British Dealer News December 2019

10

1

WK 1

9

13

12

11

14

J INABIKE

16

15 13

12

18

17

25

NESIA

24

27

26

www.britishdealernews.co.uk 21 7

WK 1

20

19

A, INDO AK ART

23

22

QATAR

TISH URGH B W EDIN

TOKY

IREL

IONAL TERNAT ORD F NASH IN CAROLE IC SHOW STAF CLASS

TINA ARGEN

20

6

WK 1

19

EASTERAY MOND

22

21

24

23

GT DONINRK PA

INSIDE

BRITISH DEALER NEWS

THURSD NESDAY

3

2

WK 1

NEW Y DA YEAR’S

LID BANK HO (SCOTLAN

13

12

AY

D ONLY)

11

WK 6

3

2

1

W

FEBRU

1

MARCH

ER 2020 0 OWCWWT.MOOTBORCYCLE-EX4 PO.COM 18,1EL9EI,2 GH PARK 3 STON

8

APRIL

MOT

9

2

14

K 29

EXPO

AD

TO

g for printin stry ists in du Special orcycle In ot 71 the M 1 3712 .uk t: 0127 toptown.co @ .uk ew e: andr toptown.co www.

MAY

JUNE

5

JULY

1

6

.com efxb2bcom acefx.

k ler.co.u

lesalehrMore! y Who Muc Much e Onl ands &

se Br

IN

6

NYA CATALU

9

8

11

10

ISL

N TT E OF MA

WK 29 LIDAY BANK HO ERN

13

12

4

TAIWAN

RA

10

9

WK 33

11

CZECH IC REPUBL

ON THRUXT

LIDAY BANK HOD ONLY) (SCOTLAN

5

4

3

7

6

9

8

WK 37

on ll Alis

December 2019

EICMA M

ALY ILAN, IT

3 NE W D

on

k s.co.u t adve rnew itmen deale 5 recru sales@ d ctive 4 a fe r ef o For 60 3 4226 01237 2 ARAGON 1 g ca rtisin

ATES

4

WK 41

M/

T COLOGN INTERMO

, OHIO LUMBUS

2

1

WK 45

ASSIC ORD F NASH CL CAROLE S SHOW STAF ANIC /C M E C H AIMEXP

O CO

IA MALAYS

M

TIONAL INTERNA SHOW E DIRT BIK ORD STAFF

OFIT OR PR 6 F E N O PH 345

7

87 01900ulfsport .com w w w.w

WEDNE

SDAY

TH

URSDAY

FRIDAY

OC 18,19,20

t tmen recrui n on fective Aliso For ef sing call or rti adve 237 422660ws.co.uk 01 ne er deal les@ adsa

AY SATURD

SUNDAY

6

5

T OB

EICMA MI

1

Y MONDA

LAN, ITA

SDAY WEDNE

7

NE W D 0 2 0 ER 2

SSIC RD FO NASH CLA CAROLE SHOW STAF ANICS C MECH

THURSD

LY

AY

0

WK 5

8

7

5

4

63

2 K4 W

Y TUESDA

ANY

6

5

4

3

E, GERM

12

11

10

9

8

7

6

TON DONING PARK

2020

0 48000 k 0140h5endler.co.u sales@

2

WK 4

FRIDAY

8

9

WK 46

AY SATURD

8

9

10

11

16

15

WK 38

19

YC MOTORC

LE TRAD

15

E EXPO

16

STONEL

EIGH PA

WK 47

RK

YC MOTORC

12

13

14

WK 51

15

WK 50

Y MONDA

16

WK 31

24

wth open eBay ng and gro11 lli of se u1n0ities: 9 pport k o .co.u y a B e www.

D Y WE T U E S DA

RS Y THU N E S DA

DAY

and a pocket netting Velcro-fastened you an elasticated the two when a phone, bobs – and the floor and ideal for out over fabric pocket valuable bits tipping for goods polyester a stretch-fabricpocket with 1200D worldly of all your complete against slim zipped launch prevent PU shell that goes from thermoformed with the gussets bag.

Tested is made UV-resistantrear (the bit slipping around luggage to carry travelling and and or the bag open the On the the bag riders semi-rigid it Externally scratch-prooftop panel. grip to stop smooth zip. on the construction with a Givi logo adds somea two-way case you panel the sturdy cover in by to rain the reflective a textured closing is (but given to the Givi has Leg Bag. Williams. known your leg) Opening and waterproof a tight-fittingweather. also appealing device editor Colin for my phone, the ST608 while maintaining see it strap products enough your leg. bag isn’t fully Givi providesin inclement essentials but I can luggage-carrying the bag writes easily big it is surprisinglyall proof), bike, to ride As the every – an elasticated stops was naked fitted enough simple thigh and snap-buckle be shower for souvenirs, and it Actually, pretty much on a the should injudicious is quick and carry has already more room is also capacity need Once on be for 3-litre Werther’s Originals.and can you might on pockets goes around waistband ankle bag. should the leg bag has a yearns of capacious essentials are three from – whether fastening adjustable it into an Fitting The ST608 and a packet it.

There the the buckle things turning and unobtrusive wearing keys of day trip. to stop with snap around, while from wallet, inside and rubbing at an SRPthink gravity comfortable to forget I was rattling I bouncing and stops too Selling it is easy around – a it proved Sport-T range? but although normal equippedstraps adjusted much the around bikers, soft and the or walking part of for many who eschew or a worthyimpulse buy to customers and joy. the bike A gimmick to be an it will appeal of their pride lines is priced £39 it a niche product, ruin the is www.givi.co.uk that it solutions which 706220; luggage tel 01327 visit: info Givi UK;

AM

Now,

26

WK 44

23

s.co.uk

27

EXPO E TRADE

16

WK 48

20

S TO N E L 7

WK 4

AY SATURD

21

SUNDAY

30

31

SSIC ISL

E OF MA

24

NE Y WED TUESDA

SDAY

18

BR9 DAY: UP TO M/Y2ODJ SIGN RL .CO TINYU

28

23

2027s 246o rth 0114 TEL:les@staniforths. if a n s : ta Emaeilb: www.s EMIUM W PR

TIONAL INTERNA SHOW E DIRT BIK ORD STAFF

25

THURSD

AY

BOXIN DAY

IUM

PREM

(SCOTLAN

19

G

AY SATURD

FRIDAY

WK 49

LIDAY BANK HOD ONLY)

27

26

MAS CHRISTY DA

30

29

E NEACN,

GE R

Y M O N DA

30

29

WK 40

FR

C

31

28

IT’S

NEW

(NOT SCO

N TT

U HIV C YCLE L MOTOR

15

Y WEESLKELTTER

WK

BANK AY HOLIDTLAND

27

TH

Y S U N DA

S TROL / CON OSES ES / H CABL SS NE LK BUSI LE T’ S TA 36

22

27

26

23

22

O ADE T UPG-RTESTED ILL TED VENHND TRUS A

BRITAIN GREAT

26

29

17

Y MONDA

18

21

ARK EIGH P

WK 52

t tmen recrui n on fective Aliso For ef sing call or rti adve 237 422660ws.co.uk 01 ne er al de les@ adsa

30

29

25

25

24

30

WK 27

29

29

28

Y MONDA

4 6040

NE W D

TUESD

n ers-o .bick www UC PROD YM

IN FQ BIRM

39 Tel: 01

3

(BOXIN ) TUTE DAY SUBSTI

SUNDAY

GE O

20

LIDAY BANK HOG DAY

GHA

UALIT

17

16

12

FRIDAY

RY

k

hdealernew

1 11 6 8851 UK 0130 L.CO.U HIL VEN

24

28

SAINT US AN COLUMBY DA

22

CIA VAURLSDEAYN FRIDAY

ac.co.u

www.britis

28

31

20

3

WK 4

ASSEN

19

www.em

more

Later+

31

28

23

22

WK 39

21

21

Pay

NOVEMBE

17

27)

26

25

WK 35

25

18

17

SDAY

For

Ride

R 2019

42

LIA AUSTRA

20

RMINGH

SG12 boot Gaerne strong for SG12 season, the A new Gaernefor the 2020 pivot systemon the peg. boot Updated a dual-stage foot feel face of the leg natural inner 4 where now features and a to the as padding lamp support adjustable servicing lateral has been added as well guard is doing inspection SlimFlex shin is now base a bike up dark whenrechargeable gaiter Grip Guard heat resistance Sealey magnetic provides a new thermoplasticleg. The be extremely be in the new illuminate has a battery Don’t which cell Sealey’s be used to which produce and it Li-ion or a sturdy said to bike and 12 LEDs or repairs. lamp can apparently). close range, rechargeable touches for a knee brace Swiss fabric includes memoryheel cup and and is bright et dazzled at by a 2.6Ah a new inspectionangles. It features two lamps liner now the toe cap includes to allow Acronos, g (which won’t It’s powered for includes and the from of light from all made designs all-new footbed lumens ensures you free use. kit which and flexible, ventilation. to 500 or as a switch for hands stretch comfort. Revised while an improved adult 14 hook look, for and A dimmer SRP £47.95, 13 to foam an updated hanging to eight hours. item for material the SG12 at junior and a give absorbing in sizes from half sizes, colourways as a single SRP £119.95. lasts up some shock which be bought station for k Available including in 11 different It can docking comes of £485.

Sport; is a www.sealey.co.u a rechargingSealey; an SRP Rathmell Toledo at adventureits updated Malcolm 772885; long Toledo be hoping jacket aimed with tel 01423 Oxford Products willall-season short been designed k Oxford It’s an has therefore a removable www.mrsltd.co.u triumph. riders and mind. and drop liner, in and touring the saddle waterproof on shoulders a fully days in overlays fitted at shoulder back are It features and nylon optional GS twin liner take an protectors and Z3 include thermal CE level 1 a pocket to is features a neoprene elbows. and there front sprockets ports, is noteworthy elbows cushion Other ventilation and interiorand fluo protector. single rear of exterior black front and a selection comes in black, SRP of £119.99. and for an collar The Toledo khaki) pockets. (shades of or Desert Products; Oxford 862300; ucts.com tel 01993 www.oxfordprod

heavy JT Sprockets motorcycle chain impact with impact plates up to 1400cc super outer of heavy-duty to dampenwhich is bonded The Z3 GS coloured machines for gold Designed moulding steel sprocket.it features It is suitable a one-piece chromoly by JT, and resistance. heat-treatedever produced corrosion application. to the strongest for improved plates 530 sizes. according inner and bits vary .com 520, 525 for the new Prices www.jtsprockets JT Sprockets;

THE CLA

20

24

15

NEC, BI

Pay

rubber to the RB rubber-cushioned 6 products; the dual-sided adhesivesto be the and chain two new resistant front sprocket,vibration chain is claimed plated Sprocketshas launchedchain. and on the in duty and nickel

RK ELL PA CADW

23

NE Y WED TUESDA

ATES

ONDAY

LE LIVE

28

22

21

6826 099 ac.co.uk

support@em

customers Later+

Now,

LANDS NETHER

30

29

0330

63

07831 8

your showroom

27

16

15

23

C YCL MOTOR

IA VALENC

14

27

26

19

19

18

17

K 38

19

22

21

20

WK 43

W

18

repairs on all finance accessories and

your

Ride

Baggott Call Paul 837

allows line of who on a supersport storage bike rider yet still its Sport-T that the ST608 of leathers Strap-on adventure man and expanded Givi says sleek look

26

25

24

23

WK 26

RTON SNETTE

22

18

17

for

Offer

r scoote for the agents le industry Media torcyc and mo

ITALY

ace ketpl r a SUNDAY m AY y SATURD e eBa FRIDAY AY singl THURSD e NESDAY n ED o W Y n TUESDA Y ock i 51 MONDA ce st SUNDAY n 4 WK a r 1 a e l c ew or 13 world Sell n s up a 7

6

10

20

19

18

g products in profit-makin

0%

b

Tried

HATCH BRANDS

21

The latest

30

29

28

27

Y GERMAN

14

20

ws ct Ne Produ

BANK AY HOLID

22

25

19 SEEN PROD

E SHOW

ed, we ne online. ation g& inform in the ma to: ages m us the Send ’ll put the and imor ation k , and we inform ews.co.u on Court H rn your Dadd EX39 3F deale Send rd ws, 10 ucts@ prod Dealer Ne Est, Bidefo h ad Ind Britis lly Ro Clove

26

WK 22

21

24

17

18

14

13

12

14

RINO SAN MA

17

16

15

11

21

WK 34

13

12

16

14

13

WK 42

TON DONING PARK

20

23

22

25

24

23

19

18

18

4 WK 3

STER BIK

NEW YOUR TS GET UC

30

29

28

WK 18

27

26

17

A AUSTRI

15

14

PARK OULTON

JAPAN

ARINO SAN M

17

13 Motorcycle Trade Expo will take place 12 11 10 between 18 and 20 October 2020 – 13 an important date already logged 12 11 on your free BDN wall10 planner inside 9 this issue.8 Full story page 6 2

24

13

WK 30

16

15

11

10

20

19

18

14

13

12

25

LE SHOW

22 IA AUSTR

17

12

17

16

15

14

14

13

11

CE WEEK

15

MANCHE

21

16

WK 25

22

.com

ia CC4med

31

WK 14

30

29

28

27

26

25

24

WK 13

23

NAL ERNATIORD FO NASH INT CAROLE C SHOW STAF CLASSI

20

19

WK 21

SIA

FRANCE

(NORTH LY) D ON IRELAN

8

7

18

17

16

FINLAND

6

5

TAIPEI,

12

10

23

INA ARGENT

15

11

10

9

WK 24

8

7

LE SHOW

15

20

NE A, INDO JAKART

16

22

S

21

TORC YC TOKYO MO

21

WK 17

LAND NETHER

29

28

27

26

ND THAILA

(NORTH LY) D ON IRELAN

19

18

CHT,

LIDAY BANK HO ERN

TIVAL OF GH MCN FESPETERBOROU YCLING MOTORC

ILL KNOCKH

WK 32

TORC YC NAL MO

14

13

12

WK 20

11

8

7

1

6

1

3

2

1

ANY E, GERM COLOGN TERMOT

20 20

7

WK 28

TIO INTERNA TAIWAN

10

5

7 WK 3 9

K N PAR OULTO

ison on Call Al 2660 42 01237

hend www.

WK 23

6

5

4

3

2

UGUST BER A

9

ion format 22 4 3112

1

2

EASTERY MONDA

BANK AY HOLID

4

3

TON THRUX

PTEM ER SE OC TOB R E B NOVEM

by

8

13

WK 16

14

17

16

TLAND) (NOT SCO

TONE SILVERS

9

SPAIN

PARK OULTON

12

12

11

GOOD FRIDAY

7

13

14

17

WK 12

16

15

RS UTRE

20

19

18

INABIKE

15

H

ND

T SSIC DIR THE CLA TELFORD OW BIKE SH CEL SHOW EX RC YCLE ON MOTO

13

12

11

10

WK 11

9

8

21

ison on Call Al 2660 42 01237

25

WK 9

24

23

22

EU MOTORB

QATAR

11

6

5

WK 19

4

CZECH IC L REPUB

int Na ty in Pr

Quali

WK 3

7

13

12

11

15

14

0

AY

31

30

21

WK 3

20

20

27

26

25

24

23

19

18

WK 8

17

16

AY SATURD

FRIDAY

AY

19

18

17

MCN LO

7

10

9

3

8

10

WK 15

3

2

1

WK 7

10

9

6

5

4

3

15

8

7

16

THURSD

SDAY

22

21

WK 4

20

19

18

17

16

EK

SSIC WARK NASH CLA CAROLE ER CLASSIC NE IDE WINT BIKE GU

AMERICA

t _Layou

N PTOW

4

5

MA ISLE OF 9

12

CE WE N T T RA 11

TTISH MCN SCOOW EDINBURG YCLE SH MOTORC

6

5

turally

he UK

10

ATES HILL NEW D KNOCK

1

2

AY

(N ) D ONLY IRELAN

WK 10

2

THURSD

OLIDAY6 B4ANK H5 HERN O RT

D FINLAN

ISTOL ET LL NASH BR CAROLE SHEPTON MA SHOW CLASSIC

SDAY

8

7

WK 2

6

5

4

NE Y WED TUESDA

Y MONDA

SUNDAY

AY SATURD

FRIDAY

AY

ARY

1

the fina

BER

WED

ted by

Regula

FRIDAY

AY

Y MONDA

SUNDAY

AY SATURD

NE Y WED TUESDA

28

WK 5

THURSD

MAY

ised &

Author

DECEM

w

THURSD

SDAY

15

14

WK 3

13

WEDNE

Y TUESDA

Y MONDA

SUNDAY

AY SATURD

FRIDAY

k to .co.u y a B ww.e

SUNDAY

TH

SDAY

29

G

ity

MARCH

to he tners r a p eBay

hority

duct aut

tio

NE Y WED TUESDA

Y MONDA

FRIDAY

URSDAY

MAN

AR FEBRU

928 4l.c9 2 tw k .u o 7 5 . Visi w 2 tatoo o a 1 r .d g w 0 YA ww u lp yo ou ber y

num

ONLY

t n for

forma

ess in

usin Key b

le and

orcyc

mot he UK

u er ind scoot

SDAY

FOR

UA Y JAN

SAVE THE DATE! rity:

cu le se rcyc

oto for m need

N 6 rance.co CATALU 79 minsu 0w1w3 a h ex .l ncial con

SUNDAY

AY SATURD

NE Y WED TUESDA

Y MONDA

R H PE

APRIL

MES SCHE ATES, N! SIO IS 6 M M 4650 .uk

stry

8

The

T

2020 Wall Planner nito

65 Mo

24/7/3

Insura

Lexham

g

HIG

hor duct aut

NGE ncial con the fina ARRA ted by Y TO Regula TODA ION/VISIT ised & CALL Author s LTD OTAT sultant A QU nce con

news

SS E RER,RMOETOFRCYCLE & CLA7

in exham www.l

Product

S RRAL ICS

E RANC L INSU CHOO ING S IN R A TR D FO ILORE STRY LLY TA DU SPECIA ORYCLE IN T k O ce.co.u THE M suran

rackin red T

21

INSIDE

21 KeyLANbusiness information for the UK motorcycle and 18 WKscooter industry • December 2019 DATES N A IW ) D NE W EI, TA COT 17 W TAIP 0 STONE (NOT S 2 0 CLE SHO Y C 2 R SILVER O 6 T R 1 L MO T OBE ATIONA C O 34 INTERN 15 0 ADE & 2 , TAIWAN E 9 OR TR 20 TES 18,1 FRANC T A D O 14 W M NE 19 ARE NEW 13 8 W 1 NEINSIDE 506 12 | YEARLY 9 646 20 REGS PPE E 7 E NTHLY 1 R 0137 O F M | 11 WK Y | WEEKL L OF 6 5 1 DAILY MCN FESTIVETAERBOROUGH 10 WORTH WK 2 UE S S 5 GP I 1 IN L S C I Y H C T MOTOR 14 ers ALL THE 2020 stom u k .u c o MUC-OFF CELEBRATES .c 13 e s w wid ealerne EFFORT? 3 ritishd world 120 d www.b CARE n a S E T 25 YEARS OF BIKE K 25 A 11 NE W D s of U n o i 4 l l 2 0 i 10 to m R 202 E B 23 cted O e T n n 9 C o 4 20 O 22 WK 2 get c

40

ATES

DNE Y WE A D S E U T

Emai

s@ l: sale

18,19 SDAY

TH

a B e e l g n i s ne o n i tock AY SATURD

WWW.LS2HELMETS.COM | 01670 856342

fowlers_bdn_DECEMBER_weise_vision.qxp_Layout 1 08/11/2019 17:06 Page 1

STAND OUT PERFORMANCE When you need to be seen, step into Vision, the fully reflective, waterproof clothing range that will keep every rider safe and dry wherever their journey leads.

GIL E T

£17.50 T RADE £34.99 RRP SILVER / SM - 5XL

FULL 360˚ REFLECTIVITY

JE AN

£20.00 T R ADE £39.99 RRP SILVER

/ SM - 5XL

JACKET

£25.00 TR ADE £49.99 RRP SILVER

/ SM - 5XL

T 0117 971 9200 E info@thekeycollection.co.uk W www.thekeycollection.co.uk

PICTURES FOR ILLUSTRATION PURPOSES ONLY. PRICES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTIFICATION. SUBJECT TO AVAILABILITY; WHILE STOCKS LAST; ERRORS AND OMISSIONS EXCEPTED.

REFLECTIVITY

Tel 01237 422660; Fax 01237 422661

December 2019 : Issue 226 EDITORIAL & PRODUCTION EDITOR Paul Smith: editorial@dealernews.co.uk tel 01237 422660; 07595 219090 FINANCIAL EDITOR Roger Willis: motobusiness@icloud.com PRODUCTS EDITOR / DESIGN MANAGER Colin Williams: design@dealernews.co.uk DESIGNER Maurice Knuckey: creative@dealernews.co.uk COLUMNISTS Roger Willis; Danny DeFazio; Karen Neill, Mark Boswell editorial@dealernews.co.uk CORRESPONDENTS Brian Crichton; Rick Kemp; John Featherstone; Peter Henshaw; Frank Finch; Mick Duckworth editorial@dealernews.co.uk CARTOONIST John Mockett CIRCULATION MANAGER Jo Johnson: circulation@dealernews.co.uk PUBLISHER Colin Mayo: editorial@dealernews.co.uk

ADVERTISING SALES GROUP DIRECTOR Andy Mayo: adsales@dealernews.co.uk tel 01237 422660; 07780 857693 ACCOUNTS MANAGER Mark Mayo: accounts@dealernews.co.uk ADVERTISING EXECUTIVE Alison Payne: adsales@dealernews.co.uk tel 07595 219093 MEDIA CONSULTANT Paul Baggott: adsales@dealernews.co.uk tel 07831 863837 TAIWAN AGENCY Albert Yang, Pro Media Co: info@promedia.com; tel +886 4 7264437 Copyright © Mayo Media Ltd:

All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part by any electronic or mechanical means without express permission in advance is strictly prohibited. Mayo Media Ltd can accept no responsibility for the veracity of claims made by advertisers.

Printed by S&G Print Group, Goat Mill Road, Dowlais, Merthyr Tydfil, CF48 3TD. Tel 01685 352018

UNIQUE DIGITAL READS FOR OCTOBER 2019 VIA ISSUU: 693

Editorial EXPO: Save the date… New metal army… Festive felicitations…

WELL, THAT’S THE main show season over until October next year, when Expo returns with an exciting new format designed to meet the needs of exhibiting distributors and visiting dealers as they make those all-important plans for the 2021 season. The exclusive trade-only show – revamped to provide maximum benefit for all involved – will run from 18-20 October at popular Stoneleigh Park (full details on page 6).

As for this year, EICMA and Motorcycle Live were proof that the manufacturers continue to invest to bring exciting new models to market and are waking up to the need to show a commitment to the sadly inescapable electric future.

At the NEC, visitors could be seen lapping up the ranges of new motorcycles from a record number of manufacturers, large and small. The increase in manufacturer stands was offset by a decline in retail presence, but, with many traders traditionally offering anticipated end-of-season discounts, that re-balance was no bad thing from a dealer’s point of view.

Show organiser Finlay McAllan described Motorcycle Live as “an Aladdin’s cave for new licence-holders”, referencing a selection of smaller machines from the major manufacturers and from more than 15 smaller producers. There were also numerous opportunities for novices and the non-converted to swing a leg over a variety of machines.

Despite the attractions on offer at the show, McAllan observed it had been “a difficult year”, and few would disagree. In a candid appraisal, he went on: “We are seeing the products of the future beginning to arrive, but it’s not where it needs to be at this point in time. It needs to grow and that’s what we need to do – push that forward, provide a platform. The public is aware of the concept

of electrifying vehicles and are really grabbing on to it in the car market. As for motorcycles, there is some curiosity and I think exhibitions or events like Motorcycle Live should embrace these products to allow the brand owners the opportunity to turn curiosity into sales.”

Elsewhere in this month’s news-packed magazine, we report on the takeover of MotoDirect by France-based Bihr, and the arrival on UK soil of Dutch distributor Hoco Parts, which swept in to scoop up longestablished players Rob Hunter and Bradbury Bros.

Quite what the impact will be of the now renamed Bradbury Hunter operation is hard to predict, but other domestic hard-parts suppliers will be keeping a close eye on the new competition.

In our section for showcasing the latest products we have no fewer than eight pages packed with all the best money-spinning clothing, gear and accessories, including special first-hand reports on the offerings from Feridax and Nevis.

Overall, with the many positives to come out of the events of the past month, the industry is entitled to feel a warm glow as Christmas fast approaches. Have a good one.

“With the many positives to come out of the events of the past month, the industry is entitled to feel a warm glow as Christmas fast approaches”

PAUL SMITH EDITOR

SIGN UP FOR OUR WEEKLY NEWSLETTER

circulation@dealernews.co.uk For the latest news and opinion see

www.britishdealernews.co.uk

Editorial

Mayo Media Ltd, Unit 10 Daddon Court, Clovelly Road Industrial Estate, Bideford, EX39 3FH

Contents

1-25 BUSINESS NEWS

6 New format for October Expo 8 Hoco Parts buys two UK distributors 12 Dealer ditches BMW, takes on Royal Enfield 14 Feridax takes it to the Max 15 MotoDirect taken over by Bihr 16 Motorcycle Live: Welcome for tyre-kickers Kymco’s ducks in a row; Dunlop launches Pro Dealer Scheme 17 Motorcycle Live: ‘Something for everybody’ – MotoGB How the Spitfire became a Stealth fighter 18 International news: Mixed results for manufacturers 19 International news: Jawa is back, in black 20 Off-road news: Fantic re-enters the racing arena 22 EICMA: ‘Exciting’ six days at Milan 23 EICMA: Pavilion provides a global platform 24 Electric news: Clever cogs at Milan

Contents

16

RECORD MANUFACTURER PRESENCE BOOSTS MOTORCYCLE LIVE

26 REACTION

The oldest bike shop in the world? BDN consumer poll

28 GUEST COLUMN

The ozone-like hole in our industry

30 HAPPY NANO-VERSARY Muc-Off celebrates 25 years

34 THE IMPACT OF PPE Time and money well spent on safety

40

36 MARKETING MATTERS Sales that snap, crackle and pop

38 BUSINESS ESSENTIALS Prepare now for April tax change

40-47 PRODUCTS

43 Feridax hosts its dealers 45 Nevis reveals its 2020 goodies

48 DEFAZIO

We need to stay fit. Alert. And upbeat

54 STATISTICS SECTION

DeFazio A sideways look at the world of motorcycling, from journalist Danny DeFazio

54 On the Money: Threat from the brave new world 54 Global motorcycle industry share prices 56 UK new and used stats plus analysis 58 Argentina battles falling sales

INSIDE:

Your new BDN Wall planner!

22

48

ALL THE LATEST AND GREATEST NEW PRODUCTS FROM MOTORCYCLE LIVE AND AROUND THE GLOBE

On the

Money Market analysis with BDN financial editor Roger Willis

EICMA BOUNCES BACK WITH MORE SPACE AND MORE LAUNCHES

54 Telephone: 0333 666 0680 Email: sales@modeperformance.co.uk Showroom: 9A Cygnet Drive, Swan Valley Northampton, Northants NN4 9BS www.modeperformance.co.uk

ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT

4 DECEMBER 2019

PERFORMANCE

RACING

www.britishdealernews.co.uk

©

245x

WE’RE GROWING WANT TO BE PART OF IT ?

BECOME A CAN-AM DEALER NOW!

http://www.brp.com/en/become-a-dealer.html Paul Wood - paul.wood@brp.com - 077 7054 4576

• Strong profit opportunity • Delivers high value proposition • Innovative and competitively priced ranges for on road and offroad

©2019 Bombardier Recreational Products Inc (BRP). All rights reserved. ®, TM and the BRP logo are registered trademarks of BRP or its affiliates.

245x342mm_Can-Am_Become_A_Dealer.indd 1

22/10/2019 09:37:23

Business news

ONTHEMOVE

MIKE KERCEL has joined Clements Moto to head up its e-bikes division, wth the official title of UK dealer network manager for Fantic E-bikes.

Kercal comes with five years’ experience at bicycle giant Raleigh, where he worked with the Haibike and Lapierre pedelec brands as events and training manager. He has been in the bicycle industry for 15 years, including helping Cytech to set up a standards accreditation scheme for e-bike technicians. m.kercel@clementsmoto.co.uk

MOTORCYCLE salesman Charlie Grant (above, with wife Christine) has retired from Ecosse Motorcycles in Aberdeen after 42 years in the business. Paying tribute, Ecosse owner Martin Marshall said he estimated Grant had sold 20,000 motorcycles during his career, including Malagutti, Kawasaki, Montessa, Honda, Yamaha, Cossack, Peugeot and more recently Royal Enfield. Grant worked for McGowan Motorcycles for 28 years before Ecosse took the company over. “We had a lovely farewell evening and sent him off in fine style in the way that only Scots can do. He went away a happy chappy,” said Marshall.

ACCIDENT management specialist McAMS has recruited two new business development managers – Steve Smith and Rick Garlak, whose appointments take the team to 10. Smith, who will be covering East Anglia, has more than 40 years’ experience within the motorcycle and automotive industry. He started out as a motorcycle dealer before working for manufacturers and UK importers. Garlak was previously part of the sales team at MAG Europe/ Motorcycle Storehouse where he was responsible for developing sales and brand awareness throughout the dealer network.

Contact Steve Smith on 07854 741597 and Rick Garlak on 07527 640201.

Looking for experienced personnel? See page 41

6 DECEMBER 2019

Motorcycle Trade Expo 2020 – Save the date

THE ORGANISER of Motorcycle Trade Expo has confirmed a new autumn date for 2020 in a move to modernise and deliver a focused, trade-only event in line with the changing needs of wholesalers and retailers.

“Holding Expo in January has worked wonderfully for 25 years but the industry and market now require a new format and earlier date and we simply had to react to exhibitor and visitor feedback,’’ announced show organiser Andy Mayo. “The market is changing rapidly and we need to reshape Expo to achieve maximum benefit for all involved. The show will be held at its friendly and central Stoneleigh Park venue between 1820 October 2020.’’

“The new format will allow exhibiting companies accurately to forecast and pre-order stock, and in turn deliver that stock when the dealer needs it. Securing business earlier and beating production lead times is now vitally important for all wholesalers.’’

European-based model.”

Mayo continued: “The big win for dealers and retailers will be the time saved by seeing all your suppliers under one roof in a trade-only environment over one, two or three days. Buyers can simply rock up at Expo and compare the very best products from the very best suppliers in one centrally located venue. The timing of Expo 2020 not only allows the leading wholesalers to launch new products, brands and ranges for the season ahead, but also serves as the perfect platform to sell through clearance lines and winter stock promotions.”

The new 2020 dates were announced at the EICMA show in Milan and the news was said to have gone down very well with Andy Mayo, Expo organiser wholesalers and visitors alike.

Full event details will be available later season. We have heard multiple stories of orders being placed at Expo and stock this month. To pre-register for Expo 2020, not turning up until June or July, so we please email andy@motorcycle-expo.com or had to find a solution and move to a more call 01237 422660. said Mayo. “Having the correct stock profile leading into the New Year can be the difference between a good or a bad

“The [new] timing of Expo 2020 allows wholesalers to launch new products, brands and ranges for the season ahead … and to sell through clearance lines and winter stock promotions”

Harley brand development president sacked HARLEY-DAVIDSON president of global brand development Neil Grimmer, whose duties ranged from the branding aspects of product planning, marketing and retail to communications, has abruptly left the company following an investigation into his conduct.

In a statement, a Harley spokesperson said: “His departure comes after an internal inquiry, along with a third-party

investigation, into concerns that his judgment and conduct as a senior leader did not align with our culture and the values we expect our employees to demonstrate.

We determined that Mr Grimmer leaving Harley-Davidson was the appropriate course of action. Harley-Davidson takes all matters related to workplace conduct very seriously.”

A separate source familiar with what had

occurred indicated that Harley had received a number of complaints about Grimmer and his dismissal reflected multiple actions by him, not just a single event.

An internal memo to Harley staff explaining the decision, leaked to the Milwaukee Business Journal, said that Harley boss Matt Levatich would be assuming Grimmer’s responsibilities for global brand development in the interim.

www.britishdealernews.co.uk

OFF-ROAD | KPA | GR 1350 ± 50 | 3 SHELLS: 2XS - XS - S | M - L | XL - 2XL - 3XL

SOLID WHITE

SOLID

TITANIUM

ROUTER

Matt black h-v yellow

NATIONWIDE DEALER SUPPORT SOLID

MATT BLACK

KNIGHT

TITANIUM WHITE

KNIGHT

COBRA

TITANIUM FLUO ORANGE

PAUL HASKINS

MATT BLACK BLUE

UK Sales Director: 07932 725119

DAVE PRIDDLE South West & South Wales: 07900 682775

JON RUSSELL London & South East: 07582 512581

ROUTER

MATT BLACK H-V YELLOW

EVOLVE

MATT WHITE BLACK

EVOLVE

EVOLVE

WHITE COBALT

RED WHITE

TRADE FROM

NEW GRAPHICS DEALER DIRECT • NEXT DAY DELIVERY •

Midlands & North Wales: 07582 178996

£49.99 £99.99

PETER CAMPBELL

CONTACT YOUR AGENT FOR DETAILS

FREE MERCHANDISING • NO QUIBBLE WARRANTY •

LEE BELL

RRP FROM

North East, North West & Scotland: 07966 431388

HUGE UK STOCKS • GLOBAL BRAND, LOCAL SERVICE •

TRADE HOTLINE 01670 856342 WWW.LS2HELMETS.COM | ukservice2@ls2helmets.com |

ls2helmetsukofficial

STEVE FORSTER Northern & Southern Ireland: +353 876 486863

INDUSTRY

AWARDS

2019

INDUSTRY

AWARDS

2018

RIDER PRODUCT BRAND OF THE YEAR

RIDER PRODUCT BRAND OF THE YEAR

MERIT AWARD

MERIT AWARD

INDUSTRY

AWARDS

2017

RIDER PRODUCT BRAND OF THE YEAR

WINNER

INDUSTRY

AWARDS

2016

RIDER PRODUCT BRAND OF THE YEAR

WINNER

INDUSTRY

AWARDS

2015

RIDER PRODUCT BRAND OF THE YEAR

WINNER

Business news

Vnuk rears its ugly head once more THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION (EC) has revived its attempt to impose onerous motor vehicle insurance requirements that would effectively wipe out motorcycle sport and also disrupt non-competitive leisure use of bikes on private property.

This proposal to amend Directive 2009/103/EC, first mooted in May 2018, was largely based on a notorious “Vnuk ruling” by the European Court of Justice, concerning a tractor accident on a private property. To all intents and purposes, its judgment concluded that there could be no difference between private and public properties as regards the obligations of insurance cover. The result would have been all riders on race tracks or other private land needing the same degree of cover as if they were on public roads – almost certainly unobtainable, even at a hugely higher cost.

Opposition to the EC’s move from European motorcycle industry body ACEM and the FIM and FIA motorsports organisations was led by the UK’s MCIA when it came before the European Parliament in September 2018. Fortunately, the “rapporteur” managing debate of the proposed legislative amendment, the Czech MEP Dita Charanzová, was sympathetic to the bike industry’s position.

And parliamentarians eventually decided to limit the scope of the Directive in early 2019, excluding motorsport activities – despite intense EC counter-lobbying.

However, the European Council of Ministers representing EU member states has yet to endorse the decision and discussions have been unresolved.

Although a majority of member states initially supported the parliamentary conclusions, some key members didn’t. And these have now apparently been joined

by Spain and Italy, after further heavy EC lobbying during the summer. So the whole issue has been thrown wide open again.

Debate at Council level is set to resume in December. Should it back the EC view, a fierce conflict with Parliament will then ensue, especially because Charanzová – still a clear supporter of motorcycle sport – has recently been re-elected and will continue to lead negotiations on behalf of MEPs.

The H&H auction at the National Motorcycle Museum on 2 November grossed in excess of £715,000, with a 67% sale rate. Top seller was the 1951 Vincent Black Shadow Series C which made £85,100. A 1925 NUT that had been with the vendor for some time and was sold as part of his estate went for £28,350.

NUT Motorcycles was a British motorcycle manufacturer founded in Newcastle-UponTyne in 1912 by Hugh Mason and Jock Hall, who had previously been making motorcycles since 1906 under a badge based on Mason’s initials, HM, and later under the name of Jesmond and Bercley. In 1933 the company closed for good.

Keep up to speed with the latest news at

www.britishdealernews.co.uk 8 DECEMBER 2019

Hoco Parts buys two top UK distributors NETHERLANDS-BASED Powersports Distribution Group (PDG) – owner of Hoco Parts – has secured a major presence on the UK mainland with the purchase of Rob Hunter and Bradbury Bros distribution companies.

Rob Hunter is based in Shepton Mallet and Bradbury Bros in Huddersfield.

PDG said it was proud to have concluded the purchase of the entire share capital of Bradbury Bros, and the business and assets of Rob Hunter & Co Ltd. The combined business will be re-branded “Bradbury Hunter” and will become one of the largest parts wholesalers in the UK, with a sales team of 11 account managers across the country.

Tom Beyers, CEO of parent company PDG, said: “With these acquisitions PDG further positions itself as a leading European distributor of premium motorcycle parts and accessories.

“There is great strategic rationale for the combination as the two companies complement each other geographically – Bradbury has historically been more active in the North and Scotland and

Rob Hunter, left, and Denis Bradbury are pictured outside Hoco Parts in this montage

Rob Hunter focuses on the Midlands and South – while sharing a similar product portfolio, with brands as such as EBC, HiFlo, JT, Yuasa, Silkolene and Castrol, which will be further expanded under the ownership of PDG.” Denis Bradbury, who will continue to work part-time, said: “I am delighted with this transaction and look forward to

ABOUT PDG POWERSPORT DISTRIBUTION GROUP is a leading European group active in the distribution of parts and accessories for motorcycles, headquartered in Breda, The Netherlands It currently consists of three divisions: • General motorcycle aftermarket parts and accessories distribution: Hoco Parts in Benelux and Denmark, and Bradbury Hunter in the UK

• Category management: DC AFAM, a motorcycle after-market transmission and battery supplier to European distributors with famous brands like AFAM, Nitro and Shido • Vintage parts: CMS, the leading global vintage motorcycle parts distributor PDG is majority owned by Torqx Capital Partners in partnership with management and former owners

working with Rob’s sales team under the wings of PDG.” Rob Hunter, who has managed the eponymous company since its creation more than 50 years ago, commented: “This deal provides continuity and will benefit our customers, suppliers and staff who have supported us over the years.

Denis and I have very complementary businesses and I’ve no doubt that they will be much stronger together.”

Lee Martin, ex-Larsson UK director, who will join the management team at Bradbury Hunter, thinks this acquisition is a natural fit for PDG. “We aim to build a leading position in the UK hard-parts distribution business and this combination gives us the perfect platform to achieve this,” he said.

Beyers concluded: “We are very pleased to bring together these two great companies. PDG will continue to invest in the UK as well as other key European markets.”

Norton explores a range of funding sources NORTON MOTORCYCLE Holdings has been exploring a range of new investment sources, after revelations emerged of its controversial financing by three occupational pension schemes formerly administered as sole trustee by Norton chief executive Stuart Garner. As reported in last month’s BDN, he was subsequently removed from this role by the Pensions Regulator, to be replaced by independent professional trustees.

During November, it announced a crowd-funding bid aimed at bikers through the Crowdcube platform, with a £1m target. But this move was suspended very shortly afterwards.

In a statement to interested parties, Norton said: “We have been approached by a single investor who has offered the whole investment amount, independently. This individual is already a fan of Norton and a motorcycle enthusiast, which means the brand and its community are a focus. This agreement is under the condition we hold off our Crowdcube campaign at the moment. But please rest assured we are still interested in having our loyal

fans be part of the Norton family.

However, for now, we will delay our campaign and let you know at a later date when you can become part of Norton history.”

Separately, also in November, the company published a 25page “Investor Deck” prospectus online, detailing the attractions of its business as an investment opportunity.

The document included news that Norton Motorcycle Holdings has commissioned stockbroker W H Ireland to facilitate an initial public offering (IPO) of shares on the London Stock Exchange’s smallcap Alternative Investment Market (AIM), set for the latter part of 2020.

According to a report in The Sunday Times business section on 18 August, Norton had appointed prominent law firm and corporate adviser Fieldfisher to sound out potential investors. The newspaper claimed Garner was looking for £5m, which he evidently said would be used to buy parts to fulfil an order book he then reckoned to be worth £26m. In the more recent prospectus, its proportions have since grown to £30m.

www.britishdealernews.co.uk

Business news

680KG HEAVY-DUTY MOTORCYCLE LIFT - ELECTRO/HYDRAULIC www.sealey.co.uk

Supplied with motorcycle front wheel locking attachment for tyre widths between 75-340mm to assist in securing the vehicle.

CHECK OUT OUR CHRISTMAS PROMOTION

FREE Motorcycle Starter Tool Kit

• Model No. DGECCOMBO1 • List Price £448.05

Suitable for use with centre stand motorcycles or with a rear paddock stand.

Fitted with safety lock to prevent accidental lowering.

Heavy-duty ramp and platform with removable rear access panel to aid with wheel removal.

MODEL NO. MC680E LIST PRICE £1699.95

All steel construction with a 680kg capacity.

Prices exclude VAT unless stated otherwise

230V Electro/Hydraulic lifting system for simple, fast operation.

£1399.95 EXC. VAT £1679.94PROMO INC. VAT PRICE

DECEMBER 2019 9

N W E N W E N W N E N W W E E N W N E N W W E NNEWENEW NEW NEW N NEW N W E N W N E N W W E E N W N E N W W E NNEWENEW NEW NEW N NEW N W E N W N E N W W E E N W N E N W W E NNEWENEW NEW NEW N NEW N W E N W N E N W W E E N S N W E N E W W E E N NNEW NEW NEW NEW DATNPEARWK N H G I W E L E N E N W N O E T N S W W E E R E N I H W N S E K N C I W W NNEWENEW NEW NEW NWEARW NEW N W E N W N E N W W E E N W N E N W W E NNEWENEW NEW NEW N NEW N W W E N NE W

E N W E N W NE

W E N M O C .

O P X E E L C Y C R O T O M .

WWW

N W N E N W W E E N W N E WW NEW NEW NEW N W NEW E W N E N W W E E N W N E N W W E E N W N E N WW NEW NEW NEW W E N W E W N E N W W E E N W N 2 E N 5 W W E E N W N E N WW NEW NEW NEW W E N W E W N E N W W E E N W N E 0 N 2 , W W E E 9 N 1 , W N E N 8 1 WW NEW NEW NEWER W NEW B E O W N E T N C W W O E E N W N E N W W E E N W N E N WW NEW NEW 2 NE W W E N 0 W E 0 W N E N 2 W W E E N W N E N W W E E N W N E N WW NEW NEW NEW W E N W E W N E N W W E E N W N E N W W E E N W N E N W W NE W NE W EW YEARS

TH

TH

TH

Business news

All presents and correct PAUL BARKSHIRE, chairman of the National Motorcycle Dealers Association, continues his monthly blog AS WE approach that festive time of year again, it is vital that we do all we can to keep our staff motivated and remain engaged in all opportunities. It is important that customers are aware of all your latest offers (some dealers I know do this really well), and text is probably the quickest, cheapest and most efficient way to keep in touch with those lapsed customers.

I have discussed with a few dealers about doing a pre-Christmas event and making the most of free tools such as social media to promote these and get people into your dealerships. Again, text and email work for your existing databases and it is not hard to make your own customers feel special by offering them a little incentive to attend and to bring a friend.

Pay extra attention to the products you are looking to sell on the night, such as exdemo models and those used motorcycles that have been keeping watch all summer.

Revisit your websites and make sure they are fit for purpose, inviting, easy to navigate and that special offers are defined and clear.

Research tells us that our customers will spend anything up to 12 hours researching online before they purchase a motorcycle – a fact that cannot be ignored!

Merry Christmas!

Dealer drops BMW, CW MOTORCYCLES of Dorchester is parting company with its BMW franchise after a 36-year association and is looking forward to a “more agile” business model with Royal Enfield and other smaller brands. MD Dave Wyndham, who runs the business with his wife Rosemary, revealed: “BMW has permitted us, in this run-out period, to take on one other franchise, so we have accepted quite gracefully Royal Enfield into our fold.

“We are delighted with that. We think they are lovely bikes that bring a smile to any motorcyclist’s face regardless of what they ride – whether it be a Harley, Ducati, a BMW or whatever. When they see a Royal Enfield, something like an Interceptor coming towards them, it’s a lovely sound, a lovely motorbike.

“I think motorcyclists will be looking for less expensive options and solutions for their motorcycling requirements, and if they are lucky enough to own a really nice large touring or sports bike for specialist use, something like an Enfield or one of the many other budget machines on offer will allow them to spread the load on mileage, so they can keep up the optimum value of their main motorcycle.

“So we are looking forward to that, and after the run-out period at the end of July

NATIONAL MOTORCYCLE DEALERS ASSOCIATION

LOW income and disabled Londoners can swap their older motorcycles for ULEZ -compliant machines with the extension of the capital’s £23m vehicle scrappage allowance scheme. Qualifying riders can claim £1000 to scrap a motorcycle. The MCIA welcomed the news. “The role of Powered Two Wheelers (PTWs) and other Powered Light Vehicles (PLVs) in reducing transport congestion and subsequent air pollution cannot be overstated, as their small physical footprint and low or zero emissions help counter the effect of single-occupancy cars and lightly laden vans on our cities.”

Keep up to speed with the latest news at

www.britishdealernews.co.uk

we have options to take on other brands.”

What is clear is that those “other brands” will not include the major manufacturers.

“We need to be agile to survive these days. We need business agility; we need to be able to duck and dive with the times” Dave Wyndham, MD, CW Motorcycles Speaking generally, Wyndham said: “Manufacturers demand quite a lot from dealers to protect the brand – from recruitment, training, IT to everything – and that is fair enough; you can understand

that perspective. But for a small countytown dealer who is perhaps selling 100200 new machines a year, it can’t make sense. It’s becoming increasingly difficult for smaller, service-based solus dealers to keep up with the manufacturers’ requirements these days. The main brands in the country are on a journey for more control, more uniformity, bigger numbers; and, of course, not everyone can grow all the time, so this push can end in tears for the dealer.

“For that reason I will avoid entering into a partnership with any manufacturer who, in my view, doesn’t allow the dealer sufficient independence. We need to be agile to survive these days. We need business agility; we need to be able to duck and dive with the times.

“It’s very difficult when you are committed to a major manufacturer who may expect you to make a major investment in CI. And if you read the BDN article on Hughenden M40 (November 2019), it bears this out.

“And you know, you hear other stories, talking to other guys who are privateers – generally one-man or two-man bands, they’re not doing badly, you know.

They are independent back-street/backshed people, but they are doing OK. I

Lucas lights up NEC Classic LUCAS LAUNCHED its Authentic Classic Range of electrical products and accessories at the 35th Classic Motor and Motorbike Show, held at Birmingham’s NEC (8-10 November).

Wassell has been appointed to distribute and develop the range worldwide to cater for owners of British classics. Red and black packaging identifies the new range.

Other bike-related companies attending this leading UK classic vehicle show included Lamb Engineering, Derby Plating, and North West Customs.

Bike clubs attending included Vintage Japanese, Tamworth, BSA, Maico, Awfully Pleasant Scooter Association, Honda Gold Wing, and BSA Bantam.

Winner of the Pride of Ownership award was Mark Taylor from Truro, Cornwall, with his 1957 1000cc Ariel Square Four with Swallow sidecar. As a 14-year-old living near Nottingham Mark bought a Square Four from TMS of Nottingham and used to push it to a nearby private road so that he could ride it. It was his main transport after passing his test as a 17-year-old in 1976.

Lamb Engineering, a leading custom bike business and precision engineer employing seven people, sold its bike exhibit on the opening day to a Doncaster restaurateur. The vintage-look

bike depicting speed legends Malcolm Campbell and Bert Munro is powered by an 860cc Hinckley Triumph twin.

“The pre-war look is in,” said Tony Taysom, who with business owner Larry Houghton and fellow precision engineer Andrew Strange had overseen the creation of their first scratch-built car – a single seater with alloy body in the style of a Miller-cum-Bugatti. Yours for £250,000.

In total the upbeat and impressive Clarion promotion, the UK’s biggest classic vehicle show, hosted 300 clubs and 3000 vehicles, attracting more than 71,000 visitors.

OBITUARIES

Pavlo ‘Big Pav’ Andrusiak PAVLO ‘BIG PAV’ ANDRUSIAK passed away unexpectedly at home on 23 October.

As well as running his own parts business, Big Pav was part of the Leeds Sportsbikeshop team from its very beginnings last spring.

The store said: “Big Pav’s would have been the first face many visitors saw on walking into the store, where his quick wit and sharp sense of humour helped put them at their ease. But he was about more than a friendly face… Pav had bountiful motorcycle experience and passion.

“A proud ex-serviceman, he was well-known in West

12 DECEMBER 2019

Gary Marshall Yorkshire bike circles thanks to his time as parts manager at Harley-Davidson dealer Eddy Wright Motorcycles and also running his own business, Big Pav’s Parts Shop, which continued after he joined us.

“His knowledge of Harley’s parts catalogue shone through in both his work and his metal. Pav lavished love on a Sportster 883 that boasted a 1200cc conversion, 16in Fat Boy wheels and 18 coats of lacquer over the green and white paint of the All Arms Veterans MCC to which he belonged.

“Pav was a much-loved member of our team. Ride free, Big Pav.”

GARY MARSHALL, owner of Streetbike in Halesowen, has passed away. A statement from the dealership said: “It is with great sadness and heavy hearts that we have to announce, after a very short illness, the passing of our beloved owner, Gary Marshall. Gary was Streetbike and will be sadly missed by all who knew him.

“We have sent our deepest sympathies and condolences to Gary’s family, but, in true Gary style, it’s business as usual at Streetbike.

If you’d like to pop in or call to pass on your thoughts, memories or best wishes, you’d be most welcome. At some point in the future there will be a memorial ride, with a date to be confirmed.

“In the meantime, please pop in or call as usual, but bear with us on the phones and instore during this difficult time.

“We love you Gary!”

Streetbike sells Suzuki, Triumph, Yamaha and Zero.

www.britishdealernews.co.uk

Business news

signs Enfield Exeter. Now they think there is a big have all gone and demand for that. we are going, so “We want to there is going to retrace our steps, to be a huge hole in go back to having Wessex. I’m sure it that independent has all been done approach.” for entirely good Wyndham said reasons. It is to do he was sad to be with standards and severing links with quality of service BMW. “We are and uniformity; and all sad here, but I know that, and I we won’t miss the understand that, but pressure.

When there comes a point we were appointed when you are selling as dealers in 1983 bikes in a rural area, in Dorchester, it you are never going was a small county to do thousands of town in a very rural county with a fairly CW MD Dave Wyndham units.

“We have always low population.

There was a bit of industry kicking punched above our weight business-wise about but most of that has gone, so in but we just can’t do what is required of us that sense it’s even tougher than it was anymore now frankly. And that’s it.

“We are looking forward to a more in ’83, and of course the two-wheeled market in the UK has shrunk by 50% relaxed, more ‘bikey’ sort of future. We want to get back to our roots. You know, since then.

“We think other dealers are doing it we are all motorcyclists, we love it. We all very well and BMW has a great network, go touring, we do trail-riding, that’s the but when we started there was a BMW sort of people we are here.” www.cwmotorcycles.co.uk dealer in Taunton, Southampton and

Dealers face a cut in income

DEALERS FACE a drop in income increase in the price of bikes, only time from finance deals as the Financial will tell.

“Looking at the detail of the report, it Conduct Authority (FCA) acts to protect will still be possible for dealers to earn an customers and cut the cost of credit.

The FCA is set to ban dealers from income from finance, but their capacity adding to the finance provider’s interest to add to the interest rates, the so-called rate, the so-called rate spread, to enhance rate spread, to enhance their commission earnings in all its guises is set to be their commission.

“Very evidently, change is ahead in the banned.

“The other notable change that the world of motor finance and the industry FCA is seeking is regulator pulled more prominent no punches in the commission opening paragraph disclosure. of its press release in This does not which it announced mean advising plans to ban the way customers of the in which some car amounts earned retailers, and other from finance, brokers in the motor although this finance sector, must happen if receive commission the request is associated with pre-contract. It is the promotion of the requirement, finance,” Graham already in place Filmer of PR, for dealers, to marketing and inform customers training firm Rocket that they may earn Performance told a commission.

BDN. Graham Filmer, Rocket Performance According to the The FCA’s sixtypage document identifies a clear goal FCA’s mystery shopping findings, all too to reduce the cost of credit to people often it is not happening.”

New commission disclosure standards sourcing their finance from dealers and brokers to the tune of £165m each year. are on the horizon and dealers will have These savings will come from lower to ensure all customers are well aware rates and lower dealer commissions with that commission may be earned, with the burden shared between lenders and disclosure featuring prominently on promotions, online and in face-to-face dealers/brokers.

“At a time when sales and margin are dialogue.

These proposed changes are subject to under pressure, any dilution of finance income will be unwelcome,” said Filmer. a consultation period up to 15 January “However, the marketing potential of with the final standards due by the end lower interest rates could be helpful and of Q2 2020. This will be followed by a lower rates could help counterbalance an three-month implementation period.

“It will still be possible for dealers to earn an income from finance but their capacity to add to the interest rates … is set to be banned”

B&C-BDN-ad-107x311-v02.indd 1

DECEMBER 2019 13 22/11/2019 14:37

Business news

SHORTCUTS

GS YUASA reports that its online training “academy” launched earlier this year has attracted thousands of students.

The platform offers 20 certified courses tailored to different job roles and is said to be a hit with technicians, distributors and educational institutes alike. Jon Pritchard, general sales and marketing manager at GS Yuasa Battery Sales UK, said: “We are delighted to have so many people now receiving high-quality tuition online through GS Yuasa Academy.” www.academy.gs-yuasa.eu FORCEFIELD BODY ARMOUR is supporting the British Army, Royal Navy, Royal Marines and Royal Air Force by supplying its protection products across the disciplines of motorcycling, mountain biking and snowboarding. These products include the Ex-K Harness, the FreeLite Back Protector, the Pro L2K Dynamic Back Protector, the UltraLite Back Protector, the Elite Chest Protector, the Abrasion Resistant (AR) Knee Protector and the Pro Tube Knee/Elbow Protectors. www.forcefieldbodyarmour.com

HOLESHOT PR celebrated its tenth anniversary last month. Started by Harley Stephens as a lifestyle change to concentrate on motorcycle PR, it offers traditional PR, product placement, sponsorship appraisal and activation, influencer marketing, social media animation and videography, onsite customer experiences and blog/ web copywriting. “Over the years we have been fortunate enough to work with some of the biggest brands in the industry,” said Stephens. “Thanks for all your support, and here’s to another decade!” www.holeshotpr.com

Feridax takes it to the Max

MAJOR CHANGES to Feridax’s headquarters in Halesowen have been completed, ready for the distributor’s Feridax Max event showcasing all the new products from a wide range of brands for the 2020 season.

Previously home to the reception area, office space and a meeting room, the entranceway to the office and warehouse complex has been remodelled to create a large display area for dealers to see the latest product lines from Spada, Spidi, Shoei, Caberg, Airoh, Sena, and Sidi. To replace the loss of the meeting room a garden building has been built opposite the entrance which is to be used as a meeting area.

The three-month project involved

demolishing walls and doorways and replacing them with more flowing archways and mood-lit spaces with clearly-defined areas for each brand.

This provides enough space for the entire ranges for next season to be displayed, in all the colours and graphic options available. Extra sizes are kept handy in a separate store room.

The building work was completed just in time for Feridax Max, a three-month opportunity for dealers to visit and be guided through the new additions to the various product ranges by Feridax’s five sales managers.

“We’re prioritising Feridax Max for the three weeks before Motorcycle Live,” said marketing manager Mathew Hall.

“We’re seeing around 200 dealers from our targeted accounts in that time, then the Max event will continue on until Christmas for any dealers who would like to see what we can offer.” www.feridax.com

New materials warehouse under construction at Fuchs

The Sammy Miller Museum in Hampshire has acquired a Rickman off-road machine – manufactured in 1975 in New Milton Queensway Estate, only one mile from the museum, by the Rickman Brothers Don and Derek. With only 12 miles from new, the machine had been bought new by the late Ken Bridges, who kept it safe for 38 years.

Another new exhibit is a Triumph Speed Twin sectional cutaway engine and forks which, it is believed, was displayed on the Triumph stand at the Earls Court Show in 1950. www.sammymiller.co.uk Keep up to speed with the latest news at

www.britishdealernews.co.uk

CONSTRUCTION OF a £5m raw materials warehouse with 4000 pallet spaces is under way at Fuchs Lubricants’ Staffordshire headquarters.

The warehouse is the latest step in a £10m investment programme at Fuchs UK, which has also seen the introduction of a range of innovative manufacturing plant machinery and a new multi-line pallet loading robot arm.

Building work began in August and the framework structure and roof have now been completed, the external cladding is now well under way.

The fully automated high-bay warehouse is due for completion in the second quarter of 2020 and will significantly increase the amount of raw materials the business can store on-site.

Its construction will also allow an existing building to become a specialist packaging warehouse.

Mark Gray, head of operations, said: “We have an ambition to place Fuchs Lubricants at the forefront of R&D,

manufacturing and distribution of lubricants in the UK. “This raw materials warehouse represents a significant investment for the business, and a further step towards that goal.

“The warehouse includes sophisticated automation, which will future-proof the business and create cost-saving benefits.”

Two wire-guided driverless narrow-aisle trucks will operate in the warehouse, benefiting from high travel and lift speeds, without operator intervention.

The warehouse has a capacity of about 4000 pallet spaces, with ability for automatic or manual storage place allocation.

Hi-tech control and management systems streamline the process, with benefits including goods receipt entry and booking, a paperless put away process, inventory support and batch traceability.

Fuchs Lubricants is the UK arm of the world’s largest independent lubricants manufacturer and is based in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent. www.fuchs.com/uk

Larsson UK supply spare parts, batteries, filters, chains, spark plugs, sprockets, diagnostic tools & much more

INDUSTRY

AWARDS

2018

WHOLESALER OF THE YEAR

WINNER

INDUSTRY

AWARDS

2019

WHOLESALER OF THE YEAR

WINNER

KTM SX 125/150/250 2019 YAMAHA WR 250/450 2015-2019 HONDA CRF250 2004-2019 KAWASAKI KX450F 2016-2018 BLACKBIRD RACING DECAL KITS Tel: 01536 265633 • Off road decal kits available for all major manufacturers @larsson.uk.com info • High quality, long lasting and fade resistant ORDER BY 5:30PM www.larsson.uk.com • OE style and alternative branding available FOR PRE-12 DELIVERY • Full range of Blackbird Racing seat covers also available THE NEXT WORKING DAY WEEKEND SHIPPING: ORDER SUNDAY FOR MONDAY DELIVERY

14 DECEMBER 2019

www.britishdealernews.co.uk

FRANCE-BASED BIHR Distribution has taken over MotoDirect, whose portfolio includes Motul, helmet brands AGV and Arai, and its in-house ranges of RST and Wolf clothing.

In a statement, the companies said: “Bihr and MotoDirect have entered into an agreement leading Bihr to own 100% of MotoDirect. As a result of this agreement, the current shareholders of MotoDirect will become shareholders of Bihr together with Alcopa and the management team of the company.

“The objective of the transaction is to further develop the RST brand across the globe. Both teams will develop best practices to become the leading and preferred rider gear product distributor in Europe and 2021 will see the expansion of the company’s motorcycle parts and accessories activity in the UK through the well-established distribution network of MotoDirect.”

Deborah Bullock, chairperson and co-founder of Derbyshire-based MotoDirect, said: “Over the past three years Bihr has been successfully distributing and promoting the RST

brand in Europe. During this period, we had many occasions to exchange ideas and business opportunities. With time, we realised how complementary our teams are and how they fit together. We are convinced this transaction will help the joint company to accelerate its growth.”

“This is a logical step for MotoDirect” said co-founder Jonny Towers. “Bihr and MotoDirect have a lot in common – together we are the proud exclusive distributors of Arai helmets and Motul in different geographies. Moreover, Bihr has supported the growth of RST in Europe and I am convinced that, by joining forces, we will be able to accelerate that growth in Europe and beyond.”

“We are thrilled to partner with MotoDirect” said Christophe Piron, CEO of Bihr. “With this transaction, the joint company not only becomes the leading distributor of rider gear in Europe but also one of the only integrated Rider Gear players from design creation to distribution including own production. This is an incredible competitive advantage that will help us keep the hand on the entire value chain;

BIHR DISTRIBUTION ESTABLISHED IN 1937, Bihr is a leading European distributor of aftermarket motorcycle parts and accessories for both rider and machine. The products and brands Bihr represents across Europe are available through a network of professional dealers and resellers.

With sales offices in France, Belgium, Netherlands, Switzerland, Scandinavia and Iberia, Bihr supplies more than 12,000 dealers.

Race Products acquired by Skidmarx in Weymouth.

RACE PRODUCTS Skidmarx produces – one of the UK’s m o t o r c y c l e longest-established bodywork. screens, motorcycle race headlight covers, bodywork producers rear huggers, fairing – has been acquired lowers, cockpit by competitor fairings, belly Skidmarx. pans and other Founded in Matthew Dench, left, and accessories. the 1970s, Race co-director Ian Merrill “We’re already Products specialises in grp (fibreglass), supplying club racers, well known in the paddock for our track-day enthusiasts and even world race screens,” said Skidmarx director championship-winning teams with race Matthew Dench. “Adding bodywork to bodywork, including fairings, seat units our range makes perfect sense because now we can offer customers a complete and mudguards.

The company’s future is now secure, service and we have complete control following a buy-out by Skidmarx, which over quality, start to finish.” www.skidmarx.co.uk has moved production to its factory

Pictured from left: Terry Birtles, Axel Moorkens, Deborah Bullock, Christophe Piron, Jonny Towers and Jaimy Scevenels

ensuring the quality of the products and smoothness of the delivery.”

NECESSARY SCALE In terms of organisation, Jaimy Scevenels, vice-president, brand and product rider gear at Bihr, will oversee rider gear distribution. MotoDirect MD Terry Birtles will remain in charge of the dayto-day UK operations while Towers will focus on developing the RST brand and act as a senior adviser to Scevenels.

“Bringing both companies together will enable us to achieve the necessary scale to

specialise our teams and dedicate a part of this sales force to our rider gear activities.

The expertise gathered by the MotoDirect team over the past 30 years combined with the Bihr firepower on the continent will help us better promote the brands we are distributing and will help us better serve our clients,” said Scevenels.

The deal is expected to become official next month, following the customary meetings of the boards, general meetings and the approval of suppliers. www.moto-direct.com www.bihr.eu

Parts Europe takes on SW-Motech THE PRODUCTS of German manufacturer SW-Motech will be available through Parts Europe from the beginning of next year.

The companies say the partnership will enable both operations to boost their positions in the European market.

Since its foundation in 2009 Parts Europe, based in Wasserliesch/Trier, Germany, says it has been working continuously to expand its brand and product range for its dealers.

The number of trading partners has “grown to around 600, and new ones are constantly being added”.

SW-Motech MD Jürgen Swora (pictured) said: “With Parts Europe we have found a highly efficient partner which can deliver our products quickly and reliably to dealers throughout Europe. I am very pleased that we can decisively increase the availability of our products this way.”

The addition of SWMotech provides Parts Europe with new luggage solutions, protection and safety products, plus other accessories “thus fulfilling its own standards to offer the right accessories for all types of motorcycle”. www.sw-motech.com www.partseurope.eu

DECEMBER 2019 15

Business news

MotoDirect taken over by Bihr

Motorcycle Live

MORE THAN 104,000 VISITORS

Return of the tyre-kickers MOTORCYCLE LIVE attracted an all-time record 46 manufacturers, and exhibitors went out of their way to offer a huge welcome to that usually vilified category of customer – the tyre-kicker.

“With your digital device you can go anywhere in the world in the palm of your hand, you can look at any product you want whether it be digitally enhanced, or whatever it is, but Motorcycle Live is the only place where you can pull that lever, kick that tyre, and ask the sales guy how much is it and where can I get it from,” said show organiser and MD Finlay McAllan.

Speaking on day three of the nine-day biking extravaganza, McAllan described the show as “an Aladdin’s cave for new licenceholders”, adding: “It’s looking good. It’s been a challenging year. However, we are only going to reflect the market – and the market has been tougher this year than last year for everyone.

“The contradiction is that we have seen an upsurge of support from the trade as opposed to retail. There are definitely fewer retailers here, but that has been soaked up by the manufacturers’ presence. We have seen an all-time record 46 manufacturers, which is fantastic. It is a motorcycle show, after all, and our research shows that the array of motorcycles is the top reason people come.”

As for the emerging electric sector, McAllan paid tribute to the great diversity of machines, many of which were available in the MCIA’s TryRIDE test area. “You can go entry-level, you can go electric at entry level. We’ve got LiveWire, other bits and pieces like that. So there is a good cross

but it was up to the public to decide whether they were all relevant.

“We are seeing the products of the future beginning to arrive, but it’s not where it needs to be at this point in time.

It needs to grow and that’s what we need to do – push that forward, provide them

“With your digital device you can go anywhere in the world in the palm of your hand … but Motorcycle Live is the only place where you can pull that lever, kick that tyre” Finlay McAllan, MD, Motorcycle Live section of everything that is available.

“There are certainly way more internal combustion engines out there than there is electric, but electric are playing more of a role in the flat-plan.”

GREAT PLATFORM Asked whether the MCIA’s emphasis on all L-category vehicles was reflected in the range of exhibitors, McAllan said Motorcycle Live was “a great platform”,

with a platform. The public is aware of the concept of electrifying vehicles and are really grabbing on to it in the car market. As for motorcycles, there is some curiosity, but I think exhibitions or events like Motorcycle Live should embrace these products to allow the brand owners the opportunity to turn curiosity into sales.”

Returning to the subject of retail traders, McAllan noted that the show’s personality was changing as a result of pressures on

MOTORCYCLE LIVE figures show 104,016 visitors (compared with 103,702 in 2018) made the annual pilgrimage to the UK’s premier bike show held at the NEC in Birmingham between 16 and 24 November.

A record 46 manufacturers took exhibition space to showcase their 2020 models.

Speaking after the show closed, Motorcycle Live MD Finlay McAllan said: “To hear such positive feedback from exhibitors and visitors alike is amazing.

I’d like to say a massive thanks to all those who exhibited, visited and worked with us to make Motorcycle Live 2019 such a success. Roll on 2020!”

Motorcycle Live 2020 will take place at The NEC, Birmingham from 21-29 November.

the High Street. “Retail is difficult. Some of our historic retail exhibitors are going to switch to online. Some of our retail exhibitors are in both camps. So we have seen a different approach to Motorcycle Live by many different people.

“Some people have chosen not to come in terms of retail, some have come as an opportunity to increase their retail footprint; and the nice thing about that is that some have taken that opportunity to lift their overall game in terms of presentation. The retail experience, as we know, needs to be at the top of its game, and if you go out in the halls you can see a real difference in the presentation of some of the stands. They are going about offering that retail experience.

“At the end of the day we all want to be sold to. I think that is beginning to resonate with some of the key people out there, and Motorcycle Live is a nice place to come to see motorcycle products and have a day out at the same time. Right now, I am only getting positive feedback.

“So overall, we are delighted with the show.”

the ducks in a row’ for Kymco in the UK Dunlop launches Pro Dealer scheme ‘All KYMCO NOW has “all the ducks in a row” and every model in every colour.

IN ADDITION to a comprehensive range of new tyres for 2020, Dunlop used Motorcycle Live to explain the Dunlop Pro Dealer concept, a specialised network of Dunlop-focused retailers who will benefit from additional support direct from Dunlop in return for their support of the Dunlop brand.

Dave Plummer, sales and marketing manager, said: “We’ve got some really great distribution partners but we need to improve our presence in the retail network. The Dunlop Pro Dealer concept allows us to focus our efforts on the retail business directly, developing a strong dealer network which is beneficial to Dunlop, our distributors and the dealers themselves.”

Dunlop says it offers the widest range of premium tyres on the market, covering everything from junior MX through to cruisers.

For 2020 Dunlop had already introduced new tyres for MX, enduro, adventure and new sizes in the ScootSmart scooter range, which includes the race-derived SportSmart TT, the RoadSmart III and the urban sports GPR300. david_plummer@goodyear.com

16 DECEMBER 2019

is ready to start building the brand in the UK in a steady, sustainable way.

“Kymco wants a steady, professional, managed expansion,” said Mark Hermolle, MD of Kymco UK. Developing the theme, area sales manager Mark Waldron said: “Kymco as a manufacturer does not want to expand like an explosion and then see it collapse back into the void. We are going to work with the dealers and grow organically so we can all travel on the journey together to where we want the brand to be.”

Hermolle said Kymco UK was partnering a social media company to promote the name to the public.

As for the reference to “ducks in a row”, Waldron explained that Kymco now had a massive parts warehouse at Bridgend, with £300,000 of stock; and the capacity to store 500 scooters –

Previously restricted by the V55 system, the introduction of the RAV automatic registration service was “the final piece of the jigsaw”.

“Slowly, over the past 18 months, we have moved to a point where we have all the foundations in place to move forward professionally and with the right level of back-up.”

Waldron said Kymco UK had about 45 dealers currently but was aiming for a network of 80 to 90, including 12 to 18 Super Scooter Centres in the conurbations.

He expected that registrations would be 30% up by the end of the year to about 400 machines, and would rise to 550-600 next year.

“The plan is to establish a reputation for being 20% cheaper than the Japanese equivalent but have better quality,” said Hermolle. www.kymco.co.uk

www.britishdealernews.co.uk

MOTOGB HAD eight brands of motorcycles and scooters on an impressive stand that was attracting a lot of attention from visitors. The importer/distributor handles Benelli, Lambretta, Royal Alloy, Hanway, Keeway, FB Mondial, Sym, Italjet, plus Royal Enfield, which had its own dedicated stand.

“We have something for everybody, from the 50ccs to the new Benelli 752S,” said Adlington-based MotoGB’s Matt Kay. “We have an awful lot of dealers working with us now – about 200 – who can pick and choose from our brands depending on their location and which other dealers are in the area with different brands.”

The main talking point at the show was the Benelli 752S. “Benelli is a huge brand, a historical brand established in 1911. It has been owned for the past two years by one of the biggest automotive groups in the world – Qianjiang, which also owns Keeway. The last two years have seen huge investment, lots of new models, and there are more new models to come through.

“The bikes offer great quality at great prices – a brand heading in the right direction and heading there at some pace, to be fair. But yeah, it’s a very positive brand for us at the moment – definitely well-liked and well-loved.”

Although, like most manufacturers these days, the bikes are built in China, Benelli still has a huge presence in Pesaro, its home in Italy since 1911. All the R&D and technical design of the bikes is still done in Italy, an arrangement described by Kay as “a great combination that seems to work well”.

Retro motorcycles included the final version of the 400cc Imperiale, another historical Benelli name from the 1950s/60s. That will be available early this month.

ITALJET Motorcycle Live also witnessed the UK relaunch of the Italjet Dragster – again a classic name for many scooterists that will remember it from the late 1990s. They should be available in the spring.

Retro is still a huge market across all sectors, not least scooters, and one of the leading players is another brand distributed by MotoGB – Royal Alloy.

On show at Motorcycle Live was the final production version of the GP300 scooter, which was attracting a huge amount of interest. There was also a prototype of the TG300, which will go into production later in the year.

Steve Oliver, CEO of Royal Alloy, said the challenge was to build sales worldwide to establish the scooters as a premium brand. “We are striving for the best in whatever we do, improving quality, design and increasing sales.

We have the Tigara Grande, or TG300. There is a liquid cooled 125 and a liquid cooled 300 for the European market. Other markets will have other engines.

“Mass production will commence in the second week in February and they will be in the UK in time for the season.”

Oliver said the TG300 shared the running gear of the GP and GT but had new body panels (with the exception

Benelli 752S

of one) and was based on the Lambretta Series 2, as opposed to the Series 3.

“It’s very retro! In fact Royal Alloy is striving to be master of retro! It is a niche market and we want to own that market.”

Oliver said Royal Alloy globally – it has a factory in Liyang in the Jiangsu province of China and one in Thailand on the outskirts of Bangkok – hoped to sell about 5500 scooters this year. “I can say 2020 will be an exceptional year and we can double our sales.”

ROYAL ENFIELD Talk about the popularity of retro machines did not resonate on the Royal Enfield stand, where Andy Newson, sales director at Enfield dealer QB Motorcycles of Brierley Hill, pointed out that the Indian-made machines had “heritage but were not retro”.

Newson said of the new Trials Works Replica, the latest model from RE and a variant of the current 500cc

Royal Alloy GP300S

Bullet single: “It’s a remake of an original machine, so it’s not going back and restyling the machine, it is actually enhancing the looks of a continuous classic.

“Same looks, although obviously everything is more modernised, so you have your fuel-injected engine, you’ve got ABS brakes, so everything has been bought up to Euro 4 specification. It is modelled on the old bike, but it is a new bike.”

Newson said sales had been steady, despite the machine’s being overshadowed by the new 650 twins, and the Interceptor in particular.

“We’ve beaten Suzuki on registrations but even in that mid-weight class we are top as well. Also, it has been voted MCN Best Retro of the Year 2019.

“It is a fashionable item to have now.”

How the Spitfire became a Stealth fighter BRITISH MANUFACTURER CCM has added a ninth variant to its successful Spitfire range, the Stealth, which is a cosmetic package available for the Bobber, Foggy and Spitfire Six models. The package includes a black tank, powder-coated frame, and black and bronze detailing.

Flexibility is the key with CCM. Customers visit the factory in Bolton and customise their machines.

“We don’t have a dealer network, we deal directly from the factory,” explained sales manager Jack Clews. “It is a lot more personal. If a customer wants to buy a bike from us, they can come along to the factory, see the bikes being built, and speak to the guys.

“A lot of people say, what about the servicing? We have got a mobile service team who will visit anywhere in the UK. So instead of you taking your bike to a local dealer or having to take a day out to

do that, we’ll get someone out to you. We have a fully kitted out van, we can come to your house or place of work or wherever is convenient.

“It’s a bit more personal as well than just a service. The team will go through the bike, help the customer get to know it. You might say ‘my front suspension is a bit hard, the back is a bit soft’, whatever, they will tweak that for you, get it set up perfect for you.”

CCMs come with a two-year warranty and the manufacturer has sold around 1500 Spitfires since the model was launched two years ago.

“There is a gap in the market,” Clews continued. “These motorcycles are singlevehicle approved for UK roads; they are not homologated for Europe. This means we don’t have to comply with the European regulations, just the UK; so you don’t need a cat on the exhaust, you don’t need ABS, you don’t need an air box, you don’t need

a chain guard … the list is endless.

“That is why we are doing them for only £10k. They start at £9995 and then you can spec it however you want. You can go all out if you want and choose every single option under the sun.

“The most someone has paid for one is just under £20,000 but you don’t have to do that, you can just have the standard bike. Even the standard bike uses top quality components. You’ve got the Marzocchi forks, Brembo brakes, your dash surround is all machine-cut aluminium, your seat cowling houses your brake light, that is a big block of machined aluminium – it’s all top quality British manufacturing.”

“This year we have sold about 750 so far, so it’s about the same as last year. We expect to sell around 850 this year.”

CCM is run by the Clews family, father Austin, his brother Russell and Austin’s sons Jack, Ben and Billy.

Jack Clews with Spitfire Stealth

DECEMBER 2019 17

Motorcycle Live

MotoGB: ‘We’ve got something for everybody’

 International news

SHORTCUTS Mixed results for major

OLIVER FRESE has been named chief operating officer of Koelnmesse, home to the Cologne motorcycle show. The 57-year-old former member of the board of Deutsche Messe AG in Hanover is to assume his new position at the beginning of the year. “With Frese, we have gained an experienced trade fair manager and an authentic leader who we trust will be able to integrate new events as well as further develop Cologne’s traditional trade fairs,” said chairwoman of the supervisory board and Cologne’s mayor, Henriette Reker, following the committee’s decision.

There was no relief for Yamaha which, along with BMW, Ducati and Piaggio, released its results for the first three quarters of the year, as BDN financial editor Roger Willis reports YAMAHA’S THREE-QUARTERLY 2019 results delivered few discernable improvements. Total revenue from its recently remonikered Land Mobility division – mainly motorcycles but also incorporating relatively minor quantities of ATVs, golf carts, pedelecs, etc – fell slightly by 0.7% to £5.91bn. Within that, turnover attributable to motorcycles alone was 1.9% down at £5.27bn. Overall divisional operating profit dropped by 10.9% to £255m. Global bike sales volume over this nine-month period declined by 4.9% to 3.818 million units.

Motorcycle business revenue across developed markets decreased by 1.9% to £1.26bn.

Europe was just 0.3% lower on £757m, although volume grew by 4.1% to 151,000 machines. North American dropped respectively by 4.7% to £229m and 2% to 48,000. Japan was 2.3% down at £216m with static volume of 71,000. Revenue from Oceania (Australia and New Zealand) retreated by 9.5% to £54m.

Emerging markets as a whole saw a 1.8% revenue decline to £4.02bn. Asia

GS Yuasa has begun lithium-ion battery manufacturing at its new battery plant in Miskolc, Hungary. Incorporated as a GS Yuasa subsidiary in October 2017, the 60,000sq.m lithium-ion plant is the first outside Japan.

It is equipped with the latest automated manufacturing technology in order to fulfil increasing lithium ion battery demand in Europe. The factory is expected to produce up to 500,000 units per year. www.gs-yuasa.eu Keep up to speed with the latest news at

www.britishdealernews.co.uk

sank by 1.4% to £3.48bn and volume was reduced by 5.4% to 3.22 million bikes.

Sales in Indonesia and the Philippines made gains but India, Vietnam and Taiwan were negative. Revenue from Latin America and other areas was 4.2% down to £537m. A recovery for Brazil was more than offset by lost ground in Argentina.

For Yamaha in its entirety, revenue was 0.4% up to £9.01bn. But operating profit fell by 13.4% to £711m and net profit was 7.5% down to £538m.

DARK-HORSE DELIVERY FROM BMW On the basis of truly minimalist information, we know that BMW Motorrad’s performance in the three quarters of 2019 to 30 September was excellent.

According to the 34page BMW Group quarterly statement, segmental retail sales volume during this nine-month period rose by 8% to a total of 136,932 motorcycles and maxiscooters.

Associated revenue was 12.8% up to £1.613bn. Resultant operating profit was 8.7% up to £194.9m, although operating margin declined slightly to 12.1% from 12.5%. Pre-tax profit from bikes improved by 8.3% to £191.5m.

The statement also included parallel numbers and far more detailed portrayals of both BMW’s automotive and financial services segments. But any similar treatment for the motorcycle business was entirely absent – as it had been missing from the half-yearly statement three months earlier. Previously, data on sales positioning in major bike markets and the progress of particularly successful models were featured.

The rumour that such suddenly secretive behaviour is a precursor to BMW Motorrad operations being hived off into a rump Teutonic alliance with Pierer Mobility is obviously fake news. Maybe…

AN OPAQUE MESSAGE FROM DUCATI Despite stable sales volume, Ducati’s German parent says its 2019 YTD performance has been offset by a predominantly negative model mix. While the advent of recently unveiled new V4 Streetfighter models will hopefully help address that problem when they reach dealers, latest nine-monthly results to 30 September were downbeat.

Numbers were indeed steady, dipping negligibly by 0.3% to 43,827 motorcycles retailed worldwide.

But revenue for the period was 5.3%

ACEM slams ‘invalid’ emissions test data that finds cars are cleaner than motorcycles ACEM HAS seriously questioned research that found motorcycle emissions exceeded those of cars, and has warned that the “invalid” data could lead to ill-advised transport policies, which “is unacceptable”.

The claim that PTW emissions were higher than cars had been made in a study on vehicle emissions in Paris by the International Clean Council on Transportation (ICCT) carried out on behalf of the Real Urban Emissions (TRUE) Initiative. The study had been commissioned by the City Council of Paris.

ACEM – the body representing European motorcycle manufacturers – said: “We seriously question the reliability of the remote sensing technology used by the ICCT to measure real urban emissions from the wide range of motorcycles and other L-category vehicles.”

Despite the report acknowledging that “the smaller engines used in these vehicles result in a smaller plume signal relative to vehicles with larger engines”, the authors still draw negative conclusions as to the environmental performance of motorcycles, including those meeting latest Euro 4 standards.

“ACEM has grounds to believe that the report conclusions are based mostly on measurements of L-category vehicles during their acceleration phase. A generalisation of such results simply does not match real urban reality and results in a drastic overestimation of vehicle emissions.”

ACEM points out that a study by the European Research on Mobile Emission Sources (ERMES) had “clearly shown that the emission performance of Euro 4 motorcycles is similar to that of Euro 5 and 6 petrol cars”, and that these measurements were made using well-established lab measurement technology, as well as real-world test cycles.

The ERMES findings were used by the European Environmental Agency to update its own emissions model (COPERT) in 2019. The COPERT model is used by policy-makers across Europe to model vehicle fleet emissions in urban areas. Furthermore, the ERMES findings were also used by public authorities in Austria, Germany, Sweden and Switzerland to update the Handbook Emission Factors for Road Transport (HBEFA).

Commenting on the study, ACEM Secretary General Antonio Perlot said: “ACEM fully supports the principle of public authorities mandating independent studies to gather evidence for effective policy-making.

However, it is of the utmost importance that such independent studies are performed using validated, accurate testing methods.

“The ICCT report is inconsistent with recent independent research findings based on real-world emissions for motorcycles. The large number of invalid measurements and the high level of uncertainty of the valid ones clearly indicate that remote sensing technology in the ICCT report is unable correctly to measure emissions of L-category vehicles. In other words, ICCT should not have drawn any conclusions based on these measurements. This could lead to illadvised policies, which is unacceptable.”

ACEM says it has already contacted the authors of the study and will continue engaging constructively with the ICCT to discuss the findings and the possible limits of the measurement technologies used.

TOP BRANDS • • •

Great prices No fuss website Next day delivery*

brake evolution

HEL lines made on site

WMD a British company with 60,000 sq ft of motorcycle parts on the south coast

www.wmd-online.com

18 DECEMBER 2019

info@wmd-online.com Tel:01273 595746

*Terms and conditions apply

www.britishdealernews.co.uk

down to £489m. All the same, operating profit held station – absolutely flat at £34m in the first instance, according to conventional accounting rules, and then adjusted upwards through “purchase price allocation” jiggery-pokery to £48m.

Operating margin was 8.9%.

As for model mix, sales of flagship Ducati superbike and supersport machines fell by 17.5% to 8801. The Scrambler subbrand posted a 10.1% decline to 9648.

Multistrada and Hypermotard models were 20.8% up to 14,086. Naked/cruiser kit – encompassing Monster, Diavel and V-twin Streetfighter models, soon to be usurped by the latest V4 application – added 3.7% to 11,292.

Production across the nine months in question dropped by 2.2% to 44,392 bikes.

However, within that, it grew sharply by 30.6% in the third quarter to 9633.

SCOOTING AHEAD AT PIAGGIO Piaggio Group unveiled uninterrupted growth in three-quarterly corporate performance data to the end of September 2019.

Total turnover for the ninemonths was 9.8% up at £1.037bn.

Within that, powered two-wheeler sales revenue climbed by 10.6% to £737.7m,

Roger Willis takes a look at the half-yearly results from Honda, Suzuki and Kawasaki

on a 3.1% volume increase to 321,900 scooters and motorcycles.

Operating profit achieved 17.2% growth to £86m and operating margin improved from 7.8% to 8.3%. Pre-tax profit stacked on 23.3% to £70.4m and net profit was 26.7% higher at £39.8m.

Net debt fell by 9.5% to £316.8m, on a rolling year-on-year basis.

Without detailed figures, the company claimed its scooter segment had racked up 9% net sales growth in the period, driven mainly by Vespa products. But excellent performances were also noted for Piaggio MP3 and Liberty models, as well as Aprilia scooters.

The much smaller motorcycle business apparently boasted a 23% net sales surge, largely due to Moto Guzzi getting a major boost from the new retro adventure V85TT. Aprilia bikes were also positive, led by RSV4 models.

Geographically, Piaggio says it has done well in the Asia-Pacific region, with an 18.7% sales volume increase and 27.5% hike in associated revenue. Europe and America delivered a relatively modest joint contribution of 2.5% more volume and 8% more money. But the company admitted that its Indian operations had taken an unquantified spanking – just like every other competing brand in contention there, in the face of India’s sharp economic downturn.

Paint it black: Jawa launches the Perak bobber JAWA MOTORCYCLES celebrated the first anniversary of its return to the market with the belated unveiling of the Perak bobber.

Originally a Czech brand, India-based Classic Legends struck a licensing deal with Jawa Moto in 2016 and brought the iconic brand back to the market in November 2018.

Previously revealed alongside the Jawa and the Forty-Two during last year’s inaugural event, the Perak was originally slated for release earlier in 2019. The delay was attributed to design changes.

To differentiate the new bike, Jawa has now positioned the Perak as a bobber, with satin black paint and darkfinish accessories.

Though the Perak

shares the same 334cc liquid-cooled single that powers Jawa’s other two models, the output increased to 30bhp and 23ft-lb of torque.

Jawa will start accepting orders for the Perak on the first day of the new year and deliveries are said to begin in April.

INDIA’S ECONOMIC downturn and weakness in other major Asian markets have had a deleterious effect on mighty Honda’s motorcycle business, as revealed by half-yearly results to 30 September.

Global revenue from the sector during this period was 3.5% down to £7.565bn.

Associated operating profit sank by 16.7% to £1.058bn. Operating margin declined to 14% from 16.2%. Wholesale shipment volume dropped by 6.1% to 10.019 million bikes – a shortfall of 648,000.

Primary culprit was falling Indian sales, which were 18.7% lower at 2.68 million.

Honda attributed this to shrinking demand, exacerbated by more onerous consumer credit restrictions. But other key Asian countries were negative too.

Thailand lost 9.6% to 669,000. Indonesia was 1.3% down to 2.437 million and Vietnam dropped by a relatively marginal 0.5% to 1.311 million. Overall sales across Asia decreased by 7.4% to 8.953 million.

The picture was brighter elsewhere.

Other unspecified regions – mainly encompassing Latin America – were 9.2% up to 664,000. European sales held station on 141,000 and Honda’s domestic market in Japan grew by 7.7% to 112,000. But North America slipped 0.7% to 149,000.

Revision of forecasts for the full fiscal year to 31 March 2020 have had an embarrassing consequence. During the previous 12 months, Honda finally crossed the 20 million barrier, selling 20.238 million bikes, and predicted 20.35 million this time round. Its objective has now been slashed to 19.9 million.

Within that, Europe is expected to retreat by 1.6% to 245,000 and Japan by 1% to 205,000. The original assumption of a slight 0.2% increase to 18.265 million in Asia has been abandoned in favour of a 2.4% fall to 17,785 million. On a brighter note, North America should be 4.7% up to 315,000 and other regions will hopefully improve by 7.4% to 1.35 million.

PROFITS PLUNGE AT SUZUKI Suzuki Motor Corporation’s motorcycle business suffered a depressing first half of its 2019/2020 fiscal year from April to September. Despite 2.1% global sales volume growth to 876,000 bikes and ATVs in this six-month period, revenue was almost static, rising by just 0.2% to £901m. And operating profit plummeted by 56.8% to a mere £12.4m.

Poor performance in developed export markets, potentially eliciting stronger

returns, was largely responsible. European volume was 7.1% down to 26,000, with associated revenue decreasing by 3.4% to £140.3m. North American sales were dead flat on 21,000 machines but revenue slipped by 5.4% to £100.4m.

Asian emerging markets were somewhat better. Total volume across Asia put on 3.6% to 718,000 bikes and revenue increased by 0.3% to £462m. India was the principal contributor, bucking an economic downturn afflicting indigenous competitors there. Suzuki’s Indian volume rose by 14.9% to 339,000 and revenue was 13.3% up to £224.4m. The Philippines boasted a substantial improvement too, as volume grew by 16.1% to 101,000.

However, China fell by 16.8% to 163,000.

In a full-year forecast to the end of March 2020, Suzuki has predicted that its worldwide bike sales will rise by 1.5% to 1.771 million. Europe should be 1.2% up to 45,000 and North America 2.3% higher at 37,000. Asia is expected to add 2.2% on 1.468 million.

GOOD FIRST HALF FOR TEAM GREEN Six-monthly 2019-2020 results to 30 September for the motorcycle division of Kawasaki Heavy Industries were upbeat.

But the company has warned of worse to come as its fiscal year progresses.

Combined revenue for the two quarters to date improved by 1.9% to £1.053bn.

And Kawasaki’s usual accumulated firsthalf operating loss for the division was reduced by 27.7% to £24.1m. A similarly negative operating margin therefore shrank from -3.2% in the equivalent period last year to -2.2%.

Wholesale shipments worldwide were flat on 257,000 units. Motorcycles for developed markets, principally Europe and North America, grew by 4.7% to 67,000.

Smaller bikes aimed at emerging countries, mainly in South-East Asia, were 3.1% down to 158,000. Utility vehicles, ATVs and personal watercraft rose by 6.7% to 32,000.

Revenue from unspecified quantities of general-purpose petrol engines was 3.3% up to £157.9m.

For the 12 months to 31 March 2020, Kawasaki has maintained its divisional Q1 forecast of a roughly 2% reduction in annual revenue to about £2.5bn.

However, full-year profit predictions have now been revised downwards. It had anticipated a 16% operating profit decline to around £85m but this has been amended to a 37% plunge to just £64m – and a pathetic operating margin of only 2.5%. Adverse foreign currency translation is apparently the culprit.

DEALERS WANTED BE PART OF THE FUTURE VSR 125i CBS From £1,999

AGILITY CITY + 125i CBS From £2,299

AK550i ABS From £8,899

> Great Quality > Great Support > Great Profit > Great People to do business with > 2yr Warranty (Parts & Labour)

Contact sales@kymcouk.co.uk

TODAY! KYMCO.CO.UK

DF Capital Funding and Black Horse Finance

FIND US ON SOCIAL MEDIA

DECEMBER 2019 19

International news 

manufacturers

Asian slump hits Honda

Off-road news

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

Dualways brings in 250cc motorcycle and road-legal quad DUALWAYS HAS announced that it will be bringing in the 10TEN 250RX. This is a full-sized model using the same motor as the 250R designed to fit somewhere between pit bike and motocrosser. The five-speed 250RX has a chromoly steel frame and comes with 21” front and 18” rear aluminium rims with stainless steel spokes. It’s equipped with adjustable USD front forks, adjustable piggy-back rear shock, aluminium sports silencer and gripper seat as standard and has both electric and kick-start options. It features electric and kick start. The 250RX has an SRP of £2190.

Dualways is also supplying the TGB Blade 1000 LTX road-legal quad, which is powered by a fuel-injected 997cc V-twin engine.

Upgrades comprise LED front lights and strip indicators, a digital dash, tow hitch and electronic winch.

The machine costs £10,499 including VAT. drew.m@dualways.com www.dualways.com

Off-road news Fantic re-enters the racing arena FANTIC MOTOR says it plans to return to international off-road racing, fielding teams in motocross and enduro. Fantic Motor’s long-time engine supplier, Motori Minarelli, owned by Yamaha Motor, will expand the existing supply of two-stroke 50cc and four-stroke 125cc engines. This starts with the supply of 125cc and 250cc two-stroke and four-stroke engines as well as other chassis components. Unveiled at EICMA were examples of the new Fantic XE125 enduro and XX125 and XX250 motocross models which were also shown in the UK at Motorcycle Live last month.

All models will be designed, engineered and produced at Fantic’s facility in Italy. The company’s R&D division has engaged two first-class engineers – Jann Witteveen and Gaetano Cocco. Witteveen is a two-stroke motor wizard and former

director of Aprilia’s racing department which has 23 world titles to its credit.

Former enduro rider and vehicle dynamics expert Cocco, who also spent time at Aprilia Racing, is responsible for managing the racing department.

Fantic Motor’s new race models will be available from summer 2020 and will be sold through Fantic Motor’s retail network (North America and Australia excluded). All enduro models will be Euro 5 homologated. Retail prices will be released shortly.

In motocross, Fantic Motor factory bikes will be run by Team Maddii Racing, contesting the Italian and European 125 championship with two riders.

KTM and Husqvarna reveal range of new metal at Milan show TOMMY SEARLE, long-time member of Team Green, has made the decision to retire from the FIM Motocross World Championships where he has been a leading player of the series for more than a decade.

THE ACU has announced that MX Vice’s Lewis Phillips will be pushing the ACU British Motocross Championship social-media platforms to try to boost the event’s online presence heading into the new season.

Phillips will be posting regular updates along with press releases for the series, ensuring that its teams, riders, fans and commercial partners are aware of everything that is going on.

2020 promises to be a very interesting year for the ACU British Motocross Championship. Tommy Searle is going to focus solely on the domestic premier class with Buildbase Honda, Shaun Simpson will bring his own SS24 KTM team into the series and former champion Evgeny Bobryshev will return to Great Britain with the PAR Homes RFX Racing Husqvarna outfit.

CADWELL PARK hosted the conclusion of the 2019 NoraSport British Supermoto Championship. Three riders, Richard Blakeman, the 2018 title holder; Jordan Bannon; and Jamie Duncan were all in a position to claim the 2019 crown. Three bar-end bashing races made up the concluding round and in the end it was Duncan who took the championship.

Keep up to speed with the latest news at

www.britishdealernews.co.uk 20 DECEMBER 2019

THE KTM 390 Adventure should appeal to the offroad/adventure novice and the older, possibly KTM loyal, off-road rider who doesn’t want to be that fast or extreme any more but who isn’t yet ready to quit.

As such, the 390 Adventure is rammed with rider aides including ride by wire, Bosch two-channel ABS. There’s an optional Quickshifter+ and traction control. Other features include full-colour TFT display that connects to the KTM My Ride navigation app, adjustable screen and a full catalogue of luggage and protection accessories.

The motor is also found in the 390 Duke and is remapped for purpose, and the suspension is WP Apex.

Leading the line-up for Husqvarna were the 701 Supermoto and 701 Enduro, which have new electronics. A long-range 701 Enduro LR version will be added to the line-up in 2020. With its 25-litre fuel capacity, 500 km distances between fuel stops should be possible. In the specialist off-road segment, the new TE 300i Jarvis Edition celebrates Graham Jarvis’s success on the extreme enduro world stage.

In enduro, Fantic will field two teams: Jolly Enduro Team of Franco Mayr and Team D’Arpa Racing, which will race the world and the Italian championship with factory bikes.

British interest will be represented by Harry Edmondson, the latest talent from the Edmondson dynasty of British enduro legends. He will race with Jolly Enduro Team competing both in the UK and on the world stage.

Refocused Maxxis ends sponsorship of the British Motocross Championship MAXXIS HAS confirmed that it will end its 14-year partnership with the ACU as title-sponsor of the British Motocross Championship from the 2020 season. This is as a result of a global restructuring of the brand’s marketing and sponsorship activity.

Owing to changing needs following substantial growth over the years, Maxxis’ brand marketing activity will now take a more globally-focused approach, shifting the focus of its domestic sponsorship strategies to working with UK teams to achieve successes on its products.

Derek McMartin, MD of Maxxis International UK, said: “Maxxis and MXGB have become so synonymous in their relationship that the championship is often simply referred to colloquially as ‘the Maxxis’, which shows just how important the partnership has been for our brand.

“We’ve enjoyed an excellent 14 years with the ACU as part of the country’s premier off-road series but all good things must come to an end.

As such, we are now taking a more international approach

towards our marketing and brand promotion. This began this year with sponsorship of the MXGP series as well as a number of other global events, and the support and sponsorship of internationally recognised riders, including seven-time supercross champion Jeremy McGrath, who also helped us develop the new MX-ST tyre, while Mattia Guadagnini has already secured this year’s Junior 125 World Championship using the MX-ST on his Maddii Racing Husqvarna.

“We would like to thank everyone at the ACU and especially all the clubs and their support staff around the UK for their help and support over the last decade and a half.”

As if to emphasise the shift in sponsorship direction, Maxxis also announced its partnership of Liam Everts in the EMX125 Championship in 2020, using the range of Maxxis MaxxCross tyres currently comprising the MXSM sand tyre and the MX-ST mid-soft terrain tyre. Liam is the son of motocross legend Stefan Everts.

www.britishdealernews.co.uk

w

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM ALL AT WULFSPORT New

01900 873456 www.wulfsport.com New GLASS FIBRE SHELL wulfsport ADULT race series £49.95 HELMET ECE R 22.05 & ACU GOLD approved

impact trials HELMET

£41.95

ECE R 22.05 approved

off-road pro helmet

KIDS

VANTAGE HELMET

ADULT/KIDS

£28.95

New

ECE R 22.05 approved

£38.95

Cub flitE-xtra £27.95 HELMET ECE R 22.05 approved wulfsport wide vision goggles

ECE R 22.05 & ACU GOLD approved

Prima-X £40.95

ADULT ECE 22.05 APPROVED

ADVANCE HELMET £37.95

ADULT/KIDS ECE R 22.05 & ACU GOLD approved

£21.82

New cub TECH goggles

cadet tabard up to 8 yEArs

£8.99

New

£34.95

cub tabard 8+ yEArs

atom £35.95 mighty up to 3 years £36.95

PRO SERIES deflector ADULT

£43.95

forte toddler suit

CE approved

£15.95

SOCKS

kids SIZES s, m, l

£2.99

New

gloves

New £7.95

New Zipped CUB RACE SUIT

£24.50

New

£57.95 also AVAILABLE IN white

New

PRICE

£11.99 adult

Cub TRIALS BOOTS also AVAILABLE IN BLACK

£99.95 MUD STOMPERS

£69.95 forte pants

SIZES 22 -38

kids

£12.95

ORCA RACING boots adult

Sizes 39 - 48

£54.95

£14.95

Sizes 27 - 39

also AVAILABLE IN BROWN

New

KIDS

£8.95

Sizes 39 - 48

Sizes 39 - 48

forte shirts

Neoprene Gloves

HL TRIALS BOOTS TRACKSTAR ADULT BOOTS

New

£31.95

ADULTS

CUB BOOTS LA

£34.95

Sizes 27 - 39

ALSO AVAILABLE IN black

£59.95

JM CONCEPT RACE BOOTs max kids BOOTS Sizes 27 - 39

£44.95 wulfstores2@yahoo.co.uk � stores@wulfsport.com

Sizes 39 - 48

£109.95 New

EICMA 2019

SHORTCUTS

DELL’ORTO was showing a complete range of electronic fuel injection components and systems for motorcycle engines, developed with know-how gained in MotoGP with the RSV Aprilia throttle bodies and with the Moto3 ECU. The new Monnalisa completes the company’s ECU range and was designed to meet the requirements of Euro 5 and the BS6 Indian emissions standard, which comes into force next year. It handles traction control and OBD2 advanced onboard diagnostics and supports single and twin-cylinder, two-stroke and fourstroke engines, with air or liquid cooling. www.dellorto.co.uk PARTS EUROPE was showcasing its product range, including its house brands Icon, Thor, Moose Racing, Moose UD and Drag Specialities. There was also the chance to meet the product specialists of 15 co-exhibitors to get the latest information first-hand. www.partseurope.eu

AKRAPOVIČ was emphasising its race credentials – and its claim to represent The Racing Technology of Tomorrow – with a display on its stand of 2019 MotoGP bikes all equipped with the Slovenian manufacturer’s exhaust systems. There were also guest appearances by riders from MotoGP, WorldSBK and MXGP. A separate area showcased the company’s Euro 5-approved muffler shapes aimed directly at the adventure bike market. www.akrapovic.com BREMBO was displaying its Stylema R brake caliper, the latest innovation for the super sports bikes of tomorrow. Stylema R, with its sculptural, compact and ventilated shape, is said to set new standards of stopping power. Meanwhile, the GP4 caliper family has been completed with the arrival of the new Brembo GP4-rr, the monobloc racing caliper ideal for track day enthusiasts.

Brembo is also supplying a new braking system for Harley-Davidson flagship models. The radial monobloc caliper has four 30mm pistons. Also on show was the new PR19 radial brake master cylinder which has several new features and a new design. Finally, Brembo is expanding its RCS Corsa Corta range by introducing the new 16RCS CORSA CORTA: an innovative motorcycle clutch master cylinder featuring technical solutions already adopted in MotoGP. www.brembo.com

The Yamaha stand played host to the world premiere of Öhlins’ NPX pressurised electronically controlled front fork. The fork features 43mm diameter inner tubes and damping technology derived from MotoGP – a competition in which Öhlins has accompanied champions for the past 13 years.

The fork has separate compression and rebound circuits using stepper motors to adjust damping, and riding modes are controlled from the handlebars. The gas reservoir is integrated into the fork bottom brackets, saving weight and giving the fork a sleek look.

It is said to provide more precise front tyre feedback, better grip, improved control, improved confidence leading to faster lap times, reduced static damping force leading to improved road noise filtering, and a “pressurised feeling” that ultimately gives the rider a direct contact feeling with the asphalt. www.ohlins.com Keep up to speed with the latest news at

www.britishdealernews.co.uk 22 DECEMBER 2019

‘Exciting’ six days at Milan HERE ARE a few of the plethora of new models and updates unveiled at EICMA. HONDA The all-new CBR1000RR-R Fireblade and Fireblade SP headlined Honda’s 2020 EICMA line-up. The machines are said to offer unprecedented levels of trackfocused performance. The new frame and engine draw strongly on Honda’s RC213V MotoGP technology; peak power increases by 13% to 215hp at 14,500rpm and peak torque of 113Nm at 12,500rpm while tipping the scales at only 201kg.

The SP variant has second generation semi-active Öhlins Electronic Control featuring 43mm NPX forks and Öhlins TTX36 Smart-EC rear shock, new Brembo Stylema four-piston radial-mounted front calipers and the same rear Brembo caliper as used on the RC213V-S.

engine modes and a three-mode traction control system.

The flagship V-Strom 1050XT gets new Suzuki Intelligent Ride System (SIRS) which features a full suite of electronics including an inertial measurement unit (IMU), lean-angle sensitive ABS with two settings, linked brakes that can detect and adapt to load and inclines, plus hill hold

The organisers of the 77th International Cycle and Motorcycle Exhibition (EICMA) say the show was the best in the event’s history – an “extraordinary success” – but only provided a rough attendance figure of “almost 800,000”.

They did claim that the number of visitors to the Fiera Milano-Rho was still growing and that the number of halls had increased by two, from six in 2018 to eight. There was said to be a record 1887 brands present, up 47% on 2018 and 10% on 2017.

The show – this year tagged Revolutionary Motion – continues to attract exhibitors from abroad. Foreign stand-holders representing 43 countries accounted for 63% of stand-holders.

The trade and press day attracted 43,623 visitors, of which 23,971 were from abroad (55%).

EICMA president Andrea Dell’Orto said he was “very pleased” with the show and praised the exhibitors.

He said it had been a busy year in which “a series of important strategic investments had been made to improve the show” – including a new website, a new app, the sale of tickets online, and a new opening ceremony format.

“It was not easy, but after this exciting six days we can proudly claim to be even more attractive, more competitive and essential for the sector and to have contributed unequivocally to filling EICMA with new features.”

The Suzuki V-Strom 1050 and 1050XT

control and cruise control.

The V-Strom 1050 shares many of the features of the flagship V-Strom 1050XT but with some differences to lower the price. The bikes are due to arrive in the spring, with pricing to be announced.

with a double wishbone front fork and structural carbon fibre body. It has a turbocharged output of 134kW (180bhp) and weighs in at just 180kg dry.

It is being built and hand-assembled in the Brough Superior factory in Toulouse, France. Just 100 examples will be made, with an MSRP of £93,000. First deliveries are set to begin from Q4 2020.

DUCATI As well as the winglet-bedecked PIAGGIO GROUP The all-new CBR1000RR-R Fireblade 208hp Streetfighter V4 and Piaggio unveiled the Aprilia RS 660 and V4S and Multistrada 1260 S the Tuono 660 concept but otherwise it At the opposite end of the performance Grand Tour models, Ducati had two custom was just updates for the V4 range, and a scale, the SH125i big-wheel scooter will be Scrambler motorcycles – the Dakar-like new, differently coloured, version of the graced with stop-start engine technology Desert X and the Supermoto, based on the V85TT – the Travel. wrapped in a new, more compact, steel Scrambler 800 – in addition to the latest HARLEY-DAVIDSON Scramblers destined for the showroom. frame for 2020.

Harley debuted the Adventure and The recently revealed CRF1100L Streetfighter models featuring versions Africa Twin and CRF1100L Africa Twin BROUGH AND ASTON MARTIN Adventure Sports also made their European The AMB 001 by Aston Martin and of the all-new Revolution Max liquidBrough Superior made its worldwide debut cooled engine. It also showcased the Pan motor show debut at EICMA. at EICMA. The reveal heralded the first America 1250 and Bronx 975 models. chapter of an exciting new partnership The Bronx has a 975cc version of the Pan YAMAHA America’s Revolution Max that produces Yamaha was showing the MT-125, MT-03 between the two manufacturers.

Aston Martin executive vice-president 115bhp and 70ft-lb of torque. That puts and Tricity 300, plus two new TMAXs and and chief creative officer Marek Reichman it within spitting distance of Indian’s an updated Tracer 700.

The Tracer 700, first introduced back in said: “This is what we believe a cutting- sporting FTR 1200.

Harley-Davidson aims to have both 2016, is the first of Yamaha’s line-up using edge motorcycle should be and we are very the 689cc, two-cylinder CP2 engine to proud to see the Aston Martin wings on a the Pan America and the Bronx in showrooms by the end of 2020. receive the Euro 5 treatment. The bike will motorcycle for the first time.”

The AMB 001 has exclusive technical be in dealerships in March 2020.

TRIUMPH There were also updates for the FJR1300 features, including a chassis configuration On top of the already-revealed new and TMAX scooter, now in its seventh generation, including a new, slightly The AMB 001 Rocket III, an updated Street Triple and a limited-edition “Moto2” perkier, 560cc twin-cylinder engine.

Daytona 765, Triumph used EICMA to show the Thruxton RS. The new SUZUKI machine, equipped with a renewed Suzuki unveiled the V-Strom 1050XT 1200cc engine, achieves 8hp more and V-Strom 1050. The new Euro power than the previous “R”. It is also 5 version of the 1037cc 90° V-Twin said to deliver higher torque across the engine produces 107.4PS (79kW), entire rev range, peaking at 112Nm a 7% increase over the previous at 4850 rpm, 700rpm lower than its generation. There’s also a new ridepredecessor. It is 6kg lighter than the by-wire throttle with three selectable

www.britishdealernews.co.uk

ROYAL ENFIELD Royal Enfield unveiled the Twins Flat Track, built in collaboration with Harris Performance. The bike is powered by the Royal Enfield Twin (Interceptor and Continental GT) motor and gets a bespoke brazed steel tube frame made specifically for flat track racing.

Harris Performance has specifically developed chassis parts, including the front forks, for the Twins Flat Track. It also features RSD rims, Dunlop flattrack tyres and S&S silencers. The carbon bodywork was prepared with assistance from the design team at Royal Enfield’s technical centre in the UK.

long-range, 25-litre-tank 701 Enduro LR will be added to the line-up in 2020. In the offroad segment, the new TE 300i Jarvis Edition celebrates Graham Jarvis’ success on the extreme enduro world stage.

The brand will re-enter the Moto3 World Championship in 2020.

KTM KTM revealed the 1290 Super Duke R, the 890 Duke R, and the 390 Adventure.

The KTM 1290 Super Duke R has been “re-Beasted”, with a new chassis, styling and electronics, reduced weight and reworked LC8 engine. The 890 Duke R gets more power and more torque from a new engine, which has been teamed with racier ergonomics, better brakes and fully adjustable WP Apex suspension.

The KTM 390 Adventure is an entrylevel model for riders looking for a more compact and lighter dual-sport machine.

On launch day, KTM welcomed “a ninth consecutive year of growth and another sales record in 2019 while continuing to pursue an even greater global market share and further consolidation as Europe’s leading manufacturer”. KTM said it would also be seeking to build on the strengths of its dealer network and international strategic partnerships.

INDIAN The 2020 Indian Challenger, with the new PowerPlus engine at its heart, made its European debut. It is described as “a striking combination of American muscle, next-level technology, and premium comfort”.

BMW The German manufacturer introduced the F900R and F900XR, plus the S1000XR. BMW says the 900cc naked and adventure sport machines expand its presence in the popular mid-range. Both models are said to offer “sporty riding fun, straightforward handling and a unique range of equipment options”.

The new S1000XR Adventure Sport bike is “radically lighter and more agile” with a newly developed engine and suspension and a unladen weight of 226kg – 10kg less than its predecessor.

It has Dynamic ESA, multiple riding modes, hill start control system, a 6.5in TFT screen complete with Bluetooth connectivity and full LED lighting.

BMW also showed the R18 and R18/2 concepts.

KAWASAKI As well as revealing the headline-grabbing Kawasaki Z H2, the new Z900 was launched with revised styling, traction control and rider modes – equipment that was absent in the earlier ABS-only Z900.

Kawasaki also showcased an updated Z650, restyled and with updated features and colour scheme.

Pavilion’s global platform The BDN-organised UK Pavilion at Milan is designed to make exhibiting hassle-free for companies keen to increase their exports. All exhibitors need to do is turn up, dress their stand and they are ready to showcase their product to a global audience.

Here’s how the British contingent fared …

COVEC/BULL-IT Keith Bloxsome, MD of Covec, said he finds EICMA a really cost-effective way of meeting existing distributors, finding new ones and presenting Covec’s technical textiles and the Bull-It own-brand protective clothing products together in one place.

“We were successful in attracting new business and making contact with international customers who buy our materials.

They were from all over the world including Canada, Japan, New Zealand and Singapore, reflecting how our business has grown in the past seven years. As travel can cost us £30,000£40,000 a year, that is really cost-effective.”

Of the BDN Pavilion he said: “We turned up and it was just a matter of plug and play.”

VENHILL ENGINEERING Aftermarket control cable and hydraulic hose specialist Venhill Engineering has been an EICMA regular for 20 years.

Operations manager Martin Bradfield, who made his third visit this year, said the company views the show as a staging area for meeting international distributors.

“There was not a lot of footfall from new distributors,” he said. “It seems that people are sticking with what they’ve got. We focused on our catalogue, which has exploded in size with 200 items added each year.

“Brexit uncertainty has had one good effect on us. We trade in GBP and the fall of the pound against the Euro has meant that European distributors have actually been buying more. At our end, we have made contingencies by stocking up, but apart from a bit more paperwork it’s not looking like a big deal.”

Describing the BDN pavilion as “welcoming”, Bradfield commented on the large proportion of space at the show devoted to bicycles, both pedal and electric, and seemed unhappy with the presence of a car, on the Aston Martin/ Brough Superior display.

AOKI John Nicholson, MD of power unit components company Grampian Motors (which uses the Aoki brand name in Europe and Mitaka in the UK), said he found Milan busier than the last Intermot at Cologne and, on the face of it, more productive.

“It takes a few months to gauge how successful it has been,” he said. “Our main reason for going is to look for

new dealers, and as wholesalers we are only interested in the trade days. There is potential for us in Europe, without doubt, and we are doing OK in Germany, the Czech Republic and Northern Europe generally, but we should be doing more in France and Spain.

“Traditionally we have alternated between Milan and Cologne and comparing them was a topic of discussion at EICMA, with most people seeming to err on the side of Milan. Personally I don’t like Milan – it can be a struggle to even get a coffee. Cologne is easy to do and the people are pleasant, but it was dead last year. I expect we will return to EICMA, although we haven’t made that decision yet.

“We used to spend substantial sums going to shows to pick up three or four new customers, but shows are becoming less relevant now, because of the internet.”

TRU-TENSION Tru-Tension has attended UK pavilions in the past and reported a huge amount of interest from “a productive” Milan, although MD Chris Frappell said it would “take a couple of weeks” before a clear picture of new business emerged.

The Stafford-registered company designs and manufactures a range of maintenance solutions, most notably the Tru-Tension Chain Monkey and Belt Monkey.

It already exports to Europe, the USA, Scandinavia and Australia.

our products and very receptive to where we have set pricing.” Feridax has contingencies in place for Brexit, but Clifford says exchange rates can complicate planning.

“The British Dealer News guys looked after us very well and I have to say the stand looked superb. We liked being in Milan, too; commuting from our hotel was easy, costing €4 a day.”

CENTRAL WHEEL COMPONENTS “We had such a good time and there’s every chance we’ll go back next year,” was the positive feedback offered by Adam Rous of Central Wheel Components. “There’s nothing like EICMA for getting to a world audience.” He has 25 years of show experience and this was his third visit to Milan. His main remit this year was to convey the message that Central supplies everything for wheels, including tyres, with Mitas the chosen brand.

“We were also pushing Nitro mousse for motocross and enduro. We think it’s the best mousse on the market and sales suggest that it’s going down very well indeed,” Rous said. He also wanted to show the US-based Nitro company that the puncture-proofing inner tube replacement foam was being promoted effectively in Europe.

“It’s just a shame that there was such a small British presence.”

FERIDAX/SPADA

ULTIMATEADDONS

For Feridax, EICMA was all about launching its wholly-owned Spada clothing brand into Europe.

“It was a good launch-pad,” Feridax sales director Steve Clifford said. “It gave us the opportunity to meet up with our Italian distributors and their sales agents, who also brought lots of customers along. We also met distributors from other European countries, including Greece and Malta. The stand was very busy, although it got quieter after the trade days.

We had brochures in Italian and Spanish as well as English, which really helped us communicate with the public, and had a professional videographer record the event.

“The Spada name [it means sword in Italian] helped break the ice, because some people thought we were an Italian brand. People were impressed by the style and quality of

EICMA was the first show outside the UK for Ultimateaddons, the gadget-mounting kit and waterproof case specialist based in the west Highlands.

“It worked out really well for us,” Nanette Gourlay told BDN. “As well as being able to meet our existing distributors we made plenty of new contacts who seemed very interested in our products.

“People from an unbelievable number of different countries came to suss out our products. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday were the most useful days. The public days were more difficult because of the language barrier and people were mostly just looking.

“I don’t think we were in the busiest of the halls but EICMA was definitely worthwhile for us and we really enjoyed it.”

DECEMBER 2019 23

EICMA 2019

HUSQVARNA Husqvarna lifted the covers off 10 models – the European manufacturer’s largest display of new motorcycles since the start of their new era. With the twin-cylinder Nordon 901 Triumph Thruxton RS concept breaking cover old model at 197kg dry. There was also (pictured below), the array of models a limited edition Bobber and two special included the 701 Supermoto and 701 edition Bonnevilles – both bearing the Enduro single-cylinder motorcycles. A name and logo of iconic Hollywood stunt man Bud Ekins.

Electric news

Electric news BROTHERS Hugo and Ross Turner have ridden 1600 miles in a week on a pair of Zero DSR Black Forests, from London to the Iberian Peninsula and back. www.theturnertwins.co.uk THE Amped A10 extends electric power into balance bikes, aimed at children aged two to six years, teaching throttle control and balance skills. The A10 has a 100W motor and can reach a fast walking pace (actually listed as 8-10mph, which sounds quite quick for a twoyear-old) so parents shouldn’t need to break into a jog to keep up... A variety of colours is available at an SRP of £399 including VAT.

FUCHS LUBRICANTS is playing a key role in a multi-million pound government contract to create a new lightweight electric drive unit. The CompeETe project, led by Jaguar Land Rover, was one of three projects awarded a total of £25.4m by the Advanced Propulsion Centre, which aims to encourage R&D into electric mobility. Fuchs is advising JLR on specialist oils, coolants and greases to improve efficiency.

A couple more details have emerged of Harley-Davidson’s forthcoming pedelecs. They will come in EU-friendly 15.5mph and speed pedelec 28mph forms, with prices starting at around £2500.

The Isle of Man Government’s Department for Enterprise (DfE), wearing its TT race promoter hat, has temporarily dropped the one-lap TT Zero event for electric bikes after 10 years, in the face of dwindling entries. In 2019, there were only nine contestants, and seven finishers, and a lack of interest from spectators. TT Zero had essentially become nothing more than a showcase for Honda associate Mugen, which provided a pair of multi-milliondollar prototypes for star riders to clear off at the sharp end. This decision has been characterised by DfE organisers as holding a “moratorium” on TT Zero in both 2020 and 2021, allowing “a broader dialogue with stakeholders”.

Keep up to speed with the latest news at

www.britishdealernews.co.uk

Clever cogs at Milan The e-Kawasaki concept

Peter Henshaw looks at an impressive array of new electric motorcycles launched at EICMA, and how the manufacturers appear to have stepped up a gear.

Kawasaki grabbed the electric motorcycle headlines at EICMA with a new bike it said had already been tested on tracks and on public roads, though it’s not in production yet. “There’s no date that it would be available,” said Kawasaki’s European PR manager Martin Lambert. “It’s just to prove to people that Kawasaki is interested in alternative technologies and we can explore that.”

Unusually for an electric, the e-Kawasaki has a traditional gearbox (albeit with just four speeds) and chain drive – this became a theme of the show, with many of the new e-motorcycles sporting a manual box rather than the usual single-speed transmission.

“We didn’t just want to make an EV for electric bike customers,” added Lambert.

“We started by thinking what existing Kawasaki customers would want from an electric bike and the feeling of involvement you get from changing gear is important to a lot of motorcyclists.”

There are no other details on the

e-Kawasaki, but it is about the size of a 650, rather than being a competitor for the Harley LiveWire and Zero SR/F. Lambert was keen to emphasise that Kawasaki is still based firmly in the world of ICE. “We’re also focused on gasoline,” he added. “We are working towards Euro 5, so electric is more of a technical, moral, ecological question.”

Over on the Zero stand, there was little new to see apart from new colours and graphics on the DSR, and a supermoto version of the FXS, in 11Kw form. Meanwhile, the SR/F (launched earlier this year) had bagged another award, being voted MCN’s Electric Bike of the Year. Judges described it as, “a real-life road bike that works, not some long-promised unicorn”.

KTM was showing the SX-E5 electric minicross for 3-10-year-olds, which we reported on in BDN last month. At the other end of the scale, Energica announced a bigger battery option across the range for 2020. The 21.5kwh lithium-polymer option is, “the highest battery capacity ever offered in a standard electric motorcycle”, according to Energica’s technical manager Giampiero Testoni. It’s certainly far bigger

“Manual gearboxes were the flavour of the show, promising an interesting 2020 for new electric launches”

Energica

Horwin’s CR6

than the 13.4kwh unit Energica has offered up until now and offers a claimed range of 250 miles in city riding, 115 miles on the motorway.

The 2020 bikes will also offer more torque – 215Nm for the Ego+ and the new Ribelle, which replaces the Streetfighter, while weight has been trimmed by 5%.

Energica’s CEO Livinia Cevolini put the improvements down to the company’s involvement in the MotoE race series, for which it supplies the race bikes. “We can now unveil the innovations introduced in this last year of racing that have transferred to our road models,” she said, adding that sales had increased by 57% over 2018.

MotoE went ahead this year, despite a disastrous fire which destroyed all the race bikes in March.

Horwin electrics should be on sale in Germany and Austria by the time you read this. Austrian importer Horwin Europe is bringing in the CR6 and CR6 Pro, both 125cc equivalents which can top 65mph and have a claimed range of 90 miles at 28mph. With cafe racer styling, they are

Delivered to your door using a Zapper ZAPP i300, the British designed e-scooter, which was unveiled last year, has gone into production in Thailand, and the UK-headquartered company is looking for a suitable dealer in London.

Aiming at convenience rather than ultimate range, the i300 has two small (1.25kwh) batteries which can be removed for quick charging – they weigh just 5 kilos each.

The scooter is limited to 60mph, but claims acceleration to top speed in less than five seconds, thanks to a 587Nm motor and a weight of only 95kg.

The Zapp comes in a choice of six colours and prices start at £5250, with a finance option promised – a £500 deposit will secure one of the first 1000 Launch Edition bikes, with

24 DECEMBER 2019

the first deliveries before the end of this year. Zapps can be ordered online and will be delivered to customers personally by a “Zapper”, who will also be responsible for servicing, but the company is looking for dealers as well.

“We are initially looking to appoint a dealer in London,” Zapp community manage Stefano Cassio told BDN. “We will be deploying the Tesla model where the mono-brand boutique is a prime High Street outlet whilst the vehicle itself will be delivered directly to our customers. We have a number of financial models that are being offered to dealerships and are happy to discuss and provide more information to the interested parties.” www.zappscooter.com

www.britishdealernews.co.uk

Electric news

Last year, Kymco had the SuperNEX electric superbike – that was a concept but it says the RevoNEX shown at EICMA this time round will be arriving in showrooms in 2021. Top speed is quoted as 124mph, with a 0-62mph time of 3.9 seconds. No more details except that the RevoNEX features Voge ER10

certainly aimed at the European market, and the Pro has a fivespeed manual gearbox. The bikes have a two-year warranty, CBS braking and retail prices will start at around £5000.

Another small e-motorcycle is the Voge ER10, which made its debut at EICMA. It’s not a 250cc equivalent, as one website claims, but another 125, with a 62mph top speed and a small 4.2kwh battery – no word on price or on-sale date for that one.

The big news at Sur-Ron was its first road-legal bike, the Storm. It’s dual-purpose, with knobbly tyres and 290mm travel front forks. No price as we went to press, but SurRon UK was accepting deposits of £200 to secure the first machines.

The Osa, by Cake

a six-speed gearbox – yes, another one. Closer to Kymco’s scooter roots was the i-One DX, a moped-class electric with 12-inch wheels and twin removable Ionex batteries for a claimed range of around 60 miles.

There were plenty of other electric bikes in the EICMA halls. Some were start-ups, Kymco’s RevoNEX, left, and i-One DX

Niu, too, is expanding fast, now claiming to be the world’s biggest e-scooter brand, with sales approaching one million.

All of its scooters get an update for 2020 – both M and N series are now offered in 44mph form, with a twin battery option to give 4.2kwh, while the 28mph U series gets bigger wheels for increased stability.

Niu also unveiled its first pedelec, the Aero EB-01, offered in 15.5mph and 28mph versions with a 1kwh battery, which is a lot of capacity for a pedelec. Deliveries are expected in the spring.

Vespa showed a faster, 45mph version of the Elettrica, which continues in 28mph form – no price as yet, but with the standard scoot coming in at £4999 after the plug-in grant, it won’t be cheap.

Seat to launch 125 e-scooter VW SUBSIDIARY SEAT is to offer an electric scooter for both private customers and sharing services. Designed in conjunction with established Spanish manufacturer Silence, it will be a 125-equivalent, and an official launch was planned for the Barcelona Smart City Expo World Congress on 19 November. Just how much of the new scooter is genuinely new, and how much is existing Silence hardware, wasn’t clear as we went to press.

such as the Tacita T-Cruise Turismo, whose biggest battery option is 27kwh, a claimed 200-mile range and ... wait for it, a manual gearbox.

ME Group is an Italian start-up, and its 6.0 is a 125-equivalent, 50mph scooter.

Askoll showed the new Dixy, penned by ItalDesign and with a twin-battery option, while Swedish manufacturer Cake unveiled the Osa, a two-wheel utility vehicle with off-road capability – it’s on sale in March 2020 in 30mph and 63mph forms.

So, there was plenty to see at EICMA, with manual gearboxes the flavour of the show, promising an interesting 2020 for new electric launches.

www.britishdealernews.co.uk

DAILY | WEEKLY | MONTHLY | YEARLY

LET’S TALK BUSINESS

IT’S

WEEKLY FREE NEWSLETTER Sign up Today!

SIGN UP TODAY: TINYURL.COM/Y2ODJBR9 DECEMBER 2019 25

Your letters

Reaction

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

Press Gang retired

My two favourite reads in BDN are Danny DeFazio, who would get my vote if he ever stood as candidate in my constituency for parliament, and Press Gang [Behind the News]. The latter doesn’t seem to have graced the pages of BDN for some time. It was far more interesting than who has got a new job in a bike company or who has retired etc. It was well written and, whilst slightly tongue in cheek, was a valuable contribution to the magazine.

Ralph Ferrand, Biker’s Toolbox, Pensford, Somerset Editor’s note: I agree re Press Gang.

Sadly, it had to give way to make more space for hard industry news

STAR

LETTER Is Millard’s of Guernsey the oldest motorcycle shop in the world?

Our family business started selling motorcycles in 1896, so we recently launched a Facebook campaign to find “The Oldest Motorcycle Shop in The World”.

The campaign has currently received about 40,000 views and shares worldwide and has generated a lot of informative feedback.

However, to date, no-one has come up with an existing motorcycle shop as old as Millard’s!

This all came about after the recent passing of one of our family and the discovery of an article in the Wiltshire Times dated 26 February 1896, reporting that my great-grandfather, Thomas Millard, had sold the first motorised tricycle from his shop

in Fore Street, Trowbridge. The customer paid about £100 for this machine and the article reports that after he took delivery he rode to Beckington. The event attracted a crowd of onlookers so large that it blocked the wide road in front of the premises.

As well as our Facebook investigation – which generated good feedback from the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Europe and parts of Asia – we would like to invite BDN readers to take up the challenge – to find a motorcycle shop that is still in existence that has documented evidence of its first motorcycle/ tricycle sale pre-dating 26 February 1896.

People have suggested Graftons and J S Gedge. Although Graftons started business in 1895, someone who lives not far from them and seemed to know a bit about them stated that they did not start selling motorcycles till some years later. J S Gedge on the other hand has a claim printed on their van stating that they are in fact “the oldest motorcycle shop in the world” – but they didn’t start till 1897 and that was selling cycles!

If there is a motorcycle shop anywhere in the world which can beat that, we will happily concede our claim to the title.

Thomas Millard started out in business in 1887 selling cycles. He was manufacturing cycles some six

years later and at some point prior to the 26 Febraury 1896 started selling motorcycles/tricycles. The business continued and moved to Guernsey in 1908. The shop has been involved in the manufacture and sale of motorcycles and became a BSA dealer in 1917. It is still owned and run by the same family.

Tim Millard, Guernsey

STAR LETTER WRITER

Will receive a SilverBack cleaning kit, worth over £55 retail value OFFICIAL DISTRIBUTOR

SilverBack A Brand New Range of Xtreme Cleaning & Maintenance Products. Developed by competitive racers for demanding environments www.hendler.co.uk

MASSIVE RANGE OF HARD PARTS AND ACCESSORIES FOR MOST ROAD BIKES

CALL AND ORDER YOUR FREE CATALOGUE NOW!

TRADE AND DEALER ENQUIRIES ONLY WEB: ORO2U.COM TEL: 01597 822 666 26 DECEMBER 2019

www.britishdealernews.co.uk

01405 480000 | sales@hendler.co.uk | www.hendler.co.uk

A heart-warming story of a youngster taking to two wheels

It’s suggested round 1.5 million families watch Channel 5’s Our Yorkshire Farm on Tuesday nights.

It follows the former city-dwelling occupants of Ravenstone sheep farm in the Yorkshire Dales, Amanda and Clive Owen and their flock of young family.

Two recent episodes highlighted the use of farm and trials bikes, featuring the eldest son, 16-yearold Reuben [right]. It was great free publicity for our industry.

His mechanical interest started after setting mole traps and evolved into refurbing a Ferguson tractor with his dad, who is a lifelong bike fan.

Local off-road dealer Graham Charlton in Stockton-on-Tees picked up on his interest and delivered to him free of charge an old 100cc Champ bike he had in storage for some years to work on as a project.

Reuben had it fired up within two hours and began riding round the farm at Ravenseat near Keld.

Another well-known trade supplier gifted him some riding gear and a helmet. Reuben then acquired a used Beta 250 and was encouraged by John Lampkin Beta Imports at Skipton.

Using the proceeds from the sale of the tractor, his latest used acquisition

Poll

@BritishDealerNews

We asked our Facebook followers for their opinions on the subject of:

of the month

NEW MODEL LAUNCHES Thinking of the brand-new motorcycle models you’ve seen showcased in the press, online, at EICMA or at Motorcycle Live, which three excite you the most?

Top Picks Kawasaki Z-H2 Patton Triumph Thruxton RS Royal Enfield Indian Scout Bobber Suzuki GSX-S1000 Ducati V4 Streetfighter Norton Superlight Kawasaki Z800 is a TRS 300 trials bike he bought from Graham Charlton (the range now imported by Steve Saunders in Cheltenham). He entered his first trial on his 16th birthday.

Along the way he has converted brothers Sid, aged seven, and Miles, 12, to the riding scene.

So nothing special about this heart-warming story, perhaps, other than a familiar powered-two-wheeler connection repeated for generations that starts with encouragement from family and friends and blossoms with the help and generosity of others, often dealers in our trade.

John Featherstone, Lytham St Annes

‘PPE’ clothing manufacturer held to account

I am able to draw to a close my ‘investigation’ into motorcycle clothing manufacturer Moto Speeds, which had earlier declined to answer my inquiry asking for documentation to support its claim that its products were PPE compliant.

The company’s claims that its suits and gloves “are tested and certified for EN 13595 and EN 13594” turn out to be completely untrue.

Almost two weeks after my first contact, Moto Speeds has belatedly admitted that it is “working on it” – testing and certification of its suits and gloves, which it hopes “will be done within the next year”.

For the avoidance of doubt, new motorcycle clothing has been required to be independently tested and certified since 21 April, 2018.

Paul Varnsverry, Technical Director, PVA-PPE Group, Northampton

Second Choice Honda Africa Twin Moto Guzzi V85TT Honda CBR1000RR-R Harley-Davidson BMW R1800 Ducati Scrambler Triumph Street Triple RS – Suzuki V-Strom 1050

Third Choice Ducati Streetfighter V4 Royal Enfield 650 AMB 001 Triumph Honda Africa Twin Ducati Panigale Indian FTR1200 – CCM Spitfire

Thinking of the brand new motorcycle models you’ve seen showcased in the press, online, at EICMA or at Motorcycle Live, which three would you want to buy?

Top Picks Second Choice Third Choice Honda Africa Twin Scrambler Icon Dark Ducati Scrambler Desert X Moto Guzzi V85TT Royal Enfield 650 – AMB 001 Triumph Thruxton RS Honda CBR1000RR-R Royal Enfield Harley Davidson Yamaha Indian Scout Bobber – – Ducati Scrambler – Suzuki GSX-S750 Honda CBR1000RR-R – – Ducati Hyperstrada Honda Africa Twin Kawasaki Z800 How likely are you to buy another motorcycle in 2020, either new or used?

New Not Sure

Used

Likely

Likely

Not Sure Not Likely Not Likely

SilverBack A Brand New Range of Xtreme Cleaning & Maintenance Products.

Main Dealer or Independent…

THE MOT

SPECIALIST

call us now

Complete workshops from refits to manufacturer specifications to general equipment and tools

Unparalleled expertise in all aspects of your workshop...

• Genuine European • Unrivalled Expertise • Ultra-competitive Workshop Equipment and Service Pricing and Finance

Contact: us on 01832 741007 -

sales@rsworkshopequipment.co.uk DECEMBER 2019 27

Your letters

Named writers of letters published will receive a tub of SilverBack Hand Jobs, a multi-purpose cleaning wipe for hands, surfaces & tools.

Guest column

THE OZONE-LIKE HOLE AT THE HEART OF OUR INDUSTRY Karen Neill, who owns and runs the Zenith Motorcycle workshop in Tottenham, slams the complacency holding back our industry

T

o quote the savant environmentalist Greta Thunberg, “we are facing an existential crisis”. We, unlike dear Greta, do not only have the gaping hole in the ozone layer to worry about, but a huge gaping hole in our industry. That hole – much like global warming and said ozone layer – has been created by us, and in our case the motorcycle industry itself.

This hole is one that sees motorcycle sales and usage dwindling, dealers permanently closing their doors and industry-specific crafts-people no longer able to support themselves.

What is the name of this hole? In one word, complacency. The Cambridge Dictionary defines this word as follows: “Complacency: A feeling of calm satisfaction with your own abilities or situation that prevents you from trying harder”.

Sound familiar, motorcycle industry?

I TOLD YOU SO For years I have been droning on about the lack of foresight and forward planning in our industry.

Worrying that there is not enough younger talent being trained as technicians, complaining that manufacturers don’t give a damn, saying “watch out for property developers pushing you out of your premises, protect yourselves, future-proof your business, invest in good security systems as we are prime targets for thieves”. Blah blah blah.

Reading back I even bore myself sometimes but you know what, I was right. About all of it, and in this case, for once in my life I will take great pleasure in telling you all “I told you so”.

Let me give you all an example of complacency.

I have just spent a few minutes (believe me, it doesn’t take longer than that) browsing social media accounts for the “big” manufacturers. After I woke myself up again I then went to the wonderful Instagram account of the future-proofed Doncaster Motorcycles. Sleep I did not.

Please tell me how an independent, smallish motorcycle workshop can smash engagement on its social media account compared with global vehicle manufacturers which have an advertising budget probably a hundred times more than the yearly rent on my industrial unit.

I can tell you how. Doncaster Motorcycles wants business. Its staff love what they do and they

28 DECEMBER 2019

know that customers are not just going to wander through their doors because they have nothing better to do. They are hungry, they want business and they are damn good at both generating a brand and living up to that brand.

ADVERTISING Have a look at Yamaha, Honda, Suzuki and Kawasaki’s UK Instagram accounts. The UK accounts are full of stock images mostly from BSB or MotoGP. No public engagement.

Nothing yelling “come and buy me, you need me in your life”.

“The big boys do not care about the UK market. They do not spend a penny on advertising, on creating lifestyle brands or getting bums on seats.

Nothing” Now look at their European, USA and Asian accounts. Notice anything? On these accounts you will see lifestyle photos, men and women shouting “you need me in your life” using artistically shot photos. See the inadequacy here?

The big boys do not care about the UK market.

They do not spend a penny on advertising, on creating lifestyle brands or getting bums on seats.

Nothing. Does anyone know what the main manufacturers’ advertising budgets were in the UK compared with, let’s say, Brazil, Europe or the USA? No? Well, me neither, and I’ll wager we will never know because I bet it was less than Donald Trump’s donation to the Black Lives Matter fund last year.

For years I have wondered why the main brands couldn’t work with small fish like me – form a symbiotic relationship. We are mainly a workshop

but could use extra income from, among other things, being an outlet for ex-demo bikes or older trade-ins that main dealers don’t want to take on. We could stock one or two zero-mileage new bikes like scooters or geared 125s that would sell in our catchment area.

We wouldn’t tie ourselves to being dealers, and we wouldn’t tread on dealers’ toes, but it would help us get more footfall through both of our doors.

I do not want to be a main dealer, firstly because I cannot afford it and secondly because my passion and area of expertise lie in the workshop, but I can sell, and selling two bikes a month would potentially pay half my rent and provide two new registrations a month that were not there before.

PRACTICE WHAT I PREACH I hate complacency and I always try to practice what I preach and that is why, when I was approached recently by Elliot Ashmead, European sales executive of Herald Motorcycles, to stock any two of its bikes, I thought, why not? I do not see Honda or Suzuki kicking my front door down in their eagerness to sell a few 125s, and they never will. Herald may not be a hugely well-known brand, but it supplies good mid-budget, cool-looking bikes with the parts stock to back them up. Herald is not making demands of the sort that franchised dealers need to worry about; it wants to sell units and is happy to work with independent workshops and showrooms and, best of all, will never treat someone like me as if it was doing me a favour by letting me sell its product.

I have a lot of time and respect for main dealers. We need them, as much as they need us (after all, most technicians start their careers working in smaller workshops to gain the experience they need to move on to working for a main dealer), but surely even the dealers will agree with me in private that the whole industry is in trouble and needs serious investment and revamping. I look forward to seeing how Herald and I work together and hope some of you understand that times have to change. editorial@dealernews.co.uk

www.britishdealernews.co.uk

Muc-Off

E H T IN

Trademark pink cleaner remains central to the motorcycle range

K N I P Muc-Off celebrates its 25th birthday with strong growth, new premises and a renewed emphasis on motorcycle products, reports Peter Henshaw

W

Alex Trimnell still leads the company his father established

“We decided to stick to what our passion is – a lot of the people here are bikers or cyclists. We’re on track to surpass a £20m turnover next year, split about 20/80 between motorcycles and bicycles” Alex Trimnell, CEO

30 DECEMBER 2019

e’re 25 years old this year,” says CEO Alex Trimnell, “but we still feel like a start-up because there’s so much going on.” Muc-Off has grown from a cheeky new entrant to become one of the biggest names in motorcycle cleaners/ protectors, and is market leader in cycle products.

Yet it still comes over as a youthful, vibrant brand, its trademark pink cleaner distributed by Oxford Products and sold by motorcycle dealers all over the country, plus Halfords.

“We’ve not found a market yet which doesn’t get our energy and what we do,” adds Trimnell, who heads up the Bournemouth-based company his late father Alex started in 1994 – it’s still family owned and run. “We love doing shows, giving out free samples and doing bike cleaning, because it really seems to resonate with consumers.”

Year-on-year growth is one reason for MucOff ’s persistent cheerfulness. In 2011, when BDN last profiled the company, it employed just eight people. Now the payroll numbers 50, with another 10-20 to be added in the coming year – the

company moved into bigger premises in April, with room for its adjoining R&D lab and space to expand.

Motorcycle product sales were said to be up 23% in the first eight months of this year and, despite Brexit uncertainty, exports appear to be booming, up 39% in France and Switzerland, 135% in Australia and an astonishing 215% in the USA. “We’ve made great headway in the USA,” says Trimnell. “We were at Sturgis and Daytona this year, and thought selling a pink cleaner into that custom market would be interesting, but it was very well received – they loved it.”

In fact, Muc-Off ’s upward trend has been untroubled by the economic background – weaker sterling has given exports a boost, while even in a recession, British riders still want to look after their bikes. “The fall in new motorcycle sales didn’t really affect us. Even if people weren’t buying new bikes they still wanted to take care of the one they had. That’s why we’ve had growth year on year. As for Brexit, who knows what ➥

There is a choice of chain lubes for different conditions and motorcycle uses

www.britishdealernews.co.uk

Muc-Off

EUROPE’S LARGEST GENUINE PARTS STOCKIST

SPARES Same day dispatch t: 0117 977 8899 f: 0117 977 4121 e: trade@fowlers.co.uk www.fowlersparts.co.uk 2-12 Bath Road, Bristol, BS4 3DR

Now deliveries are fully tracked with timeslots and regular updates!!

KAWASAKI

MOTORCYCLE BUYERS’

GUIDE

www.motopromedia.com

We Can Provide a Better Service Our Motorcycle Buyer’s Guide (MBG) has the information of more than hundreds of quality manufacturers in China and Taiwan.

You can see the latest E-catalogue from our website: www.motopromedia.com, or send us your address and contact information, we will send you a free copy.

How to reach us:

貿 易 風 國 際 有 限 公 司 PRO MEDIA COMPANY LIMITED

Tel: +886-4-726 4437 Fax: +886-4-728 4657

info@motopromedia.com promedia9@hamicloud.net www.motopromedia.com

DECEMBER 2019 31

Muc-Off

FOCUS ON R&D

will happen if strong duties are imposed, but it helps being a strong brand – we think we’ll still be OK.” PROMOTION IS KEY Muc-Off now concentrates on the two-wheel market, after a period supplying the car, caravan and marine markets as well, but the decision to refocus on its core is paying off in spades, according to Trimnell. “It was really down to band width – we found that we were doing too many things not as well as we could. So we decided to stick to what our passion is – a lot of the people here are bikers or cyclists. We’re on track to surpass a £20m turnover next year, split about 20/80 between motorcycles and bicycles.” He adds that plans are in place to grow the motorcycle side of the business even further, with a specialised promotion team which will concentrate on powered two-wheelers. There are also plans to move into the scooter market, with specific products or promotions appearing next year.

Promotion is something Muc-Off is very good at, with about 50% of the workforce concentrating on marketing, graphic design and online content. “The marketing and story-

telling of what we do is so important,” says Trimnell, pointing out that the company now has a dedicated workshop for filming and product testing. This allows specific content to suit specific market sectors, such as off-road bikes.

The company still uses some print advertising, but mostly catering for the trade – consumer promotion is overwhelmingly online.

The exception is involvement in race teams, with sponsorship for the BMW World Superbike and VR46 teams, as well as helmet branding for Scott Redding. Off-road, there’s Jake Shipton and Yamaha, plus the AG supercross team in the USA. “We always love to sponsor racing, both for the development opportunities and the ‘win on Sunday, sell on Monday’ effect. As a business, we are a racing brand – the product the teams use is the same as the one the consumers use.”

R&D into new products is a big part of what Muc-Off does (see panel) while manufacturing is outsourced, mostly to a plant in Herefordshire, though there are plans to set up manufacturing in the USA as well, to service what is a potentially huge market. Trimnell explains why outsourcing works for them. “It’s difficult to plan for factory space when you don’t know the ceiling of your growth. The key is to keep the development and formulation in-house, then you don’t have to drag the business down with overheads by having lots of money tied up in bricks and mortar.”

Another new development is a tie-up with Triumph, with Muc-Off becoming the Hinckley brand’s key partner in cleaning products.

Marketing director James Cramp points out that these are still being sold in Triumph dealerships

Dr Martin Mathias – who heads up Muc-Off’s R&D lab – is a man who really enjoys his job. “I love designing the lubes and cleaners from the first spec, then building the rigs to test them, just everything,” he says. With a background in engineering (tool-room apprenticeship) and chemistry (broad-based PhD) he seems like the ideal person for the job.

“We’re investing heavily in our own testing kit for the lab,” he told BDN, “and the latest will cover tribology tests. It’s expensive, but we love data, and this is the only way to do it.”

The process starts with a spec, and Dr Mathias’ task is to design a lube, cleaner or protectant which does the job. Modern testing kit allows chain power losses to be measured down to fractions of a watt, or gives the microscopic view of a chain link pin surface. Protectants go through a British Standard test at independent, accredited test houses. “If there’s a standard,” says Dr Mathias, “then that’s what I test to – why would you not? We’re moving more towards tribology testing because it’s more repeatable, but no matter what you do, the lab is still the lab – you have to test on the road as well.”

Co-operation with other test houses is part of the way he works. Muc-Off recently won a grant to work with the National Physics Laboratory on devising tests for chain lube. It also recently bagged the National Instruments Impact Award, beating labs from Oxford and Cambridge universities as well as German companies.

under the Muc-Off brand, not rebranded. The plan is to have a bigger visual presence in Triumph stores over the next 12 months.

New products are due early next year, but for the time being Muc-Off is concentrating on its 20plus range of cleaners, protectants, degreasers and chain care products, plus the various bundles and kits sold alongside. The most recent addition has been differentiating chain lube into wet (winter), dry (summer) and all-weather varieties, to target different market sectors – commuters for example, will suit a different chain lube to leisure riders.

Another recent departure has been a Muc-Offbranded pressure washer, with a lances specifically designed for motorcycles and cycles – it retails at £85. The company even has an eye on the small but growing electric motorcycle market, with a recently launched e-mountain bike range of cleaners said to be doing well.

“As for where we can take the business,” says Alex Trimnell, “the sky’s the limit.” ■

Dr Martin Mathias explains the R&D software

Chain lube testing rig (cycle chain being tested)

32 DECEMBER 2019

www.britishdealernews.co.uk

THE SUPPLIER YOU CAN RELY ON ELECTRICAL

P

MACHINE SPARES

ACCESSORIES & TOOLS

HELMETS & CLOTHING

WERITE

C

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

CMY

K

Czech Republic

TYRES & TUBES

BRAKE SYSTEMS

LUBRICANTS

CHAIN & TRANSMISSION

The UK’s Leading Hard-Parts and Consumables Distributor For more than 40 years, Bickers has been a leading importer, distributor and supplier to the motorcycle trade

Key Brands to Drive Your Business An impressive portfolio with the world’s leading manufacturers of motorcycle parts and accessories

Increase Your Profit Margins with Quality Products Industry-leading trade pricing structure and profit margins

A Pleasure Doing Business 97% of dealers would recommend Bickers as a motorcycle parts supplier

Outstanding Customer Satisfaction Secure online order management with live stock reports; make ordering as easy as a few clicks

Reliable delivery to all parts of the UK mainland

BUY FROM

Free Delivery On Orders Over £100

www.bickersplc.com

Guest column

TIME & MONEY WELL SPENT ON

Safety

B

MARK BOSWELL

ack in April 2018 the requirement that all motorcycle clothing placed on the market would be classed as PPE was the biggest change affecting the industry in our 20-plus years’ experience, writes Mark Boswell of consultancy Fuelled Apparel. So what have these changes really meant? And what impact have these changes really made?

Now, this does not mean that gear in the market prior to the new regulations coming in to force was all inferior. Manufacturers, including OEMs such as Indian Motorcycle and BMW Motorrad, have always looked to offer motorcycle riding gear that is fit for purpose and the same goes for several specialist motorcycle clothing brands and other OEMs. Whether this be the material used, protectors, double impact seam stitching and

TESTING CLAMOUR For some brands, the new standards will be an inconvenience, both in terms of time and resource.

One area that has impacted how we work is time. With the new legislation and the testing requirements, it takes us about six additional months to develop a CE-certified jacket. It means we are working 18 months out from when a product is delivered to market. So now, for example, we are working on Indian Motorcycle ride products for spring/summer 2021 and autumn/winter 2021.

With only a few recognised testing houses in Europe, you can imagine the clamour by brands and manufacturers to get their products through testing. This has caused a massive backlog with certification and will mean that many products are delayed.

other safety related features, quality manufacturers have led the way in offering customers a fantastic selection of rider wear, whichever style you want and motorcycle you ride.

This brings us on to the recently introduced legal requirements that any garment that is marketed as suitable for use on a motorcycle, essentially described as Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), must pass new CE certification standards.

Early in the process our biggest fear was the unknown. French trading standards started to threaten dealers with the removal from their stores of products not marked as CE. There were conflicting timetables for the implementation of the new certification standards. Our challenge was to get the facts and help our clients get compliant and still ensure they could offer the variety of product that the modern-day rider wants.

20 20

18,19,20 OCTOBER 2020

NEW DATES

MOPED, SCOOTER,

MOTORCYCLES, TRIKES, QUADS & SIDECAR S

DA

MOTORCYCLE & CLASSIC S

EXCLUSIVE RATES, SCHEMES & COMMISSION!

5 STAR RATED ON

T: 01772 467170 M: 07583 010268 www.asjmotorcycletra nsport.co.uk info@asjmotorcycletra nsport.co.uk

NEW DATES

DEALER REFERRALS

UK IRELAND & EUROP E

The ONLY numbe r you need for motorc ycle security:

01257 249928 www.datatool.c

01379 646506

TO SIGN UP OR FOR FURTHER DETAILS CALL:

L L A W 0 202 Lexham Insurance consultants

www.lexhaminsurance .co.uk

LTD Authorised & Regulated

STONELEIGH PARK

XTREME

by the financial conduct

eBay partners to help

2020 WEDNESDAY THURSDAY

s, motorcycles, formotorcycle partsfor 90,000 70,000parts and ATVs scooters scooters and

Industry leading online ordering Technical and service information Morning delivery, order by 5pm Weekend shipping

www.larsson.uk.com

URBAN LINE | RACING LINE VINTAGE LINE | TOURING LINE

WK 1

NEW YEAR’S DAY

2

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

3

SUNDAY

4

BANK HOLIDAY

MONDAY

5

6

2

3

8

4

WK 6

FRIDAY

9

5

SATURDAY

10

6

ation for the UK moto

you grow. Visit ww

TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY

7

WK 2

(SCOTLAND ONLY)

1

SUNDAY

11

MONDAY

12

13

APRIL

1

NEW DATES

2

3

2

3

WK 10

4

5

8

6

4

5

6

7

WK 15

8

9

9

7

10

11

WK 7

8

9

10

11

M

STONELEIGH PARK

MAY

2

3

4

Specialists in printing for the Motorcycle Industry t: 01271 371271 e: andrew@toptown.co.uk www.toptown.co.uk

www.hendler.co.uk

Trade Only Wholesa

Get All These Brands

ler

& Much Much More!

13

11

5

WK 19

6

7

9

BANK HOLIDAY

10

15

EASTER MONDAY

SILVERSTONE

8

SPAIN

JUNE

1

20 20

34 DECEMBER 2019

15

WK 4

16

17

WK 8

THE CLASSIC DIRT BIKE SHOW TELFORD MCN LONDON MOTORCYCLE SHOW EXCEL

13

14

15

16

16

17

18

19

2

WK 23

3

4

5

6

3

4

5

6

7

WK 28

8

9

10

11

8

12

1

2

3

12

WK 20

TAIWAN INTERNATIONAL MOTORCYCLE

13

14

15

SHOW TAIPEI, TAIWAN

16

17

9

WK 24

18

5

6

7

8

(SCOTLAND ONLY)

10

11

MCN FESTIVAL OF MOTORCYCLING PETERBOROUG H

12

13

14

15

1

13

WK 29

14

15

16

17

18

(NORTHERN IRELAND ONLY)

9

19

20

2

3

4

5

10

6

11

WK 33

12

13

14

15

16

17

6

7

7

8

WK 37

9

10

11

12

8

9

10

11

12

ARAGON

WK 42

13

13

14

15

WK 38

SAN MARINO

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

WK 43

DONINGTON PARK

AIMEXPO COLUMBUS, OHIO

1

2

3

WK 45

4

5

CAROLE NASH CLASSIC M/C MECHANICS SHOW STAFFORD

INTERMOT COLOGNE, GERMANY

6

7

8

9

MALAYSIA

SATURDAY

18

WK 34

AUSTRIA

OULTON PARK

ent advertis

FRIDAY

21

WK 30

THRUXTON

For effective recruitm

ing call Alison on 01237 422660 or adsales @dealernews.co.uk 1 2 3 4 5 WK 41

01900 873456

16

WK 25

ISLE OF MAN TT RACE WEEK

CZECH REPUBLIC

www.wulf spor t.com

19

WK 21

FRANCE

KNOCKHILL

4

WK 32

BANK HOLIDAY

PHONE FOR PROFIT

21

WK 17

ARGENTINA

BANK HOLIDAY

Call Alison on 01237 422660

1

WK 12

(NOT SCOTLAND)

11

7

20

CATALUNYA

2

2020 WEDNESDAY THURSDAY

10

WK 46

11

12

13

14

15

INTERNATIONAL DIRT BIKE SHOW STAFFORD

1

2

3

MOTORCYCLE TRADE EXPO

SUNDAY

MONDAY

18,19,20 OCTOBER 2020

STONELEIGH PARK

WK 47

17

1

EICMA MILAN, ITALY

TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY

NEW DATES

16

VALENCIA

4

5

6

7

WK 50

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

SUNDAY

MONDAY

For effective recruitment advertising call Alison on 01237 422660 or adsales@dealernews.co .uk

01405 480000 sales@hendler.co.uk

NEW DATES

20

IR

WK 16

wallpaper!

FREE INSIDE THIS ISSUE 1

14

12

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY

FRIDAY

Sell new or clearan ce

Wallplanner 2020.indd

co

MONDAY

19

OULTON PARK

JULY

www.racefxb2b.com www.racefx.com

12

10

WK 11

13

AD_Layout

1

DECEMBER NOVEMBER OCTOBER SEPTEMBER AUGUST

WWW.MOTORCYCLE-EXPO.CO

by

SUNDAY

18

BA

12

FINLAND

For more information call 01254 311222

The trade’s favourite

MOT EXPO TOPTOWN

1

Distributed in the UK

SATURDAY

17

QATAR

R E N N A PL SWIFT

WWW.LS2HELMETS.COM

FRIDAY

16

MCN SCOTTISH MOTORCYCLE SHOW EDINBURGH

GOOD FRIDAY

Quality in Print Naturally

BULLET

TRADE HOTLINE 01670 856342

15

ORCYCLE-EXPO.COM

AMERICA

GATE

RUST

TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY

14

WK 3

CAROLE NASH CLASSIC BIKE GUIDE WINTER CLASSIC NEWARK

7

18,19,20 OCTOBER 2020

STONELEIGH PARK WWW.MOT

1

NEVADA

rcycle and scoo

w.eBay.co.uk to get

CAROLE NASH BRISTOL CLASSIC SHOW SHEPTON MALLET

MARCH

01536 265633

1

FEBRUARY JANUARY

01405 480000 www.hendler.co.uk

Key business inform

o.uk

authority

Cleaning & Maintenan ce Products

SATURDAY

15

MOTORCYCLE L

16

TUESDAY WED

stock in one single e

eBay opens up a wo rld of selling and growth opportunities: www.eBay.co.uk

www.britishdealernews.co.uk

WK 51

Guest column

SAFETY STANDARD With Indian Motorcycle, we worked to ensure it was one of the first brands to react to the changing market and we developed its existing riding jackets to meet the changing standards, even when standards were not set in stone.

From a resource perspective, we have had to become CE experts – learn all the new requirements, keep on top of changes to standards and how these are applied to product. Having this specialist knowledge allows us to ensure what our designers and factories do meet the needs of the client but also the needs of the legislation.

Brands will also have to cope with Brexit, which will see new CA marking for products to be sold in the UK. New CA certification with requirements including fixed labels and new hang-tags to garments adds complexity. With the lead-times, brands need to be working with manufacturers now if they are to have compliant product in the market in 18 months’ time.

For some brands the new regulations will be a barrier to the market. Small start-ups now face extremely high costs to enter the European motorcycle clothing market. Existing brands may be reluctant to trial a new product owing to the high costs of certification. While overseas brands, e.g. from the US, which want to expand their business into Europe will have to invest in testing to get their products ready to sell. From our experience, it is much more difficult to try to take existing products through testing than it is to develop a new garment from scratch and get this certified.

DAILY | WEEKLY | MONTHLY | YEARLY

18,19,20 OCTOBER 2020

NEW DATES

scooter industry www. britishdealernews

.co.uk

.co.uk to get connec ted to millions of FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

18

14

MONDAY

19

15

20

16

17

TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY

21

WK 4

22

18

WK 8

FRIDAY

23

19

SATURDAY

24

20

21

d Tracking

UK and worldwide

SUNDAY

25

MONDAY

26

22

27

23

INSURANCE SPECIALLY TAILORED FOR THE MOTORYCLE INDUS TRY

24/7/365 Monitore

24

TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY

28

WK 5

29

25

WK 9

26

customers

FRIDAY

30

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

MONDAY

31

27

Lexham Insurance consultants

by the financial conduct

TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY

29

THE CLASSIC DIRT BIKE SHOW TELFORD MCN LONDON MOTORCYCLE SHOW EXCEL

16

17

WK 12

18

MOTORBEURS UTRECHT, NETHERLANDS

19

BANK HOLIDAY

20

21

22

(NORTHERN IRELAND ONLY)

23

24

WK 13

25

26

27

28

29

30

THAILAND

19

20

21

WK 17

TOKYO MOTORCYCLE SHOW

INABIKE JAKARTA, INDONESIA

22

23

24

25

27

Call Paul Baggott

28

WK 18

29

GET YOUR NEW

PRODUCTS

18

19

WK 21

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

WK 22

27

28

29

Offer your customers

30

0330 099 6826 support@emac.co.uk

Ride Now, Pay Later+

The latest in profit-making products for your showroom

Sealey inspection lamp 4

Don’t be in the dark when doing servicing or repairs. Sealey’s new rechargeable SlimFlex inspection lamp can be used to illuminate a bike from all angles. It features 12 LEDs which produce up to 500 lumens of light (which is bright apparently).

A dimmer switch ensures you won’t g et dazzled at close range, and it has a magnetic base and a hanging hook for hands free use. It’s powered by a 2.6Ah rechargeable Li-ion battery which lasts up to eight hours.

It can be bought as a single item for SRP £47.95, or as a kit which includes two lamps and a recharging docking station for SRP £119.95.

Sealey; www.sealey.co.uk

Oxford Toledo

Oxford Products will be hoping its updated Toledo is a triumph. It’s an all-season short jacket aimed at adventuretouring riders and has therefore been designed with long days in the saddle in mind.

It features a fully waterproof drop liner, a removable thermal liner and nylon overlays on shoulders and elbows. CE level 1 protectors are fitted at shoulder and elbows and there is a pocket to take an optional back protector. Other noteworthy features include twin front and single rear ventilation ports, a neoprene collar and a selection of exterior and interior pockets. The Toledo comes in black, black and fluo or Desert (shades of khaki) for an SRP of £119.99.

Oxford Products; tel 01993 862300; www.oxfordproducts.com

Tried and Tested

Strap-on storage

Givi has expanded its Sport-T line of semi-rigid luggage with the launch of the ST608 Leg Bag. Givi says that the ST608 allows riders to carry travelling essentials while maintaining the sleek look of leathers on a supersport or naked bike, but I can see it also appealing to the adventure bike rider who has already fitted every luggage-carrying device known to man and yet still yearns for more room for souvenirs, writes products editor Colin Williams.

The ST608 has a 3-litre capacity and it was easily big enough for my phone, wallet, keys and a packet of Werther’s Originals. Actually, it is surprisingly capacious and can carry pretty much all the essentials you might need on a day trip. There are three pockets inside to stop things from rattling and rubbing around too much – a soft

stretch-fabric pocket ideal for a phone, an elasticated netting pocket and a slim zipped pocket for valuable bits and bobs – and the two Velcro-fastened gussets prevent all your worldly goods tipping out over the floor when you open the bag.

Externally the bag is made from thermoformed 1200D polyester fabric with a smooth scratch-proof and UV-resistant PU shell complete with a reflective Givi logo on the top panel. On the rear (the bit that goes against your leg) a textured panel adds some grip to stop the bag slipping around your leg. Opening and closing is by a two-way zip.

As the bag isn’t fully waterproof (but given the sturdy construction it should be shower proof), Givi provides a tight-fitting rain cover in case you should be injudicious enough to ride in inclement weather.

Fitting the leg bag is quick and simple – an elasticated strap with snap buckle fastening goes around the thigh and stops the bag bouncing around, while the adjustable waistband is also snap-buckle equipped and stops gravity from turning it into an ankle bag. Once on and the straps adjusted it is comfortable and unobtrusive – whether on the bike or walking around it proved easy to forget I was wearing it.

A gimmick or a worthy part of the Sport-T range? Selling at an SRP of £39 it is priced to be an impulse buy for many bikers, but although I think that it is a niche product, it will appeal to customers who eschew normal luggage solutions which ruin the lines of their pride and joy.

Givi UK; tel 01327 706220; www.givi.co.uk

Ride Now, Pay Later+ 42

www.emac.co.uk

For more info visit:

FASTER

16

WK 25

17

18

19

20

21

22

MAY

15

23

WK 26

24

25

26

27

28

29

GERMANY

WK 27

CANNON

JUNE

SNETTERTON

20

21

WK 30

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

WK 31

29

30

CARBON

30

NETHERLANDS

19

REVO

www.britishdealernews.co.uk

NOVEMBER 2019

31 ITALY

14

18

For effective recruitment advertising call Alison on 01237 422660 or adsales@dealernews.co .uk

31

SKID TRADE HOTLINE 01670 856342

WWW.LS2HELMETS.COM

17

18

WK 34

19

20

21

22

23

24

AUSTRIA

25

WK 35

26

27)

28

29

CADWELL PARK

CABLES / HOSES / CONTROLS

30

31

GREAT BRITAIN

12

13

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

WK 39

23

24

25

26

ASSEN

18

19

20

WK 43

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

WK 44

28

29

30

THE CLASSIC ISLE OF MAN

27

LET’S TALK BUSINESS

WK 36

WEEKLY

NEWSLETTER

SIGN UP TODAY: TINYURL.COM/Y2OD JBR9

TT

28

WK 40

29

30

IT’S

FREE

Call Alison on 01237 422660

31

AUSTRALIA

15

MOTORCYCLE TRADE EXPO

16

STONELEIGH PARK

WK 47

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

WK 48

SAINT COLUMBANUS DAY

VALENCIA

24

25

26

27

INTERNATIONAL DIRT BIKE SHOW STAFFORD

28

29

TEL: 0114 2462027 Email: sales@stanif Web: www.stanifo orths.co.uk rths.co.uk 30

14

WK 51

15

MOTORCYCLE LIVE NEC, BIRMINGHAM

16

17

18

19

20

21

WK 52

22

23

24

25 CHRISTMAS DAY

SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

ck in one single eBa y marketplace

MONDAY

TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY

FRIDAY

26 BOXING DAY

SATURDAY

27

28

29

BANK HOLIDAY

30

SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY

rld

HUGE RANGE OF

Tel: 01394 604040

NEW DATES

31

(BOXING DAY SUBSTITUTE DAY)

www.bickers-onlin QUALITY PRODU

Bike Dealer

Award Winning Motor

Powered by

Trade Insurance

wilbyinsurance.co.u

01422 358 525

Bike Dealer BDN Wallplanner

AH00002 v1.indd

1

31/10/2019 16:59:04

WWW.RG-RACING.COM TEL: 01420 89007

2020

k

STONELEIGH PARK

PREMIUM BRAN PREMIUM SERVIDS CE

WK 49

BANK HOLIDAY (SCOTLAND ONLY)

13

Award Winning Motor Trade Insurance

M

URDAY

15

WK 38

SAN MARINO

17

4

14

BANK HOLIDAY

(NOT SCOTLAND

DECEMBER NOVEMBER OCTOBER SEPTEMBER AUGUST

16

UPGRADE TO VENHILL - TESTED AND TRUSTED

01306 885111 1 VENHILL.CO.UK UK

JULY

BRANDS HATCH

15

arged.com

Gaerne SG12

Updated for the 2020 season, the Gaerne SG12 boot now features a dual-stage pivot system for strong lateral support and a natural foot feel on the peg. A new Grip Guard has been added to the inner face of the boot which provides heat resistance as well as padding where leg touches bike and a new thermoplastic shin guard is adjustable to allow for a knee brace or a sturdy leg. The gaiter is now made from Acronos, a new Swiss fabric said to be extremely stretch and flexible, and the liner now includes memory cell foam for comfort. Revised designs for the toe cap and heel cup give an updated look, while an all-new footbed includes shock absorbing material and improved ventilation.

Available in sizes from junior 13 to adult 14 including some half sizes, the SG12 comes in 11 different colourways at an SRP of £485.

Malcolm Rathmell Sport; tel 01423 772885; www.mrsltd.co.uk

JT Sprockets has launched two new products; RB rubber-cushioned front sprockets and Z3 GS heavy-duty motorcycle chain.

Designed to dampen chain impact on the front sprocket, the dual-sided rubber cushion is a one-piece moulding which is bonded with impact and vibration resistant adhesives to the heat-treated chromoly steel sprocket. The Z3 GS super heavy duty chain is claimed to be the strongest ever produced by JT, and it features gold coloured outer plates and nickel plated inner plates for improved corrosion resistance. It is suitable for machines of up to 1400cc in 520, 525 and 530 sizes.

Prices for the new bits vary according to the application.

JT Sprockets; www.jtsprockets.com

MCN FESTIVAL OF MOTORCYCLING PETERBOROUG H

13

Product News

finance on all repairs and accessories

Take the www. by storm in 2020

www.digitally-ch

Get in touch, call: 01157 860 680 digital@digitallycharged.com

WWW.MOTORCYCLE-EXPO.CO

BANK HOLIDAY

DONINGTON PARK

0%

Sprockets and chain 6

Send us the information we need, and we’ll put them in the mag & online.

Send your information and images to: products@dealernews.co.uk or British Dealer News, 10 Daddon Court, Clovelly Road Ind Est, Bideford EX39 3FH

CAROLE NASH INTERNATIONAL CLASSIC SHOW STAFFORD

FRANCE

07831 863837

MANCHESTER BIKE SHOW

30

SEEN

17

CC4media.com

Media agents for the scooter and motorcycle industry

26

HOW TAIPEI, TAIWAN

16

31

JAPAN

ARGENTINA

Product news

18

WK 14

2020

MARCH

15

S

authority

APRIL

14

CE LUBRICA NT

www.lexhaminsurance .co.uk

LTD Authorised & Regulated

Call Alison on 01237 422660

28

HIGH PERFO RMAN

01379 646506

CALL TODAY TO ARRANGE A QUOTATION/VISIT

STONELEIGH PARK

17

NEW DATES

MOTOR TRADE &

TRAINING SCHOOL

FEBRUARY JANUARY

e UK motorcycle and

So, despite the inconvenience, despite the additional time it takes to develop new products, despite the additional cost involved, is this move right for the industry?

Yes, 100% – like most bikers, we ride motorcycles because they are fast and fun. We want the kit we wear to be the best we can afford, to ensure that, in the event of an accident, it will protect us. Having a common safety standard will only be good for

20 20

NEW

“The short-term pain will have a long-term gain, both for manufacturers but also for dealers and, of course, motorcycle riders”

e.co.uk

CTS IN STOCK

Email: sales@bickers-o

the industry. It will remove the ambiguity in the marketplace and it will stop cheap, inferior products, providing the regulations are policed.

These changes have increased the cost of manufacturing and some of this cost will pass on to the customer, but the overall advantage of making motorcycle riding a safer activity will only help us preserve current riders and attract new riders, with future sales of motorcycles and the related products that dealers stock.

With the growth of the custom and classic categories, the consumer wants a product that looks great off the bike as well as providing protection. Comfortable low-profile protectors, lightweight fabrics and leathers and well-tailored jackets are what the market seeks. This demand pushes garment technology forward, and we can see some great-looking and high-performing products in the market today.

So, the future for motorcycle gear is bright.

The short-term pain will have a long-term gain, both for manufacturers but also for dealers and, of course, motorcycle riders. ■ Fuelled Apparel is a London-based global apparel, merchandise and licensing consultancy for the motorcycle, automotive, sports and fashion industries.

•Large format •Clear concise layout •All the major dates included •A must on dealers’ wall nationwide

NEED ADDITIONAL

FREE copies?

01237 422660 wallplanner@dealernews.co.uk

nline.co.uk

18,19,20 OCTOBER 2020

NEW DATES

20 20 18/11/2019 09:46

sponsored by

DECEMBER 2019 35

Marketing Matters

MARKETING

Dan Sager founded the Fab-Biker PR agency in 1996 and has been advising businesses in the motorcycle industry on marketing matters ever since. Here he shares some of the most important lessons he’s learned during that time.

MATTERS

fab-biker.co.uk

MAKE YOUR SALES SNAP, CRACKLE AND POP! The unique selling proposition (USP) that makes your offer distinctive doesn’t actually have to be unique … all you need to do is to be first to flourish the feature that makes your product stand out

U

nique selling proposition” (USP) might sound like the worst sort of managementspeak jargon, but the concept it describes is refreshingly simple.

The phrase was coined by Rosser Reeves – a gifted American advertising pioneer – in the 1940s. It refers to the unique benefit exhibited by a company, service, product or brand that enables it to stand out from its competitors. Additionally, this must be something that has meaningful benefits to consumers.

M&M’s slogan, “The milk chocolate melts in your mouth, not in your hand”, is one of his.

Brilliant, isn’t it? We’ve all experienced sticky fingers, caused by melted chocolate, and this describes the answer to that problem in a memorable way. And what works for a candy-covered chocolate sweet will also work for your business.

At this point, I need to let you into a little secret. Your USP doesn’t have to be unique. After all, other candy-coated chocolates are available (who hasn’t heard of Smarties?). Providing you’re the FIRST to highlight your “unique” advantage, as far as the customer is concerned, that’s what makes your product stand out. Can you name the products associated with the following slogans?

• The breakfast cereal with “snap, crackle and pop” • A chocolate bar which helps you “work, rest and play”

• The car that is “Vorsprung durch Technik” Let’s face it, lots of cereals make a noise when you pour milk on them, eating any sugary snack can increase your energy levels and other German cars are available.

None of which matters, because all of the aforementioned brands were the first to mention those features. When it comes to your USP, don’t be bashful; if nobody else is making such a claim, go for it.

“What works for a candy-covered chocolate sweet will also work for your business” A DANISH TRAGEDY Now for a word of warning. Since the 1970s, Carlsberg has claimed that it is “Probably the best lager in the world”. It was a bold statement and one that entered popular culture. So far, so good.

However, in spring 2019 Marketing Week reported that the Danish brewer was changing tack, quoting the vice-president of marketing at Carlsberg UK: “We want to change the way people think about Carlsberg. We’ve been saying we’re ‘probably the best beer in the world’ since 1973, the issue is recently we’ve not been living up to that.”

Put simply, if your USP does not stand up to scrutiny then it may do more harm than good, especially when the time comes for you to stop using it. You should always under-promise and over-deliver, not the other way around!

HOW TO IDENTIFY YOUR USP Should you feel that there is nothing exceptional about your brand, product, dealership or service, don’t despair. We’re all busy with the day-to-day jobs that need our constant attention and it’s difficult to find time to think about the big picture stuff to carry you forward into the rosy future. However, identifying your USP needn’t be time-consuming or complicated.

Try not to get fixated on coming up with a catchy slogan. Your first task is to figure out what makes your offer distinctive; are you the longestestablished (suggests dependability/integrity), a specialist (implies expertise) or newest (modern and dynamic)? Perhaps you are international (implying capability on a worldwide scale) or local (friendly and accessible). For products, they could be the lightest, most compact, strongest or even the fastest.

Perhaps they are made by craftsmen (or women) or, at the other end of the scale, built by robots. Bestselling or limited edition? Whatever your business, there will be a USP if you focus on finding one.

Once you’ve decided what makes you, or your product, special, then you can try to come up with a motto that will resonate with customers. Need to fly somewhere? Choose “The World’s favourite airline”. Time to replace that old banger? “If only everything in life was as reliable as a Volkswagen”.

And, returning to our beery theme, how about some reverse psychology; “Afraid you’ll taste something, lager boy?”

Flick through any motorcycle magazine and you’ll be amazed how many advertisements lack a USP and how the ones with a USP stand out.

Next time … What are your brand values and why tone and style matter more than you might realise. ■

Take care of your customers with our range of protection and aftersales products Tailored to your requirements specifically to drive the sales process, helping you to sell motorcycles, retain customers and crucially - increase revenue Labour only warranty

Parts and Labour warranty

GAP Insurance

Breakdown cover

Branded advertising material for your showroom and website 03300 555 259 // tmo.co.uk

36 DECEMBER 2019

www.britishdealernews.co.uk

Marketing Matters

FAMILY OWNED BRITISH WHOLESALER SINCE 1947

TEL: 0121 772 4517 WWW.JOHNMILVERTON.COM FAX: 0121 771 1904 EMAIL: SALES@JOHNMILVERTON.COM

DECEMBER 2019  37

Business Essentials

Business

BRITAIN’S economy has grown at the slowest annual rate in almost a decade, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Year-on-year growth in the three months to the end of September slowed to 1% from 1.3% in the second quarter. An ONS spokesman said: “Looking at the picture over the past year, growth slowed to its lowest rate in almost a decade.” However, the economy did avoid a recession by growing 0.3% in the third quarter, down on the 0.4% forecast by economists, including at the Bank of England. In September, GDP fell by 0.1%, as had been expected, but the ONS revised down the contraction in August to 0.2% from 0.1%. It was the growth of 0.3% in July that drove the economy in the whole of the third quarter.

CHANCELLOR Sajid Javid has acknowledged that “there will be some changes” to customs procedures for all UK traders with the European Union (EU) as a result of the Brexit deal the Conservatives intend to enact should they win the General Election. The Bank of England assessed for the first time that the Johnson deal would lead to a small hit to the economy, due to new customs barriers. Its assumptions were based on the introduction of “customs checks on UK-EU trade” alongside other regulatory checks and trade checks on the origin of parts. “As a result, trade flows are likely to fall, and some companies might exit the market,” the Bank wrote in its Monetary Policy Report.

ALL hazardous products sold within the EU, including aerosols, will be required to have a 16-digit Unique Formula Identifier (UFI) number on the label from 1 January 2021, following changes to EU CLP Legislation, Annex VIII 2017/542. This number must be registered with the appropriate poison centre for the country into which the product is being sold. The regulation will apply to all aerosols, both flammable and non-flammable. The new regulation covers consumer/professional goods from 2021, and those for Industrial use from 2024. Full guidance and further information can be found at: www.echa.europa.eu/ documents/10162/13643/guidance_on_annex_viii_to_clp_ en.pdf/412c5874-f8ec-cf52-fe1e-2fbe08fe2d11 SMALL British manufacturing firms are their most pessimistic since just after the Brexit referendum in 2016 as they face political uncertainty at home and trade wars abroad, according to a survey published in the first week of November. The Confederation of British Industry’s gauge of optimism for small and mediumsized manufacturers fell to -32 in the three months to the end of October, down from -28 in the three months to July. Companies reported weak new orders – especially from clients in Britain – and little enthusiasm to raise investment spending. “Firms are caught between the perfect storm of perennial Brexit uncertainty at home, and sluggish growth in the global economy,” Alpesh Paleja, the CBI’s lead economist, said. The CBI’s survey showed almost two-thirds of the 240 companies which took part cited political or economic conditions abroad as likely to limit export orders, a survey record high.

UK inflation rose at its lowest pace in almost three years in October, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The slower pace of price rises could boost household spending power as wages are rising faster than inflation.

ONS data also showed that average earnings, excluding bonuses, increased by 3.6% in the three months to September. The October inflation number – 1.5% – was lower than the 1.6% forecast by economists, although the Bank of England has said inflation could slip to 1.25% early next year – well below its 2% target.

38 DECEMBER 2019

Essentials

Employers and contractors must prepare for April tax change The off-payroll working rules known as IR35 – which allow HMRC to collect additional payments – are changing, and employers and contractors need to avoid making an expensive mistake

D

o you use contractors who regularly two of the following apply: (a) Annual turnover of provide services to you via an more than £10.2m; (b) Balance sheet total of more intermediary such as their own limited than £5.1m; (c) More than 50 employees. company or an agency? Maybe such If a parent company is a medium or large contractors are engaged in the workshop or company, its subsidiaries will also have to apply back office or providing other services such as the new rules. Businesses should also bear in mind motorcycle training? Perhaps you are a contractor that their size may change from year to year so yourself? If so, the tax rules are changing and you it is important to carry out an annual review to need to know how this affects you. determine whether IR35 applies or not.

Currently, off-payroll working rules, known as If you are an employer that has a contract with “IR35”, require contractors who an intermediary, you need are employees in all but name to decide the employment to pay similar tax and national status of any contractors, insurance contributions (NICs) document the decision in a to regular employees and to status determination statement decide the employment status (SDS), provide reasons and for each contract. keep records of the same. You However, from April 2020, should then give the SDS and this changes for medium to large reasons to the contractor and private-sector employers whereby the organisation with which you the responsibility for deciding contract (e.g. the intermediary) contractors’ employment and set up a status disagreement status will fall instead on to process in case there is any Iain Larkins of Radius Law the employer, who may also be challenge to the SDS. liable for contractors’ PAYE and The employer may have NICs. The current rules will continue to apply if a to pay PAYE and NIC not only if the contractor contractor is engaged by a small employer. falls within IR35, but also in other circumstances Iain Larkins of Radius Law explains why it is including if the employer fails to decide and record important to act now and how to prepare for the the employment status of the contractor (SDS) changes: “You have only four months to get ready, or to provide the SDS to the contractor or the and making the wrong decision may be costly. organisation with which they contract or become a Recently, three BBC presenters were ordered to pay small employer and do not notify the contractor. £920,000 in unpaid tax because they incorrectly Employers can also become liable to pay the claimed they fell outside IR35. The HRMC has contractor’s PAYE and NICs, through no fault of also written to 1500 contractors working for their own; therefore it is prudent for employers to GlaxoSmithKline to ask if they comply with IR35 build protections into contracts with intermediaries and will send letters to other contractors soon.” so that they can recover the cost of paying PAYE and NICs in these circumstances.

DEFINITION HMRC classifies medium to large private sector TAKE ADVICE employers as any unincorporated enterprise with a Larkins continues: “Employers will not need to turnover of more than £10.2m or any company, LLP, employ all affected contractors but this may be the unregistered company or overseas company to which best solution. If an employer has decided that a

“You have only four months to get ready, and making the wrong decision may be costly”

www.britishdealernews.co.uk

Business Essentials

Tax Changes with Frank Finch www.finchuk.com

contractor is an employee for IR35 purposes, this will increase the risk of the contractor becoming their worker or employee under employment law.

This will provide increased rights for the contractor including the right to be paid the minimum wage, holiday pay and sick pay and may provide the right to join the employer’s pension scheme.

“Also, if an employer has previously engaged a contractor (that falls under IR35) for a long time, then it is quite likely the contractor will already have the same rights as employed staff. If you are a contractor who either falls, or who may fall, under IR35, you should review the clients you contract for and if they are likely to come under the scope of the new rules, you should consider your own position and take advice as necessary.

“If such clients haven’t contacted you already, you should contact them to discuss the situation and seek a mutually agreeable way forward. You will, of course, need to be ready for a renegotiation to recognise the shift in responsibilities and liability for payment of PAYE and NIC and the possibility that they may offer you an employed position instead.”

These new rules will only affect a proportion of the business community but whether you are an employer or contractor, it is recommended that you review your position to determine if you are likely to be affected and then prepare and take action accordingly. ■

Radius Law (www.radiuslaw.co.uk) works with many businesses in the automotive sector and if you want any further advice on these tax changes, Larkins can be contacted via iain.larkins@radiuslaw.co.uk

WHAT IS IR35 IR35 is legislation that allows HMRC to collect additional payments where a contractor is an employee in all but name. When determining whether IR35 applies, HMRC will look at both the contract and what happens in practice.

Key factors include whether the contractor has to carry out the work personally (rather than use a substitute), whether the employer has to provide the contractor with work (and whether the contractor has to carry out any work that is requested) and whether the employer has control over how, when and where the contractor carries out the work.

Other determining factors could include whether the contractor has an email address and/or job title indicating that they are part of the employer’s business. Generally, the greater the control an employer has over how, when and where the contractor works and the less freedom they have to work for others, the more likely IR35 will apply.

25%

ALER2019 Quote offer code: DE

DECEMBER 2019 39

Product news

Product News

The latest in profit-making products for your showroom

0%

finance on all repairs and accessories

Offer your customers

0330 099 6826 support@emac.co.uk

Ride Now, Pay Later+ Furygan Airbag

French motorcycle clothing brand Furygan has partnered with In&Motion to produce the Fury system – an airbag-equipped vest which zips inside compatible Furygan jackets.

Compatible jackets have an airbag connect logo, which means it has an additional inner zip to fasten the Fury into position. It can also be used with compatible leather garments by removing the thermal lining.

The In&Motion airbag unit measures the position of the user 1000 times per second and uses an algorithm to determine whether they have been involved in an accident, at which point it deploys, inflating within 60 milliseconds. The vest can then be reset by replacing the discharged inflator unit with a new one.

The Fury Airbag vest has an SRP of £379.99, with replacement inflator units at £89.99 SRP. Nevis Marketing; tel 01425 478936 ; www.nevis.uk.com

Shoei Glamster 54

With a name which evokes images of Mark Bolan in his pomp, the new Glamster is the latest addition to Shoei’s NeoRetro range. The existing J.O open-face and Ex-Zero enduro-style models have been joined by the full-face, classic style Glamster to complete the line-up.

Despite the retro looks, the Glamster uses modern Shoei technology such as a multi-composite fibre shell with a multiple-density EPS liner and a removable and washable comfort liner. Small, mesh-lined chin vents and an adjustable forehead vent take air in which then exits via two small exhaust vents hidden in the neck area, and the addition of a Pinlock anti-fog visor insert makes sure you can see where you are going whatever the weather.

There are three different shell sizes to ensure the helmet profile is kept as small as possible, and it comes in sizes XS-XXL in a range of plain colours – off-white, grey, matt or gloss black or a bright metallic Laguna blue – for £399 or with suitably retro-themed graphic options for £499.

Feridax (1957); tel 01384 413841; www.feridax.com

Fives for frozen fingers

Roadrider MkII 3

Avon Tyres has launched the Roadrider MkII sport touring motorcycle tyre, suitable for the classic, retro and shed bike markets.

It is said to provide better grip in wet and dry conditions, reduced wear and shorter braking distances than its predecessor, and testing by Avon is said to have revealed a sizeable reduction in stopping distances in wet conditions.

The MkII is available in 31 sizes and 37 specifications, covering H and V speed ratings. Prices are yet to be announced.

Avon Tyres; tel 01179 728769; www.avontyres.com

As temperatures plummet and the mercury falls into the red, the hardy motorcyclist’s thoughts turn to methods of keeping their fingers in working order while on the morning commute. To tackle the issue of frozen digits over the winter months, four new heated glove models have been launched by French firm Five.

Equipped with a built-in rechargeable battery, all are waterproof and have three levels of heating available. The HG1.20 is top of the range and is a full-length touring glove with a Hipora membrane and a Thinsulate 200g thermal insulation layer. An insulating cuff gusset helps to keep the heat in and a diagonal cuff zip makes them easier to get on and HG1 off. Construction is a mix of goatskin and Cordura, with protection provided by leather palm reinforcement, knuckle shell and palm sliders. SRP is £259.99.

The HG2 is a more flexible and supple multipurpose winter glove with a one-pice PVC knuckle shell, TPR palm slider and foam HG2 reinforcements on each finger for protection, plus a Bemberg lining for comfort. SRP is £239.99.

The HG3 is described as an “everyday glove” and is aimed at urban and suburban commuters and riders. It has a 40g Thinsulate thermal lining on the top side and has a one-piece shell, TPR palm sliders and finger reinforcements. A Bemberg comfort liner finishes it off inside. SRP is £229.99.

Last but not least is the HG4 classic style goatskin leather glove. Aimed at city riders and retro-bike riders it has a neoprene HG3 cuff to fit under a jacket and retains the Thinsulate 200g thermal layer and Hipora membrane for cold-weather performance, but eschews rigid protectors for more comfort. SRP is £179.99.

Race FX; tel 01254 311222; www.racefx.com

VPR.303 jeans

Casual biking trousers are the hot ticket at the moment, and these three different styles of Aramid-lined jeans from VPR.303 fill that niche for distributor Motohart.

All are fully CEapproved and therefore are classed as PPE for motorcycling. The Cargo pants are made of reinforced cotton which claims to have improved abrasion resistance and tear Flash strength compared with regular pairs. Smooth Ways CE level 2 flexible Spark armour is fitted at the knees and hips and there is a connection zip for a jacket and ankle straps Cargo to stop them riding up. Available in black in waist sizes 30-42in in short, regular and long leg lengths for an SRP of £109.99.

The Spark jeans have a similar specification to the Cargo pants, but with a reinforced denim fabric instead of cotton. Available in blue in waist sizes 30-42in in regular length only for an SRP of £119.99.

The Flash jeans take things up a notch by using Cordura denim for the outer layer for even higher levels of abrasion resistance. They come in the same sizes as the Spark for an SRP of £149.99.

Motohart; tel 0191 603 0020; www.motohart.com

HG4

Ride Now, Pay Later+ 40 DECEMBER 2019

For more info visit:

www.emac.co.uk www.britishdealernews.co.uk

For effective recruitment advertising call Alison on 01237 422660 or email adsales@dealernews.co.uk

RMStator regulator/rectifier

A new CNC machined aluminium Mosfet voltage regulator in an eye-catching red anodised finish, this claims to provide greater heat dissipation to run up to 33% cooler than OEM items. In addition, to protect the circuitry it has overheat protection which will temporarily shut it down if it gets too hot. Fitment is a simple swap-over from the existing unit, and it will fit a wide range of motorcycles, scooters and ATVs from brands including BMW, Ducati, Honda, Kawasaki, Triumph, Yamaha, Polaris and Can-Am. SRP is £193.99.

Moto-Electrical; tel 01953 603420; www.motoelectrical.co.uk

Midlands Area Area Manager Manager Northern As a leading distributor, Motogear are seeking a professional and self-motivated Area Sales Manager to cover the Northern an exciting position within Midlands,Area, this isthis an is exciting position within our our expanding company to work retailers to develop market leading expanding company – to -work withwith keykey retailers to develop ourour market leading portfolio consisting consistingof ofpremier premierItalian helmet brands NolanX-lite, and Grex X-lite,and as well as the rapidly brands Nolan, Gaerne together expanding Ixon expanding clothing brand. with the rapidly Ixon clothing brand.

The Role Covers • Support, Suppo Support,maintain maintainand anddevelop developour ourexisting existingcustomer customerbase base • Managing Managingthe thesales salesperformance performanceof ofour ourcustomers customersand andachieving achievingall alltargets targetsand and commercial objectives commercial objectives • Representing Representingall allbrands brandswithin withinthe thecompany’s company’sportfolio portfolio • Identify Identifynew newsales salesopportunities opportunitieswith withpotential potentialcustomers customers • Attend Attendexhibitions exhibitionsand andtrade tradeshows, shows,asasrequired required • Maintain Maintainaccurate accuratesales salesactivity activityrecords recordsfor foreach eachcustomer customer • Effective EEffectivecommunications communicationswith withall alldepartments departmentswithin withinthe theCompany Company The Ideal Candidate • Self-motivated, communication,negotiation negotiationand andorganisational organisational Self-motivated, possess excellent communication, skills skills • Always Alwaysmaintain maintainaahigh highlevel levelof ofprofessionalism. professionalism.

• Willing exibly in Willingto towork work flexibly inorder orderto toensure ensuretarget targetachievement achievementand andcommercial commercial growth ofof the area growth the area • Possess Possessaastrong strongpositive positiveattitude attitude Whilst previous industry experience would certainly be an advantage -–ititisisnot not essential!

Beneets Benefits In addition to a unique opportunity to represent premier brands, this role comes with an excellent remuneration package (made up of a fixed xed basic gross salary together with “uncapped” "uncapped" commissions), commissions), together together with with aa qualilty qualilty company company vehicle. vehicle.

Adventurous screens 5

UK bodywork specialist Pyramid Plastics has just launched its latest colour-matched screens for the Yamaha Tracer 900GT and BMW R1250GS HP models. Made from high-impact acrylic, the screens have triple-layer colour matching and laquered-in logos. They come ready to fit with fittings and instructions provided. SRPs start from £145.

Pyramid Plastics; tel 01427 677990; www.pyramid-plastics.co.uk

All applications applications will will be be treated treatedin inthe thestrictest strictestof ofconndence confidence&&are areto tobe bee-mailed e-mailed All to beth.rogers@motogear.o.uk 2019. beth.rogers@motogear.co.ukbefore beforeTuesday Monday31st 15thDecember October 2018.

RETAIL MANAGER The Café Racer, Shoreham-By-Sea, West Sussex Full Job Specification on www.the-cafe-racer.com Please apply in writing with a covering letter and CV direct to sara@vroombythesea.com

Roof RO200 Carbon

The USP of the new range-topping race helmet from French brand Roof is its all-in weight of 1090g. It achieves this thanks to a multicomposite carbon shell and a five-density EPS liner. A large visor gives viewing angles of 210o and 100o in the horizontal and vertical plains respectively, and it comes with a MaxVision 120 Pinlock to stop it fogging up. Other racy features include a quick-replace visor system, emergency cheek pad removal and a quick-drying fabric liner. It comes in three colourways - gloss carbon plus Speeder and Panther graphics – in sizes XS-XXL. Prices to come.

Neo Distribution; tel 01778 349333; www.neodistribution.co.uk

www.emac.co.uk

25% DEALER DISCOUNT OFFER Call Alison on 01237 422660 or email adsales@dealernews.co.uk DECEMBER 2019 41

Product news

Casa endplate 6

Brand new from Italian scooter tuning firm Casa is a gearbox endplate to suit classic Lambrettas including Series 1, Series 2, Series 3, GP, DL and Servetta models. Made from steel, the endplate is thicker than the standard item to reduce the risk of cracking under extreme loads. It has 6mm threaded extraction holes to avoid damage to the gearbox when removing it, and the special stepped locating dowels eliminate the risk of them falling into the gearbox. Trade price is £58.33.

Also new from Casa is a 225cc engine kit to suit 200cc Lambrettas. As standard the cylinder is made from cast alloy with a forged 39mm compression height piston, a six-petal reed valve and an inlet manifold for a 34mm carburettor. Kits with 30mm height are also available, as are inlet rubbers to suit a range of carbs from 28-35mm.

VE (UK); tel 01159 462991; www.ve-trade.com

Product news

Heated gloves 46

Well known for its heated motorcycling garments, Gerbing has completely overhauled its glove range for 2020. All the gloves are waterproof thanks to a Hypora membrane, and they all have an integrated push-button controller to regulate the heat output.

The new XR, XRL, GT and XRW models all use the new MicroWirePro heating element on the palm, fingers and thumb, which is claimed to be faster to heat up and to give a more even heat distribution.

The £169.99 XR and long-cuff £179.99 XRL both have rigid knuckle protectors and an integrated visor wipe and come with a battery harness and a Y-lead to connect to the motorcycle’s battery. The XRL can also be Gerbing XR and XRL gloves

Sena Momentum Evo

Sena is a name long associated with motorcycle communication systems, and the German company’s role in supplying systems for premium helmet manufacturers such as Shoei, Schuberth and HJC, to name just a few, have helped to make it the go-to name for communications tech.

What Sena is less well-known for is its helmets, but it produces its own branded lids in both open and full-face ranges. The latest addition is the Momentum Evo – a full-face sport touring helmet with, obviously, Sena communication built in. The helmet itself has a matt black finished composite fibreglass shell with a multi-density EPS foam and a removable and washable liner, and the perforated neck roll incorporates reflective patches and piping to give improved visibility. So far, so normal. The difference comes when you look at the flanks of the helmet and spy the chunky buttons which control the comms on one side (nice and easy for gloved finger to operate), and the micro USB charging port on the other. These are the only controls for the multitude of functions offered by the integrated technology, which means all can be operated by touch as long as you can remember all the different combinations of taps and press-and-holds to activate them.

For a comms system to be of any use the helmet needs to get the basics right and the Momentum Evo’s snug fit and low level of wind noise mean that the speakers are clearly heard and the microphone doesn’t just pick up a hurricane roar when in use – this is also helped by the Advanced Noise Control system which is designed to filter out ambient noise. Making phone calls on the move using the voice-activated speed dial was clear for both parties at legal motorway speeds, with no issues with hearing what was being said.

The Evo can connect via Bluetooth to a phone, sat-nav or other communications system, or via Mesh Intercom technology with compatible systems. This allows one-click connectivity (via the “M” button next to the charging port) to almost limitless numbers of riders up to a mile away, or a group of up to 16 can be created which allows the signal to “leapfrog” across devices to give a range of up to five miles. Audio Multitasking technology even allows you to chat across the intercom while music is playing.

Bluetooth connectivity allows a sat-nav to play audio directions, which help if you are enjoying the road too much to look at the screen, or you can connect a phone or iPod to play music to while away the hours trolling along the motorway. The built in “Hello Sena” voice controls come into play here, allowing you change tracks, call pre-set numbers, operate the built-in FM radio or a host of other functions without having to lift your hands from the handlebars.

The Sena Momentum Evo only comes in matt black, in sizes M, L or XL and includes a Pinlock 120 Max Vision, a Wi-Fi-equipped USB lead for installing firmware updates and charging duties (it takes about 2.5 hours to charge and lasts around eight hours of commuting use) and a flock-finished inflatable storage cushion. There’s a five-year warranty for the helmet and a two-year warranty on the electronics and it all comes for a retail price of €439.

Sena; +49 221 620089-52; www.sena.com

Givi Trekker Alaska 3

A new addition to Givi’s range of side cases, the Italian-made Trekker Alaska has an internal capacity of 36 litres per side. It’s made of puncture-resistant aluminium – available in natural or black finishes – with stainless steel hinges and reinforced technopolymer end profiles.

The cases fit using Givi’s patented Monokey system – the first aluminium side cases in its range to do so – which greatly widens the fitment range to include any models for which Monokey frames have been made. Other features include a carry handle built into the hinge and four loops on the lid to take straps or bungees.

Givi; tel 01327 706220; www.givi.co.uk

Ride Now, Pay Later+ 42 DECEMBER 2019

Gerbing GT (left) and XRW

powered by a rechargable battery if desired.

The lightweight £159.99 XRW is a more tailored and slimmer fit specifically for women and, like the XRL, can be powered by the bike’s battery or by a small rechargeable battery in the glove itself.

The £139.99 GT glove is made from supple drum-dyed leather which contours to the hand and is designed to be more sleek and have a lower-profile fit. It will fit under the cuffs of most jackets, and can also be bike or battery powered.

All the gloves have touchscreen-compatible fingertips and come with a lifetime warranty on the heating elements.

Gerbing UK; tel 01892 457373; www.gerbing.co.uk

Junior Nitros

Two new helmets aimed at the youth and children’s market from the Nitro brand. The N2400 Rogue Junior is a full-face model with a polycarbonate shell and a Pinlock-ready visor. Chin, brow and rear vents help to prevent sweaty heads but just in case, the liner is removable and washable. It comes in a black/ grey/red graphic for an SRP of £59.99 and there’s an optional dark visor available to swap in should you so wish.

The MX620 Junior is a child-friendly motocross helmet which has a multi-poly shell with a reinforced chinbar and a wide aperture for better peripheral vision. There’s lots of vents to keep junior racers cool, and the liner is not only removable and washable but it can also be customised with different thickness pads to improve fit. The ACUapproved MX620 comes in four colourways and has an SRP of £59.99.

Bickers; tel 01394 604040; www.bickers-online.co.uk

Evotech bar guards

Three new sets of billet aluminum guards have been launched by Evotech. Made to suit the BMW R1200GS, R1250GS, S1000XR and R nineT models, the guards help to protect the factory-fit plastic hand guards and the brake and clutch levers from flying debris and from impact with the floor. Machined from 5000-series aluminium the bar protectors are shaped to closely follow the shaping of the OE hand guards.

All bar guards come in a black powder-coated finish and come with CNC bar end weights for mounting. The XR and GS kits are £119 SRP, while the R nineT kits are a bit pricier at £190, but that includes a pair of BMW hand guards and mounting brackets.

Evotech Performance; tel 01507 466729; www.evotech-performance.com

For more info visit:

www.emac.co.uk www.britishdealernews.co.uk

Product news

Feridax Max 2020 ranges

Mid Adventure 2

Commute

Spidi

Vintage The premium Italian clothing brand has got a bundle of new jackets and an innovative pair of gloves ready for the 2020 season. Among the stand-out garments is the Vintage – a retro-style cowhide jacket with stylish touches such as branded snap fasteners, YKK zippers and a cotton canvas liner. A removable quilted waistcoat with hollow-fibre insulation extends the usable riding season into the cooler months. It comes in men’s sizes 36-48 or a ladies’ version in sizes 8-18 for an SRP of £449.

The Outlander is a laminated fabric adventure jacket which uses a H2Out waterproof membrane. H2Out is an exclusive material created by Spidi in conjunction with Japanese fabric specialists Toray. It is wind and

r

Feridax’s own-brand clothing started off as a budget-priced range when it was launched but has gradually widened its scope to include higher-spec (and higher budget) clothing that maintains its valuefor-money ethos. As it is all designed in-house the range can be fast-moving and the designers can react quickly to market changes, working on new ideas and attacking new market sectors. The new CE-approved Camber suit is a good example of this approach.

A double-layer suit with a bonded waterproof membrane, it is Spada’s first laminated product and aims to appeal to the hardcore commuter and all-year round biker. Weather protection is the Camber’s main raison d’etre and therefore as well as the quick-drying waterproof laminate outer it features taped seams, waterproof pockets and a large storm flap to protect the front zip. Impact protection Camber is provided by five pieces of armour and ventilation needs are taken care of by the Ventech cooling system of chest and arm vents. The jacket comes in sizes S-5XL and the matching pants in XS5XL. Feridax claims that the suit is the the lowest cost laminate suit on the market, with the jacket priced at £239.99 and the pants £189.99 SRP. For touring or Shimmy commuting ladies there is the Shimmy jacket. It is a traditional waisted cut with a slightly longer length to cover the hips and it comes in black or a striking Coral shade which, says Spada product development manager Rukhsana Sardar, gives it an element of High Street style. There’s a waterproof liner,

ande

Spada

waterproof pockets and reflective detailing for practicality, plus a detachable shoulder/bum bag to carry everyday essentials. SRP is £159.99 and it comes in sizes XS-4XL. Some riders just don’t want to look like they are wearing motorcycle gear, and it is for them that the Commute soft shell jacket has been created. Despite looking like a regular fashion jacket, it hides away four-pieces of CEcertified armour and a waterproof membrane lining. The back is cut longer to avoid uncovering the lumbar region to the elements when tucked over on the bike, and other practical additions include waterproof lined pockets and a Ventech cooling system. The jacket comes in black or blue at an SRP of £79.99 and matching soft shell pants are also £79.99 SRP in sizes S-5XL.

Outl

T

he opening of its new product showroom in its Halesowen HQ (see page 14) has given Feridax the opportunity to invite dealers to visit to view the new clothing and products from its exclusive ranges.

The Feridax Max event will be running until Christmas, and the low-key approach of having only a few dealers per day means that everyone has plenty of time to view the latest additions and can receive personal attention from their sales managers.

waterproof, as you would expect, and it claims to be the first fabric designed specifically to withstand the water pressures experienced at speed on a motorcycle. The Outlander also has a removable 200g thermal liner which can be exchanged for optional gilets or jackets providing different levels of thermal insulation. Its a two-in-one design, which means the thermal jacket can be worn on its own when off the bike. It comes in four colourways in sizes M-4XL for an SRP of £389.99 with matching pants at £289.99.

The X-Force gloves are a short-length sports glove which are lifted from the norm by the Easy Fit System – a single motion fastening method with a conjoined zip and Velcro cuff, simply pull the flap around and the zip automatically closes. The glove is made from a combination of goat leather, suede microfibre and neoprene, with fit and comfort improved by the liberal application of accordion panels and stretch fabric. The knuckle protector is Spidi’s Warrior Tech flexible grid-patterned armour and all fingertips are touchscreen-compatible. SRP is £99.99.

Sidi

Not to be confused with Spidi, Sidi is a major Italian boot brand. Its latest offering is the Mid Adventure 2, a new calf-height version of the Adventure. It has the same spec – full-grain microfibre upper, a Gore-Tex liner, PU shin plate, micro-adjustable buckles and a rubber sole – just shorter. It comes in sizes 41-47 at an SRP of £249.99. The full-height version now has a new grey/black colourway to add to the all-black and black/brown versions.

Feridax (1957); tel 01384 413841; www.feridax.com

X-Force

Ride Now, Pay Later+

For more info visit:

www.emac.co.uk DECEMBER 2019 43

Product news Fantic

Pinching the name, as well as styling cues, from its 1970s stepthrough moped, Fantic’s new Issimo e-bike is a big change of pace from the mountain and racing e-bikes the brand has previously concentrated on. It sports 20in wheels with gargantuan 4in-wide low-pressure tyres, disc brakes front and rear and an internal five-speed rear hub. The motor is a 250W Bafang unit making 80Nm of torque and powered by a 630Wh battery giving a range of up to 80 miles.

On the other end of the scale, Fantic is reclaiming its offroad racing heritage with a brace of new models – the XX250 motocross and XE125 enduro competition machines. The first pure competition machinery from Fantic since 2013, both bikes feature high-spec components, including KYB suspension front and rear, and are powered by Minarelli engines.

Clements Moto; tel 01227 720700; www.clementsmoto.co.uk

CCM Stealth 5

Another new limited edition set of machinery from the Bolton-based bike builders. The Stealth series takes the Spitfire Bobber, Spitfire Foggy and Spitfire Six models and coats them in lots of Midnight black paint. Subdued bronze racing stripes are added across the tank, front mudguard and headlight cowl and the trellis frame is powder coated in a matching bronze shade. The billet ancillaries are titanium anodised and the wheels are black anodised to add to the dark theme. Motive power is from the same liquid-cooled 55hp 600cc single as the standard (not that any CCM seems to leave the factory in a standard spec) models with a six-speed gearbox. The Foggy Stealth is £11,995, while the Six and Bobber versions are £10,495.

CCM Motorcycles; tel 01204 544930; www.ccm-motorcycles.com

Herald Brat

British designed and Chinese built, the Brat 125 (a 250 is due next year) is a modern retro-style machine with plenty of custom-style features. It has LED lights front and rear, LED indicators, a handmade stainless steel exhaust and lots of alloy detailing, including a brushedfinish alloy front mudguard. It comes in Copper, Military green or Iron grey metallic finishes at an RRP of £2999 plus OTR including two years’ RAC cover.

Herald Motor Co.; tel 01480 415080; www.heraldmotorcompany.com

Watsonian

Watsonian has developed a sidecar fitting kit for the Royal Enfield Interceptor twin. The 650cc twin has been Royal Enfield’s best-selling model since its launch, and it has topped the 126-650cc new registrations category on multiple occasions.

The welded tubular steel sub-frame bolts to existing mounting points on either side of the bike, providing sturdy and secure locations for the four arms that attach the sidecar. It is powder coated in glossy black to match the bike’s trim and it has an SRP of £475.

The kit will allow the fitment of any of the eight sidecars currently produced

by Watsonian, but at Motorcycle Live it was shown fitted to a Grand Prix with colour-matched paintwork.

Watsonian can also supply complete outfits – prices for an Interceptor and Grand Prix in standard colours start from £12,500.

Watsonian Squire; tel 01386 700907; www.watsonian-squire.com

Airoh 5

An update to the GP500, the new Airoh GP550 is a helmet with a racing pedigree. It has a composite shell which has been shaped in the wind tunnel, including the large rear spoilers. The shell comes in three sizes to provide a compact profile and eight-point venting with internal channelling provide air extraction for cooling duties. Other racy features include D-ring retention, emergency release system to the cheekpads and a tear-off compatible visor with a Pinlock included.

It comes in sizes XS to XL in matt black, gloss white, Venom graphic in three colours or Vektor graphic in three colours.

Bike It International; tel 0238 065 8700; www.bikeittrade.com

Schuberth C4 Pro Carbon

Schuberth’s latest model is the lightweight C4 Pro Carbon – the first carbon fibre flip-front which can have a comms system fitted. Much research and a new design were required for the shell as carbon fibre doesn’t usually allow signals through, making any comms inoperable. Other features include a dropdown visor, Pinlock insert and pre-installed microphone and speakers. It comes in three graphic options at £699.99 SRP. TranAm; tel 01425 620580; www.tranam.co.uk

Ride Now, Pay Later+ 44 DECEMBER 2019

Benelli 752S 4

The first motorcycle to use Benelli’s new fourstroke 750cc liquid-cooled twin-cylinder engine, the 752S is a mid-range sporting naked machine with a steel trellis frame reminiscent of early Ducati Monsters.

The motor produces 76hp at 8500rpm with peak torque of 67Nm produced at 6500rpm, thanks to its double overhead camshaft timing, four valves per cylinder and electronic fuel injection.

Front suspension is taken care of by a 50mm diameter Marzocchi fork with 130mm of travel while a 60mm travel monoshock performs duties at the rear. The wheels are 17in aluminium alloy and the fuel tank has a 14.5 litre capacity. The 752S will be available in white, red, black and green at an SRP of £6699.

MotoGB; tel 0844 412 8450; www.motogb.co.uk

For more info visit:

www.emac.co.uk www.britishdealernews.co.uk

N

evis Marketing took a multi-brand stand at Motorcycle Live last month to promote its wide-ranging brands.

Shark Zontes

Another new addition to the selection of mid-range motorcycles from Zontes, the V310 is a bobber-style machine powered by a 312cc four-stroke single-cylinder engine passing its 33hp to the back wheel via a six-speed ‘box. Features include keyless ignition, a lightweight lithium battery, TFT dash, LED lights front and rear, alloy swingarm, stainless steel exhaust and diamond-cut alloy wheels. Retail price is £4199 plus OTR charges.

Clements Moto; tel 01227 720700; www.clementsmoto.co.uk

The French helmet brand is making gentle inroads into stretching its range further upmarket with the new Spartan GT helmet.

It comes in both composite and carbon versions and the shape has been designed using Computational Fluid Dynamics – basically a computer-generated wind tunnel. As well as Furygan Apalache improving aerodynamic stability, the use of CFD has influenced the form of the inlet and exhaust vents, which use lowpressure dynamics to draw air through the

waterproofness and enough lateral stiffness and crush protection to ensure the boot remains CE-certified – apparently a challenging issue. The surround sole makes the Airwire a threeseason boot, suitable for riding in temperatures from 5o to 35oC. It retails for £229.99.

Furygan

A bit of a sidestep for the sporty French clothing brand, as Furygan heads into the increasingly popular adventure clothing market with the Apalache. The new jacket is a 2-in-1 design with a detachable thermal liner and an air-mesh lining. Plenty of pockets are provided, including a large rear map pocket and a forearm pocket for toll cards or small change. There are lots of vents on both the chest and rear of the jacket and D3O soft-feel armour is provided at the shoulders and elbows with an optional back protector also available. It comes in black/fluo or grey/red colour options at an SRP of £199.99.

Shark Spartan GT

Shad Terra 45

Shad is making it first foray into the world of adventure-style aluminium luggage systems with the new Terra range. Comprising the traditional set-up of top box and side cases, the new system will fit various adventure bike offerings from the major manufacturers with bespoke fitting kits.

All the boxes are made from high grade aluminium with rubberised protective strips to reduce accidental ding damage. Double rubber seals on the openings make them waterproof and there are optional inner liner bags for further protection.

Loading limit of the boxes is 10kg each, with the top box available in 37 and 48-litre capacities and the panniers coming in 36 and 47-litre variants – the latter capable of housing a full-face helmet. Inside the panniers there is a removable plastic guard to stop small items falling out of the bottom of the case when it is opened and a clip-up mesh guard to retain bigger items such as clothing.

Closure of the boxes is by Shad’s integrated locking and handle system. The key unlocks the closing clamp and also releases the handle, which in turn lifts up to release the boxes from the racks. Once the boxes are freed the handle’s hinge design means the centre of gravity is moved outwards, stopping the boxes from banging into your shins while walking.

Prices are yet to be confirmed, but are expected to be around £300 for the smaller boxes, £340 for the larger ones and £70 and £170 respectively for the top and pannier mounting kits.

Shad UK; tel 0333 344 8252; www.shad.co.uk

Ride Now, Pay Later+

helmet, and has also resulted in the application of “Sharkskin” texturing to the visor hinge covers to reduce noise levels.

Other features include a wide skirt to reduce wind roar around the neck area, new 3D design for the multi-density EPS liner and a class-one optics visor with Pinlock Max and a lock mechanism. It comes in a wide range of colours in sizes XS to XXL, with retail prices ranging from £349 to £499.

The Evo Jet (picture top of page) is a distinctive full-face urban commuter/scooter helmet with a polycarbonate shell and a very deep triplecurvature visor to provide extra visibility. Despite the extreme shaping of the visor, it retains classone optical performance to eliminate distortion, but a Pinlock won’t fit so instead the visor is antifog coated. It comes in a range of two-tone colours for £269 SRP or in solid colours for £239.

Richa Infinity Pro

Richa

Laminated fabric technology is gradually becoming more affordable and, given the performance advantages it offers to end-users, it is hardly surprising that it is becoming increasingly popular with all-weather bikers.

Claiming that it has the “best price in its class”, the new Richa Infinity Pro jacket is of twin-layer construction with a laminated outer layer which provides water resistance and stops the fabric soaking up water and getting heavy and cold.

The overall design is based on the non-laminate Infinity II which means it comes with a thermal liner, plenty TCX nd ou rr Su of vents and pockets, lots of TCX is concentrating ire rw Ai TCX reflective elements and D3O on comfort for its 2020 protectors fitted at the elbows range. The new Airwire and shoulders, plus a back Surround is a mid-height protector is included. touring boot which It comes in black, black/fluo features TCX’s exclusive and titanium grey with fluo Gore-Tex surround stripes at an SRP of £269.99 sole – a new method Nevis Marketing; of venting the sole to tel 01384 413841; improve foot temperatures www.nevis.uk.com while maintaining

For more info visit:

www.emac.co.uk DECEMBER 2019 45

Product news

Nevis Marketing

Dunlop has launched three sets of new tyres for 2020. The Geomax MX53 is a motocross tyre designed for intermediate terrain. It claims to offer improved predicability and slide control compared with its forebears and is also said to be better on soft ground without losing its ability on firmer soil. It comes in a huge range of sizes from 10-21in at the front and 10-19in at the rear.

The Geomax EN91 is a full-on competition enduro tyre which promises improved performance in dry, wet and mixed conditions as well as enhanced feedback. The application of hex-shaped and tilted crown blocks is said to contribute to improved grip thanks to the increase in biting edges. It comes in 90/90-21 front and 120/90-18 and 140/80-18 rear sizes.

Last but not least is the new Mutant. A crossover tyre which boast 370 different model fitments, the Mutant uses Dunlop’s “four seasons technology” which combines sport and touring tyre technology with wet-weather racing knowledge. This has resulted in the Mutant being given an official M+S (mud and snow) rating. It comes in five front and six rear sizes suitable for a vast array of adventure, naked, scrambler and retro machinery.

Dunlop; www.dunlop.eu

Duchinni Europa boots

A CE-certified short-length waterproof boot aimed at commuters and winter riders, the Europa has a full-grain leather and textile upper, heel cups and gear-shifter reinforcement. The sole is made of oil-resistant rubber and is non-slip. Closure is by twin zippers – one on each side – said to make it quick and easy to slide on or off. They come in sizes 6-13 (EU 39-47) at an SRP of £99.99.

The Key Collection; tel 0117 971 9200; www.thekeycollection.co.uk

Viper RSX121 4

This motocross helmet is ECE22.05-approved, making it road legal, and is awaiting ACU approval for competition use. It has a removable and washable liner and the peak is adjustable. It comes in adult sizes XS-XL (53-61cm) and is available in matt black with grey, red, blue, pink, orange or green graphics. SRP is £69.99.

Motohart; tel 0191 603 0020; www.motohart.com

Kymco VSR1254

Kymco UK MD Mark Hermolle has instigated some updates to the VSR125 to make it more appealing to UK riders.

Now in black or red, there are new graphics; a body-coloured belly pan and exhaust shield; the frame, pegs and ignition cowl have all been colour matched to silver for a more cohesive look and the brake disc has also been changed from red to black.

Kymco UK; tel 01656 645755; www.kymco.co.uk

GET YOUR NEW

PRODUCTS

Alpinestars for ladies

A few women-specific designs have catapulted out of Alpinestar’s design studio recently. The Stella S Max Drystar is a sporty waterproof glove made from a mix of leather and stretch fabric with knuckle protection and finger sliders to get it up to CE Level 1. It comes in black with white, pink, turquoise or grey logo design in sizes XS to XL for an SRP of £54.99.

The CE-approved Stella SMX Plus v2 boots are another sporty design, with a microfibre upper and polymer protector. They also have Multi-Link Control (MLC) which provides ankle support, limiting hypertorsion and hyper-flexion. Other features include heel and toe ventilation, replaceable heel and toe sliders, lots of stretch accordion panels for comfort and a zip-and-ratchet fastening system. Available only in black, in Euro sizes 36-43, at an SRP of £289.99.

Alpinestars; 0039 0423 5286; www.alpinestars.com

SEEN IN 2020

Product News oom g products for your showr The latest in profit-makin

0%

finance on all repair and accessories

Ultimate updates generation of mobile phones, accessories

With the advent of the next case manufacturer quick to update, and phone four new manufacturers have been . The Scottish firm has launched UltimateAddons is no exception iPhone 11 models to suit the latest XS and XR and Samsung S10 and S10+ models.

The waterproof cases have been designed specifically to mount on to motorcycles to provide sat-nav, communications and entertainment duties. The cases have a five-point sealing system with pressure and locking connector port access and a three prong clips, camera and charging separatelythe bike via a selection of system which attaches to SRPs are £36.99. ns.com available clamps and brackets.

611172; www.ultimeaddo UltimateAddons; tel 01854

s 0330 099 6826 uk support@emac.co.

ers Offer your custom

r+ Ride Now, Pay Late

Gaerne SG12 the Gaerne SG12 boot Updated for the 2020 season, e pivot system for strong now features a dual-stag foot feel on the peg. A new lateral support and a natural to the inner face of the boot Grip Guard has been added leg as well as padding where which provides heat resistance is adjustable thermoplastic shin guard touches bike and a new now made or a fat leg. The gaiter is to allow for a knee brace said to be extremely stretch fabric Swiss new a from Acronos, foam now includes memory cell and flexible, and the liner cup give for the toe cap and heel for comfort. Revised designs shock an all-new footbed includes an updated look, while improved ventilation. absorbing material and 13 to adult 14 Available in sizes from junior the SG12 including some half sizes, ys at comes in 11 different colourwa an SRP of £485.

Malcolm Rathmell Sport; tel 01423 772885; www.mrsltd.co.uk

lamp 4 Sealey inspectiondoing servicing

Don’t be in the dark when rechargeable SlimFlex or repairs. Sealey’s new used to illuminate a bike inspection lamp can be 12 LEDs which produce from all angles. It features ly). A (which is bright apparent magnetic base and up to 500 lumens of light close range, and it has a you won’t get dazzled at battery which dimmer switch ensures a 2.6Ah rechargeable Li-ion free use. It’s powered by a hanging hook for hands and which includes two lamps lasts up to eight hours. for SRP £47.95, or as a kit item single a as It can be bought for SRP £119.95. a recharging docking station Sealey; www.sealey.co.uk

Samco hose kits

the new silicone hose kits for Samco Sport has got two The standard kit is a five-piece 2020 Kawasaki KX250F. the OEM radiator and coolant arrangement which replaces colours as standard, with other hoses. It comes in green kit SRP of £131.77. The race-fit available to order, at an s the standard Y-shaped is only three piece as it eliminate improve water flow and joining piece to save weight, leak points. SRP is £141.54. possible of number reduce the 249807; Racebikebitz; tel 01763 www.racebikebitz.com

Oxford Toledo

is a hoping its updated Toledo eOxford Products will be n short jacket aimed at adventur triumph. It’s an all-seaso been designed with long touring riders and has therefore days in the saddle in mind. e of drop liner, a removabl waterpro fully a It features overlays on shoulders and thermal liner and nylon s are fitted at shoulder and elbows. CE level 1 protector to take an optional back elbows and there is a pocket twin include features thy protector. Other note-wor n ports, a neoprene front and single rear ventilatio exterior and interior collar and a selection of in black, black and fluo pockets. The Toledo comes for an SRP of £119.99. or Desert (shades of khaki) Oxford Products; tel 01993 862300; www.oxfordproducts.com

6 and Z3 GS shioned front sprockets Sprockets and chain two new products; RB rubber-cu

Classic racks 5

new combined rear VE (UK) has launched a Royal Alloy and carrier and backrest to fit in Italy, they come Scomadi scooters. Made a black padded fully chrome plated with and the springcushion for the backrest up when not loaded luggage rack flips and rubber required. Hardware for fitting k are both paintwor the protect strips to of £119.50. included in the retail price VE (UK); tel 01159 462991; www.ve-uk.com

2 0 2 0 A D A H E

U K

www.emac.co.uk 46 DECEMBER 2019

r+ Ride Now, Pay Late

visit : For more info

D A H E A

The Packtalk Bold allows aimed at off-road riders.

IP67 communication system directions or music. It is Cardo has released a new used for audible sat-nav of up to 1600m. The two to 15 riders or can be communication between depth of 1m, and has a range cally reconnect f and waterproof up to a performed units will automati rated, meaning it is dustproo initial pairing has been after that to operate the unit handsmeans Dynamic Mesh system it says and allows users levels. The unit has Voice Operation does what noise Natural the ambient on and based range once in adjustment and have automatic volume free. Speakers are by JBL while in use. SRP is £314.99.

13 hours and can be charged an average battery life of www.pama.com Pama; tel 0161 494 4250;

Classic tyres

Evo models. covers the expanded clothing The second half of the book categories – Urban, is now split into four distinct

L S 2

d netting pocket and a for a phone, an elasticate stretch-fabric pocket ideal two Velcro-fastened bits and bobs – and the slim zipped pocket for valuable over the floor when you worldly goods tipping out gussets prevent all your bag. polyester fabric open the from thermoformed 1200D with a Externally the bag is made complete shell roof and UV-resistant PU with a smooth scratch-p bit that goes against top panel. On the rear (the reflective Givi logo on the stop the bag slipping around to grip some adds your leg) a textured panel a two-way zip. by is closing and your leg. Opening construction it of (but given the sturdy As the bag isn’t fully waterpro ng rain cover in case you Givi provides a tight-fitti should be shower proof), to ride in inclement weather. should be injudicious enough d strap elasticate an – simple and Fitting the leg bag is quick stops the bag goes around the thigh and with snap buckle fastening d is also snap-buckle the adjustable waistban bouncing around, while bag. Once on from turning it into an ankle – whether on equipped and stops gravity ive unobtrus it is comfortable and and the straps adjusted I was wearing it. it proved easy to forget of the bike or walking around range? Selling at an SRP Sport-T the of part worthy a A gimmick or but although I think impulse buy for many bikers, an be to priced is it £39 s who eschew normal it will appeal to customer that it is a niche product, and joy. ruin the lines of their pride luggage solutions which i.co.uk www.giv Givi UK; tel 01327 706220;

A Y S A L W

2 0 2 0

with the launch of line of semi-rigid luggage Givi has expanded its Sport-T riders to carry travelling says that the ST608 allow the ST608 Leg Bag. Givi on a supersport or ing the sleek look of leathers who essentials while maintain to the adventure bike rider appealing also it see naked bike, but I can known to man and yet still luggage-carrying device has already fitted every editor Colin Williams. souvenirs, writes products for my phone, yearns for more room for and it was easily big enough The ST608 has a 3-litre capacity Originals. Actually, it is surprisingly of Werther’s pretty much all wallet, keys and a packet capacious and can carry need on a the essentials you might pockets day trip. There are three inside to stop things from rattling and rubbing around too much – a soft

Y S A L W A

Strap-on storage

range AD which and Vintage. Get your free copies from: ALWAYS AHERacing, Touring

L S 2

d

Tried and Teste

Off-road comms 5

SIP has revealed a new range of scooter tyres featuring classic-style tread patterns. Available in 3.50-8in, 3.0010in and 3.50-10in sizes the new tubeless tyres have been created by SIP in collaboration with Vee Rubber and are certified for use at speeds of up to 150km/h (94mph), making ned them suitable for highly-tu The tyres are said to Vespas and Lambrettas. weather handling provide good wet and dry mileage compared and also to have an extended rubber. Prices range from with other classic-style LS2 catalogue3 details of the latest range of with €29.90 to €35.00.

LS2 has a new catalogue Running to a sturdy 212 +49 8191 96999-69; brand. tel the hop; from Scooters clothing SIP helmets and the new road lids is covered, including www.sip-scootershop.com pages, the full range of as off-road and Bob models, as well Fast Storm, Valiant II, Scope Evo adventure helmet and helmets including the Pioneer

U K

JT Sprockets has launched is chain. the dual-sided rubber cushion heavy-duty motorcycle impact on the front sprocket, to the Designed to dampen chain vibration resistant adhesives is bonded with impact and to be the a one-piece moulding which heavy duty chain is claimed sprocket. The Z3 GS super nickel plated heat-treated chromoly steel coloured outer plates and in

by JT, and it features gold 1400cc to up of produced ever strongest suitable for machines corrosion resistance. It is inner plates for improved 520, 525 and 530 sizes. n. according to the applicatio Prices for the new bits vary .com JT Sprockets; www.jtsprockets

Product news

Product news

Product news

Dunlop

ALWAYS AHEAD

2019-2020

TS.COM/UK

WWW.LS2HELME

2019-2020

01670 856342; Tech Design Team; tel www.ls2helmets.com

AlcoSense

and drive, but Everyone knows not to drink after the night judging sobriety the morning AlcoSense Lite 2 is before can be trickier. The that uses a semia personal breath tester a BAC (Blood Alcohol conductor sensor to give of ±0.2%. It Content) reading to an accuracy test, and the perfom a takes only six seconds to limits used across unit can be set to the various £44.99. is SRP UK. the 0088; AlcoSense; tel 0800 195 www.alcosense.co.uk

S.COM/UK

WWW.LS2HELMET

ence Hoodie with a differ and scooterists, Bull-It’s new CE-

bikers Styled to appeal to urban performance is made from Covec high approved Tactical Hoodie e and has CE high levels of abrasion resistanc material which provides and back protectors fitted. level 2 shoulder, elbow and zips for oof and has taped seams It is claimed to be showerpr thermal liner for zip-in a plus elements added protection from the the cooler months. reflective loops for attaching jeans, Extra features include belt in black waterproof pockets. Available details front and rear and SRP. only in sizes S-4XL for £199.99 862300; Oxford Products; 01993 www.oxfordproducts.com

www.em ac.c o.uk

r+ Ride Now, Pay Late

s4 Fist for frosty finger motocrosser, the new Black

Aimed at the hardy winter has a water resistant and Snowflake glove from Fist layer upper paired with a single wind-blocking insulating for between the fingers allows Clarino palm. Spandex used ion the lightweight construct stretch and movement and bars. levels of feel through the is said to provide excellent the on print addition of a silicon Grip is improved by the in the included been has palm, and conductive thread een. to allow use of a touch-scr index finger and thumb XXL at an SRP of £30.

They come in sizes XXS to tel 01423 772885; Malcolm Rathmell Sport; www.mrsltd.co.uk

visit : For more info

.co.uk www.britishdealernews

2019 42 NOVEMBER

www.britishdealernews.co.uk

www.em ac.c o.uk NOVEMBER 2019

Product news

Tried and Tested

CFMOTO mid-rangers 4

Described by CFMOTO as a “modern classic”, the new 700CL-X range reveals a new design direction from the Chinese brand. The styling mixes traditional elements – round headlights, exposed trellis frame, traditional leather seats – with modern styling cues in a similar vein to Honda’s latest CB1000R. Motivation comes from a newly-developed 692cc parallel twin engine producing 75hp and interestingly the manufacturer makes a feature of how quick and simple it is to replace the air and oil filters for maintenance. All models have an electronic throttle, cruise control and a rollover sensor to shut the engine off if the bike is tilted too far, plus there’s a USB charging port tucked away under the seat.

The CFMOTO 700CL-X comes in three variants – Heritage, Adventure and Sport – each of which has been accessorised to appeal to a different market sector, and many other possible configurations are possible. Prices for the UK market haven’t yet been confirmed.

CFMOTO; tel 01507 522900; www.cfmoto-uk.co.uk

Tucano Urbano Diluvio Pro

Product news

Send us the information we need, and we’ll put them in the mag and online.

Remember, dealers need to be informed before consumers. We need trade relevant information about the item, retail pricing and up to date contact details. Plus good quality imagery.

ders. The Packtalk Bold allows It is IP67 sat-nav directions or music.

The nd has a range of up to 1600m. cally reconnect ormed units will automati the unit handsallows users to operate The unit has ased on ambient noise levels.

SRP is £314.99.

Send your information and images to: products@dealernews.co.uk or

AlcoSense

and drive, but Everyone knows not to drink after the night udging sobriety the morning AlcoSense Lite 2 is before can be trickier. The that uses a semia personal breath tester a BAC (Blood Alcohol conductor sensor to give of ±0.2%. It Content) reading to an accuracy test, and the perfom a takes only six seconds to limits used across unit can be set to the various £44.99. is SRP UK. the 0088; AlcoSense; tel 0800 195 www.alcosense.co.uk

British Dealer News, 10 Daddon Court, Clovelly Road Ind Est, Bideford EX39 3FH

er for n rs. e

.

www.em ac.c o.uk NOVEMBER 2019

One of the wettest autumns on record has provided the perfect conditions to test out Tucano Urbano’s Diluvio Pro two-piece oversuit. As the rain batters down for the morning and evening commutes to BDN towers, the Diluvio has been pressed into service on a regular basis and hasn’t shown any signs of leaking, even in the critical crotch area which often seems a weak point on waterproofs.

The Diluvio Pro tops Tucano’s range of waterproof oversuits and is made with the firm’s Hydroscud system – a waterproof, windproof and breathable combination of inner membrane and coated outer fabric. The Milanese manufacturer says that the suit has been rain tower tested to EN14360:204 standards and is waterproof to 10,000mm of static pressure. The fabric is soft to the touch, with a matt finish, which means the trousers don’t flap noisily when riding, and they are also blissfully quiet when walking around in them.

The overtrouser are cut generously enough to make them easy to slip on in a hurry – the large ankle gussets mean they will pull over even a booted foot and the elasticated waist requires no adjustment.

The Vecro strips for securing the ankle gussets are set at an angle, which means the fabric can be wrapped snugly around the lower leg, and reflective material is placed on each hip to improve visibility.

The jacket is made of the same fabric, this time in fluro yellow to stand out in low light conditions. It fits over a regular motorcycle jacket easily and has waist adjustment to ensure a close fit. A Velcrofastened storm flap covers the zip, and there are adjustable Velcro fasteners at the collar and cuffs plus a drawstring waist all designed to prevent water from blowing in while on the move.

Both garments fold up to fit into a two-piece storage bag, which while not the most compact package (if packability is of major importance TU does the Nano suit) doesn’t take up too much room in a top box or under the seat ready for emergencies.

The Diluvio Pro comes in sizes SX-4XL at an SRP of £129.99.

Tucano Urbano; tel 07799 626635; www.tucanourbano.com

47

www.emac.co.uk DECEMBER 2019 47

DeFazio column

DeFazio R

emember when you used to buy motorcycle magazines?

I do, but it was a long time ago. I’m talking decades, and I bought them all at one time or another. Bike, Superbike, Back Street Heroes, Classic Bike, Motor Cycle International.

Classic Mechanics. I also regularly bought EasyRiders, Iron Horse, Supercycle, Custom Bike and one or two other Yankee rags. I read ’em cover to cover, ads’n’all. Then read ’em again.

I also bought MCN – when I couldn’t cadge a copy from someone, that is. MCN, after all, never had much to interest me or most of the guys I hung out with. Generally, we looked at the letters page, perused the bike ads, maybe had a quick mosey around page two and three, and then ignored the rest, which was mostly people falling off bikes on racetracks and getting hysterical over trivial millisecond sporting victories.

Anyway, one time I got busy with a picturecaptioned article in one of the aforementioned comics, specifically about problems with your big end. Never had much trouble there myself, but I waded through gory images and noted the symptoms: the rumblings, the knocking, and the graunching noises. And being a bit of a motorchondriac, I was soon outside in the street with my bike’s engine running and the blunt end of a screwdriver pressed against my shell-like, while the business end probed the crankcase listening for the four horsemen of the apocalypse.

Took me a while, but after 10 minutes or so on ground zero followed by a blast around the block, I’d mentally mapped every sound in that engine from the rattle of the primary chain to the sucking of the carburettors to the slapping of the pistons to the plaintive tick-tick-tack of the tappets.

All was normal enough, I decided. But then – whoah – the bottom end was banging away like an old girlfriend of mine who had a drum kit in her bedroom and knew how to seriously beat some skin. No kidding. Funny how I’d never noticed it before. The failing bottom end, that is. But I decided it was time to sort it out before the engine cases exploded.

BARON FRANKENSTEIN The bike was a 750cc T140 Triumph, incidentally, and I was daily despatching on it in central London. But I’d never stripped and rebuilt a motorcycle engine. Until then, the most complicated bike-related chores I’d ever handled were to change the oil, pump the rubber, and polish it. But I understood the mechanical principles and theory, so I resolved to put all that to the test and save a few bob on professional help.

Two days later I had the bike in the garage with an eight by four sheet of white painted hardboard on the deck. I’d bought a black felt tip pen, had opened my workshop manual, and had laid out the tools like surgical instruments. Then, like Baron Frankenstein, I set to work taking the engine innards out according to the set procedures, and as I stripped and unscrewed and poked and prodded, I laid each nut, bolt, piston, etc on the hardboard and drew around it with the felt tip.

Naturally I made notes too (I’m not stupid, you understand). And four or five hours later I had the entire thing dismantled. I changed the main bearings in the usual way (cases in the oven, bearings in the freezer). I replaced all the seals and bushes, cleaned all the mating faces,

48 DECEMBER 2019

A sideways look at the world of motorcycling, from journalist Danny DeFazio

fitted new gaskets and poured in fresh oil. Took me two solid days, and when I had it reassembled, the motor fired on the second or third kick. The Bonnie ran perfectly, and didn’t bloody-well leak – except for a very minor weep on the front pushrod seal. Then I promptly gave up despatch riding and flogged the bike before something else went wrong.

Since then, I’ve rebuilt other engines and have handled all kinds of mechanical stuff on my cars.

But that first engine is the one you remember (and brings an oily tear to my eye when I think of it, honest).

I’ve also since decided that there was never actually anything wrong with that engine in the first place. T140s always sound the way they sound. I’ve got two of ’em today and I know.

The screwdriver test will routinely turn up all kinds of distressing noises that I stop fretting

“We need to stay fit.

Alert. And upbeat. And you can’t do that with a sawbones poking away at your orifices” about the moment I stop listening. It’s like the apocryphal story of the biker who kept worrying about his oil pressure gauge flicking all over the place, until he finally removed the gauge and rode happily ever after.

MEDICAL MUPPETS Anyway, I mention all this history stuff because I was recently awaiting an MOT and stumbled across an article in a magazine about men’s health; a 1000 word dissertation on the importance of getting regular check-ups from the neck up, and all the way down. I might have read it all, except that this fish doesn’t swallow that kind of self-absorbed, navel-gazing bait. So after the first couple of paragraphs I stopped, threw the article aside, and assumed a pensive repose.

If that old T140 has taught me anything, it’s that if you look for trouble, you’ll find it, and you might even fix it even when it ain’t broken.

But you can’t tell that to everyone, least of all the medical Muppets down at my local doctor’s surgery who, a few weeks ago, sent some literature inviting me in for a check-up. Actually, for various check-ups. Because they’ve got all kinds of tests now, haven’t they? Big end. Small end.

Carburettors. Oil pump. Ignition unit. And exhaust. I’d reached a certain age (they said) where certain things could go wrong, so how about a prod and a poke with the doc?

Now. I’d rather spend a weekend in Chernobyl than 10 seconds at the quackhole. It’s not just the women leaving various specimen sample bottles on the reception counter that kills me. It’s not just the anatomical blueprints hanging on the magnolia.

It’s not just the posters detailing gruesome diseases. It’s not just the cold, clinical atmosphere and medicinal smells. It’s also the underlying orthodoxy and insidious dogma regarding health checks that does it.

So I called to ask if they were nuts and explained patiently (no pun intended) about the dangers of what they were doing. I told ’em that the world is full of motorcycles that run on happily for ever until you start tinkering with them. I explained that if the clutch doesn’t rattle, stop rattling it; if the gearbox is changing up and down, stop prodding. And I loosely pointed at all kinds of data readily available online and detailing how the constant medical tests routinely inflicted on the Great British Public is seriously undermining the nation’s health.

PROBE, BURROW AND GOUGE Don’t misunderstand me. If your bike breaks down, get a mechanic quick and fix the problem.

Or if you spring a sudden leak of fluids or feel your lights dimming, summon help.

However, if you get a mechanic in before you have a clear and definite problem, you’ll have many more problems to follow. Don’t take my word for it. The internet has hundreds of articles hidden in plain sight detailing exactly why constant health check-ups are SERIOUSLY bad for you. Look it up. See if I’m talking out of my exhaust pipe.

But as I said, you can’t tell it to the mechanics down at my local surgery. They’ve been longconditioned to do delve, probe, burrow and even gouge. And they’ve got a living to make, haven’t they?

However, the fact is that misdiagnosis in the medical profession is rampant. X-rays can give you cancer. Routine exploratory procedures have killed thousands from sepsis. Contaminated blood products have killed thousands more. False positives are rife. There’s no evidence that health check-ups lead to longer lives. Many conditions self-heal if you leave ’em alone. Treatment is often worse than the illness. Healthy “at risk” women are having their breasts removed. Plenty of people die happily and peacefully completely unaware that they’re harbouring any number of diseases that might kill ’em if they lived a bit longer. And if you do have something terminal, knowing about it six years before it happens won’t extend your life, but it will probably make you live less happily.

These days, the UK is a sick country. It’s politically sick. Socially sick. Morally sick.

Ideologically sick. And financially sick. We’re largely depressed, demoralised, morose, maudlin, and (apparently) increasingly suicidal. More than ever, we need to stay fit. Alert. And upbeat. And you can’t do that with a sawbones poking away at your orifices, desperately searching for some physical ailment in order to fill you with pills and/or predict the moment when you’re going to snuff it.

Take a tip and avoid the quack as much as possible, for as long as possible.

It ain’t healthy. ■

www.britishdealernews.co.uk

DEALER DISCOUNT OFFER

Call 01237 422660 adsales@dealernews.co.uk

Our Classified Directory is packed full of the best suppliers in the industry. A one-stop reference point, helping you find the products and services you require – quickly! Our guide is now online too, at www.britishdealernews.co.uk, call 01237 422660 to get listed.

ACCESSORIES

Bespoke Emailers eSync Tool v1.0.14.0 (D:\EST\Yamaha-R6-2008_20190522-101230)

Benefit from open rates of up to 29.4%.

Exclusive platform to promote your company or products. Call: 01237 422660 or email: adsales@dealernews.co.uk www.britishdealernews.co.uk

over

6,000 SUBSCRIBERS

DAILY | WEEKLY | MONTHLY | YEARLY

– EST-01 –

eSYNC TOOL PROFESSIONAL DIGITAL THROTTLE BODY SYNC TOOL

All multi-port gasoline engines are supported: motorcycles, ATV/UTVs, racing cars, racing outboard motors with either fuel-injected or carbureted engines.

 Distributed in the UK by www.healtech.co.uk  call 01256 703593

MEGA-3 ENTERPRISE INC.

HIGH POLISH AND CHROME PLATING Material: Aluminum, Zinc, Brass, Steel.

Parts Made by CNC, Forging, Casting, Stamping.

Motocross Grip

PRO-D635M-S3 (3 Color)

PRO-F059 Donut Soft Rubber

“We specialize in chrome plating and polishing’’

No.48-7,Wayao Rd., Dali Dist., Taichung City 412, Taiwan , Tel: +886-4-24066893 , gracew@mega3.com.tw

PROPALM INDUSTRY CO., LTD. propalm.propalm@msa.hinet.net www.propalm.com.tw

NEED A HAND?

25% DEALER DISCOUNT OFFER

Contact Alison: 01237 422660 or adsales@dealernews.co.uk

thekeycollection.co.uk

Key business information for the UK motorcycle and scooter industry

www.britishdealernews.co.uk

Advert designs

from as little as £25 t: 01237 422660

DAILY | WEEKLY | MONTHLY | YEARLY

DAILY | WEEKLY | MONTHLY | YEARLY DECEMBER 2019 49

Classified Directory

CLASSIFIED DIRECTORY

Classified Directory

BATTERIES / CHARGERS

BRAKING

THE UK’S FAVOURITE ONE STOP WHOLESALE SHOP

TUV APPROVED & DOT REGISTERED FACTORY TESTED TO 1500PSI MARINE GRADE STAINLESS STEEL HEAT RESISTANT TEFLON LINER

TRUST VENHILL CABLES / HOSES / BRAKE LINES

TOP QUALITY EUROPEAN BATTERIES AND CHARGERS AT COMPETITIVE PRICES

UK DISTRIBUTOR

CALL 01306 885111

01274 599172

www.directdistributionservices.co.uk

MADE IN UK

BRAKING over

THE UK’S FAVOURITE ONE STOP WHOLESALE SHOP

KEEP UP TO

SPEED

SUBSCRIBERS

THE WORLD’S No1 BRAKE PAD

TOP QUALITY BRAKE DISCS – MANUFACTURED IN EUROPE.

EXCLUSIVE UK DISTRIBUTOR

MOTO 2 WORLD CHAMPIONS

01274 599172

www.directdistributionservices.co.uk

With a FREE

Subscription

SIGN UP TODAY! www.britishdealernews.co.uk

DAILY | WEEKLY | MONTHLY | YEARLY

CLOTHING

6,000 Showcase your latest products in our Product Focus, and put them in front of the dealers, buyers and distributors that matter.

Call 01237 422660 to showcase your product! www.britishdealernews.co.uk

DAILY | WEEKLY | MONTHLY | YEARLY

Brake discs and suspension specialist

0208 858 9052 www.allbikeengineering.co.uk

Distributor of DP brake pads and clutches.

DESIGN / IT / WEB LET’S TALK BUSINESS

WEEKLY NEWSLETTER Sign up Today! thekeycollection.co.uk

thekeycollection.co.uk

SIGN UP TODAY: TINYURL.COM/Y2ODJBR9

IT’S

F REE

DESIGN / IT / WEB New heights in dealer management software

DeepBlue

“your success is our priority”

DeepBlue CloudDMS Cloud-based Dealer Management System for motorcycle dealerships Sales invoicing Stock control

Workshop scheduling Automated invoice email

Automated MOT reminders

PDF Printing

Purchase order management Contact management Double entry accounting

SMS Texting Point of sale

Number plate and postcode lookups

For an onsite or online demo call: 020 8541 4131 First month FREE at: deepbluesystems.com

50 DECEMBER 2019

www.britishdealernews.co.uk

Classified Directory

HARD PARTS AND SPARES

www.electrexworld.co.uk Rotors

HT coils

Stator kits

Generators

Pick-up coils Ignition & lighting stators Stator Kits for Road & Race

Starter motors Regulator/rectifiers Ignition & lighting coils

t: +44(0)1491 682369 f: +44(0)1491 682286 info@electrexworld.co.uk

THE IGNITION

REPAIR SPECIALIST

• Ignition and generator stator repairs for Road, Off-Road & Quads • Rewound to heavier duty Tel: 01279 731 172 • Regulators supplied Fast, Friendly service www.westcountrywindings.co.uk

Unit 6 & 7 Kingstons Farm, Matching Green, Harlow, Essex, CM17 0RB “Our team is on hand to trade account holders for advice and fast turn round solutions on electrical problems”

Lucas Rita Revival Service

-No changes to original -All new electronics -Fit and forget

Trade Discounts - Rewinds - New Parts - Exchange

Magneto HT coils - Electronic Ignitions - Specialists in Electronics Repair

TEL: 016973 43240 FAX: 016973 43245

www.rexs-speedshop.com - 01580 880 768 THE UK’S FAVOURITE ONE STOP WHOLESALE SHOP SERVICE PARTS - PROFIT FROM STOCK - FAST TUV & CE APPROVED

FULL RANGE OF CABLES, CALIPER & FORK SEALS, BEARINGS AND GASKETS, IN-STOCK CALL

01274 599172

www.directdistributionservices.co.uk

25% DEALER DISCOUNT OFFER

Contact Alison: 01237 422660 or adsales@dealernews.co.uk

DAILY | WEEKLY | MONTHLY | YEARLY DECEMBER 2019 51

Classified Directory

INSURANCE Specialist Motorcycle Dealer Insurance For more information contact: Craig Withers on 0121 325 5301 or 07872349974 email: cwithers@richardwallis.co.uk or David Carbutt on 0121 325 5551 email: dcarbutt@richardwallis.co.uk

NEED A HAND?

Advert designs

from as little as £25 t: 01237 422660

Benefit from open rates of up to 29.4%.

Exclusive platform to promote your company or products. Call: 01237 422660 or email: adsales@dealernews.co.uk

Richard V Wallis, Avon House, 435 Stratford Road, Shirley, West Midlands B90 4AA

www.richardwallis.co.uk Richard V Wallis Insurance Brokers is a trading name of Towergate Underwriting Group Limited.

Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered in England and Wales No. 04043759 VAT No. 447284724. Registered Office: 1 Minster Court, Mincing Lane, London EC3R 7AA. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority

Bespoke Emailers

www.britishdealernews.co.uk

DAILY | WEEKLY | MONTHLY | YEARLY

www.britishdealernews.co.uk

over

6,000 SUBSCRIBERS

DAILY | WEEKLY | MONTHLY | YEARLY

LUBRICANTS Worldwide Distributors Required

THE UK’S FAVOURITE ONE STOP WHOLESALE SHOP

High performance lubricants manufactured in the UK

DEALER SPECIAL OFFER

10w40 MA2 - 208L

CONTACT YOUR DISTRIBUTOR FROM ONLY

UK DISTRIBUTOR

£350

PRO CLEAN DISTRIBUTION (UK) LTD 01305 236325 info@pro-clean-uk.com

FROM WORKSHOP TO RETAIL

01274 599172

www.directdistributionservices.co.uk

GET YOUR

products

in the spotlight

OVER

5,950

Showcase your latest products in our Product Focus, and put them in front of the dealers, buyers and distributors that matter.

Call 01237 422660 to showcase your product! www.britishdealernews.co.uk

DAILY | WEEKLY | MONTHLY | YEARLY

SUBSCRIB ERS

e red wid equi d l r R Wo tors u b tri Dis

OFFICIAL SPONSOR OF THE BRITISH MOTOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP

Clean up with Pro Clean!

Email: info@pro-clean-uk.com Tel: 01305 236325

High Performance Motorcycle Lubrication

World Championship Oils

www.rockoil.com

rockoil.lubricants

For information on a direct account, 01778 349333 sales@putoline.co.uk www.putoline.co.uk

UPGRADE TO PUTOLINE

For details on our full range of motorcycle products contact T: 01925 636191 F: 01925 632499 E: mail@rockoil.co.uk

rockoilnews

Made in the UK

OFF-ROAD

T. 01202 667323 T. 01202 667323 E. mito@btconnect.com E. mito@btconnect.com www.mito.uk.com www.mito.uk.com

OFF-ROAD

ACERBIS U.K. Ltd - TEL 0044 (0) 1582 491076 ACERBIS U.K. Ltd - TEL 0044 (0) 1582 491076 ukinfo@acerbis.it - www.acerbisb2b.co.uk ukinfo@acerbis.it www.acerbisb2b.co.uk ACERBIS U.K. Ltd -- TEL 0044 (0)(0) 1582 491076 ACERBIS ACERBIS ACERBIS U.K. U.K. Ltd U.K. Ltd - TEL Ltd TEL 0044 - TEL 0044 (0) 0044 (0) 1582 1582 491076 1582 491076 491076 ACERBIS U.K. Ltd -- TEL 0044 (0)(0) 1582 491076 ACERBIS ACERBIS ACERBIS U.K. U.K. Ltd U.K. Ltd TEL Ltd TEL 0044 TEL 0044 (0) 0044 (0) 1582 1582 491076 1582 491076 491076 ukinfo@acerbis.it www.acerbisb2b.co.uk ACERBIS U.K. Ltd--www.acerbisb2b.co.uk TEL (0) 1582 491076 ukinfo@acerbis.it ukinfo@acerbis.it ukinfo@acerbis.it - www.acerbisb2b.co.uk -0044 www.acerbisb2b.co.uk ukinfo@acerbis.it www.acerbisb2b.co.uk ukinfo@acerbis.it ukinfo@acerbis.it ukinfo@acerbis.it www.acerbisb2b.co.uk www.acerbisb2b.co.uk www.acerbisb2b.co.uk ACERBIS U.K. Ltd TEL 0044 (0) 1582 491076 ACERBIS ACERBIS ACERBIS U.K. U.K. Ltd U.K. Ltd - TEL Ltd TEL - TEL 0044 (0) 0044 (0) 1582 1582 491076 1582 491076 491076 ukinfo@acerbis.it -0044 www.acerbisb2b.co.uk ACERBIS U.K. Ltd --- TEL 0044 (0)(0) 1582 491076 ACERBIS ACERBIS ACERBIS U.K. U.K. Ltd U.K. Ltd - TEL TEL -www.acerbisb2b.co.uk TEL (0) 0044 (0) 1582 (0) 1582 491076 1582 491076 491076 ukinfo@acerbis.it ukinfo@acerbis.it ukinfo@acerbis.it -Ltd -0044 www.acerbisb2b.co.uk ukinfo@acerbis.it ---0044 www.acerbisb2b.co.uk ACERBIS ACERBIS ACERBIS U.K. U.K. Ltd U.K. Ltd - TEL Ltd -www.acerbisb2b.co.uk TEL 0044 - TEL 0044 (0) 0044 (0) 1582 (0) 1582 491076 1582 491076 491076 ACERBIS U.K. Ltd TEL 0044 (0) 1582 491076 ukinfo@acerbis.it www.acerbisb2b.co.uk ACERBIS U.K. Ltd TEL 0044 (0) 1582 491076 ukinfo@acerbis.it ukinfo@acerbis.it ukinfo@acerbis.it www.acerbisb2b.co.uk www.acerbisb2b.co.uk www.acerbisb2b.co.uk ACERBIS ACERBIS ACERBIS U.K. U.K. Ltd U.K. Ltd -- TEL --www.acerbisb2b.co.uk TEL --www.acerbisb2b.co.uk TEL (0) 0044 (0) 1582 (0) 1582 491076 1582 491076 491076 52 DECEMBER 2019 ukinfo@acerbis.it ukinfo@acerbis.it ukinfo@acerbis.it -Ltd -0044 -0044 www.acerbisb2b.co.uk ukinfo@acerbis.it www.acerbisb2b.co.uk ACERBIS ACERBIS ACERBIS U.K. U.K. Ltd U.K. Ltd TEL Ltd TEL 0044 TEL 0044 (0) 0044 (0) 1582 (0) 1582 491076 1582 491076 491076 ACERBIS U.K. Ltd TEL 0044 (0) 1582 491076 ukinfo@acerbis.it -TEL www.acerbisb2b.co.uk ukinfo@acerbis.it ukinfo@acerbis.it ukinfo@acerbis.it --Ltd -0044 --0044 www.acerbisb2b.co.uk ACERBIS ACERBIS ACERBIS U.K. U.K. Ltd U.K. Ltd TEL -www.acerbisb2b.co.uk TEL (0) 0044 1582 (0) 1582 491076 1582 491076 491076 ukinfo@acerbis.it ukinfo@acerbis.it ukinfo@acerbis.it www.acerbisb2b.co.uk www.acerbisb2b.co.uk www.acerbisb2b.co.uk ACERBIS ACERBIS ACERBIS U.K. U.K. Ltd U.K. Ltd -- TEL Ltd --www.acerbisb2b.co.uk TEL -www.acerbisb2b.co.uk TEL 0044 0044 (0)(0) (0) 1582 (0) 1582 491076 1582 491076 491076 ukinfo@acerbis.it --0044 ACERBIS U.K. Ltd TEL 0044 (0) 1582 491076 ukinfo@acerbis.it ukinfo@acerbis.it ukinfo@acerbis.it www.acerbisb2b.co.uk www.acerbisb2b.co.uk www.acerbisb2b.co.uk ACERBIS ACERBIS ACERBIS U.K. U.K. Ltd U.K. Ltd TEL Ltd TEL 0044 TEL 0044 (0) 0044 (0) 1582 (0) 1582 491076 1582 491076 491076 ukinfo@acerbis.it ukinfo@acerbis.it ukinfo@acerbis.it - www.acerbisb2b.co.uk - www.acerbisb2b.co.uk - www.acerbisb2b.co.uk ukinfo@acerbis.it -- www.acerbisb2b.co.uk ukinfo@acerbis.it ukinfo@acerbis.it ukinfo@acerbis.it -Ltd -0044 www.acerbisb2b.co.uk ACERBIS U.K. Ltd --www.acerbisb2b.co.uk TEL 0044 (0)(0) 1582 491076 ACERBIS ACERBIS ACERBIS U.K. U.K. Ltd U.K. Ltd - TEL TEL 0044 -www.acerbisb2b.co.uk TEL (0) 0044 (0) 1582 1582 491076 1582 491076 491076 ukinfo@acerbis.it - www.acerbisb2b.co.uk

SECURITY

www.britishdealernews.co.uk

SUSPENSION Fork tubes, custom length and rechroming specialist

NEW DATES

0208 858 9052

18,19,20 OCTOBER 2020 STONELEIGH PARK WWW.MOTORCYCLE-EXPO.COM

www.allbikeengineering.co.uk

Distributor of DP brake pads and clutches.

SUSPENSION THE UK’S FAVOURITE ONE STOP WHOLESALE SHOP

HI PERFORMANCE ROAD / RACE / OFF-ROAD AND CUSTOM SUSPENSION

Mono Shocks

• • • • •

Built to suit your rider weight & riding style 2 year guarantee Fully re-buildable Made In England For fast delivery contact us

MADE IN THE UK UK DISTRIBUTOR

01274 599172

www.directdistributionservices.co.uk

NEED A HAND?

Advert designs

PRICES FR OM ONLY

from as little as £25 t: 01237 422660

RRP £299.50 inc. Vat

WORLD CLASS SUSPENSION AT AFFORDABLE PRICES

£292

MADE IN THE UK

www.hagon-shocks.co.uk

Tel: 020 8502 6222

THE UK’S FAVOURITE ONE STOP WHOLESALE SHOP

TYRES

FORK STANCHIONS COMPLETE WITH SHUTTLE

www.britishdealernews.co.uk

01274 599172

DAILY | WEEKLY | MONTHLY | YEARLY

www.directdistributionservices.co.uk

WORKSHOP

THE UK’S FAVOURITE ONE STOP WHOLESALE SHOP

ALSO AVAILABLE Innertubes & rim tapes!

MIX & MATCH PAIR DEALS

£ 84.95

from

Sizes include: 120/70/ZR17 160/60ZR17, 180/55/ZR17, 190/50/ZR17

01274 599172

www.directdistributionservices.co.uk

BUSINESS FOR SALE BERTS MOTORCYCLES FOR SALE DUE TO RETIREMENT ISLE OF WIGHT SEASIDE LOCATION MOTORCYCLE MOTs | SALES | SHOWROOM WORKSHOP | REPAIRS READY MADE THRIVING BUSINESS WITH LOYAL CUSTOMERS | GOOD TRADE SUPPLIERS PLEASE CONTACT email: info@bertsmotorcycles.co.uk Tel: 01983614017

over

6,000 SUBSCRIBERS

Showcase your latest products in our Product Focus, and put them in front of the dealers, buyers and distributors that matter.

25% DEALER DISCOUNT OFFER

Call 01237 422660 to showcase your product! www.britishdealernews.co.uk

Contact Alison: 01237 422660 or adsales@dealernews.co.uk DAILY | WEEKLY | MONTHLY | YEARLY

CLASSIFIED LINEAGE ■ AUCTION: YOUR WORSHOP/STORES CLUTTER AUCTIONED SPRING AND AUTUMN IN LINCOLN. COLLECTED WITHIN 50 MILE RADIUS. Ben Bowser: 07890 516568; benjbowser1957@gmail.com or Facebook: On Two Wheels Auction ■ BUSINESS FOR SALE: BERTS MOTORCYCLES FOR SALE: DUE TO RETIREMENT, ISLE OF WIGHT SEASIDE LOCATION, MOTORCYCLE MOTS, SALES, SHOWROOM, WORKSHOP, REPAIRS, READY MADE THRIVING BUSINESS WITH LOYAL CUSTOMERS, GOOD TRADE SUPPLIERS. Email: info@bertsmotorcycles.co.uk; Tel: 01983 614017

Get shot of those obsolete spares, redundant tools and workshop British Dealer News will turn unwanted items in to cash. Remember, what you don’t want someone else does!

Please write your advertisement here in BLOCK CAPITALS.

FA7 4X2:2661

co.uk 01ds2ale3s@dealernews. a

DECEMBER 2019 53

Classified Directory

SHOWS

Financial column

On the Money Market analysis with Roger Willis

I

take a perverse delight in perusing the batches of motorcycle industry financial results which land on my desktop at quarterly intervals. Delving through inevitable obfuscations and distortions, and glaring flawed detail whenever something obviously hasn’t gone according to plan, is all part of the fun. Translating beancounter goobledegook into language understood by us ordinary mortals has become a worthy challenge. And eventually concocting news stories, bearing a comprehensible relationship with reality, can be very satisfying.

Even after processing this stuff for years, some facets never cease to annoy. Non-GAAP restatement of earnings is a typical example.

GAAP stands for “generally accepted accounting principles” – as in fairly honest. So is it safe to assume nonGAAP means crooked? And there’s Volkswagen Group’s infuriating habit of reporting periodic profit figures for Ducati and then promptly inflating them through PPA (purchaseprice allocation) adjustment. Wily bohnezählerin in Wolfsburg and Ingolstadt don’t honour any other group subsidiary in this manner, including those acquired in an approximately similar time-frame. I’ve asked bean-counting friends for an explanation. They smirk and mumble about how PPA is simply a “goodwill accounting” treatment, leaving me and my readers none the wiser.

Piaggio can be equally irritating.

Headline results kick off OK, with percentage growth or shrinkage for turnover and various stages

of profit (operating, pre-tax, net, etc), accompanied by the relevant quantities of filthy lucre. But apart from global bike sales volume, the numbers vanish and we only get percentage movements for individual market and product segment volumes or income – at which point you just

calendar year is, of course, now de rigueur for financial reporting in North America and Europe.

In addition, Honda further confuses with a lack of clarity about what its front-of-house motorcycle sales revenue figures actually encompass. In yearly results to 31 March 2019, the company

“Personal mobility and the attendant leisure applications we sell are potentially under threat from a brave new world of emissions-free mass transportation” know the Italians are bluffing to disguise how pathetically diminutive these are.

UNNECESSARY FRUSTRATION Coping with Asian and Far Eastern corporates which still stick to an oldfashioned fiscal year running from April to the following March is also an unnecessary frustration. Honda, Suzuki and Kawasaki remain glued to this archaic alignment, so their sales volume data doesn’t match annual registration statistics. They tend to conflate wholesale shipments and retail as well, so assessing seasonal performance across important markets in the Northern Hemisphere becomes extremely difficult. I’m sure their investors haven’t got a clue what’s going on. At least Yamaha modernised to calendar-year accountancy some time ago, given its large proportion of US institutional shareholders. A

claimed to have sold 20.238 million bikes, delivering what then translated into revenue of £14.7bn. But it admitted only 13.215 million of these were manufactured by and marketed through wholly-owned subsidiaries.

The other 7.023 million were the progeny of joint-venture affiliate firms, such as Astra Honda in Indonesia and Atlas Honda in Pakistan. Loot relating to them came back to Japan in the form of dividends payable on whatever equity stake Honda has in each affiliate, presumably plus technology and brand licensing fees. Quite how (or whether) this separate and unquantified income stream gets factored into specifically motorcycling turnover or profit is opaque.

DOWNWARD CURVE Anyway, enough whinging about the problems of like-for-like performance parameter establishment. We now

have all the key interim (half-yearly) 2019 or 2019/2020 statements for major bike producers on the global stage filed and can therefore look for conclusions to draw. The blatant abiding theme visible through much of this data is weakening or nonexistent growth and a studied decline in profitability.

Operating profit, sometimes referred to as EBIT (earnings before interest and tax) is the most consistent judge of corporate health and it’s on a downward curve virtually everywhere.

Interim results for the motorcycle operations of Japanese brands show deteriorating profit at this level without exception. Suzuki plunged by 56.8%.

Yamaha was 22.9% down. Honda fell by 16.7%. Kawasaki’s peculiar accumulative accounting system registered a gestural operating loss, as always, after six months. But its full-year profit forecast was pertinent, predicting a 37% retreat. In the US, Harley-Davidson was 24.4% lower and European darling KTM (sorry, Pierer Mobility) managed only an emaciated 1.4% rise. Europe did boast a pair of trend-buckers, however. Profits at Piaggio and BMW Motorrad were respectively 21.3% and 9.1% higher.

Excuses vary. Honda is being hammered by downturns in the vast Asian markets it dominates.

Conversely, Suzuki and Yamaha are on the receiving end of a kicking in developed markets. Kawasaki cites its abject inability to hedge foreign currency translation. Harley holds life, the universe and everything including Donald Trump to blame.

And mysteriously, BMW has suddenly

SHARE PRICES - 22 NOVEMBER 2019

Price Daily change

USA (US dollar) Harley-Davidson Polaris Textron Curtiss

36.47 97.74 46.28 0.24

+1.96% +0.43% +0.13% -6.00%

52-week One year range return

43.69 - 30.17 104.25 - 70.27 58.00 - 42.30 0.50 - 0.07

-4.62% +5.72% -15.87% -21.67%

Notes: Polaris makes Indian bikes, ATVs, snowmobiles, quadricycles and EVs. Textron produces own-brand ATVs and Arctic Cat snowmobiles. Curtiss Motorcycles, formerly Confederate Motors, makes limited-edition cruisers.

CANADA (Canadian dollar) BRP 61.39 -1.06%

62.94 - 32.34

+42.74%

Notes: Bombardier Recreational Products makes Can-Am ATVs and road trikes, Ski-Doo snowmobiles, Sea-Doo PWC and Rotax proprietary engines.

VIETNAM (Hong Kong dollar) VMEPH 0.22 N/A

0.35 - 0.20

-35.29%

Notes: Vietnam Manufacturing & Export Processing Holdings, a JV partner of SYM, is the third-largest Vietnamese bike manufacturer.

SOUTH KOREA (won) KR 455 N/A Daelim 91,900 +2.22%

619 - 452 122,500 - 85,800

-10.08% +7.25%

Notes: KR Motors makes Hyosung bikes and ATVs. Daelim Industrial retains a controlling 59% stake in Daelim Motor, the largest bike manufacturer in Korea. (The remainder is British, owned by Standard Chartered Bank.)

INDONESIA (rupiah) Astra 6625 Indomobil 1220

+0.38% -1.61%

8775 - 6250 3570 - 1195

-19.27% -38.88%

Notes: Astra International is a Honda JV partner. Its controlling shareholder is British conglomerate Jardine Matheson. Indomobil Sukses Internasional is a Suzuki JV partner.

Price Daily change

EUROPE (euro) BMW VW Pierer Piaggio Energica

74.01 +0.61% 176.80 +0.06% 47.40 -4.05% 2.93 +2.67% 2.32 N/A

52-week One year range return

78.30 - 57.99 +6.30% 182.55 - 134.30 +25.29% 59.20 - 45.20 -17.24% 3.16 - 1.71 +78.78% 3.06 - 2.10 -14.07%

Notes: Volkswagen Group owns Ducati. Pierer Mobility owns KTM, Husqvarna and GasGas. Energica Motor is an Italian electric superbike manufacturer.

PAKISTAN (Pakistani rupee) Atlas Honda 381.77 +4.79% Pak Suzuki 187.09 +1.58%

450.00 - 290.00 340.41 - 148.79

Notes: Atlas Honda and Pak Suzuki are JV assembly partners.

INDIA (rupee) Hero Bajaj TVS Eicher Mahindra Maharashtra Scooters India

2441.60 3152.35 442.95 22,753.20 546.00 4731.90 37.10

-0.08% 3382.70 - 2225.60 -13.65% -1.13% 3289.50 - 2400.00 +24.39% -1.22% 594.00 - 338.25 -15.74% +3.64% 24,525.00 - 15,196.95 -4.90% -1.05% 814.00 - 502.55 -25.78% -0.83% 4950.00 - 2550.00 +85.44% +4.95% 50.55 - 21.20 +6.46%

Notes: Hero MotoCorp is India’s largest indigenous bike manufacturer. Bajaj has a major shareholding in KTM and contractual manufacturing ties with it. TVS is an own-brand manufacturer and BMW Motorrad contractor. Eicher makes the Royal Enfield brand. Mahindra & Mahindra has an eponymous bike range, recently became sole proprietor of French scooter brand Peugeot and owns formerly British BSA and branding rights for Czech Jawa. Maharashtra Scooters assembles CKD scooter kits sourced from Bajaj.

Scooters India makes Vikram three-wheeled taxis and light trucks.

TAIWAN (Taiwanese dollar) SYM 21.00 -0.24%

23.50 - 19.50

Notes: Sanyang Motor (SYM) is the leading Taiwanese bike manufacturer.

54 DECEMBER 2019

N/A N/A

+11.84%

Price Daily change

52-week One year range return

JAPAN (yen) Honda Yamaha Suzuki Kawasaki

3108 2261 4837 2440

+0.16% +0.49% -2.10% +0.62%

3300 - 2412 2507 - 1657 5986 - 3501 2980 - 1979

CHINA (yuan) Qianjiang Zongshen Sundiro CETC Lifan Loncin Linhai GAG CFMoto

10.51 5.19 2.36 4.77 2.82 3.57 6.31 11.23 37.00

-2.23% +0.39% +0.43% -0.42% -2.76% -0.56% -1.10% +0.18% -2.37%

13.10 - 8.39 +3.96% 10.57 - 4.22 +4.70% 4.44 - 1.74 -29.76% 8.12 - 4.27 +0.21% 9.65 - 2.63 -36.2% 5.75 - 3.15 -19.78% 10.26 - 5.28 -5.82% 15.00 - 10.11 +11.16% 39.90 - 15.13 +115.12%

CHINA (Hong Kong dollar) Jianshe 4.15 -1.19%

+2.35% +4.57% -8.10% -4.39%

8.35 - 4.08

-46.03%

Notes: Qianjiang owns the Keeway and Benelli brands and is a contract manufacturer for Harley-Davidson.

Zongshen makes own-brand bikes and proprietary engines, including a 650cc motor licensed from Norton, and has JV partnerships with Piaggio, (scooters), and Harley-Davidson (parts). Sundiro is a Honda JV partner. CETC Energy makes Jialing-branded bikes using Honda licensed technology, lithium-ion batteries and pedelecs. Lifan makes own-brand bikes. Loncin is a Kawasaki JV partner, OEM engine contractor to BMW Motorrad and MV Agusta JV partner. Linhai and Jianshe are Yamaha JV partners. Guangzhou Automobile Group (GAG) is the parent of Honda JV partner and own-brand bike manufacturer Wuyang.

CFMoto makes bikes and ATVs, exporting to the UK, and has a JV partnership with KTM.

MALAYSIA (ringgit) Oriental Holdings 6.49 Hong Leong 9.77

+0.15% -0.31%

6.67 - 5.74 11.60 - 8.34

+15.97% -3.54%

Notes: Oriental Holdings is a Honda JV partner. Hong Leong Industries is a Yamaha JV partner.

www.britishdealernews.co.uk

Sell more Finance

ceased to provide any information whatsoever to illuminate ongoing TopBanner.indd good4fortune, in both half-yearly and more recent three-quarterly presentations.

Suspicion that many of them are no longer fully in control of their destiny, with visions of the future either obscured or absent, springs to mind. And we don’t have to look very far for an enormous explanatory elephant in the room – impending electrification. In this sense, the past autumn’s EICMA trade fair in Milan was telling.

POWDER DRY Truly mainsteam electric offerings from big-name global brands, ready for production, were as rare as hen’s teeth. Piaggio launched a sparky Vespa and Kymco unveiled the RevoNEX sports bike. Harley-Davidson, the sole premier-league player with what you could call a “large-capacity” e-steed already in dealerships, had nothing to bolster that LiveWire genre. Instead, it used EICMA to showcase new conventional gas-guzzling adventure and streetfighter models. Kawasaki got a lot of attention for a conceptcum-prototype e-bike featuring the superfluous novelties of clutch, gearbox and chain transmission – apparently to replicate a riding experience within the comfort zone of your average internal-combustion aficionado. No timescale for development was attached.

So what else is already around?

Not much. BMW Motorrad has the existing C-Evolution maxiscooter and is toting a radical e-sports

25%

concept machine. KTM has made a desultory dip into e-dirtbikes and 13/12/2018 there is a limited selection of small e-scooters emerging. The majority of manufacturers swear they are committed to electrification but are keeping their powder dry on a not-yet basis – mindful of various cut-off dates for bans on petrolhead products stretching away into the distance, while reluctant to churn out lossleaders for essentially window-dressing purposes before a genuine mass market coalesces.

Such caution is understandable, because that may never happen. The goalposts keep moving. Long-term industry strategists must be in a blue funk, as sickening realisation that the environmental agenda is racing ahead of them sinks in. Phenomena like the UK’s Extinction Rebellion campaign, increasing Greenpeace activism and other planet-kissing collectivist militancy, channelling into the extraordinary media and political genuflection towards that cringeworthy Swedish kid Greta Thunberg, are promoting climate-emergency hysteria.

Individualism is rapidly becoming a dirty word. Personal mobility solutions and the attendant leisure applications we sell are potentially under threat from a brave new world of emissionsfree mass transportation instead, from these hysterical fantasists. And any notion of promoting prosperity or making a profit will inevitably be condemned as toxic. At least the end will be nigh for all those aberrantly number-crunching accountants who plague my life too. ■

CAUGHT IN THE HONG KONG CROSSFIRE Sustained pro-democracy riots in the semi-detached Chinese enclave of Hong Kong are now engulfing the heart of this dynamic financial hub.

And probably the former UK colony’s biggest commercial property landlord, British-controlled conglomerate Jardine Matheson, is now seriously exposed to the risks this unrest entails. Such information wouldn’t normally be of interest to BDN readers, except Jardine Matheson, boasting more than 460,000 employees, revenue of £33.1bn in 2018 and status among the top 200 global companies, is also effectively one of the world’s largest motorcycle manufacturers.

Established almost 200 years ago, Jardine Matheson is still run by descendants of a founder – the Keswick family. Initial wealth was generated by peddling opium to addicts throughout China from the safety of headquarters in Hong Kong. But it has long since diversified into more reputable Far Eastern enterprises. These

include Indonesia’s Astra International automotive group featured in our share listings. Jardine Matheson holds a majority stake and supremo Ben Keswick – traditionally its “tai-pan” in Cantonese – is the most senior non-Indonesian member on Astra’s board of directors.

Astra is a massive business, turning over £13.16bn last year and trousering a net profit of £1.19bn. The most significant contributor was its Astra Honda joint venture, which produced and sold 4.965 million motorcycles – a 13.3% increase. That tally made it Honda’s second-biggest bike manufacturing centre worldwide, behind but in hot pursuit of the wholly-owned Honda subsidiary in India. The latter churned out 5.52 million, 4.4% down.

And although both markets have declined in the first half of this fiscal year, Astra is clearly catching up. While India has plummeted by 18.7% to 2.68 million, Indonesian Honda sales have only lost a fairly marginal 1.3% to 2.432 million.

12:06

41

e VISIT pag

DECEMBER DEALER DISCOUNT OFFER

Monthly print exposure to 8153 industry professionals Live advertisement on www.britishdealernews.co.uk Vacancy pushed out to over 6000 newsletter subscribers weekly

Call Alison on 01237 422660 DECEMBER 2019 55

Financial column

Helping Motorcycle Dealers

UK statistics

Used Bikes Used bike internet searches

REGISTRATIONS BATTERED BY BREXIT

Top Twenty October 2019

1. Yamaha R1_____________________ 37,411 2. Triumph Tiger___________________ 34,632 3. Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade______ 32,488 4. Triumph Street Triple_____________ 32,229 5. Yamaha R6_____________________ 29,966 6. Harley-Davidson Sportster_________ 29,568 7. BMW S1000RR__________________ 28,978 8. Triumph Bonneville______________ 25,348 9. BMW R1200GS__________________ 24,180 10. Ducati Monster__________________ 24,156

As we head into winter the traditional biking season comes to a close and with it comes a natural tail-off in both motorcycle sales and the number of searches on Auto Trader, and this trend is reflected pretty much across the board in this month’s search data.

Fortunately, it’s also the time of year when new models for 2020 begin to be announced, which generates new activity. This is reflected in solid interest in Triumph’s Street Triple (pictured), which bucks the trend, in part due to Triumph’s early unveiling of its new, Moto2-inspired version; while Honda’s popular CRF1000L Africa Twin also makes its searches debut, coinciding with Honda’s unveiling of the new CRF1100 version for 2020.

After EICMA in Milan and the UK’s Motorcycle Live last month the big show season is now over, but we

11. Harley-Davidson Softail___________ 24,081 12. KTM Duke______________________ 23,598 13. Yamaha MT-07__________________ 22,652 14. Triumph Speed Triple_____________ 21,642 15. Honda CBR600RR________________ 19,987 16. BMW R1200GS Adventure_________ 19,849 17. Honda CRF1000L Africa Twin______ 19,553 18. Kawasaki ZX-6R_________________ 19,144 19. Ducati Multistrada_______________ 18,348 20. Suzuki GSX-R750________________ 18,034

expect that the unveilings of an all-new Honda Fireblade, updated Yamaha R1, and new versions of Triumph’s Bonneville will further boost search activity as prospective buyers begin to contemplate their bikes for next year.

Paul Edmondson Auto Trader product lead

Top Performers • Yamaha NMax • Ducati Multistrada • Yamaha R1 • Honda PCX125 Most dealers are finding the acquisition of stock more difficult this year. The main issue appears to be the availability of part-exchanges generated from fewer new bike sales. Also

56 DECEMBER 2019

Given a chaotic will-we-won’t-we false Brexit climax in October, it’s amazing that monthly bike registrations weren’t worse than the minor fall revealed by MCIA statistics, writes BDN financial editor Roger Willis.

Overall numbers were 1.8% down to 7126.

Motorcycles took the brunt, declining by 6.2% to 4790. Scooters were 3.1% up to 1691. Mopeds added 23.6% at 581 and trikes rose by 56.1% to 64.

As we have now entered the final-quarter twilight zone, varying quantities weren’t hugely significant. Most pain for dealers was felt in the 6511000cc engine band, which fell sharply by 22.9%, representing 366 fewer machines. This slot was also the weakest on a YTD basis, having dropped by 7.1%.

Over-1000cc products sank by 2.2% – a shortfall of only 25 bikes – and has lost a thin 0.7% YTD. In both cases, availability could have been an issue, on the back of minimised showroom inventory responding to current uncertainties and flagging consumer confidence.

At least Yamaha benefited from some succour, its late-to-market Ténéré 700 topping both the 651-1000cc band and taking Adventure Sport style laurels. However, value of that latter achievement was undermined by a 21.1% slump for the category.

WINTER OF DISCONTENT

Dealers expect a fall in demand for second-hand machines With continued volatility in politics this year, demand for used motorcycles retains reasonable buoyancy, with some months reporting stronger activity than in 2018. However, our recent dealer feedback suggests demand in October declined compared with October last year.

The wet UK autumnal weather continues to have a negative effect on sales, although dealers point to politics as the main reason for the decline in activity.

Call Alison on 01237 422660 or email adsales@dealernews.co.uk

affecting used stock availability are owners opting to sell privately and increasing used bike exports coupled with the depressed value of sterling.

Connected to a further delay for Brexit and the General Election on 12 December, UK economic uncertainty continues to intensify.

Combining this with a seasonal fall in demand and the weather forecast for the rest of the year, which one dealer described as “awful”, the majority of dealers expect demand to decline over the next month.

Taking this into account, the Glass’s team will apply a modest decrease across much of the guide for December. The exceptions are where trade feedback or evidence from the market suggests further adjustments are necessary.

Paul McDonald Leisure vehicle editor

Smaller bikes stayed modestly positive. The 126650cc range put on 4.7% and 51-125cc stuff managed a 1.3% rise. Respectively, those gains equated to just 65 and 34 additional registrations.

Hardly a bonanza.

Top-10 major brand listings were inevitably all over the place, considering our approaching winter of discontent. There were five winners. Holding the Chinese banner high, Lexmoto boasted impressive 47.8% monthly growth and seized third step on the podium – also taking pole position on the Supersport style category grid, for what that’s worth. Triumph had slid to sixth but added 8%. Harley-Davidson in seventh spot did much better, stacking on 25.9%.

Piaggio resurfaced in ninth, after several months relegated to the off-chart wilderness, with an 11.8% increase. And Royal Enfield underlined its emergence as a serious contender in tenth place.

In stark contrast to the brand’s recent advances, KTM in fourth led the losers, plunging by 26.1%. And Honda topped the chart as usual but plated 21.2% fewer bikes. BMW slumped by 19.4% and dropped to fifth position, from its moment of glory in second during September. Yamaha recovered runner-up status, although it was 7.2% in arrears. Finally, Kawasaki lost 4%, down in eighth place.

For the 10 months of 2019 to date, registrations were 2% higher at 96,409. Motorcycles remained shiny side up by a marginal 0.5% on 72,728. Scooters have improved by 3.9% to 17,659. Mopeds rose by 16.4% to 5365. Trikes added 15.9% at 657.

www.britishdealernews.co.uk

UK statistics

Registration Data New motorcycle and scooter registrations for October 2019 2019 / 2018 Registrations by Style MOPEDS

Oct 2019

Year to Date

Oct 2018

Change

Oct 2019

Moped Scooters

452

363

24.5%

4224

Moped Others

129

107

20.6%

TOTAL MOPEDS

581

470

23.6%

Adventure Sport

996

1262

Custom

593

494

Naked

1968

Scooter

Oct 2018

% Change

Highest Registering Model

by Style

Manufacturers by brand

Oct 2019 Registrations

3760

12.3%

Lexmoto Echo 50

85

1141

849

34.4%

Lexmoto Aspire 50

25

5365

4609

16.4%

-21.1%

17227

16159

6.6%

Yamaha Tenere 700

115

20.0%

7049

7650

-7.9%

Harley-Davidson Low Rider S

42

2087

-5.7%

31140

30460

2.2%

Royal Enfield Interceptor Int 650

136

Top Ten Oct 2019

1. Honda______________________ 1224 2. Yamaha______________________ 820 3. Lexmoto_____________________ 668 4. KTM_________________________ 437 5. BMW________________________ 431 6. Triumph_____________________ 404 7. Harley-Davidson_______________ 374 8. Kawasaki_____________________ 311 9. Piaggio______________________ 265 10. Royal Enfield__________________ 245

MOTORCYCLES

1691

1640

3.1%

17659

17002

3.9%

Yamaha Nmax 125

247

Sport/Tour

157

151

4.0%

2285

2852

-19.9%

BMW R1250RS

45

Supersport

443

472

-6.1%

7342

7498

-2.1%

Lexmoto LXR125SY

90

Touring

132

151

-12.6%

1989

2294

-13.3%

BMW R1250RT

31

Trail/Enduro

497

488

1.8%

5641

5253

7.4%

KTM 250 Exc TPI

36

Unspecified

4

3

33.3%

55

179

-69.3%

6481

6748

-4.0%

90387

89347

1.2%

Scooter

40

27

48.1%

340

352

-3.4%

Piaggio MP3 300 HPE

19

Other

24

14

71.4%

317

215

47.4%

Piaggio Apé Classic 400

4

TOTAL TRICYCLES

64

41

56.1%

657

567

15.9%

7126

7259

-1.8%

96409

94523

2.0%

TOTAL MOTORCYCLES

Alternative-powered PTWs Registrations by Style MOPEDS

TRICYCLES

TOTAL REGISTRATIONS

2019 / 2018 Registrations by Capacity ENGINE BAND

Oct 2019

0 - 50cc

Year to Date

Oct 2018

% Change

Oct 2019

Oct 2018

% Change

Highest Registering Model

by Capacity

Oct 2019 Oct 2018

Moped Scooters

92

16

Moped Others

20

25

TOTAL MOPEDS

112

41

MOTORCYCLES Adventure Sport

Oct 2019 Registrations

8

3

Naked

27

2

Scooter

24

10

Supersport

0

0

Trail/Enduro

4

1

Unspecified TOTAL MOTORCYCLES

0

0

63

16

646

487

32.6%

5754

4806

19.7%

Lexmoto Echo 50

85

51 - 125cc

2666

2632

1.3%

29993

29660

1.1%

Yamaha Nmax 125

247

TRICYCLES

126 - 650cc

1456

1391

4.7%

20136

17755

13.4%

Royal Enfield Interceptor Int 650

136

Commercial Tricycle

4

1

651 - 1000cc

1233

1599

-22.9%

21366

23004

-7.1%

Yamaha Tenere 700

115

Tricycle

2

0

over 1000cc

1125

1150

-2.2%

19160

19298

-0.7%

BMW R1250GS Adventure

78

TOTAL TRICYCLES

6

1

TOTAL REGISTRATIONS

7126

7259

-1.8%

96409

94523

2.0%

181

58

MONTHLY REGISTRATIONS ROLLING YEAR COMPARISON

TOTAL REGISTRATIONS

EUROPEAN SALES FIGURES Total PTWs registrations in the EU reached 1,156,313 units during the first nine months of 2019, according to the latest figures from ACEM (the European Association of Motorcycle Manufacturers) – an increase of 9.8% compared with the same period in 2018.

Motorcycle registrations increased in all EU countries to reach 912,972 (up 8.5%). Italy remains the largest motorcycle market with 198,119 units (+6.2% year-on-year), followed

by France on 161,822 (+11.6%), Germany on 151,241 (+7.5%), Spain with 136,543 (+10.2%)

and then the UK with 84,591(+1.7%, the smallest year-on-year increase EU-wide, apart from Slovenia).

The moped market reached 243,341 units over the same period, an increase of 14.8% YoY. The largest markets for mopeds were France (70,290 units), the Netherlands (50,232), Belgium (21,419), Germany (21,069) and Poland (16,776).

Electric mopeds, motorcycles and quads totalled 58,295 units during the first nine months of 2019, an increase of 61.3% compared to the same period of 2018 (36,150 units).

250,000

200,000

150,000

25%

France

Germany

Italy Motorcycles

Spain

2019

2018

2019

2018

2019

2018

2019

0

2018

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

2019

50,000

2018

100,000

UK

Mopeds

• Monthly print exposure to 8153 industry professionals • Live advertisement on www.britishdealernews.co.uk • Vacancy pushed out to over 6000 newsletter subscribers weekly

DECEMBER 2019 57 Call Alison on 01237 422660 or email adsales@dealernews.co.uk

International statistics

International H

ADVERTISER

INDEX

An analysis of the motorcycle and scooter market in Argentina by Roger Willis

aving proudly worn a “Nuke Buenos Aires” T-shirt in 1982, my objectivity on the subject of Argentina might be open to question. But, in all honesty, I take no pleasure in that country’s motorcycle trade and industry suffering a severe Belgrano moment (see registrations chart) – torpedoed by rampant inflation, a collapsing currency, deepening recession and the looming risk of yet another sovereign debt default. After all, we’re in the bike business too.

Besides, employing our Vulcan bombers to turn the Argentine capital into a thermo-nuclear wasteland, rather than knocking dents in Port Stanley’s runway during the Falklands War, would have been unnecessary. A virtually uninterrupted succession of inept and generally corrupt politicians, replacing vicious military dictators, have been wrecking the place ever since.

And populist rule by the particularly dysfunctional Peronist Movement has just resumed after a brief interlude.

Cristina Kirchner, who presided over a previous 14-year Peronist economic disaster, has taken the reins again as vice-president and real power behind the throne of stooge president Alberto Fernández. Her first act of desperation will be trying to renegotiate the terms of a £397bn bail-out loan from the International Monetary Fund, a hangover from the last time she was in the saddle.

Things haven’t always been this bad. Growing prosperity under reforming (non-Peronist) president Mauricio Macri, subsidised by external largesse from the IMF among others, pushed motorcycle sales up past the half-million mark in 2014. They peaked in 2017, rising by 44% that year to a record 688,647. According to its Ministerio de Transporte, Argentina allegedly became the 11th-largest bike market globally and third in Latin America behind Brazil and Mexico. Such status didn’t last, of course.

Yet another financial crisis ensued in the middle of 2018, forcing Macri to impose austerity measures and tax imports heavily. Inflation rapidly demolished the value of wages and consumer demand plummeted in the fourth quarter. Annualised bike sales finished 15.9% down at 578,749 and went into free fall – slashed in half as 2019 progressed.

Stepping aside from this tale of woe, Argie enthusiasm for cheap

58 DECEMBER 2019

and cheerful primary-transport motorcycles and scooters has a long history, not least as a manufacturing nation from way back in the 1930s.

More than 50 brands are active in the Argentine market, many of which are unfamiliar to us. Zanella is the oldest surviving indigenous marque, founded in 1948. It began by building mopeds, moving on to small machines up to 125cc with engine technology licensed from the Italian Ceccato concern – designed

by Fabio Taglioni, who went on to become Ducati’s desmodromic guru.

More recently, Zanella held domestic market leadership for eight consecutive years until 2017, churning out upwards of 100,000

“Argie enthusiasm for cheap and cheerful primary-transport motorcycles and scooters has a long history” units a year from two plants. But the vast majority of its production is now assembly of completely knockeddown (CKD) component kits from China, in a 50-500cc range including quads. The company has also fallen on harder times with dramatically plunging numbers, overtaken for top spot by Honda two years ago and now passed by two other local Chinese CKD assembly competitors (see chart).

In fact, CKD assembly completely dominates Argentina’s market, to reduce otherwise excessive import tariffs in an extremely price-sensitive arena. Piaggio has been tariff-busting through this route for ages, which is why Gilera claims fifth ranking.

Another Chinese CKD interloper we’ve never heard of, Kellar, is in sixth spot, only 11.1% down at 18,066. Yamaha ranked seventh on 16,601, although savaged by a 62.6% decline. Other foreign brands avoiding the full tariff burden by

ARGENTINA

B&C EXPRESS tel 01522 791369________________13 BICKERS tel 01394 604040___________________33 BIKE ALERT tel 01322 526236______________ 29, 59 BIKESURE tel 0844 880 3980___________________9 BRP www.brp.com_________________________5

CAPITAL: Buenos Aires POPULATION: 44.94 million AREA: 1,072,500 square miles GDP: £702.3 billion CURRENCY: Peso MOTORCYCLE PARC: N/A

CATALYST COMPUTER SYS. tel 01162 301500_______38 CIAN FA PIPE CO www.marsone-cable.com_______25 EMAC tel 0330 099 6826______ 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 47 FOWLERS tel 01179 718840__________________31 HENDLER WHOLESALE tel 01405 480125_______ 26, 37

using assembly contractors include India’s Hero MotoCorp and Bajaj, as well as KTM. Honda’s ascension to market-share hegemony is attributable to having two sucks of the tariff-dodging sauce bottle.

Everybody else pays duties to get their CKD kits into Latin America’s Mercosur free trade area before they arrive in Argentina. However, Honda wholly manufactures kit bikes destined for Argentina and immediate neighbours within Mercosur, at its huge Brazilian Manaus plant.

Despite the aforementioned depredations, a biker culture remains strong, and has been amply acknowledged

by Dorna. Argentina has a pair of approximately world-class race tracks. The Autódromo Termas de Rio Hondo hosts a MotoGP round and World Superbikes goes to the Circuito San Juan Villicum. But WSBK commentators couldn’t help noticing that the crowd had halved at this year’s event.

Pesos in the pocket of your average gaucho herding corned beef out on the Pampas doesn’t stretch to such luxuries in the current climate.

More and more of them are being relegated to four powered hooves once again, instead of two wheels.

If they’d only apologise for invading Las Malvinas, I might have some sympathy. ■ Argentina Jan-Sept Registrations Registrations

% Change

Q1

108,295

-47.2%

Q2

77,920

-50.9%

Q3

79,369

-32.9%

265,584

-45.1%

YTD

Argentina Jan-Sept Top Five Brands Brand

Registrations

% Change

Honda

62,012

-32.7%

Motomel

35,780

-45.7%

Corven

30,563

-41.3%

Zanella

30,507

-65.4%

Gilera

19,210

-38.5%

IVENDI tel 0345 226 0503____________________55 KYMCO UK tel 01656 645755__________________19 LARSSON UK tel 01536 265633________________14 LEXHAM INSURANCE tel 0845 607 6756___________60 LS2 HELMETS tel 01670 856342_______________ 1, 7 MILVERTONS tel 0121 772 4517________________37 MODE PERFORMANCE tel 0333 666 0680___________4 MOTORCYCLE TRADE EXPO tel 01237 422660____ 10, 11 ORO2U tel 01597 822666____________________26 PRO-MEDIA www.motopromedia.com__________31 QUADZILLA tel 01507 522900_________________15 RS WORKSHOP EQUIPMENT tel 01832 741007______27 SEALEY tel 01284 757500_____________________9 SUPER BIKE LOANS tel 01625 353001____________39 THE KEY COLLECTION tel 01179 719200___________2 THE MOTORING ORGANISATION tel 0330 055 5259___36 UA ACCESSORIES tel 01854 611172_______________6 VE (UK) tel 01159 462991_____________________3 WMD tel 01273 595746_____________________18 WULFSPORT tel 01900 873456_____________ 20, 21

HAVE A GREAT

& HAPPY NEW YEAR from all the team at British Dealer News and Motorcycle Trade Expo www.britishdealernews.co.uk www.motorcycle-expo.com

December 2019 – Issue 226 Look for the ABC stamp of trust.

An ABC certificate provides accurate, independently verified circulation figures giving you confidence in your advertising investment.

UNIQUE DIGITAL READS FOR OCTOBER 2019 VIA ISSUU: 693

www.britishdealernews.co.uk

MOTOR TRADE

& TRAINING SCHOOL

INSURANCE SPECIALISTS

FOR FREE ADVICE OR TO ARRANGE A QUOTE

01379 646506

JOIN THE DEALER DIRECT PARTNERSHIP EXCLUSIVE RATES & SCHEMES FOR:

Mopeds

Scooters

Geared 125’s

3 Wheelers

Quads

A2 Licence Bikes

Adventure Bikes

Classic Scooters

Classic Bikes

Cycles & Electric Cycles

Electric Scooters

Electric Motorcycles

QUICK QUOTES

REFERRAL REWARDS

YOUR OWN REPAIRS

FOR FURTHER DETAILS CALL 01379 646506 WWW.LEXHAMINSURANCE.CO.UK