SHORTCUTS Triumph tops big league
KENT Fire and Rescue Service has been presented with the Prince Michael International Road Safety Award for its Biker Down road safety project. The pioneering motorcycle safety course provides bikers and clubs with instruction on what they should do if they are first at the scene of a motorcycle accident. Launched in 2011, the scheme has since generated national interest and has been adopted by some other fire and rescue services.
ROAD ANGEL GROUP is offering customers who buy its Bike Trac motorcycle tracker a free accident assistance service through motorcycle claims specialist McAMS. Available to new and existing purchasers, the cover offers a range of services to customers involved in a non-fault accident. It includes replacement bike hire, helmet and clothing replacement, bike repairs and loss of earnings as well as a dedicated helpline.
PUTOLINE has updated its website to include more applications in its Product Finder section. Dealers linking the up- dated section to their own website are being offered free Putoline race overalls with their next order. More information:
sales@putoline.co.uk
THE MCIA has asked its members for information about the compatibility of their machines with E10 ethanol fuel, which is due to be introduced at some petrol stations early this year. Once compiled, the information will be published on the association’s website where the public can make use of it. The association says that with the introduction of E10 fuel there is no legal requirement for the current fuel to be available after December 2013, and warns that E10 may have serious implications for older motorcycles.
Figures from the MCIA, the bike industry trade body, confirm that Triumph has retained its position as the UK’s top selling bike brand in the over-500cc category. The Hinckley-based manufacturer has maintained a 19.4 per cent share of the market in 2012, thanks to 7488 sales, and the company has continued to follow a robust product development strategy with the launch of a number of new models. During 2012, Triumph saw strong sales of its new, large capacity, adventure bike, the Tiger Explorer, introduced in March 2012, as well as the middleweight Tiger 800 and Street Triple models. The classic range, including the Bonneville and Thruxton bikes, also continues to perform consistently. More recently, the launch of the all-new Trophy in September 2012 plus the all-new Daytona 675 and updated Street Triple models in November 2012 is further testament to the company’s investment in design and engineering. And factory spending on research and development increased in 2011/12 by approximately ten per cent, to £24m. Over the last four years, the global market for motorcycles
over 500cc has fallen dramatically from 1,250,000 units in 2008 to 690,000 in 2012. Despite this fall of 45 per cent, Triumph has more than doubled its global market share from 2.3 to 5.7 per cent. Over the same period, it has doubled its design engineering resource in the UK, grown its model range from 13 to 23 bikes and increased its total manufacturing facilities to 165,000sq.m. Overseas expansion has played an important role in
Triumph’s success. The company has launched into 13 new geographical markets including Argentina, Brazil, Columbia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Russia and Slovakia. It currently
sells motorcycles in 52 markets across the world, exporting approximately 85 per cent of its global volume. In Brazil, Triumph re-established a presence in the market with its own operation, including the opening of an assembly plant, subsidiary office and a flagship 1600sq.m retail store located in downtown Sao Paulo, a city of over 11 million people. In the first full month of trading, the dealership reported high levels of interest, selling over 200 motorcycles. Triumph’s global aspirations continue in 2013 with the company’s planned entry into the Indian market, where it is expected that Triumph motorcycles will be on sale by the end of the year.
Principal Insurance reveals expansion plans
Principal Insurance wants more dealers. Managing director Dave Bowcock (right), who started the company in 2011, is keen to more than double the number of policyholders from 7000 to 15,000 within a year and then grow exponentially to 60,000 policyholders by the end of 2015. “That would put us in the top six or
seven in the bike insurance world,” says 39-year-old Bowcock, “big enough to affect things. The motorcycle insurance world is tired and we want to give it a bolt of energy.” With offices above Ducati Manchester
Dean Richards (left), Newcastle Falcons director of rugby, collects a new KTM 990 Adventure R from Ian Myers of M and S Motorcycles, Eastgate Road, Newcastle. Richards, an ex-England forward who won 48 caps for his national team, has been a biker most of his life and takes regular riding holidays in the UK and Europe.
Keep up to speed with the latest news at
www.britishdealernews.co.uk
in Sale, Manchester, Principal has nine staff. This would increase to 35-40 if the 60,000 target is reached. “Now is the time to promote,” says
Bowcock, who has spent 24 years in the insurance industry . He left Carole Nash Insurance after 14 years. During that time he was in charge of 400 staff. At Principal the emphasis is on direct contact with the customer wherever possible, 90 per cent of Principal business
being devoted to the motorcycle world, says Bowcock. Of that business the public/trade split is 50/50. Tailoring services to suit the customer, Principal is already the preferred insurance provider for importer MotoGB’s portfolio of SYM, Benelli, MV Agusta, Daelim, and Keeway. Recently added to the Principal books is Victory Motorcycles, shortly to be followed by Indian Motorcycle. Three other main players are under negotiation. “We work with customer, dealer and manufacturer – the whole circle,” says Bowcock. “We have a fresh approach. Our staff know what they are talking about and we understand the market. We also understand that the internet has changed the market over the past six years. It is a price-driven market, but there are people who rely on service, knowing that in the event of a claim it will be handled correctly. We provide that service.
“We cover everything from a
16-year-old on a moped, to an 80-year-old on a classic, helmet and clothing, personal accident, key care, legal, UK and European breakdown cover, and full motor trade policies – you name it. We have just signed a deal with MotoNovo for seven-day free insurance once the customer has bought
a bike. This will assist the dealer to tax the bike and shift the metal quicker. And it’s a fantastic service to the customer. And we work hard on the claims side, which is important. After all, that’s the whole point of having insurance. “We know that fewer new bikes are being sold, but the two to four-year-old second-hand market is big. Some owners swap bikes three or four times a year. We know the market and we want to work with dealers who want to get ahead.” Dealer enquiries to Dave Bowcock or Matt Byrne on 0161 905 0722.
QUALITY ENGINE PARTS
• Massive stocks - best trade prices • Two stroke / four stroke - road / off-road • Next day delivery - UK (FREE delivery on orders over £200) • 2/3 day delivery - EU
GRAMPIAN MOTORS, MUSKER ST, LIVERPOOL, L23 0UB, UK
TEL: 0151 931 5009 FAX: 0151 931 4959
www.mitaka.co.uk sales@grampianmotors.co.uk
16 MARCH 2013
OPEN 8.00am 6.00pm Mon-Fri
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