There’s been a lot of terrible news about the UK motorbike industry over the past few weeks, with dealerships seemingly closing left, right and centre. Is it indicative of larger problems for us bikers? I think it might be. It’s been a long time coming and I’m sure things have never been all that rosy… but let’s have a chat anyway.
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34 Comments
Britain is a very Anti Fun place full stop,anything that’s fun is either banned or legislated to the point where it’s not fun.
The real killer of motorcycles is the Emissions Regulations. Soon Combustion Engines will be banned.
Bikes, especially from the big 4, are too expensive, poor dealers and customer support. Not to mention insurance costs, Also, the new designs are pretty naff, I mean looks at the incoming CB1000, looks awful. However, should look more to RE, CF Moto, Benelli, without the British affliction of prejudice of anything that isn't Japanese. I beg to differ about younger riders not taking up riding. However, the licensing regime and costs do work against them
To be fair most of the dealerships that have closed, have not been good dealers
I’ve been riding bikes from the age of about 10. Started on my mate’s family farm and then was obviously indoctrinated to take to the roads when I was 16 on a Garelli Tiger. Now 65 and have never been without a bike in the garage, so I’ve seen trends fluctuate over those years but have to say that it does now seem that something gloomy is ahead.
We seem to becoming more nannied and steered to becoming ‘socialist’. When the majority of the nation is having to count the pennies in order to get by on a day to day basis they’re not going to have much sympathy for those who can afford motorcycles, which seem to now have become a luxury… like many other things that were not generally seen as a luxury, when the powers that be make their moves to make it even more expensive and difficult to do. The masses have their own problems to worry about and it won’t include sympathy for anyone with a few quid to spend, even if those who can spend a few quid have had to save for their purchase; they’ll still be seen to have too much money if they can afford the luxury of a motorcycle just for pleasure. It’s different if it’s a main mode of transport, a small bike for commuting or working.
My bike is now purely for pleasure and does most of its miles on the south side of the English Channel. I pay some stupid amount of road tax for it every year but it hardly sees the crazy UK roads (yes, the roads, including the standard of driving, in the UK are also terrible). Insurance premium is nuts despite my riding history and qualifications. We get one life, so I’m going to live mine my way, even if it costs. One thing I am glad for, is that I seem to have enjoyed the best period of time for motorcycling. Like many things, they seem to be getting less pleasurable. I’ve said it for a few years now… backwards is the new way forwards!
It isn’t so much the price of new bikes that would put me off, it is the electronics and inability to carry out home servicing.
I don’t think most of us buy new bikes but even the second hand market is slow. A lot of people can only afford a second bike on a finance deal through the likes of Superbike factory! The industry is definitely changing
Destination Triumph in Bramley, Guildford has now been flattened Tim.
Housing being built there now.
Passed it the other day.
😢
We recently bought a new RE Meteor and had very poor experience through both local Iron City dealerships. A friend recently went to look at Harleys at one of said Iron City dealerships, he managed to do a full lap of the showroom and eventually left with no interaction from staff. I had the same experience at Triumph Newcastle when looking for a Bobber a while ago. With the industry struggling, it blows my mind that the three of the larger dealership in the area offer poor sales service. It's not all bad up here though, I've had great experiences with Tom Conway of Durham and M&S in Newcastle.
Weathers terrible, the roads are like the surface of the moon, bikes are too expensive, insurance & restrictions for young riders is insane, cops do nothing about bikes getting pinched, I could go on
Enjoyed your chat
People need to understand these are symptoms of Communism. Its not just bikes, its absolutely everything from building materials to food. this is all about making us broke and reducing our freedoms until the point where we literally have nothing. Bikes represent true freedom, therefore by definition it is a primary target just as with the car industry. You will own nothing and be happy Wake the fk up chaps.
Prices are too ridiculous
I live around the corner from the Lind Harley garage that closed a few weeks ago in Reading. It always seemed a lively, well visited shop with music nights during the summer months which were well attended. I’m not a Harley rider, I have a street triple 765, a ‘95 vfr750 and a ’74 Suzuki ts185. Being 66 years old my insurance is pretty cheap and I don’t do many miles, so they’re an affordable indulgence for me. Younger guys probably couldn’t afford to do it.
I recently bought a new CFMoto 800MT Sport from P&H Motorcycles, in Crawley, on PCP. Cost was £6799 OTR; I put down a deposit of £1000 which gave me monthly payments of 67 per month for 4 years. As a retired person it was the only way I could afford a new (or used) bike.
2 weeks after picking it up I booked the first service with P&H for 4 weeks hence. The week before I was due to have the service I saw on FB that P&H were no longer CFMoto dealers. A phone call to them confirmed this so for warranty purposes they couldn’t service my bike. The nearest dealer I could find was 60 odd miles away.
I’ve just been told P&H are no more….. not sure how true that is???
This is all very sad to hear, as when I was starting bikes it was so much easier to do and easily affordable .
My biking career ended up with me riding a 1971 Triumph Tiger which cost me 1,600 as a non runner. I fixed it up and rode it around for 15 years. No MOT needed, no road tax to pay and the insurance was £70 a year. It was my dream bike when I was 15 years old, and I absolutely loved it from start to finish. Truthfully I just had no way to afford an expensive machine, but I didn't want to give up bikes, so as I'm handy with the spanners, this worked for me, and I found it a great pleasure to look after it.
What do you know about Jesus Bro? Do you know He is God and you will bow your knee to Him some day? Better check it out, Hell is waiting..
I haven't bought a new bike for a few years because manufacturers aren't making bikes that I want to buy. I like my sports bikes. I really wanted a new Gixxer 750, but you can't get them any more so I bought one second-hand instead. I want a bike that's exciting and fun to ride, fully faired, and not too much in the way of electronic nonsense dumbing the experience down. I can get a new R1 or Fireblade, but with all the rider aids and stuff they're adding now, the prices have been pushed sky-high. I'd happily buy a cheaper bike without all that stuff on, if there was one available.
I went for a 765 RS 2024 £11,650 from A1 moto Added few extras over the summer heated grips and evotec grill/ plate holder 3 months after passing A license £377 year fully comp as well, lets hope A1 dont shut down
I was planning to make a return to biking after a 20+ yr break. A fortnight ago I went to see my nearest Royal Enfield dealer (Edinbugh) with a view to booking a test ride only to find it had gone into administration 2 days before. I was gutted.
Completely just threw a grenade in the room and walked away leaving everyone else to pay for what they did . Directors and banks will be just fine. Anything you buy from a dealership now will cost more because of there actions.
Beautiful bike the MT10 (tongue in cheek)
I've been motorcycling since I was knee high to a grasshopper, and have been a member of an Italian motorcycle club since 1989. At that time the average age of a club member was 35 years old. Now 35 years later the average age has almost kept pace with my own, it's now 60. Club rallies and events are now exclusively attended by grey haired and bald old men…
In ten years there will be no one left…
I've been riding m/bikes for 55 years and I've never even considered buying a new one or ever considered buying a new car either. Just seems like financial madness to me. My insurance is circa £120 FC…. I remember articles in motorcycle magazines over 10 years ago talking about high level european governmental policy deeming M/C's being inherently dangerous and how they were to be sanctioned/regulated away and out of use….
Nope we will always have crazy bikes in the USA.
Dropping testosterone levels are to blame.
I have been on motorbikes for the last 22 years and own a 650, never had any claims or dramas yet when I came to renew the insurance on my other bike a pcx 125 Hastings who i was with suddenly shit the bed and say they cant insure me anymore. all these thieving teenagers are causing havoc, I think the pcx must be one of the most stolen bikes in the uk right now and all it takes to fix the problem is some actual bloody policing
Yes – because an EV is far more efficient and cost far less to run. Doesn't slip on leaves.
Tim , Just look at whats happening in the Caravan industry , bikes are going the same way, Manufactures dont give a damn about dealers !!.
It's the traction limit and geometry limit of motorcycles that make them dangerously incompetitive compared with cars. Once upon a time an RD350 was more than enough.
I'm Buying a second hand bike.
It's hundred and fifty miles away.
Dealership has great customer feedback.
Paid a £300 deposit using a Credit card.
They wanted me to pay the outstanding balance.
With Bank transfer
Before I took delivery of it.
Told them that Well known motorcycle dealers were going bust.
I said no I'll pay the balance when I come and pick the bike up.
They agreed to this, if they hadn't I would have asked for my deposit back.
I rode a 2023 and 2024 modern BMW several weeks ago. I found absolutely NOTHING that would justify the price of this bike over a used motorcycle, which provided more reliability, more stability, easier maintenance, and no idiotic electronic "improvements". Maybe bike manufacturers should start to look at attracting youth and making more affordable rides, instead of clamoring for the affluent weekend warrior.
Cost of bikes, servicing, parts, expensive toys now, all electric will finish it off. I think.
super well said mate. Great points made very clearly and succinctly! Think is also that there is very little that really excites me currently. Have test ridden lots of bikes from different brands and all seem too underpowered to really enjoy (odd I know, but coming from years on a blackbird heavily modded, putting out 200whp!). I am looking forward to a new model 2025 goldwing (hopefully!) and/or the new 2025 Yamaha R9. Have a HD fatboy too, heavily modded and current fatboys are so pedestrian in comparison, the 117 breakout was a bit more lively, but would most need a big bore kit to be exciting. Anyway, fun times!
I think your headline has some truth, but much of your logic misses the mark.
Having helped 2 sons get through their tests and purchase bikes in the last 2 years, it certainly is difficult to pass tests for the youth of today. And the cost of insurance can be frightening. But I don't think these are the reasons, The youth of today simply isn't turned on my motorcycles, I have no idea why, but they just don't 'get it'.
I also suspect looking at the attendees at motogp Silverstone the last few years, the age group continues to increase.
I think you're wrong on cost of ownership:
There are so many excellent budget bikes available for under 10k, in fact I think we've spoilt for choice. You certainly don't have to sink down to Royal Enfield levels for a decent value bike (how to wind up RE owners) (Look at the new Honda CB1000 Hornet thingy, 9k, what a bargain
Second hand bikes hold their values so well that in the last 5 years, I have been able to buy new bikes for almost as cheap as used.
Insurance costs can be stupid if you buy the wrong bike and don't know how to look for deals, but this has been the case for many many years. (I hear from sons friends and work colleagues, eye watering car insurance prices, but it doesn't stop them buying cars (or perhaps it does)).
I suspect that too many bike shops are now managed by a second generation and either fail due to poor management or motorcycle enthusiasm (Certainly the 2 shops gone in my local area are a combination of both). Additionally, 'switched on' bikers can use this thing called the internet and shop around.
People who moan about servicing (several in the comments already), may I suggest they invest in all the equipment, training, overheads etc and see how cheap it is. Or even better, do the basic ones yourself.
I am on many forums for my current and previous bikes as well as those now owned by my sons and I see the same stupid questions asked over and over and over again:
What's the best tyre, ive bought this bike and they want xxx£ insurance and so on.
We live in an age where taps have to say 'hot water', Haynes Manuals (RIP too) urge readers not to drink battery acid… And people enjoy Rings of Power and Mrs Browns Boys…