British motorcycle industry appeals to UK Government

Britain's bikers and advocacy groups are appealing to officials as the motorcycle industry calls on government and local authorities to support the industry’s ability to provide affordable and practical transport solutions in these difficult and uncertain economic times.

Employing more than 15,000 people and turning over more than £3 billion ($4.63 billion) a year, the UK motorcycle industry is mainly composed of small and medium-sized businesses. Dealers, suppliers and manufacturers are braced for a volatile and challenging 2009.

On the eve of the Carole Nash International Motorcycle and Scooter Show at the NEC, the Motor Cycle Industry Association (MCI) and the Motorcycle Retailers’ Association (MRA) welcomed the Pre-Budget decision to cut VAT, a national blanket tax, but are jointly urging the government to take practical action in support of the industry and personal mobility. The industry is providing cost-effective transport solutions and helping to keep UK plc on the move at an affordable price. In particular, they want to see government ensuring;

* That dealers have access to low-cost finance so that stock levels can be maintained, enabling consumers who decide to switch to two wheels to get on the road as quickly as possible.

* That support gets through to the shop floor and the independent dealers who most need help.

* That easy and low-cost finance is available to the supply chain so that jobs and services are maintained until the credit crunch eases.

“This isn’t just about sustaining business and jobs,” said MCI chief executive Steve Kenward. “There’s a great opportunity to use the recession positively by supporting the industry at a time when more and more people are turning to two wheels. Motorcycles make social, economic and environmental sense.

“The chancellor’s announcement this week of a cut in VAT is helpful, but his give and take on petrol has done nothing to reduce the costs of travel. Train fares will increase by up to 11 per cent in the new year, hitting commuters especially hard. There is an ever-stronger case for government and local authorities to encourage greater use of mopeds, scooters and other practical, multi-use motorcycles as the recession bites deeper.”

In Britain, the motorcycle market is considered as a segment referred to as the powered two-wheeler (PTW), a market that has held up well this year as people have been taking to mopeds and scooters in particular to cut costs and avoid congestion. PTW registrations last month were 4 per cent up on October last year, and total registrations for the first 10 months of the year were just 1.5 per cent down.

MRA chairman Martin Marshall said: “For businesses, the changes in corporation tax are welcome, but are off-set by the increase in national insurance. The small cut in VAT will make motorcycles, clothing, parts and servicing a little cheaper. While we hope that this will stimulate demand, it is vital that dealers and other businesses have access to low cost finance in order to keep going.”

In addition to business support, the motorcycle industry also wants to see government, legislators, local authorities and transport planners viewing motorcycling as a serious and relevant alternative to the use of cars and public transport. PTWs are part of the solution to the problems of congestion and pollution and should not be ignored or treated as an afterthought. The MCI and MRA simply want equality and the incentives that come with the recognition that PTWs ease traffic and parking congestion, reduce emissions and provide people with reliable and efficient personal transport.”

The Carole Nash International Motorcycle and Scooter Show is a major motorcycle event and Britain's industry’s showcase for all the latest motorcycles, accessories, safety equipment, rider training and services. It runs at Birmingham's NEC from November 28 to December 7.

Source:http://www.clutchandchrome.com/News

Five Burlco men charged in motorcycle-theft ring

Five Burlington County men have been indicted by a county grand jury for their alleged roles in a motorcycle theft ring, state authorities said yesterday.

The indictments followed an investigation by the New Jersey State Police and the Office of the Insurance Fraud Prosecutor into a group of people who were stealing motorcycles, retagging them with new vehicle identification numbers, and selling them.

In some case, the suspects were submitting phony insurance claims representing that the cycles had been stolen from their owners when they actually had been given up by their owners, authorities said.

"Frequently, insurance fraud investigations lead to evidence of stolen vehicles, as well as owner-initiated give-ups," said the state insurance fraud prosecutor, Greta Gooden Brown.

Wilson Lopez, 25, of Burlington City; Tyrone Sapp, 31, of Willingboro; and Angel Carrion 3d, 28, of Mount Holly, were charged in one indictment with conspiracy, eight counts of theft by unlawful taking, and five counts of receiving stolen property. Lopez also was charged with one count of fencing.

Also yesterday, in two separate indictments, the same Burlington County grand jury charged Neil C. Moyer, 33, of Browns Mills, with receiving stolen property and fencing, and Ian Boyington, 30, of Riverside, with receiving stolen property, alteration of a vehicle identification number, and a motor vehicle title offense.

The indictment charges that between December 2003 and June 2004, Lopez, Sapp and Carrion conspired to steal six motorcycles and two vans. The indictment also alleges that Lopez organized the fencing of a stolen motorcycle.

Moyer was charged with knowingly taking possession of a stolen motorcycle and selling it. The indictment charging Boyington alleges that he knowingly purchased a stolen motorcycle stamped with an altered vehicle identification number, and that he fraudulently titled the motorcycle.

Source: http://www.philly.com/inquirer/local/nj/

Gang from Weston guilty of motorbike insurance scam

A gang from Weston-super-Mare pocketed thousands of pounds in insurance payouts when they made false claims for the theft of non-existent motorbikes, a court heard.

Five people pleaded guilty to fraud charges. They were: Andrew Hall, aged 34, of Brompton Road, Oldmixon; Jody Cowell, 28, of Monkton Avenue, Weston; Duane Long, 20, of Thirlmere Road, Weston; Matthew Potter, 25, of Lonsdale Avenue, Weston; and Liam Lees, 22, of Locking Road, Weston.Judge Jamie Tabor QC handed Long a five-month curfew between 8pm and 6am as well as 40 hours unpaid work and told him to pay £20 a week compensation for a year.

The judge handed Cowell a three-month curfew and told her to pay £10 a week for a year. Hall was given a six-month curfew and told to pay £10 a week compensation for two years.He also gave Potter a month-long curfew and Lees a three-month curfew.

James Ward, prosecuting, said Weston-super-Mare based Carole Nash Insurance Limited was one of the first insurance brokers in the country to offer insurance for off-road bikes.The court heard the underwriters for all policies taken out through Carole Nash was a Portsmouth-based company called Groupama.

Mr Ward said: "The police became concerned at what appeared to be the organised theft of off-road bikes at addresses in and around the Bournville estate in Weston-super-Mare.

"Detective Constable James Tubby investigated and rapidly became convinced that he was investigating an insurance swindle relating to claims for non-existent off-road motorbikes rather than the thefts of such machines.

"The insurers Groupama had no idea that they were paying out on fraudulent claims."Mr Ward said the instigator of the scam appeared to be Glen Lord, who received £7,700 in false claims.

He was arrested by DC Tubby, denied wrong doing and then committed suicide by hanging himself.Mr Ward told the court: "DC Tubby is satisfied that Lord was the common denominator and that all the defendants were either friendly with him or knew him quite well.

"Lord shared his knowledge on how to make a successful fraudulent claim."Mr Ward said Long received cheques for £3,700 and £4,000 in two false claims, the first done on behalf of another and the second done for himself after he'd seen how easy it was.

Cowell received £3,400 in a false claim, pocketing a reward of £1,000, the court heard. Hall was sent cheques totalling £8,400 following two fake claims and pocketed £3,000.Mr Ward added Potter did not actually make a claim because police nipped his case in the bud but he would have stood to get £1,000.

Lees reported that his bike had been stolen but again an actual claim was nipped in the bud and he said he was going to be given a quad bike if the scam had worked.Robin Shellard, defending Long, said his client was keen to work having formed a relationship with a woman with children.

Oliver Willmott, defending Cowell, suggested a curfew could be handed to her, and Catherine Spedding, defending Hall, said he had gone through severe financial stress and used the money he gained to pay off a credit card bill.

Nicholas Fridd, defending Potter, said his client didn't get a penny because he pulled out of the swindle, and Charles Row, defending Lees, said his client had surrendered himself to police when the game was up.

Source: http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/news/Gang-Weston-g

Study: Antilocks trim fatal motorcycle crashes

WASHINGTON (AP) — Antilock brakes could help motorcycle riders avoid fatal crashes, according to a study by the insurance industry.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety said Wednesday that the fatal crash rate involving motorcycles equipped with optional antilock brakes, or ABS, was 38 percent lower than the rate involving similar motorcycles without the systems.

Antilock brakes, like their counterparts on cars and trucks, help motorcycle riders stop their bikes abruptly without locking up the wheels or fishtailing. The system evaluates the brake pressure multiple times per second, allowing motorcycle riders to fully brake both wheels in an emergency situation and avoid hitting the pavement.

Antilocks are more typically found on touring bikes and have been available on a limited number of motorcycles since BMW AG introduced ABS on the K100 in 1988.

"Even though adding antilocks won't make motorcycling as safe as going by car, it's something manufacturers can do to reduce the risk of traveling on two wheels instead of four," said Adrian Lund, president of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Rob Dingman, president and CEO of the American Motorcyclist Association, said the study shows the potential of antilock brakes, but it also underscores the need for a "long-overdue" federal study of the causes of motorcycle crashes.

"Our members would welcome an ABS option on more models, but there must be a broader strategy to reduce motorcycle accidents and fatalities that includes increased education and motorist awareness," Dingman said.

Safety officials have been concerned about a steady rise in motorcycle deaths. More than 5,100 motorcyclists died in 2007, compared with 2,294 fatalities in 1998. The deaths have climbed as vehicle miles traveled have grown by more than 20 percent during the period and motorcycle registrations have surpassed 6 million, compared with 3.8 million in 1998.

In the report, researchers studied eight motorcycles that offer antilock brakes as an option. They found there were 6.6 fatal crashes per 10,000 registered motorcycles without antilocks in 2005-2006. The rate for the same bikes equipped with antilocks was 4.1, or 38 percent lower, during the same period.

In a second study, the IIHS found that antilock brakes appeared to reduce collision claims — insurance losses were 21 percent lower for motorcycles with antilock brakes compared with similar motorcycles without the equipment. The findings were based on a data set of 72,000 insured years of 2003-2007 model year Honda, Suzuki, Triumph and Yamaha bikes.

IIHS said antilocks were standard or optional equipment on about 40 motorcycles from the 2008 model year; top manufacturers include BMW, Harley-Davidson Inc., and Honda Motor Co.

ABS typically adds about $1,000 or more to the cost of a motorcycle.

Ty van Hooydonk, the Motorcycle Industry Council's director of product communications, said ABS can be effective for some riders but it depends on factors such as road conditions, skill level and the type of riding involved.

"For a number of experienced enthusiasts out there, they're able to stop with a non-ABS motorcycle quicker than they are with an ABS-equipped motorcycle," van Hooydonk said. "It's all very situational."

Ray Zimmerman, executive director of the BMW Motorcycle Owners of America, said ABS could be very valuable when trying to bring a bike to a stop on slick and icy roads.

Zimmerman, of Ellisville, Mo., said he has been riding motorcycles for more than four decades and logged nearly 250,000 miles on BMW motorcycles. His ABS system has come in handy on two occasions, and he's glad he had it.

"You keep a bike from swerving out of control one time, and it's worth (it)," he said.

Source:http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5h_w5pPDghej-eN44

Bike Insurance - Carole Nash voted favourite UK bike specialist

For the sixth time in seven years Carole Nash was last week chosen by bikers in the UK as the country’s favourite bike insurance specialist, reports said.

The firm topped the list of bike insurance brokers following riders’ poll conducted in RiDE magazine.

RiDE’s November issue, in which the magazine’s 2008 survey was published, reported that more than 6,000 bikers voted Carole Nash their Most Used Broker.

The firm led 49 other insurance firms to clinch the first place in the poll.

The bike insurance firm has more than 300,000 bikes insured in its books and was also named the Most Used Bike Insurance Broker in Britain in similar polls done by the magazine in 2007, 2006, 2004, 2003 and 2002.

Commenting on their achievement the company’s commercial director, Simon Jackson said: “We work very hard to ensure we offer the best deals and services to all bikers whether they ride a modern, custom, classic, scooter or off road machine.”

Source:http://www.onlyfinance.com/Bike-Insurance-News