I agree, it’s almost impossible to get insurance for a sports bike if you live in any major city as criminals are allowed to operate freely with no consequences and police don’t do anything to prevent it
I work for a well known German Car manufacturer and went to their Motorcycle division to test ride the 1000RR....only to be asked"How much are you spending?". Walked straight out,went to HONDA when they released the Fireblade SP, salesman I spoke to simply said" Come here in about 40 minutes it's still out on test at the moment,just bring your licence and you can take it out for as long as you want ".
I used to do work for a company, and the secretary phoned me one day to say come in and demand your money. Things were looking shaky and she knew my invoices would not be honoured. Within days they had gone bust. Businesses do not go down overnight. There must be weeks, months probably, when the writing is on the wall and they're still trading knowing the receivers are hovering.
@@borderlands6606 I'd say YEARS in this case. From what I've seen so far (which ain't much), this company was destroyed by a dew executives, probably in the name of quarterly bonuses.
I had a business owner order a set of tyres from me for his Ferrari. He wanted them the following day. One of his workers came round to me and tipped me off that they were closing down due to bankruptcy. Obviously he never had his tyres. Trust no one when it comes to money.
I often used Hamilton's of Streatham and got to know the spares bod pretty well. He talked me out of bringing my bike in to the workshop and to do the job myself. Which I could, I was just lazy. The plan was that they'd MOT it at the same time. I ordered a bunch of stuff which he let me have up-front on the Friday so I could get on with the job. On Monday when I went to pay, they were shut. On Tuesday, there was a notice up that they'd ceased trading. He obviously knew and spared me from getting my bike trapped as well as getting parts for free...
Best way I've always stayed local dealers best service plus they won't rip u off doing any work, padgetts as 4 brand dealer in Yorkshire their motorbikes racing and genuine care to bikers is well respected. I've always been Honda or Suzuki rider Castles honda excellent dealer in Castleford so is York Suzuki Centre.
@@gavinmurrell3415 I second this - have bought several bikes, gear, services etc from Orwell over the years. Brilliant all round. Can't fault them, unlike some other dealers in the area whose name I won't mention.
We've all been to motorcycle meets, race meetings etc, its not bikes and dealerships we're running out of its us, riders, no or very little new blood coming into motorcycling.
@@snox7320 I've been helping a 17 year-old get started in motorcycling. He lives in outer London and has been quoted over £2k to insure a £2k 125 cc bike. It's impossible to get started in motorcycling now.
Totally agree mate, just passed my mod 2 today in Wakefield age 56. Think it will only get worse over the winter period. It is mega expensive nearly £1000 all in to go direct access route, most youngsters can’t afford or would rather get a car.
, yeah I got my first bike in 1978 cb50j moped went everywhere on it snow, rain didn't matter loved it, less cars then tho, people in cars still don't think bike, it's just to dangerous now sadly.
This is happening all over the country, my local dealer whent into receivership last weekend, KAWASAKI , RE and SUZUKI, 50 years they have been trading, Large dealer in Crawley has gone as well. The country is economically dying, motorcycle dealers are just the tip of the iceberg.
@@nigeldalrymple4099 Groombridge closed on the 28th September. Landlord upped their rent making the business unviable. Rumours that something may be happening at P&H which might become a Superbike Factory.
Well said Ray. Took a walk down my local Main Street on a Friday night. It used to be so popular with pub punters and clubbers. Not only would the pubs be packed, but the streets would be busy too. It would be a mission trying get to the bar to get a drink. But not anymore, streets quiet and pubs half empty. Hard to see how they can survive.
Planet Ponzi shows it's hand. Debt fuelled acquisition binges work well when markets are rising and credit conditions are loose. That game has hit the wall. Whether it is motorcycles or anything else, I would not pre-order anything. You are right, stick with small independently owned businesses and don't go down the finance path, just buy what you can afford and make sure it's on the shop floor when you buy it.
I moved to Spain from England in 1989, to get better riding weather!!! It's a no brainer. Sorry to hear things are so bad in the UK right now. In Spain, sales of bikes are growing overall with adjustments to sales depending on CCs and certain types of bikes. Scooters still doing well and Big and small silly trailies also everywhere. Doesn't look like Spain is gonna be affected. . At least not yet. Fingers crossed
Who remembers Coburn & Hughes back in the 70's ? They went bust because although they sold tons of bikes, the margins were tiny as they tried to undercut all other dealers. This was made worse by the fact that most buyers just bought the bike and nothing else like gear & servicing etc. History repeats itself it seems !
First in crawley road, then moved up to moor street right opposite to my tool making company. Somewhere in the story they built an enormous showroom in park street opposite bejams, running all the way to vicarage street. They must have been booming then but i must admit despite attending the university right next door i rarely went in and walked around like i had when they were in crawley road, whoes carpark was the site of the RAC/ACU motorcycle training ground for the town. Before it too moved to the carpark off vicarage street under the flyover bypass. Good days of old bikes, new bikes, massive moped numbers,250 tests, weekends away in cornwall as groups etc. 3 deaths of friends on bikes in 77 alone.
yes indeedy. I got a Honda 400 Hondamatic brand-new from them for just £399 - less than half price...! About 12 years later, I sold it for more than I paid...
I think this is exactly why the likes of RE and CF MOTO are doing much better. There bikes are accessible to the average person, on average wages. The main players really need to look at their astronomical prices. The market of people buying them must be tiny in reality. I think it all contributes to the decline of motorcycling in general, it’s becoming unaffordable. Just my humble opinion of course.
I bought a lexmoto rss 125 new in 23. After 2k miles, the tft went bust, replaced that ok. After 4k miles, the engine went bust and they had to put a NEW engine in there and I was out of my motorcycling for 28 days!! I would never ever buy chinese crap again. I got a new gsx-8s a month ago.
Couldn’t agree more. The flash days of loads of money around are long gone. The Asians are going to clean up with cheap, good value, bikes whilst everyone else goes under.
Donkeys years ago I worked for a small independent motorbike shop part time ( mechanic ) and I remember the boss saying we’ve been invited to become a main dealer for ‘ I won’t name the brand but I imagine they are all the same’ . Wow I thought we gonna be posh 😂😂😂 but then as time went on he looked into it more and the level of debt he would have to take on to ‘decorate the shop’ the amount of debt in special tools etc but mostly ( and this where the figures got really silly ) spares and then the actual stock … you have to buy a certain amount of ‘all models’ and order and commit ‘the year before’ and depending how many you order is what discount you get ( that’s your profit margin ) …. Needless to say he stayed a very small scale independent bike shop . So today when you see dealers going bust ( remember bikers are a dying breed , more dying /retiring than taking their licence today ) and manufacturers now churning out £34,000 toys , with voge and cf moto selling the same things for less than 1/3price … that leaves dealers not manufactures holding the baby
There is a local shop near to me who has been a franchised dealer for over 25 years with a great showroom on a main road, but that Japanese Manufacturer’s UK Head Office wanted them to have a new huge glass/stainless steel showroom in a new location it would have cost in excess of £1.5m, the owner in his mid 50’s didn’t want to invest that amount at his time of life. They dropped the franchise but took on the franchise of another Japanese motorcycle company in the same premises.
@@MindfulMotorcyclist It's the same with the car dealers, this insane push for EV'S that nobody wants it's all about control and getting us all off the roads period,... research agenda 2030, if you don't know.
Nice comment Yes I’ve heard exactly that , the dealer has to meet certain standards ie interior items promoting the brand. Bottom line is now bikes are stupid prices. I always pay by credit card. That way you’re protected. If the shop or dealer doesn’t take credit cards I walk away.
Read that and felt thankful for you, I only found this out today, my bike has been in their workshop for a month almost being repaired under warranty, the bike is too far away for me to just march up to their doors and ask for it back so i'm quite worried i'll never see it again...
British law always leaves loopholes for Company owners, aided by their lawyers, to jump through and continue on with no redress, no accountability. Why? Because the ministers own lots of companies and so do their mates.
Whilst I accept this does happen, it isn't true for the large majority of business owners who lose their investment, their income, their legacy in a business failure.
In Scotland we've just lost Saltire Motorcycles, a great dealership that will be much missed. IMO the motorcycle industry is struggling and the manufacturers are not willing to share the pain. While we like to complain about main dealers the truth is the bike companies screw the dealers at every stage, setting unrealistic sales targets and excessive charges for showroom décor, computer systems, training, special tools and much more
and you also lost a 2 site dealer earlier in Dundee/Aberdeen, I traded remotely with them last year and could not understand why they were so generous selling to me, I was on edge till I saw it and it was truly magnificent so I guess they were clutching at any money available!
Very true, I do know that Enfield provide a whole dealership outfitting including furniture and banners and everything you can imagine for free. That's the way it should be...
Saltire closed down before I could get a first service ! came as a big shock to me. BUT folk who have been mentioned here and have lost money is criminal. This is worse than GUTTED. Nowadays folk can not afford to recover from this.
I believe they're also trying to charge far far too much for a bike. When I bought my last (06 gsxr750 in 2006) I paid about £5300. And at that price people could generally afford to have what is for most people essentially a toy.... Now days most people need a mortgage to buy something. They're no longer affordable toys.. I commute in a bike everyday. I saw the price of a new BMW (not the top spec by a looooooong way) over 16k !!! Wtf? I live alone and earn a good wage. But 16k? Na I'll stick with the gixer until it goes no more.
Saltire weren’t very good. They had only a few years ago gone into administration again too. A lot of people lost money. They came out of administration pre packed and continued to trade. A couple of years back,I bought a bike that I had to wait over a month for them to prep but when I got there for handover the Speedo glass was smashed. I complained and said I’d rather have waited a little longer for the bike to be right. Anyway I took ownership of it, 8 miles up the road and the sprag clutch went, i had to push it 2 miles home, then had it recovered but had to wait another month for refund. (Wasn’t given the option to repair) Since then, I’d been in a couple of times looking for a particular bike, that had then be sold and never offered an alternative (more order taking than sales) For example they recently had a bsa gold star new for £4300. I enquired on it, was told there was a couple that had been sold and was told thanks for coming in. I should have been asked “have you heard of the great financing deals on the 24 model years” you know actually sold something…
I visited the Hinckley branch on Saturday and was surprised it was closed for a stock take. Apparently not! When you have thousands of bikes sitting there and not selling, this is inevitable. Poor management and people can not afford expensive bikes at the moment.
Shen the sign says "Closed for stocktake" they are correct! The brand supplier is collecting the stock! The dealership works on a 3 or 6 month floorplan/financial plan which means the stock must be paid for at 3 or 6 months depending on the brand. A machine must be paid for by the dealer after it is retailed. So if the market place is slow, and there are no sales then the dealer has to pay for the unsold stock. That is when these dealerships fold overnight. Too much unsold stock, no customers buying, posh large showroom = dealer into the bank for a lot of money.
i think people can afford bikes but they cant afford to insure/repair or replace them. i know many people who have had bikes stolen or people reverse or just straight up crash into parked bikes and do thousands of damage. its just not worth it, state of the roads in the uk as well will smash your bike to pieces.
I often look at bikes forsale on Ebay etc.. And was always surprised by how much Completely where asking for their bike. Way over priced machines that would not sell and deprecate even more. Really badly run business which has caused misery for ordinary bikers.
The problem is ,it costs an arm & a leg to get a full motorcycle licence these days . Back in the day , you bought a new or used small capacity bike on a provisional licence , rode it about for a while with L plates , took a test costing buttons for a full licence . Also the insurance on small bikes for 17 year was a few quid a year even fully comp . Now it’s probably cheaper for a 17 year old to get a full car licence . If it wasn’t for Indian & Chinese built motorcycles & fast food delivery , motorcycling would be even further on the way out . & many more dealers in the hands of the receiver .
@@MindfulMotorcyclist That’s ridiculous , even in the 1980’s when they stated a two part test . Part 1 in a car park or school yard around cones cost about 15 quid & then part two on road on bikes up to 125 cc 12 hp .also costing about 15 quid . If you wanted to take say 4 lessons ( not compulsory ) another 30 quid total 60 quid to get a full licence . Or just 30 quid without lessons using your own L plated 125 or less bike to get full licence for any bike . Insurance was a hell of a lot cheaper too in relation to the cost of living . New riders are finding it totally prohibitive to obtain a full licence & even insurance for a poxy small capacity bike these days , The governments & the EU are not helping matters either .
Passed last month. Cost just over £1000 (and a lot of time investment) to get the full A licence, £1000 in safety gear, £2900 on a used SV650, £275 insurance, £120 on tax, £200 on trickle charger, paddock stand, etc. It is a considerable outlay and I cannot be sure if I will find it enjoyable. Oh, i'm also obligated to display 'R' plates for 12 months, despite not being restricted...
Yep, took my test in 1976 when I was 18. You could ride a 250 as a learner then, as long as you had your provisional licence, insurance, and the bike was mot'd if it needed it you could just slap your L plates on and wobble off down the road. And some of those Jap 250's that were around then were bloody quick. A year later I was riding around on a Norton 850 Commando. Life was so much simpler then for anyone getting into bikes.
@ASI-l2w Yea the good old days , I stared riding on road in 1971 . It was a one part test on road , & a few Highway Code questions to gain a full licence . No CBT needed to ride on provisional on L plates , also you could ride anything from 50 to 250 cc on provisional or larger if side car attached . Insurance was dirt cheap , especially on bikes up to 100 cc which could be used for test back then. We were given the keys by the dealer , told to ride up & down the road a couple of times to get used to the bike , & then out into the busy town traffic , & left to get on with it , no CBT, we didn’t even need to wear a helmet . My first insurance was £6•50 p fully comp proper leaded fuel about 40 p a gallon . Total rip off now too many tests & costs involved , although I agree the CBT is a good idea for those new to the road in charge of a vehicle .
Anybody remember Carnell and Motorcycle City a few years back? You can almost predict it given the way they were buying dealerships. The directors have been in the motor trade for quite a few years and the reputation is less than squeeky clean. I live close to the area that you were riding (Ledbury, Ross on Wye) and you are surprisingly close to where some of the directors come from! I feel sorry for the customers, staff and the BSB team. Very sad times given the state of UK motorcycling at the moment.
I worked at motorcycle city!! 😂. It was a fun couple of years but total chaos, I quit in summer 2002 and went bk to school, which was a good idea because they shut about 6 months later
Yup, I remember Carnell bringing in hard to get Ducatis directly from Europe, bypassing the UK importer. Ducati threw its toys out and refused to honour warranties. I know because I bought one of their 600SS 😇 I also remember Motorcycle City in Farnborough being a big player in its day. Now both are long gone!
Very good video this. Harley Davidson are struggling. Some bikes are over £40,000 new, not selling, poor product line and over £200/hour service costs. Second hand prices are tumbling. Classics aren't making what they did, and auction fees and commissions are extortionate. It's the start of a perfect storm. Small independants will, and deserve to, survive but a lot of the 'big box' dealerships will go to the wall due to prices, overheads etc. Big reset coming.
Nor my 23 year old FLSTF. In fact the older Harleys in nice condition and low mileage are sought after as the new ones apart from being mega money are far too complicated and need a computer nerd to sort them.out .
Ah, that explains why Thunder Road Cwmbran was shut when I went there on Friday. Thanks for the update. I feel like I've dodged a bullet here. Sorry for all those who haven't.
Thunder Road has been around for a long time in S. Wales and I think they were Two Wheels in Nolton street before that, these bastards didn’t have it long before they closed the cafe and now they’ve fucked it up completely. Thunder Road will be sorely missed in S. Wales. Thankyou Completely Bastards motorcycles.
I fear there is much more to come , all dealers are struggling and when you see previously mainstream showrooms taking on Chinese and Indian brands just to shift some units it shows the traditional bike market is crumbling. IMO The Worcester Ducati dealership was always going to fail , a huge prime location showroom trying to sell enough Ducati's to make a profit ? The 2nd hand market that was inflated by the pandemic has still not reset and there is so much overpriced stock in showrooms everywhere it's ridiculous. The same thing is happening in the car world mostly driven by the EV charade , with dealers faking sales of EV's by registering new cars and immediately offering them as 2nd hand vehicles with huge discounts ... It's simple , people don't want over complicated overpriced bikes and they don't want EV's fullstop, despite what the industry tries to make us believe ....It's a financial Armageddon waiting to happen.
It's not just electric cars that are complex, all new cars are full of tech driving up prices, E.U demanding car manufacturers add more tech to make drivers safer and all it does is annoy the shit out of you, they should improve the standards of driving with proper driver training. Motorcycles are getting more complicated too with more and more tech, big TFT screens with Android auto and car play, on a bike, this is mad and it's forced not optional. Very hard to find basic cars now too as they can sell higher tech for more profit and bigger SUV, they don't want to make hatchbacks or estates any more , no they want to sell larger and larger cars to clog up our streets and narrow roads, it's a joke the whole thing. I spent 10 years driving 3 different electric cars and the last one was so bad with software and big screens no buttons or knobs and it was infuriating to drive and a huge distraction even to change the airflow for the AC, I had to go into a bloody menu. Such a job I had to get rid of it so had to hand it back to the finance company under the half rule. I wouldn't go back to ev now again and I won't I'm happy in my Petrol manual car and it's a lot more fun to drive and it's weighs a fraction of the 2 tonne EV hatch I had before it and the weight alone dulled the experience and after so long EV just becomes an appliance like experience. + the hassle of charging at public chargers, I couldn't count the amount of wasted hrs I'll never get back.
Nothing wrong with EVs. Best cars I have driven are EVs wouldn’t go back to ICE but they are incredibly expensive to buy so not affordable unless you go the pcp route which is what most buyers do now. So that is not a determining factor. The problem is that sales of all vehicles is down due to cost of monthly payments which is too much in this cost of living crisis and job uncertainty. Someone mentioned that even big brand motorcycle dealers are selling the likes of Voge and CFMoto alongside their primary brand - even dealers such as destination Triumph - because they see that the likes of CFMoto 450MT are selling like hot cakes and their own brands are sitting gathering dust due to high purchase cost and that many are downsizing.
@@ianfutcher1518 No nothing wrong with EV until you research the environmental damage done to mine for the lithium that no one wants to talk about and calls misinformation because they want a night in shining armour to save the planet ! I did it for 10 years wouldn't go back to EV again unless I face jail, just too expensive, too much nonsense around charging and charge times and range. I'm no longer willing to pay a huge premium and suffer huge depreciation for all the poor range and charge times and I won't buy any new car again because the cost of ICE cars is gone too expensive also.
Listen to the forecasts by researcher and journalist Whitney Webb. It’s frightening how the banksters are collapsing Western economies for their blockchain token based CBDC rollout.
New Motorcycles are too expensive, this is why many are failing, customers can’t afford to buy them, especially the youngsters, who don’t earn mega money these days! £10,000 for a motorcycle is an awful lot of money, and a lot of New bikes cost a lot more than that!!
Motorcycling in UK has been in decline for many years. It now seems to consist of a number of different groups who don’t actually like each other very much. Old codgers with old (or old style) bikes who dislike anything new. Different old codgers who claim to have been Mods in their youth who have a genuine Lambretta in the shed, but actually ride a modern replica (but only on Sunday); Sports bike riders who despise anybody with less than 100 horsepower; Harley Davidson riders who would really prefer to be Americans; BMW riders, who delight in trying to out boast each other about how many hundreds of thousands of miles they have been and then there are young people who use their modern scooters for everything, but don’t feel they have anything in common with any of the others. If I wanted a future in the motorcycle business I think I would fill the shop with cheap Chinese scooters and target the last group. The others are all dinosaurs
Wow this is true, I’m 62 and ride my trusty old Africa Twin, I hate new bikes and bikers in general, ride the other way if I see bikers, hate it when bikers want to talk about bikes, never been on a group ride, Just ride on my own….. Iv always loved Bikes, but hate Bikers…..🤣… I know where you coming from,
I put a deposit on a new Honda ADV 350 in a Wales dealership.and was informed on Thursday afternoon last week that it would be delivered AM Friday, NOT!!! found out it had gone in to administration on the Thursday evening!. informed my Credit Card company the contract was not honoured and got my money back the next day!!I WAS LUCKY! It is the staff I feel sorry for , they were NOT informed until after close of business Thursday night. Santander are owed a lot of money....I did get a call from the sales person at the dealership on Monday morning telling me that they cannot register any new bikes and ALL bike keys have been siezed by the auditors!! She was lovely and I am gutted for her..
You sir are super smart to have paid with a CC. Many have not. Thank goodness that happened. Seems many times credit cards aren't accepted at dealers...
@@Scarletsb0y I'd rather not but well known in South Wales. The staff are fantastic, dealt with them for years , shame they have been treated this way!!
Well done getting your money back, in fact I'm impressed it was so quick, last time I had to do a Sec75 on a credit card it took 8 weeks and they needed proof the company was being liquidated from the liquidators and everything has to be sent in triplicate via secure recorded delivery, was a right pain in the ass.
This has strangely been caused by the Motorcycle Manufacturers. If Manufacturers made bikes that the average Joe could ride comfortably they would sell a lot more bikes hence dealers becoming more successful. With the hundreds of videos, written articles, and information of "How To Lower Your Motorcycle" you would have thought that the manufacturers would have realised that a large portion of their target audience have inseam measurements that are considerably shorter than those of supermodels. Some bikes, particularly sports bikes or sports tourer's, have seat heights that are in excess of 32"+ and some pillion seat heights above 40" that you can hardly swing your leg over, not to mention the girth at seat height that rivals Rebel Wilson's. (sorry Rebel but yours was the first name of a famous curvy person I could remember), Stupidly Manufacturers have, off the bat, eliminated 50% of their potential bike purchasers. I talk to many women who say "I would love a bike, but I can't touch the floor, even on my tip toes when I sit on one". If manufacturers made bikes narrower, with seat heights of 30", or in some cases less, but with factory options to raise the bike, their sales figures would grow considerably, helping dealers along the way. If car manufacturers made cars with fixed seat positions to fit only 5'9"+ drivers they would be out of business faster than you can be locked up for writing a comment that some people don't agree with.
@mdf ..... From one vertically challenged person (29" inseam) to a shrewd commenter .... I agree 😁. I've got a Royal Enfield Meteor now. I can flatfoot the ground on that 😂.
No its more complicated than that. The COVID lockdowns destroyed economies. Many businesses and industries have never recovered. Some just died quicker than others. the UK's economy is crap. The USA's economy is crap. Its crap worldwide and getting worse for a whole host of reasons that are completely intentional.
The whole of motorcycling is struggling. Used market is dead, enfield are setting up their own, its way too hard and expensive to pass the tests,economy is bad , bike crime is rifewithout consequences which bumps insurance up.
Very sorry for the people involved. I hope they get out intact. Lots of talk here about bikes being too expensive. That is not really true. Adusted for inflation, most mainstream bikes are cheaper now than they were in the 80s and 90s. The problem is a diminishing market for bikes, and in the UK at least the failure of income to keep pace with inflation.
I think you don't understand inflation, it is created by the Government and banks, printing money they don't have, no collateral, then people want wage increases to counter rising prices, which then creates more inflation, if not corrected it just continues to multiply, hence USA 36 Trillion dollars in dept, UK 8.2 Trillion pounds in dept. we are broke !!!!!
Seriously you don’t think they are expensive, Have you seen the top money paid for new Africa Twins or new GS BMW.. it’s friggin mind blowing .. and who the hell is buying the rubbish.. way too expensive…
@@mickhiggins1031exactly, I remember when a Bandit 600S was £3995 new, CBR600FW for £5500, GSX-R750WV for £5995. This was between 1997 and 2000. Nowadays bikes cost what cars used to, and cars cost what houses used to! 😮
Exactly what I did... 250 on credit card and balance paid via transfer... Luckily I got my bike delivered 2 weeks ago but have a couple of small things they were going to do under warranty... Can't see that happening now so claiming my card payment back and doing the jobs myself... Lucky escape?
@@majordelays4909 Oh never knew that thanks. My BMW dealer asked for a €5,000 deposit when I was buying my new S1000RR because I was paying cash - well bank transfer cash.
No way! I remember going there few years ago to buy a Yamaha XT660, only recently remember seeing them advertising a few motorbikes i was interested in. Ended up buying from OnTheWheel dealer at Shoreham instead, maybe dodged a bullet?
It’s terrible for customers and staff. But for all the difficulties ppl are having, I have to say I was at Chester Triumph on Monday (7/10). The site was open and the team there were doing everything they could to return bikes to ppl. I was there for a warranty claim and they couldn’t do enough to help me. Clearly some things are outside of the site team’s control. I hope everyone gets back what’s theres. BW👍
If you have a bike in the dealership for service contact the administrators to get your property back, if you have traded in a bike as part exchange and not yet got the new bike tell the administrators that your old bike is yours until the new bike is delivered and they should supply a new bike or give you your old bike back because the contact has not been completed . If you have paid any money to them for a new bike you can kiss goodby to it as the administrators will take the money and eventually you might get something back as a creditor but you will be the last in a long line of creditors.
Unless you paid the deposit with a credit card. If so you can make a section 75 claim and get your money back. If you buy something or pay a deposit for something and it's over £100 ALWAYS ALWAYS use a credit card. Saved me over £8000 so far using CC for high value items and contracts that went under.
Who leaves their trade in bike in without immediately taking delivery of the new bike? That's the way it always worked for me. Also I wait for my bike to be serviced - not much choice since the dealer is 300km away but even if the dealer was only down the road I would at least expect my bike back by close of business that day.
@@Lar308 I will admit it is unusual for a part exchange not to happen as you take delivery of a new bike but servicing is another matter , unforeseen defects can result in the bike not being ready due to that defect. Also some jobs are so big that it will never be done in one day.
The whole UK, and indeed European, motorcycle retail industry has become too fat and too expensive - and that includes the bikes themselves. Those who knock Chinese motorcycle production, and by doing so knock a lot of 'Western' manufacturers who have bikes/engines made there, should stand back and watch. A new model of retail sales that includes Online motorcycle purchasing, 'Touch & See' Centres and 'Solely Service' maintenance points will emerge - owned by Chinese manufacturers but 'fronted' by a purchased brand name eg: Morbidelli, Benelli, SWM or 'own brand' eg QJ Motor, Voge (Loncin). The model of 'Desperate Dealer' trying to sell new Japanese bikes, at a discount, that are at the end of the showroom 3 Month 'Stocking Plan' is over, finished.
but is there going to be enough demand? as other costs excluding the bike purchase continue to rise...it will soon be the case that to pass the full test & get insurance will cost the same as a new ( chinese ) bike purchase.
I called into Abergele last Wednesday for a look around, a brand new Ducati multistrada RS with Sold on it was sitting there, I sincerely hope the purchaser gets it . Went out on my bike on Friday morning and shutters still down at Queensferry at 10:30 and no demo bikes outside. Today Wednesday Chester was open.
Sad news, I bought my bike from them earlier this year and I have to say that I received excellent service from friendly and helpful staff. Pity the higher ups weren't as competent!
To be fair motorbiking is not what it was and never will be again. My Dad rode motorbikes in his youth in the 40s and he told me that rather than me buying myself a motorbike he'd buy me a car, and that was 50 years ago. He who had been a prodigious biker saw the way increasing car volumes and 4-wheeled nutcases were choking the roads and sadly he was right on the money.
@@sjbechet1111 I won't disagree with you but at least this zombie is still fit and well. I've ridden pillion on the rough without bone domes and for me that's as close as I want to get, haven't got the inclination for it.
When to the Cheltenham branch last Friday, the Stocktaking notice was on the door with the showroom locked, the motorcycle clothing shop nearby said that the staff had been sent home on Friday morning……….having seen companies go bust in the aviation business this looks exactly like bankruptcy.
Aviation business was finished during the 1980's. British Aerospace and all the a/c producers finished decades ago. Just a few bit builders scamming the tax payer in the UK.
i know someone who had just paid a 6k deposit - turned up to collect bike with the rest of the money and bam, shop closed and administrator there told him bad luck, he is a line of others and no idea when he will get money back if at all because we all know the little man is last in the queue after the scumbag bankers get theirs, awful that is ! shame for those that lost their jobs, real shame - the f'ers in charge who knew about this and continued to take folks money while knowing they wouldn't see the deal through, well, there is a cold seat in hell waiting for them bas7ards if you can't pay cash for bikes or cars - get finance , that way you wouldn't be in the position my mate is - never pay a big deposit , 50 quid is an acceptable deposit, i told my mate this but hey ....
Agree, always pay the smallest deposit possible, get the bike and then if you want to pay it off go for it (there are rarely additional fees to settle these finance deals early these days).. terrible situation, happening more and more..
The completely motorcycle in wales shortly after taking over thunder road wales.Decided to close on Sunday and close the great cafe.I was told by the manager “NO BODY BUYS ON A SUNDAY THEY ONLY SQUEEZE THE LEVERS ON ALL THE BIKES. How many of us call in these shopS only to return later to buy on our own .Prompted by the comments from the previous SUNDAY visits from our friends.BIG, BIG MISTAKE…
Fair play to you for highlighting this con. I feel for the folks that have lost money to these bastards. When you pay for something you expect to receive it. 😡
Lots of retail struggling, not just motorbikes. Look at the boarded up shops on high streets, the boarded up pubs, the factory units to rent. The people of the UK feel miserable, there doesn`t appear to be any light at the end of the tunnel, just more and more taxes, with ever declining infrastructure and services. The governments will continue to massage figures to make it all look rosy.
You'd be charged with theft. When my employer went bust I kept the company car until two bailiffs came round ( both built like brick shit houses) and told me if I didn't give them the car, they would inform the police. What they didn't know was had anticipated this and had replaced the engine oil with engine cleaner. I never did find out what happened to the car but it did give me a small amount of satisfaction
@admiralcraddock464 If you have proof of purchase and it's paid for, how would it be theft? There could be other offences, criminal damage possibly in gaining entry but you can't steal your own property😂
This is the same as the problem in the world of cycling, where dealerships ordered millions of pounds of stock, which they could not sell. Another major problem now too is the price of electricity, which here in Britain is the highest in the world, too high for a business to deal with, so get ready for the majority of businesses and industry in the UK to close.
Actually breaks my heart thinking of the people like me that will of saved probably for years for trying to attain there pride and joy for that to be taken away and nothing to see, just heartbreaking !
Down here the dealer I purchased my bike from J W Groombridge has closed the shop due the landowner putting up the rent, overheads and not making enough money per bike. I'm not aware of people not receiving motorcycles or any other goods that they have paid for. The dealership owner posted on FB his reasons for closure and it all seems quite amicable and above board as far as I can see. Good luck to anybody who's money or vehicle is now being held by Completely Motorbikes or the receivers. Good luck also to the employees of the company in these pressing times.
@@tommoso55 That I don't know. As far as I know it was owned locally by the chap who bought it from the Groombridge family some years ago. There are rumours that a Ducati dealer is moving in and that's all I've seen online.
@@simonchilli2088This situation is completely different your dealerships is just closing down and possibly just selling off his stock . The completely group has gone into administration (possibly bankruptcy) all the assets have been seized and anyone who has paid for a bike and not received it is now just an unsecured creditor and could get virtually nothing back . There could be criminal proceedings if it could be proven that the directors kept the company trading after they knew they were insolvent but it won’t help those people who are owed money.
A friend told me he skidded on oil on a council estate in west London because of dickheads riding quad bikes or something round there. His bike (a Harley Sportster) was a wreck but he was OK. He hasn't ridden since.
A couple of generations ago, motorcycles were used much more as transport (being a cheaper alternative to cars). Much as I love marques such as Ducati, they're operating in an ever- dwindling market - despite their obvious appeal , the majority of enthusiasts can't afford them, especially in the UK, where absolutely everything is so bloody expensive
I think if insurnace companies begin to be properly regulated then there is no reason motorcyles can carry on as they always have. I mean, with congestion getting more and more it makes sense to use and even encourage motorcyles. The main thing is running costs and the biggest slice of that by far is insurance. It's been allowed to get silly. Population density will increase as climate change hits and less land is available for living on - if we prioritise narrow bikes over chonky cars we can still get people moving about.
They always seemed very expensive to me. For example they had used Royal Enfields for sale that were more than they cost to buy new . Makes sense what’s happened now .
Legal point - if you own a bike that is at the dealers for servicing etc and they go into receivership and you miss getting it back, you will be able to apply to the receivers and give them proof of ownership (not a registration document, it needs to be a purchase receipt) they will ensure the bike is returned to you.
I tried to part-ex my Street Twin against a new Scrambler 1200 at Triumph Chester on 18th September, but I was told they weren’t taking part-exes on new bikes, only used ones (and the used ones they had were a bit steep, even for Triumph). I thought it was a bit weird; it looks like I dodged a bullet. I feel sorry for the guys who work there, as they were always really helpful.
The walls are closing in on those using credit. Bikes are way too expensive. No need for fancy electronics….. buy a good bike for 5K used, and ride it …. You can get some great bikes for 5K from 90s and 2000s. Spending over 12k is mad, it’s still 12K !!!!
I’m 76 now and still have a motorbike I’ve taken my three sons all over the place on the back of my various bikes Not one is interested in owning a motorcycles and also are there friends. Also I have a 671 super charged 383 sbc volvo pv544 hot rod. Not really interested and don’t want any of my stuff I want to pass on. Sad times
I literally have a daytona 675 in their workshop being repaired under warranty and I have no idea what's happening, the tech working on my bike is an amazing human being but he has no idea what's happening either... I'm a bit confused and worried with what's happening to my bike but i'm equally worried about the staff as they're always treated me so kindly! All the best to all the staff and fingers crossed I get my bike back!
The way the UK is going, we need to insist that where large purchases are concerned, upfront monies are retained in a protected client account until transaction completes. Sadly we're going to see more of this sort of thing happen.
The bottom line is that prices have become ridiculous and interest rates also remain high. I would further suggest that the PCP con is becoming less attractive, as the final value figures are extortionate. The future is Chinese and RE…and the other manufacturers only have their greed and poor service to blame. For the here and now, pay as small a deposit as you can, borrow if you must from your bank or building society and turn up on the day with cash or a bank transfer. Forget PCP or finance arranged through the dealer, it’s a massive con. One final point, if your plan was to return the bike at the end of the PCP loan period how do you do that if the dealer has gone!
Good points, I've always been a cash guy but my bikes are usually only 5-6k max. People are saying finance does protect you a little as you haven't shelled out the full amount and the company will seek to recover the bike? Perhaps true but my gut says pay off the bike and then it's yours to enjoy
With regards to the PCP product the future value should be a guaranteed value so the amount it is basically irrelevant. The higher it is the lower your monthly payment. The actual amount is not your problem as the finance company is the person doing the guaranteeing so at the end of the agreement you can hand the bike back to the finance company (not the dealer) and walk away along as the miles rules you signed up for are met.
Motorcycling is in its death throes, only just surviving due to an ever decreasing demographic of older men like me who are now starting to give up riding for age related reasons. There are no longer younger riders coming along in great enough numbers to replace them and the final nail in the coffin is the extortionate price of bikes combined with a cost of living crisis with no light at the end of the tunnel. It was great while it lasted, but those of us riding today are the hangers on at the end of the party, after the bar has closed, and the band are packing away their gear. Having said that I can't find anything official being reported about this. Only internet rumour
Bought my current and previous Ducati from Woods of Abergele. The owner Andrew Wood, retired and Completely Motorbikes bought the business a few years back. Things (and staff) changed.
Agreed, the difference between Woods & CM at Abergele is night and day. Under the Woods banner the staff were very relaxed and zero sales pressure, CM staff seem way more pushy and try multiple times during the conversation to nail a deposit out of you which is just off putting.
I managed to recover my bike from Chester last Monday. The staff were devastated. Triumph had apparently secured the keys to the new bikes during the initial closure on Friday. I hope people can recover their hard earned money.
This age of austerity means peoples priorities are family,home,the cost of food and household bills. New motorbikes are expensive and electronicly complicated. Im lucky enough to own a 7year old r nine t.Easy to change engine and gearbox oil,brake fluid and valve clearances All the above means not having to rely on dealers.
I feel sorry for the staff, Carnells did the same in the mid 90s bought all the independent dealers up built multi floor showrooms then disappeared, I’ve dealt with Woods at Abergele but mainly with Chester & the staff were great, I only had my bike in for its service early September, Good luck to all customers, hope they dont lose out.
The stack them high sell them cheap dealerships often go bust the slim profit margins rely on lots of sales to keep going . I have seen Motorcycle city , cohburn and Hugh’s , Carnell/ Rossi all go under when times are bad . The sad thing is they often damage other dealers as well the discounts affect what they can sell a bike for both new and secondhand and pity the customer who has paid full price when they try to trade in.
Carnells major failing was moving car salesmen from their car dealerships into the bike franchises. I used to visit the big one in Birmingham frequently and most of the staff didn’t even have a full motorcycle licence, the car park was full of company cars and the staff were frankly clueless.
@@NewWorldHoarder Their whole business model was based on pressure selling and adding things onto the loan like clothing and service deals which is something that a lot of this type,of dealerships try to do. I also hate it when you get a car salesman in a bike dealership, the one remaining Harley dealership near me does this and it is really annoying when they have no idea what they are selling .
I'm completely put off by the big chain shops and don't trust their business model. We've got a small independent MC dealer in our village who've been there donkeys years and its a shame there aren't more.
there are alot of bikes new around the 7 - 8500 price which going back years is actually cheaper than bikes of old for similar spec, bikes are dying because young people just arent interested
@@BodybuildingSteve Glad I’m keeping it alive. I’ve been riding since 20 and I’m now 25. Got a few of us who go out all under 30 so we do exist just no where near as many. I think the issue is that I’m in a fortunate position where I can run a bike and a car. If people can only afford to run one, who is there right mind wants to riding in rain, minus conditions, frost and so on. They will always indefinitely choose the car. That’s the problem!
I bought a new Moto Guzzi V7 Stone from Moto Corsa in 2021, traded my 660 Trident in part ex let them have it 3 months before collecting my bike. collected it in June and they went bust 4 weeks later. I dodged a bullet there, they had a fancy showroom made TH-cam videos and even sold MV Augustas.
I consider myself very lucky to have taken delivery of my bike on the 20/09, just before all this kicked off. They did however forget the panniers that were included in the sale, so I obviously thought I'd never see them. However they turned up from Thunder Road this afternoon, so I feel very fortunate considering other peoples situation in this nightmare. Hope it works out for all you guys that have been caught up in this.
New motorbikes are pricing themselves out of the market. £5,500 for just a new Yamaha 125? What!! That was under 3k not that long ago. Insurance companies are fleecing everyone and need to be regulated. Obtaining a full licence is complicated and too expensive. When I was 17 and riding a 125 it was dirt cheap and a lot of fun. Insurance back then in 1987 was £100 for 3rd party, fire and theft (£350 in today's money). My son and daughter are being charged £2,200 and £2,600 a year, third party only for their 125's. Being charged 7 times more for the same thing is scandalous! Riding a bike is now a luxury for people with a lot of excess income, and those with excess income are rapidly dwindling.
I have bought 3 bikes from CM. The latest barely two weeks ago so my warranty is now worthless. I must however pay respects to the staff at Hinckley as their sales staff have been excellent, particularly Kevin and Nev. I loved the approach of CM at Hinckley as it made every bike available to sit on with plenty of space either side so no need to pull anything out to get to them. However, last year they had a Suzuki Hayabusa off me, a lovely 2022 gen 3 which had finance on it. I did have to chase them up to make sure the finance was paid off as a month after buying it it hadn't been. In future I will only buy a bike with a credit card as I understand this offers an amount of protection.
I bought my Goldstar from them Bib mind you that was in Sept last year when I guess this wasn't yet on the horizon. The team in Worcester were chuffed to have CM take them over and they sorted me out with delivery etc. Very helpful.
If the bikes were new or newish the warranty is with the manufacturer not the dealership, and other dealership for that marque will honour it. If it is an older bike bought with a dealers warranty look in whether it was covered by a trade body and insured through that.
I got caught similarly by the Carpetright collapse earlier this year. I did get the carpet in the end, but it was a narrow scrape. Always, always, use a credit card. If they refuse, walk and go elsewhere.
I sold my bike last month, l've been watching the market for a year or more. To sell my bike, the lowest owners (2), lowest mileage (5k), newest year (16) and the best condition model in the UK l had to make it the cheapest. The others are still for sale. What you think your bike is "worth" & what you are actually going to get in cash for it are probably world's apart. Soon, people won't be trading in either.....
I've been watching a bike in a local dealers sitting in the showroom for over 12 months now. It's absolute nonsense that they still expect to get the price they're asking for it.
Gut wrenching for people waiting for bikes and the affected by this, I’ve purchased six bikes from thunderoad in Bridgend and have always been treated well, it’s a sign of the times, we’re in recession now , first COVID then cost of living, I run a small business and know how hard it is at the sharp end, it’s brutal at the moment guys for everyone in all business, not just bikes.
Just completed a brilliant p/ex with a famous name dealer in the Midlands and myself having been in business for 50+ years, the amount of stock they had frightened me, but then I'm only a rider! I actually feel for some of the big names who are good because your statement is good advice, but possibly scaring buyers from them, they will crumble very very quickly!
Yes do you think you can get at your bike you've paid for by going to the dealer or is that a fools errand as its all tied up in legal tape by now there's no recourse?
Sounds like a business model that would no way work in current times and a highly risky concept even in goodtime. Mismanaged and now the front line has to suffer it.. Only blessing is the receivers in most cases will fulfill any issues with monies etc. This will have a huge ripple affect. I feel for everyone affected. Great content 👍
All businesses are beginning to show the strains of the economic crunch. It is not just motorcycle dealers that are in deep shit. Irrespective of which dealer you use, most if not all of the stock you see is held on bank overdrafts. Bikes have gone up in price, credit has fuelled the expansion of dealers, people no longer buy, they rent; and dealers have taken on massive leverage and exposure to the shifting economic climate. Bikes are artificially highly priced and now, because the bulk of the public are buying cars instead of bikes, dealers are crumbling and falling away. What was once the choice of the first time motorist, the teenager to the 25 year old, is now so expensive that those who used to buy them, can no longer afford them. Even second hand prices are kept artificially high, because the dealers have bet their balls on a market that no longer exists. How many bikers do you see on the roads today compared to the 80s and 90s? People 'cut their teeth' on 250s like the Suzuki X7, the Yamaha RD 250; and later the L plate-riders' last fling, the 250 LC. People could buy and run a bike for a couple of Hundred Pounds, insurance used to be peanuts, TPFT was dirt cheap and could be got by anybody, petrol was cheap, the running costs of a 2 stroke were easy to live with. What do we see today; learner bikes costing £4,000 or more, insurance is prohibitively expensive for all but the older rider; and the roads, yes, let us not forget the roads, pothole hell and unobservant car drivers, more interested in their phones than looking out for bikers. And quite recently, in 2 separate incidents, car drivers were responsible for the deaths of 2 bikers, and all that the car drivers received was a 10 month suspended sentence each. In other words, no real prosecution. What message does that send? Biking used to be fun, biking used to be cheap, is it any wonder that we are a dying breed?
@@can-uc-wakeup it makes little difference to the dealer whether you pay cash or finance! He gets paid on day of delivery. However with any finance deal he may get some finance commission, especially PCP deals.
If you have ordered a bike (new or used) and paid a deposit on it, you are entitled to have either the bike or your money back, providing you have a printed receipt/bill of sale with a VIN or Reg number on it. If your bike is in for service, you can get it back. Act quickly because if administrators/receivers have been appointed they want to sell all realisable assets on asap. You need to identify the administrator/receiver (who will be a named individual working for an insolvency company) and conduct all dealings with him and in writing. There should be a notice on the premises saying who it is. If not check the London Gazette/Companies House (you can do either on-line). If you suspect criminal practice, don't waste time with the police, they won't be interested. But they will be interested if you try to seize items from the premises. The UK's Ltd Liability laws need reform.
After owing my own motorcycle dealership with all 4 Japanese brands I can say the manufacturers are very hard to deal with. Terrible trading margins and huge overheads.
Been the Same way in the motor trade with cars for the last 20yrs. The dictatorship from manufactures to franchises is horrendous. Definitely do as I say not do as I do mentality.
it comes down to 1 thing people havent any money its that simple its nothing to do with anything else , most people have less than 100 pounds in there bank in uk FACT, there not going out to buy a bike each year there are less riders through death old age young people are not riding bikes as much as before but the major factor in all of it is the uk is skint,.
really? so why do land rovers sell & sell & sell. why do i see people in supermarkets carts chock full of garbage, not even bat an eye at "350 pounds please", there's plenty of idiots with money...motorcycles are niche.... they need to become mainstream again!
@@kass9722 no m8 people are skint thats a FACT im a financial advisor and ill tell you now whats coming in 2 months will kill 90% of uk business,s watch and learn the banks state 19 percent have less than 100 pounds 5% have no saving a all , there all living on credit hence why uk is 3 trillion in dept with a per person gdp less than the avergae down in the third world those are FACTS credit cards debit cards dont equal money it isnt there.
Swings and roundabouts come to mind,it's a buyers market out there now from classics to modern,a lot of headaches for some retailers who hogged the market with modern and classic asking over the top prices now they are stuck with them and if you are on the banks for overdrafts then they will be calling them in,perhaps it will get some more folks buying cheaper bikes to take up the hobby and learn some new skills.
Simple answer to this. If it seems to good to be true - it is. Expansion at the speed CM attempted is not possible, particularly not in industries such as this where profit margins are getting lower and lower. Still plenty of long established local dealers about so try and use them. Other large groups will undoubtedly be struggling now so be careful if you choose to deal with them. Large groups have never worked in the motorcycle industry and never will.
This is sad. I was in a ‘premium’ Italian brands dealership in central London recently, the sales guy never got up from behind his desk and was was talking at the only other customer saying that nothing is selling because none of the bikes can get insurance. Anything with a fairing forget about. If you don’t have a concrete garage forget about. I do believe the insurance market is killing the industry and should be more innovative. Eg how about having fully comp without theft, stick a premium tracker on the bike and reduce risk that way. Something has to happen or the bike industry will actually die. Shame
Heard a few days ago about the Staverton branch..... didn't realise they had places all over the UK . What a f**k up ! Have to admit , if I ever bought a bike from a dealer in the past , If I was paying anything for it I was riding the thing out of the shop there and then. I am old school though haha . Plenty of decent used bikes around on private sale for low money at the moment 👍
Why pay to take tests get a licence, insurance, road tax when you can get a leccy bicycle that gets you wherever you want to go that you can take on the train if you want to go further afield ? Biking isn't dead yet but i don't think there's big future in it. We must enjoy it while we can.
Bikes in the workshop for repairs or servicing already registered to owners will and must be returned (eventually) as they are now in the customers or the organisation that financed thems names legally.
I truly feel for those that are trapped in this position, it's just so unfair that you pay for goods and the appointed receiver is just not interested in refunding your money, we the buyer are at the back of the queue 😢
Awful isn't it Bob, people are posting horror stories all the time. Probably got to be 10s if not more of people stuck mid purchase with no bike or cash...
Normally buying up other businesses (i.e. dealers) is something you do when you're doing well and they're not. Because it's a money pit. And it takes some years to make those profitable operations. Buying up other dealers when you're already in trouble is the quickest way to destroy what was left of your company. Especially if you have to borrow to do it.
@@MindfulMotorcyclist I don't think there was a strategy to make sense of. Most probably it was a course of action that directly benefitted select executives whilst burying the business under a mountain of debt (there's a reason balance sheets and P&L statements are made to be deliberately overcomplicated, you can hide a LOT of sh!t in plain sight on those). Read some of their less-than-flattering reviews and a common theme emerged - their core focus was cash flow to the exclusion of everything else. I.e. milking the few customers those dealers had left until they left too. This sort of nonsense gets dictated from the top and usually comes with the appropriate incentive structure (carrot *and* stick) to get otherwise competent and conscientious employees to do really shady crap.
Groombridges Royal Enfield / Kawasaki dealer in East Sussex went last week. I was told they had been in business since at least 1951. Very sad. I hear that Sykes Harley Davidson dealership are taking over the Royal Enfield business for the area though.
Thunder road has been in S. Wales for a long time and before that I think they were Two Wheels in Nolton street, Bridgend. First thing new owners done was to close the cafe, now they’ve ruined it completely. Thunder Road will be sadly missed in S. Wales.
Insurance companies are also killing the motorbike industry
I agree, it’s almost impossible to get insurance for a sports bike if you live in any major city as criminals are allowed to operate freely with no consequences and police don’t do anything to prevent it
@@NotoriousGremioIt is not the police’s job to prevent it.
Your Right its Cheaper to insure a Merc with 550hp Than a 125
@@john8451 It's part of their job
@@john8451 you’re right, it’s their job to dance for TikTok and give a crime number for insurance right?
And yet, most of the Main Dealers I've been in are arrogant beyond belief, never feel welcome in any of those places.
Don't shop there mate, shop at your small local dealer who welcomes you.
100% agree
I work for a well known German Car manufacturer and went to their Motorcycle division to test ride the 1000RR....only to be asked"How much are you spending?".
Walked straight out,went to HONDA when they released the Fireblade SP, salesman I spoke to simply said" Come here in about 40 minutes it's still out on test at the moment,just bring your licence and you can take it out for as long as you want ".
I keep going back to my local RE dealer in Quarry Bank.
Really friendly guys and always happy to have a chat.
Totally agree 👍
I used to do work for a company, and the secretary phoned me one day to say come in and demand your money. Things were looking shaky and she knew my invoices would not be honoured. Within days they had gone bust. Businesses do not go down overnight. There must be weeks, months probably, when the writing is on the wall and they're still trading knowing the receivers are hovering.
@@borderlands6606 I'd say YEARS in this case. From what I've seen so far (which ain't much), this company was destroyed by a dew executives, probably in the name of quarterly bonuses.
Correct. Over a period of many months, slowly, it’s been dying. They knew, but continued to sell.
I had a business owner order a set of tyres from me for his Ferrari. He wanted them the following day.
One of his workers came round to me and tipped me off that they were closing down due to bankruptcy. Obviously he never had his tyres. Trust no one when it comes to money.
I often used Hamilton's of Streatham and got to know the spares bod pretty well. He talked me out of bringing my bike in to the workshop and to do the job myself. Which I could, I was just lazy. The plan was that they'd MOT it at the same time. I ordered a bunch of stuff which he let me have up-front on the Friday so I could get on with the job. On Monday when I went to pay, they were shut. On Tuesday, there was a notice up that they'd ceased trading. He obviously knew and spared me from getting my bike trapped as well as getting parts for free...
You dodged a bullet thanks to her. Almost guaranteed you would not have got that money back.
Awesome 👍. Let's get back to local Motor cycle dealerships and service.
Best way I've always stayed local dealers best service plus they won't rip u off doing any work, padgetts as 4 brand dealer in Yorkshire their motorbikes racing and genuine care to bikers is well respected.
I've always been Honda or Suzuki rider Castles honda excellent dealer in Castleford so is York Suzuki Centre.
@@someguyhondatransalp650 Good idea. Local dealers never go bust
Orwell Motorcycles in Ipswich. Still going strong KTM, Kawasaki+Suzuki franchises. Superb local service, long may they continue..
@@gavinmurrell3415 I second this - have bought several bikes, gear, services etc from Orwell over the years. Brilliant all round. Can't fault them, unlike some other dealers in the area whose name I won't mention.
We've all been to motorcycle meets, race meetings etc, its not bikes and dealerships we're running out of its us, riders, no or very little new blood coming into motorcycling.
Yep totally agree . Worked at a independent bike garage for three years and could count the number of riders under 30 on one hand in that time .
@@snox7320 I've been helping a 17 year-old get started in motorcycling. He lives in outer London and has been quoted over £2k to insure a £2k 125 cc bike.
It's impossible to get started in motorcycling now.
bikers are getting old and expiring.no one coming up in the rear
Totally agree mate, just passed my mod 2 today in Wakefield age 56. Think it will only get worse over the winter period. It is mega expensive nearly £1000 all in to go direct access route, most youngsters can’t afford or would rather get a car.
, yeah I got my first bike in 1978 cb50j moped went everywhere on it snow, rain didn't matter loved it, less cars then tho, people in cars still don't think bike, it's just to dangerous now sadly.
This is happening all over the country, my local dealer whent into receivership last weekend, KAWASAKI , RE and SUZUKI, 50 years they have been trading, Large dealer in Crawley has gone as well. The country is economically dying, motorcycle dealers are just the tip of the iceberg.
Is that groombridge. Cross in hand ?
@@nigeldalrymple4099 Groombridge closed on the 28th September. Landlord upped their rent making the business unviable. Rumours that something may be happening at P&H which might become a Superbike Factory.
Groombridge and p&h have hardly any stock
Price of Brexit according to a banker friend 900billion every year has been moved out to EU
Well said Ray.
Took a walk down my local Main Street on a Friday night. It used to be so popular with pub punters and clubbers. Not only would the pubs be packed, but the streets would be busy too.
It would be a mission trying get to the bar to get a drink.
But not anymore, streets quiet and pubs half empty. Hard to see how they can survive.
Planet Ponzi shows it's hand. Debt fuelled acquisition binges work well when markets are rising and credit conditions are loose. That game has hit the wall. Whether it is motorcycles or anything else, I would not pre-order anything. You are right, stick with small independently owned businesses and don't go down the finance path, just buy what you can afford and make sure it's on the shop floor when you buy it.
I moved to Spain from England in 1989, to get better riding weather!!! It's a no brainer. Sorry to hear things are so bad in the UK right now. In Spain, sales of bikes are growing overall with adjustments to sales depending on CCs and certain types of bikes. Scooters still doing well and Big and small silly trailies also everywhere. Doesn't look like Spain is gonna be affected.
. At least not yet. Fingers crossed
Who remembers Coburn & Hughes back in the 70's ? They went bust because although they sold tons of bikes, the margins were tiny as they tried to undercut all other dealers. This was made worse by the fact that most buyers just bought the bike and nothing else like gear & servicing etc. History repeats itself it seems !
I remember them, big adverts in MCN every week.
First in crawley road, then moved up to moor street right opposite to my tool making company.
Somewhere in the story they built an enormous showroom in park street opposite bejams, running all the way to vicarage street.
They must have been booming then but i must admit despite attending the university right next door i rarely went in and walked around like i had when they were in crawley road, whoes carpark was the site of the RAC/ACU motorcycle training ground for the town.
Before it too moved to the carpark off vicarage street under the flyover bypass.
Good days of old bikes, new bikes, massive moped numbers,250 tests, weekends away in cornwall as groups etc.
3 deaths of friends on bikes in 77 alone.
I remember their adverts !
Motorcycle City was another. The car model doesnt work with bikes. But is this just a hatchet job like the car industry to destroy.
yes indeedy. I got a Honda 400 Hondamatic brand-new from them for just £399 - less than half price...! About 12 years later, I sold it for more than I paid...
I think this is exactly why the likes of RE and CF MOTO are doing much better. There bikes are accessible to the average person, on average wages. The main players really need to look at their astronomical prices. The market of people buying them must be tiny in reality. I think it all contributes to the decline of motorcycling in general, it’s becoming unaffordable.
Just my humble opinion of course.
Dealer showed me a trade magazine. Total new bike sales for 2024 across the UK is 74,000 units. That’s all. It’s an unsustainable model.
Wise words Ben... at the very least RE, CF and Voge will force the big names to bring back value...
I bought a lexmoto rss 125 new in 23. After 2k miles, the tft went bust, replaced that ok. After 4k miles, the engine went bust and they had to put a NEW engine in there and I was out of my motorcycling for 28 days!! I would never ever buy chinese crap again. I got a new gsx-8s a month ago.
Couldn’t agree more. The flash days of loads of money around are long gone. The Asians are going to clean up with cheap, good value, bikes whilst everyone else goes under.
Stop talking sense Ben !
Donkeys years ago I worked for a small independent motorbike shop part time ( mechanic ) and I remember the boss saying we’ve been invited to become a main dealer for ‘ I won’t name the brand but I imagine they are all the same’ . Wow I thought we gonna be posh 😂😂😂 but then as time went on he looked into it more and the level of debt he would have to take on to ‘decorate the shop’ the amount of debt in special tools etc but mostly ( and this where the figures got really silly ) spares and then the actual stock … you have to buy a certain amount of ‘all models’ and order and commit ‘the year before’ and depending how many you order is what discount you get ( that’s your profit margin ) …. Needless to say he stayed a very small scale independent bike shop . So today when you see dealers going bust ( remember bikers are a dying breed , more dying /retiring than taking their licence today ) and manufacturers now churning out £34,000 toys , with voge and cf moto selling the same things for less than 1/3price … that leaves dealers not manufactures holding the baby
Great comment, yes being a dealer is certainly not all roses... CFmoto and Voge will do great in next decade. I can't see it any other way...
There is a local shop near to me who has been a franchised dealer for over 25 years with a great showroom on a main road, but that Japanese Manufacturer’s UK Head Office wanted them to have a new huge glass/stainless steel showroom in a new location it would have cost in excess of £1.5m, the owner in his mid 50’s didn’t want to invest that amount at his time of life.
They dropped the franchise but took on the franchise of another Japanese motorcycle company in the same premises.
@@MindfulMotorcyclist It's the same with the car dealers, this insane push for EV'S that nobody wants it's all about control and getting us all off the roads period,... research agenda 2030, if you don't know.
Nice comment
Yes I’ve heard exactly that , the dealer has to meet certain standards ie interior items promoting the brand.
Bottom line is now bikes are stupid prices.
I always pay by credit card.
That way you’re protected.
If the shop or dealer doesn’t take credit cards I walk away.
@@MindfulMotorcyclist My comment not showing now? All cause I mentioned the real reason why all vehicles are being hit.
So sorry for anyone affected by this.
Tip of the iceberg, mate, there is definitely more to come. Meanwhile the UK is putting it's money into a lost war, 3000 miles from London.
Read that and felt thankful for you, I only found this out today, my bike has been in their workshop for a month almost being repaired under warranty, the bike is too far away for me to just march up to their doors and ask for it back so i'm quite worried i'll never see it again...
British law always leaves loopholes for Company owners, aided by their lawyers, to jump through and continue on with no redress, no accountability. Why? Because the ministers own lots of companies and so do their mates.
Same shit here in Australia
Sorry i knocked you for your hard earned. But ill be trading again next week, with my wife as the MD.
Whilst I accept this does happen, it isn't true for the large majority of business owners who lose their investment, their income, their legacy in a business failure.
Yep, same everywhere. Petrol stations,supermarkets, house market and...the list goes on and on.
In Scotland we've just lost Saltire Motorcycles, a great dealership that will be much missed. IMO the motorcycle industry is struggling and the manufacturers are not willing to share the pain. While we like to complain about main dealers the truth is the bike companies screw the dealers at every stage, setting unrealistic sales targets and excessive charges for showroom décor, computer systems, training, special tools and much more
and you also lost a 2 site dealer earlier in Dundee/Aberdeen, I traded remotely with them last year and could not understand why they were so generous selling to me, I was on edge till I saw it and it was truly magnificent so I guess they were clutching at any money available!
Very true, I do know that Enfield provide a whole dealership outfitting including furniture and banners and everything you can imagine for free. That's the way it should be...
Saltire closed down before I could get a first service ! came as a big shock to me. BUT folk who have been mentioned here and have lost money is criminal. This is worse than GUTTED. Nowadays folk can not afford to recover from this.
I believe they're also trying to charge far far too much for a bike. When I bought my last (06 gsxr750 in 2006) I paid about £5300. And at that price people could generally afford to have what is for most people essentially a toy.... Now days most people need a mortgage to buy something. They're no longer affordable toys.. I commute in a bike everyday. I saw the price of a new BMW (not the top spec by a looooooong way) over 16k !!! Wtf? I live alone and earn a good wage. But 16k? Na I'll stick with the gixer until it goes no more.
Saltire weren’t very good. They had only a few years ago gone into administration again too. A lot of people lost money. They came out of administration pre packed and continued to trade. A couple of years back,I bought a bike that I had to wait over a month for them to prep but when I got there for handover the Speedo glass was smashed. I complained and said I’d rather have waited a little longer for the bike to be right. Anyway I took ownership of it, 8 miles up the road and the sprag clutch went, i had to push it 2 miles home, then had it recovered but had to wait another month for refund. (Wasn’t given the option to repair)
Since then, I’d been in a couple of times looking for a particular bike, that had then be sold and never offered an alternative (more order taking than sales)
For example they recently had a bsa gold star new for £4300. I enquired on it, was told there was a couple that had been sold and was told thanks for coming in. I should have been asked “have you heard of the great financing deals on the 24 model years” you know actually sold something…
Bad weather, high insurance and old bikes are better than the new ones coming out.
Old bikes are deffinelty better than new ones and the insurance is ridiculous 👍
@@jordenwoodsey01true I don’t need a play station mounted to my handlebars
I visited the Hinckley branch on Saturday and was surprised it was closed for a stock take.
Apparently not!
When you have thousands of bikes sitting there and not selling, this is inevitable. Poor management and people can not afford expensive bikes at the moment.
Shen the sign says "Closed for stocktake" they are correct! The brand supplier is collecting the stock!
The dealership works on a 3 or 6 month floorplan/financial plan which means the stock must be paid for at 3 or 6 months depending on the brand. A machine must be paid for by the dealer after it is retailed. So if the market place is slow, and there are no sales then the dealer has to pay for the unsold stock. That is when these dealerships fold overnight. Too much unsold stock, no customers buying, posh large showroom = dealer into the bank for a lot of money.
i think people can afford bikes but they cant afford to insure/repair or replace them. i know many people who have had bikes stolen or people reverse or just straight up crash into parked bikes and do thousands of damage. its just not worth it, state of the roads in the uk as well will smash your bike to pieces.
Nothing to do with expensive bikes these people are crooks and need dealing with properly
They were selling a lot of bikes but we're very poorly run they got to big to quick and the owner has always believed to be dodgy allegedly
I often look at bikes forsale on Ebay etc.. And was always surprised by how much Completely where asking for their bike. Way over priced machines that would not sell and deprecate even more. Really badly run business which has caused misery for ordinary bikers.
The problem is ,it costs an arm & a leg to get a full motorcycle licence these days . Back in the day , you bought a new or used small capacity bike on a provisional licence , rode it about for a while with L plates , took a test costing buttons for a full licence . Also the insurance on small bikes for 17 year was a few quid a year even fully comp . Now it’s probably cheaper for a 17 year old to get a full car licence . If it wasn’t for Indian & Chinese built motorcycles & fast food delivery , motorcycling would be even further on the way out . & many more dealers in the hands of the receiver .
Even when I did it, it was still over £1000 for the lessons, test and safety gear. That's before you bought the bike and insurance...
@@MindfulMotorcyclist That’s ridiculous , even in the 1980’s when they stated a two part test . Part 1 in a car park or school yard around cones cost about 15 quid & then part two on road on bikes up to 125 cc 12 hp .also costing about 15 quid . If you wanted to take say 4 lessons ( not compulsory ) another 30 quid total 60 quid to get a full licence . Or just 30 quid without lessons using your own L plated 125 or less bike to get full licence for any bike . Insurance was a hell of a lot cheaper too in relation to the cost of living . New riders are finding it totally prohibitive to obtain a full licence & even insurance for a poxy small capacity bike these days , The governments & the EU are not helping matters either .
Passed last month. Cost just over £1000 (and a lot of time investment) to get the full A licence, £1000 in safety gear, £2900 on a used SV650, £275 insurance, £120 on tax, £200 on trickle charger, paddock stand, etc. It is a considerable outlay and I cannot be sure if I will find it enjoyable. Oh, i'm also obligated to display 'R' plates for 12 months, despite not being restricted...
Yep, took my test in 1976 when I was 18. You could ride a 250 as a learner then, as long as you had your provisional licence, insurance, and the bike was mot'd if it needed it you could just slap your L plates on and wobble off down the road. And some of those Jap 250's that were around then were bloody quick. A year later I was riding around on a Norton 850 Commando. Life was so much simpler then for anyone getting into bikes.
@ASI-l2w Yea the good old days , I stared riding on road in 1971 . It was a one part test on road , & a few Highway Code questions to gain a full licence . No CBT needed to ride on provisional on L plates , also you could ride anything from 50 to 250 cc on provisional or larger if side car attached . Insurance was dirt cheap , especially on bikes up to 100 cc which could be used for test back then. We were given the keys by the dealer , told to ride up & down the road a couple of times to get used to the bike , & then out into the busy town traffic , & left to get on with it , no CBT, we didn’t even need to wear a helmet . My first insurance was £6•50 p fully comp proper leaded fuel about 40 p a gallon . Total rip off now too many tests & costs involved , although I agree the CBT is a good idea for those new to the road in charge of a vehicle .
Anybody remember Carnell and Motorcycle City a few years back? You can almost predict it given the way they were buying dealerships. The directors have been in the motor trade for quite a few years and the reputation is less than squeeky clean. I live close to the area that you were riding (Ledbury, Ross on Wye) and you are surprisingly close to where some of the directors come from!
I feel sorry for the customers, staff and the BSB team. Very sad times given the state of UK motorcycling at the moment.
You mean Carnival and Motorcycle Shitty? I only ever buy private.........
I worked at motorcycle city!! 😂. It was a fun couple of years but total chaos, I quit in summer 2002 and went bk to school, which was a good idea because they shut about 6 months later
Yup, I remember Carnell bringing in hard to get Ducatis directly from Europe, bypassing the UK importer. Ducati threw its toys out and refused to honour warranties. I know because I bought one of their 600SS 😇 I also remember Motorcycle City in Farnborough being a big player in its day. Now both are long gone!
Yes I remember MC and then buying up local dealers then going bust !
They didn't call it "sh@tty city" for nothing
Very good video this.
Harley Davidson are struggling.
Some bikes are over £40,000 new, not selling, poor product line and over £200/hour service costs.
Second hand prices are tumbling.
Classics aren't making what they did, and auction fees and commissions are extortionate.
It's the start of a perfect storm.
Small independants will, and deserve to, survive but a lot of the 'big box' dealerships will go to the wall due to prices, overheads etc.
Big reset coming.
£200 per hour. That's more than BMW charge to work on my car!!
Local indy is 95 or 75 if I the club 🤔per hour.
My 25 year old Harley isn't for sale.
People know the price of everything and the value of nothing.
Nor my 23 year old FLSTF.
In fact the older Harleys in nice condition and low mileage are sought after as the new ones apart from being mega money are far too complicated and need a computer nerd to sort them.out .
I'm keeping my 10 year old Triumph Rocket III, it's paid for, it's mine and costs 96p a day to tax and insure
Ah, that explains why Thunder Road Cwmbran was shut when I went there on Friday. Thanks for the update. I feel like I've dodged a bullet here. Sorry for all those who haven't.
You have certainly dodged a bullet. I bought my bike Sept last year from Completely so I was well ahead of all this but by pure chance of course...
@@MindfulMotorcyclist Good luck with any warranty work, especially if that's a new bsa,.!
Groombridges in East Sussex gone pop recently. Didn't stop them trying to sell me a Suzuki gsx 8s. To be fair they didn't drop the price.
Thunder Road has been around for a long time in S. Wales and I think they were Two Wheels in Nolton street before that, these bastards didn’t have it long before they closed the cafe and now they’ve fucked it up completely. Thunder Road will be sorely missed in S. Wales. Thankyou Completely Bastards motorcycles.
Gutted for the staff, nice people
I fear there is much more to come , all dealers are struggling and when you see previously mainstream showrooms taking on Chinese and Indian brands just to shift some units it shows the traditional bike market is crumbling. IMO The Worcester Ducati dealership was always going to fail , a huge prime location showroom trying to sell enough Ducati's to make a profit ?
The 2nd hand market that was inflated by the pandemic has still not reset and there is so much overpriced stock in showrooms everywhere it's ridiculous.
The same thing is happening in the car world mostly driven by the EV charade , with dealers faking sales of EV's by registering new cars and immediately offering them as 2nd hand vehicles with huge discounts ... It's simple , people don't want over complicated overpriced bikes and they don't want EV's fullstop, despite what the industry tries to make us believe ....It's a financial Armageddon waiting to happen.
It's not just electric cars that are complex, all new cars are full of tech driving up prices, E.U demanding car manufacturers add more tech to make drivers safer and all it does is annoy the shit out of you, they should improve the standards of driving with proper driver training.
Motorcycles are getting more complicated too with more and more tech, big TFT screens with Android auto and car play, on a bike, this is mad and it's forced not optional. Very hard to find basic cars now too as they can sell higher tech for more profit and bigger SUV, they don't want to make hatchbacks or estates any more , no they want to sell larger and larger cars to clog up our streets and narrow roads, it's a joke the whole thing.
I spent 10 years driving 3 different electric cars and the last one was so bad with software and big screens no buttons or knobs and it was infuriating to drive and a huge distraction even to change the airflow for the AC, I had to go into a bloody menu. Such a job I had to get rid of it so had to hand it back to the finance company under the half rule.
I wouldn't go back to ev now again and I won't I'm happy in my Petrol manual car and it's a lot more fun to drive and it's weighs a fraction of the 2 tonne EV hatch I had before it and the weight alone dulled the experience and after so long EV just becomes an appliance like experience. + the hassle of charging at public chargers, I couldn't count the amount of wasted hrs I'll never get back.
Nothing wrong with EVs. Best cars I have driven are EVs wouldn’t go back to ICE but they are incredibly expensive to buy so not affordable unless you go the pcp route which is what most buyers do now. So that is not a determining factor. The problem is that sales of all vehicles is down due to cost of monthly payments which is too much in this cost of living crisis and job uncertainty. Someone mentioned that even big brand motorcycle dealers are selling the likes of Voge and CFMoto alongside their primary brand - even dealers such as destination Triumph - because they see that the likes of CFMoto 450MT are selling like hot cakes and their own brands are sitting gathering dust due to high purchase cost and that many are downsizing.
@@ianfutcher1518 No nothing wrong with EV until you research the environmental damage done to mine for the lithium that no one wants to talk about and calls misinformation because they want a night in shining armour to save the planet !
I did it for 10 years wouldn't go back to EV again unless I face jail, just too expensive, too much nonsense around charging and charge times and range. I'm no longer willing to pay a huge premium and suffer huge depreciation for all the poor range and charge times and I won't buy any new car again because the cost of ICE cars is gone too expensive also.
Nah, EVs are poofs cars
Listen to the forecasts by researcher and journalist Whitney Webb. It’s frightening how the banksters are collapsing Western economies for their blockchain token based CBDC rollout.
The state of the roads and the amount of cars on UKs roads have made me jack bikes in.
The markets are full of cheap used bikes and for most of us a 1999 cbr is just as fast as a 2024 cbr rrrrrrrrrrrr r at 3 grand instead of 30 grand.
New Motorcycles are too expensive, this is why many are failing, customers can’t afford to buy them, especially the youngsters, who don’t earn mega money these days! £10,000 for a motorcycle is an awful lot of money, and a lot of New bikes cost a lot more than that!!
Motorcycling in UK has been in decline for many years. It now seems to consist of a number of different groups who don’t actually like each other very much. Old codgers with old (or old style) bikes who dislike anything new. Different old codgers who claim to have been Mods in their youth who have a genuine Lambretta in the shed, but actually ride a modern replica (but only on Sunday); Sports bike riders who despise anybody with less than 100 horsepower; Harley Davidson riders who would really prefer to be Americans; BMW riders, who delight in trying to out boast each other about how many hundreds of thousands of miles they have been and then there are young people who use their modern scooters for everything, but don’t feel they have anything in common with any of the others. If I wanted a future in the motorcycle business I think I would fill the shop with cheap Chinese scooters and target the last group. The others are all dinosaurs
Wow this is true, I’m 62 and ride my trusty old Africa Twin, I hate new bikes and bikers in general, ride the other way if I see bikers, hate it when bikers want to talk about bikes, never been on a group ride, Just ride on my own….. Iv always loved Bikes, but hate Bikers…..🤣… I know where you coming from,
Fair do's you do talk bollucks
I put a deposit on a new Honda ADV 350 in a Wales dealership.and was informed on Thursday afternoon last week that it would be delivered AM Friday, NOT!!! found out it had gone in to administration on the Thursday evening!. informed my Credit Card company the contract was not honoured and got my money back the next day!!I WAS LUCKY! It is the staff I feel sorry for , they were NOT informed until after close of business Thursday night. Santander are owed a lot of money....I did get a call from the sales person at the dealership on Monday morning telling me that they cannot register any new bikes and ALL bike keys have been siezed by the auditors!! She was lovely and I am gutted for her..
You sir are super smart to have paid with a CC. Many have not. Thank goodness that happened. Seems many times credit cards aren't accepted at dealers...
can you say what dealership this was in wales?
@@Scarletsb0y I'd rather not but well known in South Wales. The staff are fantastic, dealt with them for years , shame they have been treated this way!!
Well done getting your money back, in fact I'm impressed it was so quick, last time I had to do a Sec75 on a credit card it took 8 weeks and they needed proof the company was being liquidated from the liquidators and everything has to be sent in triplicate via secure recorded delivery, was a right pain in the ass.
@@AndrewCromarty I did not use 78 just told the cc company I hadn’t had the goods on time as agreed in the contract!!!
Biking as a pastime/ hobby is a thing of the past. UK gov taxing us to death.
This has strangely been caused by the Motorcycle Manufacturers. If Manufacturers made bikes that the average Joe could ride comfortably they would sell a lot more bikes hence dealers becoming more successful. With the hundreds of videos, written articles, and information of "How To Lower Your Motorcycle" you would have thought that the manufacturers would have realised that a large portion of their target audience have inseam measurements that are considerably shorter than those of supermodels. Some bikes, particularly sports bikes or sports tourer's, have seat heights that are in excess of 32"+ and some pillion seat heights above 40" that you can hardly swing your leg over, not to mention the girth at seat height that rivals Rebel Wilson's. (sorry Rebel but yours was the first name of a famous curvy person I could remember), Stupidly Manufacturers have, off the bat, eliminated 50% of their potential bike purchasers. I talk to many women who say "I would love a bike, but I can't touch the floor, even on my tip toes when I sit on one". If manufacturers made bikes narrower, with seat heights of 30", or in some cases less, but with factory options to raise the bike, their sales figures would grow considerably, helping dealers along the way. If car manufacturers made cars with fixed seat positions to fit only 5'9"+ drivers they would be out of business faster than you can be locked up for writing a comment that some people don't agree with.
Rebel is skinny now, apparently! 😂
Google it
@mdf ..... From one vertically challenged person (29" inseam) to a shrewd commenter .... I agree 😁. I've got a Royal Enfield Meteor now. I can flatfoot the ground on that 😂.
No its more complicated than that. The COVID lockdowns destroyed economies. Many businesses and industries have never recovered. Some just died quicker than others. the UK's economy is crap. The USA's economy is crap. Its crap worldwide and getting worse for a whole host of reasons that are completely intentional.
The whole of motorcycling is struggling. Used market is dead, enfield are setting up their own, its way too hard and expensive to pass the tests,economy is bad , bike crime is rifewithout consequences which bumps insurance up.
Very sorry for the people involved. I hope they get out intact.
Lots of talk here about bikes being too expensive. That is not really true. Adusted for inflation, most mainstream bikes are cheaper now than they were in the 80s and 90s.
The problem is a diminishing market for bikes, and in the UK at least the failure of income to keep pace with inflation.
I think you don't understand inflation, it is created by the Government and banks, printing money they don't have, no collateral, then people want wage increases to counter rising prices, which then creates more inflation, if not corrected it just continues to multiply, hence USA 36 Trillion dollars in dept, UK 8.2 Trillion pounds in dept. we are broke !!!!!
2000 zx-6r abs was $7995. 2024 zx-6r is $11,400, an increase of 43%. Know many people whose wages went up 43 % in those years?
Seriously you don’t think they are expensive, Have you seen the top money paid for new Africa Twins or new GS BMW.. it’s friggin mind blowing .. and who the hell is buying the rubbish.. way too expensive…
@@percussion44this is what’s important, the fact that wages have stagnated while prices for everything have shot up in the last 4 years.
@@mickhiggins1031exactly, I remember when a Bandit 600S was £3995 new, CBR600FW for £5500, GSX-R750WV for £5995. This was between 1997 and 2000. Nowadays bikes cost what cars used to, and cars cost what houses used to! 😮
Use a credit card. If they won't accept it walk away. There are plenty of bikes for sale.
You only have to pay part of it on credit card and the card company are then liable for the whole amount.
My credit card limit is €6,000 - would not buy a used motorbike for that these days.
@@Lar308it’s something like £100-200 on CC and full amount is insured
Exactly what I did... 250 on credit card and balance paid via transfer... Luckily I got my bike delivered 2 weeks ago but have a couple of small things they were going to do under warranty... Can't see that happening now so claiming my card payment back and doing the jobs myself... Lucky escape?
@@majordelays4909 Oh never knew that thanks. My BMW dealer asked for a €5,000 deposit when I was buying my new S1000RR because I was paying cash - well bank transfer cash.
We lost our local Enfield dealer last week too JW Groombridge at Cross-in-Hand. 75 years gone.
That is so sad know it well.
Very sad probably going to be flats
No way! I remember going there few years ago to buy a Yamaha XT660, only recently remember seeing them advertising a few motorbikes i was interested in. Ended up buying from OnTheWheel dealer at Shoreham instead, maybe dodged a bullet?
It’s terrible for customers and staff. But for all the difficulties ppl are having, I have to say I was at Chester Triumph on Monday (7/10). The site was open and the team there were doing everything they could to return bikes to ppl. I was there for a warranty claim and they couldn’t do enough to help me. Clearly some things are outside of the site team’s control. I hope everyone gets back what’s theres. BW👍
I was not aware of this . Thank you for publicising it
If you have a bike in the dealership for service contact the administrators to get your property back, if you have traded in a bike as part exchange and not yet got the new bike tell the administrators that your old bike is yours until the new bike is delivered and they should supply a new bike or give you your old bike back because the contact has not been completed . If you have paid any money to them for a new bike you can kiss goodby to it as the administrators will take the money and eventually you might get something back as a creditor but you will be the last in a long line of creditors.
Unless you paid the deposit with a credit card. If so you can make a section 75 claim and get your money back. If you buy something or pay a deposit for something and it's over £100 ALWAYS ALWAYS use a credit card. Saved me over £8000 so far using CC for high value items and contracts that went under.
Who leaves their trade in bike in without immediately taking delivery of the new bike? That's the way it always worked for me. Also I wait for my bike to be serviced - not much choice since the dealer is 300km away but even if the dealer was only down the road I would at least expect my bike back by close of business that day.
@@Lar308 I will admit it is unusual for a part exchange not to happen as you take delivery of a new bike but servicing is another matter , unforeseen defects can result in the bike not being ready due to that defect. Also some jobs are so big that it will never be done in one day.
The whole UK, and indeed European, motorcycle retail industry has become too fat and too expensive - and that includes the bikes themselves. Those who knock Chinese motorcycle production, and by doing so knock a lot of 'Western' manufacturers who have bikes/engines made there, should stand back and watch. A new model of retail sales that includes Online motorcycle purchasing, 'Touch & See' Centres and 'Solely Service' maintenance points will emerge - owned by Chinese manufacturers but 'fronted' by a purchased brand name eg: Morbidelli, Benelli, SWM or 'own brand' eg QJ Motor, Voge (Loncin).
The model of 'Desperate Dealer' trying to sell new Japanese bikes, at a discount, that are at the end of the showroom 3 Month 'Stocking Plan' is over, finished.
but is there going to be enough demand? as other costs excluding the bike purchase continue to rise...it will soon be the case that to pass the full test & get insurance will cost the same as a new ( chinese ) bike purchase.
I called into Abergele last Wednesday for a look around, a brand new Ducati multistrada RS with Sold on it was sitting there, I sincerely hope the purchaser gets it .
Went out on my bike on Friday morning and shutters still down at Queensferry at 10:30 and no demo bikes outside.
Today Wednesday Chester was open.
Sad news, I bought my bike from them earlier this year and I have to say that I received excellent service from friendly and helpful staff. Pity the higher ups weren't as competent!
To be fair motorbiking is not what it was and never will be again.
My Dad rode motorbikes in his youth in the 40s and he told me that rather than me buying myself a motorbike he'd buy me a car, and that was 50 years ago.
He who had been a prodigious biker saw the way increasing car volumes and 4-wheeled nutcases were choking the roads and sadly he was right on the money.
So you missed 50 years of motorcycling - ah well - i've done nearly 40 of them for ya - well done for joining the rest of the zombies - *golf clap*
@@sjbechet1111 I won't disagree with you but at least this zombie is still fit and well.
I've ridden pillion on the rough without bone domes and for me that's as close as I want to get, haven't got the inclination for it.
When to the Cheltenham branch last Friday, the Stocktaking notice was on the door with the showroom locked, the motorcycle clothing shop nearby said that the staff had been sent home on Friday morning……….having seen companies go bust in the aviation business this looks exactly like bankruptcy.
Aviation business was finished during the 1980's. British Aerospace and all the a/c producers finished decades ago. Just a few bit builders scamming the tax payer in the UK.
i know someone who had just paid a 6k deposit - turned up to collect bike with the rest of the money and bam, shop closed and administrator there told him bad luck, he is a line of others and no idea when he will get money back if at all because we all know the little man is last in the queue after the scumbag bankers get theirs, awful that is !
shame for those that lost their jobs, real shame - the f'ers in charge who knew about this and continued to take folks money while knowing they wouldn't see the deal through, well, there is a cold seat in hell waiting for them bas7ards
if you can't pay cash for bikes or cars - get finance , that way you wouldn't be in the position my mate is - never pay a big deposit , 50 quid is an acceptable deposit, i told my mate this but hey ....
Agree, always pay the smallest deposit possible, get the bike and then if you want to pay it off go for it (there are rarely additional fees to settle these finance deals early these days).. terrible situation, happening more and more..
Lock the financial directors up its fraud
Why would he pay 6k upfront ?
Pay it on delivery that's what I've recently done . Sounds like the dealer knew they needed a cashflow.
Did they pay anything on credit card? S75 cover should work if so.
The completely motorcycle in wales shortly after taking over thunder road wales.Decided to close on Sunday and close the great cafe.I was told by the manager “NO BODY BUYS ON A SUNDAY THEY ONLY SQUEEZE THE LEVERS ON ALL THE BIKES. How many of us call in these shopS only to return later to buy on our own .Prompted by the comments from the previous SUNDAY visits from our friends.BIG, BIG MISTAKE…
Fair play to you for highlighting this con. I feel for the folks that have lost money to these bastards. When you pay for something you expect to receive it. 😡
Lots of retail struggling, not just motorbikes. Look at the boarded up shops on high streets, the boarded up pubs, the factory units to rent. The people of the UK feel miserable, there doesn`t appear to be any light at the end of the tunnel, just more and more taxes, with ever declining infrastructure and services. The governments will continue to massage figures to make it all look rosy.
i would taking the windows out and removing my paid for bike or other assets to the value
and me
You'd be charged with theft. When my employer went bust I kept the company car until two bailiffs came round ( both built like brick shit houses) and told me if I didn't give them the car, they would inform the police. What they didn't know was had anticipated this and had replaced the engine oil with engine cleaner. I never did find out what happened to the car but it did give me a small amount of satisfaction
@admiralcraddock464 If you have proof of purchase and it's paid for, how would it be theft?
There could be other offences, criminal damage possibly in gaining entry but you can't steal your own property😂
This is the same as the problem in the world of cycling, where dealerships ordered millions of pounds of stock, which they could not sell. Another major problem now too is the price of electricity, which here in Britain is the highest in the world, too high for a business to deal with, so get ready for the majority of businesses and industry in the UK to close.
Majority! A bit dramatic!!!
@@kb34958 Not really . UK has been broke for decades it's coming home to roost . Every thing is f**kd
@@colinmartin2921 Thank god push bikes aren’t selling! ☠️☠️
Your comment is nonsense.
Actually breaks my heart thinking of the people like me that will of saved probably for years for trying to attain there pride and joy for that to be taken away and nothing to see, just heartbreaking !
Hopefully the small independent dealers get a bit of extra trade.
They might get some of these bikes cheap when the liquidators auction them off...
Down here the dealer I purchased my bike from J W Groombridge has closed the shop due the landowner putting up the rent, overheads and not making enough money per bike. I'm not aware of people not receiving motorcycles or any other goods that they have paid for. The dealership owner posted on FB his reasons for closure and it all seems quite amicable and above board as far as I can see.
Good luck to anybody who's money or vehicle is now being held by Completely Motorbikes or the receivers. Good luck also to the employees of the company in these pressing times.
Was Groombridge's bought out by Completely Motorbikes?
Agree, good luck to people mid purchase and the staff...
@@tommoso55 That I don't know. As far as I know it was owned locally by the chap who bought it from the Groombridge family some years ago. There are rumours that a Ducati dealer is moving in and that's all I've seen online.
@@simonchilli2088This situation is completely different your dealerships is just closing down and possibly just selling off his stock . The completely group has gone into administration (possibly bankruptcy) all the assets have been seized and anyone who has paid for a bike and not received it is now just an unsecured creditor and could get virtually nothing back . There could be criminal proceedings if it could be proven that the directors kept the company trading after they knew they were insolvent but it won’t help those people who are owed money.
My dad bought an RD250 in 1976 from them in Cross in Hand
I just had my bike stolen. Not replacing. Roads, traffic, pot holes grit on roads, are just too bad.
A friend told me he skidded on oil on a council estate in west London because of dickheads riding quad bikes or something round there. His bike (a Harley Sportster) was a wreck but he was OK. He hasn't ridden since.
So what the choice use a car or walk? Public transportation? On those roads.
A couple of generations ago, motorcycles were used much more as transport (being a cheaper alternative to cars). Much as I love marques such as Ducati, they're operating in an ever- dwindling market - despite their obvious appeal , the majority of enthusiasts can't afford them, especially in the UK, where absolutely everything is so bloody expensive
I think if insurnace companies begin to be properly regulated then there is no reason motorcyles can carry on as they always have. I mean, with congestion getting more and more it makes sense to use and even encourage motorcyles. The main thing is running costs and the biggest slice of that by far is insurance. It's been allowed to get silly.
Population density will increase as climate change hits and less land is available for living on - if we prioritise narrow bikes over chonky cars we can still get people moving about.
They always seemed very expensive to me. For example they had used Royal Enfields for sale that were more than they cost to buy new . Makes sense what’s happened now .
Legal point - if you own a bike that is at the dealers for servicing etc and they go into receivership and you miss getting it back, you will be able to apply to the receivers and give them proof of ownership (not a registration document, it needs to be a purchase receipt) they will ensure the bike is returned to you.
I tried to part-ex my Street Twin against a new Scrambler 1200 at Triumph Chester on 18th September, but I was told they weren’t taking part-exes on new bikes, only used ones (and the used ones they had were a bit steep, even for Triumph). I thought it was a bit weird; it looks like I dodged a bullet. I feel sorry for the guys who work there, as they were always really helpful.
The walls are closing in on those using credit. Bikes are way too expensive. No need for fancy electronics….. buy a good bike for 5K used, and ride it …. You can get some great bikes for 5K from 90s and 2000s. Spending over 12k is mad, it’s still 12K !!!!
Yeah, I paid 2.8k€ a year ago for a Honda Deauville that rides awesome 🎉
I’m 76 now and still have a motorbike I’ve taken my three sons all over the place on the back of my various bikes Not one is interested in owning a motorcycles and also are there friends. Also I have a 671 super charged 383 sbc volvo pv544 hot rod. Not really interested and don’t want any of my stuff I want to pass on. Sad times
Out of interest what do you think is the reason for the younger generation's lack of enthusiasm for bikes and cars?
I literally have a daytona 675 in their workshop being repaired under warranty and I have no idea what's happening, the tech working on my bike is an amazing human being but he has no idea what's happening either... I'm a bit confused and worried with what's happening to my bike but i'm equally worried about the staff as they're always treated me so kindly!
All the best to all the staff and fingers crossed I get my bike back!
The way the UK is going, we need to insist that where large purchases are concerned, upfront monies are retained in a protected client account until transaction completes. Sadly we're going to see more of this sort of thing happen.
We move from a first world trust based society to a third world trustless society...
@@MrB1967 💯 agree. As we are virtually the same age, we have observed the changes first hand.
If people use credit card on large items (£100 to £30,000) even just paying a 1p deposit, they are covered under section 75.
The bottom line is that prices have become ridiculous and interest rates also remain high. I would further suggest that the PCP con is becoming less attractive, as the final value figures are extortionate.
The future is Chinese and RE…and the other manufacturers only have their greed and poor service to blame.
For the here and now, pay as small a deposit as you can, borrow if you must from your bank or building society and turn up on the day with cash or a bank transfer. Forget PCP or finance arranged through the dealer, it’s a massive con. One final point, if your plan was to return the bike at the end of the PCP loan period how do you do that if the dealer has gone!
Good points, I've always been a cash guy but my bikes are usually only 5-6k max. People are saying finance does protect you a little as you haven't shelled out the full amount and the company will seek to recover the bike? Perhaps true but my gut says pay off the bike and then it's yours to enjoy
With regards to the PCP product the future value should be a guaranteed value so the amount it is basically irrelevant. The higher it is the lower your monthly payment. The actual amount is not your problem as the finance company is the person doing the guaranteeing so at the end of the agreement you can hand the bike back to the finance company (not the dealer) and walk away along as the miles rules you signed up for are met.
Motorcycling is in its death throes, only just surviving due to an ever decreasing demographic of older men like me who are now starting to give up riding for age related reasons. There are no longer younger riders coming along in great enough numbers to replace them and the final nail in the coffin is the extortionate price of bikes combined with a cost of living crisis with no light at the end of the tunnel. It was great while it lasted, but those of us riding today are the hangers on at the end of the party, after the bar has closed, and the band are packing away their gear. Having said that I can't find anything official being reported about this. Only internet rumour
Bought my current and previous Ducati from Woods of Abergele. The owner Andrew Wood, retired and Completely Motorbikes bought the business a few years back. Things (and staff) changed.
Agreed, the difference between Woods & CM at Abergele is night and day. Under the Woods banner the staff were very relaxed and zero sales pressure, CM staff seem way more pushy and try multiple times during the conversation to nail a deposit out of you which is just off putting.
I managed to recover my bike from Chester last Monday. The staff were devastated. Triumph had apparently secured the keys to the new bikes during the initial closure on Friday. I hope people can recover their hard earned money.
This age of austerity means peoples priorities are family,home,the cost of food and household bills.
New motorbikes are expensive and electronicly complicated.
Im lucky enough to own a 7year old r nine t.Easy to change engine and gearbox oil,brake fluid and valve clearances
All the above means not having to rely on dealers.
The car market is also on shaky ground, Only second hand cars are being sold.
I feel sorry for the staff, Carnells did the same in the mid 90s bought all the independent dealers up built multi floor showrooms then disappeared, I’ve dealt with Woods at Abergele but mainly with Chester & the staff were great, I only had my bike in for its service early September,
Good luck to all customers, hope they dont lose out.
The stack them high sell them cheap dealerships often go bust the slim profit margins rely on lots of sales to keep going . I have seen Motorcycle city , cohburn and Hugh’s , Carnell/ Rossi all go under when times are bad . The sad thing is they often damage other dealers as well the discounts affect what they can sell a bike for both new and secondhand and pity the customer who has paid full price when they try to trade in.
Carnells major failing was moving car salesmen from their car dealerships into the bike franchises. I used to visit the big one in Birmingham frequently and most of the staff didn’t even have a full motorcycle licence, the car park was full of company cars and the staff were frankly clueless.
@@NewWorldHoarder Their whole business model was based on pressure selling and adding things onto the loan like clothing and service deals which is something that a lot of this type,of dealerships try to do. I also hate it when you get a car salesman in a bike dealership, the one remaining Harley dealership near me does this and it is really annoying when they have no idea what they are selling .
We are in a recession, and bikes are to expensive
Point of order, the UK is not in recession, the economy has grown(but you might not think so!)
I'm completely put off by the big chain shops and don't trust their business model.
We've got a small independent MC dealer in our village who've been there donkeys years and its a shame there aren't more.
there are alot of bikes new around the 7 - 8500 price which going back years is actually cheaper than bikes of old for similar spec, bikes are dying because young people just arent interested
@@BodybuildingSteve Glad I’m keeping it alive. I’ve been riding since 20 and I’m now 25.
Got a few of us who go out all under 30 so we do exist just no where near as many. I think the issue is that I’m in a fortunate position where I can run a bike and a car. If people can only afford to run one, who is there right mind wants to riding in rain, minus conditions, frost and so on. They will always indefinitely choose the car.
That’s the problem!
I bought a new Moto Guzzi V7 Stone from Moto Corsa in 2021, traded my 660 Trident in part ex let them have it 3 months before collecting my bike. collected it in June and they went bust 4 weeks later. I dodged a bullet there, they had a fancy showroom made TH-cam videos and even sold MV Augustas.
JW Groombridge in Heathfield has gone after 73 years - sad days
I have heard from a few people that deliveries of paid for bikes have resumed, hopefully it will be that way for everybody
Hope so too 🙏
I consider myself very lucky to have taken delivery of my bike on the 20/09, just before all this kicked off. They did however forget the panniers that were included in the sale, so I obviously thought I'd never see them. However they turned up from Thunder Road this afternoon, so I feel very fortunate considering other peoples situation in this nightmare. Hope it works out for all you guys that have been caught up in this.
New motorbikes are pricing themselves out of the market. £5,500 for just a new Yamaha 125? What!! That was under 3k not that long ago. Insurance companies are fleecing everyone and need to be regulated. Obtaining a full licence is complicated and too expensive.
When I was 17 and riding a 125 it was dirt cheap and a lot of fun. Insurance back then in 1987 was £100 for 3rd party, fire and theft (£350 in today's money). My son and daughter are being charged £2,200 and £2,600 a year, third party only for their 125's. Being charged 7 times more for the same thing is scandalous!
Riding a bike is now a luxury for people with a lot of excess income, and those with excess income are rapidly dwindling.
I have bought 3 bikes from CM. The latest barely two weeks ago so my warranty is now worthless. I must however pay respects to the staff at Hinckley as their sales staff have been excellent, particularly Kevin and Nev. I loved the approach of CM at Hinckley as it made every bike available to sit on with plenty of space either side so no need to pull anything out to get to them.
However, last year they had a Suzuki Hayabusa off me, a lovely 2022 gen 3 which had finance on it. I did have to chase them up to make sure the finance was paid off as a month after buying it it hadn't been. In future I will only buy a bike with a credit card as I understand this offers an amount of protection.
I bought my Goldstar from them Bib mind you that was in Sept last year when I guess this wasn't yet on the horizon. The team in Worcester were chuffed to have CM take them over and they sorted me out with delivery etc. Very helpful.
Is the Hinckley branch the one just off the A5 by the Lime Kiln pub?
If the bikes were new or newish the warranty is with the manufacturer not the dealership, and other dealership for that marque will honour it.
If it is an older bike bought with a dealers warranty look in whether it was covered by a trade body and insured through that.
I got caught similarly by the Carpetright collapse earlier this year. I did get the carpet in the end, but it was a narrow scrape. Always, always, use a credit card. If they refuse, walk and go elsewhere.
I was lucky, my carpet was bought and fitted a month before they went bust
Cardiff B.M.W and Cardiff Harley Davidson went about 3 months ago. They were part of the M & P group, based in Swansea
I sold my bike last month, l've been watching the market for a year or more. To sell my bike, the lowest owners (2), lowest mileage (5k), newest year (16) and the best condition model in the UK l had to make it the cheapest. The others are still for sale. What you think your bike is "worth" & what you are actually going to get in cash for it are probably world's apart. Soon, people won't be trading in either.....
I've been watching a bike in a local dealers sitting in the showroom for over 12 months now. It's absolute nonsense that they still expect to get the price they're asking for it.
Gut wrenching for people waiting for bikes and the affected by this, I’ve purchased six bikes from thunderoad in Bridgend and have always been treated well, it’s a sign of the times, we’re in recession now , first COVID then cost of living, I run a small business and know how hard it is at the sharp end, it’s brutal at the moment guys for everyone in all business, not just bikes.
Absolutely disgusting that people dont get their bike or their money back! Hear about this too often and this needs to change
Just completed a brilliant p/ex with a famous name dealer in the Midlands and myself having been in business for 50+ years, the amount of stock they had frightened me, but then I'm only a rider! I actually feel for some of the big names who are good because your statement is good advice, but possibly scaring buyers from them, they will crumble very very quickly!
Yes do you think you can get at your bike you've paid for by going to the dealer or is that a fools errand as its all tied up in legal tape by now there's no recourse?
@@MindfulMotorcyclist Sorry, my English is poor, deal completed and sorted a month ago!
Sounds like a business model that would no way work in current times and a highly risky concept even in goodtime.
Mismanaged and now the front line has to suffer it..
Only blessing is the receivers in most cases will fulfill any issues with monies etc.
This will have a huge ripple affect. I feel for everyone affected.
Great content 👍
All businesses are beginning to show the strains of the economic crunch. It is not just motorcycle dealers that are in deep shit.
Irrespective of which dealer you use, most if not all of the stock you see is held on bank overdrafts. Bikes have gone up in price, credit has fuelled the expansion of dealers, people no longer buy, they rent; and dealers have taken on massive leverage and exposure to the shifting economic climate. Bikes are artificially highly priced and now, because the bulk of the public are buying cars instead of bikes, dealers are crumbling and falling away. What was once the choice of the first time motorist, the teenager to the 25 year old, is now so expensive that those who used to buy them, can no longer afford them. Even second hand prices are kept artificially high, because the dealers have bet their balls on a market that no longer exists.
How many bikers do you see on the roads today compared to the 80s and 90s? People 'cut their teeth' on 250s like the Suzuki X7, the Yamaha RD 250; and later the L plate-riders' last fling, the 250 LC. People could buy and run a bike for a couple of Hundred Pounds, insurance used to be peanuts, TPFT was dirt cheap and could be got by anybody, petrol was cheap, the running costs of a 2 stroke were easy to live with. What do we see today; learner bikes costing £4,000 or more, insurance is prohibitively expensive for all but the older rider; and the roads, yes, let us not forget the roads, pothole hell and unobservant car drivers, more interested in their phones than looking out for bikers. And quite recently, in 2 separate incidents, car drivers were responsible for the deaths of 2 bikers, and all that the car drivers received was a 10 month suspended sentence each. In other words, no real prosecution. What message does that send?
Biking used to be fun, biking used to be cheap, is it any wonder that we are a dying breed?
@@can-uc-wakeup it makes little difference to the dealer whether you pay cash or finance! He gets paid on day of delivery. However with any finance deal he may get some finance commission, especially PCP deals.
A lot of problems on the retail side at the moment. It's very worrying for the community.
I thought that when I purchased.
Not many people viewing.
Made sure I got ownership as soon as the money was paid.
This is dreadful news for so many people. Disgraceful, really. Nick
If you have ordered a bike (new or used) and paid a deposit on it, you are entitled to have either the bike or your money back, providing you have a printed receipt/bill of sale with a VIN or Reg number on it.
If your bike is in for service, you can get it back.
Act quickly because if administrators/receivers have been appointed they want to sell all realisable assets on asap.
You need to identify the administrator/receiver (who will be a named individual working for an insolvency company) and conduct all dealings with him and in writing. There should be a notice on the premises saying who it is. If not check the London Gazette/Companies House (you can do either on-line).
If you suspect criminal practice, don't waste time with the police, they won't be interested. But they will be interested if you try to seize items from the premises.
The UK's Ltd Liability laws need reform.
A customer’s bike in for service is not a realisable asset!
After owing my own motorcycle dealership with all 4 Japanese brands I can say the manufacturers are very hard to deal with. Terrible trading margins and huge overheads.
Been the Same way in the motor trade with cars for the last 20yrs. The dictatorship from manufactures to franchises is horrendous. Definitely do as I say not do as I do mentality.
it comes down to 1 thing people havent any money its that simple its nothing to do with anything else , most people have less than 100 pounds in there bank in uk FACT, there not going out to buy a bike each year there are less riders through death old age young people are not riding bikes as much as before but the major factor in all of it is the uk is skint,.
really? so why do land rovers sell & sell & sell. why do i see people in supermarkets carts chock full of garbage, not even bat an eye at "350 pounds please", there's plenty of idiots with money...motorcycles are niche.... they need to become mainstream again!
@@kass9722 no m8 people are skint thats a FACT im a financial advisor and ill tell you now whats coming in 2 months will kill 90% of uk business,s watch and learn the banks state 19 percent have less than 100 pounds 5% have no saving a all , there all living on credit hence why uk is 3 trillion in dept with a per person gdp less than the avergae down in the third world those are FACTS credit cards debit cards dont equal money it isnt there.
Swings and roundabouts come to mind,it's a buyers market out there now from classics to modern,a lot of headaches for some retailers who hogged the market with modern and classic asking over the top prices now they are stuck with them and if you are on the banks for overdrafts then they will be calling them in,perhaps it will get some more folks buying cheaper bikes to take up the hobby and learn some new skills.
Simple answer to this. If it seems to good to be true - it is. Expansion at the speed CM attempted is not possible, particularly not in industries such as this where profit margins are getting lower and lower. Still plenty of long established local dealers about so try and use them. Other large groups will undoubtedly be struggling now so be careful if you choose to deal with them. Large groups have never worked in the motorcycle industry and never will.
The government have made it to expensive just to get a licence. Young people are not buying bikes.
This is sad. I was in a ‘premium’ Italian brands dealership in central London recently, the sales guy never got up from behind his desk and was was talking at the only other customer saying that nothing is selling because none of the bikes can get insurance. Anything with a fairing forget about. If you don’t have a concrete garage forget about. I do believe the insurance market is killing the industry and should be more innovative. Eg how about having fully comp without theft, stick a premium tracker on the bike and reduce risk that way. Something has to happen or the bike industry will actually die. Shame
Heard a few days ago about the Staverton branch..... didn't realise they had places all over the UK . What a f**k up !
Have to admit , if I ever bought a bike from a dealer in the past , If I was paying anything for it I was riding the thing out of the shop there and then. I am old school though haha . Plenty of decent used bikes around on private sale for low money at the moment 👍
Never pay the full amount upfront for any goods until you have your hands on it!!
Why pay to take tests get a licence, insurance, road tax when you can get a leccy bicycle that gets you wherever you want to go that you can take on the train if you want to go further afield ? Biking isn't dead yet but i don't think there's big future in it. We must enjoy it while we can.
Bikes in the workshop for repairs or servicing already registered to owners will and must be returned (eventually) as they are now in the customers or the organisation that financed thems names legally.
I truly feel for those that are trapped in this position, it's just so unfair that you pay for goods and the appointed receiver is just not interested in refunding your money, we the buyer are at the back of the queue 😢
Awful isn't it Bob, people are posting horror stories all the time. Probably got to be 10s if not more of people stuck mid purchase with no bike or cash...
Normally buying up other businesses (i.e. dealers) is something you do when you're doing well and they're not. Because it's a money pit. And it takes some years to make those profitable operations.
Buying up other dealers when you're already in trouble is the quickest way to destroy what was left of your company. Especially if you have to borrow to do it.
This is exactly how it was framed to me by many other smaller and independent dealers. They couldn't make sense of the strategy..
@@MindfulMotorcyclist I don't think there was a strategy to make sense of. Most probably it was a course of action that directly benefitted select executives whilst burying the business under a mountain of debt (there's a reason balance sheets and P&L statements are made to be deliberately overcomplicated, you can hide a LOT of sh!t in plain sight on those).
Read some of their less-than-flattering reviews and a common theme emerged - their core focus was cash flow to the exclusion of everything else. I.e. milking the few customers those dealers had left until they left too. This sort of nonsense gets dictated from the top and usually comes with the appropriate incentive structure (carrot *and* stick) to get otherwise competent and conscientious employees to do really shady crap.
Groombridges Royal Enfield / Kawasaki dealer in East Sussex went last week. I was told they had been in business since at least 1951. Very sad. I hear that Sykes Harley Davidson dealership are taking over the Royal Enfield business for the area though.
Thunder road has been in S. Wales for a long time and before that I think they were Two Wheels in Nolton street, Bridgend. First thing new owners done was to close the cafe, now they’ve ruined it completely. Thunder Road will be sadly missed in S. Wales.