UK NEWS
Isle of Man TT headcount record
Furygan goes third party
MANUFACTURER NEWS
Kove Moto races into the UK
Norton deep in the red
REGISTRATION DATA
DfT 2023 full year registrations
GBRacing fights the fakes
EVENT NEWS
Bike Shed Show sees 16,000 visitors
Two wheelers are stars of the show at glitzy red-carpet event on Savile Row. Read the full story page 20
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Andy Mayo: editorial@dealernews.co.uk
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Roger Willis; Dan Sager; Alan Dowds; Rick Kemp; Adam Bernstein; Brian Crichton
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In our June issue we reported that Covec had ended its distribution deal with Furygan. Now, we can reveal the French kit maker’s new plans for the UK market. Furygan country manager Lee Collins, told us about its new logistics plan and how that will work for dealers.
“We now have stock in the UK, based at a third party logistics warehouse,” said Collins. “So we’re holding a lot more stock now, which will speed up customer deliveries. It’s a brand new medical-grade warehouse in Bedford, so it’s super-clean and temperaturecontrolled, since they also store medical products there.”
Services provided by third party logistics firms have expanded massively in recent years, thanks to advances in technology and shipping processes. Providers can take over a company’s entire warehousing, stock management, order fulfilment, and delivery processes, saving time and effort. Collins says that using the new service will bring a host of benefits to Furygan. “It’s far more
efficient; they have the contacts logistically when it comes to transportation and so on, so it speeds the whole process up. It’s early days, but the signs are good.”
The other key focus for Collins is the expansion of the Furygan dealer network.
“We are actively seeking new dealers. We are determined to increase our coverage across the country, addressing any patchy areas. We are working closely with main players such as J&S, Sportsbike Shop and Infinity, and we’re actively looking to bring new accounts on board. In the next week or so, we’ll receive all the new autumn/winter samples which should be available for delivery in about October, so yes, we are making significant strides forward.”
And Collins says Furygan also had another significant boost, after long-term sponsored rider Michael Dunlop’s remarkable performance at the 2024 TT. Dunlop’s victory in four races, setting a new record for the most TT wins at 29, has not only elevated his status but also enhanced Furygan’s reputation. “The guys in France are absolutely thrilled with Michael’s performance at the TT, and for being a record breaker. Doing it on day one
Furygan-sponsored Michael Dunlop celebrates yet another victory at this year’s TT
was a fantastic achievement for all of us.”
If you are interested in stocking Furygan, contact Lee Collins at lee.collins@ furygan.com.
ACCORDING TO ISLE OF MAN
Steam Packet ferry data, this year’s TT festival attracted a record attendance. Now able to operate at increased capacity to Heysham, Liverpool, Belfast and Dublin with three vessels available – the Manxman, Manannan and Ben-My-Chree – the ferry service carried a total of 37,808 passengers between 22 May and 7 June.
This was the highest number travelling during the races since 1986, apart from the 2007 TT Centenary Festival. It was also 11% up on last year and higher than the three previous events in 2018, 2019 and 2022.
The number of motorcycles
ridden onto Steam Packet ferries grew by 13% to 13,385. They were joined by 5488 cars and vans, a 9% increase. Many of the vans would have been
loaded with more motorcycles, and some of the cars would have been towing motorcycles on trailers. And 15% more freight was also shipped to the
Island by Steam Packet ferries, compared to the same period in 2023.
Passenger numbers through the Isle of Man’s Ronaldsway Airport were 7% up to 60,163 over the TT period too. The airport’s busiest day was 3 June. Arrivals totalled 30,027 and departures 30,136, on scheduled flights, light aircraft and private jets. During the 2023 TT, 56,039 people flew in or out of Ronaldsway. Airport director Gary Cobb said the 2024 figures represented a 46% increase from the TT’s postCovid revival two years ago but were still 18% below the numbers from 2019.
BRISTOL CHARITY BIKE NIGHT
JUNE’S BRISTOL BIKE NIGHT AT FOWLERS Motorcycles attracted hundreds of riders and raised a whopping £3950 for the Motor Neurone Disease Association.
Fowlers employee Jamie Cox, who is personally affected by the condition, chose the charity.
MAG BACKS THEFT RESEARCH
THE MOTORCYCLE ACTION GROUP HAS backed a research project to learn more about bike theft. Researcher Alex Parsons-Hulse is looking to better understand riders’ views and experiences of motorcycle or scooter theft, a subject close to MAG’s heart.
MAG director Colin Brown said: “It is great to see a research project like this. The fear of theft is undoubtedly a great barrier to increased utility riding in this country.” The survey is available at: www.surveymonkey. com/r/W89K7PQ.
WUNDERLICH EXPANDS LINE-UP
GERMAN PARTS SUPPLIER WUNDERLICH, has partnered with Dutch suspension firm TracTive to market a new line of traditional and electronically adjustable fork cartridges and rear shocks. Suitable for OEM replacement or upgrades, the units are available for a range of BMW, Harley-Davidson Ducati, and Yamaha machines. More info: www.wunderlich-suspension.de
British bike protection specialist R&G Racing prides itself on its homegrown engineering excellence. So it's no surprise to find it joining the FIM’s Quality Product programme (FQP).
The FQP is an internationally recognised seal of approval for products and services both on and off the track, and is only awarded following what the FIM calls a comprehensive assessment process. The first products to be recognised by the scheme are R&G’s new PRO engine cases, launched in 2023,
which use tough aluminium and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) construction for improved protection in road and track crashes.
Simon Hughes, MD of R&G, said: “We are delighted that our PRO engine case cover protection has been recognised and brought
into the FQP programme, and we look forward to a fruitful partnership. We have focused on some of the most important machines in our first development phase, with more applications to follow.”
Fabio Muner, FIM marketing and digital director, said: “The FIM is delighted to welcome R&G as part of the FIM Quality Product programme. Its products are proven and trusted in the specialised field of motorcycle protection and the FQP endorsement is a great way for R&G to celebrate its 25th anniversary year.”
STEPHEN JEPSON OF Sanderson Weatherall, Manchester, is handling the retirement sale of Cyril Chell Motorcycles in Stafford.
Taking the form of an online auction starting later this month, stock includes fixtures, fittings, parts, accessories and approximately 100 motorcycles, both classic and modern.
Sanderson Weatherall also handled the recent sale of Lancaster Motorcycles (based in Morecambe, Lancashire) in December 2023.
After a lifetime in the trade, Chell (82) is retiring. He started
with Halfords aged 16 in 1958 working on Raleigh and NSU mopeds. Aged 21 he joined Boult Motorcycles, Stafford. When the Boult family sold up Chell set up Cyril Chell Motorcycles in 1971, going on to be a leading dealer with numerous franchises including Triumph, Norton, BSA, and the Japanese Big Four.
Current stock from recent franchises includes Sym, Royal Alloy, Mondial, Keeway, Lambretta, Royal Enfield, Hanway and SkyTeam. Classics include Hondas from a P50 moped to a CB750K, Triumph Terrier, and BSA Golden Flash.
Voted BDN Trade Personality of the Year in 2017, Cyril Chell was the first to import Chinese motorcycles (1993). Among many other notable achievements was selling 4800 Hondas in 1992, said to be more than any other dealer before or since.
A bold bulk purchase buyer passionate about bikes and business, Cyril Chell is now looking forward to the simple pleasures of fishing, gardening, and his vegetable plot. Well, that’s what he says!
Contact 0161 2597050 or auctions@sw.co.uk
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London has always had its own large mainstream show scene through the decades, from Olympia and Earl’s Court to the current ExCeL venue. They do (and did) a decent job in the mould of the Birmingham NEC, with a slightly more wealthy southern clientele. The price of burgers, pints, and coffee may be higher, but the format is pretty similar.
The capital has, and always has had, alternatives too. The Alexandra Palace Road Racing and Superbike Show did stalwart work for the race scene
at the start of the season, and in recent years, we’ve had the Bike Shed Motor Company’s custom show, which has a very different feel. Culturally aligned with the ‘hipster’ bike scene of the past decade and a half, this year’s show focused on modified machines, often with a neo-retro classic feel, but it has extended its remit over the years, with bikes that pay homage to classic Dakar racers, late 20th-century Japanese superbikes, and much more.
Perhaps more importantly, the show has also expanded its appeal in a commercial sense. What started out in a small Shoreditch studio with a few hand-built custom bikes is now an important part of the industry calendar, with a slew of big-name brands wanting to take part. For 2024, the show was supported by Michelin, Ducati, Royal Enfield, BMW, Norton, LiveWire, and Alpinestars, with the firms all showing off custom-built and concept machines and products.
Top of the bill was arguably Ducati, which unveiled a pair of new Scrambler concept bikes. The CR24I and RR24I offered two different takes
on the basic Scrambler theme: a faired café racer and a stripped-back flat tracker. The models themselves were interesting enough, and perhaps point to some new production models in the coming years. However, the fact that Bologna sees the Wapping-based show as a suitable venue to reveal concept machines is remarkable.
Norton unveiled its new ‘One of One’ custom paint service, illustrated in the metal by a gorgeous V4SV superbike painted as a replica of Steve Hislop’s “White Charger” Abus
Norton RCW588 rotary TT racer from 1992. The scheme will allow buyers to specify any paint finish and design they like on a new Norton (within “tasteful” limits, of course). Michelin had its own stand with some interesting custom bikes, and Alpinestars also showed off its new range of protective gear, designed in the Bike Shed style. They included jackets, gloves, boots, and even a retro-styled
Someren and asked him how the show had gone. “It was another belter. We welcomed around 16,000 visitors over the weekend and curated 270 custom bikes. We were a little stricter on entries this year, as last year we crammed a lot of bikes into the space and felt they didn’t all get enough space. You may have noted a much better layout format, especially in the Great Gallery and Shed Row.
opening us up to even more genres and categories. We added a Japanese-
It’s hard to believe that scooters, motorcycles and other light vehicles will be very high on the ‘to-do’ list of the new government on 5 July. However, when the new transport secretary, whoever they are, gets to it, they will have some helpful reading in the form of a Powered Light Vehicle Manifesto just released by the Motor Cycle Industry Association (MCIA).
Subtitled A Thriving and Sustainable UK Powered Light Vehicle Sector, the document crystalises much of the campaigning work carried out by the association and other bike industry groups like the National Motorcyclists Council. That includes policy recommendations the MCIA says could
“turbocharge a £7bn industry for the benefit of all”.
The manifesto makes five calls on the next government, including accelerating the road to net zero with policies that harness PLVs’ potential, embracing a range of technologies and fuels available to the industry. It also asks for simplified licensing, training, and testing with a full-scale review of the existing bike and PLV licensing regime.
In addition it calls for government help to reclaim Britain as the home of motorcycle manufacturing by developing the component and systems supply chain, as well as making PLVs more attractive to customers, boosting PLV adoption among users and businesses.
ECONOMIC VALUE MAPPED
AS PART OF ITS ELECTION CAMPAIGN, the MCIA launched an interactive heatmap revealing the economic and employment contributions of the bike trade in England and Wales. The visualisation highlights the sector’s significant impact on local economies and includes information on the number of motorcycle training providers and registered vehicles in each parliamentary constituency.
MCIA CEO Tony Campbell said:
“The heatmap illustrates the immense contribution of the sector to the health of businesses and communities throughout the country. It underlines the relevance of our manifesto for a Thriving and Sustainable UK Powered Light Vehicle Sector to hundreds of candidates in constituencies where our sector is driving employment and growth.”
See the MCIA heatmap of activity here: www.mcia.co.uk/polimapper.
THE NATIONAL MOTORCYCLISTS Council (NMC) has joined the MCIA in publishing a manifesto for political action on bikes. Aimed at the new government post-election, the NMC’s manifesto is called Motorcycling Matters, and has seven key themes, covering bikes in wider transport policy; licensing and training; safer roads; decarbonisation; access to bus lanes, free parking and green lanes; support for motorcycle sport; and protection for the classic bike sector.
NMC director Craig Carey-Clinch said: “This general election is probably the most important for motorcycling in a generation. We face a situation where, as in 1997, all political parties have everything
to play for. With a strong likelihood of a change in government, there is now a real opportunity to reshape the narrative and thinking around motorcycling and to send a clear message to candidates about what riders need from a new government. We urge all riders to support the campaign and help to make a real difference for motorcycling both locally and nationally.”
The NMC also says that potholes have hit home during the election campaign, but more focus is needed on other motorcycling issues. Carey-Clinch said: “The consensus around potholes is very welcome. However, given the growing importance of powered two-wheeled transport and the range of opportunities
The final call is to modernise PLV regulations with a comprehensive regulatory review to “promote greater consumer choice, facilitate market access, and foster innovation for the inevitable evolution of mobility products that are fit for the future”.
MCIA CEO Tony Campbell said:
“The Powered Light Vehicle Manifesto presents an unparalleled opportunity for the next government to drive a modal shift away from vans and cars, accelerate to net zero, improve road safety, create high-paid manufacturing jobs, and shape the transport network of the future.
“As representatives of more than 95% of the industry, we remain poised to work with the next government to drive innovation, economic growth, and job creation on top of the 55,000 this sector already sustains. With full and proper implementation, our manifesto promises to bolster our £7bn sector for the benefit of all.”
that motorcycling and other powered light vehicle types offer to overall transport policy, it is unfortunate that no political party has mentioned these as part of their headline transport policy priorities. Issues relating to micro-mobility are also overlooked.”
Counterfeit bike parts are a genuine blight on the trade. Low-quality copies of properly engineered components are bad for everyone: they undermine the manufacturer, costing it money and reputation and they’re bad for the consumer too, at the very least, by reducing performance and, in the worst cases, affecting safety. The only winners are the cheats, who copy parts and bypass quality checks purely for profit.
GBRacing is one of the latest victims of counterfeits: copies of its FIM-approved engine case covers have sprung up worldwide, made from poorer materials with correspondingly reduced protection and worse fit. So on World Anticounterfeiting Day (8 June), the firm underlined its commitment to combating counterfeits.
Graham Banks, GBRacing MD, said: “Without a doubt, counterfeit goods are a huge challenge this year. It affects not only us as an engineering company but also our entire network of dealers and our loyal customers. Whilst the copied products may look the same, the counterfeits are made from significantly inferior material that will not stand up in the event of a crash. Be it a high-side, where all the force will be transferred into the engine, potentially causing cracks on impact, or a low side,
where the road surface will wear through the counterfeit cover in a matter of milliseconds.”
commissioned brand protection specialist firm Corsearch to investigate bogus online retailers. In just six months, thousands of counterfeit GBRacing listings were reported worldwide and quickly removed. Thanks to the proactive approach of this partnership, Corsearch has achieved an impressive success rate just short of 90%.
cost, though: in 2023, GBRacing spent nearly £30k on intellectual property protection through the EU Intellectual Property Office and Corsearch, with legal fees on top. That work even included a court case in Indonesia to cancel a fake ‘bad faith’ registration of the GBRacing brand.
development director at GBRacing, added, “This year, we are determined to turn the tide against counterfeit products and to do this, we’ve called in the professionals. Corsearch, being an international IP specialist, is able to leverage its size, connections and expertise to remove listings en masse at what seems like the click of a button. We are pleased with the work they have been doing, and will continue to do, to clean up the marketplace.”
It’s been nearly a year since Eicher Motors, the Indian company that makes Royal Enfield, set up its own UK subsidiary, ending its distribution deal with MotoGB. Surprisingly, it’s only the third national subsidiary that Eicher has set up (the other two are in Thailand and North America). I spoke to Enfield’s country manager, George Cheeseman, to find out how he and his team have managed the transition to a direct-todealer model and how the future is looking.
First, he paid tribute to Enfield’s former importer. “From a UK point of view, we are extremely appreciative of where MotoGB took us as a brand. We went from 500 bikes a year to 5000 in five years. The growth rate was phenomenal, and it wouldn’t have happened without us working together as partners during that time.
“The UK is the only market outside of India that’s achieved number one in midrange bikes, and we’ve done that for two years in a row, fiscal and calendar. So we’re a brand in the ascendancy. As I said, there’s no negativity or bad feelings towards MotoGP; they got us to where we are. But there’s a reason why we’ve done what we have done: now we’re solely focused on Enfield, rather than it being one of a multitude of brands at the same time.”
In terms of the basics, the Royal Enfield UK operation has had to get up and running from a standing start, which obviously meant taking on staff, setting up offices, and installing the business systems it needed. “From a people point
In November last year Eicher Motors, the Indian manufacturer of the 10-model Royal Enfield line-up, took over UK distribution from MotoGB. The transition was far from perfect. Nine difficult months later, George Cheeseman, Royal Enfield UK’s country manager, believes dealers’ problems are over. He explains why to Alan Dowds
of view, we’ve got 21 new members of staff,” said Cheeseman. “I’m delighted with the people that we’ve got together, but it’s been like joining a start-up, and as any dealer knows, when setting up a new business, as much as you pilot, as much as you test, there’s going to be curveballs, and it would be remiss of me not to say that there have been glitches and problems and it’s been painful for dealers.
“Our mission is to be easy to deal with. I think we’ve got the right people at the right time, and we’ve got the right dealers. I can only thank them and appreciate their support over the last year because it hasn’t been easy for them. I’m sure we’ve tested their goodwill.”
Where is the new Enfield operation based? “The majority of the team are all on home contracts, which means that
we can be where we need to be. The point wasn’t to bring people into a head office for the sake of it, so we’ve got an office in Shoreditch behind the Bike Shed showrooms as part of our footprint, and we’ve moved the global brand team to London. Getting people to India can be challenging, but moving to London is appealing. We also have our Leicester office and a new co-working space in Milton Keynes.
“The big thing for us is investment in people, and we’ve now got a team of 20 or so in the UK, but we also have the company’s support in India. If we talk about IT development or financial systems when changes are needed, we give the problem to India.
Enfield has also just taken on a wellknown industry personality, ex-NMDA dealer chairman Martin Marshall. He joins the team to support Cheeseman on sales and network development, “He’s been a dealer, and before that was at Honda and then Yamaha. He will help us get to that next level and develop our partnership with dealers.”
Is the transition from MotoGB now complete? “The MotoGB transition has ended,” said Cheeseman. “They still sell Enfields from a number of sites; we’ve achieved so much together, and we always wanted to continue that relationship. It looks like we are in a good place now.”
Are Enfield’s own logistics now fully in place? “We’ve got our own warehouse, and we use WMB to transport all our
bikes. We now deliver a rolling chassis, and that’s a big change. We asked our dealers what the pinch points were. It was taking 40 minutes to de-crate a bike and we’ve taken the pain of that away. We now do visual inspections before bikes are sent to dealers, and if there’s any damage or anything, we fix it.”
Cheeseman is also pleased with his stock levels and the way he can now source bikes directly from India to the UK. “We carry good stock; our inventory is high. We may have overegged it at the beginning, and it was about refining it, but I’d rather have too much stock and take the cost in order to make sure we can supply what’s needed.
“The other thing with Royal Enfield is I can place an order for a dealer on, say, the 15th of this month and, because Enfield’s production capacity is 1.3 million bikes, it can be in production the following month. The killer just now is 57 days on the water down by the Cape, but it’s the same for everyone.”
My next question is about Enfield’s dealer network – does Cheeseman see changes there? “The dealer network has got us to where we are, so our mentality is to support those who supported us. The dealers we inherited had signed up with MotoGB, so we wanted to give everyone a chance to get to know each other over the next year; let’s work on that. We’ve got 71 dealers, including MotoGB. For me, it’s quality, not quantity. We need to make sure we’re accessible but it’s all about people. I think our dealers have established a fantastic relationship with customers, and they’re the reason for our success, but, as always, there’s change. A lot of dealers have approached us since the transition, and we’ve got two or three new dealers that will join us very shortly.
“Moving forward, we’ve got an abundance of new models coming, and we’ve given dealers line of sight on that.”
Royal Enfield launched its Global Rentals and Tours schemes in May, covering more than 60 destinations. See page 14.
What about those new models, then? Will Enfield be expanding into other sectors with its new platforms, like the 450 Himalayan? “The 450 is a brand-new platform and it would be remiss of people not to expect more on that. Our new product pipeline is extremely exciting. It
The dealer network has got us to where we are, so our mentality is to support those who supported us
George Cheeseman, Royal Enfield
gets stronger and more exciting for the new types of rider that we have to attract.
“The new Himalayan is going very well. It’s a bit early, it’s only been out a month or so, we’re into demos and first retail orders, but the response has been phenomenal. I’ve rarely seen something that’s so in demand. Our trouble has been getting enough bikes in early enough.
Dealers and customers have been very patient, but we have not been able to supply as quickly as we wanted.”
Does that mean we’ll have a lot of new bikes coming in 2025? “I think that will start imminently. There’s one in the nottoo-distant future, and you’ll start to see
more towards the end of the year.”
How has the general economy affected Enfield? “I think from a consumer point of view, it’s given them a wider choice,” said Cheeseman. “It’s going to be about how we help our dealers be profitable. The economic situation is difficult; even when you have a good month, dealers say it’s tough. I think we offer a value proposition. We’ve teamed up with Credit Agricole Bank, and we now have Royal Enfield Finance, which didn’t exist before. We have 0% finance on the Meteor 350 which is creating some attention. You can have a Hunter 350 for £50 a month, which is interesting because finance hasn’t necessarily been a big growth lever for Royal Enfield. As we move into a different model mix, we will have to look at those different growth levers.”
Cheeseman confirms that the old Enfield bugbear of questionable quality and reliability is now in the past. “Build quality is no longer a topic for Royal Enfield. We’ve proved our worth; we’ve got roadside assistance and a three-year warranty.
“The other thing that amazes me, and it blows dealers away, is our continuous model improvements; even on the 411 Himalayan, we are making changes. We don’t wait for updates. We make them during production; in my experience, I’ve never seen anything like that before.”
ROYAL ENFIELD GLOBAL TOURS
FACTORY-RUN TOURS ARE AN IMPORTANT flagship marketing activity for most big brands. And now Royal Enfield has joined BMW, Ducati, Honda and the rest, with a global program of organised tours and adventures, complete with bike hire where needed. There are more than 60 destinations, including India, France, Scotland, South Africa, India, Colombia, Turkey and Namibia. More info at: www.royalenfield.com/in/en/tours.
MAG SLAMS POLITICAL PARTIES
THE MOTORCYCLE ACTION GROUP HAS hit out at the four main political parties over their general election manifestos. The group assessed the promises from the Labour, Conservative, Green and Liberal Democrat parties and rated them all between -0.8 and -0.3 on a scale of -1 to +1. MAG’s Colin Brown, said, “The four manifestos present a grim prospect for riders. They clearly show that the interests of riders are not in the heart of their policies.”
OPTEVEN PARTNERSHIP
VEHICLE WARRANTY PROVIDER OPTEVEN, has inked a new deal with roadside assistance firm Driver Guardian. The new arrangement gives Opteven members 24/7 breakdown support in more than 40 European countries, including recovery and onward travel.
BICKERS TYRE CATALOGUE
UK DISTRIBUTOR BICKERS, HAS released a new tyre catalogue for 2024, focused on the company’s exclusive premium brands, Maxxis and CST. It’s available both in print and in downloadable formats and covers more than 100 different tyre models, including road, off-road, adventure, enduro, ATV and 4x4. It’s available now on the website and from area sales managers.
Britain, by all accounts, seems to have a ‘sick note’ culture. Figures from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) that cover a year-long period over 2022/3 reckoned that employees off sick lost some 35.2 million working days for one reason or another.
The HSE also found that on average, each person suffering an illness or whatever, took around 15.8 days off work. The average for injuries was 6.6 days, 17.8 days for ill health cases, 19.6 days for stress, depression or anxiety, and 13.9 days for musculoskeletal disorders.
In September 2023, a survey published by the Chartered Institute for Personnel and Development found that workers had taken an average of 7.8 sick days off in the previous year.
Now, while a good proportion of cases will be genuine, there are a significant number of cases where employees haven’t been honest about their condition. Indeed, it’s often surprised TV audiences when reporters have collared the passing public about their views on ‘pulling a sickie’ who then affirm, on camera and to potentially their employers, that they would take time off without being genuinely unwell.
And cases do come to light. Back in October 2023, the BBC reported on a “Nottinghamshire PC sacked after lying about sickness to go to Turkey.” It appears that, as the BBC commented, “PC Joseph Jennings had twice
requested leave, but was refused due to insufficient staffing. On that morning, a few hours before his shift was due to start, he texted his sergeant saying he had norovirus.” In fact, he was already in Turkey.
Staff sickness is a real problem for employers, who are often left short-staffed, paying someone to be off unwell and potentially having to pay another person to fill in.
Employers are not bereft of options and can take action. However, they cannot just accuse someone of lying about their illness and dismiss them on the spot. They need proof and must follow a fair process to dismiss. And even then, employers can find themselves in hot water.
Consider the 2022 case of domestic assistant Mr G Galang who was employed by Kestrel Grove Nursing Home. According to the Watford Employment Tribunal, Galang had been accused of lying about his absence due to Covid-19 symptoms and was constructively unfairly dismissed. It found that the care home was unable to identify a fair reason for the dismissal and that the allegations of dishonesty “played no part in the claimant’s dismissal.”
The government has, for years, been trying to lower social security payments and is concerned by rising levels of employees off unwell and on benefits. Indeed, the government reckons that since the pandemic, total spending on working-age disability and
ill-health benefits increased by almost two-thirds from £42.3bn to £69bn.
Most recently, in April, prime minister Rishi Sunak gave a speech in which he outlined a “package of welfare reform measures to tackle the unprecedented rise in economic inactivity.” In particular, he said that the Fit Note system, where GPs sign off employees, is to be reviewed “after 11 million fit notes issued last year, with 94% written off as unfit to work.”
Sunak also noted that according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics, 2.8 million people are currently “economically inactive” due to long-term sickness – nearly a record high. Of those inactive due to long-term sickness at the start of 2023, 53% reported that they had depression, bad nerves, or anxiety.
What happens next is anyone’s guess and will clearly depend on the outcome of the general election, but, if Labour come to power, it’s possible that little will change.
In an article, “A New Deal for Working People,” published online in January 2024, Labour said: “It will strengthen Statutory Sick Pay and make it available to all workers…” However, Personnel Today commented that “a Labour government would work with JobCentres to help the longterm sick get back to work, according to shadow work and pensions secretary Liz Kendall.” Neither of these two actions sounds overly helpful.
If you blink these days, it seems like you miss a new motorcycle brand arriving from China. This time, it’s Kove Moto, a bike manufacturer based in Chongqing and Chengdu, which is expanding into Europe with a new range of off-road rally and adventure machines, as well as small-bore sports bikes.
The firm hit the headlines earlier this year after entering a team into the Dakar Rally, with all three of its 450 Rally EX machines finishing the near-5000 mile desert race. Meanwhile, its 321RR competes in World Supersport 300 racing, with podiums and pole positions under its belt already.
Kove Moto showed off two new twin-cylinder adventure tourers at the ABR Festival
last month – the 800X Pro and the 510X. The 800 has a 95hp 799cc parallel-twin DOHC engine in a lightweight 185kg chassis, with KYB adjustable suspension front and rear, a 21in front wheel, TFT dash and ABS as standard. Meanwhile, the 510X offers a light-middleweight package with a 46hp 471cc parallel twin engine, KYB adjustable suspension, Pirelli tyres plus ABS and a TFT dash.
There’s also a new importer for the UK and Ireland, headed up by Lee Westbrook. Kove Moto UK will be bringing in the new adventure machines, as well as the firm’s smaller bikes. Westbrook said: “We are delighted to become an official distributor for Kove in the UK.
The product is hugely exciting, with a diverse line-up, great
quality bikes, proper R&D and, of course, a successful racing programme.
“The racing pedigree was a hugely important factor in our decision to become official distributors. Entering a team at Dakar with all three bikes crossing the finish line is no mean feat, but to also take the top step in World Supersport 300 is an impressive and exciting achievement for such a new brand in racing. We couldn’t be more excited to start this journey with Kove in the UK.”
Kove Moto’s UK dealer network development will be announced in the coming weeks, with all enquiries being handled by Lee Westbrook. Contact him at info@ kovemotouk.com or visit www. kovemotouk.com
AS BDN REPORTED IN OUR MAY ISSUE, Suzuki GB is on the move, with some popular new product lines. Now it’s developing its dealer network, with two new outlets in the South –M&M Motorcycles near Cambridge and Fins Motorcycles in Redhill, Surrey. They’re both in strong commuting territory, so will be aiming to make the most of Suzuki’s newly expanded 125cc scooter range, as well as the bigger models: the V-Strom and GSX-8 800 twins, and new GSX-S1000 GX/GT range.
Established in 2015 just north of Cambridge, M&M Motorcycles’ staff boast more than 40 years of industry experience, and its appointment will strengthen Suzuki’s representation in East Anglia. Meanwhile, further south in Redhill, just outside the M25, Fins Motorcycles will provide services to those looking to dodge traffic whether heading north
into the capital or enjoying the nearby Surrey Hills. Fins Motorcycles was founded almost 40 years ago by Fin Reynolds. Now semi-retired, he works part-time in the workshop, after Grant Walder took over the business in 2021.
Jonathan Martin, Suzuki GB head of motorcycles, said: “We’re really pleased to welcome two new dealerships into the Suzuki fold. We’ve been actively looking to expand our network recently, but it was always very important to us to bring the right people, who share the same values and principles, on board, and I believe we’ve achieved that with both M&M and Fins Motorcycles. They strengthen our representation in two key areas, and we’re looking forward to working closely together in the future.”
And Suzuki still wants more outlets – details on franchising are available on its website: bikes. suzuki.co.uk/franchise
Lings Powersports are looking for a Senior Sales Executive to join the team and continue their success.
We want the right person, who is enthusiastic about their career and passionate about motorcycles. Previous experience in the industry is highly desirable. The successful candidate will be able to show their ability to achieve objectives. You will receive training on selling skills, processes and product knowledge however, suitable candidates must also be focused on customer service and be self-motivated to be part of our highly successful sales team.
Pay and benefits:
• OTE £30,000 plus;
• Employee Motorcycle Purchase Scheme
• Clothing, Parts and Accessories Purchase Scheme
• Employee Clothing Sale
• Car Lease Scheme
• Pension Scheme
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Other Benefits
Full job description and requirements can be found on our website under the ‘more’ heading for careers
The location is based at Norwich and the candidates can send through CVs to ian.baker@lings.com
A competitive salary and benefits package will be awarded to the successful applicant which will reflect both qualifications and experience.
We are currently looking for the following: An experienced Motorcycle Technician/Mechanic
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.
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
We are currently looking for an experienced Motorcycle sales executive to work in our busy Honda showroom in Ruislip Manor, Northwest London.
A competitive salary and benefits package will be awarded to the successful applicants which will reflect both qualifications and experience.
Please forward your CV with a covering letter to: Dealer Principle, HGB Motorcycles (Ruislip) Ltd, 69-71 Park Way, Ruislip Manor, HA4 8NS or email to brigid@hgbmotorcycles.co.uk
John's of Romford Ltd are looking for an experienced Motorcycle Technician to join our friendly workshop team in our premium franchised dealership.
The ideal candidate will have franchise workshop experience and be able to work to tight deadlines to exacting manufacturer franchise standards.
Salary of between £25-£40k per annum, based on qualifications and experience, but we are prepared to pay top rates for the right candidate.
Please send relevant CV to: Mike Adlington (c/o) mike@johnsofromford.co.uk
Completely Motorbikes has made another big move, relocating its Thunder Road Gloucester Honda branch from Hempsted to the Staverton bike village, around 50 miles north east. In an announcement firm owner and MD Rob Ayland (right) said, “We took over Thunder Road Motorcycles with Honda in March 2022, which was one of biggest acquisitions in Honda’s history. We’ve been pretty quiet with it over the last couple of years, but we’ve got behind it and have a fantastic management team.
“But now we’ve decided to move Thunder Road Gloucester and open a brandnew dealership in the bike village at Staverton. So not only do we have Yamaha and
Kawasaki in solus showrooms, but we’ve also ended up with a 12,000sq.ft Honda dealership on-site at Staverton.
“From Monday, 15 July, all service bookings and sales will move from our existing Hempsted location to Staverton. It’s great news for staff and customers, a brandnew, air-conditioned unit, beyond our wildest hopes really.”
TRACK-BASED BIKE
training company British Superbike School has launched its Brake Like a Pro campaign to encourage riders to improve their braking skills, ideally with an advanced instructor in an off-road environment.
“In an emergency, around 50% of riders just skid and fall, and only half of riders can achieve Highway Code
braking distances,” said Mike Abbott at the school.
“We also need more coroner reports, more data on PTW crashes and more relevant ‘contributory factors’ if the training industry is to address the priority issues.”
There’s more information on the campaign at: www. britishsuperbikeschool.com/ motorcyclists-brake-like-a-pro.
We’ve just about recovered from the excitement of the 2024 TT, and the Manx government has confirmed the dates for next year’s event. The announcement has no big surprises: TT 2025 starts on the final May bank holiday (26 May) and ends with the final Senior TT race on 7 June. The schedule will follow the latest format, with second races for the Superstock and Supertwin
classes. The complete 10 race programme will be delivered across three sets of back-toback race days split by two rest days, which the organisers say better aligns with travel and accommodation capacity. Find out more at www.iomttraces.com.
The job of turning around the Norton Motorcycles brand has been much tougher than anyone expected. Indian giant TVS has owned the firm for more than four years now and has made some big steps forward, with a new factory in Solihull, stabilisation of the brand, and extensive plans for the future. However, sorting out the problems inherited from the previous owners has taken a vast amount of time and effort.
That includes resolving serious quality problems experienced by owners of the V4 and Commando 961 models – an obligation which the new owners took on, despite having no real responsibility for. There have also been unforeseen problems with updating the legacy models for things like emission regulations. All that means the completely new model range the firm has waiting in the wings is taking longer to appear – though expect to see some brand-new Norton metal later this year.
Amidst these developments, Norton Motorcycles has also introduced new products and services. At the Bike Shed Show in London (see page 8), the company unveiled its One of One custom paint service, showcased on a stunning
Steve Hislop replica V4SV. Furthermore, the brand has extended its reach with the opening of its first Scottish dealership, Revolutions, in Perth. The dealership will stock the full range of current V4 and Commando models, as well as parts and accessories, offering a comprehensive Norton experience to Scottish enthusiasts.
The biggest news, though, is the appointment of a new senior leadership team member. Richard Arnold comes to the company with an impressive CV which includes being CEO at Manchester
I see a hugely exciting future for Norton Motorcycles, and I am proud to become part of the team
Richard Arnold, Norton Motorcycles
United FC. A trained accountant with time at Price Waterhouse Coopers before he joined Manchester United in 2007, he had a number of roles at the famous football club before taking over from Ed Woodward as CEO in 2022, then leaving at the end of 2023 after Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his INEOS group took an interest in the club.
But perhaps the most relevant news is that 53-year-old Arnold is a proper biker and actually owns a Norton V4SV – so he has the “feel” for that side of things. Arnold’s exact new role or job title hasn’t been revealed, but the firm says he’ll play a big part on the commercial side. And you’d not bet against him playing a
leading role over the medium term.
Arnold said: “I see a hugely exciting future for Norton, and I am proud to become part of the team. TVS Motor’s investment to date has put Norton in an excellent position, ready to launch new products and develop a global sales proposition. I am looking forward to using my experience to assist Norton in maximising the opportunities ahead and helping the established commercial team deliver a world-class customer experience”.
Current Norton Motorcycles CEO, Dr Robert Hentschel, added: “Following a £7m investment in our state-of-the-art headquarters in Solihull, Birmingham, we employed a dedicated team, focused on an extensive quality improvement programme so that we could provide both legacy and new customers with our reengineered V4SV, Commando 961 and the new V4CR. Alongside this, development of the future product range continues to make excellent progress, thanks to the recent addition of Brian Gillen as chief technical officer. We can now focus our efforts on the future, new products and new markets worldwide.”
Aconcours car show at Savile Row in London’s Mayfair might not sound like a fertile hunting ground for motorcycle sales, but that’s not what firms like Kawasaki, Royal Enfield, Langan, Triumph and BMW reckon, because they were all in attendance at the chi-chi event last month, with positive results.
BDN went along, lowering the sartorial tone and the average annual income of the event by a big margin, and found it a very pleasant affair indeed! The entire length of Savile Row was closed off, carpeted in red, and filled with extremely high-end cars – we’re talking about an original Audi S1 Quattro rally car, an electric-converted classic Porsche 911, and a four-tonne £400k Mercedes-Benz Guard S680 armoured limousine.
But in between the oligarch mobiles were parked up some bikes, gathering plenty of attention from the extremely well-heeled, well-dressed patrons. Apparently, if you can drop £2m on a classic sports car, then finding £20k for a custom BMW R18 or £15k for a Hybrid 7 Ninja is no big thing!
The presence of bikes at the event is thanks to marketing guru Barnett Fletcher, who’s previously worked in the bike trade and is now working to open up these high-end, predominantly four-wheeled, shows to motorcycling, rather as the Goodwood Festival of Speed has always done. “The vision is simple,” he told BDN. “To allow OEM manufacturers and custom workshops to present motorcycles of a high value to a prestige audience at selected premium automotive events and concours, on a level playing field and at an appropriate cost. Smaller brands often need
help competing with the big boys at traditional motorcycle shows; this way, it allows the bikes to do the talking.
“These events deliver a premium audience and we have found that the classic and super/hypercar audience, who traditionally have an appreciation of all things engineering and deep pockets, are very interested in motorcycles as well as cars. And when the price tags is £20k rather than £2m, many wish to purchase on the spot, even though these are not sales shows.
“The main consideration is cost. Some smaller brands could never consider exhibiting at these type of events, but I witnessed much success last year taking the likes of Norton to concours where they took orders. But there is still a high standalone cost; by teaming up it becomes more easily affordable, with the average cost being around £3000 per exhibitor.”
Ross Burridge, head of marketing at Kawasaki UK, was at the show, exhibiting the company’s new Hybrid and EV models, and was impressed. “Adding pure EV and Hybrid motorcycles to our 2024 range means we need to reach different demographics. The Savile Row Concours event proved a great opportunity to display the bikes and talk to customers in an urban environment. After speaking to a number of potential customers about alternative fuel bikes, we’re confident these machines will be well-received. I would imagine we will be back in 2025.”
And George Jennings from Royal Enfield agreed. “Definitely a relevant activity for Enfield, getting the brand out there in front of a very different demographic. There was a hell of a lot of interest and positive feedback from attendees for our Top Gear bike and we enjoyed connecting with the wider industry. Having the Malle guys with their Rally Royale on show at centre stage representing the brand was great added value.”
Meanwhile, BMW reported making actual sales on the day. “We found the event successful from a brand/model awareness perspective despite the downpour on day one,” said Philippe Young from Park Lane BMW. We collected some interest and sold one bike, with a second in discussion. It was well organised, setup and breakdown were efficient, and being just round the corner from us made it extremely convenient.”
Barnett Fletcher and his Motorcycle Showcase operation are working on more shows and events for this year and 2025. Contact him at 07768 887788 or barnett@barnettfletcher.com
A75-year diamond jubilee is a huge event in anyone's book, so it deserves a big day out. And that’s what the Triumph Owners’ Motor Cycle Club had last month, with a once in a lifetime bash at the iconic Shelsley Walsh hill-climb venue in Worcestershire. Around 100 Triumph riders made demo runs up the demanding 1000yd (900m) course in a series of Saturday sessions on a huge variety of machines. They ranged from a 500cc factory prototype twin raced in 1946 by Irish rider Ernie Lyons to a 2018 765cc Moto2 prototype, and a 1920s 550cc Model H to the thoroughly modern 2.5-litre Rocket Three. And legendary ex-Triumph engineer and club patron Norman Hyde roared up the hill on one of his world-beating triple racers from the 1970s. Once ridden by ace factory rider Percy Tait, it was one of three
classic Triumphs brought to the event by the National Motorcycle Museum.
Twenty club branches mounted displays of varied historical machines, while groups from Denmark, Germany, Italy, Poland and Sweden helped fill two fields with campers. Brisk business was done with merchandise, and Norman Hyde hosted a ‘Talking Triumphs’ interlude about old times. The furthest travelled award was won by Martino Campanella and Claudio Ruggieri, who had ridden 1550 miles from Italy.
IT’S TIME FOR THE ANNUAL Red Dot Design Awards, and there have been a slew of prizes for bike firms, including (perhaps unsurprisingly) a trio of Italian moto brands.
Ducati, Brembo and Givi have all been recognised by the German-based design award scheme, with the Bologna bike maker snapping up a Best of the Best gong for its Diavel V4 mega-cruiser. Brembo also won Best of the Best for its ultimate aftermarket braking upgrade,
the GP4-MotoGP brake caliper. Meanwhile, hard luggage specialist Givi earned a Best Product Design award for its 58-litre Maxia 5 top box, the latest version of its premium case.
Chris Dabbs, who was a journalist and editor at EMAP/ Bauer for 37 years, has died –he was 61.
Chris joined Motor Cycle News on 5 January 1987 and launched into a stellar career on the titles in EMAP’s biking portfolio.
When he joined MCN, Chris had already spent a couple of seasons racing a Suzuki RG250 in the 250 production class. He actually accepted the role of road test editor in a Covent Garden Italian restaurant from the theneditor, the late Jim Lindsay, on Friday 5 September, then broke a leg at Paddock Bend the next morning, so his first day at MCN three months later was spent in outpatients getting the plaster cast removed.
Chris’s 10-year road-testing career
with MCN started with liquidcooling and turbos; covered the RD and RG500, anti-dive and 16in front wheels; wrestling around GSX-R1100s and EXUPs; wringing the neck of 250 and 400cc grey imports and sampling the delights of race-replicas like the sublime RC30, with the arrival of the first-generation FireBlade book-ending those hectic years.
He kept his hand in on the racetrack too, and was a regular front-runner in the epic Harley 883 Sportster British championship race series that turned a few heads in the early 1990s. He even finished third in the 1992 season after plenty of elbow-bashing!
In July 1993, Chris suffered a road accident that put him in a wheelchair for life and changed everything in his world – but not his insatiable
appetite for living. He returned to work nine months later as editor of BiKE magazine, before rejoining MCN in 1996, until retirement in December 2023.
Despite being ‘retired’, Chris continued his work at Stoke Mandeville Spinal Unit on the patient education team where his upbeat and positive outlook has helped countless others to recover from similar life-changing injuries.
Chris was one of the very best, both in his career and his selfless contributions to enriching others’ lives. He will be greatly missed.
MCN editor, Richard Newland, commented: “There was very little on earth that Chris didn’t know about or have an opinion on; very few people in the industry he didn’t know personally; and (seemingly) very few people on the planet who didn’t have a story of either hilarity about some past event, or of
Bickers has appointed a new area sales manager. Adrian Poole is now responsible for customers in north Wales, the North West of England, and western and northern Scotland.
Poole is a keen biker and competed for many years in schoolboy motocross before moving away from the dirt and onto the tarmac.
Bickers’s head of sales, Rob Sheldon, said: “We’re delighted to have Adrian join us as area manager in the North West and wish him all the best in his new role.”
“I am really looking forward to seeing customers old and new” added Poole. Contact him on 07775 661941 or adrian.poole@bickersltd.co.uk
One of the longestserving commercial and advertising men in the motorcycle media world is on the move. Charlie Oakman has been a leading man for Fast Bikes and Mortons Media for most of the last 20 years. And now he’s joined the Adventurize organisation behind the ABR Festival, magazine, website and social media channels.
Oakman said: “Having been a great admirer and somewhat envious of what Alun and all at Adventurize have achieved over the years, the chance to be a part of the team and work on such a successful and engaging brand as ABR is an extremely exciting opportunity.”
And it was in at the deep end for the popular ad man, who started his new role
just 10 days before the ABR Festival kicked-off!
ABR founder Alun Davies shared Oakman’s enthusiasm, “I am delighted and excited that Charlie has joined ABR, and I’ve no doubt he will strengthen an already-winning team and be of great service and benefit to our clients and partners.”
Contact Oakman at 07917 529 227 or charlie@ adventurize.co.uk.
• 60,000+ paint records & formulations
• Officially approved by Harley-Davidson, BSA, Triumph, Kawasaki and Bimota
• All paints are available in touch up, aerosol and spray gun formats
• All paints supplied by mail order
OFF-ROAD SPECIALIST BOSS, has appointed a new national sales manager. Neil Everett has joined the firm after more than 13 years in the off-road vehicle market, specialising in all sectors, from on-road motorcycles, parts, garments and accessories and defence.
“We’re delighted to announce Neil’s appointment,” said BOSS MD Phil Everett. “A lot of his time in the industry has been spent managing dealer networks. He will be responsible for growing the Corvus dealer network and making changes where
required. This will take us to the next level of growth, in readiness for more new model arrivals, and will also free up resources internally to focus on our other brands such as Paxster, Powerland, Faunamaster and Airops.”
“I am very excited by this challenge,” said Neil Everett. “I am looking forward to developing the Corvus network, meeting the dealers, and working with new products within the BOSS ORV portfolio.”
More info on BOSS: 01785 561046 or sales@bossorv.co.uk
With financial editor Roger Willis
s the only Japanese motorcycle manufacturer directly facing Western rivals, in a calendar year split paralleling the same seasonal production and sales demands, Yamaha did considerably better than them in its Q1 2024 results. BDN financial editor, Roger Willis reports.
According to the company, its motorcycle business benefited from higher quarterly revenues and profits, and an improved operating margin, thanks to increased shipments of “premiumsegment” (and therefore increasingly premium-priced) models.
Overall turnover during the period rose by 14.1% to £1.987bn. Operating profit was a muscular 81.9% up to
£265.7m. Operating margin reached 13.4%, growing from just 8.4% in Q1 2023. Global sales headcount grew by 3.6% to 1.228 million motorcycles and scooters.
Asia provided the largest slice of revenue, with a 3.9% increase to £1.088bn. Asian unit sales volume actually fell by 7.7% to 949,000, but masked a more lucrative model mix. Revenue from developed markets was 13.3% higher at £522.7m. Latin America and other regions collectively improved by 61.5% to £377m.
Among big developed-world players, Europe led the field with revenue rising by 17.4% to £309.1m and unit sales 5.5% up to 58,000. Volume flatlined in
LEADING ITALIAN BRAKE BRAND
Brembo achieved quarterly turnover exceeding a billion euros for the first time ever in Q1 2024. The company’s executive chairman Matteo Tiraboschi attributed this to improved sales volumes in all of Brembo’s key business segments and the main markets in which it operates worldwide.
Consolidated revenue within the quarter rose by 4.4% to £854.4m. Sales of motorcycle brake applications were responsible for 12.5% of that. Operating profit was 8.5% up to £95.9m. Operating margin increased from 10.8% to 11.2%.
Pre-tax profit added just 0.6% to £89.8m, though, and net profit fell by 2.2% to £63.9m.
Brembo’s net debt has been reconfigured to £450.3m from £304.1m, following introduction of the more rigorous IFRS 16 accounting standard, and had risen by £19.6m in real terms compared to 31 March 2023.
Weaker profitability and higher debt was associated to increased investment in the group’s global expansion strategy, focused on construction of the first Brembo braking components production plant purely dedicated to motorcycle manufacturers, expected to start operating in Thailand in 2025, which is set to lay the foundations for further development for its business in South-East Asia.
€-£ currency translation at forex rates applicable on 5 June
North America on 26,000 but associated revenue put on 19.9% to £141.1m. In Japan’s domestic market, volume was 14.3% down to 18,000 and revenue declined by 10.4% to £50.9m.
Going forward on a positive tone, Yamaha’s results presentation anticipates reduced logistics costs and a lull in exorbitant raw materials pricing. It also expects emerging-market motorcycle sales growth led by India, Brazil and Indonesia. On the flip side, however, corporate outlook includes economic uncertainty due to global monetary tightening and aggressive supply challenges from competitors.
Yen-Sterling currency translation at forex rates applicable on 29 May
The UK might have left, but the European Union continues as the ruling factor for bike makers and importers. So relationships with the EU are the headline on a release from the European Association of Motorcycle Manufacturers (ACEM).
The association has a new leadership team, a collective of industry chiefs, headed up by re-elected president Michele Colaninno (CEO Piaggio Group) as president for a two-year stint from July. There are also three new vicepresidents: Stefan Pierer, CEO of KTM, Markus Flasch, head of BMW Motorrad, and Vito Cicchetti, president of Honda Motor Europe.
According to ACEM, this team will “steer the voice of the motorcycle industry coinciding with the start of the new political mandate at the European Parliament and the newly appointed European Commission”.
Michele Colaninno said: “Market and society are changing rapidly, and mobility is evolving. This is a challenge for the industry and an opportunity we do not want to miss.
“Geopolitics will make 2024 crucial in terms of political and business stability: elections in Europe, the US and India are marking the route for the next decades. Transport and mobility must stay at the core as facilitators to achieve prosperity and quality of life. Scooters and motorcycles offer different solutions to meet the new needs of society in urban and rural areas. From the motorcycle sector, we are ready to talk with the European, national and local institutions in the interest of customers and citizens”.
Latest annual financial results to 31 March 2024 for the bornagain Norton Motorcycles business would make grim reading if they weren’t set in the context of ownership and investment by one of the world’s largest bike manufacturers. However the company’s blithe admission of ongoing significant losses, while commencing commercial production and developing a new model range, was well within the comfort zone of its parent.
Revenue for the period came in at just £3.99m, up from an almost negligible £370,353 in the previous 12 months. Actual motorcycle sales accounted for £3.85m, improving from £314,872. But cost of sales and
administrative expenses delivered an operating loss of £36.18m, rising from £29.11m in arrears during the previous fiscal year. Pretax loss was £38.24m (versus £29.69m) and net loss finished on £37.86m (versus £29.36m).
According to DVLA statistics covering the January-December 2023 period, a total of 164 new Norton motorcycles were registered. These comprised 141 Commando models, 15 V4 SV and five V4 CR models, and three unidentified.
Controlled through a taxefficient holding entity domiciled in Singapore, Norton is solely answerable to ultimate proprietor, India-based motorcycling giant TVS Motor. Having
LEICESTERSHIRE-BASED RETAIL FASHION GIANT NEXT IS being sued by US motorcycle manufacturer HarleyDavidson over claims that one of its T-shirt designs copies the Harley logo.
Harley-Davidson says the T-shirt’s biker angel wings and flame symbols, which are accompanied by the motif “Fearless Heart: Rise and Roar”, has infringed its trademark. The “Black Fearless Stud Graphic Long Sleeve T-Shirt” in question is aimed at children from 3-16 years of age and is available to buy online from Next’s website.
According to a Financial Times report, Harley believes that the T-shirt “essentially replicates” the outline of its logo and the “graphic material and text… is commonly seen in the context of a motorcycle-based branding and more specifically the claimants’ branding”.
already ploughed in capital amounting to £109.8m –to fund initial acquisition costs, build and equip a new UK manufacturing plant in Solihull, recruit a workforce and establish the bare bones of a dealer network – TVS once again confirmed its intention to continue funding Norton with effectively limitless working capital as and when required.
Vanity-project mockery is difficult to avoid, though, as Norton keeps on racking up its headcount and payroll with big names. Notable recruit last September to Norton’s board as a non-executive director — presumably padding out his BMW Group pension plan –was Hendrik Von Kuenheim, supremo of BMW Motorrad from 2008 to 2012.
Signs of cooling American consumer demand and potentially declining GDP growth stoked investor excitement on the interest rate front once more, bolstering New York market indices. However, the spread was remarkably uneven.
Solidly bankable stocks pushed the Dow Jones Industrial Average to a 1.5% weekly gain but S&P 500 blue-chips only improved by 0.6%. However, S&P’s MidCap 400 added 1.3%, with MidCap powersports players Harley-Davidson, its LiveWire ePTW spin-off and Polaris all recovering some lost ground. In contrast, the tech-heavy NASDAQ Composite completely flatlined. NASDAQ-listed Energica electric superbike parent Ideanomics was on the receiving end of a harsh sell-off.
Northern European market indices pulled back from the previous week’s heavy losses, with Frankfurt’s Xetra Dax turning positive by 0.9% and the Wiener Börse ATX in Austria 1.6% up. But motorcycle-related automotive stocks didn’t attract much of the action. While BMW returned to marginal positivity, Volkswagen continued to slide. And Austrian biker giant Pierer’s share price plunged after it released a half-year profit warning. Conversely, the Borsa Italiana’s FTSE MIB in Milan was savaged, falling by 6.6%. But its biggest PTW presence Piaggio bucked that trend with a reasonable gain.
The Tokyo/Osaka Nikkei 225 market index dropped by 0.6% as a wave of Japanese automotive exporter angst upset the applecart. Technical testing and certification issues had seen Honda, Mazda, Suzuki, Toyota and Yamaha pause export shipments. In most cases, cars were affected. But Yamaha’s problem was apparently Euro 5 plus compliance on certain motorcycle and scooter models. Inevitably, automotive manufacturer shares were impacted, including all four of those with motorcycle businesses.
Having lost an outright majority in India’s recent general election, prime minister Narendra Modi and his Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party are now having to face the raw reality of governing in coalition with some of his bitter enemies. And such political instability has quickly undermined business and investment confidence. Both Mumbai stock market indices – S&P’s BSE Sensex 30 and the NSE Nifty 50 –struggled to get off the floor in the past week, respectively rising by just 0.3% and 0.1%. All five major Indian motorcycle producers suffered falling share prices.
Chinese president Xi Jinping is widely seen as the “hidden hand” behind Vladimir Putin’s recent forays to foster friendships with North Korea and Vietnam. And now the Beijing government has threatened Taiwanese politicians promoting independence for their country with death penalties. So a mounting fear factor is raising question marks over Western and Japanese jointventure affiliates, and long-term contract suppliers, manufacturing in mainland China – many of which make motorcycles and componentry. Every time Chinese government spokesmen speak, China’s stock market indices fall. In the past week, after the sabre was rattled at Taiwan, Shanghai’s SSE Composite dropped by 1.1% and the blue-chip CSI 300 closed 1.3% in arrears. The value of biker businesses listed here bounces up and down like the proverbial yo-yo. Half of them have JV or external contract relationships.
SHARE PERFORMANCE AS OF 21 JUN 2024
Europe
Japan
India
China (yuan)
SPANISH ELECTRIC BIKE maker Torrot is seeking UK distributors as part of its plans to expand its consumer reach across Europe. Torrot CEO John Dixon (above) says the aim is to establish agreements in major European markets including the UK, Italy, France, Germany, and Scandinavia.
The Torrot range of battery-powered machines for children aged three to 14 includes models such as the MX1, MX2, and MX3 for young riders, as well as supermotos and trials bikes. For distribution inquiries, visit www.torrot.com or contact sales@torrot.com.
Improving the battery performance of large high-powered electric bikes is vital if they’re to get closer to the range and power of petrol machines. So a new battery research programme announced by Italian full-power electric bike maker Energica could pay dividends.
The partnership with AI tech firm Electra focuses on seemingly dull technology – battery management system (BMS) software – but BMS is a vital part of the power systems on electric vehicles, maintaining the life of the cells in a battery while getting the most power from them, and charging them up in the fastest most efficient fashion.
The collaboration will leverage Electra’s “Brain for Batteries” AI technology to improve the battery management systems across Energica’s range of bikes, enhancing battery performance to optimise range, charging, and battery life while also improving the overall riding experience. Advanced algorithms
seamlessly integrate battery data with external factors such as driving behaviour and temperature – and Electra claims it can extend the overall life of a battery pack by more than 20%. The technology also provides more precise range estimations, helping to reduce range anxiety, and can detect battery faults and maintenance issues before they cause significant problems, improving safety, reliability, and cost efficiency.
“We met Electra and were immediately interested in their AI solutions related to batteries, a crucial element on which we have based our know-how from the beginning,” said Giampiero Testoni, CTO of Energica Motor Company. “Together with their team, we have started a research and development collaboration to apply AI to the BMS of our batteries. The studies are still underway, but we are thrilled to be able to work together with a dynamic company like Electra”
YAMAHA MOTOR EUROPE AND SWOBBEE, A COMPANY THAT provides smart battery swapping and charging infrastructure, have announced a trial collaboration.
The project will begin this month in Berlin’s city centre, where customers will be able to subscribe to a Yamaha electric NEO’s scooter and swap their dead or exhausted batteries for a freshly charged example at Swobbee’s network of charging stations for free.
Riders with a 50cc equivalent moped license can subscribe to Swobbee’s service to receive a Yamaha electric-powered scooter NEO’s on a monthly basis.
Futuristic electric superbike builder Verge, has opened its first outlets in the United States. The Los Angeles and San Jose stores are both based in Westfield malls and claim to be “experiential showrooms that comprehensively present the Verge brand and lifestyle”. The Estonian firm is also organising a demo test ride programme from the locations this summer.
“The United States is one of our most important markets, and the majority of pre-orders for the bikes in the USA have come specifically from the California area. Local consumers are known to value exciting innovations and are eager to try new things,” says Pekka Parnanen, the COO of Verge Motorcycles in the United States.
The Canyon line has been specifically designed for Enduro Off-Road motorcycles. The new 40 LTR. rear cargo bag can be paired with the 25 LTR. side bags, completing the adventure set-up. Equipped with the MONOKEY® system, they are compatible with a wide range of GIVI plates and tubular structures.
More info on the stores – and the firm’s London pop-up outlet in Westfield London – at www.vergemotorcycles.com. givimoto.com
We’re well used to Nick Sanders and his intrepid, recordsetting motorbike trips by now, but his latest escapade used minimal horsepower: rather than a Yamaha R1 or Ténéré 700, the fearless British adventurer circled the world on a Yamaha Wabash RT e-bike.
The endeavour is actually a return to his Sanders’ roots – his first circumnavigation of the planet back in 1981 used pedal power, setting a record for fastest roundthe-world attempt on a bicycle. He did another pedal-powered trip around the world in 1984, completing 22,000km in just 79 days. Forty years later, aged 65, Sanders covered 20,000 miles in eight months on a bog-standard 500Wh battery-powered hybrid human/electric two-wheeler.
Travelling light, with only a cycling jersey, shorts, spare T-shirt and shorts, flip flops and camera gear, Sanders set a daily target of 100 miles for 229 days. His journey began at Yamaha Motor Europe HQ outside Amsterdam, and he cycled through Europe towards Athens, then
across to Israel, and finally to Dubai for a 35-day ride across the Middle East.
Next was a 40-day leg across India, followed by an incredible climb up through Nepal and the Himalayas to reach an altitude of 16,000ft. After navigating his way down through Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Malaysia, Sanders started an almost 3000-mile leg across Australia, kicking off in Darwin and ending in Sydney. With no time to rest, he headed to the United States, where he rode from Los Angeles across the entire US to eventually arrive in New York, before heading back to Europe and Amsterdam, where it all started.
The Wabash RT is Yamaha’s first gravel e-bike, and it is fitted with a 70Nm PWSeries-ST drive
AUSTRIAN MANUFACTURER
Pierer Mobility has formally confirmed that it has added CFMoto’s electric urban mobility sub-brand Zeeho to its roster of marques.
We tested the Zeeho electric scooters earlier this year (see BDN April 2024) and found them to be impressive performers, if a little pricey. Pierer will now be the
globe-trotting
unit powered by a 500Wh battery.
Nick Sanders said, “The first time I ever rode around the world it was with pedal power, so it is nice to have come full circle over the last 40 years. I have worked with Yamaha for a long time, so when they brought out their range of e-bikes and we discussed the opportunity of taking on a Round the World challenge on the Wabash RT, I was very excited!”
importer and distribution agent for the Chinese brand and assumes responsibility for importing and distributing Zeeho bikes across the UK, Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Spain.
The initial roll-out includes three models; the AE6+, AE8 S+ and C!TY SPORT, available now through an expanding dealer network.
After a month’s temporary respite, battery-electric power registrations plummeted once more in May, falling by 23.2% to just 304 units. Overall market share sank to 2.7%, from 3.6%.
The dominant low-powered mobility sector, spanning all up-to11kW products, suffered a 21.5% decline to 289 units. Within that, up-to-4kW mopeds on AM licences were 25.7% down to 107. Some 23 examples of Lexmoto’s Cypher product claimed best-seller status. The 4-11kW range, ridden on A1 L-plates, retreated by 18.8% to 182. The 45-strong presence of BMW Motorrad’s new 6kW CE 02 scooter ruled that particular roost.
From there on, numbers were trivial. BMW topped a mere eleven machines in the 11-35kw bracket with seven 15kW CE 04 maxiscooters. 35kW-plus motorcycles amounted to just two, notionally a 60% decline. And the “exempt” category plunged by 85.7%
Apart from its hub motor and batteries, Maeving’s RM1 electric urban commuter is made in Britain. Now its been joined by a higher performance rural commuter, the RM1S. Alan Dowds reports
British electric bike maker Maeving, has been operating for some years now after launching its 45mph RM1 urban commuter during the Covid pandemic. It recently unveiled its second model, the 125cc-equivalent RM1S, with more power and a 70mph top speed. I rode the bike around London for a day at the official press launch (see boxout) and was impressed with how it went.
I also spoke to Maeving co-founder Will Stirrup, about how the firm came about. Stirrup launched Maeving with Seb Inglis-Jones to establish a green business that could help transform urban transportation. The two were at the University of Durham together and set up Maeving after several years
working in the finance, marketing, and healthcare sectors. They took on a group of top engineers from Triumph to develop the new brand and set up an assembly plant at a factory in Coventry.
How did the idea come about then? “The original idea was we wanted to be entrepreneurs and set up a green business: where can we make a difference?” said Stirrup. “We originally imported a product from China and while there we saw a different way of getting around cities. Everyone was using electric with removable batteries and low power, so we said, let’s bring this across.”
So, rather like Elon Musk with Tesla, Stirrup and Inglis-Jones wanted to help
save the planet and picked their way to do it. “Yes, that was the direction. On our website, we don’t talk about the climate angle too much, but what it translates into is, let’s build a product that, for what it does, is the best it can be. Focus on low power – 125cc. And I would argue that this is better than getting around on a 125cc internal combustion bike, and it’s an easier and a better way to do it. That’s also why we’re not making big bikes, because electric is not a better solution.
“So, that was the original goal, and because I wasn’t a rider, it made a big impact on me. It’s about getting new people onto bikes; that’s the main thing that gets me out of bed. New riders write in and say they look forward to their commute. It’s completely changed.”
Maeving has started out with a directto-consumer sales model. Why did it choose that? And will it stay that way?
“This was an easier way to get started,” said Stirrup. “We wanted to stay really close to our first customers as well – one reason the RM1S exists is because we know our customers really well. Also, I think there have been a bunch of Chinese bikes that have come in, been quite cheap, but had quality issues and have fallen out with their dealers. The support hasn’t been there, and their dealers have felt a bit burnt. We tell our customers; ‘You matter to us, we will support you’, and being able to give that peace of mind as a new brand has been vitally important.”
We deliver it ourselves. And if it breaks down, we go and fix it
Will
Stirrup, co-owner, Maeving
Stirrup doesn’t rule out a Maeving dealer network in the future. “We’re not ‘direct to consumer’ evangelists, we’re not saying it’s the only sales model ever, and we certainly wouldn’t do it in a market we didn’t understand. But for the moment, direct sales makes the most sense for the UK.”
How does that work in practice, then? What if you have a customer in Aberdeen or Penzance? “We deliver it ourselves. And if it breaks down, we go and fix it. And that causes a feedback loop, where your limiting factor becomes quality. If you can build a bike that doesn’t break, you can expand, and so the effort goes into quality because that’s essential to scaling. And that makes conversations with dealers or going international easier. You can say, ‘Here’s our quality control information’, we’ve been focused on that from the start.”
A central selling point for Maeving is arguably its production in this country.
Of course, there are limits: major components like the hub motor and batteries are made in China. Why did the firm go for UK manufacturing?
“We just got so burnt with our previous experience in China. We thought there was amazing potential, but we didn’t know how to do business out there in a way that meant we didn’t get crap product. So that was one side; if we made it in the UK, we’d have more control over quality. The other side is that this country has a great heritage, why wouldn’t we take advantage of that? Build something that’s made here, looks like it’s from here and
RIDING THE NEW RM1S
uses people who’ve been building bikes here, for 25 years in the case of Graham Gilbert [Maeving’s head of product and former senior engineer at Triumph].
How much of the bike is actually made in Britain? “65% of the components by volume are made in the UK. Unfortunately, you can’t buy battery cells here; there are no British-made cells available. We’ve got a partnership with a Newcastlebased battery manufacturer where we’re doing prototypes, a grantfunded operation, but until that’s proven, we’re going to where the best batteries are made, which is LG.”
We finished off our chat with a quick rundown on the finances behind the firm. “We’re a private company, venture capital-backed, all UK backers. We have an amazing group of investors who really see our vision. Some of them are motorcyclists, and they really wanted the product. So they thought, ‘If I want it, other people will too’. They see what we want to do and see massive potential in it.”
Maeving 0247 718 0149 www.maeving.co.uk
THE NEW RM1S LOOKS VERY SIMILAR TO the original Maeving RM1, but its performance is much stronger. A new hub motor and more powerful battery packs, using 21700-sized cells instead of 18650s, give it the speed and acceleration of a learner-legal 125. Peak power is 14bhp. It can hit 70mph and has a range of 80 miles from the dual removable batteries. It’s a premium product, and the price reflects that: £7495.
We rode it for a day around East London, and it coped well. The skinny chassis is super light at 133kg, the combined braking system is powerful and progressive, and
premium touches like the (optional) K-Tech rear shocks and Dunlop 19in rubber shine through. On a quick run up the A12, it could keep up with the rest of the 50mph traffic with ease – which is the point of the S model, with many original RM1 buyers asking for more A-road ability.
The key is the design, though, and the RM1S caught the eye of many passers-by, with even some very crusty old bikers in Smithfield impressed with its looks. Add in the ‘made in Britain’ heritage, and you can see how Maeving might succeed in the premium urban mobility sector.
With off-road correspondent Rick Kemp
The ACU board has recently concluded a tender exercise to stage the ACU British Motocross Championship for 2025.
A three-year contract was again on offer (covering the 2025-27 seasons), and the decision is that the ACU British Motocross Championship will be organised in-house by the ACU, replacing RHL Activities Ltd, which has promoted the series for the past four years.
The ACU says it will put into place a new team working directly with organising clubs, participating teams and commercial partners, and says it is confident “that the energy
and fresh ideas from this new, collaborative approach will ignite a new era in motocross”.
The ACU says that the format and structure of both the adult and youth championships will change, promising exciting opportunities for competitors. Full details of these changes will have to wait until the ACU issues further info.
Throughout the decisionmaking process, the ACU’s board of directors says it considered British motocross’s wider health and overall future, including the continuing decline in the number of motocross clubs, events and entries across the
country. The conclusion was that, while there are many contributing factors to that reduction, as the governing body for motorcycle sport, the ACU needs to act quickly to safeguard the future of motorcycle sport across all disciplines, including motocross.
The ACU board also says it is aware of the critical role that clubs play in providing all levels of rider with a pathway to participate and progress within the sport. The aim is to create a system that allows riders to develop and, for the most talented, ultimately compete at the highest levels
of FIM World Championship competition.
It has been 23 years since a British rider won a FIM World Motocross Championship, and the ACU says that if the system is to produce athletes capable of winning the World Championships in the future, then change is essential.
Feedback was sought from a wide range of stakeholders involved in the current series, and the ACU says it will take into account their views of the gaps in the current setup when making the necessary changes to the competition’s organisation and presentation.
ELECTRIC MOTORCYCLE BRAND TORROT HAS PARTNERED WITH the FIM E-Xplorer Championship for this season. It marks the second time the brands have collaborated to make the entire range available to the paddock’s “Fan Village”.
The full Torrot line-up, catering to riders aged three to 14, will be showcased at each of the five E-Xplorer rounds with test rides available in a dedicated area. Torrot’s involvement aims to provide the next generation of riders, and potentially racers, with an entry into the world of sustainably powered two-wheelers.
John Dixon, CEO of Torrot, said: “The ethos of the E-Xplorer Championship aligns perfectly with Torrot’s values – having fun sustainably and promoting gender equality within motorsport.”
MAXXIS UK HAS INTRODUCED ITS NEW MAXXVENTURE adventure tyre, which is an OE fitment on the BMW F800 GS, but is also suitable for various models from Aprilia, Ducati, Honda, KTM, Suzuki, Triumph and Yamaha.
The Maxxventure uses new-generation technology, including the latest radial tyre-building machines and advanced rubbercompound technology, and the tread features a full-silica highgrip compound for improved grip in both dry and wet conditions, making it suitable for all terrains.
To ensure the tyre lasts the distance it incorporates dualcompound technology, claiming to increase mileage by 30% as well as improving wet performance by 30% and dry performance by 20%. This is achieved through large tread blocks with wide grooves to effectively disperse water and enhance wet traction. The tyre’s construction and tread design are also claimed to enhance straight-line handling and stability, while the optimised shoulder pattern design creates a larger contact patch for better cornering.
www.bickers-online.co.uk/maxxis-adventure-tyres-i170
As Kawasaki will be contesting next year’s MX2 World Championship, it has released information about a spanking new KX250 it aims to see on the podium. Those in the know say it looks a lot like this year’s KX450, and that’s because the frame and cycle parts are similar, but looks can be deceptive.
On the one hand, it looks like a stripped-down, full-on race bike, which it is. On the other hand, it is equipped with all the new tech rider aids, including power modes and Kawasaki Traction Control. Additionally, smartphone connectivity allows riders to adjust engine mapping directly using Kawasaki’s Rideology app tuned specifically for the KX.
Then, there’s the new engine configuration. Fingerfollower valve actuation stays, as do a downdraft-style intake and dual injectors; these are joined by a new design of piston plus a revised intake and exhaust layout, with the silencer moved further forward for better mass centralisation. Also included is a single-shaft primary balancer for an all-around stronger package with enhanced control and greater low-tomid range grunt. A hydraulic clutch offers a more direct feel and lighter lever action, plus less play as the clutch heats up during heavy use.
Showa 48mm inverted coil-spring forks and new Uni Trak rear suspension offer race-ready suspension performance, while the Ergo-fit choice of four handlebar positions and two footpeg positions allows riders to fine-tune their riding position and ergonomic preference.
The 2025 KX250 will be available in late summer, with pricing to be confirmed.
With the RoadSmart IV, the road is yours – so you’re free to just keep on touring. The optimised tread pattern and advanced compounds help you command the road with confidence, even in the wet. Ride stronger, ride longer.
The world’s largest collection of speedway and grass track machines and memorabilia is to be auctioned by HJ Pugh at its salesrooms in Ledbury, Herefordshire, on Friday 5 and Saturday 6 July.
The first day is devoted to speedway automobilia, including 400 speedway vests. The second is devoted to more than 100 speedway and grass track race bikes, plus five classic bikes and some hand-made bicycles.
This stand-alone auction is for the contents of a private collection created by former speedway rider Ian Paterson in Loanhead, Edinburgh. His failing health has prompted the sale. Former Berwick Bandits racer Paterson, now in his 80s, started collecting 40 years ago. He set up the Cinders to Shale Museum in Edinburgh, which he started to open to the public on selected days five years ago.
Though HJ Pugh has not listed estimates, it reports worldwide interest in the 850-lot sale, and says it has £1m potential. Star lot is an American 1927 Red Indian dirt tracker expected to make up to £100,000.
Sam Jones, who runs Yeomans Motorcycles of Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, has been helping HJ Pugh motorcycle specialist Henry Biss with valuations.
The National Speedway Museum, which opened in 2007 at Paradise Wildlife Park, Hertfordshire, and is run by the Speedway Riders Association, is among potential
buyers. Park owner and former speedway rider Peter Sampson said: “It’s a magnificent collection coming to auction, and probably two to three times bigger than ours. Members of the committee will definitely be there on preview and auction day. We’ll have to see what we can afford.”
Paterson invited HJ Pugh to run the sale because, in 2019, the auction house handled his friend Noel Clark’s collection sale of speedway and grass track machines, parts and memorabilia. The Clark collection was based in Chaddersley Corbett, Worcestershire.
HJ Pugh, founded in 1990 by Howard Pugh, entered the motorcycle world 20 years ago and usually runs four bike auctions a year. This year, they are planning six motorcycle auctions and expect to sell 1500 machines in total. Their planned 6-7 September sale includes several small speedway bike collections. Their best bike results so far have been £1m gross and 350 bike entries.
In 2019 the house moved into a purposebuilt facility in Ledbury and currently employs a total staff of 17, some parttime, working in auctions and an estate agency. HJ Pugh lists 150 auctions in 2024, from plants and shrubs to antiques and machinery. Motorcycles and machinery provide their biggest income.
HJ Pugh
Henry Biss 07935 587155 h.biss@hjpugh.com
HUSQVARNA MOTORCYCLES
has expanded its motocross range to a seven-machine lineup for 2025 with the addition of a pair of new two-stroke models – the TC 150 and TC 300.
The TC 150 bridges the gap between the TC 125 and the TC 250 and Husqvarna says it has been designed to outperform 250cc four-stroke machines. The same philosophy also applies to the new TC 300, which will be up against 450cc four-strokes. Both models’ engines are said to provide
exceptional torque and peak power, thanks to the use of componentry refined through Husqvarna’s extensive racing experience.
The rest of the range has been updated for the 2025 season with revised frames, engine mounts, bodywork, and suspension settings. The four-stroke FC 250 and FC 350 models continue to be powered by lightweight DOHC engines for better overall handling and, together with the FC 450 – Husqvarna’s flagship motocross machine
– all the four-stroke models now have the latest generation frame with material reduced around the upper shock mount and at the front of the chassis to enhance flex, reduce weight, and improve cornering without compromising straight-line stability. Additionally, new engine mounts are said to aid the bikes’ agility. Further chassis revisions include new suspension settings, linkage seals, and a smaller diameter linkage bolt to save weight Also new across the range for 2025 are Dunlop’s latest MX34
tyres, which Husqvarna says provide improved acceleration and cornering compared to their predecessors.
THE 2025 KTM SX AND SX-F ranges have been updated for improved control and features from KTM’s Factory Racing program.
A new Connectivity Unit Off-road (CUO), as fitted to top-flight Factory models, is available as a KTM PowerPart and offers multiple engine maps, suspension set-ups and more via the KTMconnect app.
The frame has been updated to improve chassis flex characteristics and to reduce weight. The rear shock, forks, and tyres have also been updated for improved performance. Additionally, the 2025 KTM 150 SX has been reintroduced as a twostroke model with enhanced torque and performance.
KTM www.ktm.com
OSET’s new TXP-24 bike, which comes with a seat option to adapt its style for different events, continues to showcase its abilities by winning the Welsh Open Youth Hare & Hounds series. Ten-year-old Joseph Bailey (above) secured the top position in the Fun Open Class.
Joseph’s dad, Pete, expressed his satisfaction with the TXP-24’s performance: “It works brilliantly for us. One week, Joe will be riding a trial; the next, he’s riding enduro with the optional seat unit. It’s unlike any other bike on the market. It allows Joe to spend many hours on the bike, engaging in various activities, which ensures that his skills are making progress without him even realising it.”
Ian Smith, founder of OSET Bikes, added, “It’s great to see the TXP model being used in a wide variety of events and by a diverse range of ages. It’s a lot of fun, and we’re delighted to see it helping riders to achieve success.”
OSET Bikes offers four bike sizes suitable for riders aged four to twelve. For further information call 07795 481671.
My hobby and passion since retirement has been my collection of pre-war cars which I love to drive long distances. Last year I was in Gibraltar exploring the World War Two tunnels when I came up with the idea of driving my 1923 Ford Model T from Gibraltar Point (near Skegness, Lincolnshire) to Gibraltar and, of course, through the tunnels.
Our arrival was planned to coincide with the Gibraltar Classic Vehicle Association’s annual classic vehicle event on 11 May. I had also agreed to support Cancer Relief Gibraltar and was accompanied by Christine, my wife, plus Ralph Kemp (the spanner man) and his partner Margaret Sowerby. Ralph had agreed to drive the car back to Lincolnshire after the first half of the run. So here is the story of how a 101-year-old car raised more than £9000 on a drive of 2800 miles there and back!
We set off from Gibraltar Point on the 21 April with friends giving us a great send off. The local vicar even blessed the car before we left! Why? Well, when I purchased the car in Warsaw, Virginia, USA in 2008, the vendor was a minister, and he blessed the car when I collected it from outside his church.
After a brief overnight stop in Buckinghamshire, we arrived in Christchurch where we planned to meet a few old friends at the Sammy Miller Motorcycle Museum. It was to be a reunion of trade wrinklies!
On arrival there was the very old Mike Jackson (now 91), a seriously old trade friend whose days go back to Greeves and Norton, Bill Hawker (Ex TranAm), Rick Lloyd (TranAm’s founder), Colin Mayo, ancient publisher of British Dealer News and before that editor of Two Wheeler Dealer and Motor Cycle Dealer, together with his son Andy, the current editor of BDN and, of course, Sammy Miller, who indulged himself by taking a short ride in the Model T before regaling us with his tales of misspent days on motorcycles. Mike Jackson and Sammy Miller were both around when the Model T Ford was still being used as daily transport. My car was the only thing older than Mike Jackson when we met up and I estimate
BDN, 10 Daddon Court, Clovelly Road Industrial Estate, Bideford, EX39 3FH
the combined ages of everyone in the photograph exceeds 500 years!
The next day we set sail for St Malo. On our first day in Europe we covered 220 miles, arriving in La Rochelle that evening. We then moved on to Biscarrosse Plage for an overnight stop, the following day Ascain, then all the way to Talavera de la Reina, our first stop in Spain, having crossed the border at San Sebastien (Donastasia) and into the Basque region. Our journey along the back roads of France had been through mainly agricultural areas, with few highlights, but easy driving, as we hugged the Atlantic coast to avoid Bordeaux.
On arrival in Spain we checked our planned route to find there were road closures and adverse weather conditions in the Picos Europa, so we changed our route to cross over the top of the Pyrenees, climbing up to 1500m (4930ft) above sea level. In the Pyrenees we had hail, snow, rain and very cold
winds – the worst day of the trip regarding weather.
The first day of May saw another long climb over the mountains where we passed a small group of wild ibex. Not being able to stop in time, we went down the mountain until we could turn and then return to the top for photographs. That evening we found ourselves in Don Benito, where we discovered a transport museum displaying a few Ford Model Ts. They even had a spare back axle should we have needed one!
The next day we enjoyed another 150-plus mile run to Osuna. Enroute we were interviewed by Gibraltar Radio to check on our progress. Stopping at the roadside we were asked: “How is it going”? My reply: “I am a 76-year-old driving a 101-year-old car.” The DJ’s response was “What else can go wrong!” Luckily nothing else did go wrong!
Leaving Osuna early the next morning we bypassed Seville and drove to Ronda, then took the winding mountain road to San Roque and into La Linea de la Concepcion. We needed an oil change and took advantage of a country garage to use their workshop and ramp. The owner helpfully moved seven cars to enable this to be done. It was our first compete oil change of the trip.
We spent the night at a hotel in La Linea, but in the morning we had to reschedule a planned welcome party because we had arrived four days early!
On 4 May, as we entered Gibraltar, the Spanish immigration officer became quite emotional as he looked
at the car exclaiming: “I have seen cars like this in movies, where did you come from?” I replied “England”, at which point he reached out, shook my hand and said: “Thank you for bringing your car here.” He then stamped our passports (Brexit at play here) and put his hand to his lips and reached out to touch the car.
box at the ready and gave interviews to the local press.
After going through passport control, we were met by some members of the Gibraltar Classic Vehicle Association along with a camera crew from GBC, the Gibraltar TV station. We’d arrived safely after covering a total of 1613 miles – amazing!
After the usual bubbles and a chat with the TV company and our friends from the Gibraltar Classic Vehicle Association, we made our way to our accommodation for a well-earned rest.
The following day we gave rides around Gibraltar to local residents. One elderly lady (she was 87) climbed into the car and held my knee.
I said to her, “I didn’t know it was going to be a romantic ride”, she replied, “It could be if I can remember what I have to do.
I will ask my niece in the back of the car!”
What a fitting end to a great trip.
After all this the car had to go back to Lincolnshire – which is where my longstanding friend (and mechanic) Ralph came into his own, he had agreed to drive the car back to the Santander ferry port and then from Portsmouth to Lincolnshire, another 1000plus miles. What an incredible car, I doubt there will be many Teslas left in 101 years’ time!
Tin
My big wish was to drive through the tunnels built during the Second World War, which are still a restricted military area and under military control. The military obliged, and my wish was granted on 10 May when the gates were opened, the film crew arrived, our back up vehicle Lulu (a 1951 Land Rover Series 1) arrived, and we were escorted through the rocky depths for about half a mile. We think ours is the first civilian vehicle to have been in the tunnels for almost 70 years, and possibly the oldest car ever driven through them.
Larry Riches, Horncastle, Lincs
with
For the benefit of younger readers, Larry Riches and his company (Lintek Motorcycle Accessories) commenced trading as a one-man band in 1974. Initially motorcycle clothing and top boxes (around 10,000 a year) were the mainstays of the business, but later came a move into pattern spares. Ten years later Lintek branded pattern parts were big business, claiming 60% of the market, then thought to be worth £4m annually.
The next day we attended the 21st Classic Car Rally, parking the car in Casemates Square with our collection
In 1987 Larry and Sybil, his mother and co-director, sold Lintek in a cash and shares deal worth £3m (that’s about £8.5m in today’s money) to Banro Industries, Larry remaining as a director and consultant. Ed
At the new and improved 2024 Devitt MCN London Motorcycle event, exhibitors showed their products and services to over 30,000 visitors who;
• Had an average household income of £68k
• Spent £2.5M at the show
• 61% of visitors attended the show for retail purposes, 35% of which came with a specific purchase in mind
• 43% agree that LMS influenced their future bike buying or kit buying decisions.
SOURCE: Bauer Media Group – Post-show research 2024
Our stand was incredibly busy, full of customers keen to speak to Kawasaki staff and find out more about our 2024 range. We look ahead to a great start to the riding season.
Craig Watson, Sales and Marketing Manager, Kawasaki Motors UK.
There’s no better place to start your 2025 season, book now and meet your next customers in person. SECURE YOUR SPACE by calling Tara Corona 01733 366400 or E-mail Tara.Corona@bauermedia.co.uk
to employment law grant employees new rights – employers need to be aware of the new legislation
Employment law is in a constant state of flux as it reflects the demands of the modern workplace. As a result, it shouldn’t be a surprise that a number of important changes have been made that will alter the legal landscape in 2024.
The Equality Act (Amendment) Regulations 2023 modified the Equality Act 2010 and came into force on 1 January 2024. In practical terms, these regulations protect against discrimination which would otherwise have ceased to apply following Brexit.
They strengthen protection in relation to discrimination in a number of ways. In particular, the legal definition of disability has been extended. Similarly, indirect discrimination by association has been extended to cover individuals who do not have the relevant protected characteristic but suffer similar disadvantages to those who hold the protected characteristic if the disadvantage is due to an employer’s policy, provision, or criterion.
A ‘single source’ test for equal pay comparators has been adopted into UK law, which means that workers do not have to have the same employer, or even an associated employer, to be able to make an equal pay comparison. Also, protection against direct discrimination has been extended. Less favourable treatment on
the grounds of breastfeeding is now classed as direct sex discrimination, and at the same time, more favourable treatment on the grounds of maternity is permitted. And additional protection has been given to employees after they return from maternity leave in relation to certain types of unfavourable treatment.
A
‘single source’ test for equal pay comparators has been adopted into UK law
Introduced on 1 January 2024, changes to the Working Time Regulations simplified holiday entitlement and holiday pay calculations for irregular-hours workers and part-year workers. These rules apply to relevant workers from their first holiday year starting on or after 1 April this year.
The government announced in February 2024 a new Code of Practice designed to regulate the ‘firing and re-hiring’ of staff. The code covers the steps employers need to take when consulting with employees over proposed changes to their employment contracts or as part of a redundancy exercise. Failure to follow the code correctly could result in a 25% uplift to a tribunal award.
The Paternity Leave (Amendment) Regulations 2024 came into force on 8 March. It allows fathers and partners, where the expected week of childbirth or placement of adoption is after 6 April 2024, to take their leave in two nonconsecutive blocks of a week each rather than two consecutive weeks (or one week only) as was the case before. This leave can be taken at any point in the 52 weeks after birth, rather than the first eight
weeks after adoption or birth. Also, the notice period for alerting employers of their intention to take leave has been reduced from 15 weeks before the child’s due date to four weeks (other than domestic adoption, which remains within seven days of being matched with a child).
From 6 April 2024, employees who are carers for dependants with (defined) long-term care needs, became entitled to take one week’s unpaid leave per year. This is available to all employees from the first day of their employment. The leave can be taken as a block or as individual days within a 12-month period.
There are minimum notice periods to be adhered to and although employers cannot decline a request for leave, they can postpone it within certain parameters. Employers are strongly encouraged to update their absence and leave policies to reflect this change as a matter of priority.
The Flexible Working (Amendment) Regulations 2023, from 6 April 2024, removed the 26-week qualifying period to make a flexible working request. Now employees have the right to make a flexible working request from the first day of employment rather than having to wait for 26 weeks. In addition to this day-one right, employees can make two flexible working requests in any 12-month period, and they no longer have to make a business case for their request.
Employers, in turn, must respond to an employee’s request within two months (rather than the previous three)
and must consult with an employee before rejecting a request.
Under the law, employees who were on maternity leave, shared parental leave or adoption leave have for some time been offered special protection against redundancy. The Protection from Redundancy (Pregnancy and Family Leave) Act 2023 extended this protection from 6 April to also cover pregnant employees and employees who have recently returned from maternity, adoption, or shared parental leave.
Pregnant employees will be protected from redundancy from the time they inform their employer of their pregnancy until 18 months after childbirth. Those on adoption leave and shared parental leave are also protected for 18 months from the date of their child’s placement or birth.
Transfer of Undertakings Protection of Employment rights (TUPE) that protect employees and their benefits when their employment changes hands altered on 1 July 2024. The Employment Rights (Amendment, Revocation and Transitional Provision) Regulations 2023 changed TUPE-related consultation requirements for smaller businesses. Companies with fewer than 50 employees now don’t have to elect employee representatives, and neither do those where fewer than 10 employees are to be transferred.
The Workers (Predictable Terms and
Conditions) Act 2023, expected to come into force in September 2024, introduces a new statutory right for employees and workers to request a more predictable working pattern subject to eligibility criteria. Workers with variable hours, those on fixed-term contracts of less than 12 months, and agency workers are likely to benefit. There are rules around the number of applications that can be made a year (two), and the way in which employers deal with requests. There are currently six grounds listed on which to refuse a request, such as planned structural changes and the burden of additional costs.
The Worker Protection (Amendment of Equality Act 2010) 2023 is due to come into force in October 2024. This will place a positive duty on employers to take reasonable steps to protect their employees against sexual harassment. The purpose of this is to make workplaces a safer environment for all workers. If employers are found to have breached this new duty, Employment Tribunals will have the power to increase compensation by up to 25%.
These changes are important for employers – and employees – to get to grips with. A breach of any one of them could see an employer facing a claim in the Employment Tribunal. Revisiting procedures and policies is essential.
Sophie Wahba is an associate at Wright Hassall law firm
Most parts distributors are based in fairly mundane parts of the world. Generic light-industrial buildings on a trading estate on the edge of a mid-sized town, handy for the motorways, big loading bays, security fencing – ideal for the job, but usually fairly forgettable.
But not today. I’ve just had an incredible ride through Scotland’s southern uplands on some of the best roads in the country and have parked up in the picturesque Border’s town of Hawick. The character-laden building in front of me comprises a classic Scottish townhouse next door to a converted oldschool style car garage. It’s the home of Michael Brandon Ltd, one of the longestrunning distribution firms in the country.
Set up more than 50 years ago by the eponymous owner, the company made its name supplying NGK spark plugs, EBC brake parts, Abus locks, JT chains and sprockets, Hiflo filters, and more through the 1970s, 80s, 90s and into the 21st century.
Sadly, founder Michael Brandon died in June 2020, aged 79, after fighting cancer for the previous 14 months. His son, Hamish, looked after his father and
the business during his dad’s illness, and is now running the company, with a plan for the future that includes new brands and a new logo.
After a quick coffee, he showed me around the premises, and took me through some new product lines, as well as the subtle rebranding to Brandon Powersports.
We don’t sell cheap or low-quality products. It’s always been about high quality
Hamish Brandon
How did Michael Brandon begin, then?
“It started almost as a hobby in 1970,” explained Hamish. “He had moved up to Scotland with his family business, Bantel, which made toy trikes. But he was really good friends with Les Simms, importer of NGK spark plugs, who didn’t have on the ground representation in Scotland. So he became the distributor here. NGK eventually bought Simms out, and it became NGK UK. So dad started looking at other things; he did Centurion helmets for a while, then EBC brakes,
locks. Abus was big; he did an awful lot of promotions with MCN and the monthly magazines. Then came Thatcham approval, which helped establish Abus as the number one security brand in the country. It also helped to create the bike security market – I don’t think there really was one at that time.”
Amazingly, the business has remained in the same premises ever since. “In the 1970s, dad moved into this place, he rented an office from the garage round the corner, then he got the warehouse. I believe the house came at a later date.”
The business had plans to move out to new premises in the mid-2000s, but serious flooding in Hawick damaged the new buildings so the firm remains in its original home. It’s been sensibly updated – the original roof is augmented with modern insulation, there’s modern warehouse racking and a neat meeting room and showroom. The offices are also being modernised – but the charm of the original structure remains.
Looking around the warehouse, it’s clear that EBC brake pads, discs and clutch parts are still a big part of the Brandon business. “We don’t sell cheap or low-quality products,” said Hamish. “It’s always been about high quality. After NGK, we took on EBC, and we were one of the first EBC distributors, which would’ve been in the early 1980s. Dad and Andy Freeman of EBC became very good friends. We have a long history with them and it’s a very important product for us; the people may have changed, but there are still some of the original staff and we’re still very close.”
It’s been a tough four years for Hamish and the Brandon family, but with day-today operations now back on an even keel, he has taken on a few new product lines. Technomousse off-road tyre mousses from Italy, Silkolene oil, and the massive LiquiMoly range of oils, lubricants, cleaners, and workshop chemicals from Germany.
“We have been looking to add value to our range of brands, and a tyre mousse insert has been on our radar for some time,” said Hamish. “Unlike some others, Technomousse doesn’t have a ‘shelf life’, so a dealer looking for a good, premium mousse to stock can do so without the fear it will deteriorate.”
Brandon’s distribution deal with Liqui-Moly gives the German oil firm a more solid base in the UK. “With LiquiMoly, for us, there’s no point taking on a product that we don’t think we can do a good job with. We’re not doing the manufacturer any good, and we’re not doing ourselves any good because we’re investing in stock, we’re diverting our time and effort, and if we don’t sell the product, we suffer. We also keep the manufacturer out of the market. We want long-term relationships. With EBC, JT, Hiflo, and DID, you’re talking about decades. I’m not interested in taking something on for a couple of years.
“Liqui-Moly has some nice options for dealers wanting to take it on. They’ve got point-of-sale cabinets and deals where if you fill a cabinet, you get it free of charge. The area sales manager, Craig
Maxwell, has been great; he’s always available, and he’s helped us develop our own stock codes to try and make it easier for dealers to order.”
The final part of the plan for 2024 is a revamp of branding, with a new name – Brandon Powersports – and a new logo featuring a bee. “We’ve always been known as Michael Brandon,” said Hamish. “But the update of our branding with a new logo and a new icon is my way of saying we’re still here and we’re still a family business. We’re not losing our roots, we’re proud of where we came from, but when someone thinks of hard parts, brakes, oil, or chain, we want them to think of Brandon Powersports.”
And Brandon Powersports is also keen to sign-on new dealers. “It’s very hard to gain a new customer, but we pride ourselves on the fact that once we do we tend to keep them. We offer a good service, and we look after them. We’re a small company, but I’d like to think we punch above our weight. Our customers know us and when they pick up the phone, we’re all on first-name terms.
“We’ve got the technology and the business-to-business website; customers can log in, check stock, and place orders. I implemented that several years ago. Our website links directly to our computer system so people know what’s in stock. But we don’t want to lose that personal touch. Any product we’ve taken on recently, or take on in the future, has to complement the range that we’ve got. We’re looking for more brands, but we will stick with hard parts. We don’t want to take on too many products.”
Several small and medium-sized British distributors have been bought out by foreign investors in recent years, but Hamish isn’t interested. “The way the market has changed means there are a lot of big companies, and we’ve got to be one of the last original distributors still standing. I’m proud of what my dad built up, and I don’t want to lose that identity.
Brandon Powersports 15-17 Oliver Crescent, Hawick TD9 9BJ 01450 373333 info@gobrandon.com www.gobrandon.com
Expert advice to improve how you promote and sell productsyour servicesor
Do you really know what your customers want?
Focus groups can remove some of the guesswork
Run properly, a focus group could provide helpful insights into your customers, so you can better understand which products and services to offer them. Simple to organise, any size of business can use a focus group, but they’re not without potential pitfalls. Pick the wrong people, or ask the wrong questions, and you could easily find yourself making some flawed decisions.
WHAT IS A FOCUS GROUP?
A focus group is essentially a guided discussion amongst a small number of people. Typically, there are around 6-12 participants who share similar characteristics or interests relevant to the topic at hand. The discussion is led by a facilitator, who asks open-ended questions and keeps the conversation flowing.
The goal of a focus group is to gain deeper insights and understanding of people’s experiences, opinions and attitudes on a particular subject. The facilitator uses the group environment to encourage interaction and learn from a range of perspectives, which can be more revealing than individual interviews.
They’re a great way to uncover what’s happening behind the statistics. For example, a dealer might sell lots of adventure sport bikes, but struggles to sell the clothing, luggage or protection to go with them. Chatting to a group of customers gives them an opportunity to find out why – is it price, choice or something else?
Picking the right participants and asking the right questions are key to getting reliable insights from your focus group. Before starting you should define your goals. Are you trying to understand how your customers view your business in general or do you have more specific questions? For example, you might want to find out whether people think you provide a high standard of customer service or if they believe you offer value for money. Alternatively, you might want to uncover the brands they favour, or their target price points for particular products.
Once you’ve figured out what you want to know, you need to identify your target audience. Should you talk to
regular, potential or ex-customers? Perhaps you need to talk to a mixture of all three. Ideally the group should be no fewer than six and no more than 12, so try to pick the widest variety within those limitations.
You might need to offer people an incentive to attend, such as a voucher to spend in store, a discount code or free refreshments. Explain the topic of conversation beforehand, so they come prepared.
During the meeting, ask openended questions and try to guide the conversation, without turning it into an interrogation. An hour should be plenty – if people get tired/bored they’re unlikely to contribute anything worthwhile. It might help to have a friend or colleague there to jot down any significant points, so you can concentrate on the discussion.
Follow these simple steps and you should get some practical information from the group. Consider this reallife example from the 1950s when baking brand Betty Crocker wanted to understand how women viewed its instant cake mix. After conducting various focus groups, it discovered that customers felt far more involved in the baking process if they had to add an egg to the ingredients, leading to the introduction of their hugely popular “Add-an-Egg” cake mixes.
Why not run a trial focus group to see if you’re missing an ingredient to your business success?
We discuss the pitfalls of under- and overestimating when it is based solely on data.
In today’s industry, it is almost impossible to complete a maintenance procedure without using suitable diagnostic equipment. Latest-generation motorbikes have essential components for bikers safety such as ABS, ARAS, Engine Management and Suspensions. Thanks to TEXA’s relations with several OEM’s the TEXA bike software, IDC5, is considered the must-have diagnostic software for motorcycles technicians.
AXONE NEMO LIGHT was specifically designed for the harsh environment of the automotive industry, integrating optimal functionality to meet the specific challenges of the sector. With a compact and reinforced design, this device stands out for its reliability and practicality, ensuring optimal performance in every situation. Equipped with advanced technology, AXONE NEMO LIGHT ensures high-level performance, essential for continuous use in the workshop. The TXB-2 is our latest-generation vehicle interface specifically developed for the Bike and Marine environments.
You can request a no obligation demonstration of our tools by scanning the below code.
Request a Demo See more info
It might be hard to grasp that the flippantly-named pink cleaning fluid for bikes has developed into a huge range of products and accessories, available in more than 100 countries, and that it’s about to celebrate its 30th birthday – but you’d better Muc-Ing believe it
It won’t surprise you to learn that a specialist cleaning product was produced by a perfectionist, one Rex Trimnell. He was a demon motorcycle racer in the 1960s and he also had a motorcycle pannier company, Euro Design. Fast forward a few years, and Rex’s son Alex was into mountain biking and Rex, with his engineering background, couldn’t help himself wanting to improve his son’s cycle performance and experience. Together with wife Marilyn he created the X-Lite UK company in 1991 to produce the world’s first twin crown bicycle fork and the world’s lightest bar ends. As anyone who has ever ridden anything off-road will testify, thoroughly cleaning
your bike before it’s put away is an integral part of the proceedings, so Rex turned his critical eye on this part of the process with a view to reducing the time taken. As ever, it wasn’t that simple to come up with an eco-friendly cleaning product that didn’t aid corrosion or damage paint finishes, electrical wiring or components. Anyway, after much experimentation and testing, Rex managed to come up with the perfect pink stuff that got the muck off…
That was in 1994 and, according to Muc-Off’s trade marketing director James Cramp, dealerships didn’t exactly welcome this new product with open arms. “It was very slow to begin with. You’d go into bike shops,
showing them a cleaner, and their attitude was ‘What do I need this for?’ They were laughing you out of the shop, saying ‘We use washing up liquid’. So we really had to create our own market.”
Even though the pink brand is now well established, Cramp says that there is quite often some push back when new products and equipment are introduced. “For example, in 2011 we decided to install refill stations in bicycle and motorcycle stores, so that customers could bring in their empty bottles for a top up at a discount. The idea was
to support the retailer with repeat footfall and to reduce the environmental waste of disposable bottles. We were very excited about the launch, but it didn’t really get off the ground. We reintroduced it in 2019, however, and everyone loved it – it reflected the change in consumer mindset. We were initially a bit ahead of the curve.”
Steve Fearn, senior marketing communications manager, is keen to point out the importance of innovation both for the company and the customer. “Innovation doesn’t just provide the glitzy,
1994 Muc-Off cleaning fluid created
2002 Sales to motorcycle market begin, with expanded range
2003 Signs with Crescent Suzuki team and John Reynolds
2005 Starts exporting to Europe
2007 Develops US market
2014 Signs with James Hillier for IOM TT and BSB
2019 Signs with Scott Redding for BSB and WSBK
2019 Launches world’s first bike-specific pressure washer
2020 Signs deal with MotoGP rider Andrea Dovizioso
2022 Goes dealer-direct in the UK market
2022 Launches partnership for Supercross Team Muc-Off
2024 Partners with Moto 101 motocross track
2024 Celebrates 30th Anniversary
2024 Opens new showroom in Poole, Dorset, for dealer training
shiny end of the product range. It also delivers its share of financial reward, as we’ve seen from the recently released figures from the last three years. This is reassuring for us, as there are now many more players in the market, with bike brands all releasing their own products.”
In terms of branding, Muc-Off has carved a niche for itself by concentrating on the cleaning aspect of bike maintenance rather than lubrication, a marketleading example being the Muc-Off portable pressure washer. Having said that, Muc-Off does produce its own hydrodynamic chain lube for cycles and a chain cleaner/lube for motorcycles, just as some oil brands now include cleaning aids. This is something of a crossover area, which Cramp clarifies: “We were quite early in coming up with an end-to-end system: clean, protect and lubricate. This also helps the retailer by making it easier for the customer to select.”
As well as the retail aspect, dealers are supported with larger product containers and price discounts for the workshop, which additionally reassures customers if they know that the products are used in the service department. “Initially our products were impulse purchases,” says Cramp. “We’d put the visor cleaner next to
The programme includes a direct brand relationship, involving product, event and training support.
All the product development is done in-house and is overseen by CEO Alex Trimnell, Rex’s son, who likes to be hands on with the R&D. This department is very involved with all the chemistry, the testing and the
Supporting the retailer involves our commercial team visiting the dealerships and getting their feedback which, in turn, helps our product development side
the till and have other pickup purchases available. But now supporting the retailer involves our commercial team visiting the dealerships and getting their feedback which, in turn, helps our product development side.”
Further support comes from Muc-Off’s retail ambassador programme, which gives it category-leading margins.
proof of improvement and documentation required, not to mention the manufacture of all the test equipment. Different export markets can require different recipes and compliance paperwork. Fortunately, the Poole HQ is close to Portsmouth for shipping around the globe.
Muc-Off leads the cleaning product market in many
different sectors, from mountain bikes to rally cars, and speaking of the latter you’d be forgiven for thinking, what does MucOff do for a rally car? Well, if you spray under the wheel arches it stops the mud from sticking, which means that the power-to-weight ratio is consistent throughout the event – a distinct advantage in the later stages!
To find out more about what Muc-Off can do for your dealership, you can contact one of the three Moto Division area sales managers on the road for help with supporting stores, maintenance clinics, event support and store training. They are happy to back up any dealers needing to develop and grow their maintenance category sales. There is also a trade marketing and customer service team, based at the Poole HQ, to help dealers with any POS solutions and content support they may need for the store or websites.
Muc-Off 01202 307799 sales@muc-off.com
The taxman can make renovations and improvements to premises less expensive – but only if the rules are followed
Premises, retail spaces and workshops come in all shapes and sizes but, whatever they look like, they will need ongoing repairs and maintenance. While tax shouldn’t be the driver behind these decisions, it’s important to understand the tax implications of spending on improvements compared with renovations to maximise relief claims.
For David Wright, a technical officer at the Association of Taxation Technicians, the pivotal question for tax is whether
money spent on the premises is revenue or capital expenditure. As he outlines, “the costs of ongoing repairs and maintenance will normally be revenue, meaning they’re fully deductible in the period incurred, and the business benefits from tax relief relatively quickly. In contrast, if a business builds, extends, or makes improvements to its premises, the money spent is classed as capital expenditure.” This means, as he explains, that unless the business can claim capital allowances or Structures
and Buildings Allowance, no tax relief is available upfront for capital expenditure; the business will also have to wait until it sells the premises to get tax relief for the costs of any additions or improvements.
In principle, Wright says that the distinction between revenue and capital expenditure should be simple – work done to return the premises to the condition they were in at acquisition is revenue; expenditure on enhancing them beyond that is capital.
For instance, if the roof blows off and the business pays for a like-for-
like replacement, that cost should be a repair and, therefore, deductible for tax purposes in the period incurred. In contrast, if it decides to have the roof replaced in order to add a loft conversion, then the cost will be capital as it’s enhancing the building beyond its state when it was acquired.
It needs to be said that if an expense should be treated as capital, any incidental costs are also likely to be capital in nature. For instance, the cost of building an extension to premises would be capital, and therefore, so would any associated legal or planning fees.
When works are completed, a single invoice might cover a range of changes, such as an extension and redecorating a stock room. In this instance, Wright explains that the cost of the extension would be capital and only recoverable when the premises are sold, but the redecoration is a repair, and so can be deducted for tax purposes when incurred.
As a consequence, he advises that “whenever a business commissions building work covering more than one task, it should always ask for the invoices to be subtotalled by area or sub-project, as appropriate.” He says that doing this will help determine what tax relief is available now and what will be treated as capital.
With most capital expenditure on premises, a business has to wait until it sells to get any tax relief. However, money spent on “integral features” can qualify for capital allowances, meaning that it can get tax relief much sooner.
Wright outlines that integral features are defined as items that make up the premises, rather than plant and machinery used in the business – “put simply, they are things ‘in which’ rather than ‘with which’ the business operates.”
Many
businesses will be able to get more tax relief sooner by claiming the Annual Investment Allowance (AIA) against the cost of integral features in the year they’re acquired
He says that qualifying integral features are strictly defined as electrical and lighting systems; hot and cold water systems (excluding kitchen and toilet facilities); lifts, escalators and moving walkways; powered ventilation systems; and air cooling, heating or purification systems; and external solar shading.
It needs to be remembered that the cost of these assets qualifies for an annual Writing Down Allowance at a rate of 6%, which, says Wright, “allows tax relief based on a small amount of the asset’s value to be claimed each year over the course of its useful life.”
However, Wright points out that “many businesses will be able to get more tax relief sooner by claiming the Annual Investment Allowance (AIA) against the cost of integral features in the year they’re acquired.” In explaining
what AIA is, he says that “it allows businesses to offset against their income up to £1m of expenditure each year on new integral features as well as most plant and machinery … the business can’t claim the two allowances simultaneously though – it’s a choice of either AIA or Writing Down Allowances in the first year.”
Lastly, it can be painful to wait for tax relief on capital expenditure on buildings. However, since October 2018, the cost of buying, constructing, or renovating commercial premises for use in a trade can qualify for an SBA. The allowance is currently 3%.
Wright explains that “leaseholders can qualify for an SBA on qualifying building works they pay for, such as fitting out premises for their use, and if the lease is for more than 35 years they may even be eligible for an SBA on the original construction/renovation costs.”
But he offers words of warning on SBAs. Firstly, “a business can only get relief once, so the value of assets qualifying for capital allowances can’t also be included in an SBA claim,” and secondly, “if it sells the premises, the amount of SBA claimed will be added to the sale proceeds, so tax will eventually become payable on the amount of SBA claimed.”
Renovating or improving premises is an expensive business, but one thing is certain – taking the time to understand the rules and to work to them will make a project much less expensive.
All the latest products, with Colin Williams
THE EVO UPDATE TO FIVE’S RFX3 racing glove brings, for the first time, the firm’s AirgoProtech Performance technology. This gives the gloves a “shell” inspired by helmet manufacturing methods, with a rigid outer shell and a soft inner honeycomb element to absorb impacts. The back of the gloves also feature a Shock Protech panel made of highdensity foam underneath the leather in the metacarpal area and an Ergoprotech slider on the palm. The fingers each have TBR protectors fitted, and there is an anti-twist connection between the fourth and little fingers. Together, these make the gloves protective enough to gain CE level 2 designation. Construction is a mix of goat leather with synthetic materials, perforated in some areas for extra ventilation. They come in a choice of black, black/ red, black/white or white for an SRP of £149.99. Factory Agencies; 01749 342491; info@factoryagencies.co.uk
Oxford Heist 5
AN URBAN-STYLE TEXTILE JACKET WITH RETRO INFLUENCES, Oxford’s new Heist is made from Armourlite stretch cotton twill with a check lining and a water repellent finish, making it adaptable to changeable weather conditions. It is CE AAA-certified, thanks to the inclusion of CE level 2 protectors at the shoulders and elbows, plus there is a pocket for an optional back protector. Storage is provided by a pair of large chest pockets plus a pair of handwarmer pockets. The Heist comes in sizes S-5XL in a choice of black or tan for an SRP of £169.99.
Oxford Products; 01993 862300; info@oxprod.com
A NEW PAIR OF OP16 SILENCERS FROM LEXTEK COME IN BOTH LEFT AND right-handed versions for use in either single or twin-mounted configurations. The polished stainless steel can has been given a dark tint, with the end caps left in raw stainless for a contrasting finish. The 250mm-long silencer is classed as universal fit, sliding over any downpipe of 51mm diameter and being secured with a supplied clamp. A removable baffle is also included, but whether fitted or not, the OP16 does not meet noise requirements to be classed as street legal. SRP is £133.49 per side.
Lextek; 0844 567 8887; sales@llexeter.co.uk
CARDO DESCRIBES ITS NEW PACKTALK PRO AS “super-premium”, so you would be justified in expecting it to have all the bells-and-whistles available.
As well as the usual music, calls and bike-tobike intercom capabilities, the big new feature is a Crash Detection System which uses a three-part system to detect when an incident has occurred and informs an emergency contact via the associated phone app. Cardo goes to great lengths to explain the rigours of the testing undertaken to ensure the CDS doesn’t get confused by a minor incident and erroneously call for backup. Another interesting feature is the ability of the Packtalk
Pro to switch itself on and off automatically when it detects movement. This helps to reduce power drain and maximise battery life, and will be a boon to anyone who has inadvertently forgotten to turn their comms unit off.
The unit is finished in matt black and is IP67 rated for water and dust-proofing, Sounds are provided by 45mm JBL speakers paired with a digital processor to create “arena-like audio”, which could be disconcerting if your ride buddy suddenly sounds like Freddie Mercury in full flow. SRP is £405.
Pama & Co; 0161 494 4200; cardo@pama.co.uk
TRIUMPH’S SPEED 400 AND SCRAMBLER 400X ARE FLYING OUT OF DEALERSHIPS THANKS TO their competitive pricing and slinky retro-tinged styling, despite the latter being somewhat compromised by the usual huge and ugly number plate bracket which sticks out over the rear wheel like a sore, grey plastic, thumb.
Fortunately, Pyramid has leapt into action and has designed a carbon steel tail tidy which brings the rear lights and number plate mount neatly under the pillion seat. It comes powder coated in black to blend in with the bike’s frame, and comes with required fittings for quick and easy installation. Versions are available for the Speed 400 and the Scrambler 400X for an SRP of £94.99.
Pyramid Motorcycle Accessories; 01427 677990; support@pyramidmoto.co.uk
FURYGAN BACK PROTECTOR
FRENCH FIRM FURYGAN has updated its back protector with some help from molecular chemistry wizards
D3O. The Full Back Evo is a CE level 2 back protector which is said to be lighter, more flexible and five times more ventilated than the previous version, while providing equal or better levels of protection. It comes in four sizes at an SRP of £40.99.
Furygan; www.furygan.com
HELMET BRAND NEXX HAS BEEN allocated an ACU Gold Sticker for its made-in-Europe X.R3R race helmet, allowing the carbon or multi-composite-shelled lid to be used in ACU-sanctioned motorsport events. The X.R3R is also available in an FIM homologated option, the Pro FIM Evo, for international race events. Features of the race lid include a sprung visor for better sealing against wind and rain, an anti-vibration EPS liner and a Pinlock 120XLTMax Vision anti-fog insert. Retail prices start from £349.99, with the Zero Pro Carbon version at £469.99 and the Pro FIM Evo topping the range at £579.99. Motohaus; 01256 704909; info@motohaus.com
GIVI LAUNCHED ITS OUTBACK EVO LINE OF RIGID ALUMINIUM luggage last year, and has now introduced some additions to the range. The new 33-litre side cases feature a cut out, allowing them to be fitted to adventure bikes with a high-level exhaust, Also new are the tilting supports, to make access easier when a top case is fitted.
And talking of top cases, there is a new 42-litre version with a slightly more svelte profile than the original 58-litre version, but it still has enough room to store a modular helmet.
Both the top and side cases use the same styling as the rest of the range, and have the same practical features such as the detachable lid system, Monokey fastening, and a plethora of hooks and loops to strap stuff to. They come in a choice of natural aluminium or black, with a range of bespoke accessories including lighting and waterproof liner bags available. Side and top cases are £371 SRP each in aluminium, with prices for black versions yet to be announced.
3.0
ANOTHER NEW ADDITION to the rapidly-expanding ARMR range, which operates at the budget end of Oxford’s apparel ranges, is the Raiden 3.0 glove. Made from aniline leather with TPU knuckle and finger protection, the Raiden 3.0 is certified to CE level 1 KP. The palm, thumb and fingers are reinforced with Amara, and stretch material is used on the back of the hand and the fingers for extra comfort. To help riders cope with the hot city streets in the summer, the leather has strategicallypositioned perforations, plus there are mesh ventilation fourchette panels between the fingers. The Raiden 3.0 comes in black only for an SRP of £49.99.
Givi UK; 01327 706220; info@givi.co.uk
WHEN THE HOT WEATHER HITS IT’S TIME TO REACH FOR THE MESH jackets to help out sweaty riders. The Dainese Air Frame 3 Tex is made from Quickdry mesh fabric with a detachable windproof liner, making it more suitable for changeable British weather. A single waterproof pocket is also included to protect valuables from unexpected downpours. Composite protectors are fitted on the shoulders and elbows, and there are pockets to take optional back and chest protectors. To make sure the fit is comfortable there are adjusters on the neck, waist and wrists, plus a zip to connect to trousers. It comes in both men’s (UK34-54) and ladies’ (UK8-22) for an SRP of £259.95. Nevis Marketing; 01425 478936; info@nevis.uk.com
Oxford Products; 01993 862300; info@oxprod.com
BACK IN APRIL, RUROC ANNOUNCED THE LAUNCH OF A NEW range-topping lid, which has now landed. The Eox is the flagship model in the UK brand’s full-face range, featuring a new lightweight composite shell made of T300 carbon reinforced with Kevlar, nylon and fibreglass fibres to optimise strength, flexibility and impact protection. It has been aerodynamically shaped to reduce noise and improve stability, with a new rear spoiler and seamless visor integration. It comes in three shell sizes to optimise fit, and inside, the lining has been developed in collaboration with RHEON, which develops energy-absorbing reactive polymer technology, to reduce impact and rotational forces.
The visor has a wide-angle 215-degree field of view, and uses a new design of toothless pivot that simplifies removal and refitting. It also comes with a Pinlock 120XLT anti-fog insert.
Another area of design that has been created in collaboration with expert partners is the optional Shockwave Mesh comms system, which has been developed by Cardo to allow for music and phone connectivity, as well as intercom for up to 15 persons in a one mile radius. For riders who prefer their own company, a simpler Shockwave Bluetooth system is also available, providing phone and music.
The Eox comes in solid, graphic and exposed carbon options, with SRPs starting from £399. It is also available in a range of three Starwars-inspired designs for those who harbour dreams of taking on the Empire as a Resistance Pilot, Mandalorian or Rebel Pilot. Ruroc; www.ruroc.com
SHARK HELMETS HAS ANNOUNCED A COLLAB WITH TROY LEE
Designs to create new graphic options for the Spartan, Skwal and Ridill ranges. The Spartan RS, which has a composite shell and multi-density EPS liner, gets a race-inspired design featuring chequered flags in either black/white or black/anthracite colour options for its £399.99 SRP, while the Spartan GT Pro gets a an Americana-inspired graphic in glossy red/white/blue or matt black/anthracite for £469.99 SRP.
The Skwal i3, which incorporates an accelerometer-controlled rear brake light and front mounted LED white positioning lights for improved visibility, gets even more USA influence with a Stars-and-Stripes design in traditional red/ white/blue or black/silver. SRP is £309.99. Slightly lower down the range, the D-Skwal 3 gets a graphic designed to boost its aggressive looks in gloss black, gloss silver or matt black for its £239.99 SRP.
Last of the Troy Lee triumvirate is the Ridill, which offers a choice of Matrix Camo in two colour schemes or the Apex design also in two colourways, for an SRP of £179.99. Nevis Marketing; 01425 478936; info@nevis.uk.com
ONE FOR THE SUMMER, THE LS2 ALBA is a mesh jacket designed to make “motorcycling in Mediterranean temperatures a breeze”. It uses extralarge diamond pattern mesh fabric panels across the entire front and rear of the jacket, as well as on both arms. Critical impact areas are covered with ripstop fabric for extra abrasion resistance, and CE level armour is fitted at the shoulders and elbows. There is also an optional CE level 2 back protector, though this will slightly inhibit airflow. Adjustment for fit is provided at the waist, arms and cuffs, allowing some extra room for a base layer if the temperature drops. The Alba comes in black or dark grey, with red highlights and stitching, in sizes S-5XL for an SRP of £119.99.
LS2 Helmets UK; 01670 856342; ukservice@ls2helmets.com
SIP, THE Destination marries vintage-inspired styling and modern functionality, such as the touchscreen-compatible fingertips and CE level 1 impact protection. It is made from cowhide in black, tan, brown or yellow and has an embossed SIP logo on the cuff – other than that the styling is resolutely clean, with no extra panels, meshes or armour. They come in sizes XS to XXXL, and are suitable for both men and women, at an SRP of £35.
SIP Scootershop; +49 (0) 8191-96999-69; ralf@sip-scootershop.de
ITALIAN ACCESSORIES BRAND KAPPA HAS GIVEN THREE OF ITS top cases a styling refresh to give them a new look and to incorporate improved reflectors to improve visibility. Instead of the previous silver polythene insert, which would degrade over time, the reflective surface is now painted silver chrome which should be much longer lasting.
The three cases are aimed at scooter and small motorcycle users, and have capacities of 35, 40 and 46 litres, which is big enough for a pair of full-face helmets in the latter. Each case comes complete with a mounting plate and fixing kit for the SRPs of £110.17, £114.86 and £145.56 respectively.
Hoco Parts UK; 01484 641073; info@hocoparts.co.uk
THE VPR GUARD JACKET AND trouser suit combo is a budget-priced adventure outfit from Viper. Made from 600D fabric with a ripstop outer shell, the jacket features six large air vents for ventilation, and removable thermal and waterproof liners to provide year-round usability. The trousers have fold-over vent panels on the thighs, and also feature thermal and removable waterproof liners. Armour is fitted at the shoulders, elbows, hips and knees. It comes in a choice of black, black/grey or green/black for an SRP of £159.95 for the jacket and £129.95 for the matching trousers.
Motohart; 01916 030020; info@motohart.com
•
SchemesMulti-bikes, 125cc & scooters, Classic Bikes, Electric Bikes Plus much
WE COVERED THE COOKING VERSION OF THE new RPHA 12 sports helmet in last month’s BDN, and now, as night follows day, HJC has released a full-carbon shelled version. The lightweight carbon shell comes in four sizes for optimum fit and to minimise weight, and it retains its sibling’s features of a wider eye port, emergency release cheek pads and improved visor sealing. It comes in a gloss carbon weave with both clear and smoked visors, plus a Pinlock, for an SRP of £499.99.
Oxford Products; 01993 862300; info@oxprod.com
IN THESE DIGITAL TIMES A DIAGNOSTICS SYSTEM IS AS MUCH of a workshop essential as a socket set and a large hammer. Manufacturers can obviously supply tools suitable for their range, but if you are servicing a wide range of makes and models you need a more universal solution, such as the Texa TXB2. The TXB2 can read and erase error messages, check system parameters, reset service warning lights, adjust fuelling, perform active tests, record dyno data and more on a huge range of bikes, with a optional subscription service to add the latest models as they are released. Cabling is compatible with previous Texa diagnostic equipment, making upgrading simpler and cheaper. The TXB2 features a new processor, making it faster and more stable, allowing quicker transfer speeds for ECU maps, and also features Bluetooth 5.0. Prices start from £1580 ex VAT.
Probike; 01604 660555; www.probike.co.uk
OK, IT’S NOT REALLY CARBON FIBRE, JUST A lookalike wrap over Italian-made plastic and pressed steel components, to create a rugged and good-fitting trim to add some custom performance styling to a scooter. Accessory firm CIF has applied its glossy carbon effect finish to various cowlings for the small frame Vespa 125 and PK125, plus manual start PX125, PX150 and PX200 models. SRPs start from £43.99. VE (UK); 01159 462991; sales@ve-uk.com
More than 650 trade suppliers listed Easy reference to the best suppliers in the industry In print and online for all year-round reference Published by your only monthly trade magazine 92 packed pages Handy desktop size
PUIG’S PULLBACK HANDLEBAR RISER KIT DOES EXACTLY WHAT you would expect – raising a bike’s handlebars by 20mm and moving them back towards the rider by 16mm. This change in ergonomics is said to improve comfort and reduce fatigue, especially on long journeys, for riders who are shorter in stature or lacking in reach. The kit consists of a pair of machined aluminium clamps which are anodised black. They are suitable for bikes with 22mm or 25mm diameter bars. SRP is £65.99.
Pyramid Motorcycle Accessories; 01427 677990; support@pyramidmoto.co.uk
WUNDERLICH HAS DEVELOPED A NEW GUARD TO PROTECT the lower part of the engine on the BMW R1300 GS. Made entirely from black-anodised aluminium, the cover protects the crankcase from rocks, stones and debris thrown up by the front wheel. It is formed from 2mm folded sheet aluminium, with the design optimised to increase rigidity and reduce weight. It comes with the required bolts and installation is via two existing mounting points on the bike, so no extra drilling is required. SRP is €49.90.
Wunderlich; +49 2641 3082-703; sales@wunderlich.de
IF YOU HAVE UPPED THE PERFORMANCE OF A VESPA, IT IS likely to also need a clutch upgrade to handle the extra horses. NewFren’s 24-spring race clutch uses four carbon compound plates to replace the standard clutch on small-frame Vespa models, which means it can be configured in multiple ways to suit engines with differing power outputs, making it more user-friendly for roadgoing applications but also capable of taming a serious sprint tuned engine. Unlike some other aftermarket clutches, it doesn’t need any modifications to fit, and it is suitable for almost all small-frame Vespas with engines of up to 140cc. SRP is £235.65. VE (UK); 01159 462991; sales@ve-uk.com
Route 66 booked TV BIKER HENRY COLE HAS A NEW BOOK OUT, WHERE HE RECOUNTS THE EVENTS OF his trek across the USA on its most famous road – Route 66. The legendary highway stretches from Chicago, Illinois, all the way to Santa Monica in California covering nearly 2500 miles through the heartlands of American history. During his trek, Cole enjoys the high and lows of travelling by bike, and reflects on the struggles and triumphs of the original travellers along “the Mother Road”, as it is known, as they headed west looking for a new life. Riding Route 66: Finding Myself on America’s Mother Road is available on Amazon and from all good book shops (and probably some of the not so good ones too) priced at £22. Henry Cole; www.henrycole.tv
EARLIER THIS YEAR HONDA
CRF1100L – a slightly softened version of its popular Africa Twin off-roader designed with a more road-focused bias including smaller diameter wheels and shorter travel suspension. To further extend the Adventure Sports touring credentials, Touratech has designed some custom accessories. A grooved Comfort seat is available in three heights (from €352 SRP) along with handlebar risers which bring the bars up by 20mm to improve the ergonomics for taller riders (€88 SRP). Windscreens to improve rider protection at motorway speeds come in standard or extended heights, in clear or tinted options (from €132 SRP).
Obviously the big factor for touring is luggage, so Touratech has adapted its stainless steel rack to fit the bike (€291 SRP), which can then be equipped with rigid aluminium panniers and top boxes from the Zega ranges, or numerous soft luggage options. Touratech; +49 7728 9279-0; info@touratech.de
WEISE PUTS ITS NEW Rennen glove firmly in the sport touring category of its range, so you can expect sporty looks combined with road-going practicality and comfort. They’re made from full grain leather with double and triple stitching, and perforated areas and finger vents to supply some cooling air. Protection comes in the form of rigid TPU armour over the knuckles and TPU sliders on the scaphoid bone, plus more protectors on each finger and the cuff. Comfort and fit are improved thanks to accordion stretch panels to aid movement, and micro-suede on the palm to enhance grip. The cuff is a low-profile design with a hook-and-loop adjustable fastening that can be worn under the sleeves of a jacket. The Rennen comes in sizes S to 3XL in either plain black or black/white for an SRP of £159.99.
A RACE-READY EXHAUST SYSTEM TO SUIT SUZUKI’S GSX-8R and GSX-8S models, the new Yoshimura AT2 is not road legal, being labelled for closed course and competition use only. On the bike it adds 5.7% more power and 6.1% more torque to a standard engine (an extra 4.6hp and 4.8Nm, to be precise). It also weighs in at a useful 3.2kg lighter than the OE system. It’s made from high-grade stainless steel with a carbon fibre end cap and a carbon heel guard. SRP is £1157, and there are optional noise-suppressing inserts and mounting brackets also available.
Performance Parts; 01327 706139; enquiries@performanceparts-ltd.com
The Key Collection; 01179 719200; sales@thekeycollection.co.uk
Having the world’s greatest motorcycle road races on my doorstep has been a professional pleasure for many years. But long term familiarity with the Isle of Man TT is all about taking the rough with the smooth, weather wise. As the 2024 TT edition approached, months of monsoon meteorology had transformed my erstwhile charming back garden on the Island’s wild west coast into a swamp. This might have been a clue about what was to transpire. Forecasts offered no respite as key dates grew nearer. Conditions had been consistently glorious in 2023. This time around, they most definitely weren’t. Memories of rain sodden events that ran on regardless in the most appalling circumstances – 1987’s delayed torrential Senior climax with the roads lethally awash, Honda’s decidedly dripping 50th anniversary in 1998 and, most recently, 2019 with single lap sprint races crammed together between downpours – sprang to mind.
Then only a few days before 2024 qualifying practice was due to kick off, howling gales joined in, demolishing tented facilities in the paddock and fanzone adjacent to the TT grandstand. An impressive 48 hour salvage operation by the Manx government’s contractors rescued what it could from the wreckage.
When qualifying finally got underway, it was intermittent, repeatedly rained off. Many competitors struggled to get in their qualifying laps, as Clerk of the Course Gary Thompson and his Race Control set up juggled opportunities for track time. One significant
sign of the challenges came from marshals at Glen Helen, who were obliged to display a “lack of adhesion” flag throughout the entire fortnight. Even on notionally dry days, water run off from the adjacent scenery constantly dampened the tarmac and riders short of grip were forced to sit up their bikes through the turn.
The race programme eventually began against a background of delayed starts, rescheduled and shortened races, red flags and even an outright cancellation for the second
races, starting with a sole six lapper, the RST Superbike race. Aussie FHO star Josh Brookes failed to finish a lap, because his chain snapped. Bookies favourite Peter Hickman was busy losing, until Michael Dunlop and Davey Todd both massively cocked up pit stops and threw their advantages away, gifting victory to Hickman.
The RL360 Superstock race, originally scheduled for Tuesday 4 June, was both blighted by being cut to three laps from four, and then rained off until Thursday. Beloved by the trade as a showcase for near standard products, almost
The TT organisers deserved commendation for making a silk purse out of a sow’s ear, given such ropey weather. And the third year of live streamed online TV coverage was outstanding
Superstock outing. Michael Dunlop loomed large for his progress towards becoming the ultimate TT “goat” – surpassing his late Uncle Joey’s long standing record of 26 wins.
A series of bizarre mishaps affected some of the usual suspects, though, in what proved to be some really great racing despite inclement weather –no doubt eliciting a massive sigh of relief from Manx Motorsport supremo Paul Phillips.
In the end, there were only three big capacity feature
his German masters also had skin in the game with Todd’s Milwaukee BMW.
The second PE Superstock simply ran out of relocation options after Friday’s programme was canned. Despite the rantings of keyboard warriors on social media, it had never been on the cards for Saturday’s concluding Senior day, because more than half of the field would have been using the same bikes for both races. Instead, two lap Supersport and Supertwin sprint races filled the hole, the second of these reduced to a single lap by the red flag after a serious incident at Handley’s.
an exclusive Hickman property on past form and keenly defended by him on behalf of BMW Motorrad, it didn’t go according to plan either. Deprived of a flying fourth lap, Hickman was unable to entirely pull in the opposition and finished just 2.2 seconds adrift of winner Davey Todd. Of course, BMW Motorrad marketing and PR manager Scott Grimsdall didn’t give a toss, because
The Milwaukee Senior TT, shortened to four laps from six, with a single pit stop at half distance for fuel and a new back tyre, concluded 2024 action. Again, mishaps dogged rated contenders. Hickman initially ran away with it, posting an incredible 148.9mph average from a standing start to Ramsey Hairpin and then an amazing Ballaugh to Ballaugh average of 136.8mph, going into a second lap.
And then he vanished, binning FHO Racing’s previously pristine BMW M1000 RR immediately after crossing Sulby Bridge. A convenient landing on his arse outside the Ginger Hall pub assured sorrows were soon drowned in the bar. Michael Dunlop didn’t even get that far, fading off the pace and leaderboard on his first lap, thanks to a fried clutch on his Hawk Racing Honda Fireblade, and eventually retiring at Hailwood Heights.
Davey Todd took over, 18.7 seconds clear of second
placed Josh Brookes at half distance and in due course taking the win 39 seconds ahead of Brookes. Honda’s young gun Dean Harrison came in third.
The TT organisers deserved commendation for making a silk purse out of a sow’s ear, given such ropey weather. And the third year of live streamed online TV coverage was outstanding. But it has to be said there were other clouds gathering on the horizon.
Elsewhere in this issue of BDN, you can read about the TT’s growing spectator headcount, as hordes of foreign bikers from all over Europe invaded the Isle of Man. But apparently some were not amused. Lurking outside the paddock media centre, I was accosted by a typical disgruntled example. Monikered “Herman the German” to preserve anonymity, he was big enough to bump start a Panzer, but proved to be an educated bloke articulate in English. Herman’s primary source
of grief was the astronomical price of his eight day TT vacation. From a starting point near Frankfurt, he and his biker chums had ridden to the Dutch port of IJmuiden, about 18km north of Amsterdam. There, they had embarked on a 16 hour ferry trip to Newcastle upon Tyne, ridden across England to Liverpool and taken the IoM Steam Packet’s Mannanan fast ferry to the Island.
was unaware of the background. The now nationalised Isle of Man Steam Packet ferry company has recently invested £80m in a flashy new Manxman flagship, refurbished its older Ben My Chree and Mannanan ferries, and bought the MV Arrow, a freight only truck ferry. In addition, its governmental parent has splashed a further £70m on a controversially lavish new ferry terminal in
Another angle impinging on the TT’s future is shrivelled interest from the motorcycle industry
Herman reckoned that final voyage had more than doubled in cost since his last visit to Manx shores. And once they’d completed their return journey, the financial burden including fuel, camping accommodation in damp tents, food and booze wouldn’t leave much change out of €2000 each –approximately £1700. This, he opined, was altogether too much to bear.
My pet kraut informant
Liverpool. The company is obviously now eager to begin recouping these investments in a hurry, through premium passenger pricing, before Manx taxpayer outrage boils over. The implications for TT visitors don’t need detailed explanation.
Another angle impinging on the TT’s future is shrivelled interest from the motorcycle industry. “Factory” entries were limited in 2024 to BMW
Motorrad and Honda Racing UK. Beyond that, brands were only represented by a succession of privateer or second string sponsored bikes.
For instance, Michael Dunlop had the choice of his own Yamaha R6 or Triumph 765 in Supersport contention. He wisely selected the former. Peter Hickman ran his own PHR Performance Triumph. James Hillier had a 600 Kawasaki fronted by the brand’s Bournemouth dealer. 959 Ducati entries came from various sources, none of them Ducati UK direct. For the Supertwin event, Hickman had his own PHR Yamaha R7, sponsored by the Swan fag paper brand. Dunlop had a privately backed Paton.
I could go on. To all intents and purposes, most of the famous industry names of yore were notable by their formal absence – Yamaha, Kawasaki, Suzuki, Ducati, Norton, Triumph, Aprilia ... the list goes on. Pretty soon, it could be clubman’s racing again.
1. Yamaha NMAX 125 3902
2. Honda PCX 125 3385
3. Honda CBF 125 2310
4. BMW R1250 GS Adventure 1619
5. Honda NSC 110 (Vision 110) 1441
6. Triumph Tiger 900 1358
7. Triumph Street Triple 1357
8. BMW R1250 GS 1079
9. Honda CB 750 (Hornet) 983
10. Honda NSS 125 (Forza 125) 953
11. Royal Enfield HNTR 350 908
12. Honda SH 125 894
13. Benelli BN 125 863
14. Triumph Tiger 1200GT 821
15. KTM 125 Duke 813
16. Kawasaki Ninja 1000SX 810
17. Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650 809
18. Yamaha MT 125 776
19. Yamaha Ténéré 700 768
20. Honda CRF 300 L 735
The latest figures from the DfT, which bring to a close new registrations data for 2023, show that overall registrations fell by a fraction over 4% compared to the previous year’s total.
At the top of the manufacturers’ table (far right) Honda provided its dealers with mixed results, with a slight drop in total sales for the year but a bigger slice of overall market share. Yamaha and BMW, in second and third positions, created no such contradictions, each brand enjoying an uplift in sales as well as market share.
Easily the biggest top 10 winner was Suzuki, with a 52% increase in sales and market share more than doubling to 4.4%, led by sales of the new 125cc scooter range. Biggest loser was Lexmoto, which suffered with the twin handicaps
of post-Covid reduction in demand for cheap personal transport and supply chain issues for its Chinese made products. Similar issues also affected its competitors SYM, Sinnis, Piaggio, Peugeot, and WK Bikes, all of which suffered an over 25% fall in registrations.
The top 20 best selling models for 2023, according to the DfT, were dominated by 125cc models. Yamaha’s delivery run favourite NMAX 125 tussled with Honda’s PCX 125 for top spot, while the first “proper” motorcycle was the ubiquitous BMW R1250 GS Adventure in fourth, with its non Adventure sibling not far behind in eighth position. Triumph also had a strong showing with a triumvirate of larger capacity (and therefore larger revenue) models selling well throughout the year.
650-1000cc Total: 23614
1. Triumph 5017
2. Yamaha 4687
3. BMW .......................2904
4. Honda ..................... 2756
5. KTM 1557
6. Kawasaki 1456
7. Ducati ..................... 1349
8. Suzuki ......................1328
9. BSA 481
10. Moto Guzzi 462
Highest registering
1. Trumph Tiger 900 1358
2. Triumph Street Triple..................... 1357
3. Honda CB 750 (Hornet) ..................983
4. Yamaha Ténéré 700 768
5. Yamaha MT-09 726
Over-1000cc Total: 16479
1. BMW 4840
2. Triumph 3001
3. Harley-Davidson ........1932
4. Honda ......................1632
5. KTM 1238
6. Ducati 1236
7. Kawasaki ..................1076
8. Indian ........................ 514
9. Suzuki 463
10. Moto Guzzi 305
Highest registering
1. BMW R1250 GS Adventure 1619
2. BMW R1250 GS ..............................1079
3. Triumph Tiger 1200 GT .....................821
4. Kawasaki Ninja 1000 SX 810
5. KTM 1290 Superduke R 520
IT FEELS LIKE WE’VE BEEN waiting years for summer to truly arrive, but I think it’s fair to say it finally has. And with it there are some interesting things happening in the motorcycle market. The most surprising stat comes from our bike review data, which shows that the most popular
1. Honda CRF1000L Africa Twin
2. Honda GL1800 Gold Wing
3.
4.
5.
10. Harley-Davidson Breakout
naked bike review over the past month has been Kawasaki’s innovative Z7 Hybrid… the first mainstream hybrid motorcycle. Could this be the shape of things to come? Naked bikes remain the most popular style of bike too, accounting for more than a quarter of total sessions into our reviews.
Sportsbikes continue to be popular, with the most popular the BMW S1000 RR. BMW also takes two spots within Adventure reviews, with the new F800 GS the most popular, and its older sibling claiming fourth spot.
In the bikes for sale section, it’s a Honda lockout, with the
Africa Twin, Gold Wing and NC750X gathering most views. Honda nets a fifth of all sessions in the section.
GARETH EVANS Online editor, MCN
THE AVERAGE TIME IT TAKES to sell a used motorcycle has decreased to just 31 days, indicating that bikes are selling faster than earlier this year, although not quite reaching the 30 day average in May 2023. Although the market health metric has dropped into negative territory, there are
still positive signs. The demand for used motorcycles remains strong, and despite a larger increase in used machines on the market, there is potential for growth.
We are starting to see a diverse mix of machine types appearing in the fastest selling machines Top 20 chart,
including commuters, mid range naked bikes, and even a few cruisers selling quickly. Benelli’s BN125 tops the list, with Lexmoto’s popular LXR125 in second position. KTM secured the third spot with its 125cc Duke. Used market indicators show that all areas of the market are performing well, with strong interest seen across the board. Positive news for dealers.
EDDIE BAHN
Account director, Auto Trader Bikes
THOSE FICTIONAL DARLING buds of May have no bearing on harsh facts, least of all stagnant sales in the motorcycle trade. Once again, the dealer dial has barely moved, according to MCIA monthly data.
Total registrations increased by a mere 2.6% to 11,172 units. Motorcycles put on the bravest face, 4.5% up to 8681. Scooters fell by 2.7% to 2003. Mopeds posted a 7.6% decline at 400 and trikes dropped by 3.3% to 88. As for motive power, petrolhead products grew by 3.6% to 10,868, while battery electric floundered once more, with a 23.2% plunge to just 304.
The up-to-125cc urban mobility and fleet delivery market made only a marginal 0.3% advance to 3681 units.
Honda’s PCX 125 – apparently the UK’s most frequently stolen scooter – topped that particular pile, with 338 machines sold. However, notionally A2 oriented 126-500cc steeds claiming wider budget appeal beyond that remit made the sole significant gain, rising
by 38.8% to 2044. Triumph’s Speed 400 retained the stand out earner accolade, shifting a further 353 samples through showroom doors.
Every larger capacity sector shrank. 501-750cc offerings were virtually flat, retreating by 0.6% to 1338. Honda’s born again CBR600RR, promoted energetically by Dean Harrison in the Supersport TT, led the way with 75 bikes plated. But they were almost certainly dealer demonstrators.
The formerly popular
new wave R1300 GS to invisible also ran status.
Best selling brands reflected market unease for some. Honda hegemony was taxed by a 6.9%
751-1000cc slot blotted its copybook, declining by 6.9% to 2005 registrations. A 125 strong phalanx of Triumph Tiger 900GT Pro ironmongery fronted that overall tally. And finally premium 1000cc-plus tackle was 2.7% down to 1800. The BMW R1250 GS Adventure provided leadership for a second month on the trot, relegating BMW’s
slump. Triumph, on the other hand, was in the midst of its traditional Q4 push, with sales surging by 47.8%. (Triumph’s full financial year ended on 30 June.) Yamaha completed the podium positions, 4.6% in arrears.
BMW Motorrad was brighter, 14.3% up and final member of the four figure league. Kawasaki
and then KTM were losers, respectively 12.7% and 9.2% down. Chinese flag carrier Lexmoto added a useful 59.7%, including a debut star presence in the battery electric firmament thanks to topping its up to 4kW moped range with 23 Cypher models.
Royal Enfield crept into positivity, lifting by a modest 3.6%. Suzuki was roundly beaten, plunging by 31.3% and smelling of absent inventory. Finally, Ducati was tail end charlie, falling by 15.6%.
For the five months of 2024 to date, total registrations have increased by a pathetic 0.7% to 49,084. The key petrol powered contingent is 0.6% up to 47,592, with a distant 1492 electric bikes in pursuit increasing by 1.4%.
THE PROPORTION OF SCOOTERS registered each month has remained fairly consistent over the last decade, although monthly popularity is subject to a regular annual cycle, peaking in the winter months as leisure riders hang up their helmets leaving the hardier urban commuters and utility riders.
The biggest proportion of scooters registered compared to motorcycles occurred in February 2022, as marooned commuters swapped bus and rail season tickets for personal transportation when commuting during the Covid pandemic.
As the weather alternates between summer sunshine and dreary grey skies, the powered two-wheeler market is showing signs of stabilising and moving towards growth. Building on the moderate increase shown in April, May has built on this, with growth of 2.6%” says Symon Cook, head of the National Motorcycle Dealers Association (NMDA), commenting on the latest MCIA figures.
“In May, there was a 2.6% increase in total registrations, from 10,889 to 11,172 units. Total motorcycle sales increased by 3.1% from 10,365 to 10,684 units, while moped registrations contracted by 7.6% to 400 units. Year-to-date figures show a modest increase of 0.7% for total registrations.
“The various categories of motorcycles exhibited a wide range of performances. Modern classic witnessed remarkable growth of 50.1% for the month to 1587 units, and adventure was up 18% to 2413 units. Competition saw a significant decrease of 26.2%, down from 565 to 417 units.
“Electric two-wheelers saw a substantial contraction of 23.2% from 396 to 304 units. Despite this, year-to-date figures still show an increase of 1.4% to 1492 units.
“In terms of the different ICE powertrains, there was a clear leading performer this month, with the 126-500cc category witnessing a remarkable period of growth (38.8%). The bigger bikes saw a decrease, with 751-1000cc contracting by 6.9% and 1000cc+ contracting by 2.7%.
“Honda has once again emerged as the best-selling brand of the month, with 1940 units sold. It is followed by Triumph (1479) and Yamaha (1077), while Ducati rounded out the top 10 with 271 models sold.”
Cook concluded: “Despite two consecutive months of relatively moderate growth in the two-wheeler market, year-to-date total registrations are only marginally higher than they were at this time last year.
“It is crucial that the next government understands the needs of the sector, including current challenges such as licensing regulations, to help restimulate the new two-wheeler market.
“Whilst NMDA members express optimism as we approach summer, this general election period will be critical to retailing and consumer demand.”
DATA PUBLISHED BY THE MOTOR Cycle Industry Association (MCIA) showed that registrations in May grew by 2.6%. Following marginal growth in April, the positive news continues, and it will be interesting to see how the market performs over the next couple of months as the season reaches its peak. Meanwhile, year-to-date registrations to the end of May were 0.7% ahead of last year.
Given
Feedback from dealers in May suggests that the season is gradually building. Following a slow start to the year for some, sales and demand have increased recently, with May being a reasonable month. Some manufacturers have carried their 2023 promotions into 2024 which has further boosted sales activity. Indeed, some dealers are enjoying a better season following a poor 2023.
demand for smaller to mid-range machines remains buoyant.
USED MOTORCYCLE MARKET
how wet it was,
it will come as a surprise for many to learn that spring 2024 was the warmest on record
Sales and demand continue to be variable, with some dealers reporting slower sales due to stronger promotions on new machines this year. However, some dealers are reporting both stronger new and used sales, whilst others are experiencing a poor season, with sales activity not really picking up since the winter period. Demand is consistent across the board currently, with some dealers continuing to have a strong run on 125cc machines, with a rapid turnover. The Kawasaki Z900 RS is also a popular choice, as is the KTM Super Duke.
The Suzuki GSX-8R is selling well and outselling the GSX-8S for some dealers.
The Kawasaki Ninja 400s are also popular, and the success enjoyed by the Triumph 400 Scrambler and Street continues unabated, so
Given how wet it was, it will come as a surprise for many to learn that spring 2024 was the warmest on record. May was also very warm, and although there were drier and sunnier periods with decent riding conditions, it was also wet at times. Summer has started on a rather cool but dry note, and as daylight hours reach their peak, the industry can hopefully look forward to some fine riding conditions. Taking this into account, Glass’s expects residual values to remain firm across all segments.
Paul McDonald Leisure vehicles editor
