Sheene Suzuki Under The Hammer

Thursday, December 22nd

The only remaining original 1984 works Suzuki XR45 (£70,000-80,000) and a 1983 works Suzuki XR40 (£60,000-70,000), both ridden by Barry Sheene in Grands Prix, are early entries for H&Hs first dedicated cycle and motorcycle sale, which is being held at the Shepton Mallet Bike Show on February 11/12, 2006.

Other motorcycles already consigned include:

1977 Suzuki RG500 Mk2 (£10,000-12,000) 1980 Suzuki RG500 Mk5 (£9,000-10,000) 1980 Suzuki RG500 Mk5 (£7,500-8,500

1978 Yamaha TZ 250 E (£3,500-4,500) 1979 Yamaha TZ 350 F (£4,500-5,500) 1982 Yamaha TZ 500 J (£12,000-14,000)

1975 Yamaha TZ 750 B (£13,000-15,000) 1979 Yamaha TZ 750 F (£13,000-15,000 1987 Bimota JB9 (£2,500-3,500)

1950 Vespa 125 (£2,000-3,000) 1952 Vespa 125 (£2,000-3,000) Lambretta 150 ((£2,500-3,500) Pedal-powered machines currently include:

1880 Surrey Machinist Co Invincible Ordinary Bicycle (£6,500-7,500) 1930 Warrick box tricycle (£350-450) Harding tricycle (£250-350) Raleigh trade cycle (no reserve)

Raleigh trade cycle (small wheel) Triumph tandem (no reserve) H&H is continuing to build up its motorcycle department and has just added a further pair of highly regarded experts, namely:

Richard Rosenthal who is especially well know in veteran and vintage circles

Jim Reynolds a most respected classic motorcycle journalist and editor of Motorcycle Trader

(this article was taken from insidebikes.com)
GT on 22.12.05 @ 04:54 PM GMT [link]

Tuesday, December 20th

UK Market Stats

The MCI have just released the official UK registration figures for new motorcycles and scooters, during November 2005.

Overall, new bike/moped/scooter registrations are down by 4%, but scooters and mopeds have fallen by 25% and 53% respectively, with motorcycle sales actually rising - allegedly - to counteract the trend in declining moped/scooter sales.

It's not surprising that moped sales are collapsing, as sales of illegal minibikes and quads are skyrocketing.

However, the MCI claim that supersports category registrations were up by 11% in November, is unlikely, for one simple reason; the MCI class the Honda CBR125R as a sportsbike, which it patently is not - it is a learner bike. Subtract those 2600 odd CBR125 'sales' and things look very different.

Yes, astonishingly, the CBR125R has 'sold' 2653 units so far in 2005, which is remarkable, as insidebikes.com hasn't seen rows of them parked up in town centres, outside college halls, late night shops, kebab shops, off licences or other places where teenagers tend to gather.

Meanwhile, check out BMW's R1200GS - 1871 registered so far in 2005 and the 5th best selling two wheeler in the UK market. Just shows how a Hollywood celeb connection, plus a cracking TV series, can shift hundreds of expensive new bikes.

Top off-road bike in 2005 has been the WR450F Yamaha, top custom has been the Harley FXS, top tourer is the R1200RT, whilst top sportbike has been the GSXR1000, just ahead of the CBR1000RR.

In a weak UK bike market, it's been BMW who have emerged as the runaway winner in 2005, regardless of what the official registration figures might say.

BMW sales have rocketed, as the factory have introduced some exciting new models - crucially, the bikes hold their re-sale value too. Discounting bikes damages values in the long run, which sends customers' hard earned cash elsewhere - a lesson that some others in the motorcycle trade are still finding hard to learn.

With few genuinely innovative models from the Japanese brands for 2006, especially in the non sportbike sector, it looks like BMW, Triumph, KTM and the Chinese brands will be the ones to grow in the UK.

(this article was taken from insidebikes.com)
GT on 20.12.05 @ 10:45 AM GMT [link]

Thursday, December 15th

Low Seat Enfield Bullet 500

Royal Enfield UK have developed a low seat option for their popular new Bullet Electra-X 500cc single, in response to demand from the British public.

The average UK male is 59 (1.75M) and the average female is 54 tall (1.6M) and although the Bullets standard 82cm seat is not tall by modern standards, riders of less than average height sometimes struggle. The new low seat option makes the machine far more manageable for shorter riders and can significantly increase confidence.

The low seat option reduces the seat height by 4 (10cm) to just 72cm, comparable to a Harley Davidson XL1200R Sportster (at 71.4cm) and 5cm lower than the Triumph Bonneville (77.5cm).

The Bullet Electra-X, with its new all alloy lean burn engine, has been an instant hit with British riders following its launch at the end of 2004. As a modern interpretation of a classic British 500cc single cylinder power plant, it offers improved reliability, better fuel economy (regularly returning over 75mpg) and lower emissions than both its classic predecessor and contemporary multi cylinder alternatives. It now accounts for over 50% of Royal Enfields UK sales, hence the importance of a low seat option.

The Royal Enfield Bullet Electra with low seat sells for £3,582 on the road through Royal Enfield dealers and is covered by the standard 12-month warranty. Owners wishing to lower the seat on existing machines can purchase the low seat as an aftermarket accessory for £130 inc. VAT.

(this article was taken from insidebikes.com)
GT on 15.12.05 @ 03:20 PM GMT [link]

Friday, December 9th

Autosport Show 2006

Autosport International 2006, 12-15 January, is storming forward, with more launches than ever before. A host of international drivers and top-flight cars from across the spectrum of motorsport are also lining up to attend the show, which is held at the NEC in Birmingham.

The biggest-ever collection of more than 600 performance and racing cars will be seen at the show. Some of these astonishing cars will be unveiled to the world for the very first time, while others will be making their UK debut. One of the headliners will be French manufacturers Ligier, who will make their first appearance at Autosport International and unveil the JS49 Sport Prototype.

Other launches come from Mitsubishi (with the L200 and the Lancer Evolution EVO IX), Subaru (with the new Impreza WRX STI), Alfa Romeo, Connaught, Radical, Team Spatz, Maybach, plus many more which are due to be announced over the coming weeks.

Red Bull Racing Formula One young gun Vitantonio Liuzzi will officially open the show on Thursday 12 January, while Bernie Ecclestone is travelling to the NEC to visit the show for the first time ever on Friday 13 January. ITV F1's Louise Goodman and Paul Musselle will host the Live Action Arena, presented by Fulda Tyres, with a little help from Superbike supremo Jamie Whitham. The battle of the McRaes will see Jimmy McRae, still the most successful British Rally Championship competitor, go head-to-head with Russell Brookes, while Alister McRae is pitting his skills against Martin Rowe, both in identical Subaru Imprezas.

Grand Prix Racewear, the Motorsport safety equipment, performance parts and accessories supplier, are providing a massive 12% off all orders placed with them during the course of the show. This amazing offer is valid to all pre-registered trade visitors.

In celebration of Autosport International's stunning 100 Years of Grand Prix Racing feature, presented by the Donington Grand Prix Collection, all trade day visitors will also get £7 off entry to the museum located at Donington Park, when purchasing two tickets.

For the latest information and tickets log onto http://www.autosport-international.com/ticketsandprices.asp

The Show is open 09.00 to 18.00 daily. Press day: Thursday 12 January 2006 Trade only: Thursday 12 & Friday 13 January 2006 Public days: Saturday 14 & Sunday 15 January 2006.

(this article was taken from insidebikes.com)
GT on 09.12.05 @ 05:25 PM GMT [link]

Monday, December 5th

Paul Smith Designer Bonneville's

Paul Smith, Designer: Tue Mantoni, the Commercial Director of Triumph, and I were having a drink and thought it would be good fun to work on a project. It has been great customising these classic bikes and working with another British brand which has so much history and is a real success story.

For a perfect Christmas present the ultimate would be one of the very limited (to 100) Triumph Bonneville T100s by Paul Smith. While the Triumph logo and iconic images feature large on the clothing and accessories collections, the motorbike is the reverse a Triumph bike with Paul Smith design details.The small production run resulted from the tremendous interest in the nine Triumph Bonneville T100s with one-off paint schemes used as press pieces and for promotional activity worldwide. The two Limited Edition Triumph Bonneville T100s by Paul Smith retail at £7,800 on-the-road, and can be ordered through any Triumph dealership on a strictly first come, first served basis. The lucky owners will take delivery in March 2006.

Now a worldwide byword for stylish British quality, Paul Smiths introduction into fashion was (quite literally) completely accidental.

Working in a clothing warehouse having left school at 16, his real passion was sport. And his ambition was to become a professional racing cyclist - until a terrible accident when he was 17 left him in hospital for 6 months.

A chance post-hospital pub meeting with some of his new acquaintances, and those of the local Art College, led to a burgeoning interest in fashion and design. Within two years, he was managing his first boutique in Nottingham and with the encouragement of his girlfriend (now wife) Pauline Denyer and a small amount of savings, opened a tiny shop in 1970.

Paul started to take evening classes for tailoring and with the help of Pauline (an RCA fashion graduate), Paul was able to create what he wanted.

By 1976 Paul showed his first menswear collection in Paris under the Paul Smith label. The rest, as they say, is history.

The Paul Smith Triumph T100 costs EURO 11,000. For further information on this perfect Christmas present please visit www.paulsmith.co.uk or www.triumph.co.uk

GT on 05.12.05 @ 04:33 PM GMT [link]

Thursday, December 1st

Mad Dogs And Anglo Irishmen.

The Milward Memorial Ride has reached its destination in Banjul, The Gambia, after an eventful week of long motorcycling days, sun, desert, shale and dust.

Travelling from Agadir, a long day's ride saw them in Laayoune in the Western Sahara. The next two days saw the long Atlantic Route ride, joining the new sealed road southwards after crossing the border into Mauritania and on towards Senegal.

A rest day was taken at the travellers stop over of 'Zebrabar', nr St Louis, Senegal, after a day of 'piste' riding to avoid the notorious border crossing from Mauritania to Senegal at Rosso -- reputed to the worst border in Africa.

The riders have been joined in Senegal by Ian Mutch from MAG UK and Barbara Alam, who along with the riders will both be involved with a two day itinerary of activity with Riders For Health at their Gambia centre.

Dave and Craig will then depart northward to pay tribute to Simon Milward at the site where he had his accident near Kayes in Mali.

To keep up to date on the Milward Memorial Motorcycle Ride visit www.worldofbmw.com or www.motorcycleoutreach.org

(this update was taken from insidebikes.com)
GT on 01.12.05 @ 11:45 AM GMT [link]

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