOU NEED

CUSTOMIZE YOUR UNIT AND PAY ONLY FOR THE FEATURES YOU NEED

CUSTOMIZE YOUR UNIT AND PAY ONLY FOR THE FEATURES YOU NEED

CUSTOMIZE YOUR UNIT AND PAY ONLY FOR THE FEATURES YOU NEED

The R&G Tail Tidy range has been designed to swap your bike’s obtrusive original licence plate holder with a sleek new unit that will improve the lines of your machine, and often save you weight too.

Tail Tidies come with pre-drilled holes and all necessary fixings for a hassle-free installation. Where necessary, the Tail Tidy comes with a neat little built-in licence plate light.

Tail Tidy

THE BIG

Used bike data

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

JUNE’S ALWAYS A GREAT MONTH FOR RIDING, AND this year proved no exception, with plenty of summery evenings and weekends to make the most of our passion. Over in our bike reviews section, naked bikes account for a quarter of all sessions, making it the most popular sector by far, with the Triumph Trident 660, Yamaha’s MT-07 and the Suzuki Bandit 1200 the three most popular reviews. Sports bikes account for 18% of sessions, with the most popular being the BMW S1000 RR, Yamaha’s R7 and the Aprilia RS660 respectively.

Bikes for Sale

Most viewed models

2. Honda MSX125 Grom

3. Harley-Davidson Fat Boy

4. Honda NC750X

5. Yamaha R6

6. Yamaha R1

7. Harley-Davidson Sportster 883

8. BMW S1000 RR

9. Kawasaki Z900RS

10. Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade

MCN Reviews

Most viewed brands

Adventure bikes accounted for 15% of all sessions, with Honda’s NC750X in top spot, followed by the Transalp and then the Triumph Tiger Sport 660.

In bikes for sale, there’s a change at the top, as the perennially popular Honda CB500X drops all the way out of the top 10, and the MSX125 Grom creeps into second position, behind the Gold Wing and ahead of the HarleyDavidson Fat Boy.

GARETH EVANS

Online editor, MCN

Top 5 Bike Reviews by type

1. Honda GL1800 Gold Wing

NEW SALES GROW AND USED BIKE SALES BREAK RECORDS

The first half of the year ended with 19.8 million visits to the Auto Trader Bikes platform, 6% more than the previous year.

Used bike sales are up despite buyers’ behaviour changing, with purchasers looking at fewer bikes, making fewer enquiries and interacting less with retailers because they are finding the right bike earlier in the sales journey.

There is an abundance of choice, with record numbers of used bikes sold in June, but concerns

are still growing across the industry around the move to electric power for all new bikes by 2035, potentially driving the decline in registrations. In June, electric bike registrations were down 15% year-on-year, with supply continuing to outweigh demand. Super Soco, Vmoto and Sur-Ron branded machinery headed the charts, accounting for 47% of advertisement views throughout the site in June.

LEWIS NORTON

Insight manager, Auto Trader Bikes

MARKET HEALTH YOY USED BIKES SOLD

Used bike sales have hit record levels, leading to a 23% year-on-year growth in supply as stock is being replenished by retailers. Consumer demand is outperforming June 2022, but not enough to balance this growth in supply, resulting in market health being -18% year-on-year.

MEDIAN DAYS TO SELL

Record numbers of used bikes were sold In June, but it took on average seven days longer for them to sell than it did last year. With increased supply and buyers considering fewer bikes, it has become even more important that used stock is marketed effectively and priced competitively if it is to sell quickly.

The fastest-selling bikes in June were Lexmoto’s sporty LXR125 and the adventure-style Yamaha Ténéré 700, both of which took an average of just nine days to sell.

The fastest selling bikes on Auto Trader

Average number of days advertised before sale

Biggest electric brands Advert views by brand June 2023

1. Super Soco 24%

2. Sur-Ron 14%

3. Zero Motorcycles 13%

4. Vmoto 9%

5. Niu

6. Talaria

7. Piaggio

8. BMW 3%

1. Lexmoto LXR125

2. Yamaha Ténéré 700

3. KTM 890 Duke

4. Triumph Rocket III

5. Yamaha MT-07

6. Honda NC750X

7. Honda CBR650R

Market Watch

Trade & industry report with cap/hpi motorcycle editor Alan Elsworth

NEW MARKET

IT SEEMS THE UK ECONOMY WILL likely escape recession, which is welcome news from the pundits. There is an improved outlook for energy prices and inflation, which is predicted to reduce to 5% by the end of 2023 (averaging 7.7% for the year) and estimated to be at 2.9% by 2024.

In our corner of the world, the new registration numbers supplied by the Motor Cycle Industry Association show that, after a

USED MARKET

couple of months of negativity, June sales increased by a healthy 7.9%. At the halfway point in the year, total registrations are only 2.6% down. Positive feedback from dealers translated into a total of 13,518 units sold in June, and at the halfway point in the year, the total registrations at 62,277 were only 1686 machines lower than in the same period last year.

Except for the touring sector, which you would expect to be

As could be expected after a decent month in the new bike market, used bike activity over the last research period has not been subject to much complaint by dealers, with buyers still showing interest. However, towards the end of July, there was an increasing weight of opinion of a sudden drop in sales. Historically in the third quarter, as retail demand starts to tail off, trade buyers

There was a welcome return to physical bike sales at the new Newark Motor Auctions site located just off the A1

slower, as purchases for long trips will have already been made, almost everything else was positive, compared to June last year. A point worth noting is that, even though the scooter sector had a reasonable month, six-month sales are significantly lower. The continued decline of mopeds reflects the change in demand from the highs of the Covid boom.

Electric registrations in June were 15.4% down to 452 units.

would pre-empt a reduction in footfall by engaging in less activity to replace stock in the showrooms. But as we know from experience over the last decade or so, as the availability of used bikes has reduced, not only have prices risen, but the winter trade price lull has all but disappeared with only minor downward price adjustments over a short period. The timing and scale of this temporary seasonal reduction

AUCTION OVERVIEW

Half-year results show a decline in sales of 46.4%. After being separated from its Harley-Davidson parent company, LiveWire – now a stand-alone electric offering from across the Atlantic – made its first appearance in the sales charts as a best-selling model. As it has just launched and the sales figures included dealer demo bike registrations, it could be a stretch to expect similar numbers in the remainder of the year.

is always difficult to predict in advance, and depends on many factors beyond the economy and the weather. Remember five years ago when summer went into and past September creating a trade buying rush well into the last quarter of the year? So, based on current research and feedback, there are no sweeping price movements until short-term opinions become longer-term trends.

THERE HAS BEEN LITTLE CHANGE GENERALLY IN THE AUCTION SYSTEM REGARDING THE number of entries and prices realised, our used market research suggests.

However, one change that is worth noting is the appearance of the first new physical auction sale to open since the pandemic forced a move to virtual buying. It has been mentioned before in this column that virtual buying has an increased element of risk, especially for the trade, where there is little recourse for faults not apparent in a picture.

There have been conversations around the effect on pricing when reliance is on a description by someone perhaps not looking for the same potential faults as a buyer doing a physical inspection would. However, with newer bikes, such as entries at BCA that consist of a large number of three-year-old PCP returns, often low mileage, the chance is more likely that condition is not as significant a factor as it would be in five-year and older models.

It is good news that another auction has been added to the motorcycle calendar, joining MAG Rotherham as a physical sale. Newark Motor Auctions, just off the A1, had a mixed bag of 60 entries ranging from high-end main dealer part exchanges to various older bikes and scooters. Run by experienced bike auction staff, it was widely promoted to both trade and punters, resulting in a strong attendance. As with our dealer research, the latest July auction suggested an easing of demand and although the results have not been fully analysed, hammer prices are starting to suffer. However, more than 80% of entries were sold and prices still averaged around CAP figures.