the complete directory for 2015

Transcription

www.britishdealernews.co.uk
Key business information for the UK motorcycle and scooter industry • April 2015
INSIDE
OFF THE BEATEN
TRACK : p38
A VIEW FROM THE
SHOWROOM : p32
DEALERS HOLD KEY
TO SECURITY : p44
IN THE MAG
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Moneymaker: A lifetime spend
Retro Rumbling: Brit brand revival
Demand for graphic material
Life of Brian: Beware scams
Race shop’s polished performance
All the latest products
Willis: TT ‘takeover’ plans?
EVERY LITTLE HELPS
Cannock dealer goes shopping for more customers – page 12
EXCLUSIVE DEAL FOR MV SCOTLAND : SHIPSHAPE AT BOWKER : MOTORCYCLE INDUSTRY WORTH £2BN : WARR’S CUSTOM PRIZE
Surpr
Surprisingly
good turnout, surprisingly great results. but with the efforts of ‘Expo
Team’ and Stoneleigh as a venue, then perhaps not so surprising!”
Steve Oliver – Moto GB
New season growth, and room for more...
Issue 170
CONTENTS
1-28 BUSINESS NEWS
SPRING IS IN the air and the bike trade is motoring along nicely on cruise control.
Although the 11.7% blossoming of registrations for February conceals a proportion of dealer
demonstrators, all the indications – the consistently robust monthly sales figures and increased
public attendances at all the major shows – suggest that the industry revival continues.
The buying public, it seems, are eager to get
their clutches on bikes such as the Yamaha MT-09
Tracer, the R1, that outrageous Kawasaki H2, a
brace of Suzukis and the raft of new Ducatis, KTMs
and BMWs – to name just a few.
“Talk in the industry
has switched from
doom and gloom to
how best to approach
and fund business
expansion”
WHAT’S MORE, THERE is still room for growth.
According to a state-of-the-industry report by
the MCIA, motorcycle ownership in the UK is – at
20 PTWs per 1000 people – among the lowest in
Europe, and current market, economic and even
weather conditions seem to be favourable for dealers to indulge in a bit of catch up.
In this issue of BDN we report on one dealer who, not content to wait for business to come to
him, has gone shopping for customers at the local Tesco. Renting the space for a display stand
was far from cheap, but his enterprising spirit has been rewarded by at least four shoppers
making impulse buys, and the exercise is to be repeated in July.
Elsewhere is the equally positive story that talk in the industry has switched from doom and
gloom to how best to approach and fund business expansion. The new optimism was detected
by experts who manned the Knowledge Shop at this year’s Motorcycle Trade Expo, held at
Stoneleigh Park in January. It seems small service operations are looking to expand into bigger
premises, while service-only operations are looking to start selling motorcycles and accessories
and making the bold move to become fully fledged motorcycle dealers. Confidence among
Knowledge Shop visitors was “the highest experienced in the past five years”.
What with Honda re-establishing a presence in Nottingham, Harley-Davidson investing heavily
in Preston, Victory/Indian moving back into Scotland – just a selection of the news in this month’s
issue – it’s hard to see a cloud on the horizon.
4 ‘Honda enthusiasts’ open in Nottingham
6 Government consults on shake-up of CBT
8 Exclusive deal for MV Agusta in Scotland
10 British firm forced to look to foreign parts
12 Tesco promotion gets off to a flier
13 Behind the News: Girls on top
14 Room for new growth, says industry study
16 Businesses boldly go into the future
18 Shipshape HD dealer promotes Bowker link
20 Warr’s is King of Custom
21 Foggy and Whit help Huck cancer fund
22 Europe backs safety push
24 International: BMW’s record results
25 International: Paris bike ban infuriates riders
26 Off-road: Classic Dirt Bike Show success
27 Off-road: Yamaha nurtures wannabe motocrossers
28 Events: Suzuki sponsors Sheene festival
30 REACTION
Get On is a member benefit; Challenging comment
32 EXPO VISITOR VOX-POPS
Dealers share their view from the showrooms
34 MONEYMAKER
The lifetime value of a customer
36 RETRO RUMBLINGS
Mike Jackson on the British brand renaissance
38 OFF THE BEATEN TRACK
Looking for something different? Try Can-Am
40 POCKET PROFILES
Graphic material and a polished performance
42 LIFE OF BRIAN COLUMN
Beware the old credit card scam
44 SECURITY: DEALERS HOLD KEY
Unlock profits and help the industry
46-48 PRODUCT NEWS
All the latest kit to hit the market
50 DEFAZIO COLUMN
PAUL SMITH
EDITOR
Why stocking a set of bagpipes is not enough
56-62 STATISTICS SECTION
56 Roger Willis: Dorna in hunt for TT trophy?
56 Share prices
58 Auction results and news
60-61 UK new and used registrations and analysis
62 International: Focus on France
Contents
Editorial
April2 015
Business news
ONTHEMOVE ‘Honda
SPANISH electric road-bike manufacturer
Bultaco has appointed José Antonio Garvía
as new commercial and marketing general
manager and member of the executive
committee of Bultaco Motors. Garvía will
be responsible for marketing and aftersales
for the revived company. “This is part of
Bultaco’s ambitious development plan for
2015, with the manufacture and marketing
of the first models of its new era,” said
Juan Manuel Vinós, CEO and co-founder
of Bultaco Motors. “Bultaco returns in the
21st century with advanced technology, a
self-developed electric propulsion system,
regeneration and accumulation of energy
solutions,” said Vinós.
TAKAHIRO Hachigo, currently Honda’s
managing officer, will assume the top job of
chief executive in June. He replaces current
incumbent Takanobu Ito, who has fulfilled the
role since 2009. Hachigo joined Honda in 1982
at its car R&D operations as a chassis design
engineer — as did his predecessor Ito, whose
career dates back to 1978. Neither of them lists
participation in motorcycle operations at any
point on their CVs. Ito will remain on Honda’s
board, in the role of “director and adviser”.
PRINCIPAL Insurance has appointed Rob
Wardle (below) to the newly created role of
commercial account manager. Wardle, 28,
joins the Manchester-based intermediary
from Bollington Insurance Brokers, with
whom he spent over seven years, firstly
serving general commercial clients as a
renewal executive and latterly specialising
in motor trade business as new business
sales executive. His priority at Principal will
be to develop the company’s motorcycle
retail trade business, complementing its
core consumer bike insurance activity. His
appointment follows the recruitment of
industry executive Damian Keeling as the
company’s executive chair. Founded by
Bowcock in 2011, Principal says it has seen
its annual premium income grow from a
first-year total of £1.11m to £3.3m in 2014.
Having last year doubled office space at its
headquarters, the company now employs
20 staff and has confirmed it will recruit
further in 2015 to bolster its sales and
administration teams.
JOBSCENE
4
Looking for experienced
personnel? See page 49
APRIL 2015
enthusiasts’
open in Nottingham
THE RECENT lack of Honda dealers in
the Nottingham area has been remedied
by the opening of a new store. The Vertu
group, Britain’s third biggest car retailer,
started trading on the city’s Haydn Road
in February.
It is Vertu’s second Honda motorcycle
location; the first has been operating in
Grantham for several years.
On a former car retail site, the
Nottingham premises has a spacious
showroom with a tasteful “schematic”
corporate identity décor, currently being
introduced across the Honda network.
The adjoining workshop area can be
viewed through an observation window.
“We had a lot of customers from the
Nottingham area in Grantham,” says
head of sales Matt Mellor. He and general
manager Jamie Halliday have come from
the Lincolnshire location.
“We were selling one bike a day even
before the official opening. Last year we
sold 298 bikes at Grantham. We’re hoping
things will take off quickly here and that
we’ll uphold the same good reputation
that Grantham has.
“Vertu likes to be different, with a
relaxed, laid-back approach. We’re not
all suits and ties like the car guys – that’s
where some bike dealers fall down,” says
Mellor, whose business card gives his title
as “Honda Enthusiast”.
“We’ll have to wait to see what sells
best. Being in a city may mean selling
more commuter bikes and scooters, but
Vertu Honda’s official opening day in Nottingham
attracted bikers from across the region.
adventure machines are getting stronger
and we expect the second-time-round
Crossrunner to go well this year.”
Second-hands of various makes are also
sold and a boutique area is dedicated to
clothing. Alpinestars and Shark are new
brands for Vertu, while this branch sells
Honda casual wear such as Marc Marquez
T-shirts and even babywear. There are six
full-time staff.
Honda’s BSB team riders Dan Linfoot,
Jason O’Halloran and Jenny Tinmouth
were at the well-attended official opening
day, along with a CBR1000RR Fireblade
pre-season test bike.
Also present was Honda area operations
manager Graham Foster-Vigors, who said
the company had been seeking a suitable
Nottingham location for some time.
“We needed a presence in this key
(From left) Honda’s Graham Foster-Vigors,
with Vertu’s head of sales Matt Mellor and
general manager Jamie Halliday together with
BSB riders Dan Linfoot, Jason O’Halloran and
Jenny Tinmouth.
area, which is a 1000-bike market-place,
to follow on from Vertu’s success in
Grantham. While that site is very much a
destination, this is on a busy route with
passing trade.”
Expansionist Parts Europe seeks field reps for the UK market
DISTRIBUTION GIANT Parts Europe,
which supplies all 57 European countries,
is looking to increase its presence in the
UK and is looking for field reps.
German sales agents Gunther
Hildebrandt and Jorg Kroneberger said:
“We don’t have enough representation
and sales in the UK. There are
opportunities because we are not limited
to one market segment. We have over 500
brands and thousands of product lines.
Our reps can go to any dealer and be able
to sell product relevant to that dealer.
“For example, we have a lot of vintage
parts, going back as far as 1936 when
it comes to Harley-Davidson,” said
Hildebrandt. The management sees
the ‘vintage’ Japanese market as a major
force with further growth expectations
and already provides a comprehensive
service for road bikes from the 1970s
onwards.
“We are really getting into the
European market now. If there’s a market
we will cater for it. We want dealers
to make money,” said Hildebrandt.
“We don’t force them to do big orders.
Delivery to the UK is next day, two days
at the most. We are a one-stop shop.”
Parts Europe will continue its highprofile MotoGP sponsorship this year
and will also be involved with World
Superbikes, motocross grands-prix and
other race series.
Closer to home, the bike parts,
accessories and clothing wholesaler will
continue to sponsor stunt rider Lee
Bowers (Kawasaki).
www.partseurope.eu
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Business news
Terry Rymer heads up
new motorcycle tyre
outlet in Chilworth
GUILDFORD TYRE COMPANY
is launching a new business, GTC
Motorcycle, this month and it will be
headed up by double world champion
Endurance racer and BSB champion
Terry Rymer.
Rymer joins GTC as business
development manager and will be using
his contacts to increase tyres sales on
both the wholesale and retail side of the
business.
The new motorcycle-only branch will
operate from a former GTC premises, a
purpose-built bike depot at 97 New Road,
Chilworth, near Guildford, Surrey, where
the company had originally opened a bike
tyre business in 1998 before moving it to
its head office site in Guildford in 2009.
“We know that bike enthusiasts desire
the very best in customer service and
GTC Motorcycle aims to go one better,”
a company spokesman said. “We also
hope to enhance our reputation for being
a regional wholesaler of motorcycle tyres.
Our customers include Vines BMW,
Destination Triumph, Woking Yamaha,
Hatfields and Snells, to name but a few.
“GTC Motorcycle’s aim is to put the
fun back into this exciting lifestyle hobby
by utilising Terry’s phenomenal racing
pedigree and industry knowledge. He
will also organise track days, ride outs,
race tuition and customer visits behind
the scenes at the BSB rounds.”
Rymer retired from bike racing in
1999 after winning his second world
championship but has remained in the
industry, working as a TV commentator
and as an agent for Pirelli Metzeler
and Moto Direct. Rymer became
British Superbike Champion in 1990
and European Superbike Champion
in 1993 before concentrating on the
World Superbike and Endurance World
Championships, which he won in 1992
and 1999.
www.guildfordmotorcycle.co.uk .
Ex-racer Terry Rymer will head up the new
GTC motorcycle division.
Government consults
on shake-up of CBT
THE DEPARTMENT FOR TRANSPORT (DfT) and the
Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) are consulting
with the motorcycle industry about how CBT can be changed
to strengthen the structure and delivery of the courses and ensure
learner riders are better prepared to ride safely on the public roads.
This consultation does not propose any
changes to the syllabus of the course but
does review the delivery of CBT. This was
considered necessary in the wake of changes
to the practical test and the increasing
numbers of new young riders who do not
go on to take a test and who feature in the
casualty statistics.
The government says that motorcyclists,
and in particular those who are young and/
or inexperienced, are especially vulnerable
and are disproportionately represented
in the Killed and Seriously Injured (KSI)
statistics. In 2013, motorcyclists accounted for 22% of all roaduser deaths despite representing only one% of vehicle traffic; and
19% of all reported motorcycle casualties involved young riders
aged 19 and under.
The DfT and the DVSA recently commissioned research among
trainers and learner motorcyclists to gain a better understanding
of who is taking CBT and to gather views on their experiences of
providing the training or taking their CBT, including how CBT
might be improved.
The report includes recommendations concerning the length
and content of the course. DVSA internal motorcycle data,
sampled during 2013/14, indicated that around 78,000 CBT
certificates were issued to riders aged under 24. During the same
period fewer than 5000 candidates, or around 6%, of young
riders went on to pass their motorcycle test.
The initiatives set out in the consultation document are primarily
aimed at younger riders. The government departments believe
there will also be benefits for all new riders as the changes would
also improve the training received by riders aged 24 and over.
The idea is to make non-regulatory interventions to improve
CBT. The consultation paper suggests a number of measures
that approved training bodies and instructors could adopt on a
voluntary basis. “However, regulatory change for some measures
may be an option in the future and we welcome views on those,”
say the report’s authors. “We are also taking this opportunity
to discuss some potential longer-term developments which will
include looking at how developing IT solutions can support
improvements for the training industry and motorcyclists.
“The Association of Chief Police Officers and the Motorcycle
Industry Association have recently published Realising the
Motorcycling Opportunity – A motorcycle safety and transport policy
framework. Some of their proposals about training, instructor
qualification and quality assurance are the same as, or similar to,
the proposals we have set out in this paper.”
The proposals under consideration cover three broad areas:
the structure and content of courses; the qualification process for
instructors; and standards checks for instructors.
Within the scope of these three areas, the authors say they will
welcome views on proposals to:
1. lign
A training with the National
Standard for Driver and Rider Training
framework and develop training materials
to reflect those standards.
2. Ensure training is tailored to suit the
individual learning needs and skill levels
of each trainee. This includes theoretical
knowledge and ensuring that during the
on-road ride trainees have demonstrated
their competence to ride unaccompanied.
3. Improve public knowledge about CBT
and improve awareness of what learner
riders can expect from their instructor.
4. Revise the standards check so that it supports a risk-based
approach to quality assurance and earned recognition for
good trainers, which they can use to promote and endorse
their skills.
5. Revise the qualification process for motorcycle instructors.
“Regulatory change
for some measures
may be an option
in the future and
we welcome views
on those”
An abridged version of the detailed proposals contained in the
DVSA consultation document appears on the BDN website. The
full version is available in PDF format: www.gov.uk/government/
consultations/modernising-compulsory-basic-training-courses-formotorcyclists
CBT HISTORY
IT WAS the Road Traffic Act 1988 (as amended) that introduced
Compulsory Basic Training, requiring provisional motorcycle
licence holders to complete the course before they were
permitted to ride a motorcycle (or moped, for the 16-year-olds)
unaccompanied on the road.
The certificate issued on completion of the course is valid for
two years, the purpose being give learners some experience on
the road and time to undertake further training prior to taking
their full test. To continue to ride after the two-year period, the
rider must either pass a motorcycle test or undertake another CBT.
Regulations, introduced in 1990, set out the requirements of
the CBT course and details of the authorisation needed by the
instructors delivering the training.
European legislation sets out the requirements of the moped
and motorcycle licence acquisition tests. This includes the
minimum ages for riders and the amount of experience that they
must have to ride certain sized motorcycles.
CBT is not regulated by any European legislation and has
remained largely unchanged since its introduction.
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6
APRIL 2015
Business news
SHORTCUTS Exclusive
BULL-IT, the technical jean manufacturer,
has reclassified its product range as part
of the launch of its 2015 collection. The
move is designed to help consumers better
understand what level of protection they
can expect from different Bull-it products.
The new naming system uses a simpleto-follow “Slide Rating” or SR scale. This
indicates the minimum amount of time,
based on testing, that a rider can expect
to slide in safety without the product’s
protection being compromised.
SPORTSBIKE riders who bought a 2015 Aprilia
RSV4 RF prior to the end of last month are
to be Aprilia’s guests at Donington Park for
the UK round of the 2015 World Superbike
Championship on 24 May. RSV4 RF rider and
WSB race-winner Leon Haslam will be there
to welcome buyers of the 201hp road-going
version of his race bike, who will also enjoy
VIP hospitality, a pit-garage visit and unique
merchandise to commemorate the day.
FOOTMAN JAMES is now the exclusive
insurance partner to the National
Motorcycle Museum. The sponsorship
covers the museum’s race team, specifically
Northern Irish racer William Dunlop, who
will be riding an ex-works Crighton Norton
Rotary in the F1 race at this year’s classic TT.
www.footmanjames.co.uk
TEAM ILR has announced that Paton
Motorcycles has asked Ian Lougher to oversee
the fortunes of its Lightweight (Supertwin)
bike at the 2015 Isle of Man TT races under the
banner of Paton/Team ILR. The Paton S1 was
homologated last year just in time for the TT, at
which Olie Linsdell grabbed a very creditable
sixth-place finish.
deal for MV
Agusta in Scotland
NEW MV Agusta dealer Perth Motorcycles was cock-a-hoop
at the Scottish Motorcycle Show. “We’ve only had the franchise
for five minutes and we’ve already sold a £31,000 Leon Camier
homologation special,” said a delighted Paul Weinberger.
MV Agusta country manager Mark Franklin said: “We have
appointed Perth Motorcycles of Scotland to be our exclusive
representation for the Scottish market for MV Agusta.
“Paul was prepared to take on the responsibility of servicing and
aftercare for the Highland region too, meaning better customer
care for our mutual clients regardless of volumes or geographic
location.
“In particular he has a small fleet of vans to collect the more
remote customers’ bikes for servicing. All these attributes
convinced me this was the right choice to rebuild the brand
in Scotland and I am very proud and grateful to have Perth
Motorcycles as partners.”
The dealership has had stocks of some of the MV range of bikes
temporarily on show at the company’s Cupar Suzuki branch, and
“the interest that people are showing is phenomenal, sky high”,
said Weinberger. A display model of the Brutale Dragster on the
dealer’s show stand was attracting a lot of attention.
Weinberger said MV, with its history of recurring financial
and back-up problems, had been seen for years as a problematic
company but all that had changed with the Mercedes AMG
hook-up, the German company buying a 25% stake in MV in
November 2014.
Weinberger had taken delivery of two shipments of new
machines but had no idea how many MVs he would sell in the
first year.
“They are the sexiest bikes here [at the Scottish show], I will
say that, but some of them don’t look outrageously practical. That
doesn’t seem to matter to MV fans, though. It’s a specialist market
and there are enough people out there who don’t care that you
can’t use bungee straps or carry the wife in comfort.
“MV Agusta is producing more practical bikes as well. It is
bringing out a proper tourer using the triple-cylinder engine, so I
Paul Weinberger, right, and Ronnie Martin of Perth Motorcycles said
their MV display was attracting a lot of attention at the Scottish
Motorcycle Show.
have high hopes for that.”
Perth, the eventual destination of the MV operation, was,
Weinberger said, ideally placed to attract business from Aberdeen,
Glasgow and Edinburgh.
www.perthmcs.com
Oil industry crisis ‘not catastrophic’
Ducati Manchester was the target of a smash
and grab raid in which “a lot of one and twopiece Dainese suits were stolen” according to
a post on the company’s Facebook page. The
dealership, tagged online as “the world’s first
Ducati concept store”, declined to comment
further, citing the ongoing police investigation.
Keep up to speed with the latest news at
THE IMPACT of the serious downturn
in the Scottish oil industry seems
to be easing, according to Ducati
Glasgow. Between 20% and 30% of the
dealership’s business emanates from the
oil “capital” of Aberdeen and “two or
three” customers had cancelled orders on
the back of uncertainty caused by the oil
price crash.
Speaking at the Scottish Motorcycle
Show, however, Martin Rees, MD of
Ducati Glasgow, revealed the customers
were “back talking to us”.
“There seems to have been a bit of a
Race FX sees 30% uplift in Bell helmets
RACE FX is still reaping the rewards from its Expo presence, with MD Paul Irwin
reporting that the Blackburn-based distributor is “struggling to keep up” with demand
for Bell helmets.
The company picked up “between 40 and 50” new dealers, bringing the total of retail
outlets to over 800.
“We have seen a 30% increase in Bell sales due to Expo,” said Irwin. “Where else can
you show dealers the full range and colour options available? It’s just a good place to meet
people, make contact and turn it into something.
“We had more leads than ever before, and 99% of them turned into business. We had
a product that people wanted this year. The desirability of Bell is definitely apparent.
We have been to Expo before as an off-road distributor but there isn’t so much off-road
business. To go there with street helmets that are in demand is the key. There seem to be
more dealers looking for street helmets and it was very, very positive.”
Irwin said Race FX had sold out of the William Dunlop replica and had been forced
to order new supplies, which were now in stock. The Bullitt and Custom 500 carbon
lids had also proved popular.
www.racefx.com
8
APRIL 2015
knee-jerk reaction to the oil industry
downturn. People started to panic and
we had a couple of cancellations. It is
an uneasy situation. It does seem to be
stabilising, however – as evidenced by the
recovering fuel prices at the pumps – and
the customers who cancelled are coming
back. One of them was talking to us at
the show about reinstating his order.
“I wouldn’t say it was business as usual
but it will certainly not be as catastrophic
as we first thought.”
Despite the hit to business from
Aberdeen, Ducati Glasgow reports
registering and supplying “32 or 33”
Scramblers.
“I haven’t seen a beginning to a year as
strong as this in all the 13 years I’ve been a
dealer,” said Rees. “We did 165 new bikes
last year. This year we had already done
about 80 by the beginning of March.
That’s huge. Obviously the big name at
the moment is the Scrambler. We’ve done
32/33, somewhere in that ball park. The
rest of the 80 are new Panigale 1299s
(we’ve done about a dozen of them)
Diavel Titaniums (which are another bigticket item at £23,000), and Monsters.
Of course, we had 13 either new models
or revisions this year.”
Rees said customers across a wide age
range were buying into the Scrambler
lifestyle as the Italian “coffee-shop
culture” spread to the UK.
He believed Ducati UK had sold 1000
Scramblers. “That’s a massive increase in
product sales. It has been a huge success.
The Scrambler is a stand-alone brand,
and if you consider the UK should sell
about 2500-2800 Ducati machines
separately, it’s a really huge year for the
manufacturer.”
It should also be a big year for Ducati
Glasgow, which will be making a
statement “in the next few weeks” about
progress on its plans to build and open a
bespoke Ducati superstore on Hillington
industrial estate, five miles outside the
city centre.
Hillington is already the new home
of Ride On, Glasgow, which is in the
process of migrating its Nithsdale Street
business to the out-of-town site. The
new showroom, with parts and clothing
departments, opened about six weeks
ago.
The Nithsdale building still houses the
company workshop and remains as the
main base for its training school. They
will be transferred over by October.
At the Scottish show, Ride On was
displaying a range of Kymco machines,
supported by Masco dealer development
manager Mark Herbert, and two
machines from its new EBR franchise. It
also stocks Rieju.
www.ducatiglasgow.co.uk
www.rideonmotorcycles.co.uk
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Business news
SHORTCUTS British
BRADBURY Bros, the Huddersfieldbased national distributor of aftermarket
products, has added Avon Tyres, WD40,
Cataclean and the Pro-Green range to its
portfolio. As well as stocking the full range
of Avon rubber, Bradbury Bros is now an
official supplier of the WD40 Motorbike
range, which was recently expanded to
include brake and chain cleaner, chain lube
and wax, motorbike wash and silicon shine.
Cataclean is a “one-shot” fuel and engine
system treatment that was launched at
Expo. The introduction of the Pro-Green
bike-wash range complements the existing
arsenal of own-brand TL engine degreaser,
rust and corrosion remover, and air filter
cleaner. The new additions mean that
Bradbury now stocks well over 17,000
product lines. www.bradburybros.co.uk
IN BDN’s online poll, 70% of the 44 respondents
said they agree that there should be a licensing/
accreditation system for all motorcycle
technicians. BDN reported in December that the
MCIA and the Institute of the Motor Industry
(IMI) had called for a formalised system.
STORM Buggies is looking for dealers to
take on its range of road legal and off-road
quads. The company is the main UK agent
for Joyner buggies, Hammerhead buggies
and the range of kids’ Orion quad bikes.
The Orion 110cc quad will be launching
late spring and features “aggressive new
styling alongside the addition of high
quality gas shocks”. The Chelmsford-based
company has premises where potential
customers can view its product range.
www.stormbuggies.com
firm forced to
look to foreign parts
VILLIERS SERVICES owner Steve Gollings is proud of his
company’s claim that it has “the largest stock of Villiers engine
spares in the world” – and sad that British companies cannot
fulfil his supply needs.
While keen to exclude a small band of regular indigenous
suppliers, many of whom were “like friends”, Gollings said:
“They have got a funny attitude in this country. Quite a lot
of people in manufacturing make a big deal about supplying a
quote. They turn it into a drama to justify their prices. You never
have that problem in the Far East. If you send a sample to Taiwan,
you get a working part back.
“I don’t want to be the bloke who sends all his money abroad
to have everything made. I will give Britain a chance and we will
only go abroad if we are let down.”
Gollings was speaking during a visit with his father, Paul, to
Motorcycle Trade Expo at Stoneleigh Park in Warwickshire. The
pair were on a mission to source potential parts supplies for his
business, based in Brierley Hill, West Midlands.
Villiers Services has been trading for over 20 years and evolved
from the father-and-son enthusiasm for the engines produced by
the famous Wolverhampton-based manufacturer. They found
themselves amassing bikes and parts and unable to refuse any
opportunity to buy more.
From single-cylinder machines they turned their attentions to
twins. Steve said the business stocks “every part for every postwar Villiers engine”. It also sells general motorcycle and Greeves
spares, including the entire ex-Greeves factory stock from Terry
Silvester, and a range of Villiers-powered bikes. The five-strong
workshop staff specialise in reconditioning Villiers engines.
“We came to Expo three years ago, gave an Indian firm
a sample for a kick start and within a fortnight we placed the
order. Two months later, when the order arrived, the kick starts
Steve Gollings spots that a Carfield bike displayed on BDN’s Expo stand
has a Villiers engine – and identifies his own company’s spare parts.
were chromed and had even got rubbers on. The Asians have a
completely different attitude. They don’t even want any payment
up front.
“Over the past two years we have moved the business forward
with online ordering. The quantity of parts we are selling has
now increased, which means we need to start buying in bigger
quantities. That’s why we are here at Expo to look at foreign parts
suppliers,” said Steve.
Ten minutes after Steve and Paul left the BDN stand at Expo, a
delighted Gollings announced he had struck gold at the first port
of call – Forsa of Taiwan, where the owner gave him an instant,
competitive quote.
www.villiersservices.co.uk
Rethink as Alba Customs opens in Saltire premises
Dealers visiting the Wilby Bike Dealer
Insurance stand at January’s Motorcycle
Trade Expo had the chance to enter a prize
draw to win two VIP British Superbike tickets.
Over the three days at Stoneleigh Park and via
email Wilby had more than 150 entries and
the lucky winner was Jonathan King (left), MD
at Tamworth Yamaha.
ALBA CUSTOMS, the Victory/Indian
offshoot of Saltire Motorcycles of
Edinburgh, officially opened to the public
on the same weekend as the Scottish
Motorcycle Show at nearby Ingliston.
Saltire ran a customer shuttle bus from
its premises on a business park just off
Gorgie Road to the industry showcase,
held on 7/8 March.
As well as an Alba Customs presence at
the show, Saltire had staff representatives
on the respective Suzuki and Yamaha
manufacturer stands.
Alba has a blend of 17 Victory and
Indian machines in its newly opened
showroom, creatively incorporated into
Saltire’s existing premises after plans to
take on an adjoining showroom were
thwarted by astronomical business rates.
“Alba Customs is now fully
operational,” said owner Calum Murray.
“We had to be extremely creative to
make enough space but Polaris, myself
and most importantly my customers are
delighted with the result.
Murray added: “I’m currently exploring
options for the relocation of my rider
training yard. This would offer a significant
footprint for me to build a bespoke Alba
Customs operation alongside the existing
business site. Here’s hoping the local
planners and rates assessors will see sense
and support the on-going development of
my business. In the meantime Saltire and
Alba will co-exist under one roof, which is
no bad thing in this fledgling year for Alba
Customs.’’
www.saltiremotorcycles.com
Black Horse reports ‘strongest year’ and sees good times ahead for industry
BLACK HORSE, one of the UK’s leading motor finance
providers and part of Lloyds Banking Group, has reported
year-on-year net lending growth of 45% to £6.8bn in
2014, delivering its “strongest year yet”.
Black Horse says it added 275,000 new customers
across its motor, bike and leisure business during 2014
and reports “increased engagement and sales” in the
motorcycle sector after the recent regulatory changes.
Investment in its digital offering is also bringing
rewards, according to the Black Horse MD Chris Sutton.
“This has provided better finance systems, focusing on
swift payments to dealers so that consumers receive their
vehicle of choice in a quick and efficient manner.
“We continue to report strong growth and are proud of
the progress we have made in 2014. Our progress has been
driven by new business growth, meeting strong consumer
10
APRIL 2015
demand for new and used cars, bikes and motorhomes,
offering competitively priced finance and working closely
with manufacturers and our dealer community.”
Last year’s success was against a backdrop of rising
consumer confidence and greater stability in the UK
economy, according to Paul McGill, head of motorcycle
finance at Black Horse.
“In addition, the unveiling of new models for 2015
was met with great excitement, and issues around
the environment and congestion continue to create
opportunities for motorcycle sales, putting the industry
in a strong position for 2015.”
Reflecting on the changes to the regulatory system,
McGill said the over-riding aim of the FCA’s Consumer
Credit Handbook was to put the customer at the heart of
the transaction, and Black Horse had worked closely with
dealers to help them to comply with and implement the
rules and guidelines successfully.
“The feedback we have received so far has been really
positive, with dealers adopting the new approach. Very
early results indicate increased engagement and sales
being generated,” said McGill.
The company has developed a Black Horse Roadmap
to help dealers navigate through the changes.
“With the changes behind us and new processes
beginning to bed in, 2015 offers big opportunities for the
motorcycle industry. Dealers providing finance offers with
a clear emphasis on doing the right thing for customers
should help us to achieve increased sales revenue and
ultimately more satisfied customers which can only be a
good thing for the industry overall.”
www.blackhorse.co.uk
Business news
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APRIL 2015
11
Business news
Tesco promotion
gets off to a flier
HOWEVER HARD they try
to stick to their shopping list,
most supermarket shoppers come
away from the store with the odd
impulse buy.
At Tesco in Cannock, those
extra “treats” have included a
motorcycle or scooter, thanks to a
sales promotion run by local dealer
Speedway Motorcycles.
During March, Speedway
rented display space in the 24/7
Tesco store, which is just a tenminute walk from the bike shop,
and manned it during office hours.
Staff handed out leaflets and
encouraged people to participate
in an online promotion.
Speedway
attributes
four
registrations directly to the
marketing campaign, has seen
footfall to its showroom increase,
and had shifted 30 bikes in two
and half weeks when interviewed
by BDN.
The dealership was specifically
targeting younger people at
Tesco, encouraging them to take
selfies or use their friends to take
photographs of them on a Sinnis
scooter. Everyone who then
went on to post their pictures on
Facebook and “like” the posting
was entered in a competition
to win the Sinnis Flair scooter,
retailing at £899.
A similar promotion will be
run during the month of July
for a Sinnis 125 Scrambler. Both
machines have been donated by
the Brighton-based importer.
Garry Plested, whose sons
Matt and Ryan own Speedway
Motorcycles, said the display
stand had featured seven machines
representing the dealership range
of AJS, Genata, Lexmoto, Pulse
and KSR machines – the latter
Austrian-assembled
Chinese
brand having just been taken on
as a result of a visit to Motorcycle
Trade Expo in January.
Plested said it was the first
time such a promotion had been
attempted. “The stand is costing
us about £2000 to rent, which is
a lot of money when you think
there is only £300 or £400 profit
on a bike, so we had to sell a
lot of machines to make it pay.
Fortunately, it is doing really well.
“The best thing for us is the
spin-off, with lots of people
coming to our showroom,” said
Plested. “You can walk to Tesco in
ten minutes from Speedway, but
even now people are saying they
hadn’t realised we were here – and
we opened in 2008.
“We have sold some customers
bikes in the showroom, so it is
working really, really well.”
Of the Facebook promotion,
Plested added: “It is creating a
huge amount of interest – and
some increasingly hilarious and
acrobatic ways to be pictured on
the scooter!”
The draw for the Sinnis Flair
was being made as BDN went to
press.
www.speedwaymotorcycles.co.uk
Let us know about your
innovative sales promotions:
[email protected]
COVEC Ltd, the specialist technical textiles company and
owner of Bull-It Jeans, has appointed Medi8 to manage its
PR and communications in the UK. As well as working with
brands, Medi8 has extensive experience of working with
technical fabrics including the Gore-Tex and Windstopper
brands. “Covec is a fantastic product and we need to ensure
consistency in the way we communicate the benefits of the
technology, which is why we have chosen to work with Medi8,”
explains Keith Bloxsome, CEO of Covec, which is based in
Swanwick, Hampshire.
WK Bikes Racing team will again contest the Lightweight TT at
the Isle of Man this June, with a full factory-backed CF Moto 650i
piloted by two-time TT race winner Gary Johnson. The development
programme suffered a setback when the race machine was totally
destroyed in a fire last September but since then, many hours have
been invested to rebuild the bike and push forward the development
programme. www.wkbikes.com
THE first stage of the new online Datatool Dealer Portal has
gone live. Dealers can now register alarms on-line, eliminating
the need to complete the three-part fitting certificate. Once
registered, the system will auto-generate the customer a login and the customer can then download a fitting certificate.
This simple process will be less time consuming for the dealer,
eliminate postage costs and make retrieval of certificates
much simpler for customers in the future. www.datatool.co.uk/
login; [email protected]
KAWASAKI road-bike customers in the UK will now receive a unique
“history key” as part of their ownership package called K.PAC. The USB
key fob device – believed to be an industry “first” – has been designed
to store the motorcycle’s service history, dealer and customer added
notes and such useful facts as recall information. Activated as part of
the process to initialise membership of the Kawasaki Riders Club, the
“history key” is not intended to replace the hard-copy service book
but “to create an easy-to-access and updateable point of reference”.
12 APRIL 2015
REALsafe Technologies of Durham took home the
national Grand Prix prize in the GREAT Faces of
British Business competition held at the BT Tower
in London on 3 March.
The company received its award from Business
Minister Matthew Hancock. REALSafe MD Zoe
Farrington (centre) said: “We’re absolutely
thrilled. Winning this award truly sets us apart
from the competition in our field.”
REALsafe launched a revolutionary safety-based
app for motorcyclists in February 2013 which tracks
rides and records points of interest. In addition, it
can automatically detect if a rider has had a crash
and will contact the Emergency Services.
REALsafe’s prize is a bespoke advertising
campaign worth £30,000, an iPad Air and
complimentary unlimited BT Wi-Fi for 12 months,
courtesy of BT Business. It also receives a package
of export support from UK Trade & Investment
(UKTI).
www.greatbusiness.gov.uk
Spyders make inroads into Devon
OHG QUADS, part of On a Hill Garage, based at Lynton Cross
in Ilfracombe, Devon, is to add the Can-Am Spyder Roadster
to its stock of ATVs and SSVs manufactured by Bombardier
Recreational Products (BRP).
The family-run business, which opened in Berrynarbor in
1978 as a petrol station, MOT testing and car repair centre,
has been a Can-Am ATV and SSV dealership since 2005. The
introduction of the Roadster range, which includes the CanAm Spyder RS, RT and ST models, “signals the business’s
commitment to stepping up its recreational offering to its
customer base and its anticipated growth over the next few
years”.
Geoff Gove at On a Hill Garage, comments: “Over the past
few years we have noticed a prominent spike in the ATV and
recreational vehicle market in the region but there’s still plenty
of untapped potential. Our son Lloyd, who is very active in the
business, identified the opportunity for the Can-Am Spyder
to join our portfolio. The introduction of this new product to
our dealership will allow us to continue offering our new and
existing customer base a wide-ranging choice of high-quality
powersport products.”
www.ohgquads.com
See our BRP feature on page 38.
MotoNovo Finance has been placed 14th in the Sunday Times 100
Best UK Companies to Work For poll. More than 1050 organisations
submitted applications for assessment, with 325 of these listed
in four categories: 100 Best Small Companies, 100 Best MediumSized Companies, 25 Best Large Companies and 100 Best Non-Profit
Organisations. MotoNovo Finance’s recognition in the Best MediumSized category was achieved in competition with some very highly
recognisable brands from the automotive and financial services
industries. The company employs 311 within “Team MotoNovo”.
www.motonovofinance.com
Former owner ‘gutted’ at collapse
THE FORMER owner of a Cambridge motorcycle company is
“gutted” that the business he built up with the help of his late
brother has gone into liquidation two years after he sold it.
Garry Martin was speaking after a creditors’ meeting in
Duxford following the liquidation of Wheelfit Motorcycles.
Martin attended the 16 March meeting as landlord of the
property. He reported that there were “quite a few creditors”,
including a major tyre manufacturer, and that the list was likely to
grow as the liquidator, Purnells of Falmouth, investigated further.
Wheelfit was put into voluntary liquidation almost exactly
two years after ownership was transferred to Nathan Frost
and Katherine “Katie” Klingopolus. The company website
intimated on 22 January 2015 that it was going to “revamp the
shop to make way for some more new toys. Come down and
grab yourself a bargain”, although there is some suggestion the
site may subsequently have been hacked.
Martin set up the business in 1993 on an industrial estate at
Waterbeach, Cambridgeshire, and ran it with his brother for
nearly 20 years. The business twice relocated to larger units on
the same estate and had diversified from tyres and a workshop
to sell clothing and accessories. Before Martin sold out, Wheelfit
had installed a dyno and the workshop had been newly kitted out.
“We were known as the place to go for motorcycle tyres in
the area. We had a good relationship with all the big suppliers.
We all suffered a bit in the downturn in 2008 but the business
was back on track when I sold it. My brother, Ashley, was killed
in a motorcycle accident in January 2009. I carried on for a bit
without my brother but it wasn’t quite the same without him so
I made the decision to sell the business in February 2013.
“I wish I hadn’t,” said Martin. “Frost managed to destroy in
two years everything we had built up.”
Martin, who now lives in a village near Pickering, was himself
left in a wheelchair after his motorcycle was hit from behind by
a car in June 1999. The injury was the spur for the expansion
into retail, Martin having previously worked the spanners.
BDN was unable to contact the current owners.
Creditors should contact: [email protected]
for the Beeb, and that pays for an awful
lot of dental bridgework and hurt feelings.
Moreover, whacking a workmate in the
kisser is an instant dismissal offence, and
he’s evidently still on the public payroll.
That aside, at the time of writing it
seems that almost 1,000,000 people have
signed a petition to have him reinstated,
never mind that he’s allegedly an overpaid
yob with a track record of racial and
homophobic slurs. Meanwhile, a rival Sack
Clarkson petition could muster only 20,000
supporters.
It all underlines the fact that the king
can do no wrong. It also suggests that
what the biking world needs is its own
Clarkson, sympathetic to the needs and
wishes of the motorcycling community
and willing to promote the cause. But as far
as the world-famous Top Gear presenter is
concerned, motorcyclists are nothing more
than “organ donors”.
However, underlying all this rhetoric is
the perverse fact that the general public,
up to a child-molesting point, likes the
bad guys much more than it likes the good
guys. And that’s something the motorcycle
manufacturers
might care to take
on board when
promoting
their
products.
Never mind the
cool dudes with
their five o’clock
designer stubble,
grandma-loving
expressions, and
catwalk models on
the pillions. Let’s
have a few more
obvious hooligans
and troublemakers
on the brochures,
ideally
spouting
a few secret truths in the side copy about
what bikers really think of the world at
large.
Worked for the Beeb, didn’t it?
FINALLY, IN CASE YOU MISSED IT, 8 MARCH
2015 was International Women’s Day. The
basic concept is to foster gender equality,
never mind that there’s no such thing. There
are only differences. That aside, software
group Xero has been conducting research
aimed at (a) getting its name highlighted in
the media, and (b) making a contribution
towards the gender equality issue.
Xero reckons that there’s “overwhelming
evidence” that getting women into senior
positions leads to superior performance.
Research apparently proves that
female-led start-ups tend to lose less
money and have more success in winning
new contracts. Women are said to listen
better to customer concerns, offer more
sympathetic responses and take more
time in evaluating problems rather than
bull-headedly bluffing it out, often with
disastrous results.
However, getting the girls on top can be
a problem because it’s said that they often
suffer from “imposter syndrome”. This is a
low-confidence, low self-esteem condition
whereby women are more apt to attribute
their success to pure luck rather than their
own skills and prowess.
The bottom line is that you guys are
advised to get more girls on top and learn
how to work beneath them without feeling
that your masculinity is under threat.
Considering that roughly half the nation is
female, you’ve got plenty of scope.
“Get more girls on
top and learn how
to work beneath
them without
feeling that your
masculinity is
under threat”
SO TOP GEAR’S JEREMY CLARKSON IS IN
the doghouse again. And all he did was
try (allegedly) to punch a producer in the
gob. Well, notwithstanding the fact that
there are plenty of TV producers who
definitely need a bunch of fives, it’s odds
on that Clarkson will be back at the helm
poste haste. Fact is, he’s making millions
Pressgang
Business news
THE DEPARTMENT FOR TRANSPORT IS
shutting down its English Road Safety
Comparison website, launched just two
years ago. The idea, as the name implies,
was to detail road accidents county by
county, day by day, injury by injury.
Using the data, visitors could make
comparisons between local authorities,
query their expenditures, factor in regional
demographics, and then draw whatever
conclusions they felt were appropriate.
However, after simmering for 24
months, the government has pulled the
plug having decided that (a) interest was
simply too low, (b) the information is now
available on other websites, and (c) the site
represents low value for taxpayers.
Meanwhile, take a look at Crash Map if
you want a quick check of road accidents in
your locality. Makes for grim reading.
www.crashmap.co.uk
ON THE SUBJECT OF ROAD SAFETY,
Nissan is currently waxing lyrically about
its new glow-in-the-dark coatings for
its Leaf range of electric hatchbacks. It
seems that if you splash a coating of UVactivated Strontium
Aluminate over the
paintwork the car will
shine for “between
eight and ten hours
when the sun goes
down”. At Pressgang
we’re not convinced
that having vehicles
glowing radioactively
‘twixt twilight and
dawn is necessarily
a positive thing.
But it bears further
contemplation.
“Safe, odourless
and chemically and
biologically
inert,”
this type of coating isn’t new. But it’s a
good excuse for Nissan to give us a lot of
old flannel about the supposed 2p per mile
cost of running a Leaf, sidestepping the
£14,000 you had to splash out to kickstart
the savings.
Amusingly, Nissan stops short of telling
us that solar panel-equipped Leafs can be
run entirely free courtesy of the sun. But
the firm is happy to directly quote the odd
customer who says what the Japanese
manufacturer would like to say, but can’t.
And what the firm isn’t saying is enough to
persuade us that the day of the electric car
hasn’t quite arrived.
But it’s coming. What’s needed now,
arguably, is a greater push from the
motorcycle industry to develop some
more two-wheeled competition and bring
about the revolution that many of us have
long been awaiting.
Okay, Zero recently pulled out of the
UK market citing disappointing sales, but
Harley-Davidson has nailed its colours to
the mast with its Project LiveWire concept,
BMW has its C Evolution scooter and
Kawasaki is reportedly busy cooking up
something new.
You might well scoff at the notion of
battery-powered bikes. But just remember
that when revolutions happen, they
tend to happen very quickly, and often
without much warning. Keep those battery
chargers ready.
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E X C L U S I V E LY
DISTRIBUTED
BY
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Pressgang is a contributed column and its contents do not
necessarily reflect the views or opinions of BDN.
APRIL 2015
13
Business news
Room for new growth
says industry study
The Economic Significance of the UK Motorcycle Industry
Total Motorcycle
Industry
Manufacturing
Distribution &
Retail
Repair, Servicing &
Maintenance
Sport &
Leisure
Other Support
Services
Turnover (£m)
£6,094
£601
£2,780
£269
£440
£2,004
Purchases (£m)
£4,033
£448
£2,188
£151
£233
£1,013
GVA (£m)
£2,066
£154
£594
£118
£207
£993
Wages (£m)
£1,194
£76
£260
£76
£159
£623
Profits (£m)
£607
£60
£275
£27
£44
£201
Exports (£m)
£444
£433
n/a
n/a
£11
Minimal
Imports (£m)
£839
£807
n/a
n/a
£32
Minimal
Taxes * (£m)
£1,021
£60
£390
£45
£84
£382
Employment
58,530
2,915
16,080
3,500
8,685
27,350
Businesses
5,700
350
1,410
1,240
640
2,060
* Includes VAT, income and corporation tax, fuel and vehicle excise duties
THE GRUELLING economic downturn that began in 2008
claimed 7230 jobs in the motorcycle trade but after bouncing
back in 2014 there is “significant potential for further growth”,
an MCIA report, The Economic Benefits of the Motorcycle Industry,
has found. Most of those lost jobs have gone since 2010, which
was the last time a similar survey was carried out.
The report reveals that industry-wide employment has fallen
from 65,500 workers (and 6346 businesses) in 2010 and by 11%
since the start of the economic downturn.
Today, the UK motorcycle industry employs more than 58,500
people (75,000 if you include jobs supported indirectly through
the purchase of goods and services from other UK industries) in
5700 businesses and generates net annual sales of about £5.3bn,
according to the report drawn up by ICF Consulting Services.
“The industry has a significant impact on the UK economy,
generating added value of more than £2bn per annum,” the
report says. It also notes that the total stock of UK motorcycles
has “experienced significant growth over the past 20 years, almost
doubling in size”. It peaked in 2009, and, after remaining stable
in 2010/2011, increased to 1.5 million in 2013. The latest data
suggest that this figure is increasing again and heading back
towards pre-recession levels.
“There are also signs that sales of new motorcycles and the
overall stock of motorcycles continued to grow in 2014. There is
also significant potential for further growth as levels of motorcycle
ownership in the UK are among the lowest in Europe,” the report
predicts.
In terms of individual ‘motorcyclists’, the report estimates
that there are about 1.2 million active motorcyclists in the UK,
representing around 2.3% of the adult population. There are
about 3.7 million motorcycle licence holders in the UK, which
suggests that there are around 2.5 million licence holders who
are not currently active riders. With motorcycle ownership rates
in the UK as low as about 20 motorcycles per 1000, the report’s
prediction of further growth in the number of motorcyclists
seems entirely credible.
TURNOVER
Annual tax contributions to the UK exchequer total more than
£1bn and the average wage is £20,400-£22,800 in support
services and £26,100 in manufacturing sectors.
Despite the track record of companies such as Triumph and
Norton, the industry imports more than it exports (£839m and
£444m respectively).
Sales in the industry have declined in real terms due to the
economic downturn and sales growth has been insufficient to keep
pace with rising costs. This has squeezed wages and profits in the
14 APRIL 2015
industry and many businesses have had to reduce the size of their
workforce. The overall effect has been a decline in employment and
the value added by the motorcycle industry in real terms.
The largest declines have been experienced in the distribution
and retail sub-sectors, which is also the case across the wider
economy. However, much of the motorcycle industry has
demonstrated resilience despite the difficult economic conditions.
UK motorcycle manufacturers, for example, have shown
particular resilience and exports of motorcycles have continued
to increase despite a slight decline in production.
The UK motorcycle industry includes many high-value,
innovative businesses that together make an important contribution
to economic development in the UK and whose products are
exported around the world. Examples include Triumph, which has
continued to grow Table 3.1 Number of Businesses in the UK Motorcycle
despite the economic Industry, 2012
downturn and has
Businesses
recently
achieved Manufacturing
350 (6.1%)
sales of more than Distribution & Retail
1,410 (24.7%)
1,240 (21.8%)
50,000 bikes for Repair, Servicing & Maintenance
640 (11.2%)
the first time since Sport & Leisure
2,060 (36.1%)
being taken over by Other Support Services*
5,700 (100%)
John Bloor 30 years Total UK Motorcycle Industry
ICF estimates
ago. Triumph has Source:
* excludes financial services companies
also continued to
increase its global market share and is currently exporting more
than 85% of its finished motorcycles.
The UK motorcycle industry can be said to comprise the
following key sectors: manufacturing; distribution and retail;
repair, servicing and maintenance; sport and leisure; and associated
support services. As such, it is estimated to consist of about 5700
businesses. This is 10% lower than the 2008 estimate and suggests
that there is likely to have been consolidation in the industry and
business closures as a result of the economic downturn.
See Table 3.1.
The sum of all sales in the UK motorcycle industry in 2012 was
estimated at £6.1bn. Turnover is estimated to have increased
slightly since 2008 in nominal terms but has declined by around
4% in real terms as a result of the economic downturn. Turnover
has increased in real terms in manufacturing and other support
services, but has decreased in all other sub-sectors.
The table opposite presents turnover data by sector and type
of product and service. It shows the particular significance of the
distribution and retail of motorcycle products in the UK despite
falling sales in this sector.
See Table 3.2.
Holiday/leisure
hire
Motorcycle sports
participants/spectators
Learners
Additional tourism
spend associated with
motorcycling
(eg. travel, food,
accommodation)
Consumers of motorcycling
goods and services
Consumption
Repair, servicing
& maintenance
End Producers
Distribution,
import & retail
Manufacturing
Business news
Motorcycle
owners
Participation
BATTERIES
Other support
services
Sport & leisure
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Suppliers
1st tier suppliers
1st tier suppliers
engine, body,
electronics etc
Suppliers
It should be noted that the gross sales of £6.1bn include sales
from one industry sub-sector to another, and therefore doublecount the goods and services purchased from within the industry.
TABLE 3.2 Turnover (Gross Sales) of Motorcycles, Motorcycle Equipment and Services, 2012
Motorcycles Components Clothing /
Fuel
£ million
£ million Accessories £ million
£ million
Manufacturing
Distribution & Retail
351
1,379
223
Services
£ million
Total Sector
£ million
158
92
601
1,100
78
2,780
Repair, Servicing &
Maintenance
269
269
Sport & Leisure
440
440
Other Support Services
2,004
2,004
2,713
6,094
Total UK industry
1,953
1,258
170
Source: ICF estimates
For example, the turnover of UK motorcycle manufacturers
double counts the value of products and services that it has
purchased from UK businesses operating in other motorcycle
sectors, such as motorcycle marketing services.
Responses to the surveys of motorcycle businesses undertaken
to inform this study suggest that around 20% of expenditures
on goods and services are purchases from other UK motorcycle
businesses, totalling about £815m. Subtracting these purchases
to avoid double counting, suggests that net sales in the UK
motorcycle industry are worth about £5.3bn. However, this
figure also overstates the true ‘value’ of the industry, given the
large number of imported goods sold in the UK. Therefore GVA
(Gross Value Added), which estimates the value added by each
industry sub-sector, provides a better measure of the economic
significance of the sectors and the industry as a whole. GVA
includes only the wages, profits and rents involved in relevant
economic activities, and excludes purchases from other businesses.
EXPORTS
The UK motorcycle industry is a net importer of goods and
services to an estimated value of about £400m. The UK imports
significant numbers of motorcycles and related products,
particularly from Europe and Japan, but also the US and
increasingly from China. However, UK manufacturers and some
service providers also generate significant revenue from exports.
ICF estimates that motorcycle-related exports have increased
by approximately 12% in real terms since 2008. The increasing
turnover and exports provide evidence of the resilience of UK
motorcycle manufacturers despite the difficult economic
conditions.
Imports are estimated to have fallen by 8% in real terms since
2008. The UK motorcycle sector remains a net importer of goods
and services, although the value of exports and imports has been
converging in recent years.
Table 3.3 Net Exports by Type of Product, 2012
Exports
Imports
Net Exports
Motorcycles /
Components
£ million
Clothing /
Accessories
£ million
Fuel
£ million
270
124
39
531
-261
General services
& utilities
2nd tier suppliers
(parts & materials)
2nd tier suppliers
239
-115
37
2
Services
£ million
11
32
-21
Total Sector
£ million
444
839
-395
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Sales and purchases
See Table 3.3.
EMPLOYMENT AND WAGES
Employment and wages have been greatly affected by the
economic downturn. ICF estimates suggest that the UK
motorcycle industry employed a total of 58,500 people in 2012
and paid £1.2bn in wages. This suggests that employment in the
industry has declined by 11% since 2008. Total real wages have
declined in line with the fall in employment, falling by almost
10% over the same period.
Average wages in the industry have increased slightly to £20,400
but remain relatively low compared with the 2012 UK average of
£23,900. This is due to the high proportion of retail jobs, which
are relatively low-value. Jobs in motorcycle manufacturing, repair,
servicing, maintenance and other motorcycle-related services earn
a higher average wage.
See Table 3.4
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Table 3.4 Employment and Wages by Sector, 2012
Employment
number
Wages
£ million
Average wage
£
26,100
Manufacturing
2,915
75
16,080
260
16,100
Repair, Servicing & Maintenance
3,500
76
21,700
Sport & Leisure
8,635
159
18,300
Other support services
27,350
623
22,800
Total UK motorcycle industry
58,530
1,194
20,400
Available
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PROFITABILITY
Industry consultation and survey responses have suggested that
net profits represent around 10% of turnover across much of
the industry, although this average masks potentially significant
variations between different sectors and firms. This assumption
appeared to significantly underestimate profits of the financial
services sectors, so an assumption of 20% of turnover was used
for financial services.
Using these ratios of profits to gross sales provides an estimate
of the total value of profit in the UK motorcycle industry of
around £610m in 2012.
Profits in the motorcycle industry are estimated to have fallen
by around 10% (in real terms) since 2008 as a result of the
economic downturn. See Table 3.5.
Table 3.5 Profits of the UK Motorcycle Industry, 2012
Profit
£ million
Profit
% of industry total
Manufacturing
60
9.9%
275
45.3%
Repair, Servicing & Maintenance
27
4.4%
Sport & Leisure
44
7.2%
Other support services
201
33.1%
Total UK Motorcycle Industry
607
100%
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Order your products from
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www.partseurope.eu/NOKVO\ä]OK\MR
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BDN will extract more from the ICF report next month.
APRIL 2015
15
Business news
Expo visitors helped
shape the future of
motorcycle training
Expo visitors were keen to seek advice about
expanding their businesses, and the DVSA
wanted to talk about CBT with dealers.
Businesses boldly
go into the future
TALK IN the motorcycle industry has
turned from doom and gloom to the need
for businesses to expand to make the most
of the revitalised-market potential.
The new business optimism was
detected by industry experts who manned
the Knowledge Shop at this year’s
Motorcycle Trade Expo, held at Stoneleigh
Park in January.
Knowledge Shop staff report that the
one-stop advice centre, which provides
free and impartial business advice, was
again a popular destination at this year’s
show. “Encouragingly, in contrast to
previous years, all participants on the
stand witnessed a much more positive
frame of mind from dealers, reflecting
the more buoyant market seen of late,”
said Matthew Stone from Hill House
Solutions.
“All the advice sought was with regard
to expanding and growing existing
businesses, rather than rationalising and
downsizing, which were frequent topics
just a couple of years ago.”
Stone said there were two common
themes. First, small service operations
were typically looking to expand into
bigger premises and, secondly, service-only
operations were looking to start selling
motorcycles and accessories and therefore
make the bold move to becoming fully
fledged
non-franchised
motorcycle
dealers.
“Confidence among Knowledge Shop
visitors was the highest I have experienced
in the past five years but all shared the
same problem to varying degrees – the
funding of the capital requirements to
grow their businesses and the subsequent
cash operating headroom needed to fund
the enlarged business thereafter.”
Stone also reported that most visitors
had strong ideas – and no shortage of
enthusiasm – but that few of them had a
well-thought-out and stress-tested business
plan. “The advice given was therefore to
plan very carefully and to remember the
old cliché: If you fail to plan, you should
plan to fail!
“All seemed to take this on board and
they left the Knowledge Shop thinking far
more deeply and strategically about their
business than when they arrived.”
Many Expo visitors also took advantage
of the legal advice on offer. Experienced
motor industry lawyer Jonathan Passman
was kept busy with a range of queries
which illustrated some of the difficult
issues routinely faced by dealers. While
the guidance given was specific to
individual enquiries (and in each case the
dealer was advised to seek independent
legal advice), there were useful lessons to
be learned.
Next month BDN will further develop
the legal advice theme with four case
studies covering issues raised by dealers at
Motorcycle Trade Expo.
THE FORMULATION of proposals
for a shake-up of Compulsory Basic
Training (CBT), just released for
industry consultation by the Department
for Transport and the DVSA (see page 6),
may well have been influenced by visitors
to Expo in January.
DVSA representative Mark Winn was
present on the Knowledge Shop stand
to sound out the industry on what, if
anything, it would like to see in the way
of change.
Winn said: “Being part of the
Knowledge Shop gave DVSA the
opportunity to meet with key people
from the motorcycle industry and rekindle some old acquaintances. Just as
importantly, we were able to answer
questions about what the DVSA plans
to do following the research into CBT
that was completed recently, as well as
answering a host of other questions about
training and testing.
“The CBT research was published in
December 2014 and, along with DfT,
we have begun working with the training
industry to seek its thoughts and ideas
on how to improve CBT. The emerging
view seems to be that after 25 years we
can probably make CBT even better and
bring it up to date.
“We took the opportunity at Expo to
gain a snapshot of some of the thoughts
on the recommendations in the research
report and there were some interesting
ideas which we need to take stock of.”
A Knowledge Shop spokesman
said: “This open access to government
officials was welcomed by visitors, as
was the news that DVSA would soon be
holding a series of workshops with others
from the training industry to get more
thoughts and ideas and to make sure
the consultation planned for this spring
would give everyone the opportunity to
have their say.”
Summing up, the spokesman said:
“Once again, the Knowledge Shop
provided by the Expo organisers was very
well received and, judging by the number
of visitors making the most of the
expertise and experience available, was
undoubtedly used to maximum benefit.
“And while motorcycle businesses face
the usual challenges, as well as a few new
ones, the most encouraging thing to take
away was the positive mind-set of all
visitors that 2015 could be a good year to
build their businesses.”
Scooter Crazy on the market
Airbag system nominated for award
NEIL RICHARDSON and Tom Slocombe have put
Scooter Crazy Ltd on the market after running the
Huddersfield dealership for 15 years.
Scooter Crazy was established in April 2000 and
has grown into “the largest dedicated scooter and
lightweight dealership in the country”, according to
Richardson.
“Both myself and fellow director
Tom are in our sixties now and would
like to see if some young blood wants
to take it on and further develop
the enterprise. We turn over around
£1.4m a year, thanks to our successful
online accessory business, which ships
worldwide.”
Scooter Crazy is a Piaggio/Vespa
main dealer and Yamaha lightweight
dealer.
[email protected]
ITALIAN MOTORCYCLING brand
Dainese has been nominated for the
Design of the Year 2015 awards.
Dainese’s D-Air Street airbag system
is one of 76 projects to be shortlisted,
with nominees coming from more than
30 countries. Entrants are split into
Transport, Product, Graphics, Fashion,
Digital and Architecture disciplines.
The D-Air Street sits in the
Transport category alongside Google’s
Self-Driving Car, the BMW i8 hybrid,
Loopwheels (wheels with integral
suspension), the Tesla Model S electric
car and the Yamaha Motiv.e city car.
Category winners will be announced
on 4 May with the overall winner
being revealed at the Design Museum
in London on 4 June. All of the
16 APRIL 2015
nominated projects can now be viewed
at the museum.
D-Air Street is a specifically designed
airbag jacket and vest for road use. The
system works with the MKit, which
is fitted to the user’s motorcycle and
features a pair of accelerometers – one
under the seat, and the other on the
front forks. There is also a fall sensor
that is physically connected to a display
unit on the dash, to show the rider
system information. Inside the jacket
are two 12-litre airbags.
The system has been designed to
protect the spine in conjunction with a
back protector, limit movement of the
neck while rolling, and to protect the
upper abdomen and chest.
www.dainese.com
Superior confidence in all road
and weather conditions
The demands of today’s ever-evolving and increasingly sophisticated adventure bikes
keep on growing. And Bridgestone keeps on delivering! The Battlax Adventure A40
fuses the renowned wet and dry performance of the Battlax brand with the proven
stability and mileage of Battle Wing. So you can experience the real adventure of riding
with total confidence.
• outstanding traction and stability, particularly on wet surfaces
• the confidence and safety of reliable sports performance
• outstanding durability offering up to 22% more mileage*
* Based on internal test results compared with the Battlewing 110/80R19 – 150/70R17
Bridgestone Japanese proving ground
Vehicle : Yamaha Super Tenere & Suzuki DL 1000 Vstrom
Sizes : 110/80R19 - 150/70R17 - Pressure : 2.20 kPa front , 2.50 kPa rear
Bridgestone Europe
For your nearest Bridgestone Authorized Dealer,
visit our website
www.bridgestone.eu
Business news
Shipshape H-D dealer
promotes Bowker link
On a roll: (from left) Greg Lockhart, Paul
Bowker, MD Tom Fox and finance director
Darren Thomason.
HARLEY-DAVIDSON IN PRESTON
has opened with a new name after a sixfigure refurbishment themed on shipping
containers.
The motorcycle dealership on Strand
Road in Preston will now be called
Bowker Harley-Davidson – consistent
with six other automotive dealerships
in Lancashire out of the nine owned by
Bowker Motor Group.
As part of the refurbishment, the
building has been extended by almost
doubling the downstairs showroom sales
area and incorporating a brighter, more
spacious layout. The design includes a
dedicated new bike area and a similar
area for used bikes, plus a mezzaninelevel American-diner-themed café with
free wifi. The shipping-container theme
celebrates
Lancashire-based
Bowker
Transport, Bowker Motor Group’s
international distribution and road
haulage sister company.
The opening of the refurbished
showroom was celebrated on 26 February
with a ‘wild & mild curry night’ plus
complimentary bar and local DJ, which
attracted over 200 people.
Paul Bowker, chief executive, said: “It
was a fantastic evening and it was great to
see the new showroom being enjoyed by
so many local people.”
Greg Lockhart, brand manager of
Bowker Harley-Davidson, said: “HarleyDavidson has always been renowned for
the social side of motorcycle ownership.
The investment in the dealership now
gives us a premium space for customers
old and new to enjoy.
“The new name is important. We’ve
been in Preston since 2007, but there are
still people who don’t realise we’re a part of
Bowker. The link with one of Lancashire’s
most established family businesses is
important to us, not to mention the
history spanning over 90 years.”
The
Bowker
Harley-Davidson
refurbishment comes during what the
company calls “a prolonged phase of
investment and acquisition for Bowker
Motor Group”, including the opening of
Lancashire’s first Maserati dealership in
Osbaldeston on the same site as Bowker
Ribble Valley.
In January, Bowker Motor Group
received planning permission to transform
the prominent Preston Docks building as
the new group headquarters.
The building will also be the home of
the recently-acquired BMW Motorrad
operation, currently trading as Southport
Superbikes.
‘No ATB has paid full fees for accreditation course’ says MCIA
NONE OF the ATBs which have signed up for “quality
assured” recognition with the MCIA’s Motorcycle
Industry Accreditation Centre (MCIAC) has paid the
full fees, BDN can report.
The course was criticised by one training school
owner as being “too expensive” (see BDN, March 2015,
page 8).
Responding, the MCIA said of the Rider Training
Industry Competence (ATB Owner) course: “Many
ATBs have had a subsidised or free place. These have
been funded by Carole Nash Insurance, Suzuki, BMW,
Yamaha and directly by the MCIA.
“No ATB has paid the full amount and those which
have paid part of the fees have done so in instalments.
The MCIA will continue to make places as accessible as
possible and urge any ATB owner/managers to contact
the MCIA directly to discuss what is currently on offer
to help with cost.”
The industry association says it sees the MCIAC as “a
18 APRIL 2015
long-term solution to offer clear signposting for quality
training”.
“It’s here to stay,” said Karen Cole, MCIA safety and
training director, who co-ordinates the courses.
“The training course for trainers is DVSA-approved
and Quality Assured by the Institute of the Motor
Industry. This gives the motorcycle training industry a
head start before rider and driver training becomes more
regulated, which is likely to happen under EU law.
“After accreditation all trainers will be featured on a
soon-to-be-launched customer-facing website and will
receive a back-up service surveying all customers who
take training, which provides invaluable feedback.
“There is also free MCITA membership, a year’s free
membership of road safety organisation AIRSO, 20%
off ATB liability insurance from Devitt Insurance, and
an annual inspection to maintain accreditation.”
As reported in the February issue of BDN, motorcycle
insurance specialist Carole Nash offered to fund ten
training businesses to take the ‘quality assured’ course,
which normally costs £1575.
The company agreed to pay all course fees for
selected schools and to reward the riders training with
those schools with preferential insurance rates, in
acknowledgment of the high quality of customer service
and instruction they would receive.
The first accredited ATBs are:
• Heather Kershaw, Motag Motorcycle Training Ltd,
Southampton
• Margaret Mitchell, GMTS (Tayside) Ltd, Dundee
• Mark Jaffe, Phoenix Training, Croydon
• Paul Beattie, Inner Circle Training, Stockport
The course is suitable for managers or owners of
ATBs. For more details contact Jenny Luckman on
02476 408024; [email protected]
See letters on page 31
Business news
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High Performance
Motorcycle Lubrication
For details on our range
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Made in the UK
APRIL 2015
19
Business news
SHORTCUTS Warr’s is Custom King
THE 2015 Piaggio Group Retailer
Conference took place in Warwick on
21 January, concurrent with Expo at
Stoneleigh. The network turned out in
force and there was an upbeat vibe in the
room and an optimistic feeling for the
year ahead, according to UK marketing
manager Nick Broomhall (right). Aside
from confirmation of new product from
the Aprilia, Moto Guzzi, Piaggio and Vespa
brands, details were announced of the
new “Strada Sicura” 24-month roadside
assistance package for scooters over
100cc. No conference is complete without
an award ceremony, with Central Bikes
owner Dan Rose taking the 2014 Winter
Wonderland campaign award.
PIAGGIO is recalling 2613 Piaggio and Vespa
scooters built from 2008 to 2011 for a potentially
faulty fuel pump. Models affected are: Piaggio:
2009-2010 BV250, 2010 BV350, 2009-2010 MP3
250. Vespa: 2008-2010 GTS 250, 2010-2011 GTS
300, 2008-2010 GTS Super 250, 2010-2011 GTS
Super 300, 2008-2010 GTV 250, 2010-2011 GTV
300, 2011 LX 150, 2011 LXV 150 and 2011 S 150.
German brand Held secured two Best Brand
awards at the Motorrad awards in Stuttgart.
The clothing manufacturer won the glove
category for the tenth year in a row and also
won Best Brand in the Textile Clothing category
for the first time. Held was the only garment
brand to top two categories in the awards,
which are decided by a reader vote. “We are
very proud of this achievement,” said Stefan
Held, who thanked the product development
team and the public for their contributions to
the double win. www.held-uk.co.uk
WARR’S HARLEY-DAVIDSON
of London has been crowned “King
of Custom” after a two-month Battle
of the Kings competition between
dealers in the UK and Ireland.
The competition involved all
29 UK and Ireland authorised
Harley-Davidson dealers building
a
customised
Harley-Davidson
Sportster XL 1200X Forty-Eight in
the same “stripped-back tones as the
Dark Custom range of production
bikes”.
Warr’s Urban Racer Sprint custom
(right) was voted the winner by
Harley-Davidson owners and fans,
lovers of urban customisation and a
guest judge from Motor Cycle News.
Commenting on the result, Warr’s
MD John Warr said: “What fantastic
news! Making those bikes involved
a lot of sweat and tears. When it
comes to ‘custom’, these guys know
their stuff. But at the end, Warr’s –
Europe’s oldest Harley-Davidson
dealership – won!”
The Urban Racer Sprint was built
by Charlie Stockwell, Warr’s head of
design and custom, and features café
racer and “urban brawler” styling.
The bike’s unique look is a homage to
a 1000cc XLCH that Fred Warr, son
of company founder F J Warr, raced
at the Ramsgate Sprint in September
1960 – a 100mph machine straight
from the packing crate.
The top five from combined
judging were:
1. Warr’s Harley-Davidson –
Warr’s Urban Racer Sprint
2. Maidstone Harley-Davidson
– King Slayer
3. Shaw Harley-Davidson – The
Clubman
4. Edinburgh Harley-Davidson
– SCR4M8LER
5. Sycamore Harley-Davidson –
Sonuvabitch
Head of Design Charlie Stockwell
with the winning bike.
Maxxis International targets £15m turnover
MAXXIS
INTERNATIONAL,
formerly Bickers Anglia, is building its
product portfolio to become a major
UK distributor of road and off-road hard
parts as well as its own-brand tyres.
Purchasing manager and driving
force over 23 years David Banks, former
British Championship enduro rider, says:
“Last year was good for us and 2015 will
be better because Maxxis as a brand is
getting stronger. We are working on tyre
development that will include a hypersport tyre. A tie-up with Steve Dixon and
the Kawasaki MXGP team will give us the
opportunity to develop a new generation
of motocross tyres at world level.
“It is exciting, as going with a grand
prix team is a first for us, as is our
official partnership status with Kawasaki
UK, for whose range of off-road and
on-road machines Maxxis tyres are a
recommended fitment. This must boost
sales through our dealers.”
Banks sees new products allied to the
latest technology as the lifeblood of the
company and has added Delta brake
discs to the company portfolio, to run
alongside the Delta pad range. Delta –
run by Dutch friends Gerrit Eindhoven
and Aldo de Vries, who manufacture their
pads in Czechoslovakia and the discs in
Belgium – sees massive potential with
Maxxis as its distributor in the UK.
“We are starting with off-road fitments
and the road applications will come later
this year,” said de Vries.
Confirming Maxxis as its distributor
of choice, Eindhoven said: “It is not
usual for a distributor to service both
road and off-road dealers well, so we
have tremendous faith in Maxxis doing
a good job for us. Our pad business has
gone well here under its direction and
we are confident Maxxis will grow our
disc product too. Interest shown at Expo
would seem to confirm that.”
Although Banks enjoyed a successful
riding career on KTM, his lifelong
involvement in sport has not coloured his
judgment or turned his business head.
“We are targeting a £15m turnover. It
will not come easy but it will come. We
use sport and racing for new product
development, and to promote that
product, but I don’t get carried away by
it.
“Our projected turnover is based
around 80% road / 20% off-road,” said
Banks, who added: “Would we survive
on just off-road? No, we wouldn’t. It’s
down to numbers, of course, as there are
perhaps one and half million road riders
but just 3000 off-road. But, as we know,
the off-road boys buy more, so that sector
is still worthwhile and profitable for us.”
www.maxxis.co.uk
BDN columnist helps Kawasaki to train its staff
MICHAEL HENSHAW from the PEP Business School and BDN
columnist has been selected to work with the Kawasaki Training
Academy to deliver dealer training and coaching programmes.
Kawasaki says its academy provides dealer staff with the skills
and knowledge to deliver a high level of customer service. “This is
reflected in the branded programme, Performance of a Lifetime,
which focuses on the customer experience in detail,” says Kawasaki.
“Kawasaki well understands the need to retain all riders and
open a long-term relationship that is supported by the aftersales
team throughout the ownership experience.”
The courses are delivered from three dedicated regional
training centres and focus on the Kawasaki approach to retailing.
THE BIGGEST AND BEST BRANDS, BACKED UP WITH EXCELLENT
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20
APRIL 2015
KING OF the Jungle Carl Fogarty has
agreed to do an evening of chat in aid
of the Friends of Huck cancer fundraising campaign. The four-times World
Superbike champion will be joined by
his friend Eurosport commentator James
Whitham for the event, which takes place
on Thursday, 14 May at The Engine Shed
in Wetherby, Yorkshire (LS22 7SU).
Friends of Huck is raising funds for
former top motocross and Team Green
racer Mark ‘Huck’ Hucklebridge who
has terminal cancer. The fund-raising
campaign is being co-ordinated by
motorcycle journalist/PR Carly Rathmell.
Fogarty said: “Cancer is sadly an illness
I know too much about. I have lost, like
many, good friends from this awful illness.
I hope the night can raise a substantial
amount for Friends of Huck. It will be
good to see familiar faces from the racing
paddocks and new fans from my jungle
experience – I’m looking forward to it.”
Whitham is also no stranger to
the illness, having battled Hodgkin’s
Lymphoma back in 1991, successfully
beating it. “When I was asked to do this
I didn’t give it a second thought. Mark is
only young and has a little boy who is just
seven, if we are able to make some money
to give him that extra time then it is more
than worth it.”
There is one very special auction item
on the evening’s agenda. Yamaha Racing,
Lin Jarvis and Andrew Smith from Yamaha
Europe have kindly donated two passes for
the Silverstone Moto GP in August. This
will include Paddock Passes from Friday
to Sunday. On Saturday the winners, as
special guests of the Yamaha team, will
receive a garage tour, some goodies to take
away as well as the opportunity to meet
Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo.
Tickets are £18 plus a booking fee and
are available, pre-book only, at www.
engineshedwetherby.co.uk
‘THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO CONTINUES TO BACK CAMPAIGN’
FORMER TOP MX and Team Green racer Mark Hucklebridge was diagnosed with terminal
cancer after a recurrence of the disease in 2014. The Friends of Huck campaign is raising
funds for, among other things, the Royal University Hospital in Bath, where Mark has
undergone treatment. Motorcycle industry PR Carly Rathmell regularly organises online
auctions of celebrity items via Facebook. Rathmell said: “We cannot thank enough the
people who have donated and bought for the Friends of Huck Appeal.
“The online auction is now well under way and the proceeds will go towards the Friends
of Huck Appeal, helping seriously injured/ill motocross riders and cancer charities.”
At the time of writing, the latest items to be auctioned on eBay include a helmet signed
by Steven Clarke; goggles signed by Ricky Carmichael; shirts from Arnaud Tonus, Matiss
Karro and David Philippaerts; a Chris Walker jacket; Renthal bars; and a Brad Anderson
training day.
www.facebook.com/FriendsOfHuck; [email protected]
My debt to Huck, by Andrew Smith of Yamaha
YAMAHA DIRECTOR Andrew Smith has paid tribute
to off-road rider Mark “Huck” Hucklebridge for inspiring
him to deal with his own cancer diagnosis and treatment.
“Reading Mark’s story [carried previously in BDN]
gave me the strength and courage to fight and maintain
a positive attitude throughout,” said Smith, Yamaha’s
European Regional Director. “I just asked all my family
and friends for love and support, not pity or tears, and
thereafter I got more love and support than I could ever
have imagined or wished for!”
Smith recalls: “Nearly 12 months ago after reading
Carly’s words [Friends of Huck fund-raising campaigner Carly Rathmell] about Mark’s
brave and inspiring challenge, I walked off the street into my local doctor’s, feeling fine.
It was my first visit in seven years and that was for an ear infection. Less than one week
later they said: ‘Mr Smith you have bowel cancer and require immediate surgery’!”
One year on and Smith added: “I’ve been very lucky. Timing was key and now I feel
better than I have done for years – and a bit lighter and fitter ... well, a little bit!
“Words cannot express how much I owe to Mark and Carly. I think daily of Mark
and his family’s courage and spirit which continue to provide me with inspiration. I have
always believed life was for ‘Living and Giving’ and after this experience I believe this
even more. My message is simple: ‘See it, deal with it, then carry on’.”
Business news
Foggy and Whit offer to help rider fund
Obituaries
Mike Cornish
FORMER TRIALS rider, organiser, and
founder member of the Wells and District
Trials Motorcycle club Mike Cornish has
passed away peacefully. He had been ill
for some time.
A well-respected, and well-known
character of the ACU’s Wessex centre,
Cornish originally tried his hand at
trials, but soon found that three wheels
was more his style. He became a regular
competitor in sidecar outfits, claiming his
best achievement at winning the infamous
Tanner Trudge trial in Wiltshire.
As an organiser, and the Wells
and District Motorcycle Trials Club
chairman, Cornish (right) was privileged
in awarding Sammy Miller his milestone
“thousandth win”.
Jim Webb (1930-2015)
JIM WEBB, lifelong motocross fan,
event organiser and secretary of the
Frome and District MC Club since 1960,
died on Sunday 1 February following
a second stroke. His funeral
took place at West Wiltshire
Crematorium,
Semington,
near Trowbridge, on 20
February.
Born at Alton Barns, near
Pewsey, Wiltshire, he is
survived by his wife Vera, his
childhood sweetheart whom
he married at Etchampton, near Devizes,
in 1949 aged 19.
Totally immersed in motocross and
his beloved club, he undertook every role
connected with the running of events
and was the much respected clerk of the
course many times, for both the British
four-stroke and sidecar championships.
A gentleman through and through,
he thrived on pressure, with 200 rider
entries at his Asham Woods
circuit. From volumes of
paperwork to late entries and
protests, to signing on or
blocked toilets, Jim, backed
up by ‘Ve’, coped with it all in
the nicest possible way.
His 50-plus years of
involvement in running a club
– Frome DMCC – is possibly a UK record.
With his vast knowledge and experience,
he also had considerable input into ACU
sport, attending meetings at Rugby and
serving on the main motocross committee
for almost five years.
Kenji Ekuan (1929-2015)
YAMAHA VMAX designer Kenji Ekuan has died, aged 85.
As well as the Japanese muscle bike, Ekuan is said to have
shaped everything from the red-capped Kikkoman soy sauce
bottle to bullet trains.
Ekuan founded his GK Design
group in 1957 and enjoyed a 55year partnership with Yamaha.
Recognising
the
superior
relationship between humans
and motorcycles, he famously
stated “The motorcycle is sex.”
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APRIL 2015
21
Business news
Brooklands can bank
on £4.68m grant
BROOKLANDS IN SURREY, the
world’s first purpose-built motor racing
circuit, has been awarded £4.68m by the
Heritage Lottery Fund to help restore the
legendary venue to its former glory.
The cash will be used to pay for a facelift
to its aircraft factory and its banked race
track. It will also fund an annexe to house
more of the museum’s historic aircraft,
including Vickers Wellington bombers,
Sopwiths and Hurricanes, all of which
were built at Brooklands.
Brooklands, the brainchild of Hugh F.
Locke King, was a 2.75-mile (4.43km)
motor racing circuit and aerodrome, built
near Weybridge. It opened in 1907 and,
as well as being a race circuit, was one of
Britain’s first airfields. It grew to become
Britain’s largest aircraft manufacturing
centre by 1918.
The circuit hosted its last race in 1939
and today part of it forms the Brooklands
Museum, a major aviation and motoring
archive, as well as a venue for vintage car,
motorcycle and other transport-related
events.
Europe backs safety push
THE MCIA’S strategy of improving
motorcycle safety by raising training
standards has been endorsed by a
European body. There was also support
for the policy of promoting powered twowheelers as “part of the solution to present
and future congestion” at government
level.
Speaking at the European Motorcyclists’
Forum 2015, organised by the Federation
of European Motorcyclists’ Associations
(FEMA) and held in Brussels, Jesper
Christenson, a director with the Federation
Internationale
de
Motocyclisme,
emphasised the need for better training
and licensing.
Christenson also called for action
to address what he claimed were the
“discriminatory effects on women and
smaller men of the present motorcycle
licensing directive” (see article below),
and called for better rider-friendly road
infrastructure, including standards for
barriers.
He was supported by
FEMA general secretary
Dolf Willigers, who
said he believed the
use of powered twowheelers was part of the
solution to congestion
and
that
road
infrastructure should
be made safer. To this
end
RIDERSCAN,
a project co-funded
by
the
European
Commission,
had
spent
three
years
gathering information FEMA director Jesper Christenson called for action on sizeist
on motorcycle safety in discrimination affecting smaller riders.
Europe to give him input for the mid-term
Europe, identifying the
need for action in eight areas – including evaluation of the European Commission
infrastructure, education/training/testing Road Safety Policy Orientations 2011and licensing – and creating a cross-border 2020 in the European Parliament.
www.fema-online.eu/riderscan/IMG/pdf/
knowledge network.
Wim van de Camp, a Dutch MEP, emf_parliament_session.pdf
www.riderscan.eu
invited the motorcycle community in
Test discrimination and lobbying the
politicians on licensing and training
MCIA PR Stevie Muir explains how the law
works against shorter riders, and how the
MCIA is working for the industry
Promo girls Mimi and Gemma explain
the finer points of the new Rider Cover
policy to Steve Parrish at the Scottish
Motorcycle Show.
New Rider Cover insurance policy
provides ‘peace of mind’
INSURANCE BROKER Carole Nash has unveiled a new
policy aimed at giving British motorcyclists enhanced cover to
ride someone else’s bike at no extra cost.
Rider Cover takes the shape of an extension to an existing
Carole Nash bike policy – allowing the policyholder to ride
anyone else’s motorcycle, with the bike in question covered
should it be accidentally or maliciously damaged or vandalised.
Nick Baker, products and marketing director for Carole
Nash, commented: “As part of the product development phase,
we asked a large number of bikers to give us their thoughts
on Rider Cover. Their feedback was really positive, with most
people praising our new proposition for the added peace of
mind that it brings them.”
Paper element of driving licence
reaches the end of the road
THE DRIVING licence paper counterpart that accompanies the
current driving licence photocard is abolished on 8 June. The oldstyle paper licences issued before 1998 will still be valid but will
no longer be legally accepted as having an up-to-date record of a
driver’s endorsements, penalty points or disqualifications.
These can be checked by calling the DVLA’s premium rate (51p
per minute and the driver must be present) telephone service.
Dealers can obtain a printed copy of a rider’s licence details by
asking the rider to access the DVLA’s new Share My Driving
Licence (SMDL) service, which can be found via www.gov.uk.
22 APRIL 2015
AT FIRST glance, it seems reasonable that if you’re
going to ride a category A bike on the road, you are
able to pass a test on one. That would be sensible if all
category A bikes were at least as big as the minimum
testing vehicle, but they are not.
There are plenty of category A bikes which could
easily be ridden by shorter, lighter people, like me,
but to access them I would need to be able to handle
a taller, heavier bike, i.e., a minimum testing vehicle
(MTV).
Under 3DLD the MTV for an A licence must be at
least 595cc and from December 2018 will also need
to be at least 180kg in weight with a power output of
50kw. This is far in excess of what I want to ride, but
there are no lower, lighter bikes which meet the MTV
requirements. This means I’ll never be able to ride a
suitable A category bike.
It is nearly the same story for the minimum testing
vehicle for the A2 test. I would really like to ride a
250cc bike, which would be a sensible choice for me
at the moment. I would be required to take a test on
a bike of at least 395cc, which is likely to be too high
and too heavy for me to handle right now, especially
as most A2 bikes are at least 500cc.
This discrimination does not exist for those passing
a car test. These are generally taken in small cars
and drivers are trusted to make their own decision
about working up to something bigger and or more
powerful. They don’t need to take additional tests.
I have spoken to one of our MCIAC trainers as to
whether they are finding the minimum testing vehicle
requirements under 3DLD off-putting to shorter
people and what emerges is a story of compromise.
Margaret Mitchell, who runs Perth-based
motorcycle training business GMTS (Tayside) Ltd,
says she has had three women who switched to an A2
having originally intended to do A licences. Mitchell
says that in the end these women were fairly happy,
but why should the law deny them their original
choice and intention?
What is the MCIAC doing about 3DLD? It is
worth remembering that the MCIA opposed 3DLD
right from the start. This was because as far back
as 2004 we could see the effect it would have on
motorcycling. The government of the day agreed with
us and went into battle in Europe over the matter.
Unfortunately, the UK was a lone voice and 3DLD
was supported by other EU countries. The MCIA is
still lobbying for change. The current focus has been
on introducing “quality assured” training courses
for motorcycle training businesses. A more robust
training industry, with recognisable and measurable
standards, could convince the UK government to
exploit legislation within 3DLD, which reintroduces
a “progressive” element to licensing. All EU countries
have an option to allow riders to move between
licence categories via a seven-hour training upgrade,
rather than just repeating the bike test, though none
has taken it up yet.
The UK government needs to be assured that the
training industry is capable of delivering this to an
exact standard, and the MCIA and the Association of
Chief Police Officers have identified this opportunity
in the recent motorcycle safety policy framework
document as something that should be adopted. This
would help people like me and would have the added
bonus of improving skills levels, too.
This is essentially one of the reasons why MCIA
moved to create MCIAC.
Getting the standards in place means that we can
not only improve safety, but also lobby for the repeat
test requirement to be deleted in 3DLD when the
directive comes up for review in a few years time.
This will simplify the route to a full A licence and
mean that women like myself (and short men) can
once again get a fair crack of the whip when it comes
to deciding what bikes we want to ride.
The UK isn’t the only country looking at standards.
ACEM (the European industry association) is also
supporting a standards and accreditation regime
which has been developed in Germany and can be
adopted in those countries without the same level of
industry organisation as we have in the UK. We wish
them well.
125cc bikes are still very accessible and we need
to remember this, while encouraging a culture of
continual rider development that allows people to
move between licences when they are ready, which is
what I will have to do.
Change does not come overnight, especially where
the EU is concerned. The MCIA is, and has been,
taking a responsible and sustainable approach to
overcoming licensing barriers and developing rider
standards in partnership with government. It will, and
is, prepared to engage in hard-edged lobbying both in
Westminster and Brussels when required.
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APRIL 2015
23
Þ International news
SHORTCUTS BMW’s record results
GERMAN motor oil and additive specialist Liqui
Moly increased its turnover during the past
year, by 1% to €421m. “This means we have
succeeded in steering our ship through all
storms,” said business manager Ernst Prost.
DUCATI MOTOR HOLDING in Bologna
has been presented with the ISO 14001
Environmental
Management
System
certificate. The certificate recognises the
firm’s contribution to green processes
used at the factory, from the design and
planning stage to production and testing,
on road and racetrack, of the finished
motorcycles. Such certification also covers
Ducati Corse racing division.
ACE Cafe Luzern is opening soon. Located in
the centre of Switzerland, surrounded by some
great “twisty” roads, and in keeping with the
Ace heritage and tradition of being a home
and destination for all who share a passion for
speed, thrills and rock ’n’ roll, the new-build Ace
Cafe Luzern will soon be hosting ride-ins, and
ride-outs, along with a host of meets, gigs and
special events. www.acecafeluzern.ch
SUSPENSION company Wilbers won
the International Dealer News prize for
International Export Excellence, it was
announced at the 10th annual Bike
and Business Dealer of the Year awards
staged by the eponymous German trade
magazine. Previous winners have included
LSL Motorradtechnik, Wunderlich, SWMotech and Remus.
HERO GROUP, the Munjal family holding
company behind India’s biggest motorcycle
manufacturer Hero MotoCorp, has sold
seven million Hero MotoCorp shares – a 3.3%
holding – for the equivalent of about £200m.
However, the Munjals still retain a controlling
stake of slightly more than 36%. Following the
sale, Hero’s share price on the Bombay Stock
Exchange fell by more than 5%. Hero MotoCorp
joint managing director Sunil Kant Munjal said:
“The group is evaluating options and may not
specify what it will diversify into. We are looking
at different opportunities.”
MOTORCYCLE,
scooter
and
ATV
registrations in Australia reached 111,599
in 2014, down 2.2% on 2013, according
to the Australian Motorcycle Industry
Association. Road bike sales were up 1.5%,
to 44,530, and accounted for 39.9% of the
total market. Honda was in top spot, selling
9011 machines, which is 22.3% of the roadbike market. Harley-Davidson was second
(8577/19.3%), followed by Kawasaki
(5964/13.4%).
Eicma has launched a new advertising
campaign created by artist Ugo Nespolo, who
also designed commemorative works for last
year’s Eicma centenary celebrations.
The campaign for this year’s event, which takes
place 17-22 November, is “a combination of
colour and icons that are part of the universe
of two-wheels, from competitive sports to the
world of the electric, the experience of the
road trip to the mud of the road tyres, but
also safety and passion”. Last year Eicma
attracted 1053 exhibitors, 45,910 trade
visitors and total attendance was 628,600.
24 APRIL 2015
IN ITS full-year 2014 financial results,
BMW’s motorcycle division has delivered
all-time record revenue and profit figures –
and the German manufacturer’s success has
continued into the first two months of 2015.
In 2014, revenue from bikes grew by 11.6%
to £1.2bn. Related operating profit was up
by 41.8% at £79.8m. Pre-tax profit rose by
40.8% to £76.3m.
As previously reported, sales volume across
the 12 months increased by 7.2% to 123,495
units. BMW Motorrad’s five largest markets
were Germany, the USA, France, Italy and
Brazil.
More money from
bikes for Yamaha
YAMAHA AIMS to double the operating
profit margin of its core motorcycle
business to 10% by the end of 2018,
explained the company’s chief executive
Hiroyuki Yanagi in a recent press briefing.
This compares with a previous target of
7.5% by 2017, set two years ago. The
motorcycle sector will then be responsible
for half of all operating income, up from
26% in 2014.
To facilitate this, Yanagi said that he
anticipates bike production costs to drop
by 20%, owing to an increasing number
of common platforms sharing more
components. The brand’s motorcycle
activities in developed markets – primarily
Europe and the USA – are also on course
for a return to profitability this year, after
repeated losses for the past eight years.
“We will shift the pivot of our
motorcycle business profit increase to
developed markets,” Yanagi added. “By
the end of the next mid-term plan, we
should be able to reach a 5% operating
margin in developed markets.”
The company is also expanding its
vehicular interests into the four-wheel
world, with the roll-out of a production
version of the Motiv concept microcar it
originally unveiled at the Tokyo Motor
Show in 2013.
Yamaha is targeting a European market
entry in 2019, potentially followed by
sales in Japan and other Asian countries.
The cars will be available in petrol, hybrid
and battery-powered electric options.
It will be the first complete car made by
Yamaha since the late 1960s.
BMW has continued to build on last year’s
success. In January a total of 6263 maxiscooters and motorcycles were delivered
to customers, a sales increase of 15.2%
compared with January last year (5438).
February saw a 13.5% global retail sales
increase to 9195 bikes, yet another monthly
record. The brand’s UK operation outperformed that with a 75% improvement to
247 registrations.
A total of 15,458 BMW motorcycles and
maxiscooters were delivered to customers
worldwide during the first two months of
2015, a 14.2% rise.
Billionaire Buffett buys biker gear chain
VETERAN US investment guru
Warren Buffett, who regularly swaps
status as the world’s richest man with
Microsoft supremo Bill Gates, has
acquired the German motorcycle apparel
and accessories retailer Detlev Louis
Motorradvertriebs GmbH. Buffett’s holding company, Berkshire
Hathaway, bought this family business
from Ute Louis, widow of eponymous
founder Detlev Louis, for £294m. It will
become a stand-alone subsidiary of the US
parent. Detlev Louis has 71 shops spread across
Germany and Austria, plus extensive mailorder catalogue and web sales. It employs
more than 1500 staff and has an annual
turnover of about £200m.
“This is smaller than something we
would normally do but it’s a door opener,”
commented Buffett. ”I like the fact we
have cracked the code in Germany.”
Berkshire Hathaway, which currently
has an acquisition war chest of £36bn
in cash, makes no secret of the fact it is
looking for likely targets in Europe but
would prefer much bigger propositions.
It recently exited a large stake in the
UK’s leading supermarket chain Tesco.
On home turf, it owns all 57 varieties
of Heinz, about 10% of Coca Cola and
a huge commercially strategic slice of
America’s railroad network, among many
other blue-chip bets.
However, the Detlev Louis purchase
isn’t Buffett’s first foray into motorcycling.
In 2009 at the height of the credit crunch,
he provided a £200m emergency debt
lifeline to Harley-Davidson’s struggling
financial services arm, his generosity
leavened by 15% annual interest over five
years.
AIMExpo to launch new series of shows
THE MARKETPLACE EVENTS
(MPE) Motorcycle Group, producers of
the American International Motorcycle
Expo (AIMExpo) at Orlando in October
each year, has announced that it plans
to produce a series of events directed at
motorcycle and powersports consumers.
The shows will be timed to promote
2016 model year products and “will focus
on experimental elements and attracting
new riders”, according to the company.
Locations and dates are to be announced
“soon”.
“Since our earliest research on the
viability of the AIMExpo launch (a
combined trade/consumer platform new
to North America), we’ve been continually
asked by key industry players when we
would produce a series of consumer-only
events,” said Mike Webster, President of
MPE’s Motorcycle Group.
“Their message has been clear and
consistent: the market is underserved
from a consumer show perspective.
Industry marketeers are looking for a
more responsive and engaging platform
– something welcoming to traditionalists
and attractive to new riders. We have no
doubt the experimental elements we’re
planning will excite all members of our
community.”
www.aimexpousa.com
Poor demand leads to Harley lay-offs
HARLEYDAVIDSON HAS announced that more than 20%
of the workforce at its Kansas City production plant is to be
laid-off for a five-month period starting in early May, as the
company seeks to cut dealer inventory of slow-selling models.
The lay-offs will affect 169 employees out of a 750-strong
headcount at the Missouri facility. According to analyst Tim
Conder of US investment bank Wells Fargo Securities, these
temporary staff cuts are driven by poor demand for Sportster,
Dyna, Softail and V-Rod models manufactured in Kansas City.
The factory also assembles entry-level 750cc Street machines
destined for the US domestic market, from knocked-down
component kits sourced in India. These are still reportedly
selling well, adds Conder.
Reducing production in Missouri is the easiest option for
Harley, because it’s a “right to work” State where businesses
aren’t obliged to negotiate with or recognise trades union
representation.
Some of the dust-gatherers made there, particularly the
Sportster range, are due to be refreshed with updates for 2016.
Laid-off staff are likely to return to work in October to begin a
production surge for the following season.
Conder also notes that Harley-Davidson’s share price, which
has been substantially under-performing New York Stock
Exchange index movements in recent weeks, will probably
remain weak until investor negativity is ameliorated (or
otherwise) by second-quarter retail sales data released in July.
EUROPE’S MANUFACTURERS and
trade associations are keeping an eye on
measures introduced in several major
European cities in the past two years that
restrict the use of motorcycles on the
basis of age.
The authorities in Paris recently passed
a wide-ranging series of regulations aimed
at reducing the number of vehicles on the
city streets with what they consider to
be outdated emissions compliance and
standards.
In the case of motorcycles, Parisian
mayor Anne Hildalgo has legislated
to prevent motorcycles older than 15
years (pre-2000) being used within the
capital’s boundaries, with a proposal for
an outright ban on the use of all pre-2015
motorcycles by 2020.
The proposal has angered the French
riders’ rights association, the FFMC,
which coordinated a protest on 9
February supported by between 2000
and 4000 riders, depending on whose
figures you believe.
With manufacturers heading towards
EURO-4 compliance for model year 2016
motorcycles and tighter-still compliance
standards thereafter, the implementation
of a five-year cut off is being regarded by
bikers as arbitrary and inappropriate.
ACEM, the Brussels-based industry
trade association, said it was “looking
at this issue closely” and had met with
French officials in Paris to discuss the
proposals.
For a detailed analysis of the French
market in general, see page 62.
French motorcycle riders group the FFMC organised a protest against the Paris bike ban.
Polaris buys Hammerhead manufacturer
POLARIS INDUSTRIES has followed up its acquisition of electric-bike manufacturer
Brammo with the purchase of HH Investment Limited, which owns the Hammerhead
brand. Hammerhead manufactures petrol-powered go-karts, light utility vehicles, and
electric utility vehicles in Shanghai, China. The company markets its products globally
under Hammerhead Offroad, and works with other OEMs. The terms of the pending
transaction were not disclosed.
“Hammerhead provides Polaris with a unique
opportunity to expand both our international
manufacturing footprint and our armada of
off-road products,” said Scott Wine, Polaris
chairman and CEO. “We are impressed by
the entrepreneurial spirit and passion for
innovation of the Hammerhead team,
and look forward to pursuing new
customers in new markets with their
high-quality and low-cost off-road
vehicles. We are excited to establish
Polaris’ operational footprint in
China and believe the opportunities
for further international growth are
significant.”
Hammerhead’s main manufacturing operation is located in
Shanghai, China, near Polaris’ Chinese subsidiary. Hammerhead also
has an operation located north of Dallas, Texas, responsible for light assembly and sales
distribution of its products in North America. Hammerhead will continue to market its
products under the Hammerhead brand as a stand-alone entity.
Another weak year for Piaggio
ALTHOUGH EUROPE’S biggest
powered two-wheeler manufacturer
Piaggio has seen profitability improve
in its full-year 2014 financial results,
turnover was flat with bike sales revenue
and volume declining again.
Total revenue grew marginally by 0.1%
to £881.8m. Bikes sales accounted for
£526.8m of that, down by 0.5% overall.
Scooters were actually up by 1.4% to
£439.4m but motorcycles fell by 8.8% to
£87.4m.
Global powered two-wheeler sales
volume dropped by 5% to 334,200 units.
Western markets were strongest, with
only a 0.9% reduction to 209,400 units.
South-east Asia was down by 3.5% at
97,800 units and Indian sales plunged by
30.6% to 27,000 units.
Despite the fall in sales, Piaggio Group
operating profit climbed by 11.2% to
£50.7m, attributed to a higher-margin
model mix. Net profit rose by 3.2% to
£13.5m.
This is China
With David McMullan
THE ROLE of the spring Canton fair in
setting market trends and predicting the
success or failure of exports has been
usurped this year. The fair takes place on
15-19 April, but a series of meetings and
forums prior to the Chinese New Year on
19 February have already provided a pretty
clear picture of the main events in 2015.
The well-documented incursion of the
Indian motorcycle trade into traditional
Chinese strongholds has caused the
industry in China to kick up a gear in
terms of quality, brand recognition and
marketing. In recent years unit production
and sales have declined quite noticeably,
but one aspect of the industry that has
not suffered is the profits of the larger
manufacturers, suggesting that a change
in quality and market (and therefore profit
margins) has already begun to take place.
In 2015 we can expect to see further
collaboration between Chinese motorcycle
giants and European brands. Last year
saw the multi-million-dollar purchase
of Italian motorcycle marque SWM by
Chongqing-based
off-road
specialist
manufacturer
Shineray,
which
secured
some
Husqvarna designs
as part of the deal.
I
have
been
approached by some
Chinese motorcycle
companies
(some
big, some smaller) to
find them European
partners to enhance
their quality and in some cases help them
develop new technology (engines of
600cc and above being the most popular
request). In addition, I have been contacted
by
European/American
motorcycle
companies enquiring about the benefits
of collaborating with Chinese motorcycle
companies on many levels. I believe the
inevitable conclusion of this phenomenon
is that there will be more collaborations
of all types than ever before as China and
Europe/USA look for “win-win” cooperation
strategies.
As the business philosophy of the
bigger Chinese manufacturers changes,
so do the target markets. The past couple
of years have seen the Chinese industry
starting to gear up with anti-lock braking
systems and electronic fuel injection to
ready themselves for a serious and wellthought-out (this time) push in to Europe
and America.
Even smaller manufacturers are
adding two or three EURO Certificate
of Conformity (COC) models to
their repertoire as many are
moving away from the
cloning-Japanese-
models practice of previous years.
Although these cloned models are still
widely available and necessary for African
markets, the range of models produced by
even the smallest manufacturers has begun
to include self-designed, unique models.
At a recent motorcycle industry
forum in Chongqing much of the talk
was about the lack of representation of
Chinese motorcycle companies in global
motorsports. No significant increase in
international race involvement has been
made, apart from CF Moto’s inclusion in
the Isle of Man TT. It’s my belief that it is not
unwillingness on the part of the Chinese
that prevents participation but rather
inexperience and naivety.
One way forward would be for Chinese
motorcycle companies to enlist the help
of experienced campaigners. CF Moto’s
TT involvement was due to the forwardthinking professionalism of the UK importer
WK Bikes’ racing team, but the Chinese
have had their fingers burned when it
comes to seeking international help with
racing
projects.
Chongqing giant
Loncin
decided
to participate in
MotoGP 125 and
employed a team
from Europe to help
them, an action
that led to chaos
within the team
and the withdrawal
of Loncin from
MotoGP after just
two years.
What the Chinese industry is waiting
for now is experienced international
racing teams willing to take on a Chinese
manufacturer as a new project.
This is going to be a year of major
transition for the Chinese motorcycle
industry, one that will sound the death
knell for many smaller manufacturers
as Indian and Japanese manufacturers
take bigger and bigger slices out of their
traditional safe market share.
Chinese motorcycle historian Winston
Guo predicts: “As long as the Japanese
brands keep reducing their prices in
developing countries they will always be
a threat to the Chinese, purely and simply
through brand recognition. The Indian
brands are not yet as recognisable but they
are providing better quality motorcycles
to a market whose wealth is steadily
increasing. This means that the smaller
Chinese companies’ main benefit – low
price – is no longer as important as it once
was. There were over 200 motorcycle
manufacturers in China at the start of
this year; it would be no surprise to me
if there were fewer than 150 at the
end of it. Time will tell!”
“This is going
to be a year of
major transition
for the Chinese
motorcycle
industry”
China Motor Magazine chief
foreign correspondent
David McMullan reports
from Chongqing,
the motorcycle
manufacturing
capital of China.
englishmaninchina@
gmail.com;
www.chinamotorworld.com
APRIL 2015
25
International news Þ
Paris bike ban infuriates riders
Off-road news
In association with
Off-road school boss
praises ‘keen’ KTM
KTM HAS launched its first official
motocross/off-road training school. The
one-day courses will be run at selected
venues in the North, South, South-East and
the Midlands and run by Barry Johnson, a
four-time British Schoolboy Motocross
champion in the 1980s and a top British
senior racer in more recent times.
The schools/training days are open to
riders aged ten plus and who are over 4ft
8in tall. The cost is £185 per day and that
includes bike hire, clothing, helmet, boots
and the cost of running the bike. KTM
UK is providing the latest 2015 SX and
Freeride machinery.
The day’s riding encompasses all aspects
of machine control, body positioning,
tackling hazards, turns, jumps etc and can
be used as an introduction to the sport, a
way to improve riding skills or a fun day
for groups of friends or corporate groups.
BDN reported that Johnson, 48, an
ACU qualified instructor for 30 years, was
moving to KTM from Yamaha following
the Dirt Bike Show in November last year.
The news proved a surprise for many as
he had run Yamaha’s high-profile off-road
schools for an unbroken 26 years. Speaking
at the time he said: “I’ve had a good time
with Yamaha, both as a rider and running
my off-road schools fully sponsored by
them, but KTM is really keen and looking
to the future, so I am looking forward to
the move and a new challenge.”
www.ktmexperience.co.uk
Off-road news
DBS revamp a success
CREATED BY trials fan Alan Wright and in its first year under
the Morton Media show group ownership, the Putoline Classic
Dirt Bike Show at Telford’s International Centre over the
weekend of 21/22 February was indeed a classic, with both days
busy with happy show-goers and satisfied stand-holders.
This time, though, although very much still a dirt bike show,
there was a road and road-racing element and it was all the
better for it. In the main, most classic types love all classic bikes
and there was some great stuff, including a superbly engineered
and home-built V8 squeezed into a Norton Featherbed frame,
and Sammy Miller’s square 4 two-stroke Villa.
The show celebrated 40 years of the first World Trials
championship, won by Martin Lampkin (Bultaco) in 1975.
Lampkin was due to attend but was unwell. The weekend also
celebrated the 50th anniversary of the International Six Days
Trial being first held on the Isle of Man.
There were 306 trade stands and 24 club stands, plus private
exhibitors, and although attendance figures have not been made
available, Mortons classic shows organiser Nick Mowbray was
also a happy man.
“We are delighted by the way our debut Putoline Classic
Dirt Bike Show has gone. Every available plot within the
International Centre was taken with either trade or club stands
and individual exhibitors and the visitor numbers demonstrated
the continuing popularity of the event.”
With 135 bikes on show, there was plenty to look at. The
Steve Butler/Glenn Whitlock/Terry House 1981 Maico won
Best in Show. Other winners included Steve Lindsell’s 350
Royal Enfield (Best Road Racer), John May’s Bultaco (Best
Trials), Paul Muller’s 1974 Jawa (Best Speedway/Grasstrack)
and Heidi Cockerton’s 125 Suzuki S10 (Best Enduro).
There was a Saturday night “dinner-do” with guest speakers
including Mick Grant and Sammy Miller but double British
Scrambles Champion Vic Allan was disappointed he was unable
to attend as he’d broken his hip taking a low-speed tumble off
his classic DOT trials bike.
It must be in here somewhere. Rummaging
Rubin Shellard looking for that elusive part on
the floor of Telford’s International Centre.
Adrian Moss with his G50 Matchless-powered
Rickman, raced successfully in classic
scrambles by Andy Roberton.
John Crudgington’s superby hand-crafted
and home-built V8 engine fitted into a Norton
Featherbed road chassis.
Gas Gas backs 2015 world enduros – but still no round for UK
Four-times schoolboy motocross champion
Barry Johnson will run KTM’s new courses.
SHRUGGING OFF the continuing
stories about financial woes, the Spanish
Gas Gas factory has announced its full
support for the 2015 World Enduro
championships. The seven-round series
takes place in Chile, Spain, Portugal,
Greece, Italy, Belgium and France
and is a serious financial and logistical
commitment for the progressive but cashstrapped manufacturer.
“Gas Gas is supporting six riders and,
sadly, once again there is no British
round of these now high-profile world
championships,” writes our off-road
correspondent Pete Plummer.
“It would be good for both the sport
and the UK industry, therefore, if the
organisational skills and the funding could
be brought together to achieve that.
“Surely if Gas Gas can venture forth and
compete at the highest level in six foreign
countries as well as its own, it ought to be
Suzuki press bike wins 2015 Arenacross champs
FRENCHMAN THOMAS Ramette, riding a
press test bike loaned by Suzuki GB, has won
the 2015 British Arenacross championships.
The bike, a standard 2015 RM-Z450, was
run under the SR75 Molson team banner
managed by Geoff Walker. Walker, from a
long-standing motocross family and former
technician for Team Green Kawasaki rider Carl
Nunn, is the technical editor of Dirt Bike Rider
magazine, part of the TMX/DBR media group.
Walker runs the satellite SR75 Molson team
as an interesting and exciting sideline to his day
job and has the new model RM-Z450 as a long-
26 APRIL 2015
term loan bike to the group. The Arenacross
championship win should prove to be a real
boost for new bike sales too. As well as winning
the series, Ramette had eight pole positions for
the finals in each round.
Rob Cooper, marketing manager Suzuki GB,
said: “We are delighted to get the championship
win under our belts with the new RM-Z450.
We are also extremely grateful to Geoff and
the SR75 Molson team, and the effort they
put in over the series. We are looking forward
to continued success with them and the new
bike.”
possible to organise our own round of the
World Enduro championships here?”
The four-man full factory Gas Gas team
comprises Antoine Basset (Gas Gas EC
300) and Jonathan Barragan (EC 300) in
the E3 class; Jonathan Marzi (EC 250F)
in the E1 class, and Diogo Ventura (EC
250) in Junior E. The two-man Gas Gas
Pons-supported team comprises Marc Sola
(EC 300) in E3 and Sergi Casany (EC 125)
in junior Open 125.
Press and Trade
Barons’ Trial returns
MORTONS MEDIA GROUP has
brought back the infamous Press and
Trade Barons’ Trial, to be run at the Dirt
Bike Show, Stoneleigh, Warwickshire,
between 29 October and 1 November. A
popular feature in MCN in the 1960s, it
is to run along the same lines in that pot
hunters who take it seriously will either
be disqualified or fined. Any type of bike
is eligible and a ‘run what you brung’
theme will operate throughout.
Business news
Yamaha nurtures wannabe motocrossers
YAMAHA has teamed up with the
Amateur Motor Cycle Association
(AMCA) to offer the Yamaha AMCA MX
Experience.
Yamaha’s new partnership with one
of the oldest governing bodies of offroad competition gives
wannabe riders the
perfect opportunity to try
the sport of motocross
at a range of venues
throughout the
UK,
without
the
commitment
of buying a bike and
associated kit.
With over 80 years’
experience in running off-road events –
from the humble local trial right up to
mass-participation beach racing – the
AMCA and its team have all the skills
and knowledge necessary to provide the
ideal environment for those wanting to
try their hand at riding an off-road bike
in a safe and secure environment, while
having fun and learning a new skill at the
same time.
In addition to having a fleet of Yamaha’s
latest off-road machinery at its disposal,
including the reverse-cylinder YZ250F
motocrosser and the new fuel-injected
WR250F enduro bike, the Yamaha
AMCA MX Experience will provide all
the necessary riding kit and protection for
the day, as well as comprehensive but easy
to understand tuition. Use of bikes and
fuel for the day is included in the price.
The Yamaha AMCA MX Experience
won’t just cater for novices. It will also be
actively encouraging riders to build on
their new found skills and take their first
steps into the world of competitive sport
by offering a unique Race Day Experience
package.
Once riders have
completed the experience
they will have the
opportunity
to
take their riding
to the next level and
go bar-to-bar on track
in their first novice
AMCA race. Riders
will also have an AMCA
instructor/mentor for the day who will
guide them through the whole experience
from sign-on to lifting a trophy on the
podium at the end of the day (maybe).
Karl Radley, Yamaha UK’s Off-Road
marketing coordinator, said: “We are
really excited to have the AMCA on board
as a partner and to be able to continue
to offer Yamaha fans the opportunity to
experience our products and the thrill of
off-road riding. With the new Yamaha
AMCA MX Experience, we are looking to
the future and new ways of encouraging
riders into the sport of off-road.”
AMCA is the leading amateur off-road
motorcycle sport organisation, and was
founded in 1932. It is run by its members
for the benefit of its members and hosts
more than 900 events a year.
www.amca.uk.com
Rock Oil in push for £25m turnover
ROCK OIL says it has added £5m to its
turnover since 2010 and is on target to hit
£25m this year. The oil producer supplies a
number of industries, with bike lubricants
representing 20% of turnover.
“It is our motorcycle products and our
involvement in bike sport that generates
that core business,” said Rock Oil MD
Greg Hewitt.
Marketing manager Russell Bower
added: “Rock Oil is a family business built
up over generations. It has realised the
potential in bike racing and competition Left to right: Rock Oil MD Greg Hewitt,
for research and development and achieving marketing manager Russell Bower and Mick
technical excellence. It is therefore easy Paylor of Park Lane MX.
to appreciate that a brand that lubricates TT winners, superbikes and motocross at
world level offers superior lubrication for truck, bus, tractor and car. Bikes are our
promotional tool in the oil business.”
Founded in 1928 and said to have been growing year on year since the 1950s,
Rock Oil became involved in motorcycle sport with Kawasaki in the 1970s under
the guidance of Charles Hewitt, who is now chairman. It exports to 55 countries and
further expansion is planned for the Warrington, Cheshire, base.
www.rockoil.co.uk
Forty years for Perring and the Snowrun
THE 40TH annual Snowrun Enduro
organised by the Welsh Trail Riders
Association took place last month.
It is remarkable that Bob Perring, now
aged 78, has been the man in charge and
the clerk of the course for all 40 of those
years. In fact Perring, as well as organising
events on a grand scale, created both the
forest enduro and rally formats favoured
by many, thereby considerably expanding
the enduro market into which so much
product is sold.
On retirement from his job on the
South Wales Electricity Board, he moved
from Cardiff to Llandovery to be closer to
the Crychan forest, where he continues to
run events.
To keep fit he clears motorcycle routes
through forestry, rides mountain bikes and
a KTM.
APRIL 2015
27
Events news
SHORTCUTS Suzuki sponsors Sheene festival
BOURNEMOUTH WHEELS
FESTIVAL,
claimed to be the country’s biggest free,
family, wheels-themed festival, returns on
29–31 May. Held for the first time last year,
the event attracted 500,000 people over
three days. This year there is a programme
of stunts and displays featuring dare devil
motocross, BMX and skateboard teams, as
well as F1 and precision drivers. Festivalgoers will also find a selection of seafront
stalls, a funfair and a live music stage.
www.bournemouthwheels.co.uk
SUZUKI IS backing this year’s Barry
Sheene Festival at Oliver’s Mount race
circuit. The event, to be held on 20/21
June, will celebrate the life and career of
one of Britain’s most iconic motorcycle
racers, who won two world championships
with Suzuki, in 1976 and 1977.
A selection of Sheene’s race bikes will be
on display as well as a number of vintage
Suzukis. There will also be a Suzuki
parade, and full programme of racing
across the two days.
Peter Hillaby, Oliver’s Mount circuit
director, said: “Oliver’s Mount race circuit
enjoyed the many battles over the years
that Barry Sheene had with his rivals
around our track. Barry wowed crowds for
many years and to this day people from
around the world travel to see our Barry
Sheene memorial on
the start/finish line.
We are thrilled that
Suzuki will be the title
sponsor for the Barry
Sheene festival and
we’re looking forward
to the start of a long
term relationship at
the venue.”
Suzuki
GB
aftersales marketing
co-ordinator
Tim
Davies added: “The
Barry Sheene festival Barry Sheene at the Oliver’s Mount circuit, Scarborough.
is obviously something that we couldn’t in general. We’re now looking forward to
pass up. Barry spent most of his racing June and getting the show under way.”
career with Suzuki GB and is an icon not
Advance
tickets
from
www.
only for us, but for British motorcycling oliversmountracing.com
Restoration Theatre to debut at Stafford Classic show
ORGANISERS of the 2015 Carole Nash Irish
Motorbike and Scooter Show claim it was the
“best ever”, judging by feedback from the
27,136 visitors. The show, incorporating the
AMD Custom Bike Show, was held at RDS in
Dublin from 27 February to 1 March. There
were 120 exhibitors, 98% of whom reported
“excellent business” on their stands. The next
show is in 2017.
CARL FOGARTY will be enjoying his new
fame as King of the Jungle when he attends
the Prescott Bike Festival at Gotherington,
near Cheltenham, on 12 April. A limited
number of tickets
remain for visitors
to ride the famous
hill climb course.
“Already
2015
is
shaping
up
to be our best
line-up ever of
race
machinery,
paddock specials
and a new Show ‘n’ Tell feature,” say the
organisers “The festival will include
displays of historic, modern and race bikes,
motorcycle manufacturers, dealers, clubs,
demo areas, passenger ride experiences,
celebrity appearances, trade stalls and a
whole raft of entertainment to keep visitors
entertained throughout the weekend.”
www.prescottbikefestival.co.uk
The Bike Shed is holding “Un homage à
l’esprit café racer et à la nouvelle scène moto
custom” (a tribute to the spirit of the café
racer and latest motorcycle custom scene) in
Le Carreau du Temple, Paris, on 11/12 April.
The event is sponsored by Triumph UK.
28 APRIL 2015
THERE’S A new live element in store for
visitors to the Carole Nash International
Classic MotorCycle Show next month as
TV personality Pete Thorne, a regular on
ITV’s The Motorbike Show with Henry
Cole, is set to deliver five daily sessions of
essential restoration advice.
Taking place at Staffordshire County
Showground on 25-26 April, the
Restoration Theatre will feature Thorne
guiding showgoers through a range
of topics offering practical and downto-earth advice with accompanying
demonstrations. He will pitch the
information so it’s accessible to every
level of restorer with the theatre retaining
a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. He
will also be on hand following each
presentation to answer questions.
Nick Mowbray, exhibition manager at
event organiser Classic Bike Shows, said:
“We’re all really excited about our new
Restoration Theatre and we know we’ve
got the right man in Pete Thorne who’ll
bring plenty of enthusiasm and passion
to proceedings, along with a wealth of
technical knowledge.
“Perhaps the best news for showgoers
is that we’ve been able to incorporate
the sessions into the overall ticket price,
meaning there is no additional charge to
attend any of the ten presentations taking
place across the weekend.”
Thorne said: “The prospect of the
Restoration Theatre is one that appealed
to me and I’m delighted to have been asked
to take part. I’ve been fortunate enough
to work in the world of motorcycle repair
and restoration for the past 41 years and
I look forward to sharing my experiences
with crowds at the Stafford show.”
The rest of the event will include display
machines filling the halls alongside a
range of trade and jumble plots selling
everything from whole machines through
to spares and parts.
Former motorcycling sporting stars
and leading industry figures, Nick and
Tony Jefferies will be in attendance as the
show’s guests of honour, Bonhams will
host its annual Stafford sale, and both the
Classic Racer GP Paddock and Classic
Dirt Bike Experience will be in operation.
British and European machinery will
be paraded in the showground’s main ring
as the Cavalcade, debuted at October’s
event, returns by popular demand and,
new for this year, there will also be live
music in the bandstand.
Tickets for the show are now on sale,
with a one-day adult ticket costing £10
when bought in advance, a £3 saving on
the gate price.
Passes can be purchased online from
www.classicbikeshows.com or buy calling
01507 529529.
A chance to get lost in the blue haze of time
AFTER THE success of last year’s
inaugural Scottish Tiddler Tootle run-out
for bikes aged 25 years or older and up
to 250cc, the Vintage Motor Cycle Club
(VMCC) has announced the first Blue
Haze Run.
The new event – for the same vintage
of bike but focusing on two-strokes – will
start from Chapelton, near Strathaven
in Lanarkshire, on 19 April. The second
Scottish Tiddler Tootle will start at Doune,
near Stirling, on 24 May.
These VMCC events are open to nonmembers, and the Burton-upon-Trent
based club points out that it is a myth
that participants need a really old bike to
be eligible for the club’s events and that
suitable bikes are prohibitively expensive.
“Any motorcycle made before 1990 is
eligible. Bikes from the 1970s and 1980s
can be bought for quite reasonable money
– especially some of the Japanese models,”
said Alastair Alexander, VMCC area rep
for Scotland. “Size does matter so, when
you get down to 250cc or smaller, then a
whole host of machines can be bought –
ready for the road, or in need of some light
TLC – for well under £1000, and quite
often for a few hundred.
“In Scotland, the VMCC has introduced
some runs for lightweight bikes with the
aim of broadening the appeal of the club
to younger members and especially riders
whose budgets are limited. Lightweights
also have an increasing relevance to our
older motorcyclists who value being able
to keep riding actively on a machine
which is light, easy to manoeuvre and has
the magic of an electric start.”
The first Tiddler Tootle attracted bikes
including a Benelli that could be ordered
in a Sears catalogue. Autocycles mixed it
with a Lambretta 49, a Bianci 50, Puchs,
a DMW 150, LE Velocettes, Bantams,
MZs, CZs, Triumph Cubs, all sizes of
Yamaha, Honda and Suzuki tiddlers and a
flat tank 250cc Velocette two stroke.
For details contact [email protected]
or Don Riley on 01698 854390
Meanwhile, the VMCC, with the
support of insurer broker Footman James,
Bonhams auctioneers and Old Bike Mart,
will hold the 67th Banbury Run on 21
June. With 500 entrants, the VMCC
Banbury Run is the biggest gathering
and run in the world for machines
manufactured before 1931.
Operating over three different routes,
which all converge on Gaydon, Warks, the
Banbury Run caters for those who wish
to enter a timed event or those who just
enjoy the thrill of riding with so many
other vintage, veteran and pioneer bikes.
D606
T
F
E
W
0117 971 9200
0117 972 5574
[email protected]
www.thekeycollection.co.uk
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Caddsdown Business Park, Clovelly Road,
Bideford, EX39 3DX
Blind eye to a successful industry
Get On is a member benefit and the MCIA makes no apologies for this
Unfortunately, your e-letter (‘Think
Bike!’, 20 February) is so very true!
This is something that continually
frustrates me and I’m sure many
other people, too.
Consecutive governments have
failed to adopt a balanced approach
to transport requirements for the
present and for the future.
When, if ever, will the penny drop
that the economy and environment
need an effective transport system?
Travelling anywhere in the UK you
find yourself on over-crowded roads
as there are too many of the wrong
types of vehicles using our underfunded road system.
The UK has a massive motorcycle
heritage, with names like Triumph
and Norton. We are successfully
producing and exporting
motorcycles, while the remainder
of the British motor industry has
failed and been sold off to the likes
of BMW.
Why, then, does the government
turn a blind eye to the industry and
bring in regulations that actively
discourage people from riding a
British motorcycle?
Wynn Connell, Acerbis UK, Luton
Regarding Daniel Frost’s letter (MCIA support should
not be dependent on subscription costs, March), Get On
changed in April 2014. It changed in response to requests
from members.
There is no cost to any dealer from Get On, which is
funded centrally by the MCIA. All MCIA members are
equally entitled to be featured on the Get On website for
free and many use it now to promote special offers such as
zero finance.
Get On is a member benefit and the MCIA makes no
apologies for this. The Get On website was re-launched in
the summer of 2014 and is certainly not “tired”.
Wider MCIA initiatives will benefit the entire market,
regardless of membership, and so the MCIA reserves
the right to limit certain benefits, such as free access to
the Get On website, to those who contribute financially
towards its running – i.e. all members.
The association applauds the 120 businesses which
offer their continued support and commitment to the
motorcycle industry through membership.
The revenue collected through subs finances the
MCIA’s work to protect, promote and expand the
industry.
Dealers have their own organisation in the NMDA, and
the MCIA would urge all dealers to support this.
Satisfaction among MCIA members is extremely high,
with 100% saying they would recommend membership.
Membership enquiries are warmly welcomed
Sandra Cole, MCIA membership manager,
[email protected]
Star Letter
How motorcycles have
gone from simplicity to
over-complexity
Having been a Honda, Yamaha
and Suzuki dealer, I took on the
BMW franchise in 1980 and we
had a good working relationship
with them. The bikes were different
to work on because of the intrinsic
design of the machine, but servicing
was not too expensive and although
some jobs took a little longer, others
took less time and it balanced out,
and the design was good.
The principles of good design are:
keep it as simple as possible, watch
the weight, try to make the new
machine compatible with existing
tooling and consider the accessibility
for service and possible repair or
replacement.
Soon after the new R1100RS was
introduced, I bought an ex-demo
model with just under 5000 miles
on the clock. I loved the bike – the
handling and ride were great.
Just before the warranty ran out,
the bike developed a fuel leak near
the gearbox, which turned out to be
30 APRIL 2015
the fuel-injection pressure regulator.
As I did not have time to get over to
Rainbow Motorcycles of Sheffield, I
took it into a local BMW dealer who
had time to do it.
I had no idea how much work
was involved – work necessitated by
BMW ignoring the basic principles
of good design.
I guess now it was probably
about ten hours, as the regulator is
fitted between the air box and the
crankcase.
I used the bike extensively for
continental tours and sold it with
95,000 miles on the clock, still on
the original clutch, cables etc.
Two years ago I bought a second
R1100RS, a 1997 model with
ABS and only 20,000 miles. I fully
serviced the machine.
After 1500 miles the clutch started
to slip at about 70 to 75mph. I
called the dealer to quote me for
replacing the clutch, as at 78 years of
age I did not fancy the heavy work
involved in removing the gearbox. I
called the dealer twice but he never
called back, and now I know why.
While the time for getting the
gearbox out and back in again on
the old R100 models was about
four hours, for the R1100RS it is
nearer 15 hours. A lot of this, in
my opinion, comes down to lack of
thought.
Can it be normal to have to
remove the fuse and relay box to get
at the airbox and even split the rear
brake line to remove the gearbox?
Even the simple one-into-two
throttle cable could not be left
alone. Didn’t anyone ever think of
this?
The result is that it now costs
about three times as much to
change the clutch on an R1100RS
as it does on a VW Golf (at about
£2000-plus, including VAT and
parts) and once the public realises
this, they will not put up with it and
second-hand values will fall.
Thank goodness a number of
the Japanese manufacturers, and
Triumph, are bringing out some
simple machines that will be fun to
ride and reasonably priced to service.
Michael Hosgood, formerly of
Tony’s of Prestatyn
The writer of our Star
Letter receives, a
presentation pack
of six bottles of
Cataclean One Shot.
Your letters
The writer of every letter published will
receive a bottle of Cataclean One-Shot Fuel
& Exhaust System Cleaner
www.cataclean.co.uk
Just Pour & Go!
Industry training scheme is too
expensive and ill-thought out
Trainers should undertake
continual personal development
I have just read your story on page
eight of the March issue in which
a fellow trainer says the MCIA
Scheme for motorcycle trainers is
too expensive. I totally agree. I am
in a similar position, being a selfemployed proprietor of my ATB
and using the services of five selfemployed instructors.
So the costs for each of us to
pay to enter a scheme which at the
moment is voluntary
are
prohibitive, and
for an uncertain
outcome. When
the Enhanced
Rider Scheme
was introduced
it was also “sold”
as a voluntary
scheme, with a
prediction that
this was surely to
become compulsory in the
industry as a quality control measure.
That never happened.
This MCIA Scheme is just
another ill-thought-out idea, with an
excessive cost attached. The fact that
I can’t afford to, or won’t, pay for this
dubious “qualification” doesn’t make
me a cowboy.
Andy Smith, 1st Class Rider
Training, Cardiff
See news story on page 18
I would like to respond to the
complaint in the news article on page
eight of the March issue of BDN,
‘MCIA course for trainers too costly’.
There are a lot of initiatives in our
industry which promote the idea of
continual development for riders. As
someone who has recently completed
MCIAC ATB accredited training, I
think the same should apply to the
businesses that deliver that training.
Reflecting on the way that I
run Phoenix in London
and Kent has been
highly beneficial,
both in terms of
personal/professional
development and in
streamlining my
business.
What have I
got out of taking
the course? I have
improved my businesses’ processes
and now get invaluable feedback
from each customer, who is surveyed
by the MCIA as part of the package.
This means we find out what people
really think of their training, allowing
us constantly to refine and improve
delivery. I am now putting all my
trainers through the course as well to
ensure their personal development is
the best the industry can offer and
ultimately that my business grows in
line with my expectations.
With regard to cost, I certainly
didn’t pay £1500 and as far as
I understand there are a lot of
subsidised places available.
It is likely that driver and rider
training will become more regulated
in the future and at Phoenix we
applaud the MCIA for helping the
industry to stay ahead with these
excellent courses. Mark Jaffe, Phoenix Motorcycle
Training, Croydon, Sidcup and
Maidstone
Gaining traction
I have just read your piece on the
healthy state of the UK motorcycle
industry off the back of the MCIA’s
report (‘Think Bike! The Sequel’,
e-letter, Friday 27 February) and
wanted to drop you a note from
Michelin Tyres to say this upward
trend is certainly something that
the manufacturer is witnessing too
(and especially among a younger
audience).
Nicola Sutton, Michelin Tyres
A fresh approach
to insurance
Motor Trade
Commercial Combined
Road Risk
Dealer Scheme
7 Day Ride-Away
Challenging comment based on out-of-date information
I was pleased to see much challenging comment in your last edition from
colleagues within the trade.
It was a shame that much appeared to be based on incorrect or out-of-date
facts and assumption.
MCIA is not shy of criticism and may get things wrong in the eyes of others
in our quest to protect, promote and expand motorcycling for the benefit of
our members and their customers.
That we will not stop is a testament to the dedication of our staff and
committed members.
Thus it is a disappointment to us all when commentary and opinion is
offered based on incorrect detail or assumption.
MCIA exists for the industry, we have no position other than the
achievement of the objectives outlined above, and we will happily provide
facts and factual background and explanation so that your contributors can
form an opinion of any particular situation based on an analysis of the facts.
We hope that your readers will feel that they can use MCIA in this way and
that debates via your pages will be better informed as a result.
Steve Kenward, CEO, MCIA
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Principal Insurance Ltd, Dalton House,
Dane Rd, Sale, Manchester M33 7AR.
APRIL 2015
31
Dealer viewpoint
A view from th
IN THE HUNT FOR A MAJOR FRANCHISE
Chartered mechanical engineer Alan Skinner (left in
picture) has forged a niche in the industry since setting
up Avon Motorcycles three years ago and specialising in
new and second-hand learner-legal scooters, trail bikes,
supermotos, cruisers and retro machines in the 50cc125cc market.
The former national club road racer of 600cc and
1000cc motorcycles was funnelled into the learner
market after discovering that existing outlets in Bristol
already had the major
franchises taped up,
something which remains
a frustration. Having said
that, he has been delighted
by the progress of Avon,
which offers Sym, Keeway
and Lexmoto products.
Managed by Meirion Guyon (right), the business – in
a light industrial area just off the main Bristol-Bath route
– typically stocks 20-30 new machines, set to increase to
40-50 following a recent expansion of the showroom.
Skinner was shopping for another franchise when
he visited Expo and still hankers after a high-profile
marque so he can proffer larger-capacity motorcycles. In
the meantime, the focus is on building both sales and
servicing. “We’ve done well because we are able to offer
the complete package to anyone who wants to get on a
powered two-wheeler for the first time.
“We do clothing and servicing as well as finance
packages on new machines and have relationships with
local training organisations.”
The workshop is the heart of the business, run by
Tony Tanner, with experienced David Harwood as the
mechanic. Labour rates start at £49.99 per hour and
include packages of three services for £199.
Motorcycle dealerships have got differing views on the
current state of the industry. Graham Sanderson spoke
to some of the 1500 dealers who attended Motorcycle
Trade Expo at Stoneleigh, and their opinions make
interesting reading.
START-UP BUSINESS SPECIALISES IN LOW-COST COMMUTERS
It’ll be May before AGA celebrates its first anniversary in the motorcycle trade but the small family
operation is looking into the future with its eyes open and a realistic ambition. Dealers for Baotian,
Lexmoto, Pulse and Zontes, the lightweight specialist was created after director Amanda Govier
couldn’t believe how far she had to travel when trying to buy a Pulse Scout for her daughter.
She eventually tracked one down in far-flung Sussex but was moved to create her own startup business, figuring that the market for low-cost transport would be viable closer to home. The
medical secretary then encouraged father Alan Pink, a lifelong motor mechanic, to transfer his skills
to two-wheelers and, with miscellaneous assistance from lorry-driving husband Gary, then set up
shop in a unit in rural Evercreech, Somerset.
Alan, AGA’s only full-timer, was realistic from the outset. “We delivered flyers to local businesses
but for the first month or two nothing happened. Then bit by bit people have come in and got to
know us. We’ve sold machines and there are others whose machines we service.
“I knew there was a stigma about Chinese machines but the reliability and parts supply on the
ones we sell means that’s no longer a problem,” said Alan, who shares the ambition of a one-stop
shop with daughter Amanda.
“You have to build up a rapport with the customers, and because many are 16 or 17 you get to
know the parents. The next thing is that everyone’s on first-name terms and they know they can
trust you. Whether they are paying £750 or £1500 for a machine, that money has been hard-earned
and we will do our utmost to make sure they are happy.
“We have a van to collect machines, we sell a starter pack of jacket, gloves and helmet at £139 for
new buyers and we plan to offer tyre sales, fitting and balancing next year,” concluded Alan.
AGA Motorcycles, Shepton Mallet, Somerset
Tel 01749 938107; [email protected]
Avon Motorcycles, Bristol
Tel 0117 972 8769; [email protected]
A SCENE THAT’S MUCH MORE THAN RIDING SCOOTERS
A fateful crossing of
paths was the catalyst
for the creation of
Fargo Scooters. The
new Piaggio, Vespa,
Gilera and classic
scooter dealer started
operating from the
chic Camden Marketstyle Fargo village
in Coventry last
September.
Former Motorcycle City dealer principal Alex
Cavaliere (right) and financial adviser Steve ParkerBrown (left) share a passion for scooters, although
the latter had next to no mechanical knowledge,
while Cavaliere is a demon on the spanners.
Brought together via an eBay purchase, the
duo discovered they were two sides of the same
coin. They agreed that Parker-Brown’s hobby of
buying and selling classic scooters could become
a business. Instead of Parker-Brown turning
his acquisitions into piles of spare parts for sale,
Cavaliere would repair and renovate them for sale
as complete machines.
32 APRIL 2015
Alan Pink, and Gary and Amanda Govier
The shop-fronted unit in Fargo was ideal
for both sales and servicing environments and
the local publicity machine ensured more than
200 scooters turned up for the opening. Being
appointed as Piaggio Group’s newest dealer
cemented the business in a catchment area that’s
large and brimming with potential. With classic
scooters retailing for between £1500 and £15,000,
supply is the problem, and the duo is constantly
scanning for stock, at home and abroad.
“The scooter scene is much more than just
riding scooters. Yes, there are the ride-outs
and rallies but it’s also about the clothing and
music – it seems so much more relaxed than
motorcycling,” said Cavaliere.
Fargo Scooters also offers Warrior clothing and
a suite of finance options will be available via
Parker-Brown, who is both OFT and
FCA-approved. “Customers can be sure that
Fargo is a scooter shop run by scooterists, not
accountants, and they’ll get a good deal from us,”
said Parker-Brown.
Fargo Scooters, Coventry, Warwickshire
Tel 02476 019 466; [email protected]
Dealer viewpoint
e showrooms
ON THE FIRST RUNG OF A TALL LADDER, WEIGHED DOWN BY TAX
TOO MANY HURDLES IN THE WAY OF TWO WHEELS
A motor retail business since 1989, Lonsdale Cars stumbled into motorcycle
retailing when owner Bill Griggs and manager Ian Fletcher (below) reckoned
they ought to sell their own stable of machines and sold all seven inside two
weeks.
“That made us wonder if we were missing a trick, so we visited Expo
and it all took off from there,” said Fletcher, who manages the business in
a converted petrol station on the A425. There, they sell Pulse and Herald
products along with a variety of used machines of all makes and capacities to
a clientele of men and women of all ages.
“We’re doing OK, selling about 100 new machines a year, but we’ve been
surprised by the number of people returning to
two wheels due to the high cost of insuring a
car. Families are also getting rid of the second
car, which probably did little more than short
commuting trips, and buying a scooter or
motorcycle instead,” said Fletcher, who offers
finance options through Close Brothers Motor
Finance and supplies new riders with a jacket,
helmet and glove package for less than £200.
“There really should be an easier path into
motorcycling. The training, getting a licence and
the restrictions are prohibitive compared with
learning to drive a car. Motorcycling is part of our heritage and I think it
should be embraced,” asserted Fletcher, who was visiting Expo with a view to
adding more brands to Lonsdale’s portfolio.
Lonsdale Cars & Bikes, Daventry, Northants
SPREADING THE WORD ABOUT SCOOTERS
Steve Dibbs established Poole MOTO back in 2007 on the cusp of the
biggest recession in living memory, but that hasn’t prevented him and a staff
of four from battling through to, hopefully, better times.
A 20-year industry veteran, the Londoner specialises in the lightweight
market, selling around 200 new and used machines from franchises with
Peugeot, Sym, Keeway, Baotian and Skyteam, although clothing and
accessories from the likes of Nevis, Tri-Motive, HJC and Fowlers contribute
more to the bottom line.
“We run a leaner operation these days,
prioritising the essentials. Our van is six years
old and it would be nice to have a newer one,
but it’s still running so we make do,” said Dibbs.
“Our website works fine though it could do with
updating, but you have to do the important things
first and we’re all multi-tasking much more than in
the past. Everyone has to answer the phone these
days.
“We used to sell some really cheap stuff but it
would come back and bite you in the backside, so we now sell better quality
machines with proper warranties and back-up and we’ve noticed that some
suppliers have upped their game with more affordable parts.
“We have a good relationship with customers, accommodating them
when bikes need to be picked up for servicing and sometimes giving them a
little credit, perhaps until the end of the month, to pay for, say, a new crash
helmet.
“As an industry I think we need to make more of the fact that insurance
for scooters is much more affordable than it is for a car, less than £400 a year
where we live. The fact that rural transport services are poor and that kids
now have to stay in education for longer is something else to build on for the
future. We noticed this had an impact on sales last September.”
Poole MOTO, Poole, Dorset
Rob Ticehurst is a man driven to make the most out of his venture into
motorcycling after becoming a small independent dealer five years ago. Selling,
servicing or customising any two-wheeler back to the 1920s, dynamic Ticehurst
has recently up-scaled into premises four times the size of those previously
occupied, and has big plans.
“We’ve gone from employing two or three people to six once vacancies
are filled, and I anticipate our turnover will double to between £500,000 and
£750,000, selling 20-45 units a month and servicing 2500-3500 machines a
year. There will be a serious
engineering side to the business
with fabrication and welding,
and I’m currently looking for
three staff, one front of house
and two workshop-based, who
will be taught old school values
of respect for other people’s
property,” said Ticehurst, who
spent 25 years in the offroad and ATV world with his
influential Muddy Trax Racing.
“I’m lucky to have friends, big
players in the industry, who are
happy to discuss issues with
me and educate me in the ways
of the motorcycle industry.
Right now I feel like I’m on the
first rung of a very tall ladder
but I have a ten-year plan and
am motivated and inspired by
success. The process starts today
by talking to positive-thinking
people at Expo,” added Ticehurst who, as the only dealer in the West Sussex
town of Horsham also aims to pull in custom from a 25-mile radius covering
Crawley, Haywards Heath and Burgess Hill.
“I feel it’s too early to think about securing a top-five franchise but patience
is a virtue and I’m confident I’ve met many people at Expo who will be a great
help in the future. What we could really do with, though, is some help for small
businesses from the Government. My second biggest expense is tax and I
really want to know when the Chancellor is going to deliver on his promises,”
concluded Ticehurst.
Horsham Motorcycles, Horsham, Sussex
CATTLE-MAN HAS A BLAST SELLING BIKES
Former livestock artificial inseminator Mark Shore has successfully inserted
himself into the motorcycle industry with the clever marriage of his Blast
Motorcycles business and the cafe of the same name run by wife Wendy.
The lifelong biker with a degree in mechanical engineering had been serving
the cattle industry for 20 years. When an industrial workshop came up for rent,
Wendy suggested he turn his biking hobby into a business because he already
owned the stock – 18 Japanese classics including a GT250 and GS1000.
That was three years ago, and the fledging repairs and servicing operation
proved so successful that a move to larger premises was completed just before
Christmas last year. This happily coincided with Wendy running the cafe as an
add-on, and the future’s looking good.
“It’s all going better than we expected,” said Mark. “It’s been really busy,”
affirmed Wendy. “Word gets round, customers come back and bring more
people. I’ve been told we do the best breakfast for miles,” she said. “It’s mainly
servicing and repairs at the moment but we have an MoT bay, and there’s room
for a tyre bay too. I would like to get into clothing and accessories next, followed
by a franchise to sell new machines. That’s why we’re at Expo,” said Mark.
Blast Motorcycles & Cafe, Bodmin, Cornwall
APRIL 2015
33
Moneymaker
Moneymaker
Business advice with Michael Henshaw
[email protected]
Gaining new customers is an expensive business, but holding on to the ones you have is imperative
your dealership has that potential, or more, or
to keeping your business working hard. Every customer has a value to your business, and repeat
less. This is a guess at a number of variables and
custom is the most profitable you can have, so what is the lifetime value of a customer?
averages, so it isn’t very scientific, but it is realistic
n previous articles we have discussed the need
for a sales process. We agreed that everyone
expects a process in a “sales” department, but
few of us really thought about service, parts
and accessory departments as having, or indeed
needing, a sales process.
Well, I hope we now see the need to approach
any sales opportunity in a planned manner, so that
we can satisfy the customer and make the most
profit available from that sale.
We know that customers are our life blood, even
though some of them give us grief occasionally,
but what are they really worth to us over their
motorcycling lifetime?
There is no definitive answer, but go ahead and
fill in the following blanks to give you an idea
based on your own input estimations. You might
be surprised at the result!
VALUE OF REPEAT CUSTOMERS
Next, think about how many times this buying
scenario might happen in a lifetime.
How many motorcycles might your customers
buy from their first days of biking to the time
when getting an ancient, arthritic leg over a saddle
is just too difficult and they prefer a geriatric nurse
and a Zimmer frame with castors?
PROFIT FROM INITIAL BIKE SALES
What is the profit made when a customer buys a
motorcycle from you?
Of course it can vary, but we have to start
somewhere, so imagine a customer who is new to
your dealership and buys an average-price new bike
and gets an average deal. What is the profit on just
the bike itself?
£______________
Some customers may change their bikes
infrequently, whereas the keen ‘must haves’ might
churn their machinery on a regular basis. Just go
for the average that you think is fair for a crosssection of your customers.
Number of bike changes:______________
I
How about accessories? This varies by
manufacturer. If you sell Harley-Davidson or
BMW, you would expect a very high value here,
but perhaps less for other marques.
£______________
Does the customer buy clothing, a new helmet
or anything else? Add the profit from those here.
Items: _________
Profit: £ _______
In, say, a full year, what other purchases
are they likely to make from you? More
accessories? Servicing? Tyres? Anything else?
Include those here.
Item: _________
Profit: £ _______
So, that’s it. Add them up.
Total £______________
34 APRIL 2015
“Next time you see
someone dismiss a
potential customer as
being a time-waster,
think again”
Multiply that last number by the total you
calculated previously.
Grand total £____
That is the potential lifetime value of a customer.
Every new person
who walks into
in a general sense and some of your customers will,
in their time, spend much more while some will
buy once and never again. Nevertheless, they all
have this potential to be realised, or lost.
The reality is that this will only happen if you
have well-selected, well-trained and motivated
people who work to a process that we know creates
success.
Just check out how much your business spends
each year on marketing. It will be the biggest
business cost after salaries. So, if we are spending a
fortune attracting new customers, and trying hard
to retain them, we need to prepare for success to
justify the huge spend made in the first place.
Oh, and then you have to have a management
team which can make this happen with every
interaction opportunity.
So, next time you see someone dismiss a
potential customer as being “a time-waster” or “not
a buyer”, think again.
The time to buy a bike can take years or many
months of thought for some people. For others it’s
a spur-of-the-moment thing and completed in a
flash. Whichever it is, remember that the “lifetime
opportunity” of a customer can be huge.
We have all come to accept that the majority of
bikers are now those who ride for fun and pleasure.
Diehard commuters are far fewer nowadays, yet
both types of customer have money to spend and,
largely, a desire to enjoy their riding experience.
So, whether it’s servicing, parts and accessories,
clothing or a new machine, the value in keeping a
customer with you is there for all to see.
As an individual, be prepared to work hard on
providing good service that keeps customers
coming back to “you”. As a manager, never
lose sight of the huge value in “retained
business”, and be sure that your
policies and procedures reflect the
need to perform at every customer
exchange.
We all hear about the need to
retain customers. Maybe now we
can begin to see why it’s just so
important.
Michael Henshaw runs the PEP
Business School.
www.pepbusinessschool.eu
Retro Rumblings
Retro Rumblings
By vintage bike journalist and trainee dinosaur Mike Jackson
otus exudes excitement, so its
projected C-01 motorcycle
could prove a groundbreaker.
Our market’s custodians,
whoever they are, should be delighted a
car maker has such ambitions, but heaven
forbid one of these 1200cc 200bhp
projectiles ever reaches an auto-jumble
[see Sprocket cartoon]. The origin of the
Lotus name is a mystery, but it’s said that
when Colin Chapman was collecting one
of his early Austin-7 Specials, unsold, from
an auction, “LOT U/S” (confirming
Lot Unsold) was chalked on the
bonnet. His wife, Hazel, liked the
graffiti…and the name was born.
L
COULD VELOCETTE BE NEXT?
Isn’t it extraordinary how so many
former British brands are enjoying
a renaissance under new ownership?
None of these ‘rebirths’, mind, will
emulate Triumph which, without
fuss, restarted in 1984. In what is a
definitive example of failed British companies,
Triumph got it right! Here’s an alphabetical
summary of ten reactivated brands:
An AJS badge now graces a neat range of
50cc/125cc value-for-money scooters/motorcycles
made in China. The Hampshire firm also supplies
and services 1970-era Ajay MX Stormers, with
which their late founder, ‘Fluff ’ Brown, was closely
involved. (Your scribe raced Ajay Stormers in a
USA desert but, aside from boring unfortunate
listeners with the telling, he is now recovering…)
Ariel’s reappearance in the market is
unconventional. Having successfully produced
several hundred ladder-framed cars over the past
decade, Ariel’s Atom is best described as a street-legal
track-day rocket ship. The manufacturer has now
announced the Ace, an equally thrilling 1.2 litre
motorcycle, first galloped at Goodwood last year.
Mark Upham, an eccentric English purveyor of
classic motorcycles, resuscitated Brough Superior
some seven years ago. Having replicated a handful
of 1920/1930-era models at his base in Austria,
two of which gained speed records at Bonneville,
Brough is at present completing the production
engineering for an all-new SS100, due later this
year. Priced around £50k, the new Titanium model
deliberately undercuts existing SS100s – of which
about 300 were made, which currently sell for in
excess of £180,000.
“The brand has been
expensively promoted
in sophisticated circles
by Kate Moss…who
is not Sir Stirling’s
granddaughter”
The BSA name was purchased in 1959 by
a Southampton engineering company, which
subsequently produced a few hundred Gold Star
‘look-a-likes’, fitted with 400cc ohc Japanese
motors, primarily for export. Of all the brand
names that fell into disuse, BSA is probably the
most evocative.
Two new Francis Barnetts (street and trail), with
a proven four-stroke engine, were recently featured
in MCN. These semi-classic 125s, finished in
traditional green, certainly capture the traditional
Francis Barnett appearance and, appropriately, will
be assembled near Coventry.
The new Greeves operation continues,
reproducing a variety of original models for
street and off-road, and enjoys a growing
reputation for the refurbishment of existing
machines. A contemporary trials model,
launched three years ago, has to date been
available only in penny numbers.
Hesketh’s V1000, first made in 1980,
was a potential rival to Ducati. Prompted
by Lord Hesketh’s success in F1, the
wide-angle V-twin was conceived in
the grounds of his stately home… and
unofficially called the Aristocati. Under
Paul Sleeman’s ownership Hesketh’s next
machine (the 24) is powered by a larger
capacity American engine, with red, white
and blue livery for the chassis.
The Matchless name currently adorns
an attractive range of high-end clothing,
suitable for bikes, boulevard, or
boudoir! To date, it has dipped its
toe into the two-wheel mainstream
and we have glimpsed the Model
X, a substantial-looking cruiser
whose forks are possibly inspired by
the Forth Bridge. The Italian-owned
brand has been expensively promoted in
sophisticated circles by Kate Moss…who is
not Sir Stirling’s granddaughter.
Metisse, established on a golf course in rural
Oxfordshire, is active on two fronts. Having
produced a hundred or so Steve McQueen Desert
Racing Replicas – based on the actor’s 650cc
Triumph-engined scrambler, for which there’s
ongoing demand – Metisse is also manufacturing
a contemporary café racer, fitted with its own
1000cc eight-valve vertical-twin motor.
It is rumoured that a world shortage of wood
pulp is partly attributable to Norton, which was
responsible for filling much newsprint in MCN.
With a new HQ at Donington Hall, Norton seems
to have resolved a damaging back-order situation
(your scribe counted 22 961s at a rally in summer
2014), with production now tucked away under
the trees behind the Hall – a mellow pile built in
1793, and at present undergoing repair. Stuart
Garner has yet to claim the woodworm no longer
bring their own sandwiches!
Declaration: between 1964 and 2014 I have
been respectively involved at various levels with
AJS, Brough Superior, BSA, Greeves, Metisse and
Norton. As at 1 February 2015, however, I have no
commercial links with the above. MJ Q
We are looking for dealers in the UK!
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©2014 Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. (BRP). All rights reserved. ®, ™ and the BRP logo are trademarks of BRP or its affiliates. Depending on location, products are distributed by BRP
European Distribution SA, BRP US inc., BRP Australia PTY LTD, BRP Mexican Distribution SA de CV or Bombardier Recreational Products inc. Model depicted may include optional equipment or
may not be available or homologated in your country. Always ride responsibly and safely. Always observe applicable local laws and regulations. Don’t drink and drive.
36 APRIL 2015
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ITALIAN STYLE AT
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11
JUST REWARD
16 FOR KYMCO
KRAZY HORSE ON
EXPANSION TRAIL
8
FLAT REFUSAL
Government snubs electric bikes again, but
grants fight goes on says the MCIA – page 33
IN THE MAG
• BIKE SALES GAME-CHANGER
• WILLIS: THE OLD SPARKY SECT
• REACTION: THREE PAGES
• BOOST SPARE PARTS PROFIT
• DEFAZIO: LET SMES THRIVE
• THE JABBERWOCKY SLAYER
• HMRC WANTS ITS CUT
• THIS IS INDIA: NEW COLUMNIST
EXPO SPECIAL
HYOSUNG WOOS VICTIMS
BIKE IT BACK ON IT
CARROT AND CHIC
IN THE NEWS
SPYDER SEEKS DEALERS
MERLIN WORKS its magic
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DAILY
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For further information simply call
or email
APRIL 2015
37
BRP/Can-Am
OFF THE
BEATEN
TRACK
With a diverse range of product – from the 90 quad to the turbo-charged
V-twin Maverick and the adventurous Outlander six-wheeler – Bombardier
Recreational Products (BRP)/Can-Am is expanding the multi-billion-dollar
ATV leisure and workhorse markets in 101 countries worldwide – and that
could be good news for UK dealers. By Pete Plummer.
xciting new models
promising fun in spades,
plus aggressive pricing,
up-beat marketing and a
strong and active dealer network
making proper money are all part of
the BRP/Can-Am game-plan for this
2015 model year and into the future.
The Canadian company is looking
to appoint ten new UK dealers a year
over the next three years to create
a 50-strong dealer network and a
targeted 15% share of the expanding
all-terrain vehicle market by 2018/19.
A proportion of the dealers getting
on board will be specialist off-road
and/or motocross shops and BRP
appears to have all the tools in the
salesman’s box to achieve that.
The well-engineered products are
technically advanced – featuring
rider-adjustable progressive
power steering, independent rear
suspension, “surrounding spar”
E
perimeter frames, long travel
suspension and twin-piston caliper
brakes – and BRP claims the pricing
structure “beats other brands by a
considerable margin”.
The 500L Outlander ATV is
pitched to undercut the marketleading Honda TRX500 by as much
as £1900. The price advantage also
extends to the currently second
most popular model, the Yamaha
550 Grizzly. At the same time, this
keen retail pricing does not, says the
company, chip away at the dealer
margin as the discount structure
starts at 14% and can be as much
as 25%, depending on models and
quantities. Accessories and addons can produce as much as a 40%
retained margin so BRP/Can-Am
dealers will not feel under pressure to
discount when chasing new business.
However, it is not the aim to
sell on price as Can-Am claims
to represent both quality and
performance. Possibly the best tools
in that box, according to Paul Wood,
who heads up the BRP/Can-Am
team from his base in Stratford-uponAvon, Warwickshire, will be the “new
thinking, engineering excellence and
long working life, allied to extensive
warranties and product support”.
On the engineering excellence/
technical advances front, there is
no better example than the L500
Outlander ATV. It falls into the highly
competitive (but no longer traditional)
farming and utility market, and
features a new 46bhp eight-valve, ECapproved, fuel-injected Rotax V-twin
with CVT transmission.
On specification and power alone
it out-guns and out-powers the
single-cylinder engines long favoured
by other brands, and similar technical
advances can be found throughout
the rest of the range which Can-Am
claims makes for an easier sell from
dealer to end user.
THE POWERSPORTS PEDIGREE
Based in French-speaking Valcourt in
Quebec, Can-Am has been making
Ski-Doo snowmobiles since 1959
and quads since 1998, and now also
has production and R&D plants
in the US, Mexico, Finland and
Gunskirchen in Austria, home to
Rotax, the engine maker acquired by
Bombardier in 1970.
In 2007 BRP made headlines
by launching its radical threewheeled V-twin Can-Am Spyder
motorcycle for the road and created
an instant niche market. In fact, the
manufacturer had made the news
34 years previously, when it won
the first NATO contract to build a
motorcycle for the military.
In civvy street, from 1974 until
1983 and with input from the former
A BREATH OF FRESH AIR FOR DEALERS
Before becoming BRP commercial manager Paul
Wood previously worked for Piaggio UK. He first
learned his trade with Dirtwheels in Coventry,
which was heavily involved in youth motocross.
Wood ran a race-support vehicle at championship
meetings at weekends, doing everything from
fitting tyres to complete engine rebuilds trackside.
He then progressed to running a motocross shop in
his home town of Stratford-upon-Avon.
Now representing a major player in the industry,
Wood has high expectations both for the company
and the product. As a former dealer he knows the
38 APRIL 2015
pitfalls and problems from
behind the counter and he
considers his expectations to
be realistic.
“We will have our 50 dealers
and they will be happy dealers,
making a profit. We have a
corporate identity which we
expect dealers to take on board and we insist floors
be grey in colour but we don’t have shop-fitters
selling carpet tiles, wall coverings, paint or office
and showroom furniture.
“We have a minimum order
floor-stocking plan and a
dealer start-up package that
includes the purchase of the
necessary workshop tools.
Every new dealer will spend
a week at the Rotax factory in
Austria.
“We also have two outdoor test/experience
centres with full catering facilities for our dealers
and their customers.”
[email protected]
Practicalities aside, the product range is technically interesting and looks fast,
exciting and different just standing still. So it would be reasonable to assume
that even with four wheels up, any number of road and off-road riders would
love to have a go and/or own one.
OUTLANDER 450/500L
For work and fun and available as a 450 or a full 500. The 450 is a 427cc, singlecylinder Rotax-powered machine; the 500 provides a 499cc V-twin option. Both
have CVT transmission with high, low, park, brake, neutral and reverse gears.
The drive train is rider-selectable two or four-wheel drive and both the 450 and
500 have engine braking in auto and a Visco-Lok autolocking front differential.
The Outlander L DPS comes with “dynamic”
power steering and the Outlander L-Max
DPS has power steering and an 8in longer
wheelbase to carry a passenger in tandem –
double the fun on the trail. Outlander prices
range from £5499 to £14,999.
THE OUTLANDER 6X6
With a 1000cc Rotax V-twin, the 6x6 is possibly
the ultimate workhorse for extreme
conditions and is available with a farming,
forestry, cargo or winter package. It sits in
an undoubtedly limited UK market but one
of possibly the most exciting to drive. It costs
£17,499.
RENEGADE AND RENEGADE X
Three models for sport and recreation for both on
and off-road and available with 500/800/1000cc
V-twins plus full lighting and instrumentation.
Price, depending on spec and capacity, ranges
from £7299 to £13,099.
DS COMPETITION RANGE
BSA works rider Jeff Smith – double
World 500 champion, nine times
British 500 champion and six times
ACU ‘Drivers’ (500cc) star winner –
it produced enduro bikes plus a few
scramblers alongside the snowmobiles.
Smith, a star of the BBC TV
scrambles coverage of the day, had
emigrated to Canada to take on a
development role after BSA’s Small
Heath factory closed and production
was transferred to the Triumph
Meriden plant in 1972. The bikes,
mostly disc-valved 175/250/280cc
twin-shock two-strokes, were great
clubman’s enduro bikes but were not
world-beaters, and the UK importer,
a cash-strapped Andover Norton (a
subsidiary of NVT and owned by
Dennis Poore), brought in fewer than
100 machines.
The funding was provided by
enthusiastic dealers, including
the long-established Vic Madeley
Motorcycles in Newtown, Powys;
Jim Allan Motorcycles in Falkirk,
Scotland; and Colwyn Bay
Motorcycles in North Wales.
NICHE WORKING
Wisely unwilling to compete with
the mass-market Japanese motorcycle
manufacturers, Bombardier saw
its future in niche markets and
ceased building bikes to concentrate
on snowmobiles as well as the
development of engines for racing
karts, microlights and light aircraft.
Now, with Evinrude and Mercury
outboard motors under its wing,
it has both a major presence and a
vast stake to grow the multi-billiondollar powersports leisure market.
It’s certainly no longer a niche brand,
and it is the leisure industry where
BRP sees growth potential, and
motorcycle dealerships feed that
sector.
Traditionally, ATVs and quads
have been used in extremes – as a
utilitarian light tractor or for racing
– but diversification has realised
previously untapped potential. Many
of Can-Am’s models are equipped for
farming, forestry, estate management
and to take the chore out of work
but the range – including the tandem
two-seat Outlander, side-by-side
Renegade, the Commander and
Commander Max – is now also
targeted at sport and recreation.
The machines can be employed for
training, trail enduro, adventure,
“biking” holidays and off-road
experience environments.
“The added bonus which extends
their capability to generate sales,” said
Wood, “is that riders/drivers do not
have to be particularly fit or capable
of balance to enjoy the four-wheeled
experience, and there are 23 models
to choose from.”
The DS 450 Max MX (£9499) is the pure competition
machine, sitting in the FIM 450cc engine-capacity
class, and comes ‘fully sorted’ for racing and
is not EC- homologated. The DS 90 (£2999)
and DS 90X (£3899) are youth competition
machines for riders of 10 years of age and over.
SSV (SIDE-BY-SIDE VEHICLES)
SSVs (with steering wheels) have come
on in leaps and bounds in the past five
years and Can-Am has five models in its
range, including the Commander Rod
800 V-twin (£13,399) and the Commander
1000XT, with the big V-twin (£16,699),
240w lighting, roll cage, analogue/digital
gauges and Maxxis Bighorn tyres.
MAVERICK
Akin to a dune buggy, these are the ultimate cross-country racers with Fox
piggyback adjustable shocks, deadlock alloy wheels and Visco-Lok front
differentials. They are all powered by the 1000cc Rotax V-twin. The Maverick
1000RX has the turbo-charged engine producing 121bhp, which is said to give
a near 100mph capability. Prices range from £17,599 to £21,199.
All prices quoted are retail including VAT at 20%.
BRP UK
37 WELLESBOURNE HOUSE
WALTON ROAD
WELLESBOURNE
WARWICK
CV35 9JB
www.brp.com
APRIL 2015
39
BRP/Can-Am
THE RANGE OF VEHICLES
Pocket profiles
Pocket Profiles
LR Designs
Report: Pete Plummer
Jennings Race Products
Report: Graham Sanderson
A polished performance
“Our turnover was £200,000 in 2014, and that represents a lot of stickers,” says a relaxed and
happy Lee Rudd of LR Designs.
Distributing graphic material
Lee Rudd, younger son of Terry and
Anne and brother to Mark, started
his sticker business in 1998 from a
portable office tacked on to the side
of TRM, the family’s solus Honda
off-road franchise in Holbeach,
Lincolnshire.
As part of the highly regarded
Rudd off-road dynasty, a former
schoolboy “crosser”’ and a supermoto
champion several times over, Lee was
always destined to work in the bike
industry but his time at art college
dictated the slight shift in direction.
Now LR Designs occupies smart
new purpose-built premises alongside
TRM Racing, employing six staff
making decal kits and seat covers,
and supplying and printing race
shirts, paddock jackets, promotional
clothing and banners.
“Our turnover was £200,000 in
2014 [first-year turnover was £8000],
and that represents a lot of stickers.
I was always into drawing and stuff
as a kid,” said Lee. “Art college made
me aware I had a flair for design and
we have built up a business that also
keeps us involved with bikes and the
sport. We live and work here – the
rest of the family, and the bikes and
the spares I need for my racing are
next door – so it’s a great place to be.”
The “we” is Lee and wife Rachel,
who moved into the house at the Fen
Road site when Lee’s mum and dad
“moved into a retirement bungalow
up the road, ten years early” as Lee
put it. The site is close to the A1 with
its nationwide transport links.
The front of the new building
incorporates a covered area where
big decals for race trucks can be
applied. They also supply fascias and
signage in alloy and plastic for local
companies. “It’s business we won’t
turn away but we don’t go looking for
it, either,” said Lee. “The fact is we
started in off-road and that is where
the passion is.”
40 APRIL 2015
Passion is the key word, as Lee was
riding bikes as a toddler and then
went schoolboy scrambling before
taking up supermoto in 2003 (on a
TRM Honda, of course).
Bitten by the supermoto bug,
he won the Norasport British
championship in 2008, the national
250 championship in 2009 and
the 450 nationals in 2013 but he is
mature enough now to know that
riding bikes is a hobby and “business
is business”.
LR Designs also sells KTM and
Husqvarna decal kits in the UK
and Europe and has the worldwide
licence for the manufacture of KTM
and Husqvarna-branded Duratex seat
covers.
“A global licence is usually hardwon,” said Lee, “but KTM and
then Husqvarna took one look at
the quality of our seat covers and
awarded permission straight away,
which is a tribute to our product.”
LR Designs also manufactures
stickers and seat covers for all the
major brands – a service that now
accounts for 15% of turnover.
Alan Jennings is lucky to be alive
after a horrendous 140mph crash
at Oulton Park when he launched
himself from his race-spec BMW
S1000RR, but the motorcycle
industry is even luckier still to have
him around now he’s on the mend.
The fun-loving motorcycling
do-it-all lost a staggering seven stone
during recovery but says he “wouldn’t
recommend such an extreme measure
as a diet”.
Jennings, along with wife
Bernadette, sons Jake and Shane
and Jake’s girlfriend Beth, have built
up a unique business over the past
20 years, specialising in polishing
motorcycle metal to produce bespoke
machines for customers who can also
have their precious steeds serviced
and repaired in premises inside a
former Lancashire cotton mill.
They also do MOTs, sell and fit
tyres and offer clothing, accessories,
hard parts, sprockets, oil filters,
bolt-on goodies, front and rear
suspension - almost every conceivable
part or modification that will satisfy
the whim of a large customer base,
whether it be for a 125 learner bike
or full-blown sportster.
Customers can have their forks
polished for £50-£100 (plus VAT),
a frame polished for £350-450 (plus
VAT) or even cough-up for the full
top-to-toe treatment, on which one
V-Max owner spent £50,000.
Jennings has polished light shades
for Gordon Ramsay’s restaurants and
even performed similar tasks for a
member of Dubai’s royal family.
His customers are rewarded with
track days at which close friends
and racers James and Dean Ellison
offer instruction. The company
co-sponsors the Fireplace Warehouse
KTM team in British Championship
Moto3, while tuning and electronics
whizz Damian Tracey, of Daytuner
Performance, Harrogate, can be
called in to work his magic on any
of Jennings’ customer bikes. And
if all that weren’t enough, powdercoating is another skill Jennings is
determined to master before the end
of the year.
“There’s nothing fancy about us.
We’re just ordinary people giving
customers what they want and having
a laugh in the process.”
JENNINGS RACE PRODUCTS
1997
Alan Jennings starts polishing
business in the garden shed at the
family home.
1998
Moves into present premises at Vine
Mill, Brookside Industrial Estate.
2000
2002
2004
Takes over the unit next door.
2010
2011
Opens MOT testing bay.
2014
Knocks through and extends parts
department.
2015
Revamps shop.
Opens servicing department.
Forms limited company. Enters
Jennings Race Products team at the
Isle of Man TT with rider Jim Hodson.
Opens ride-in/ride-out tyre-fitting
bay.
Contact:
Jennings Race Products, Vine Mill, Brookside
Ind Est, Brookside Lane, Oswaldtwistle,
Lancashire, BB5 3PX. Tel 01254 231818;
[email protected]
LR DESIGNS TIMELINE
1998
Lee and Rachel set up LR Designs to
make corporate signage.
2002
Business buys sticker printer and
diversifies into bike market. Takes on
first employee.
2012
Secures licence to produce official
KTM graphics in the UK. Duratex seat
covers become KTM licensed product.
Awarded worldwide licence.
2013
Secures European licence for KTM
graphics.
2014
Secures European licence for
Husqvarna graphics and world licence
for Husqvarna seat covers.
Contact:
LR Designs, Fen Road, Holbeach, Spalding,
Lincs, PE12 8QD. Tel 01406 423023; lr_
[email protected]; www.lr-designs.co.uk
Alan Jennings and wife Bernadette during their visit to Motorcycle Trade Expo. The couple enjoy
“giving customers what they want and having a laugh in the process”.
w ww.mo tul .c o . uk
Pocket profiles
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INSIGHT 2015
THE COMPLETE DIRECTORY FOR 2015
PUBLISHED BY YOUR ONLY TRADE MONTHLY MAGAZINE
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01237 422660 / [email protected] / www.britishdealernews.co.uk/insight-magazine
APRIL 2015
41
Life of Brian
Life of Brian
Out and about with classic bike buff and former BDN editor Brian Crichton
ho’d be a dealer? The problems and
snags along the highway to making
a living are manifold.
One is the credit card scam.
When discussing it with a couple of dealers, one
thought it must be operated by a mastermind with
plants in call centres who note card numbers that
they think have plenty of stash in the accounts.
These are then used to buy goods. The money is
paid into the bike shop’s account and the goods are
collected before the credit card holder spots that he
has been charged.
It’s not a new trick by any means – BDN
reported just such a case before Christmas – but it
still works if the dealer is off-guard. And the police
don’t want to know. In fact, it’s worse than that. In
some cases the police just let those people who are
selling stolen goods get on with it, using red tape as
their excuse for inaction.
One dealer told me he knows of a thief in
London selling all types of stolen goods, including
bike parts, via eBay and so on. He is furious with
the police because they know who it is but have yet
to tackle him, hiding behind a wall of bureaucracy.
OK, the policeman’s lot is not a happy one
either. No doubt the red tape is daunting, and
when they have to tackle violent types you have to
admire them. But there’s something wrong when
theft is left to prosper.
W
STOLEN BIKES
This topic has got me started. When I had two
bikes stolen from my house I, of course, reported
it. There was no reassurance that anything would
be done about it, so I paid to put “Stolen” ads in
local shops.
To cut a long story short, thanks to my efforts
and some intelligence from the local bike shop
both were recovered but had been trashed.
One I had to pick up from a police compound,
which cost me well over £100 for the privilege.
The bod running the place treated me as though I
were the criminal and made out that he was doing
me a favour by letting me have it back for what
he said was such a small fee and without stacking
up exorbitant daily storage fees. This was after the
police had initially sent me to the wrong town in
the first place. There, the copper moaned that all
he wanted to do was retire from the force.
None of this inspired any confidence, and the
fact that the victim has to pay is ludicrous.
I wrote to the chief inspector complaining that
I had had to do the detective work to get my bikes
Above: Ron Haslam on a Cagiva 500 GP racer. Right: Cockney Rebel Steve
Harley, who was fined £1000 for speeding.
back. To his credit he came to see me. He said that
basically most of the trouble in town at the time
was down to two or three families.
“Why don’t you sort them out?” was my
immediate, and possibly naive question. I didn’t
get a direct answer. Instead, the chief inspector
was more or less fixated as to whether or not I had
small number plates on my bikes.
“A good copper is worth
his weight in gold. But
there are times when I
wonder about
police attitude”
I hate to criticise the police because I have
seen some of them in action and have been really
impressed. A good copper is worth his weight in
gold. But there are times when I wonder about
police attitude. They sometimes seem to want to
arrest the ordinary citizen, so that the criminals can
go about their ‘lawful’ business.
HASLAM’S MX CAGIVA
What were the stolen bikes, you may be
wondering? One was a 75cc Yamaha step-thru twostroke. The other a 250cc Cagiva motocross bike,
which had been turned into a hill climber. The
bike was originally given to Ron Haslam by Cagiva
when he was their works Grand Prix road racer.
Ron used it on his farm for a while and then sold it
to his local bike dealer.
Following the theft and damage – the bike was
still in one piece but it had been thrashed by a gang
of kids – I was so disenchanted I decided to sell it. .
No7: The Sidewinder sidecar
In its day the Sidewinder “sidecar” was commonly referred to as a
wheel on a stick. You can see why. There’s no room for a passenger
– your pet hamster excepted. So what was it for? To get around
the law. That’s what.
In 1983 learners over the age of 16 were restricted to 125cc
machines. Previously the limit had been 250cc. So stacks of L-plate
250 riders were left high and dry.
A couple of good ‘ol boys in Norfolk (who would become
Freewheel UK) in proper beat-the-rules frame of mind, dreamed up
the idea of a superlight, easy to bolt-on and off “sidecar” that would
let learners ride their 250s, and indeed bikes of any capacity. It was
even attached to monsters such as the Z1300 six-cylinder Kawasaki,
because at the time you could ride a sidecar outfit on L-plates, even
if it had a 3.5-litre V8 for motive power.
A clever aspect of Freewheel UK’s Sidewinder was that you
42 APRIL 2015
I swapped it for an airgun. My sister-in-law’s
boyfriend had bought an airgun, a really fancy one,
and paid £1000. Never having been near an airgun
since my youth I was completely out of touch with
prices and was shocked to discover they could cost
so much. I deduced that the one I was looking at
ought, therefore, to be worth maybe £200, so I did
the swap.
Last year I had it valued. £30. See how easy it is
to get caught when your guard is down?
STEVE HARLEY
Still on the law and its vagaries, I was watching Top
Gear the other day and it reported that pop singer
Steve Harley had been fined £1000 for exceeding a
temporary 40mph speed limit on a motorway.
This is an outrageous fine, and to my mind
shows not only how the law has lost all sense
of proportion but also what an easy target the
motorist has become.
Did I tell you that I used to sit next to Steve
(real surname Nice) at lectures at journalist college?
He was entertainingly disruptive, and he used
to get me to go to see the latest groups when
they were in the area (Harlow, Essex). Two, that
I remember, were Brinsley Schwarz and Van der
Graaf Generator.
Since those days at college (1969-71) I have only
seen Steve once. That was at Newmarket races
(horses, not bikes). He was really smartly dressed,
whereas, to my shame, I was a disgrace. It was a
sunny day and I was wearing shorts! At the races!
What a sartorial faux pas.
I approached Steve for a brief chat and to
congratulate him on his pop and stage successes.
He didn’t remember me. And I’m certain he didn’t
wish to be seen with me!
ENT
IRREVtoErRie
s
His
could still ride your bike like a solo, i.e. lean it into corners rather than
having to steer in the usual combination style.
It was wacky. It inflamed protest and passion. And sometimes it
strafed cars and kerbs as riders wound it on, often forgetting that
strapped next to them was this little glass fibre square on an 8in
wheel.
About 5000 were sold, and you can still buy one. Manufacturer
Freewheel UK, which now specialises in bike trailers and luggage, will
make you one, but will advise you first to go to the local police station
to talk through the legal aspects, although whether the boys in blue
will know the convoluted and complicated rules of licence categories
is another matter.
MILANO, 17 - 22
NOVEMBRE 2015
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Interested? Contact 01237 422660 : [email protected]
Organised by:
Security crisis
Dealers
hold key to
security
veryone who reads this
publication is affected by
PTW theft, whether they
realise it or not.
Maybe you’ve been lucky and
not had a bike or scooter stolen
from you personally or from
your business, but as a minimum
you are paying more for your
insurance, thanks to the efforts of
the opportunist and professional
criminals who prey on your
customers. In the extreme there are
dealers who have been put out of
business as a result of repeated thefts.
The Motorcycle Crime Reduction
Group (MCRG) is made up of
a number of organisations and
companies who volunteer their
time to meet regularly and discuss
ways in which the theft issue can
be addressed for the benefit of
everyone in the industry. The full
member lists can be viewed on
www.mcrg.org but it includes the
Metropolitan Police, various insurers,
security companies, motorcycle
manufacturers/importers and other
interested parties such as the MCIA,
BMF and MAG. The object of the
MCRG is to pool the resources of
these various organisations with a
view to combating the significant
theft problem in our industry.
E
A motorcycle or scooter is stolen every 24 minutes in the UK, with the
personal cost causing more bikers to give up riding than the industry is
recruiting. The Motorcycle Crime Reduction Group is working to cut theft
but believes dealers have to play their part – a contribution that will
help cut the rate of rider attrition . . . and earn them money.
MCRG has been the catalyst for
many initiatives over the years but
perhaps the most public one in
recent times is the introduction in
2012 of the MCIA Master Scheme,
which was born of discussions
at MCRG. The Master Scheme,
based on input direct from the
police and supported by the
majority of the motorcycle brands
in the UK, has already proven
successful, with statistics from the
first year of operation showing that
Master Scheme-marked bikes are
significantly less likely to be stolen
than a non-marked machine.
To put the need for such a scheme
into perspective, statistics provided
by the police and insurers highlighted
that the number of riders leaving
motorcycling due to theft and the
costs associated with it was greater
than the number of new riders
being generated by the efforts of the
industry-backed Get On campaign.
Effectively, the “theft hole” in the
bottom of the motorcycling bucket
was so large that the bucket was
emptying faster than the industry
could fill it.
The Master Scheme is undoubtedly
a success and it also complements
the increased level of original
equipment security that the majority
of manufacturers have introduced
in recent years. Where the security
message falls down, unfortunately,
is at point of sale, namely the dealer
network.
In a recent survey commissioned by
Datatool and carried out by the Real
Rider Research Panel, customers were
asked if they were offered any security
products when they purchased their
last new or used bike. The response
was somewhat disappointing, with
an overwhelming majority (71.3
per cent) saying security wasn’t
mentioned. Anecdotally it seems
some dealers would rather sell GAP
[vehicle replacement] insurance than
physical or electronic security.
Another contributing factor is that
historically security product sales
weren’t actually driven by dealers
but rather by insurers insisting that
certain bikes had Thatcham-approved
security before they would insure
them at an affordable price. Now OE
security has improved and theft is less
of a problem to insurers compared
with personal injury claims, so the
insurers are less likely to drive the
security sale.
The emphasis is now on the
dealer network to spread the
security message and to change the
culture with riders to one of buying
additional security – because it’s
actually a good idea to protect their
investment – rather than depending
on the insurers to force the sale.
It’s not just the high-end, highvalue bikes that require security,
either. In 2014, 47 per cent of new
registrations were of 125cc or less.
For many buyers those bikes and
scooters are their daily transport
without which their ability to
earn a living becomes increasingly
difficult. The claims-handling
process with most insurers is now
very efficient. However, your
customer could wait anything from
three to eight weeks before their
claim is settled, depending upon the
circumstances of the theft. That’s
weeks of additional cost using public
transport if, indeed, there is public
transport that suits their working
Telephone: 01327 855 999
Email: [email protected]
Showroom: 23 Silverstone Technology Park
Silverstone Circuit, Northants NN12 8TN
www.modeperformance.co.uk
ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT
44 APRIL 2015
PERFORMANCE
RACING
Preventing theft is about applying different types of security. A “layered
approach” is the best way to sell it. A motorcycle that is security marked, has a
visual deterrent, such as a disc or throttle lock, and is
fitted with a monitored tracking device has a
signicantly-reduced chance of loss.
There are many products on the
market, and here we’ve broken them
down into categories:
y Security Marking
Available kits include Datatag
(whose product is used by the
Master Security Scheme), Alpha
Dot and Smartwater. These can
be offered fitted at point of sale or for
customer DIY fit.
REWARDING
DEALERS BOTH BY
PHONE AND ONLINE
PHONE
We will pay £10* for every quote that you
send to us on the dedicated dealer line.
16056<9*(339,-,99(3:*/,4,
y Deterrent Devices
This covers ground anchors (a must for any garage or bike parked at a
property), chains and locks, throttle, cable and disc locks. Thatcham and
Sold Secure-approved products are always good to stock. Brands include
Abus, Oxford and Mammoth. Non-Thatcham-approved products may satisfy
security needs for lower-value bike sales.
y Bike Covers
Many thieves won’t take the chance to
look under a cover, which is a good,
inexpensive deterrent.
y Alarms
The best alarms come Thatchamapproved with a dealer fit. Options
include Meta 357 and Datatool S4.
Non-Thatcham-approved alarms
such as Meta Def Con and Datatool
Demon are popular and can be DIYfitted for a quick sale.
y Tracking Devices
The new generation of motorcycle security, immediately alerting the owner
to bike movement. Monitored products such as Datatool TrakKING, BikeTrac
and Tracker are Thatcham-approved GPS/GSM
devices. These are dealer-fitted, and are
easier to install than alarms. Recovery rates
are high from monitored devices - they
offer a strong chance of getting a
motorcycle back. Non-monitored/
non-Thatcham-approved devices
exist, with offerings from Oxford
and Acutrac.
schedule, combined with the cost of
the insurance excess, market value
of their bike versus the cost of a new
one, etc.
MCRG works behind the scenes
but without the support of those
at the sharp end of the motorcycle
industry, namely the dealer network,
those efforts are diluted rather than
amplified. There is a huge range of
security products on the market now,
all of which, to a varying degree,
will contribute towards reducing
the negative impact of theft on our
industry while delivering increased
turnover and profit to the dealer
network.
Security crisis
WHAT SECURITY SHOULD YOU BE OFFERING?
The MCIA is predicting just
under 110,000 new motorcycle and
scooter registrations in 2015. Based
on research by Real Rider, this means
that, unless the UK dealer network
changes its attitude to security
products and theft in general, 78,430
of those customers will walk out of
dealers without being offered the
opportunity to spend money on
security.
If you would like to contact the
MCRG regarding any theft or
security related matters, you can do
so via the website www.mcrg.org.
[email protected]
ONLINE
We will pay £25 for every policy taken out.
16056<965305,:*/,4,
JHYVSLUHZOJVTHMÄSPH[LZ
2013
2014
MOTORBIKE INSURANCE
MOTORBIKE INSURANCE
UK opening hours: Mon–Fri 8am–8pm, Sat 9am–5pm, Sun 10am–4pm.
*Each call must last longer than 5 minutes and Carole Nash must have the chance to quote, one referral fee per person.
Carole Nash Insurance Consultants Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
TIME FOR CHANGE?
Check out all our
latest jobs in print
and online
www.britishdealernews.co.uk/jobs
Keeping you powered up with our state-of-the-art line
of chargers, batteries and accessories.
Dave Plummer on behalf of MCRG
Let’s talk business...
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contact AKB DISTRIBUTION
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AKB Distribution, F3 Swords Enterprise Park,
Feltrim Rd, Swords, Co Dublin, Ireland
APRIL 2015
45
Product news
Product News
The latest in profit-making products for your showroom
Spada luggage range On the back of its 2015 clothing collection,
the Spada brand now encompasses a soft
luggage range. This comprises six items
(four are shown here, clockwise from right).
Touring Panniers: in heavy-duty nylon with
waterproof covers and zips and a heatresistant base, the pannier has a 19-27 litre
capacity and an SRP of £129.99. Large Pillion
Bag: this 55-litre, waterproof, heavy-duty nylon
bag retails for £89.99. Magnetic Tank Bag: this expands from
10 to 14 litres for £89.99 SRP. Magnetic Sat Nav Pack (no pic):
waterproof, including the zips, with a clear polyurethane window
for ease of reference, this pack is priced at £39.99 SRP. Sports
Backpack: in heavy-duty nylon, this backpack is waterproof
with 28-litre storage capacity and an SRP of £89.99. Sports
Pannier (no pic): a pair of versatile sports bags with a universal
strap and a volume that expands
from 17 to 22 litres for £99.99 SRP.
Feridax; tel 01384 413841;
www.feridax.com
Touratech Aventuro Carbon helmet
Touratech has teamed up with one of the most innovative, multiple award-winning helmet
manufacturers in the EU to produce the Aventuro Carbon. The aerodynamically optimised helmet
shell is made of high-strength carbon-fibre laminate, and meets both the ECE 22.05 and the US DOT
specification. The helmet features an emergency cheek-pad release system, five adjustable intake vents
and four exhaust, replaceable side covers for installing accessories, an extra-long chin strap with double
D-rings plus a lot more. The new Touratech helmet is available in sizes XS to XXL, and in five different
finishes. Prices on application.
Touratech; tel +49 (0) 7728 92790; www.touratech.com
Corsa
Duchinni for feet Classic
Mirage
Catalogue cascade
It’s the start of the new biking
season, heralding a plethora
of new brochures thumping
onto the doormat here at BDN
towers. To get your copy of these
fine tomes, contact:
46 APRIL 2015
Duchinni has introduced a sub-£100, threeboot range to complement its helmet
collection. The Mirage (£74.99 SRP)
is a classic baseball-style boot made
from full-grain, vintage-look leather.
Sizes are 6½ to 11½ (Euro 40-46). The Classic
(£79.99 SRP) is a retro unisex model with a full-grain
leather upper and a fixed waterproof and breathable
liner. Straps at the calf and foot allow adjustment
and they fix with buckles giving an “engineerboot” look. Sizes 3½ to 12 (Euro 36-47). The Corsa
(£74.99 SRP) is a short touring boot with a leather
and textile upper and a waterproof and breathable
liner. Oil-resistant rubber soles and a lace and Velcro
closure complete the specification. Sizes are 6½ to
11½ (Euro 40-46).
The Key Collection; tel 0117 971 9200;
OptiMate Lithium 0.8A KOSO digital display
Primarily aimed at the off-road market, the KOSO
EX02 multi-display includes: speed in km/h and
mph, trip and odometer, clock, hour meter and
temperature. Indicator lights are for turn signals,
high beam, warning, neutral and an engine
light. The unit is supplied with handlebar mount,
magnetic speed sensor and magnets, wiring loom
and instructions. Trade price is £47.00 with an SRP
of £89.95.
Vmaxbitz.com; tel 01564 775522; www.
digital-speedos.co.uk
OptiMate has introduced a lithium-specific battery
maintainer to its range. The Lithium 0.8A assesses
battery condition and selects the charge programme
to suit: Bulk Charge for rapid recovery and Save
mode to recover
over-discharged
batteries. It is also
designed to reset
the internal Battery
Management System
on batteries with a low
voltage cut-out so that
charging can begin. The Lithium
0.8A comes with crocodile clips and
a weatherproof lead that can be attached to
the battery. SRP is £54.99.
Motohaus Powersports; tel 01256 704909;
www.optimate.com
Avon Tyres; 01225 703101; www.avon-tyres.co.uk
B&C Express; 01522 791369; www.bandcexpress.co.uk
Cambrian Tyres; 01970 624004; www.cambriantyres.co.uk
Held UK; 01423 790121; www.held-uk.co.uk
LSL Motorradtechnik; (+49) 2151 55590; www.lsl.eu
Oxford; 01993 862300; www.oxprod.com
Rizoma (+39) 0331 242020; www.rizoma.com
Product news
ARMA Moto Kumaji jacket Wunderlich BMW S1000R
Challenging-looking in appearance, this S1000R has been fitted with Wunderlich’s full range of accessories,
which also fit the S1000RR sportsbike. The range includes a meshed stainless-steel oil cooler grill (£79.00
SRP) and water cooler grill (£99.00 SRP); fairing crash protectors (£99.00 SRP), which come with a five-year
warranty; and rear double shock crash protectors (£49.00 SRP), which feature an integrated damping layer
to help protect the wheel spindle from damage. These also have a five-year warranty.
Nippy Normans; tel 01626 830458; www.nippynormans.com
Oxford Commuter X4
Described as a “personal illumination system”, the
Commuter X4 is designed to make the wearer more
visible from the side and behind, and therefore
safer. Suitable for both
motorcyclists, scooter
riders or pedelec riders, it
comprises a central LED
light with five settings and
an adjustable fibre-optic
harness that can be fitted
to clothing or a backpack.
The power source is a
USB-rechargeable lithiumpolymer battery, giving up
to 20 hours illumination.
Oxford Products;
tel 01993 862300;
www.oxprod.com
Kumaji is an all-season textile jacket, handy at this
time of the year when you can have four seasons
in one day. The outer shell is made from Poly Tech
6000D fabric with Scotchlite detailing and Vision
Tech reflective panels. YKK zips are used throughout
including the front and back ventilation. Internally
there is a mesh-covered membrane lining and
a detachable, double-quilted Thermoline liner.
Earphone cable apertures are provided in the phone
pocket flaps and cable routing loops sewn in.
External moulded shoulder protectors are featured
as well as internal CE protectors in shoulders and
elbows. A CE-certified A9116 back protector is fitted
and a matching A9115 chest protector can also be
fitted. Available in black in sizes S-5XL for £149.99
SRP.
Tri-Motive Brand Distribution; tel 01792
578500; www.tri-motive.com
Bike It Matt Black Custom silencers
There are four choices from Bike It in this range: Turnout (trade price £25.99, SRP £51.99), Cone (trade
price £30.99, SRP £61.99), Tapered (trade price £21.99, SRP £43.99) and Shorty (trade price £17.99, SRP
£35.99). All come with mountings and fit pipes up to 45mm diameter. The Shorty is available with right or
left-handed mounts.
Bike It International; tel 023 8065 8700; www.bikeittrade.com
Swift SX-Ring chain
Produced in Taiwan by the same manufacturers that make
original equipment chains, Swift Heavy Duty SX-Ring
chains have the exceptional tensile strength of 44.3kN
for a 520 chain and 45.7kN for a 525 or 530 chain.
Designed to provide more contact surfaces but less
total surface area, the X-Rings assist in retaining
lubrication within the links while keeping the
dirt out and decreasing the level of friction and
wear. Swift chains are listed for over 10,000
different models, but can also be purchased by
pitch and length. The Heavy Duty SX-Ring chains
are the same price for silver (bright steel) or gold
colour plating, all prices on application.
WMD; tel 01273 595746; www.wmd-online.com
APRIL 2015
47
Product news
New from Belstaff, Premier and Stylmartin Sinnis Sp125
The Sinnis Sp125 is a Yamaha YBR-based four-stroke 125cc commuter machine with a five-speed gearbox,
front disc brakes and electric start. Sinnis test rode this bike on a 3200 miles trip across Europe and
experienced no breakdowns, only replacing a spark plug. The trade price on this model, which retails at
£1199+OTR, is £729. The Sp125 comes with a two-year manufacturer’s parts warranty, and in a choice of
red or blue colourways.
Sinnis Motorcycles; tel 01273 506306; www.sinnismotorcycles.com
Sidi Roarr sports/tour boot The Belstaff Snaefell jacket has the look of a traditional four-pocket,
waxed-cotton garment but the Snaefell is a high-specification,
all-season jacket using modern materials. A cotton Cordura
mix with a bonded membrane forms the outer jacket while
external reinforcement is featured on the shoulders and
elbows. D30 T5 Evo CE-approved
back protector, shoulder and
elbow armour is fitted. There is
a goose-down inner jacket that
can be worn separately and there
are ventilated mesh panels on the
sleeves with waterproof zips. Available in black in sizes S-4XL for £750 SRP.
Staying with the vintage look is the Belstaff Endurance boot. Crafted in
distressed Buffalo hide with a Vibram sole, the boot has a membrane lining
and features malleolus protectors on both sides, toe
and heel reinforcement, and side-zip fastening with
adjustable strap and logo buckles on the instep and calf. Available in black/
brown and black in Euro sizes 39-47, Endurance boots retail for £325.
Next comes the Premier Thesis
Helmet (£99.00 SRP), a flipfront model with double visor and
micrometric fastening, available in matt
black and gloss white in XS-XL sizes. And
finally the Stylmartin Dream RS boot (£109.00
SRP). Aimed at 7 to 14-year-olds in sizes 35 to 38, the Dream RS boot
offers all the protection and features of Stylmartin’s adult race range in
a tricolore design.
DPC Distribution; tel 0870 122 0214; www.dpc-distribution.com
The striking looks of the Roarr are built around a nextgeneration, carbon-fibre bracing system, which provides
support and ankle flexibility while remaining light enough
for sports riding. Sidi’s Micrometric TECNO-3 closure system
is used along with a replaceable polyurethane shin plate and
TPU toe sliders. The ergonomic interior is lined with vented
Teflon mesh and has a nylon inner sole with removable arch
support pads. Available in black, anthracite/black and
white/black for £199.95 SRP.
Feridax; tel 01384 413841;
www.sidiselect.co.uk
Hevik reflective belts
The Hevik reflective fluorescent yellow belt (HAC2130)
conforms to the EN 471/1995 homologation for high-visibility
equipment. The belt is height adjustable (47-64cm), and waist
adjustable (90-152cm), to fit over most motorcycle or outdoor
clothing. The Hevik HAC2130 retails for £15.72.
Hevik UK;
tel 01327 706980;
www.hevik.co.uk
Weise Baltimore Jacket
The new range-topping, four-season Baltimore jacket
from Weise incorporates a removable quilted Outlast liner.
The jacket has a 500D outer shell with full venting and CE
protection at the shoulders, elbows and back. Inside is a
removable Reissa waterproof and breathable drop lining
and there are retractable neon covers incorporated into the
sleeves. Available in sizes S-5XL in black or black/stone, the
Weise Baltimore retails for £319.99 SRP. The Outlast theme
continues in Weise’s Strada (£89.99 SRP) and Diablo (£99.99
SRP) gloves.
The Key Collection; tel 0117 971 9200;
Scala Rider Packtalk Cardo Systems, makers of Scala Rider Packtalk, has
announced that it is introducing DMC (Dynamic Meshwork
Communication), the “third generation of group
communication technology for motorcyclists”. DMC technology
complements and expands standard Bluetooth, so that in
DMC mode any user may randomly join, leave and rejoin the
group conversation. Packtalk offers full Intercom conferencing
between up to ten Packtalk users (up to one mile bike-to-bike
intercom and up to three miles between four or more riders).
Packtalk also offers Bluetooth and DMC technologies in one
device. Price on application.
Pama; tel 0161 494 4200; www.pama.com
48 APRIL 2015
New Faco windscreens
These latest additions to the Faco windscreen range are to fit
the Vespa Primavera and Sprint models,
with the Sprint screen having moulded
wind deflectors for the hands. Made
from high-quality acrylic, excellent
clarity and resistance to cracking are
offered. Trade prices are £44.60 for the
Primavera, £47.59 for the Sprint.
VE (UK); tel 0115 946 2991;
www.ve-trade.com
Powerbronze Tiger 1050 Sport
The Triumph Tiger 1050 Sport gets the Powerbronze treatment
this month. Hugger (£95 SRP) comes gloss black, matt black,
white and carbon-look with
either gold or silver-coloured
mesh vents. The Belly Pan
(£105 SRP) is available in the
same colours. Powerbronze
Badged Crash Posts kits are
also available for the Tiger
Sport in a selection of colours
for £75 SRP.
Powerbronze International; tel 01903 783222;
www.powerbronze.co.uk
The ultimate recruitment service for the motorcycle industry
FIELD SALES MANAGER
Looking for a rewarding
and challenging role?
One of the UK’s largest wholesalers of motorcycle
clothing, helmets, accessories and spare parts is looking
for an energetic and dynamic self-starter, who is flexible
and target-driven, to join our field sales team as a
Field Sales Manager
THE ROLE:
To promote and sell a comprehensive portfolio of motorcycle clothing,
helmets and accessories for Fowlers under the banner of The Key
Collection in the north of England, as well as generate new business
and service the existing dealer network.
THE POSITION OFFERS YOU:
a very competitive salary;
an on-target monthly incentive & annual bonus scheme**;
a company car, company bike, mobile phone and IT equipment**;
company pension scheme and generous free life insurance**;
free private healthcare**.
**Subject to eligibility/terms/conditions/availability
For more details of the job description, please visit our web site: www.fowlers.co.uk/jobs
MOTORCYCLE BRANCH MANAGER
GTC Motorcycle is seeking to recruit an experienced branch manager to run our
purpose built workshop in Guildford. The job will involve managing 3 members
of staff and the duties will include, invoicing, job sheet building, workshop control
and dealing with trade enquires over the phone and the internet as well as
customers face to face.
Working alongside Terry Rymer, ex World Champion racer, you will need to have
industry knowledge, fantastic customer service skills and be hugely passionate
about motorcycles.
We are offering a package starting at £25,000 per annum plus bonus and
company pension.
Please send your CV in the first instance to [email protected]
DESIGNER
WANTED
Mayo Media is looking for a Designer for its Bideford offices, to
work on both print and online versions of British Dealer News,
the UK’s biggest trade motorcycle magazine. The position will
also require design duties for Motorcycle Trade Expo, Europe’s
largest motorcycle trade show.
Duties will include: Design and production of regular email
newsletters, client advertising design, page layout and website
production and updating.
Candidates will need to show:
Experience of HTML, InDesign, Photoshop and Dreamweaver.
Excellent standard of written English.
Ability to balance commercial and creative priorities.
The position requires someone who can work to deadlines, has a keen
eye for detail, a strong work ethic and the ability to work as part of a
team.
Please send your CV and a covering letter to: [email protected]
All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence.
Sales & Marketing Manager
for Nitron Shock Absorbers
Great package available for the right candidate.
Previous field sales experience is required.
Please contact [email protected] for further information.
APRIL 2015
49
Recruitment advertising
Job Scene
In association with:
DeFazio column
DeFazio
here was this guitar shop a couple of miles
from where I used to live in the Smoke.
Nice corner position. Huge windows.
Lots of retail space. Adequate parking in
a sidestreet. Large range of instruments. Pianos.
Violins. Trumpets. Clarinets. Harmonicas. Drum
kits, etc.
I used to mosey into that shop every once in a
while and twang a guitar, or twiddle a keyboard
or shimmy a cymbal. And jabber, of course. Frank
Zappa once said that talking about music is like
fishing about architecture. And he was perfectly
right. But that’s what you do when you’ve got an
interest or a passion, isn’t it? You talk about it. You
jabber it to death. It’s natural.
Anyway, one day I walked into that music
shop, slapped a fat wad of cash on the counter
and walked out with a brand-new £500 Fender
Stratocaster. US manufactured. Candy Red. White
scratch plate. Alder body. Maple neck. Three single
coils and a whammy bar. If you’re not a guitarist,
none of that will get you excited. But trust me;
that’s a pretty good Hank Marvinesque starting
point for a wannabe Rock God.
A couple of months later I strolled back into
that selfsame shop and threw down another wad
and bought a brand-new £500 Fender Telecaster.
US manufactured. Natural clear finish. Ash body.
Maple neck. Two single coils and a fixed bridge.
Think Creedence Clearwater Revival and you can
probably hear that guitar.
Still got ’em both.
And still can’t play for $#!t.
That shop went bust soon after. I saw it coming.
So did the owner. It was like a rogue asteroid
headed for Earth. You could grimly study it for
months or years before it collided. But he was a
brave type. Stiff upper lip. Churchill spirit. Ready
to fight them on the beaches. Going down with
the ship.
Over an 18-month period, I watched the
quality of the stock diminish. The rack of quality
American guitars was whittled down to a handful
of Chinese plywood copies. The quality Yamaha
keyboards were steadily eroded by the influx of
budget Korean instruments. The violins became
cheaper and nastier. The rest of the stock went the
same way. Slowly the customers gave up.
It was depressing.
There was a number of reasons why this guy’s
business went down the tubes. One of those
reasons was simply that the local demographic
changed. The resident teenage white boys with
musical attitude pretty much vanished into the
Essex and Kentish hinterland, and an influx of
immigrants, mostly from Africa, moved in and
opened shops to service their own needs.
Another reason was that a new link road was
built about half a mile away. That significantly
shrank passing trade; trade that used to be bumperto-bumper and crawling up the adjacent asphalt at
walking speed, but now was suddenly whizzing by
into the local rat runs.
T
A sideways look at the world of motorcycling,
from London journalist Danny DeFazio
Another reason was Denmark Street, London
W1. That’s the British musical retail Mecca,
and at about that time Denmark Street became
increasingly aggressive and hungry and started
bringing in a new wave of kit and flogging it at
some pretty compelling prices. And Denmark
Street is accessible to any Londoner who can afford
the price of a tube ticket.
But arguably the single biggest reason why that
music shop failed was because another music shop
opened up about 200 yards away and pretty much
cornered the guitar market for miles around.
Had the new guy simply opened a general
music store stocking a few items of everything, it
probably would have failed. Being the fresh upstart
on the block, the incoming business didn’t have
any goodwill. It didn’t have history. It didn’t have a
back catalogue of customers coming in to chinwag
about nothing of any consequence. Neither did it
have a good corner position with huge windows
and adequate parking.
“And there you are,
with your general Mr
Nice Guy motorcycle
emporium, flogging
a bit of this, and a
couple of these”
But what it did have was specialisation. The
proprietor of the new shop didn’t waste floor
space with pianos and trombones and xylophones.
Instead, he put racks of quality guitars along both
walls. Fender. Gibson. Rickenbacker. Martin.
Ibanez. Paul Reed Smith. Jackson. Epiphone.
And beneath those guitars he arranged quality
amplifiers, and between the two he draped quality
guitar straps and leads and effects pedals.
Pretty soon, if you wanted a decent guitar or
related hardware, there was only one place to go.
The customers hunted him down. And that was all
it took to send the other music shop into a terminal
tail spin from which the owner couldn’t recover. Not
without changing his rigid thinking. Put simply, the
original shop lost its commercial oxygen.
Fifty, forty, even thirty years ago, a general music
shop was a sound business to be in. There are, after
all, always folk who want to try their hand with a
violin or a set of bagpipes or a Fender Stratocaster.
But things have changed. The world has moved
on. The specialists have arrived – not in ones and
twos, but thousands of them, if not millions. And
within the various specialisations are specialist subsets.
I spoke to one such specialist the other day and
asked how much it would cost to repair my old
dial phones. One phone looks like the model Jack
Regan has on his desk in The Sweeney. The other
comes right out of a 1950s British crime caper. I
was given an agreeable price, and I asked the phone
bloke how was business. He said it was booming. I
said don’t you mean “ringing?” and he said hah-hah
and explained that he’d never had it so good.
Yes, a lot of people are claiming that these days,
but I believed this guy. His entire business is built
around repairing and upgrading phones that went
out of production in the 1950s and 1960s. And
just British phones, take note. No Yankee rubbish,
he told me. No French crap. Just British.
Then I spoke to another guy. He operates out
of Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, and sells classic caps.
Actually, that’s what his shop is called. The Classic
Cap Company Ltd. His business is booming, too.
It seems he decided some time ago to specialise
in classic headwear. Boaters. Fedoras. Baker Boys.
Homburgs. Panamas. And Bowlers.
He said his business was booming too. Best year
ever. And it’s much the same wherever you go now.
There are guys out there making a very decent
living, selling nothing but Yorkshire clogs, or Italian
accordions, or Hornby model railway rolling stock.
And there you are, with your general Mr Nice
Guy motorcycle emporium, flogging a bit of this,
and a few of those, and a couple of these, and …
well, whatever’s in that box over there. You’ve got a
range of bikes catering to all tastes. Ditto for riding
kit. Ditto for everything else. And you’ve probably
got a drum kit in the back and a set of Chinese
bagpipes just in case someone wants them.
So okay, you can perhaps bimble along for
years until the asteroid smashes into your corner
windows. You can watch the other guy move in
down the street and steal what little oxygen you’re
breathing these days. And then you can die.
Yes, some businesses are actually doing well
with the supermarket model. But notice how the
supermarkets aren’t actually doing so well anymore.
Part of what’s gone wrong for them is that they’ve
over-generalised. If you want a decent range of
CDs, you won’t find it at Tescos. If you want a
decent pair of socks, you can forget George at
Asda. If you want a decent anything, you need
to look to specialists. That’s where the real profits
are these days. And it’s something that you, as a
motorcycle salesman, or parts trader, or importer,
ought to consider while you’re still breathing.
What’s that? Afraid to make the jump? Okay,
keep your existing business model. But find
something, anything, to specialise in and call your
own. Adjust the focus. Throw a spotlight on a
particular commercial product. Be the biggest fish
in your chosen pond.
I heard recently that there are only two or three
guys in the UK who can do proper metal stitching.
I heard they’re all doing very well.
The bottom line is that more than ever you need
a USP. A unique selling point. Or a unique selling
proposition. But the chances are that if you’re
currently struggling, it could be because you’re
famous for nothing.
And nothing is nowhere. Q
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FOR SALE - Dynopro S125
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APRIL 2015
55
SUSPENSION
Financial column
On the Money
Market analysis with Roger Willis
couple of months
ago, London-based
private equity investor
Bridgepoint Capital sold
one of its assets, Swiss international
sports marketing company Infront
Sports & Media. The buyer was a
Chinese conglomerate called Dalian
Wanda Group, China’s largest
operator in the cultural, sporting and
entertainment rights sector.
Bridgepoint trousered £749m
from this transaction, based on a
generous valuation calculated at 12
times annual earnings before interest,
tax, depreciation and amortisation.
It originally paid £428m for Infront
in September 2011, and therefore
yielded a 75% headline return –
relatively modest by private equity
standards – on that investment
over slightly more than three years.
However, Bridgepoint had previously
diverted a portion of Infront’s
business elsewhere in its empire, a
subject which I shall address shortly. On offer to Dalian Wanda was a
lucrative portfolio of broadcast and
merchandising access to a range
of hot European soccer properties
including top German and Italian
league fixtures, individual tie-ups
with major clubs like AC Milan and
FC Köln, and – most prominently –
exclusive TV rights throughout Asia
to FIFA World Cup matches.
Infront chief executive Philippe
Blatter, nephew of notorious FIFA
global footie maestro Sepp Blatter,
has always denied any familial
advantage in acquisition of that
particular sweetheart deal. But it’s
safe to assume MRDA (as in Mandy
A
Rice Davies Applies – “well, he
would say that, wouldn’t he?”) Besides the questionably beautiful
game, Infront also represents all seven
Olympic winter sports federations
plus handball, volleyball, basketball,
cycling and athletics interests. It had
no motorcycle sport involvement
whatsoever when Bridgeport cashed
out. However, that hadn’t always
been true.
In 2007, Infront bought
FGSport, Italian promoter of the
World Superbike Championship
and its three support series, from
Maurizio and Paolo Flammini for
an undisclosed sum. The Flammini
brothers had run WSB since 1989,
just after its inception, and continued
in management on behalf of the new
proprietor.
A year earlier, the blue-riband
MotoGP series had also changed
hands. Then owned by yet another
private equity firm, CVC
Capital Partners, MotoGP
fell victim to an EU antimonopoly ruling. CVC,
which had acquired
MotoGP rights-holder
Dorna in 1998, added
commercial control
of Formula One car
racing to its treasure
chest in 2005.
Competition
commissioner
Neelie Kroes took
a dim view of
this, demanding
disposal of
Dorna on
the basis of
reduced consumer choice due to the
risk of TV rights price hikes. CVC
complied in March 2006, flogging
off the bikes to Infront’s future
parent Bridgepoint for what was then
seen as a surprisingly undistressed
price of about £400m.
Moving on five years, general
commentator opinion held that
MotoGP had deteriorated in appeal
to a degree where it was worth less
than Bridgepoint had coughed. So
all sorts of escape-route scenarios
involving an imposed conjugal
relationship between the two
championships were postulated
when news emerged of an imminent
Infront, and therefore WSB,
acquisition by Bridgepoint in 2011.
At the time,
though, a
company
statement
confidentially
assured these
chattering
classes that
“both series
would continue
to be organised
and managed
separately”.
Such a
promise was never
going to last, not least
because the Flammini
siblings were rattling
legal sabres at Dorna over
its desperate bid to pack out
shrivelling MotoGP prototype
grids with production-based CRT
bikes, thereby treading on territorial
toes. Such unseemly pugnacious
behaviour, from what had effectively
become a pair of potentially
complementary subsidiaries in the
same stable, was patently intolerable.
Just 12 months later, Bridgepoint
announced that Dorna and Infront
had “reached agreement to bring both
motorcycle racing interests under a
single umbrella organisation”.
In reality, the Italians were
peremptorily slung out on their ears
and WSB was thrust into Dorna’s
Spanish hands. Inevitably there was
plenty of bullshit from Dorna chief
executive Carmelo Ezpeleta about
developing and enhancing the distinct
personalities of each championship,
retaining their leadership positions
while benefiting from joint marketing
and commercial strategies. But those commentaries weren’t
wrong – Bridgepoint’s underlying
profitable exit strategy was the only
one that mattered. And having now
creamed its capital and a satisfactory
gain out of Infront, the need for
similar delivery from Dorna is
becoming increasingly paramount.
Although Dorna initiated measures
to increase grids and improve the
show in both series through technical
rules manipulation, the MotoGPWSB marriage has yet to bear fruit
from Ezpeleta’s dutiful loins in that
sense. And one aspect of the change
in agenda couldn’t be concealed. Putting bums on trackside seats –
while obviously attractive to circuits
contributing eye-wateringly large
fees to stage either franchise – has
never been the primary driver.
Raising couch-potato count of global
television audiences, given that bikes
SHARE PRICES - 14 MARCH 2015
Price
USA (US dollar)
Harley-Davidson 58.80
Polaris
147.76
Arctic Cat
37.38
US Highland
0.52
Viper
0.0033
Daily
Low
60.23
148.64
38.00
0.52
0.0033
Daily
High
Change
58.24 -3.37%
146.26 -0.65%
36.59 -1.32%
0.52
N/A
0.0033 +32%
52-week
range
74.13 - 54.22
159.33 - 124.728
49.69 - 26.00
0.60 - 0.13
0.044 - 0.0012
Notes: Polaris makes Victory and Indian motorcycles, ATVs, snowmobiles, quadricycles and EVs. Arctic Cat
makes ATVs and snowmobiles. US Highland makes a range of four-stroke dirt bikes. Viper Powersports
produces the Diamondback Super Cruiser with a British-built 2490cc Ilmor engine.
CANADA (Canadian dollar)
BRP
21.58
21.805
21.10
+0.65%
31.98 - 20.67
Notes: Bombardier Recreational Products makes Can-Am ATVs and Spyder road trikes, as well as Ski-Doo
snowmobiles, Sea-Doo personal watercraft and Rotax engines for a range of applications including
motorcycles — most recently Buell’s EBR superbike.
TAIWAN (Taiwanese dollar)
Sanyang
27.15
27.50
27.00
+0.37%
56.60 - 25.20
Notes: Sanyang Motor is the leading Taiwanese powered two-wheeler manufacturer through its widelyexported SYM brand.
VIETNAM (Hong Kong dollar)
VMEPH
0.46
0.46
0.455
+1.1%
0.69 - 0.40
Notes: Vietnam Manufacturing & Export Processing Holdings is the third-largest Vietnamese scooter and
motorcycle manufacturer. It is a JV partnership with Taiwanese brand SYM. VMEPH is headquartered in
Hong Kong and listed on both the HK and Taipei stock exchanges.
INDONESIA (rupiah)
Astra
7875
7950
Indomobil
3990
3990
7850
3990
-0.32%
-0.25%
8175 - 6325
5200 - 3050
Notes: Astra International is a Honda JV partner. Its controlling shareholder is Jardine Matheson Holdings,
a British-managed conglomerate domiciled in Hong Kong. Indomobil Sukses Internasional is a Suzuki
motorcycle manufacturing and distribution JV partner, producing about 350,000 bikes annually.
56 APRIL 2015
Price
EUROPE (euro)
BMW
119.612
Daimler
93.15
Piaggio
2.98
KTM
128.00
VW
240.60
Daily
Low
Daily
High
Change
120.125
93.44
3.00
132.00
240.85
117.20
91.59
2.94
128.00
235.40
+0.76%
+0.36%
+0.68%
-1.48%
+1.38%
52-week
range
120.125 - 74.74
93.44 - 55.10
3.092 - 1.93
141.00 - 71.50
240.85 - 147.35
Notes: Daimler has a 25 per cent stake in MV Agusta through AMG-Mercedes. VW is owner of Ducati.
PAKISTAN (Pakistani rupee)
Atlas Honda
350.70 364.00
Pak Suzuki
446.66 446.66
350.70 -1.71%
435.00 +2.83%
405.30 - 209.00
450.85 - 181.00
Notes: Atlas Honda and Pak Suzuki are JV motorcycle assembly and distribution partners.
INDIA (rupee)
Hero
2610.00
Bajaj
2023.10
TVS
277.70
Eicher
15,912.75
Mahindra
1227.75
Maharashtra
863.60
Scooters India
29.40
2673.95
2084.90
291.85
16,381.90
1253.00
878.00
29.40
2604.05
2011.00
276.30
15,790.40
1220.50
840.00
28.25
-1.22%
-2.4%
-4.13%
-2.4%
-1.08%
+0.95%
+0.34%
3271.80 - 2055.85
2695.00 - 1840.10
322.30 - 84.00
17,200 - 5469
1433.70 - 951.66
1124.00 - 442.50
38.85 - 14.55
Notes: Bajaj has technical partnerships with KTM and Kawasaki. Eicher makes Royal Enfield. Mahindra
& Mahindra has an own-brand motorcycle range and a majority stake in Peugeot scooters. Maharashtra
Scooters assembles CKD scooter kits manufactured by Bajaj, which is a shareholder in the company.
Scooters India makes Vikram three-wheeled taxis and light trucks.
JAPAN (yen)
Honda
Yamaha
Suzuki
Kawasaki
4137
3025
3577
584
4152.5
3060
3588.5
589
4104.5
2986
3525
582
+0.33%
+0.97%
+0.22%
+0.52%
4152.5 - 3239
3145 - 1445
4041 - 2526
589 - 350
Price
Daily
Low
Daily
High
Change
52-week
range
7.33
12.12
5.56
8.68
10.35
16.91
10.05
7.14
10.86
5.43
8.40
10.13
16.18
9.90
-0.41%
+9.98%
+1.29%
+0.47%
+1.08%
+0.49%
-0.2%
7.89 - 4.90
12.12 - 4.37
5.95 - 3.61
9.28 - 3.55
10.64 - 6.33
18.81 - 8.24
11.39 - 5.31
CHINA (Hong Kong dollar)
Jianshe
7.86
7.90
Guangzhou Auto 6.94
6.99
7.77
6.82
+0.38%
+0.58%
9.40 - 5.41
9.87 - 6.58
CHINA (yuan)
Qianjiang
7.24
Zongshen
12.12
Sundiro
5.51
Jialing
8.57
Lifan
10.31
Loncin
16.33
Linhai
9.99
Notes: Qianjiang owns both the exported Keeway brand and the formerly Italian Benelli brand. Zongshen
produces own-brand bikes and proprietary engines, and has JV partnerships with Piaggio, producing
scooters, and Harley-Davidson, making parts. Sundiro is the biggest Honda JV bike partner in China.
Jialing makes and exports own-brand bikes using Honda licensed technology and is a Honda JV power
products partner. Lifan makes and exports own-brand bikes, and distributes MV Agusta products in China.
Loncin is a Kawasaki JV partner and OEM engine contractor to BMW Motorrad. Linhai and Jianshe are
Yamaha JV partners. Guangzhou Automobile Group is the parent of Honda JV partner and own-brand bike
manufacturer Wuyang. It also has JV car production partnerships with Honda and Toyota.
MALAYSIA (ringgit)
Oriental Holdings 6.96
Hong Leong
4.46
7.00
4.50
6.94
4.45
N/A
+0.22%
8.10 - 6.48
7.543 - 3.95
Notes: Oriental Holdings is a Honda JV partner. Hong Leong Industries is a Yamaha JV partner and former
owner of the German MZ concern.
SOUTH KOREA (won)
KR
1380
1415
Daelim
68,500 69,900
1375 +0.73%
68,200 +0.15%
1495 - 571
94,300 - 50,400
Notes: KR Motors (formerly S&T) manufactures Hyosung-branded bikes and ATVs, exporting to the US,
Europe including the UK and elsewhere. Daelim Industrial is a diversified conglomerate which retains a
controlling 59 % stake in Daelim Motor, the largest motorcycle and scooter manufacturer in Korea. (The
remainder is British-owned, by the private equity arm of Standard Chartered Bank.)
Share prices
currently rate as a mere drop in the
ocean against mammoth viewing
figures for F1 cars, used to be the
crucial long-term objective. To that end, Dorna’s MotoGP
policy was expressed, until quite
recently, by offering relatively cheap
access to mass-audience terrestrial
telly broadcasters such as the BBC
and free-to-view satellite stations
like Eurosport. But not anymore.
Suddenly, short-termist financial
returns to massage Dorna’s bottom
line are the name of the game.
Hence a pay-to-view BT Sport
contract in the UK, more than
trebling associated till receipts but
slashing the actual number of viewers
dramatically.
Now entering a third season of toplevel motorcycle racing management
union, the men from Madrid have
clearly failed to achieve the monetised
success surge Bridgepoint needs to
make the enterprise a marketable
proposition. Perhaps an additional
string to its corporate bow is
required?
Introducing the Isle of Man
TT, stage left. At the beginning of
this year, the Manx government’s
Department of Economic
Development (which owns all
the relevant rights) advertised
for “expressions of interest” from
independent promoters who might
care to manage and commercialise
a package encompassing the TT
itself, the Classic TT and a putative
worldwide TT-format race series.
The first stage of this bid process
closed at the end of February. Some
13 credible approaches had been
received from what were described
as “organisations that operate in
a number of sectors including
specialist motorsports promoters,
broadcasters, major event promoters
and sponsorship rights management
companies”.
Respondents are now completing
a pre-qualification questionnaire for
evaluation prior to invitations for
formal tenders. It’s a good bet that
Dorna, bankrolled by Bridgepoint, is
a bidder.
The business case is blindingly
obvious. After MotoGP and WSB,
the TT already has the third-largest
global bike-racing broadcast reach
and profile. Seen by around 25
million viewers, programming is sold
to more than 130 countries with in
excess of 400 hours coverage each
year. And that’s just for starters before
a committed professional promoter’s
teeth sink in.
Serendipitously, MotoGP’s
managerial hierarchy isn’t entirely
alien to either the TT or Isle of Man.
Dorna doesn’t run the nuts-andbolts of grand prix racing. That job
is carried out by a contractor, the
International Road-Racing Teams
Association (IRTA). Veteran IRTA
supremo Mike Trimby, known
as the Fat Controller to MotoGP
paddock wags, was a competitor in
his younger and slimmer days. He
rode in six TT races during the early
1970s and claimed a commendable
best finish of 17th spot in the 1973
Senior. Furthermore, Trimby is an
established resident on the Island too,
in a palatial mansion near Ginger
Hall. Well fancy that. Q
ECONOMIC BRIEFINGS
Economic growth was slightly slower in the three months to February, but
still maintained a strong pace, according to the latest Confederation of British
Industry (CBI) growth indicator.
The survey of 842 respondents across manufacturing, retail and services
showed continued solid growth in the private sector, with a balance of +19% in
February. While the pace of growth eased (from +23% in January), it remained
in line with the average rate over the past four months.
The overall outlook for the next quarter is positive, with growth expected to
rise further (+26%).
February’s slightly weaker performance was driven by slower sales growth in
the retail sector, where volumes were broadly flat.
Consumers made a positive contribution to that growth as household
expenditure rose by 0.5% in Q4 2014. Consumer spending has now increased
for 14 consecutive quarters and has been the most consistent driver of
economic expansion over the past couple of years.
The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) voted to keep the
base interest rate and the stock of assets purchased under the quantitative
easing programme unchanged in March at 0.5% and £375bn respectively.
This marks six full years since interest rates have changed.
The UK economy moved closer to deflation in January, with the headline
rate of inflation, as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), falling to
just 0.3%. Inflation looks set to fall further in the coming months as cuts
to the price of household gas tariffs, introduced by most major providers
towards the end of February, feed into the inflation figures.
INSIGHT 2015
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[email protected]
APRIL 2015
57
Auction results
BCA
FRIDAY 27 FEBRUARY 2015
PETERBOROUGH, CAMBRIDGESHIRE
01733 568881
www.british-car-auctions.co.uk
A house record for volume and
turnover. Dubbing the event a
“Supersale”, BCA presented 217
machines, 189 getting away. The
sell-through was 87%. Turnover of
£618,000 was equivalent to 88%
CAP Clean.
“The sale attracted buyers from
all over the country,” said BCA’s
motorcycle specialist James Rowberry.
“There was something for everyone
and the combined turnover established
a new record value.
“Bidding was brisk and confident
throughout,” he added. “More
than 120 trade and private bidders
attended, and 176 trade buyers logged
on via BCA Live Online.
“Bikes entered by Black Horse
Motor Finance group attracted a lot
of interest, selling 133 units. BMW
Finance stock also performed strongly,
22 machines being sold.
“New suppliers included Moto
Novo Finance and Harley World
Chesterfield, both enjoying excellent
results at their first BCA sale,” added
Rowberry.
“Among the day’s star performers
were a selection of 2014 Yamaha
700R quadbikes (£4300-£5850) and
a 2012 Ducati 848 Evo Corse which
sold for an impressive £8650.”
MACHINES DECLARED SOLD
2014 AJS NAC12 125, 1064m ___________ £450
2014 AJS DD 125, 140-329m (2) ______ £450-575
2014 AJS R7 125 __________________ £350
2009 Aprilia RSV 1000R, 8883m ________ £3600
2010 Aprilia RX 125, 3283m____________ £900
2010 Aprilia RSV 1000R Factory, 17,279m __ £7700
2012 Aprilia RS 125 _________________ £950
2012 Aprilia Tuono V4 1000, 25,117m _____ £3950
2013 Aprilia RS 125, 4651m ___________ £1250
2014 Aprilia RS 125, 2486m ___________ £2650
2005 BMW R1150RS 1150, 25,933m _____ £2400
2006 BMW R1200GS, 25,186m _________ £3400
2007 BMW R1200GS, 21,149m _________ £3500
2008 BMW R1200GS, 39,750-29,674m (2) £3400-5800
2011 BMW R1200 R, 6595m __________ £5600
2011 BMW K1600 GTL, 3868m _________ £8300
2012 BMW C 650 GT, 2931m __________ £3500
2012 BMW G 650, 8257m ____________ £2500
2012 BMW F800 ST, 5376m ___________ £3350
2012 BMW S1000 RR, 2469m __________ £8500
2012 BMW R1200 GS, 3568m __________ £7000
2013 BMW F800 GT, 3551m ___________ £4400
2013 BMW F800 GS, 5558-4695m (2) _____ £5100
2013 BMW F800 R ________________ £2400
2013 BMW S1000 RR, 7999m __________ £7900
2014 Daelim Daystar 125, 3805m ________ £400
2012 Derbi Senda 125 _______________ £700
2006 Ducati Dark 750, 10,071m ________ £2850
2008 Ducati Supermoto 750 __________ £2325
2009 Ducati 1098, 22,286m ___________ £5950
2010 Ducati 848, 8343m _____________ £7200
2010 Ducati Multistrada 1200, 1847m ____ £7700
2011 Ducati 848, 7418m _____________ £6100
2011 Ducati 1198, 4172m ____________ £8100
2011 Ducati Multistrada 1200 (2) ___ £5500-8300
2012 Ducati 848, 1158m _____________ £8650
2014 Ducati M1200 S, 1113m__________ £9300
2014 Ducati Hyperstrada, 345m ________ £7000
2013 Generic Worx 125 ______________ £400
58 APRIL 2015
Barnstorming BCA sold 189 bikes under the hammer on 27 February, a turnover and volume house record.
2013 Generic TR 125, 1062m ___________ £425
2002 Harley-Davidson VRSCA V-Rod, 15,539m £3800
2005 Harley Custom Sportster XL1200, 13,846m £3650
2008 Harley Custom Sportster XL883, 8438m £3800
2010 Harley Custom Sportster XL1200, 26,046m £3600
2010 Harley VRSCDX Night Rod 2-tone, 2419m £7800
2012 Harley VRSCDX Night Rod 2-tone, 6637m £8650
2013 Harley-Davidson XL883, 9885m _____ £4950
2014 Harley XL883, 139-347m (2) ___ £5800-6000
2008 Honda CBR600 RR, 8254m ________ £4200
2008 Honda NT700, 91-1114m (2) ___ £2700-2950
2009 Honda NT700, 4167-5953m (3) _____ £2000
2010 Honda NSA700, 2610m __________ £3750
2010 Honda VT750 SA, 11,965m ________ £3200
2010 Honda XL1000 V9, 35,772m _______ £3000
2010 Honda VFR1200, 10,144-8108m (2) £4100-5550
2010 Honda VT1300, 8787m __________ £5550
2011 Honda CBF125, 3607m __________ £1350
2012 Honda CB1000 R, 6020m _________ £4900
2012 Honda CBF1000, 909m __________ £4700
2013 Honda CBF125, 4586m __________ £1000
N/A Honda CRF __________________ £1900
2013 Husqvarna SMS 630, 3214m _______ £2400
2004 Kawasaki ZR1000 A2H, 4094m______ £3050
2005 Kawasaki ZX636 C1H, 18,018m _____ £2650
2009 Kawasaki EX650, 13,117m ________ £2300
2012 Kawasaki EX650, 2234m _________ £3250
2012 Kawasaki ZR750, 8117m _________ £2850
2012 Kawasaki Ninja ZX1000 R, 2285m ____ £7200
2013 Kawasaki ZX1000 C1H, 5303m ______ £7150
2014 Kawasaki KLX125 ______________ £950
2014 Kawasaki ZX636, 1011m _________ £3250
2014 Kawasaki EJ800, 2767m _________ £5050
2014 Keeway Superlight 125, 3996m ______ £800
2007 KTM Supermoto 950, 12,963m _____ £3450
2011 KTM RC8 1190, 7919m __________ £7150
2013 KTM Duke 125, 7344m __________ £2000
2013 KTM EXC 125, 1126m ___________ £3300
2014 KTM Duke 125, 24m ____________ £2750
2013 Kymco Agility 125, 7563m _________ £400
2014 Lexmoto ZSX 125 _______________ £250
2013 LML Star 125, 193m _____________ £700
2014 LML Star 125, 1891-859m (2) ____ £700-750
2012 Moto Guzzi Griso 1200 V8, 2666m ____ £6200
2013 Peugeot Speedfight 50, 6574m ______ £650
2014 Peugeot Vox 110, 6437m __________ £350
2012 Piaggio MP3 300, 13,883m ________ £3100
2012 Piaggio Touring LT MP3 500, 22,829m _ £3250
2013 Piaggio Ape Cross Country 50, 1248m _ £3050
2013 Piaggio Vespa LXV 125, 412m ______ £2000
2014 Piaggio Zip 50, 1325m ___________ £650
2014 Piaggio Xevo 125, 1402m _________ £1750
2014 Piaggio Vespa GT125, 7574m ______ £1500
2014 Piaggio Primavera, 123m _________ £1500
2014 Quadzilla DL801 Sport 450, 402m ____ £2100
2014 Quadzilla X6 510, 424m __________ £2050
2008 Rieju Sprint, 10,314m ___________ £3450
2012 Rieju RS3 125, 6301m ____________ £450
2013 Rieju Marathon 125, 5702m ________ £800
2014 Rieju SMX 125, 1792m ___________ £550
2014 SFM ZZ 125, 1754m _____________ £550
2011 Sinnis QM 125, 5440m ___________ £150
2013 Skyteam V-Raptor 125, 6770m ______ £325
2005 Suzuki GSX-R600, 5439m _________ £2150
2005 Suzuki GSF1200, 10,861m ________ £1875
2007 Suzuki DR-Z400 SM, 6966m _______ £2450
2007 Suzuki GSF650, 6222m __________ £2200
2008 Suzuki DL1000, 14,802m _________ £4350
2008 Suzuki VLR1800, 13,648m ________ £5200
2010 Suzuki GSX650, 16,006m _________ £2050
2010 Suzuki GSX750, 16,865m _________ £4800
2011 Suzuki GSX-R600, 11,043m________ £4800
2011 Suzuki GSX-R750, 3890m _________ £5950
2011 Suzuki GSX1250, 12,866m ________ £2400
2012 Suzuki DR125 SM, 6593m_________ £1325
2012 Suzuki GSR750, 6555m __________ £3500
2013 Suzuki SV650, 5802m ___________ £3000
2014 Sym Jet 50, 20m _______________ £550
2014 Sym XS125, 7241m _____________ £250
2000 Triumph Tiger 900, 23,948m _______ £1000
2004 Triumph Daytona 600 (3) _____ £1850-2300
2004 Triumph Tiger 955, 37,530m _______ £2200
2005 Triumph Bonneville 790, 5959m _____ £3700
2005 Triumph Speed Triple, 15,676m _____ £2900
2008 Triumph Bonneville T100 865, 14,360m £4000
2009 Triumph Speedmaster 865, 10,867m __ £4150
2010 Triumph Street Triple 675, 5285m ____ £3300
2011 Triumph Tiger 1050, 3789m _______ £4500
2011 Triumph Sprint RS 1050, 4473m _____ £4250
2011 Triumph Speed Triple 1050 (2) __ £4200-5750
2011 Triumph Tiger 1050, 1942m _______ £5650
2011 Triumph Speed Triple 1050, 1431m ___ £5100
2012 Triumph Tiger 800 ABS, 3784m _____ £5500
2012 Triumph Speed Triple, 4369m ______ £6200
2013 Triumph Bonneville, 3593m _______ £5600
2014 Triumph Daytona 675, 1773m ______ £6900
2014 Triumph Tiger 800 XC, 4913m ______ £7000
2008 Triumph Adventurer 900, 13,005m ___ £1950
2013 WK Bikes SP125, 2381m __________ £500
2013 WK Bikes SS125________________ £475
2014 WK Bikes WK One 50, 252-239m (2) £575-600
2014 WK Bikes 125SS, 5039m __________ £375
2014 WK Bikes Sport 125, 4123m ________ £500
2014 WK Bikes Wasp, 26m _____________ £500
2014 WK Bikes SP, 1653m _____________ £500
2007 Yamaha YFM700R ______________ £550
2008 Yamaha FZ600, 25,583m _________ £1200
2009 Yamaha YZF-R125, 4918m ________ £1950
2009 Yamaha Fazer FZ1000, 13,851m _____ £3700
2010 Yamaha YZF- R125, 10,414m _______ £1450
2011 Yamaha YZF-R125, 8223-2545m (2) £1500-2000
2011 Yamaha YBR125, 8342-2726m (2) £1050-1400
2012 Yamaha YZF- R125, n/a-981m (3) _ £900-2650
2012 Yamaha Midnight Star XVS 950, 6720m £3950
2012 Yamaha YZF-R1 1000, 15,178m _____ £6000
2013 Yamaha WR125, ______________ £1400
2013 Yamaha YZF-R125, 6359m ________ £2450
2013 Yamaha YBR125, 5757m __________ £900
2014 Yamaha CS50 J-RR, 213m _________ £1050
2014 Yamaha WR125R, 6m ___________ £2725
2014 Yamaha YZF-R125, 5867-708m (2) £2550-3000
2014 Yamaha WR125 X, 602m _________ £2925
2014 Yamaha YBR125, 780m, __________ £1150
2014 Yamaha X-Max YP400 R, 624m______ £3600
2014 Yamaha XJ600, 1154m __________ £3825
2014 Yamaha YFM 700R, 252-315m (3) £4300-5850
2014 Yamaha MT-09 850 ____________ £5050
2014 Yamaha YZF-R1 1000, 708m _______ £8700
2014 Zontes 125-8A, 174m ____________ £300
Above prices subject to variable commission.
BAWTRY MOTOR AUCTION
TUESDAY 20 JANUARY 2015
BAWTRY, SOUTH YORKSHIRE
01302 710333; www.bmar.co.uk
A good start to the year selling 59
machines from 76 lots (compared
with 51 in January 2014). Conversion:
78%. Total hammer at £129,805
exceeded reserve and CAP Clean
totals. Ten machines were let go below
reserve. The day’s flagship was a 2010
Honda VFR1200 at £6000.
2007 Aprilia Tuono 1000, 16,000m_______ £3150
2007 BMW F800ST, 50,980m __________ £2350
2013 Daelim Daystar VL125, 835m_______ £1200
2011 Direct Bikes ZN125T, 4906m ________ £300
2014 E-max 110S (3) ____________ £240-£260
2014 Generic TR125, 0m _____________ £1000
2014 Generic TR125, 4m _____________ £1125
2004 Gilera Ice 50, 9503m _____________ £350
The latest used and classic bike auction results and news. Compiled by Brian Crichton
2006 Harley-Davidson XL1200C, 14,893m __ £4200
2007 Harley XL883R Sportster, 7270m ____ £3750
1988 Honda 1500, 67,000m___________ £3250
1998 Honda CBR600 FW, 28,847m _______ £1300
2006 Honda CBF600 SA-5, 36,000m ______ £1550
2006 Honda VT750 CA6, 21,554m _______ £3050
2007 Honda CBR125 RS6, 12,000m ______ £1325
2007 Honda CBR600RR, 10,511m _______ £3900
2009 Honda CBR125 RW7, 6789m _______ £1450
2010 Honda CBR600RRA, 5791m________ £4850
2010 Honda VT750 SA, 3200m _________ £3750
2010 Honda VFR1200 FA, 15,327m ______ £6000
2010 Honda VT1300 CX-A, 6900m _______ £5500
2013 Honda CBF125 MD, 11,565m _______ £1350
2013 Honda CBR125R-C, 5998m ________ £2000
2014 Honda CBR125R-D, 1805m ________ £2450
2013 Honley NM125 2HD-2, 1861m _______ £475
2006 Kawasaki EX650 A6F, 39,875m ______ £1075
2009 Kawasaki EX250 K9, 8753m _______ £2475
2014 Keeway TX125, 8812m ___________ £650
2010 KTM 1190 RC8 1150, 6199m _______ £6000
2014 Lexmoto Dart 125, 4062m _________ £410
2005 Piaggio Vespa LX50, 9550m ________ £300
2011 Piaggio Xevo 125, 15,911m ________ £900
2004 Suzuki GSX-R600 K4, 19,861m ______ £2100
2005 Suzuki GSX-R1000 ZK4, 15,740m ____ £3300
2007 Suzuki GSF1250 K7, 38,050m ______ £2225
2009 Suzuki SFV650 K9, 22,327m _______ £2200
2014 Suzuki Van Van RV125 L3, 2099m ____ £2100
2010 Triumph Tiger 1050, 11,000m ______ £5050
2012 Triumph Street Triple R 675, 18,341m__ £4850
2013 Triumph Bonneville America 865, 2600m £5650
2001 Yamaha TDM 850, 43,435m ________ £825
2002 Yamaha YZF-R6 600, 35,407m ______ £1550
2002 Yamaha 998, 24,662m___________ £2125
2004 Yamaha TW125, 17,122m__________ £750
2007 Yamaha DT125R, 23,381m ________ £1350
2007 Yamaha YP250R X-max, 13,706m ____ £1150
2009 Yamaha YZF-R125, 12,509m _______ £1800
2009 Yamaha YZF-R6 600, 8521m _______ £4950
2010 Yamaha YBR125, 13,531m ________ £1050
2011 Yamaha YB125, 16,101m _________ £1000
2011 Yamaha YBR125, 6668m _________ £1250
2011 Yamaha WR125X, 13,242m ________ £2350
2011 Yamaha YZF-R125, 3260m ________ £2500
2012 Yamaha YBR125 Custom, 5412m ____ £1400
2012 Yamaha WR125X, 4831m _________ £1975
2012 Yamaha YZF-R125, 3896m ________ £2650
2013 Yamaha YBR125 Custom, 5593m ____ £1475
Buyer fee (+VAT) £72 up to £249 hammer, £100 £250-plus
BAWTRY MOTOR AUCTION
TUESDAY 17 FEBRUARY 2015
BAWTRY, SOUTH YORKSHIRE
01302 710333 www.bmar.co.uk
Another solid sale by Bawtry,
hammering down 69 bikes for a total
of £210,735. This was well above total
reserve (£183,950) and CAP Clean
(£202,070), despite 23 machines
being let go below reserve.
Two of the big-money sellers came
from Kawasaki. A 2012 1700 Voyager
claimed top billing at £8000 (below
reserve), and a 2012 ZX1000 took
£6750. Splitting the pair was a 2012
Moto Guzzi Stelvio at £7100.
2005 BMW R1200 GS, 52,450m_________ £3300
2006 BMW R1200 GS, 23,750m_________ £4500
2010 BMW S1000RR, 14,474m _________ £5550
2011 BMW S1000RR, 8317m __________ £3450
2013 BMW F800 GS, 4872m___________ £3675
2005 Ducati ST3 992, 33,144m _________ £2000
2014 Generic TR125, 0m _____________ £1050
2006 Harley-Davidson FXDBi, 2850m _____ £6100
2009 Harley-Davidson XL1200c, 16,163m __ £4800
2005 Honda CBR1000RR-5, 21,618m _____ £3650
2007 Honda CBR1000RR-6, 36,616m _____ £3450
2010 Honda CBF125MA, 9131m ________ £1250
2010 Honda NT700 VAA, 11,466m _______ £3700
2010 Honda CBR1000RRA, 7051m _______ £6000
2011 Honda CBR600 FAB, 8494m _______ £3200
2011 Honda CBR600 FAB, 8103m _______ £4125
2011 Honda VFR800X, 7810m _________ £4700
2012 Honda CBF125MB, 21,273m _______ £1100
2012 Honda NC700 XAC, 6393m ________ £3550
2013 Honda CBR125RD, 4267m ________ £2300
2013 Honda CB1100-AD, 2970m ________ £5900
1998 Kawasaki ZX600 G1, 30,893m ______ £1150
2006 Kawasaki Mean Street VN1600, 29,972m £3800
2007 Kawasaki ZX1000 D7F, 14,776m _____ £4400
2009 Kawasaki EX250 K9F, 1194m _______ £2150
2009 Kawasaki ZR1000 C9F ABS, 11,849m __ £4275
2010 Kawasaki EX250 KAF, 6449m _______ £2300
2010 Kawasaki KLE 650 Cafe, 9891m _____ £2850
2012 Kawasaki ZX1000 GCF, 8830m ______ £5500
2012 Kawasaki ZX1000 HCF ABS, 7130m ___ £6750
2012 Kawasaki Voyager VN1700 ABS, 2723m £8000
2012 Kymco Pulsar 125, 23,828m ________ £275
2012 Moto Guzzi Stelvio NTX 1200, 9180m __ £7100
2004 Peugeot Speedfight 50, 22,460m ______£75
2007 Piaggio X8 Premium, 5811m ________ £800
2010 Royal Enfield Bullet Electra EFi, 1434m _ £2000
2009 Sachs Madass 125, 94m ___________ £550
2014 Superbyke RMR125, 4367m ________ £425
1999 Suzuki Intruder VS800, 4204m ______ £2200
2001 Suzuki GSF1200 SK1, 30,799m ______ £1525
2006 Suzuki AN650 AK-6, 26,802m ______ £1300
2009 Suzuki D1 650 AK7, 7152m ________ £2650
2011 Suzuki GSX-R600 L1, 6250m _______ £5050
2012 Suzuki GSX650 FAL-2, 2060m ______ £3750
2013 Suzuki GSX650 F10, 1783m________ £3600
2013 Suzuki D1 650 A13, 7453m ________ £3850
2014 Suzuki Van Van RV125 L3, 1025m ____ £2100
2001 Triumph T312 Trophy 1200, 17,929m __ £1775
2004 Triumph Thunderbird 885, 13,821m __ £2950
2007 Triumph Tiger 955i, 45,376m _______ £2150
2009 Triumph Daytona 675, 10,864m _____ £4450
2011 Triumph Street Triple 675, 15,889m ___ £3850
2012 Triumph Speed Triple 1050, 9173m ___ £6125
2007 Yamaha Dragstar Classic, 20,483m ___ £3200
2009 Yamaha YP250R, 2550m _________ £1900
2009 Yamaha Midnight Star XVS950, 11,484m £3500
2010 Yamaha YBR125, 33,318m _________ £650
2010 Yamaha WR125R, 10,775m ________ £1800
2011 Yamaha WR125R ______________ £1050
2011 Yamaha YZF-R125, 10,004m _______ £2050
2013 Yamaha MT-03 660, 718m ________ £3750
2014 Yamaha Custom YBR125, 46m ______ £1250
2014 Yamaha YBR125, 654m __________ £1550
2014 Yamaha WR125R, 1654m _________ £2800
2014 Yamaha YZF-R125, 1651m ________ £3200
Buyer fee (+VAT) £72 up to £249 hammer, £100 £250-plus
AUCTION NEWS
2002 Aprilia 1000, 26,244m___________ £2050
2007 Aprilia Shiver SL750, 12,710m ______ £2350
2009 Aprilia Shiver GT SL750 ABS, 13,095m _ £2400
2012 Baotian Citi BT125 T-3A, 9755m ______ £160
BAWTRY Motor Auction Remarketing
(BMAR) has decided to postpone plans
to introduce two bike auctions a month
until 2016. Despite last year’s record
performance and an even better start
this year (132 bikes sold in January and
February including post-sale conversions,
up 9.1%), BMAR is playing the caution card.
Concern over volume sales potential and
the difficulty in obtaining stock are the
reasons. Said BMAR MD James Tomlinson:
“Last year we experienced an exceptional
year for motorcycles, selling more by
auction than any other company. Our mix
of good service, low fees and strong sales
results has made us popular with buyers
and sellers across the UK. While our sales
results are significantly up, we do not
believe that there is currently enough
volume in the market to support our
desired two auctions per month. We will be
monitoring volume this year and will make
a decision for 2016 later in the year. Our
target for 2015 is 1000 machine sales, and
we have some exciting new potential stock
supply lines which should see us smash that
figure.” Last year BMAR sold 893 machines,
approximately 95 per cent of them bought
by dealers. This moved BMAR into top slot
in terms of volume sales at auction. BMAR
holds its monthly motorcycle sales on the
third Tuesday of the month at its Bawtry,
South Yorkshire, permanent site. Details:
01302 710333 www.bmar.co.uk
SALE REPORTS
SILVERSTONE AUCTIONS Sunday 22
February 2015, Race Retro, Stoneleigh,
Warwickshire. World record for type
claimed here. A 1965 650 Triumph
Thruxton Bonneville made £21,938
including premium (top estimate £18,000).
It is number nine of only 52 examples
built, reports Silverstone. Also sold was a
1980 900 Ducati Mike Hailwood Replica
at £16,875 (top estimate £16,000). The
third motorcycle offered, a 1975 900 BMW
R90S (estimate £11,000-£12,000), did not
find a buyer. Silverstone reports a total
take of £3.62m at this classic car and bike
sale. Next sale: Saturday 23 May 2015,
Silverstone Circuit. Details: 01926 691141;
[email protected]
ANGLIA CAR AUCTIONS Saturday 7 March 2015,
King’s Lynn, Norfolk. Results have yet to be
declared. But ACA has released details of new
terms for 2015 bike sales. Entry fee £25, seller’s
fee 5% (minimum £50), buyer’s fee 7.5%. All
prices plus VAT. Trade
entries and buyers
welcome, says ACA’s
motorcycle specialist
Guy Snelling (07701
084692) who will
negotiate
terms
for multiple entries. ACA’s classic car sale on
Saturday 31 January included two 197cc
Scootacars, which made £28,350 and £22,060,
sensational results. ACA celebrates 20 years in
the auction trade this year.
SALE PREVIEWS
H&H Wednesday 15 April 2015, Duxford,
Cambridgeshire. Note new date. This
sale kicks off a triple bill of leading
classic auctions in April. This top-trumps
trio (H&H, Cheffins, Bonhams) brings a
worldwide audience to the UK. H&H’s bike
entry at the time of preview was up to 84
lots and counting, an impressive entry.
Race bikes, continental road bikes, several
lots at no reserve, and British and Japanese
favourites are levering interest. Exotic race
fare includes a 500 Linto twin (estimate
£90,000-£110,000). Details: George Beale;
07808 159149; www.handh.co.uk
CHEFFINS Saturday 25 April 2015, Sutton,
Cambridgeshire. Excitement has been upped
by more V-twin engines on the agenda and
a 1953 250 Phoenix JAP road racer built by
engineer, road racer and scooter manufacturer
Ernie Earles, of leading link fork fame. Thought
to be one of three. The engine is all-alloy dry
sump. Estimate: £6000-£8000. Latest entries
include seven British twins: Triumph 650 Trophy
models (1960, 1962, 1967, 1969), 1968 BSA
Lightning and Firebird; and a 1962 Norton Atlas.
Recent additions to the V-twin engine lineup are: 1929 980 JAP KT side valve (estimate
£5000-£6000), 1931 980 JAP KTW watercooled
sv (£5000-£6500), 1929 1210 JAP DTZ ohv
competition (£10,000-£12,000) and a 1928 1100
MAG inlet-over-exhaust watercooled (£8000£9000). Details: 01223 271971/07775 866166;
www.cheffins.co.uk
BONHAMS Sunday 26 April 2015, Stafford
Showground. Traditionally the biggest
grossing bike auction in the UK, this sale
could hit £0.3m with one bike. Namely a
1939 Vincent Rapide Series A (top estimate
£260,000). Throw in a 1926 Coventry Eagle
Flying 8 (£80,000-£120,000), 1930 Brough
Superior 680 Black Alpine (£70,000£100,000), other Vincents and Brough
Superiors plus pre-war four-cylinder and
V-twin American bikes and you have a sale
to appeal to the wealthiest of collectors.
But the sale also has plenty to offer for
entry-level enthusiasts. Details: James
Stensel; 0208 963 2817; www.bonhams.
com
ANGLIA CAR AUCTIONS, Saturday 4 July
2015, Kings Lynn, Norfolk. This is an extra date
bringing Anglia Car Auctions’ stand-alone bike
sales up to three in 2015 (compared to two
in 2014). The third is to be held on Saturday
19 September. Both will be held at ACA’s
permanent King’s Lynn site. Autojumblers are
being offered free pitches at these sales so long
as they are pre-booked. Details: 01553 771881;
[email protected]
UK AUCTION CALENDAR
14 APRIL 2015 TUESDAY
The Motorcycle Auction, Poulton-le-Fylde, Lancashire.
07557 338567; www.westcoast-auctions.co.uk
15 APRIL 2015 WEDNESDAY
H&H, Imperial War Museum, Duxford, Cambridgeshire.
01925 210035; www.handh.co.uk
21 APRIL 2015 TUESDAY
Bawtry Motor Auction, Bawtry, South Yorkshire.
01302 710333; www.bmar.co.uk
24 APRIL 2015 FRIDAY
BCA, BCA Site, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire.
01733 568881; www.british-car-auctions.co.uk
25 APRIL 2015 SATURDAY
Cheffins, Sutton, Cambridgeshire.
01223 271971; www.cheffins.co.uk
26 APRIL 2015 SUNDAY
Bonhams, Stafford Showground.
0207 468 5806; www.bonhams.com
12 MAY 2015 TUESDAY
13 MAY 2015 WEDNESDAY
Brightwells, Easters Court, Leominster, Herefordshire.
01568 611122; www.brightwells.com
19 MAY 2015 TUESDAY
29 MAY 2015 FRIDAY
BCA, BCA Site, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire.
31 MAY 2015 SUNDAY
Richard Edmonds, Castle Combe Circuit, Wiltshire.
01249 444544; www.richardedmondsauctions.com
9 JUNE 2015 TUESDAY
16 JUNE 2015 TUESDAY
20 JUNE 2015 SUNDAY
Bonhams, Oxford.
APRIL 2015
59
Auction results
Auction Results
UK statistics
Used Bikes
Used model Internet searches
Top Twenty February 2015
1. Honda CBR ________________________ 115,017
2. Suzuki GSXR ________________________ 81,598
3. BMW R1200 ________________________ 39,452
4. Yamaha YZF-R1______________________ 32,312
5. Yamaha YZF ________________________ 30,043
6. Yamaha YZF-R6______________________ 26,454
7. BMW S1000_________________________ 23,946
8. Yamaha MT _________________________ 23,557
9. Triumph Bonneville __________________ 22,499
10. Triumph Tiger _______________________ 20,624
11. Suzuki GSF Bandit ___________________ 19,853
12. Harley-Davidson Sportster _____________ 19,775
13. Ducati Monster ______________________ 19,770
14. Triumph Street Triple _________________ 17,334
15. Suzuki GSX _________________________ 17,230
16. Triumph Speed Triple _________________ 15,939
17. Triumph Daytona ____________________ 13,934
18. Kawasaki ER ________________________ 13,834
19. Kawasaki Ninja ______________________ 13,752
20. BMW F800__________________________ 13,653
February saw a big uplift in the volume of
searches, compared to January, despite, of course,
it being the shortest month and weather that
wasn’t exactly what you’d call balmy.
However, the uplift can be attributed to a
number of things. More people researching
their next bike ahead of the slew of new models
released in time for the March plate change, or
people just planning for the spring and getting
back out on something a bit different. Indeed, in
February, there were nearly 40,000 more searches
for the top 20 bikes than in January.
As ever, the Honda CBR dominated the list –
nearly 35,000 searches ahead of its nearest rival,
Suzuki’s range of GSXR superbikes. These hosted
more than twice the number of searches as the
perennially popular BMW R1200. Which itself
was ahead of the Yamaha YZF range. These four
ranges seem to be indelibly glued to the top of
the rankings every month. Which indicates that,
as a nation, the Brits seem to be fairly well into
their sportsbikes and the popularity of the BMW
R1200 is well known.
Further down the list, Triumph had a good
month, with five entries in the top 20, while
the third BMW – the F800 – just made the top
20, albeit in last place. There was also just the
one Ducati in the list – its iconic and massively
popular Monster, and just the one Harley – the
Sportster.
One way or another, it’ll be intriguing to
see, as the weather improves, how many more
searches there are and for which bikes.
James Richardson
AutoTrader Bikes staff writer
Demand for used stock on the increase
Retailers reported that enquiries and sales of
second-hand machines were picking up steadily and
in Glass’s survey 60% stated that consumer demand
was higher than last year. Feedback regarding used
stocks indicated a broadly level situation, with
dealers’ efforts to increase stockholding continually
undermined by the general public’s thoughtless
tendency to buy the machines as fast as they could
be put on the showroom floor.
Both traders and retail dealers regularly relate the
difficulty they encounter in trying to buy quality
second-hand motorcycles, either for cash or in partexchange. Even when making what they consider
to be a very strong offer, above guide trade, they
may be shocked to find themselves comprehensively
outbid by a competing retailer.
Anyone paying over book needs to have confidence
that any over-allowance can be recovered in the sale
60 APRIL 2015
price, otherwise their margin is eroded. However,
retailers cannot earn a profit selling floor space,
unless they have a sideline in property development,
so it may be necessary for them to accept a bit less of
something, rather than a lot of nothing.
This is especially true at the beginning of the
main sales season, when many retailers’ asking
prices are still closer to the winter level, before the
clocks go forward and longer, warmer days lend
confidence to asking and holding out for a higher
transaction price. This spring is certainly likely to
see the marking-up of price tickets.
This situation has heightened interest in the
relatively few motorcycle auctions that take place in
the UK each month, with their operators fighting
just as hard to secure a wide range of stock for each
event – some much more successfully than others.
These sales regularly see many of the biggest players
GOOD CHEER FROM FEBRUARY REGISTRATIONS
February figures were up 11.7% at 3939 units,
distorted, inevitably, by a high proportion of newseason manufacturer-inspired dealer demonstrator
registrations.
Motorcycles stacked on 25.5% to 2489 units.
Scooters rose by a more marginal 2.6% to 1002 units.
However, the moped sector disappointed once again,
falling by 20.7% to just 448 units.
Among style categories, a stupendous 49.1% surge
for Adventure Sport certainly has to be qualified by
aforementioned demonstrator deliveries. Top “seller” in
this slot was Yamaha’s new MT-09 Tracer. Apart from its
questionable classification, given that the faired MT is
hardly a part-time mud-plugger, most or possibly all of
those bikes were probably plated as sales tools.
This was confirmed by Ross Feltham, MD of
Midlands-based CMC Motorcycles, which has three
dealerships selling Yamaha. “A lot of dealers will
have put demonstrators on – it was a requirement
by Yamaha. The bike is selling well. There’s a sevenweek waiting list for two of the colourways – red and
graphite grey. That’s not ideal, but I’d rather be in that
situation than having a bike that people didn’t want.”
Feltham attributed the demand for the Tracer to its
fairing – attracting admirers of the Naked bikes who
want wind protection – and realistic pricing.
Other upbeat indicators were 41.9% and 21.1% gains
respectively in the Naked and Supersport categories,
led by small-capacity tackle – in these cases the
recently-launched Yamaha MT125 and established
Honda CBR125R.
Capacity-wise, the meatiest chunk was 1883
machines in the 51-125cc band, a 12.4% improvement.
But overall, bigger bikes were catching up, posting
25.2% growth at 1606 units. Within that, the 6511000cc band was strongest, rising by 59.1% to 630
units. For 2015 to date, across-the-board registrations have
increased 11.5% to a grand total of 8967 units.
in the used trade rubbing shoulders, with privilege
account cards in pocket, eyeing up both the lots
entered and the opposition, swapping honest
opinion, wild stories and indulging in some trash
talking. When the sale begins things get serious,
and even the shrewdest and most knowledgeable
can be seen taking a quick look at Glass’s Guide for
reassurance.
All attendees from the trade are keen to make their
often-long journeys worthwhile, so tend to want to
buy a couple of pieces early in the sale. After that the
urgency dies down, appraisals become more critical
and bid amounts tend to drop away. It can therefore
be well worthwhile staying right to the end of the
sale, especially if there are plenty of entries.
You just never know what bargains there may be
towards the end of the day’s trading.
UK statistics
Registration Data
New motorcycle and scooter registration figures for February 2015
2014 / 2013 Registrations by Style
MOPEDS
Feb 2015
Moped Scooters
Year to Date
Feb 2014
% Change
Feb 2015
Feb 2014
% Change
Highest Registering Model
by Style
Feb 2015
Registrations
416
512
-18.8%
936
1089
-14.0%
Direct Bikes DB50 QT-11
44
Moped Others
32
53
-39.6%
75
100
-25.0%
Rieju MRT50
5
TOTAL MOPEDS
448
565
-20.7%
1011
1189
-15.0%
Manufacturers by brand
Top Ten Feb 2015 (change from Feb 2014)
1. Honda ________________ 732 (+82)
2. Yamaha _______________ 517 (+92)
3. BMW _________________ 247 (+106)
4. Lexmoto _______________ 237 (+68)
5. Triumph _______________ 190 (+51)
6. KTM __________________ 164 (+43)
7. Piaggio _________________163 (-24)
8. Kawasaki ______________ 156 (+10)
9. Direct Bikes _____________137 (n/a)
10. SYM ___________________109 (n/a)
MOTORCYCLES
Adventure Sport
559
375
49.1%
1231
875
40.7%
Yamaha MT-09 Tracer
69
Custom
235
275
-14.5%
583
617
-5.5%
Keeway Superlight
27
Naked
863
608
41.9%
2007
1406
42.7%
Yamaha MT125
77
Scooter
1002
977
2.6%
2186
2111
3.6% Honda PCX125 / Honda NSC11WH
92 / 92
Sport/Tour
78
78
0.0%
185
211
-12.3%
Kawasaki Z1000SX
Supersport
390
322
21.1%
854
827
3.3%
Honda CBR125R
58
56
57
-1.8%
161
134
20.1%
BMW R1200RT
13
Trail/Enduro
299
266
12.4%
733
665
10.2%
KTM 450 EXC Factory Edition
14
Unspecified
9
3
200.0%
16
8
100.0%
TOTAL MOTORCYCLES
3491
2961
17.9%
7956
6854
16.1%
TOTAL EGISTRATIONS
R
3939
3526
11.7%
8967
8043
11.5%
Touring
2014 / 2013 Registrations by Capacity
ENGINE BAND
Feb 2015
0 - 50cc
Year to Date
Feb 2014
% Change
Feb 2015
Feb 2014
450
567
-20.6%
1023
1193
51 - 125cc
1883
1676
12.4%
3970
126 - 650cc
573
473
21.1%
651 - 1000cc
630
396
over 1000cc
403
3939
TOTAL REGISTRATIONS
% Change
Alternative-powered PTWs
Registrations by Style
MOPEDS
Feb 2015
Moped Scooters
Highest Registering Model
by Capacity
Feb 2015
Registrations
5
Moped Others
1
TOTAL MOPEDS
6
MOTORCYCLES
Adventure Sport
0
Scooter
1
Trail/Enduro
1
29
Supersport
0
Yamaha MT-09 Tracer
69
Unspecified
0
BMW R1200GS Adventure
54
TOTAL MOTORCYCLES
2
TOTAL REGISTRATIONS
8
Direct Bikes DB50 QT-11
44
3571
11.2% Honda PCX125 / Honda NSC11WH
92 / 92
1416
1223
15.8%
Honda CB650F
59.1%
1470
1092
34.6%
414
-2.7%
1088
964
12.9%
3526
11.7%
8967
8043
11.5%
Monthly Registrations Rolling Year Comparison
-14.2%
23
BMW SCRAPES INTO RECORD TERRITORY
The good news just keeps coming from BMW
Motorrad. In this issue we report all-time
record revenue and profit figures from the
German manufacturer in 2014, and that global
registrations continue to rise – up 15.2% in
January (6263/5438) and 13.5% in February
(9195/8101) of 2015.
The brand’s UK operation out-performed
that February surge with a 75% improvement
to 247 registrations, taking it to third in the
manufacturer’s league table.
The impression is that the brand is fast heading
in the direction of market domination, but a closer
look at the figures tells a different story.
While sales for the whole of last year were
at a record 6959, topping the 6705 achieved in
2010 before the downturn brought two years of
decline for the Bavarian brand, the company’s
market share was marginally lower in 2014 than
in 2010 (6.87%/6.99%).
However, with five new models for 2015 – the
F800R and R1200R Nakeds, the faired R1200RS
Sports Tourer, the much-praised S1000RR
Sports bike and its Adventure-Sport variant,
the S1000XR – it is hard to imagine that BMW
Motorrad’s sales and market share will not both
be telling the same positive story at this time
next year.
Registration statistics supplied by the
Motor Cycle Industry Association;
tel 02476 408000; www.mcia.co.uk
KAWASAKI
2-12 Bath Road, Bristol, BS4 3DR
EUROPE’S LARGEST GENUINE PARTS STOCKIST
SPARES
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e: [email protected] w: www.fowlers.co.uk/bdn
t: 0117 971 8840
f: 0117 977 4121
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Fowle
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APRIL 2015
61
International statistics
International
A
An analysis of the motorcycle and scooter market in France, by Ken Seaton
FTER six years of
watching their euros and
centimes French bikers
finally opened up their
wallets in 2014 as a mild winter and
spring persuaded them life was better
on two – or often three – wheels.
Sales of 125s were up by 1.3%
and big bikes by 3% and the market
steadied overall to 139,492 sales of
over-50cc machines.
It is a big fall since 2007 when
240,000 bikes were sold but industry
leaders were delighted to have good
news for a change, especially after
2013 which saw sales slump 14% .
Yamaha was the No 1
manufacturer, with sales up
20% to 28,725 bikes and
scooters, but the top seller on
the roads was the categorybursting Piaggio MP3 500, a
perennial Parisian favourite.
The Italian machine sold
6941 units with three-wheeler
sales soaring 23% above 2013
figures to 14,311. France was
the only European market to
have a trike in the top five.
Then again, no other
country has Parisian cobbles to
contend with.
Yamaha’s hot-to-trot X-Max
125 scooter was best twowheeler, with sales up 4.7% on
2013 to 5808 – a welcome sign
for dealers as smaller machine
sales had been falling year on
year (although 50cc models are
still suffering, down 7.3% to
98,000).
Top spot in the over-125
“gros cubes” big bikes also went
to Yamaha, with the new MT-07
roadster pulling its 180kg weight and
5691 buyers.
In all, Yamaha filled four of the
top ten two-wheeler slots, with the
T-Max 530 scooter coming in fifth as
it suffered from not being updated.
Sales slumped nearly 21% to 3489.
Next up in sixth was the MT-09
with 3080, confirming the rebirth of
Yamaha in 2014.
Kawasaki’s Z800 increased sales
by 14% to take third spot with 3578
although the ER-6 dropped 7.5%
to 3524, feeling the heat from the
Tel 01237 422660; Fax 01237 422661
Mayo Media Ltd, Caddsdown
Business Centre, Caddsdown
Industrial Park, Clovelly Road,
Bideford, EX39 3DX
62 APRIL 2015
MT-07. Big K kept its third place
in the market – behind Yamaha and
Honda – but slipped 5% to 11,705
sales overall.
One shock was the collapse in
Triumph sales by 12.5% to just 5147
bikes, Triumph coming in ninth
manufacturer overall. Speed Triple
sales plunged 38% and the Street
Triple fell 27% as the older models
lost out to the MT-07 and MT-09.
The Street R and classic ranges held
up, but it wasn’t enough for three
dealers, which closed during the year.
Despite having just one bike in
the top ten (the PCX125 in eighth
position with 2932), Honda was still
France’s No 2 manufacturer, with
sales down 4.3% to 20,623.
Honda’s CB500 also suffered from
not being updated, but the new
CB650 and VFR800F held up the
side, with the VFR grabbing 50%
of its market segment. However, not
even a late-season price cut of €4700
could help the CTX1300 make its
mark.
BMW was close behind Kawasaki
in fourth place with sales rising
12.8% to 11,638.
The R1200 RT was ninth best
seller, despite a recall over the bike’s
FRANCE
CAPITAL: Paris
POPULATION: 66,616,416
AREA: 246,201 square miles
GDP: £2.59tn
CURRENCY: Euro
MOTORCYCLE PARC: 3.4m
ESA suspension, and nudged the
GS into tenth place with 2163
sales against 2098 – although
1320 GS Adventures also sold.
Across the whole two-wheeler
market, France was Europe’s
No 1 with 251,502 sales –
including more than 98,000
50cc machines, led by the tiny
Peugeot Kisbee and Piaggio Zip
scooters.
The roadster market, with the
MT-07 in the lead, grew 11%
but supersports bikes flopped,
with sales down 30% .
For scooters, one in four over50cc sales was a three-wheeler
and Piaggio’s MP3 500 grabbed
nearly half of all three-wheeler
sales. With its siblings Yourban
300 and MP3 300 also selling
well, collectively they gave
Piaggio 9466 sales in total.
France is a singular market for
the MP3 500 as it now has more
than 70,000 on the roads since
it launched in 2006 – nearly half of
its global sales – and that means a
rich market in accessories, exhausts,
seats and covers.
However, their stability and
manoeuvrability has not gone
unnoticed and the home-grown
Peugeot Metropolis was second-best
seller with 1691 and Yamaha’s Tricity
lodged a marker for the future along
with its Tryptik clone from sibling
company MBK. Q
B&C EXPRESS tel 01522 791369 _____________20,21
BRADBURY BROS tel 01484 641073 _____________6
BRIDGESTONE www.bridgestonebikersclub.co.uk 17
CAN AM www.canamspyder.com _____________36
CAROLE NASH INSURANCE tel 0800 9549057 ______45
CATALYST COMPUTER SYS. tel 01162 301500 ______60
DEVITT INSURANCE tel 01708 385628 __________63
FOWLERS tel 0117 9778840 _________________61
GO CYCLE tel 0203 044 2120 _________________11
KOYO www.koyo.eu _______________________36
LARSSON UK tel 01536 265633 ________________4
LEXHAM INSURANCE tel 0845 607 6756 _________64
LEXMOTO & PULSE MOTORCYCLES tel 08445 678887 __5
LS2 HELMETS tel 01670 856342 ________________9
MAG EUROPE tel 0161 3374390 _______________23
MODE PERFORMANCE tel 01327 855999 _________44
MOTO DIRECT tel 01773 864420 ______________41
MOTO GB tel 0844 412 8450 __________________2
MOTOHART tel 0845 5277249 ________________14
MOTORCYCLE TRADE EXPO tel 01237 422660 _______1
OXFORD PRODUCTS tel 01993 862300 _____ 13,46,47
PARTS EUROPE tel +49 6501 9695 _____________15
PLATINUM BATTERIES EUROPE tel 0845 2233069 ___11
PRINCIPAL INSURANCE tel 0808 178 2977________31
PREMIER HELMETS www.premier.it ____________11
RACE FX tel 0845 450 1448 __________________27
RAMPDALE tel 01707 288441 _________________7
ROCK OIL tel 01925 636191__________________19
TEXA tel 01282 606 787 ____________________37
THE KEY COLLECTION tel 0117 9719200 _________29
THREE CROSS tel 01202 810100 _______________35
VE (UK) tel 01159 462991 ____________________3
The statistics in this article were supplied by the
CSIAM, the French equivalent of the Motor
Traders Federation. These are the figures preferred
by the French industry, and differ from those
supplied by ACEM.
ADVERTISING SALES
GROUP DIRECTOR
Andy Mayo: [email protected]
tel 01237 422660; 07780 857693
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April 2015 – Issue 170
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the complete directory for 2015

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