Arguably the market leader in each category has disappeared over the past 12 month. With big new bikes more expensive than new cars, top dollar accessories and replacement bike gear that is a luxury rather than essential and hardly any new and young riders coming through into biking what needs to happen in the industry for biking to survive? George White - Bikes Frank Thomas - Clothing Motrax - Accessories Phoenix Distribution - Helmets etc V&J Superbikes - Bikes What are the knock on effects of George White closing? They had such dominance in the biking world and spent a huge amount on advertising. They must have created thousands of bike owners (and more importantly, new bike owners & first timers). Probably due to their deals and advertising. Where will these potential owners now go? Will they go anywhere? How much market share did they have? Some will go elsewhere. Many will go nowhere. How will this effect manufacturers? What about manufacturers of ancillary products. R&G Racing for example. No new bikes sold = no new products sold. Arai distribution. What next for Arai in the UK? Hein Gericke, the largest bike clothing chain in the UK no longer stocking Arai - crazy. But who spends £500-£700 on a shiny lid these days? What about all the other nice stuff that Phoenix imported? Yoshimura. X-Lite. Pinlock. Will anyone bother picking up the distribution for these brands, knowing that they have already failed with Phoenix? I know it sounds like doom and gloom (and it is) but what do WE the bikers want or need? Is it a 2012 model that is barely different to the 2008 model? But an extra £6k for US to find to buy it? Or is it something else... What about warranty? 24 months on a £12k machine is a piss take! Come on manufacturers, look at car manufacturers. Many offering a 7 year+ warranty for free. That sells new cars. Offer me a 7 year warranty on my next new bike. Clothing. Why do I need to spend nearly £1000 on a decent waterproof set from HG? Are you mad?! I like it but the price is just crazy. Their Goretex suits must carry an insane margin. Rukka, likewise, £1200 on a decent suit. Come on manufacturers, get your thinking caps on. Sort something out otherwise you are certain to join the list above. Do something radical. /rant over.
Bike manufacturer's need to get their act together regarding warranty I feel. with many cars now coming with 5 or 7 years. ALso the search for power (which I like) comes at a price with MPG, emissions ect... which don't effect many like my self who only use the bike as a toy/weekend fun. Re clothing, how much is your skin worth. I paid £1900 for my BKS 2 piece. Would I spend that money on it again. YES. If I have the cash. You have a huge choice with clothing and if you want to spend £200 or £2000 is up to you. I feel leathers, good gloves, back protector, boots and lid are worth while. A bit worrying yes with the amount of shops/dealers closing but other place will take their place. katch AKA chris at cleavdon motorcycles only opened a shop 3 years ago in Neilsea and since has taken over at clevedon motorcycles due to good customer service and keen prices. All this doom and gloom is great for him. less so for us when it comes to choice. I feel give it time and the companys that make a effort to look after themselves financially as well as customers will prevail just my thoughts
I agree with you on these points, it is being made harder and harder for people to get a bike license, Bikes are demonized by most people as dangerous, unsafe a menace to society with this kind of bad press who wants to get a bike or keep one. I like everyone here appreciate quality equipment, you do get what you pay for, but the margins of profit do seem huge on some brands, we do have some very switched on dealers out there, we have several on this forum who are giving us good deals, help and advice and I think these kind of dealers are the ones who will do well in this environment and I thank them for this. We need more people like this willing to make less of a margin while times are bad to retain there customer base for when (if) prosperity returns.
MOTORCYCLES RIDER TEST PASSES: 2008/09 : 70,000 2009/10 : 26,000 Source: Motorcycle Industry Association
Was reading this the other day found it interesting 'Proposed Motorcycle licence changes So whats this all about? More European interferance? If the UK government backs proposals from Europe that would make it more difficult, costly and take many more years to obtain a full motorcycle license it would have a dramatic impact on the whole UK motorcycle industry.The key proposals are:The minimum age for riding motorcycles larger than 125cc is likely to rise from 17 to 19 Direct Access to larger motorcycles will not be allowed until the age of 24 (currently 21) There will be new categories of motorcycle licence created, which will mean two-year “steps� between motorcycles of different engine size Riders will have to take another motorcycle test between steps. For full details visit the Motorcycle Industry Association for full details and use their links to lobby your MP and MEP. The direct link to the page is Motorcycle Industry Association Campaign PageThe letter that the site sends to your MP/MEP is as followsear Recipient,Third European Directive on Driver LicensesAs one of your constituents, I am writing to protest about European plans to change the provisions for gaining a motorcycle licence and to ask you to support calls for the Government to make effective use of the UK’s Presidency of the EU to put a stop to EU proposals. These proposals are not based on researched road safety evidence and are unlikely to contribute to road safety. The effect of the proposals will be to discourage people from taking up motorcycling and discriminate against the use of motorcycles as a low-polluting and zero-congesting alternative to the car.In particular I am angry about plans to raise the age of access to bikes bigger than 125cc from 17 to 19 and plans for a second motorcycle test on medium-powered machines as a route to a licence for large motorcycles. The effect of this change will mean that riders aged 17-19 working some distance from home may no longer have the option of motorcycle or scooter use, as 125cc machines will not have an adequate performance for these journeys.In a letter to the Motor Cycle Industry Association the Minister of Transport, Stephen Ladyman, says: “I share your concerns ..[and].. am concerned by the plans for staged access for motorcycles which would require a two year gap between categories. In effect this would raise the minimum age of access to medium sized machines from 17 to 19 in the UK. There is no road safety case for this proposal, and I recognize the problems it would cause motorcyclists and the motorcycle industry.�I am also concerned about the increase of the Direct Access age from 21 to 24. Research shows that it is not the age of access to motorcycles which is the key factor in motorcycle safety but the amount of experience that riders gain. The Directive does not address longer-term rider training issues, merely discriminates against riders and discourages motorcycle use. It does appear that the EU is becoming excessively cautious with regard to motorcycle licensing, particularly when compared to other activities that the Members States may require of its citizens aged 17-24 (for example military service). British support for such measures would be at odds with the UK Government’s own National Motorcycle Strategy which talks about ‘mainstreaming’ motorcycling in UK transport policy.In addition, our contacts with police are already finding that unlicensed riding and driving are on the increase and adding yet further complexity to motorcycle licence conditions can only multiply the number of riders “opting out� of the licensing process. As far as enforcement is concerned the same contacts advise that the existing motorcycle licence rules are already too complex for the non specialist officer to understand. The result of the new directive will be more largely unenforceable legislation, to the detriment of respect for the law.I ask for your support in persuading Ministers to take a stronger line in support of motorcycling in the UK and to oppose European plans to make getting a motorcycle licence more difficult and expensive. Yours sincerely,
I often question this with the likes of Suzuki and Honda choosing to keep their bikes pretty similar to last years models etc does this mean they will stop ploughing money into developing newer and better models. Their is usually a flagship Market leading bike that I desire but lately I'm more than happy with what I have and would never consider swapping! I agree on the kit side of stuff to the prices are steep I just wait for a good bargain!
