2 westcountry bike dealers in liquidation.

[Robbo87]

Avon Motorcycles Bristol Ltd and CW Motorcycles Ltd of Dorchester are both in liquidation. Is this a portent of things to come?

Sad to hear this, especialy (for me), CW M/C's; I used to enjoy a bimble around their dealership coffee in hand and looking at all the shiny stuff. The staff were friendly too.
If anyone's interested, there's an auction of all stock from both dealers by these people: https://www.johnpye.co.uk/auctions/enti ... m_term=mcn

Above info' lifted from MCN.

[Jug]

I have heard that used bike prices are rocketing up (allegedly) due to what is being called the "covid tax", and that dealers are struggling to get hold of used bikes to sell.
Strange times we are in...

[julesh]

Damn it no s1000rr in the stock

[menzies3032]

Also new bike prices are up thanks to Brexit to add on your 8% (or is it 10%) motorbike import tax for anything not built in the UK.
Hence why I wanted to get my new bike before the end of 2020.

Really sad that we are seeing companies going into Liqudation although it is not a shock considering the lack of funds they will have had from other people being on furlow and the ability to get out ride bikes and the desire to spend savings to buy a new / used bike.

[Jug]

Also new bike prices are up thanks to Brexit to add on your 8% (or is it 10%) motorbike import tax for anything not built in the UK.

I thought that would only have happened in a WTO outcome?

Really sad that we are seeing companies going into Liqudation although it is not a shock considering the lack of funds they will have had from other people being on furlow and the ability to get out ride bikes and the desire to spend savings to buy a new / used bike.

Interestingly I'm hearing the flip side of that argument. Lots of people have been working as normal since it all started, in fact some have never been busier.
Added to that the expensive foreign holidays haven't been possible, and the local distractions (pubs & restaurants ect) having not been an option so many people have found themselves with a fair chunk of free cash this year. It's these people that have been updating their houses, maybe buying a fun car, a newer bike or even a campervan (or a panel van to convert)... and that has been pushing up the used values whilst also diminishing the supply. That is the "covid tax" I mentioned that is effecting some used vehicle prices.

[menzies3032]

Well I can say that I am one of them but i also recoginse that I am a lucky one and not everybody can say the same. I work in the carrier industry so yes I have been working throughout and as you say no expesive holidays so savings have gone up hence have had the money to get a bike.

In regards to import tax we are now post Brexit so any vehicle you buy that is built outside of the UK will need to be imported and dutyand tax paid on the import. As I understanding its differant for new verses old but my dad is just moving back from Spain and is bringing his car back with him (that he exported 10 years ago) and is now having to pay import duty and tax before he can think about reregistering.

Thought this was quite a good read
https://www.bennetts.co.uk/bikesocial/n ... motorcycle

[Jug]

But VAT was applicable to new bike sales prior to Brexit, also what about Jap bikes, that import route should be unaffected?

I did read that article from Bennetts and there was no mention of any specific tax changes (be that duty or VAT), just that there could be a cost increase in the supply chains, but as not many marques make their bikes in the UK or from UK parts, Brexit should have very little impact (I would have thought).

[Kata]

Wasn't CW a retirement?

[Tvrv37]

Avon were in the the very crowded world of cheap Chinese small capacity bikes and scoots. They never had much stock and I guess what they had was with the bank.

I don't know if the general public are aware of the world shortage of shipping container space caused by the USA hording masses of empty containers, a by product of the trade wars with China and Europe. Anyway the cost of a container out of China has gone up from £2-3k to £13k+ there are no new Chinese bikes coming into the UK and it's causing massive supply problems the world over.

You may have noticed that dates for new bikes hitting British showrooms keep slipping because nothings moving. This will effect bikes and everything else that moves in a shipping container.

Will they be the only casualty. I doubt it.

[menzies3032]

ok going a bit off topic here but hey......

I work for FedEx so in the parcel carrier business and we are seeing the intercontinental business going mad. Anybody who has a plane of a boat is busting at the seems. The reason is due to Covid. Before Covid there were huge volumes of planes in the sky with paying passengers making them pay for being in the air. However since covid so many of the commercial airlines are not flying or have very limited operations and therefore all of the parcels that used to be tucked away in the hold have no where to go other then the Cargo Only aircraft (or boats) that are used by the big players such as FedEx, DHL or UPS (for air transport) therefore the cost for this same space has gone through the roof and the backlogs for intercontinental movements are massive. Same thing happening with the ships. Only the cargo ships are sailing.... hence price goes up for getting on the boat.

[ptolemyx]

Good old supply and demand. Don't you just love capitalism.