Hi-viz vests to promote ESSENTIAL biking during the crisis Buy ours, or print your own Want to do something to help mitigate the effects of the coronavirus emergency? Good. Here's your opportunity.
We've created a new and original design for a promotional hi-viz vest, specifically with regard to supporting motorcycling during the ongoing Covid-19 crisis. Each vest carries the simple message: BEAT THE VIRUS - RIDE A MOTORCYCLE.
The vests are good quality items and are available in the usual sizes (small to 5XL), and you're invited to register your interest in buying one or more by emailing us here at Sump. 
So who'll benefit from this initiative? Firstly, as bikers we'll ALL potentially benefit by promoting motorcycle usage, thereby helping reduce the general transmission of the virus in the wider community. That will help take some pressure off the NHS and will help keep the ominous R-number down to "manageable levels", whatever that really is.
Secondly the bike trade will benefit by reminding travellers and commuters that there is an alternative to risky public transport which, epidemiologically speaking, is little more than a Petri dish for the virus. Note, that we're not making any money on this initiative. But unless and until we have these vests printed in large batches we can't get the price down any further. And that price is £9 each which includes VAT and postage & packing. Alternately, email us for the artwork and we'll send it to you free of charge and without obligation. So you can mention Sump on your blog or newsletter, or tell God about us in your prayers. Or just do what you want. The important thing is the message, not the messenger.
We're now looking for support for this initiative, and in that regard we're contacting the usual online magazines including British Dealer News, Motorcycle News, Visordown, Bennetts Bike Social, Classic Bike, Bike Magazine, Ride Magazine, Old Bike Mart, and The Classic Motorcycle. We've no idea how much support this initiative will get. But British Dealer News—the leading UK motorcycle trade portal—has promised its backing.
So what do you do now? Simple. Just email us and tell us what size you want, and we'll send you a PayPal payment link. Then sit back and await delivery of your vest (which, given the current coronavirus issues, could take up to 10 days; but we'll speed things along as best we can).
One more thing. If you're in the bike trade and can take a batch of these vests, tell us what you can handle and we'll try and get the price down further. Or, once again, have your own vests printed locally using our design.
 That's it. Support this initiative, or don't support it. Just remember that the bike industry in the UK is in serious trouble and needs help—and we've still got a long way to go before this Covid-19 threat is gone. More importantly, the death count is still rising inexorably. Spread the biking message if you're able and willing. SPECIAL NOTE: We're getting feedback from people who have misunderstood us completely. This initiative is about ESSENTIAL biking only. NHS staff travelling to work. Commuting. Emergency work. We're not advocating JOYRIDING. Clear enough? feedback@sumpmagazine.com
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Virgin Ride
Remember your first time? Of course you bloody do
The day you got your leg over something fresh and new
First a little tickle, and then you started pumping
 Pretty soon you had her motor slapping and a-thumping
Clutch in, clutch out, give this horse its head
Then you hung on tightly for the thrills that lay ahead
Soon the highway opened and it took you near and far
And oh what a roar she made, fnarr, fnarr, fnarr More Sump motorcycle poetry
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MV Agusta: Extra 3 months warranty on all warranted bikes pre-30/4/20
Harley-Davidson first quarter 2020 world bike sales fell 17.7% (40,438 units)
Motor Cycle Industry Association (MCIA) predicts 18% 2020 UK sales drop
John Russell (industry car/bike man) is appointed interim Norton CEO
Kickback Custom Bike Show & Prescott Festival (July 2020) is cancelled
Ringwood-based importer & dealer 3X Motorcycles goes into administration
New Big Brother Watch Emergency Powers & Civil Liberties Report
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You spend your whole life collecting bikes And then you croak... So okay, not everyone likes poetry—and that no doubt includes our poetry. But when you've got a rhyme in your heart, an idea in your head, and a keyboard at your disposal, the poem simply has to come out (or so the muse tells us). This one's called Death Duties. It deals with an ongoing problem for bikers, or their spouses. It's on the same page as the others, and you can follow either of the links. See if it fires your plugs... Death duties
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Unleaded petrol is cheaper than it's been for years But falling pump prices appear to have hit the downward buffers. So why? The recent dramatic fall in world oil prices has understandably rung alarm bells on all continents, not least with regard to the negative price for a barrel of crude which, on Monday 20th April 2020, fell to -$37.63. And that's a minus sign not a hyphen. For the first time in history, oil producers were paying traders $37.63 for every barrel pumped out of the ground and hauled away. The problem, of course, is continued falling demand. The world's still in coronavirus lockdown. Private transport has all but ground to a halt. Manufacturing activity is way down. Aviation and the wider travel industry has collapsed. The list of non-activities is growing. So why not simply cut oil production? Because it takes time to do that, both politically and procedurally, and such production cuts are often complicated by internecine squabbles and corporate intrigues. Beyond that, cutting extraction often creates numerous technical and safety issues in the supply line, and that can add volatility to an already volatile market. In fact, recent falling production in OPEC countries has already added volatility that, paradoxically, has sent waves of panic-selling through the world's stock markets. So why not simply store excess oil at the production site, then? Well, that's because what little storage capacity is generally available is now used up. There's simply not a bucket, jerry can or jam jar left anywhere. The black gold comes up from the dirt, or is drilled from the ocean floor, and it's got to be continuously shifted elsewhere. 
And there are other complicated factors, not least the intricacies of the futures market which habitually looks to buy commodities (oil, copper, wheat, etc) at today's prices whilst hoping to capitalise on anticipated values months or even years down the line. Overall, it's generally a well-run and efficient industry that operates smoothly ... until unusual extraneous factors enter the pipelines. In hard numbers, a year or so ago around 100 million barrels of oil were being produced each day worldwide. Since then, production has dropped by roughly 29 million barrels per day. That near-thirty percent plunge quickly brought the price-per-barrel way down. However, any limited short term adjustments simply weren't enough to stabilise the market which continued to fall beyond expectations. The excess oil is now being stored in numerous short, medium and long-term facilities such as general tankers at sea or in port, or in crude carriers, or in older mothballed storage dumps, or in salt caverns, and elsewhere. Meanwhile refiners and users of crude oil are being pressured into taking on more than they really need and ramp up production in their own sectors (chemicals, paints, plastics, pharmaceuticals). And the airline industry looks to be grounded for a long time to come. All this chaos has pushed the price-per-barrel down into the aforementioned negative values, and in doing so has seriously damaged hundreds of businesses in the oil sector—albeit whilst making a lot of money for many other speculators who are reputedly hiring out oil tankers for $100,000 per day, and more. Sooner or later the market will rebound. In fact, to a small degree it's already demonstrated a fight back. But the world is still nervous. The oil price could fall yet again. And having so much oil slopping around is, according to many pundits, an environmental disaster waiting to happen. 
▲ Remember back in the 70s and 80s when they told us the oil was about to run out? Well it's not. There's enough Texas tea stockpiled on the world market to keep the teddy boy scene slickened forever. Around 4 billion barrels is the current world reserve. An oil barrel is 35 imperial gallons. Or 42 US gallons. Or 159 litres. So why aren't UK petrol prices taking a similar tumble? Well, over the past few weeks they've certainly fallen significantly. Currently, the average UK price of unleaded is around 110 pence per litre (ppl). The average price for diesel is 115 ppl. And super-unleaded is around 125 ppl. To put that in perspective, these prices compare to April 2012 when unleaded was on average 142 ppl, and diesel was 147. These prices, note, represent record highs for the UK. What it should mean for today's bikers and drivers is a price drop to below £1 per litre—and if the supermarkets start hurling price cuts at each other, it could possibly fall to 95 ppl. But it seems that for now these low-low prices are fantasy numbers. Why? Because when retail prices reach a certain threshold, there's simply not enough profit in continuing to trade, and that means shutting down the roadside pumps and going home. Looked at in that light, we ought to be grateful for the fact that during the lockdown there's any fuel at all to be had—especially in rural areas. Perversely, we should instead look forward to higher prices of around 130 ppl for unleaded because that's probably where prices would be had not the Covids struck, and that would reflect a more normal normality, if you know what we mean. So far, we're not hearing any horror stories about accidents with privately stored panic petrol; i.e. in unsuitable fuel containers in the garage or in 50 litre drums in the garden. But it's bound to be ongoing somewhere. Just remember that the UK legal limit for domestically stored petrol is 30 litres; ideally in smaller containers—and not within 6 metres of a dwelling. That, take note, doesn't include fuel in vehicle petrol tanks. And if you're storing bikes or cars during the lockdown, you might want to keep the relevant fuel tank full to help limit the formation of rust (alongside the other usual preparations; trickle charging the battery, rotating the wheels occasionally, changing the oil every six months or whatever's your usual interval).  But don't expect too much more "generosity" at the fuel pumps. If anything, the oil producers will eventually rationalise production and will re-set the prices to pre-coronavirus levels.
So enjoy the lower prices while they're going, and they might not be going anywhere for a while.
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There are 2 evils here. If Sainsbury's and Tesco got together and arranged a common fixed price for bread, that would be illegal (price fixing, anti consumer and anti free market). The OPEC oil producing nations however have been fixing and regulating a product they are the only suppliers off for decades, holding the world to ransom and stifling any opposition. There are sanctions against Iran for reasons the Americans fabricate, the second biggest oil reserves in the world are effectively off the market as the Iranians won't play. When Venezuela, the biggest oil reserves in the Americas, took back control of its oil, the OPEC countries led by the USA blocked the sale of their oil (and wrecked their economy). We all pay the piper, and as it's big business and big government, it's OK. Two thirds of the pump price in the UK is tax, so if the cost of crude fell to zero it would at best be a 20% fall at the pumps. Of the 33% that is not tax, not all is the price of crude. There's also transport, processing, marketing, wages, profit and all the other overheads, so actually it's all huge scam and were helpless to change it. However come the revolution....—Phil Cowley
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www.britishdealernews.co.uk TVS unveils initial plans for Norton Motorcycles E-scooters to take to the road in £90m government trial
www.motorcyclenews.com 
Oxfordshire Council withdraw anti-bike statements from consultation doc Petrol stations in rural areas struggle; low demand/tumbling oil prices
Norton's new owners will fulfil outstanding orders
www.bennetts.co.uk/bikesocial 
Brixton Bonneville-rival confirmed for production External airbags could be fitted to cars as early as 2021
www.visordown.com Admiral offer COVID-19 ‘Pandemic Rebate’ – more to follow? Sammy Miller at 86 is an inspiration to all motorcyclists
www.motorbikewriter.com Insurers should offer pandemic discount India the next motorcycle powerhouse Where will you ride when lockdown ends?
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Andy Reynolds is the man in the saddle Veloce is the publisher We have to immediately declare an interest here—or, rather, a lack of interest. And we're not sure that we can really call this news item a review. That's because we haven't the vaguest interest in racing, motorcycle or otherwise, and as such we can't really comment on the contents of this book, not as far as high speed competition is concerned. Podiums. Scrutineers. Marshalls. Qualifying. Etc. It all means absolutely nothing to us. But we were sent a copy of the book for some kind of evaluation, and we figure that we ought to at least try and say something intelligent. So here goes ... The book seems pretty down to earth; one man's experience of the racing scene whilst riding a large range of bikes on a variety of circuits. It's not lofty or pretentious. Just matter of fact and informative. There's some welcome humour here too, and some pathos, and there are a large number of characters populating the narrative—most of them headed somewhere in a hurry. The action takes place between 1976 and 2016 when author/racer Andy Reynolds retired. Some of the images are a little dodgy. We're talking about slightly out of focus shots and poor framing. But perversely, that adds a little to the everyman vibe of this book. The average and fairly domestic snapshots simply remind us that this isn't a slick tome from a racing groupie with a literary bent, or a long-winded diatribe or expose by a tired old also-ran. It's got more heart and energy than that. And any technical criticism of the photography is pretty much offset by the meat of the matter, which incorporates a lot of noise, fumes, blood, sweat and tears at Mallory Park, Brands Hatch, Silverstone and so on. But we question the wisdom of producing a thick perfect bound paperback with double page spreads disappearing into the centre binding. It's not terrible, but it's not ideal. 
The book dimensions are 148mm x 210mm, which is A5. There are 240 pages including an index, and there are 57 pics (mostly colour). Ask for ISBN: 978-1-787114-81-4. Veloce Publishing is asking £15.99, but upon exploring the website it seems that stocks have yet to arrive in any significant number. So you might want to check availability and/or order a copy. Beyond all this, we've got nothing else to add—except to say that there is plenty of reading here from what sounds like an honest, straightforward day-to-day bloke with a love of fast motorcycles. So that might keep racing fans suitably occupied during these slightly surreal and increasingly disruptive coronavirus weeks and months.  And of course, anyone who knows Andy Reynolds or who competed against him will, for fairly obvious reasons, probably want to delve into these pages.
Visit Veloce's website and download a .pdf and see if you like what you read. No salesmen will call. www.veloce.co.uk
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Bike gets stolen, bike gets found Hinckley loan bike bridges the gap Here's an NHS related story with a reasonably happy ending—which is both timely and welcome when considered against the appalling number of recorded coronavirus hospital deaths in the UK, not to mention the unrecorded nursing home and other deaths that are slowly being revealed. The headline story is that Ian Evans, an NHS healthcare scientist from Brighton, West Sussex had his prized Triumph 955i Sprint stolen earlier this month (see image immediately above). Evans used the bike to commute 18 or so miles to his nightshift job at Haywards Heath, also in West Sussex. Hoping to recover the bike, he promptly posted one or more tweets or other messages on line, and that attracted the attention of Triumph's social media crew. As a result, Hinckley stepped in with the offer of a fully insured loan bike until Ian's bike is found, or until the insurance people paid up. 
The loan bike, a Triumph Tiger 800 with panniers (representative library image immediately above), was duly received with thanks, and the stolen Sprint has since been recovered—albeit with substantial damages that are being repaired by Laguna Motorcycles of Ashford, Kent. Now some folk would at this point be quick to remind us that we shouldn't confuse charity with publicity. And that's true (and there's always some overlap). But we're happy to believe that in this instance, Triumph Motorcycle was at least as benevolent as it was opportunistic. And even if we're mistaken, the important thing is that this guy is back on the road and doing his job, etc. What's that expression about gift horses?
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Norton sold to Indian firm TVS. £16m deal. UK production "to restart"
Pre-registered Euro3 Brough Superiors. Was £60k. Now £35k. Moto Corsa
Huge cuts at Harley-Davidson; wages, bonuses, hiring, and production
Ex-racer Capt Tom Moore's NHS fundraiser tops £20million, and climbing
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▲ Is your motorcycle crash really necessary? If not, don't call the air ambulance. In the new world order, biking for pleasure is nothing less than irresponsible and tantamount to NHS abuse. Joyriding biker is hurt in a serious crash Meanwhile, online magazine puts the boot in There's an unwritten rule—or, at least, a tacit convention—among most magazines and newspapers ensuring that they never criticise, censure or even quietly cough the name of rivals or competitors. And that's no less true of the usual cold war biking publications, online or otherwise. A lot of that reticence, however, has more to do with the steadfast avoidance of mentioning anyone deemed even a vague threat to circulation or readership numbers, which is why Motorcycle News studiously avoids referring to Visordown, and vice versa, and why neither publication mentions Bennetts Bike Social, and why Joe never refers to Flo or Bo or whoever, and so on. And that's why almost no one ever mentions Sump. In short, pretty much everyone out there at Bauer Media, Mortons Motorcycle Media, Crash Media, etc, is intent on depriving other publications of the "oxygen of publicity"—and naturally that silence speaks volumes. But we couldn't let this short-sighted piece from Visordown slip past us all without a challenge (if not a good kick in the teeth). The story involves a biker who got tired of being locked down by the coronavirus and went for a blast on his motorcycle. Not wise, we know; not in terms of spreading Covid-19—or, more accurately, in terms of potentially spreading Covid-19. After all, we don't know that Bob the Biker was actually carrying the disease, and we therefore don't know that he infected anyone else with the bug. But yes, he might have encouraged others to follow his lead, etc. He might have picked up something nasty en route (at a petrol station or similar). And so, epidemiologically speaking, he really ought to have stayed at home and waited it out. However, he didn't and he crashed into a fence and suffered serious injuries. Here's how Visordown reported it: 
This ill-conceived piece of recycled government propaganda bears closer inspection, not least with regard to the fact that just about ALL motorcycle rides (beyond those of, say, commuting, policing and the various delivery professionals) can be considered "non-essential". Broadly speaking, we ride our bikes simply because it's fun, and everyone knows that having fun isn't absolutely essential; not when you can sit around in a depressed stupor in front of the box all day or enjoy a miserable afternoon with the lawnmower or a tin of B&Q paint. But according to Visordown, this rider was something of a social pariah and tied up a bunch of coppers, an NHS ambulance, a rescue helicopter, a pilot, a navigator, a couple of paramedics—and effectively wasted £12,000, which (apparently) is what it costs each day to run an emergency chopper. Except that it doesn't costs £12,000 for every call out. That's no doubt an average and notional cost per day, and is evidently based upon a £4.3million annual turnover. Therefore you don't save £12k for not deploying the air ambulance on, say, Monday, and then save another £12k for leaving it in the shed on Tuesday as well. There are always ongoing operational costs (wages, maintenance, insurance, office expenses, training costs, etc). Now, a Eurocopter uses around 45 gallons of aviation fuel per hour, and even at £5 a gallon that's just £225. So allowing for four hours of flying time (probably more than enough to extract a biker from a hole in a fence) and you've racked up less than a grand in fuel. Max. You can extrapolate the other costs and incidentals for yourself, the point being that all these emergency professionals have to be on-hand anyway for more "genuine" emergencies such as lopping off an arm with a chainsaw in the garden, or falling from a step ladder while you're cleaning the guttering, or just having a good old heart attack on the sofa. And, notwithstanding the coronavirus emergency, people still have to get on with their lives, such as they are. 
Meanwhile, what we don't need is a preachy and pontifical motorcycle publication rubbing salt in the open wound of the on-going lockdown and telling us that motorcycling for pleasure isn't an essential activity. You can, after all, always argue that biking puts the police, the NHS and other emergency services under pressure. You can always argue that falling off your machine at any time of the year incurs a social cost—never mind the irony that bikers are actually one of the groups most financially supportive of the air ambulance and, at the drop of a helmet, are apt to motor off and raise funds for just about any worthy cause you can mention, aerial or otherwise. There are a lot of things in this world we can all feel comfortably guilty about. But in this instance, in this context, and after three weeks of national lockdown, we can perhaps afford to give a little slack to one of our own who got fed up with climbing the walls and went for a ride and suffered a serious injury. And yes, if he spends any amount of time in a hospital, there's a fair chance that the coronavirus might pay a visit and extract a dangerous if not fatal price for his momentary lapse of judgement. Stay at home, we say again. But if you do weaken, console yourself that if you fall from your perch somewhere down the road and end up stuck in a fence, or are otherwise inconvenienced necessitating an emergency call out, you're not the social pariah that some folk would have you believe. Meanwhile, let's hope this guy mends well, and mends quickly. See also: Irresponsible journalism from MCN
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Hi Sump, great comment and well put. We should all beware of what other people feel is essential and non-essential activity. If this Covid-19 screw up has taught us anything, it's the fragility of our democracy. A few strokes of a pen in Whitehall and we've all lost out right to free association. The jump to totalitarianism simply isn't that great. We should watch carefully when this is over to see which laws are repealed,—David Doyle, Oxford
Hi Guys and Girl, looks like someone needs to give their visor a quick wipe.—AjayMan
Here’s a thing; as car drivers are seemingly allowed to use their tin boxes to leave home and travel to obtain ‘needed shopping and meds’, do we, or more to the point, the Visordown rag’, know whether or not said motorcyclist was, with maybe not owning a 4-wheeler, possibly travelling by ‘bike to obtain ‘needed shopping and/or necessary medication’, prior to them ‘jumping to conclusions’? —Selwyn
I ride a KTM 990 Adventure. I never took a car test in 40 years. I work as an NHS engineer. I need to go between hospitals addressing building maintenance systems breakdowns (air flows to theatres, broken equipment and heating failures mainly). I use my laptop in my top box before calling in the troops if I can't fix it. I would be really annoyed if for some reason I was dismounted in the middle of nowhere and middle of night no doubt, to be chastised by the very people I would be hoping would stand my corner and maybe do their homework. Sensational, all this just so some kid of a "journalist" at Visor**** gets views or tweets to get his bonus. Lesson learned, best look out for me now! Thanks for your support, sonny.—Chris
As far as I can ascertain the police attended about 630 RTAs in the first week of April requiring ambulance and paramedics to assist; figures are hard to pin down as they tend to publish such figures after selective editing 2 years in arrears. So this is from press sources. I'm looking to see if any of these were pilloried in Hot Hatch Wives or Top Flear rags but no luck so far. Never a fan of ****down magazine and less so now. What the hell, I'm taking my Triumph to the supermarket for toilet rolls, flour and chicken nuggets (all apparently essential) tomorrow. Might even get a Whopper on the way home!—Phil Cowley
I saw the Visordown article and had to comment! The whole aim of restricting movement and enforcing "social distancing", is to isolate disease vectors/carriers, so stopping people who may have it from getting too close to people who haven’t got it and could catch it. As such the aim is to prevent close distance fraternisation, the idea being to reduce infection rates and allow the NHS to cope. So far so sensible. The aim is NOT however to arbitrarily stop sole/personal travel either on a bike or in a car. The authorities really should try creating rules based on common sense and scientific probability using historical information; information that is available and parsing it sensibly for this context and not making up nonsense based upon models created by people who murdered 6,000,000 cows and sheep, very probably unnecessarily at the last F&M outing! Got that wrong didn’t they?—Mad ol' Jack
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Coronation Street actor's classic generosity ... and he doesn't mind who the hell knows about it Recognise the bloke in the image immediately above? We don't, and until about thirty-three seconds ago we'd never 'eard of 'im. But if you're a fan of Coronation Street, the long-running British soap opera (10,000-plus episodes and counting), you might know that this is Simon Gregson (aka Simon Alan Gregory, b1974). 
The story here is that Gregson (put your hands together now) has just offered to donate a 1955 Francis Barnett to any "front line NHS staff" who (a) needs the transport, and (b) has the time, energy and surgical nous to nurse it back into good running health. Actually, he's also giving away a Triumph 1300 saloon car (also in need of some care—possibly intensive). Whilst we don't want to be churlish and poo-poo this evident act of blatant public generosity (as disseminated via Gregson's Twitter feed), we have to wonder if it might not have been better to flog the classics and hand over the dosh to fund something ready to rock'n'roll on Britain's currently near-deserted highways and byways. No disrespect to Francis Barnett motorcycles and Triumph cars, but we've long experience of fettling classics that are purported to need just a "little work to get sorted", and we can't imagine that many front line NHS doctors and nurses will want to add even a nanosecond to their usual 60-odd hour working week by hunkering down in the garage each night for  a month (or two) with a hammer, a Haynes manual and a can of WD40. Still, it's the thought that counts. At a time of National emergency, it's good to know that that old Dunkirk spirit is still with us. Right?
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Legendary land speed Vincent racer Marty Dickerson has died aged 93
George Beale, ex-bike racer, promoter & dealer joins Charterhouse Auctions
March 2020 UK bike sales down 21.6% on March 2019. 13,075 units sold
Sir Stirling Craufurd Moss, British F1 celebrity racing driver, dies aged 90
Evotech Performance launches 2020 KTM 1290 Super Duke R accessories
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129 lots sold £900,000 turnover Under normal circumstances, a motorcycle auction sell-through rate of 67 percent wouldn't be much to crow about. Around 80 - 90 percent is generally considered excellent, whereas anything below 50 percent is usually disappointing—and less than 40 percent is a disaster.  Well, H&H Auctions is claiming a sell-through rate of 67 percent at its 7th April 2020 sale, and that's not too shabby because it was a purely online auction (hosted at the National Motorcycle Museum in Solihull) and conducted against the backdrop of the current coronavirus emergency; meaning that many folk understandably had their attention elsewhere.
A total of 129 lots were sold which raised around £900,000. Five of the top selling motorcycles were Vincents. But the bike with the highest expectations (£70,000 - £90,000) was Lot 142, a 1936 Brough Superior that didn't sell. Here are the top selling lots:
Lot 108: 1973 Triumph X-75 Hurricane for £23,000
Lot 125: 1948 Vincent Meteor Series B for £23,000
Lot 90: 1930 Norton CS1 for £27,600
Lot 161: 1938 Vincent Meteor Series A for £34,500 Lot 119: 1947 Vincent Rapide Series B for £35,075 Lot 115: 1954 Vincent Rapide Series C for £36,800 Lot 120: 1955 Vincent Black Shadow Series C sold for £47,150 (image at the top of this news item) Here's what Mark Bryan, Head of Motorcycle sales for H&H, had to say about the sale: "Given the context—a global pandemic—this is a remarkable result which speaks so clearly of the passion collectors have for motorcycles and the trust they have in H&H. People were buying bikes they had not seen and without knowing precisely when they could take delivery." That sounds reasonable enough. However, regardless of the context, it's worth noting exactly which bikes didn't sell and which did—and what they sold for. And you need to look long and hard to work that out. Our general assessment is that the classic bike market is still cooling. But the problem is, just when you think you've got it pegged, you find an exception that makes you think again. Certainly there are some fairly cheap entry-level classics at the moment (and we're basing this view on sales at other auctions, note). And it seems that there are some fairly cheap flat tankers and pre-war (WW2) iron knocking about. Keep it in mind if that's your interest. See also: H&H April Sale at the NMM
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It's an online sale only Fair assortment of decent classics, but nothing really spectacular There's no special reason for using this 1922 Indian Special (immediately above) to headline this news item, except that we're partial to Indians— especially those of the twenties and thirties, and we always like to see them on the page. The bike is one of 73 lots being offered for sale at the next Charterhouse Motorcycle Auction to be held on 6th May 2020. There's not much detail on this machine. But we're told that it's fitted with an Indian Scout engine, and from where we're sat it looks like a 750cc motor (as opposed to the earlier 596cc Scout lump). If so, this 42-degree, 22hp V-twin would be good for around 75mph—with pretty brisk acceleration in this chopped form. There's no front brake, and you probably wouldn't want to complicate it with one. Just find yourself a makeshift dirt oval somewhere, or maybe a cinder track or a suitable hill, and let rip. The engine number is DGP2256, incidentally, and it's been suggested that the frame was built for the bike in the early twenties. It's Lot 23, and the estimate is £20,000 - £22,000. 
Beyond that, we've not seen anything too exciting at this sale—which for fairly obvious reasons will be conducted online only. There is, however, a 1969 750cc BSA Rocket 3 that, we're told, used to belong to James Bond actor George Lazenby (bike image immediately above). The story is that Lazenby used the triple to commute between Pinewood Studios and his flat in Bayswater, London. Since then, the bike has had one or more owners and is now being moved on again. It's Lot 34, and carries an estimate of £25,000 - £30,000. George Lazenby did a pretty good job as 007, although he wasn't everyone's favourite. But we can't see this bike selling for £25k plus. Then again, we make a lot of mistakes around here. 
Moving on, Lot 73 is a 1959 Excelsior Skutabyke. Charterhouse tells us that this utility runabout has been totally restored. There's a sheaf of documentation including a buff log book and a V5C. The numbers are SMO 212 for the registration plate, SK1845 on the frame, and 606B5582 on the engine. It's pretty much ready to roll for any Excelsior fan out there looking for a lightweight, easy-riding classic. The estimate is £1,700 - £2,000—and note that Charterhouse wrongly lists this motorcycle as a Skytabyke (and it's variously referred to elsewhere as a Skutabyk; no "e"). The Skutabyke was based upon the Villiers-powered Excelsior Consort, but was dressed in body panels intended to make the bike more palatable to better dressed and modern commuters. As the name implies, it's clearly a half step between a motorcycle and a scooter, and it arrived just before Excelsior moved more decisively into the scooter market. The weight is just 160lbs with the fuel economy hovering somewhere around 150mpg. Brand new you would have paid around £95 - £103 including purchase tax depending on which year you bought, and what options you chose. 
Features include: 98cc Villiers engine (with Villiers carburettor) Villiers flywheel ignition with direct AC lighting. 2-speed foot-change gearbox Excelsior front fork Full width aluminium alloy front brake (4.5-inch, plus a 4.5-inch rear)
19 x 2.25-inch wheels and tyres
5-inch headlight
Full kit of tools 
Colours were Cactus Green, Bronze Green, Cherry Red, or two-tone Grey/Red as shown on the example further up this page (Lot 73). The design is obviously a little klunky and doesn't have the more svelte style of some of its contemporaries. So perhaps that was why it never sold very well and enjoyed just a few years in production. Meanwhile, if you're looking to spend much bigger money, there are a couple of MV Agustas estimated at, respectively, £45,000 - £50,000 and £55,000 - £60,000. We haven't looked too closely at these machines, largely because MVs are generally not on our radar. Consequently, we don't know too much about 'em, so we're unable to talk very sensibly about 'em. But check 'em out if you've got the MV Agusta bug. 
Finally, there's a 1992 Triumph Trident 900 showing just under 14,000 miles. The bike has been barn stored, and the elements have clearly nibbled at the nuts and bolts and lacquer, etc. However, it looks all there and probably wouldn't take much effort or money to bring back to tip-top condition. The estimate is £300 - £500, and if it sells beneath the top estimate, that could be a pretty shrewd investment for, say, a more youthful investor prepared to wait a decade or so for this fruit to ripen, as it will. So okay, there are a few of these Tridents around (both 900 and 1200s). But their numbers are no doubt thinning, and they represent a landmark in the story of Hinckley Triumph; or, if you prefer just Triumph. The engines were over-engineered, and the bikes were a little top heavy and unrefined when compared to Japanese rivals of the day. However, they're not bad to ride, and they can rack up huge mileages if you prefer to ride rather than store/hoard. Give it some thought perhaps if you're a Hinckley Triumph fan or just someone with a few investment bucks to play with and some space in the garage.
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Mexican XR1200 Sportster-based custom takes the biscuit Winner receives customization budget of "up to £5,500"  There must be an uglier Harley-Davidson custom out there somewhere, and if so, it's gotta be seriously aesthetically challenged to knock this one from its perch. Of course, everyone to his or her own taste. Or lack of it. So there's not much point moaning about style and form and shape and presentation as enjoyed by others. Quite simply, this is the bike that won the 2020 King of Kings Competition, so we'll just have to suck it up and move along.
We've been covering the King of Kings competition saga for a while, and we've included a link below which will reveal some of the other contestants. But for now we'll stay focussed on this butt-ugly champion. The bike is called "Apex Predator" and was created by Queretaro Harley-Davidson in Mexico. To quote the competition hypesters, "Born to attack without a challenge. Born to live without rival. [It's] an alpha predator or top predator. The baddest dog in the yard." Wow. 
Additionally, we're told that this is a "retro-futuristic XR-based track monster meets street fighter. High performance components pair with one of Harley-Davidson’s best performing production chassis and one-off custom bodywork to make the pavement-crushing XR we never got to see from the factory." Details include: Handmade under-fender 4" twin silencers Front fork covers Dual air intakes Wave-style brake rotors Hand stitched Alcantara and leather seat Minimal and sleek hand controls Deep Sterling Green color with Amarillo Intenso highlights High-tech full color TFT Bluetooth instrument panel.
Of course, plenty of voting bikers felt that this was the best of the bunch of 2020 entrants. It wouldn't have been crowned king had this salient observation not been true—unless the whole thing was rigged, which sounds unlikely. Who would do a thing like that? So if you want to put your hands together for the builders, the guys responsible are Oscar Peralta, Agustin Anguino, Luis Fernando Perea, Rodrigo Perez, Eduardo Trejo and Yeyo. 
More seriously, we can see the evident skill and dedication that went into fabricating/modifying this bike. And there are always interesting detail stories with motorcycle builds, especially builds that are as sophisticated as this. But like we said, this one simply fails to ring any bells. Meanwhile, all hail the king, etc. See also: 2020 King of Kings set to be crowned
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Methinks the designers of the winning machine sneaked one or two styling cues from the Yamaha MT01 of a few years ago, I owned one for a short while, bought secondhand and at a ‘knockdown’ price back then, and must admit I did a double take of this Harley’ when I first saw the picture. —Selwyn
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Over 400 lots have been consigned A 1938 Vincent-HRD factory demonstrator is the top lot The coronavirus emergency led directly to the cancellation of this year's April Stafford Bike Show, and that meant that the April 2020 Bonhams Auction—a regular attraction of the event—was also cancelled. We're advised that Mortons Motorcycle Media, the organiser of the Stafford Show, had hoped to reschedule this gathering for June 2020. But given the rising impact of the pandemic, the June date was later viewed as unrealistic. So a new (provisional?) date has since been set, and that date is 15th & 16th August 2020. We spoke to Ben Walker, Department Director for Collectors' Motorcycles at Bonhams, who clarified that the Stafford summer show & auction is indeed effectively the April event pushed back—as opposed to the scheduled October 2020 event brought forward. That October show and auction is still on the calendar, Covid-19 circumstances and end-of-the-world apocalypse permitting.  Over 400 lots are listed for the 2020 Bonhams Summer Sale, and Walker believes that the prices are holding up "well" with optimism among sellers still riding pretty high (pun intended). In fact only two lots have been pulled from the sale—and yes, that might change as the months progress, but that's the current position as of 10th April 2020.
The headline motorcycle for the upcoming June sale is the 1938 998cc Series-A Vincent HRD Rapide V-twin shown immediately above and at the top of this news item. Famously, and apocryphally, the Series-A V-twin archetype originated by accident; specifically by casually or accidentally overlaying two 500cc single blueprints and instantly recognising the possibilities—and if that fable ain't true, it ought to be, etc.  The bike (DUR 142), as you might expect, has some form. It was used as a demonstrator by the Stevenage factory and was loaned to Motor Cycling magazine ("The Green 'un") for road testing.
In 1938, motorcycle rags and newspapers were notorious for pandering to the bike manufacturers and presenting their product in a light that was often far more generous than it warranted. Dangerously weak brakes were often described as having "scope for careful fettling by the owner", and serious oil leaks were often wiped way with a casual quip or dismissive utterance. Few journos were prepared to do more than nibble at the hands that fed them. But the Rapide, at least, deserved most of the plaudits heaped upon it, certainly in terms of bullish acceleration and high speed performance. At Brooklands that same year, the bike was reported to hit a very creditable 102mph. Elsewhere, owner riders talked of "exhilarating cornering" and mile-munching stamina. The bike was almost an instant legend. 
▲ "The performance is electric. Power appears almost limitless, yet it is so smooth and controllable that it is a delight to ride, even in thick traffic. There is only one snag we have discovered in owning a "Rapide." You never get a scrap with another machine, because no ordinary motor cycle can live with a "Rapide." Here at last is a performance equal to the fastest T.T. models, coupled with silence, comfort, and tractability. A true Jekyll and Hyde." —1938 Vincent-HRD sales brochure In 1955 Motor Cycling tested the bike again, this time after production of Vincent Motorcycles had come to a crashing end. On this occasion, one of the "first of the line" was matched against the "last of the line", and appropriate comparisons were made in the usual lyrical manner. Beyond that, the bike was also used as a "director's mount" and was often photographed as a "publicity vehicle". Consequently, Bonhams has high expectation for this gentleman's tourer and has posted an estimate of £190,000 - £220,000. From where we're sat, this Vincent doesn't actually look like too much to get excited about. But what price history, etc? Ask us that question again after August 2020. 
Meanwhile, this 1916 1,000cc (61ci) F-Head Harley-Davidson Model J with Package Truck Sidecar (immediately above) has caught our eye—but yes, it's over-restored. Then again, that's exactly how some folk like their bikes, so someone will no doubt be interested in this as a promotional vehicle or similar. Given that most motorcyclists these days ride purely for pleasure, it's easy to forget that it wasn't always that way. When this Model J was manufactured, most buyers weren't leisure or sporting riders. Far from it. They were hard working doctors, policemen, farmers, commuters, commercial traders, etc. And the motorcycle firms were keen to tap into this growing market and present all manner of sidecar options for ice cream vendors, parcels delivery men, mobile mechanics and so on. That's where most of our interest lies; not in how these outfits are viewed today, but in how important they were once upon a time when America was far more rural than it is today, and where there was still much uncharted territory to explore with some truly remote communities accessible only by the hardy/desperate few. 
The Harley-Davidson Package Truck concept was first introduced in 1915. With modifications, the basic rig stayed in production for 42 years when it was replaced by the iconic Servi-Car. This example was sold with an optional 3-speed sliding-gear transmission and a lighting system with hand-blown light bulbs. Imagine that for a moment. Other features include a (rare) Remy magdyno. A "modern" clutch was part of the package, and of course there was chain drive throughout. The price new would have been somewhere between $300 and $400 dollars depending on options and how much signwriting was required—which was generally handled by the appropriate Harley-Davidson dealership. Note too that in the 1920s a Harley-Davidson sports sidecar body was attached to the original chassis. That body (or a replacement) is included in the sale. A V5 and a dating certificate are also offered. Bonhams has posted an estimate of £25,000 - £35,000. Let's hope that whoever buys this outfit rides the hell out of it for the next few decades and allows everyday circumstance to leave a few battle scars to help mitigate the damage caused by the over-restoration (and maybe some vandal could set fire to it or something; just a small one to add some character). Other top lots at this sale include: 1927 Matchless 982cc M3/S Sports Solo. Est: £28,000 - £35,000
1974 MV Agusta 750S. Est: £60,000 - £70,000
1930 AJS 346cc R7 Racer (ex-Les Williams). Est: £25,000 - £35,000
Note that lot numbers have not yet been assigned. We'll be returning to this auction after we've studied the other lots.
www.bonhams.com
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Three month extension offered free of charge for certain owners This is a coronavirus related issue Pay attention Royal Enfield owners with warranties that either ended in March 2020, or are due to end by 30th May 2020. This is regarding the Covid-19 emergency.  Put simply, RE rightly figures that its customer support has been heavily impacted by the UK lockdown, and it wants to address that. So a three month warranty extension has been granted.
Consequently (as we read the firm's press release), if your warranty ended by 31st March 2020, that's now been extended to the end of June 2020. And if your warranty is set to finish at the end of May, you've now got until the close of August to have manufacturing issues put right free of charge. But check with your RE dealer (which you will anyway if you have a problem). Note that we tried to query some details of this offer, but we couldn't get a Royal Enfield dealer to answer the phone, and neither could we get through to Royal Enfield UK. Everyone was closed, busy, or possibly worse. So just be aware of this offer, where applicable. www.royalenfield.co.uk
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South West "Blood Bikers" are delivering NHS staff free coronavirus tests Donations to this group are welcomed The Devon Freewheelers Emergency Voluntary Service is the full name. But most people refer to this group simply as the Devon Blood Bikers. Either way, these guys and gals have been in action since 2009 delivering blood, medical supplies and other stuff we're too squeamish to mention.  Operating from Honiton, they work all hours, all weathers, 365 days of the year—and hundreds of people (if not thousands) owe them their good health and/or lives. Well, the group is now extending its services by offering free coronavirus tests to NHS staff locked down in voluntary isolation.
As most of us are aware, hospitals and other care services desperately need these staff on the front line, but lack of testing is keeping many of them on the sidelines. Consequently, this small but vital testing service aims to address this need. Aside from five salaried staff members, the other "Blood Bikers" work voluntarily, but the service still needs a lot of extra money to operate the offices, keep the bikes mobile and finance sundry equipment. So you can show your support by donating to the group. And if you're an NHS worker and have a need to be tested, get in touch and expect a timely visit from a caring biker. www.devonfreewheelers.org.uk
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She was an actress and a singer of no mean talent She was also briefly a WW2 despatch rider To many, she will be best remembered as Cathy Gale, the leather-clad, high-kicking, sharp-shooting, wise-cracking heroine of the British hit TV series, The Avengers (co-starring Patrick Macnee). But to many others, she will be remembered best for playing the role of Pussy Galore in the James Bond movie, Goldfinger (1962, co-starring Sean Connery). But she was also a woman of dozens of faces including Hera in Jason and the Argonauts (1963, co-starring Todd Armstrong); Norah Hauxley in Life at the Top (1965, co-starring Laurence Harvey); Lady Julia Daggett in Shalako (1968, co-starring Sean Connery) and Something Big (1971, co-starring Dean Martin). She was famous on television, on the cinema and on stage where she appeared in plays written by such luminaries as Noël Coward, George Bernard Shaw and Tom Stoppard. She was also lesser known as a despatch rider during WW2, but there are few personal details of that part of her life aside from the fact that she volunteered for active service and found the experience "terrifying". She's been quoted as saying: "When I was in the Civil Service I became a dispatch rider. Because all the men were at war, they asked girls to volunteer to learn how to ride a motorbike and go from hospital to hospital in an emergency carrying blood. Sadly I never got to because no-one ran out.
"But we used to ride across London – it frightened my mother to death.
"I was known as Top Gear Tessie [O'Shea]. I remember riding on the A4 from London to Oxford with my feet on the petrol tank singing at the top of my voice." 
▲ Honor Blackman (4th from left). The bike is a 490cc Norton 16H sidevalve, never as famous as the 496cc BSA M20, but tens of thousands were supplied to the military and served in all theatres of war. 
▲ Honor Blackman and her ES2 Norton. But check the web and you'll see that she's associated with many other marques including Royal Enfield and Honda Honor Blackman was born in Plaistow, East London, one of four children. She began acting at age 15 and worked for a while in the civil service whilst trying to break into the world of performing arts. Her early movie roles includes Fame is the Spur (1947, co-starring Michael Redgrave, but which failed to credit Blackman); Conspirator (1949, co-starring Robert Taylor and Elizabeth Taylor); and Green Grow the Rushes (1951, co-starring Richard Burton). 
▲ Honor Blackman as Pussy Galore getting physical with Sean Connery in Goldfinger. Those judo moves, take note, were based upon real training at the world famous Budokwai dojo. But the sex-appeal was natural and suggested a few other far more interesting moves... Later in her career she appeared in numerous "household" TV series including The Saint, Dr Who, Columbo, New Tricks, Hotel Babylon, and Casualty. The last acting appearance for her that we can find was in 2015. And she was certainly prolific. Check her filmography and you'll count at least 60 movies. She was always out there somewhere, never away from the stage or screen for long enough to be forgotten, but never too long in any one place to be taken for granted. Always Honor Blackman, but always with a new persona. 
Honor Blackman married twice and adopted two children. A staunch anglo-republican and with strong political views, she spent her time between the UK and the USA where she kept a summer home. She died in Sussex aged 94, a great British actress who left behind an entertaining and varied catalogue of work. The high spots of her professional life were unquestionably Goldfinger and The Avengers. And as for the low spots, she didn't really have any. She was quite simply a class actress from beginning to end.
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Most of our products are still in stock and ready to go ... ...but a few items have sold out, and restocking will be slower than normal  It's largely our biker products that keep Sump afloat—plus a lot of dedication, hard work, midnight oil, pizza and beer. So if you're one of our customers (and fortunately a lot of you Sumpsters are), you can continue to order our T-shirts, metal signs, books and whatnot. But the last of our sumptuous hoodies are about to sell out (seems that we should have ordered many more).
We'll restock asap. Meanwhile, processing and despatching of Sump orders might take a little longer than ideal, note. Like everyone else, we're trying to cut our public exposure. Consequently, outgoing parcel mail will happen every second day rather than every day. It's a small concession to government advice. But probably a justifiable one. So bear with us, if you will. We're trying to feel our way through this thing and will put everything back in the right box as soon as we can. Meanwhile, hit the SUMP SHOP link below, or punch the SHOP BUTTON at the top of this page. In these feelbad days, a few feelgood gifts, toys and accessories are exactly what's needed. Stay distant, people, but not too distant, huh? SUMP SHOP
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7th April is the date The National Motorcycle Museum is the venue—but online only In terms of auction estimates, the most significant lot at the 7th April 2020 H&H Sale is a 990cc 1936 Brough Superior SS80 (Lot 142). H&H Auctions, which is offering the bike for sale, is expecting to sell it for £70,000 - £90,000. See image immediately above. 
But we've got our eyes on the 1951 125cc Bond motorcycle (Lot 185) in fetching banana yellow (image immediately above). And the reason why we're watching it is simple; it's quirky, it's rare, it's listed as "mostly complete and original", and it's original. Also, there's no reserve—and things being what they are at the moment, what with the Covid-19 emergency and the apparent rout of the human race, we can imagine this motorcycle selling for little more than pocket fluff. But we'll see what we'll see on the day. Lawrence "Lawrie" Bond (1907 - 1974) was the man behind Bond Motorcycles. He's best known for his Bond three wheelers which are equally quirky and more than a little charming, but he was also a manufacturer of motorcycles, scooters and boats. The firm's first bike was introduced by Bond in 1949. This radical departure from convention featured a monocoque aluminium frame not dissimilar to the example above complete with bulbous mudguards, balloon tyres, a sprung saddle and a Villiers 1F two-stroke engine driving through two speeds. The fuel was contained in the tapered top tube. As for suspension, Bond dispensed with that and trusted to its lightweight (90lbs) to keep it rolling in reasonable comfort. 
By 1951, more power was deemed appropriate, and so a 125cc 3-speed JAP two-stroke engine was offered, and this time (following numerous fractures) a telescopic front fork was fitted. In 1950, Lawrie Bond sold the rights to the bike to Ellis Ltd of Leeds which continued production until 1953. As for the Bond company, that continued building cars until 1969 when it was sold to Reliant which brought us the Bond Bug. The Bond motorcycle offered by H&H is in "barn find" condition, has various items of paperwork, and is complete with a buff log book and a V5.
Note that this auction is now online only. It was originally set to be held at the National Motorcycle Museum in Solihull, but events have overtaken it. As such we expect to see some very keen bargains at this sale. Come back to us in a week or so and we'll have a report. See also: H&H April sale at the NMM See also: More from Sump on Bond cars UPDATE: The Brough Superior didn't sell. The Bond sold for £2,700
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www.britishdealernews.co.uk BMW no show at Intermot (Cologne, Oct 2020) & EICMA (Milan, Nov 2020) Super Soco offers 10% buyers discount to key coronavirus workers Government business/self-employed trader support (coronavirus hit firms)
www.motorcyclenews.com 
Harley-Davidson up their game with new flat track and café concepts Rural petrol stations could be forced to close in weeks as demand drops Norton Motorcycles: Chinese firm bought rights to 961 engine platform
www.bennetts.co.uk/bikesocial Where was your bike made? Bike industry pushes for Euro 5 delay "Thieves sticking out like a sore thumb" Coronavirus and bike theft
www.visordown.com How to clean your motorcycle helmet Two Wheels for Life urges donations as coronavirus spreads to Africa Want to tour motorcycle museums in lockdown? Now you can…
www.motorbikewriter.com 
Suzuki Katana Red in virtual launch Polaris/Indian boss suspends salary Do you hold the clutch lever at lights?
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Triumph specialist ex-dealer (Reg Allen Motorcycles) has died He was also the founder of the London Motorcycle Museum We don't have too much information on this story—and God only knows that Bill Crosby's life story is a tale and a half. But the simple news is of course that he died on 29th March 2020 aged 88. We've known Bill on and off for around 30-plus years. He was often short-tempered but generous. He had vision, but was occasionally blinkered by misplaced expectation (notably with regard to failing the transition from Triumph Meriden main dealer to Triumph Hinckley dealer). He was also highly knowledgeable, hard working, practical, and totally dedicated to the motorcycle industry. In short, bikes were his life. Consequently, it would have been a huge blow to him when it was recently announced that Reg Allen Motorcycles, his business since 1958, was forced by diminishing trade to close. And there was a second blow when in October 2019 the London Motorcycle Museum that he founded in 1999 also closed. Both eventualities had long been in sight, but Bill soldiered on until the bitter end. For the last few years it was clear that his health was failing, and much of that failure was no doubt compounded by simple human disappointment. He'll be much-missed by hundreds, if not thousands, of motorcyclists, particularly those riding Triumphs; Bill's first love. In short, he was a true character and a now broken link to a motorcycle world rapidly retreating. See also: Reg Allen Motorcycles is closing See also: Sump Reg Allen Motorcycles feature See also: Sump London Motorcycle Museum story, Jan 2016
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Motorcycle News brings us another reason for living Put down that Play-Doh and start colouring If you've got a little time on your hands (and who hasn't these days?), and if you've got some colouring pencils, Motorcycle News (MCN) has an offer guaranteed to make you wee yourself. Hit the link below and download an A4 copy of the above Ducati Panigale V4S image, then colour it in (taking care not to go over the lines) and send your entry to MCN's social media account using the hashtag #ColourWithMCN. If you're a lucky bunny (and have eaten all your dinner) your picky-wicky will be reposted for the whole world to see (and we know a song about that, don't we?). 
▲ "Colored Pencils?" Clearly Crayola is behind these politically correct times. This box surely ought to be called "Pencils of Color" or, on this side of the Atlantic, "Pencils of Colour." Either way, make sure you get a set to keep entertained during these long Covid-19 nights. Being an adult has never been such fun! Just make sure you fill in the form and leave your name and email address and tick the lovely box-shaped boxes so that MCN can send you details of how to download a digital version of your favourite biking newspaper during the current yucky coronavirus crisis. Desperate marketing? April Fool? You tell us, children. See you all next time. Bye!!! Luvverly coloury motorbike drawing linky-winky
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It was April 1st yesterday. That's what this must be about. Either
that or the MCN journos are so young these days that the only way they
can create a bike is with a bit of paper and a set of crayons and they
think their readership is the same. I'll be in the workshop as I have a BSA Spitfire scrambler gearbox to rebuild. No crayons or parental supervision required.—The Village Squire. [An April Fool's spoof is a possibility, except that this was published on 31st March—Ed]
Yup, This has to be an April Fool gag. But like most such gags, it's pretty lame. Then again, ya never know. We live in desperate times.
—PeeWee Johnson
Desperate marketing disguised as an April Fool, methinks. Run for the hills, everyone—Harry Dawes
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A few thoughts on dealing with the cops during the Covid-19 crisis Keeping it zipped is still an option Throughout WW2 the same question was being asked by the authorities: IS YOUR JOURNEY REALLY NECESSARY? But back then it had nothing to do with curtailing the spread of any diseases. Instead, the government was looking to conserve limited resources of coal and steel and human labour, whilst keeping a sidelong check on whoever was on the move; i.e. spies, fifth columnists, downed German pilots, and escaping POWs.  Today, with the Covid-19 virus on the loose, we're once again having our journeys monitored and regulated by the state, this time in order to limit the spread of a disease that will ultimately kill hundreds of thousands if not millions worldwide.
Trouble is, the new powers granted to the cops are already being over-policed—or, if you prefer, being abused. We're currently hearing news reports of police officers questioning shoppers over the need to buy "non-essential" Easter Eggs, or challenging dog walkers (by aerial drone) for being more than a few miles from their home, or inspecting car boots to see what spoils were gathered on that last shopping trip. And then there are reports of people being harassed simply for sitting on a park bench for more than half an hour, or for taking two walks a day as opposed to the recommended single exercise jaunt. Granted that these tales are still relatively rare and sensationalised (and in a few instances probably fictionalised), and granted that the cops need a little time to work out exactly where the boundaries of "acceptable" human behaviour lie in the current paradigm. Nevertheless, if you give any group or organisation even a little power, some members will apply that authority "reasonably" and judiciously, and some will abuse it for all they're worth. We've all seen hundreds of examples of this. 
So it's worth remembering that even at a time like this, if and when you're out on your bike, and if and when you get tugged, you don't have to talk to the cops. Yes, you're obliged to identify yourself with a driving licence or similar, and you need to cooperate with reasonable requests such as switching off the engine and raising your visor (where applicable). And if the police don't like your "uncooperative attitude" you might be asked to get off the bike while they scrutinise engine and frame numbers. But you don't have to explain yourself at all. The cops can simply check you out via the PNC (Police National Computer). That will reveal your insurance, MOT & road tax status. It will also confirm whether you own the bike or whether it's recorded as stolen. Beyond that, if the coppers have good reason to believe that you've committed some offence, it's up to them to make a convincing case against you, either at the roadside or in the courts. But you needn't do more than offer basic compliance, and you certainly aren't obliged to help them dig the hole any deeper. So does that mean that here at Sump we're suggesting that everyone should go out for a  joyride whenever they feel like it and ignore the government advice regarding the current coronavirus crisis? Actually, no. Far from it. Our feelings are that you should stay at home wherever possible for as long as reasonably possible. That's certainly where we're staying. But you have to be realistic. Life still has to go on even though people are dying—and even though more will die. And one man's idea of a necessary journey isn't necessarily going to chime with the views of the cops who on occasion, by their nature, are apt to over-enforce rather than under-enforce the slightly ambiguous rules that have recently come into force. Need an example of what might go wrong? Okay. Imagine this scenario. You're in state lockdown. Been there for days, and you're starting to climb the walls. To occupy your time, you decide to do what you can to rebuild your bike in the garage. But—oops—you need some parts. You're a good citizen, however. You don't want to move around the world unnecessarily. So you leave it for days, but then you realise that you've run out of bread or milk or (God forbid) toilet paper. So you work out a route that takes you to the nearest supermarket that's five miles away. It's necessary supplies. Justifiable motorcide. Ya gotta eat, right? And you also happen to mentally note that Fred's Bike Shop is just another mile further on, and Fred has already told you on the phone that he's not really open, but he's in his workshop and can probably let you have a few parts if you keep your distance. So you wash your hands and nip round to the supermarket. You keep two metres from everyone and buy bread and milk, then motor on to Fred's. It makes sense. Fred has a bucket of water and some soap awaiting you. So gratefully, you scrub up like a surgeon. Twenty minutes later you exit Fred's shop with two silencers, a box of brake shoes, a clutch cable, various nuts, bolts, seals and gaskets. Also, you bought a new saddle. It was on offer. It's all strapped to the bike, and it's secure and you motor home a happy bunny.  Two miles later the cops pounce and they're not impressed. You might try explaining what happened and why. The bread. The milk. The bike parts. And, of course, the discount saddle. But they might not be listening. You might simply be making the situation worse. So now you're looking at a £60 fine for being out and about without good reason; and that means their idea of "good reason".
You can conjure up any number of similar unlikely (but plausible) scenarios. And yes, we're having a bit of fun here. Nevertheless, the cops have new powers. They're feeling their way around. There will be excesses of force and power. And some of us will fall foul of it. Policing by consent is, of course, how it's supposed to work. But that can easily trip into policing by dissent. The bottom line? Do what you feel you have to do. Try and minimise your social impact, etc. Rationalise your behaviour. Wash your hands. Keep your distance. Apologise for being alive. But get on with living that life as much as possible, and as safely as reasonably possible. And when you do encounter plod, remember that you don't have to explain anything if you choose not to. They have to make a case against you, and your defence might well be better played out in front of the beak rather than standing at the roadside when the cops are already treating you as a social pariah and a potential carrier of a disease that just might killl 'em. On the other hand, the beak might be less forgiving. Remember that too. So talk your head off if you think it best. Or zip it up and keep your germs and excuses to yourself. It's your call. See also: Motorcyclists and the police UPDATE: On Monday 30th March 2020, a woman from York was fined (an extreme?) £660 plus costs for failing to explain to police her reasons for apparently breaching the new Coronavirus Act 2020. She was stopped at Newcastle Central Station following suspicion of travel fraud and failure to justify/explain her presence. It's worth noting that she might not have been found guilty by the court had she provided a justifiable excuse. But of course, we don't have details of the case and the defence (if any). However, we reiterate that you don't have to talk to the police (and many of us have very good reason for refusing to engage with plod any more than is absolutely necessary). But there could be a high price to pay for your refusal. The maximum penalty under this section of the Coronavirus Act is £960. However, the police will issue a £60 ticket for the first offence (£30 if paid within 14 days), and that doubles and re-doubles for repeat offences.
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Straight out of "Radical Times" BSH c1984. Good read. Thanks—Kiffo
In a TV interview yesterday a spokesman for the Electronic Frontier Foundation (they patrol the inter web and where it’s going) made the point that extra powers taken by governments, necessarily, in times of crisis are rarely let go of again. So when we get quizzed by drones about our ride-outs three years from now, remember today.—Peter Stokes
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THIS DAY IN HISTORY 31st March 2020 
1854: Dugald Clerk, two-stroke engine inventor It's all but impossible to know exactly who really invented what and when. That's because pretty much everything is based upon the work of someone else, and there's seemingly always another voice even further back claiming ownership of the original thought or concept. But certainly, if Dugald Clerk didn't entirely invent the two-stroke engine, he was one of the leading pioneers and created one of the most successful designs of his age. Born in Glasgow on 31st March 1854, Clerk studied engineering in both Glasgow, Scotland and Leeds, England. He later became the Director of Engineering Research for the  British Admiralty. That was in 1917 during WW1. But his two-stroke engine work began in 1878 with his first patent being published in 1881. There were numerous rival designs around that time, each trying to develop the most practical, efficient and cost-effective internal combustion engine. These include the Brayton engine, the Lenoir engine, the de Rivaz engine, and the Otto & Langen engine. Clerk's engine, however, solved the problem of producing a power stroke with every revolution (as opposed to every second revolution)—but his design necessitated a separate cylinder featuring slide valves and a poppet valve. It was not so much a clumsy design as, perhaps, a necessary step on the road of further two-stroke development, and others (such as Joseph Reid) picked up on Clerk's ideas and took them even further. Some have suggested that Clerk's concept was effectively the world's first supercharger. Except that his design did not compress the induction mixture, but merely pumped the low pressure charge through to the power cylinder. Dugald Clerk later produced gas engines, wrote numerous technical books and essays, and generally pushed his ideas into new and exciting two-stroke territory. He died in Ewhurst, Surrey in 1932 aged 78; a great engineer, now mostly forgotten.
1955: Motor Cycling's Ambiguous Danger Signal Today it's far less a problem than it might have been back in 1955, but editor R R Holliday writing in the 31st March edition of Motor Cycling certainly felt it was an issue that deserved scrutiny. Specifically, Holliday was referring to the ubiquitous hand signal offered by motorcyclists (and motorists) when approaching a right side junction. Simple enough manoeuvre. Check behind for following traffic. Make your signal. Brake as appropriate. Swing off right. Replace hand on handlebar. Check following traffic. And continue on your journey. However, the same right hand signal might also indicate an imminent manoeuvre intended to safely pass a left-side obstruction of some kind (parked car, rubbish skip, heap of builder's sand, dead body or whatever). Clearly, following traffic might choose to pass on the left when the vehicle ahead is turning right. But it would be unwise to pass on that side if the vehicle ahead is simply moving over to the right to avoid the obstacle, that might be hidden until the last moment. Holliday's observation might not seem worthy of an editorial comment in the aforementioned august journal. But in 1955, the rules of the road were applied far more rigourously, methodically and formally than they are in today's free-for-all. In the intervening 55 years, thinking has changed a little, and whatever the Highway Code advises, real world motorcycle riders rarely bother to indicate right except when actually turning right. So what solutions did R R Holliday offer to mitigate or help obviate this problem? None, actually. He concludes his editorial diatribe (entitled: Ambiguous Danger Signal) simply by saying, "But it is plain that a situation in which a signal given to aid safety means two entirely different things. Calling for two directly opposed reactions on the part of other road users, bears within it the seeds of tragedy." Consider yourself warned, ladies and gentlemen.
1966: Harold Wilson becomes Prime Minister. Again In a month that saw the birth of legendary New Zealand racer Burt Munro (1899 - 1978), Welsh speedway rider Freddie Williams (1926 - 2013), and English motorcycle racer Geoff Duke (1923 - 2015), the 31st March 1966 is memorable for the election victory of British Prime Minister Harold Wilson. Wilson first became PM in 1964, but by 1966 he saw an opportunity to increase his narrow majority and called a snap general election. It was a success, and he subsequently presided over a tumultuous era in British  politics. Members of the "Sump generation" might well remember him not only for his pipe and Gannex raincoat, but also for (a) honouring The Beatles with MBEs, and for (b) suing British band The Move for publishing a promotional postcard for the hit song "Flowers in the Rain". The "DISGUSTING, DEPRAVED, DESPICABLE" tongue-in-cheek sentiment in the postcard pandered to popular (and unfounded) rumour regarding Wilson's alleged improper relationship with his assistant Marcia Williams. The artwork displayed a caricature of the two of them in bed together. Wilson was not amused and launched a legal action, which he won. The damages went to charity, and Wilson continued as PM and focussed on holding his fractious party together whilst introducing numerous and often controversial social reforms. Arch nemesis of Edward Heath (who became PM in 1970 and survived until 1974), Wilson was resident at Number 10 between 1964 and 1970, and again between 1974 and 1976. Damaged by the East of Suez withdrawal (not to be confused with the Suez Crisis) and the devaluation of the pound (sterling) in 1967, that same year saw Wilson's failure to secure membership of the EEC (much to Yankee-hating Charles de Gaulle's delight). Whatever your views of Harold Wilson and his policies, few would argue that he was one of the most significant politicians of post-war Britain. Revisionist historians are already looking more kindly on his life and career. He died in 1995 aged 79.
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Norton specialist marks four decades Commandos and Dominators to your specification Check the two Norton Commando Fastbacks in the image immediately above. The example on the left is a 750cc restoration. The bike on the right is a 1,000cc new build that's better in just about every respect. Norton specialist Les Emery is using the motorcycle to mark 40 years of trading. He started in February 1980, and he's still very much hands-on after four decades developing the business, rebuilding bikes, manufacturing new parts and offering pretty much all you need to keep your Commando or Dominator on the road, and he also carries a large stock of parts for Norton singles. 
We know Les a little. We've visited his Norvil Motorcycle Company premises in Burntwood, Staffordshire and we were highly impressed. You can check our account of that visit via our Les Emery feature. Meanwhile, here's a congratulations to Les. He's not the longest serving dealer in the classic bike world. But he's certainly done more than his share to keep the flame flying. Go talk to him about building a Commando or Dominator to your specification. It won't be cheap. But it will be good value. And yes, we're using his 40th anniversary as an excuse to give his business a plug. We're not aware that he especially needs it, mind. But what with the Covid-19 bug on the move, the entire classic bike scene is going to take a hit and will enjoy whatever support it can get. We're hoping that Norvil will be around for a long time yet.
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Closed on 20th March 2020 Everything's on hold until further notice It's barely worth mentioning now because we have to assume that just about everything non-essential is closed until we're told that it isn't. So it's no surprise to note that the Ace Cafe closed on 20th March 2020 and will stay that way until the UK is in better shape, healthwise and probably otherwise. But we're keeping a (suitably distant) eye open while we're trying to work out the long term implications for the bike scene, particularly the classic bike scene—and we are expecting many casualties from businesses that have been so badly disrupted that they're now permanently shut. And we're also talking about sole traders such as those on the autojumble scene and shed services. Some of these guys are getting pretty old, and Covid-19 might well suggest a suitable moment to quit. Yes, that's depressing and perhaps slightly defeatist talk, but over the next few months and years, we can expect many changes. Reality bites, etc. The Ace will bounce back, of course. We've little doubt of that. But for now, we're all in lockdown and (probably) climbing the walls. Meanwhile, we'd be interested to hear about any businesses that are definitely planning to shut their doors, never to re-open—and we'd be very interested to hear about any other collateral damage to the UK or international bike scene, classic or otherwise. feedback@sumpmagazine.com
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No events for April & May The museum is also closed All events at Sammy Miller's Motorcycle Museum at New Milton, Hampshire have been cancelled until at least June 2020. So April and May gatherings are off the calendar, and the museum is closed. It's another casualty of the coronavirus, of course, and there's no guarantee that June will see any return to normality. But if Covid-19 is put safely behind us (and that's a pretty big if), the next two events at Sammy Miller's will be the Vintage Japanese Bike Day on 7th June 2020, the Norton Natter & Nosh on 14th June 2020, and the Rickman Enthusiasts Day on 21st June 2020. All of these events are Sunday events.
Stay distanced, everyone. www.sammymiller.co.uk
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The Independent Garage Association is at odds with government thinking A six month M.O.T extension is considered "detrimental" Check a little further down this page and you'll find our story headed "Government rules on M.O.T testing." Essentially, it refers to the new six month extension/grace period for vehicles needing an M.O.T beyond 30th March 2020—a move intended to address the social distancing rules recently introduced with reference to the Covid-19 virus. Well, the Independent Garage Association (IGA) has since issued a statement challenging that advice and believes that six week's grace is sufficient, with extra extensions granted as circumstances dictate on a week-by-week basis. And they've got a point. The organisation cites a general M.O.T failure rate of 31%. That, it's claimed, means that over a six month period, around ten million vehicles might be considered unroadworthy, some of them very seriously so. Additionally, many motorcycle and car M.O.T stations rely on the cash flow generated by testing vehicles, and these stations are going to be hit hard by a six month extension. We haven't looked deeply into the numbers, but it's easy to see how millions of vehicles will cause a great threat to other road users through poor lighting, weak brakes, dodgy steering and suspension, etc. Trouble is, it's hard to imagine that the government, fearful of confusing the general public, will now withdraw that six month extension and replace it with a shorter grace period. As for reassessing that grace period on a weekly basis, we can't see that getting much traction either. It takes time for government advice to filter into public consciousness, and operating week-by-week is fraught with problems. As for the cash flow woes of the testing stations, it's easy to see that such complaints might not draw very much sympathy at the moment, not when Covid-19 deaths in the UK are currently at 759 (as of 27th March 2020) and rising. Nevertheless, M.O.T testers have got to eat, and we still need to think beyond the current crisis and ensure that this remains "a land fit for heroes", etc. Meanwhile, it might be worth reminding bikers (in particular) that over the next six months (or until further notice), a rising number of vehicles on the road will have all kinds of extra problems that will manifest themselves in increasingly dangerous ways. Life goes on, etc. But so does death. Be extra vigilant, we say.
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Covid-19: M.O.T certificates are still required for motorcycles Guidance valid at the time of writing (24th March 2020) NOTE: SEE THE UPDATE AT THE END OF THIS NEWS STORY!! It's not funny, of course. But that doesn't mean we shouldn't try laughing about it. We're referring to our (immediately above) graphic which seeks to make light of a pandemic that, before it's burned out, will claim tens of thousands of lives. However, when you're under stress it's natural enough to retreat into humour (feeble though it might be), and most of us are intently and nervously watching the coronavirus story unfold. It's a page turner. But this news item is really about M.O.T testing in the UK whilst Covid-19 is on the rampage. And if your "Ministry of Transport" certificate has expired, you need to get re-tested before you're road legal. There are exceptions, however. And here they are: 1. As ever, you can ride directly to and from an M.O.T testing centre. But you must book the test (note that we didn't say "pre-book"). 2. Lorry, bus and trailer M.O.Ts are suspended for three months. 3. Vehicle approval tests (for imports, modification checks, etc) have also been suspended for three months. Failure to provide a current M.O.T certificate can therefore still result in a maximum £1,000 fine. And even if you're an emergency worker or a key worker and need your wheels to go and save a few lives or something, you're expected to comply strictly with the law. The government simply hasn't thought this far ahead yet; or, at least, hasn't really considered the ramifications. And that's possibly because Boris Johnson and Co hasn't worked out that motorcycles aren't simply toys. For many people, bikes are essential transport, and frequently the only means of transport. But what the hell do you do if your local M.O.T test centre is closed? That's simple; you either book with another test centre, or you stay at home. Of course, under the current rules/guidance/strictures, M.O.T test centres are permitted to stay open. But many garages/shops are small independents, and they might well have chosen to close, or have been forced by circumstance to shut their doors. There's no contingency in place, note. No M.O.T certificate means you've got no right to ride, legally speaking—and if you do ride without a current certificate, your insurance might also have something to say about that. So what if you need to get out for groceries or something and are staring at an expired certificate? Well you can get the test sorted first, and collect your groceries after. Or you could bend the rules a little and get the groceries en route (and you just might persuade a roving cop that it was the right thing to do under the circumstances; but don't count on it). Meanwhile, it gets complicated if you need a spare part for the test (brake shoes or something) and can't get them because the necessary bike shops are shut for the duration. In that case you're officially grounded. 
Of course, there are one or two dodges that some shrewd folk might try, such as riding to the test (that, without a given spare part, they know they'll fail) and deliberately breaking down outside of, say, a supermarket safe in the knowledge that having failed to turn up for a test, they haven't actually failed it. And then they simply "limp" home again (ideally when the test centre is closed) and try the same stunt the next time they need to—and if the cops don't spot them, they might get away with it time and time again. There are variations on this theme. But naturally we couldn't possibly suggest that anyone should pull such a move. That would be illegal.
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I think you will find that the rules have now changed regarding the M.O.T and a six month extension from 29th March 2020 has been allowed.
—Regards Geoff. UPDATE: Yes, thanks, Geoff. The extension has just been granted meaning that if your M.O.T is due after 30th March 2020, you will be granted a six month extension. But if your M.O.T expires before 30th March 2020, you will get no extension even if your vehicle fails its test and needs a re-test after 30th March. If you're self-isolating and miss your test, you will need to contact the DVSA on 0300 123 9000. If your vehicle fails an M.O.T, you must declare SORN (Statutory Off Road Notification). Keep in mind that all this is a very fluid situation. And as ever, owners are still obliged to keep their vehicle in a roadworthy condition when used on the road.
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The Congestion zone is now free to all until further notice ... ditto the ULEZ This news item started as one story, but ended up as something different. To clarify, we were writing a piece about why the hell London Mayor Sadiq Khan is, on the one hand chastising irresponsible commuters in the capital for using public transport, and on the other hand is continuing to charge for entry into the capital through the Congestion Zone and Ultra Low Emissions Zone (ULEZ). But even before we finished our diatribe, we received the news that Transport for London (TfL) has in fact just suspended charges into or through the zones. So okay, we could still give The Khan a few slaps for not addressing this issue sooner. But let's not be churlish. He's finally got the message that if he doesn't want to see Londoners crammed onto the buses and tube, he needs to give them more alternatives than Shank's Pony, push-bikes, motorcycles, and taxi cabs. The fact is, some folk really do need to travel into the capital, or genuinely feel that they do. And if the only viable option is public transport, people will take that option. Basically, and normally, the congestion zone charge is £11.50 per day for cars. The ULEZ charge is an additional £12.50 per day (also for cars). So if you travel five days a week, you can work out for yourself the costs of that mobility—and then take a running guess at the parking fees. Motorcycles are charged at £12.50 for the ULEZ, but the congestion zone is free. However, (modern) bikes that are Euro3 compliant and historic bikes are free to travel through both zones. 
▲ Keep breathing down this tube and you'll end up breathing through a very different tube. Take a tip and avoid public transport of all types. These days, even the ambulances are risky... So okay, people will have to adjust to the current paradigm. And so they will. But realistically, that won't happen overnight. The immediate need is to separate/isolate travellers as much as possible, and that's best achieved by keeping open any option that helps prevent the person-to-person transmission of Covid-19. Ideally, people will still elect to avoid travelling into the capital unless it's ABSOLUTELY vital, and Khan is keen to keep health workers on the move, and to ensure THAT supply chains are operational for food stocks and medicines, etc. So enjoy the open season while it lasts. If you've got a motorcycle or a car and now want to ride or drive into Central London, it will certainly be a safer way to go, coronavirus-wise. If not, you're strongly advised to avoid all forms of public transport—and that includes cabs. Public transport is wonderful up to a point. But for us, personalised transportation is always the better way to go, and Covid-19 has simply reinforced that view. Agree? Disagree?
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We're talking about the Motor Cycle Industry Association Some bikers are "misbehaving themselves" during the current crisis The Motor Cycle Industry Association (MCIA) is always keen to promote the virtues and advantages of riding a PTW (Power Two Wheeler). The entire raison d'etre of this organisation is, after all, to back its members in the bike building industry and keep sales buoyant, etc. Well it seems that over the past weekend a small, but unspecified, number of motorised miscreants have (a) been upsetting local residents around the UK by failing to adopt the government's prescribed two metre social distancing behaviours and/or (b) have been using the now lightly populated roads as racetracks which could result in the riders ending up in much-needed hospital beds (and it sounds like the last place anyone ought to be right now is in a hospital). Additionally (and we're probably getting to the heart of it now) the MCIA is afraid of the negative publicity and concomitant unhelpful headlines that might follow, and that could impact sales of new motorcycles and thereby upset its members. 
That said, you can't blame a trade organisation for wanting to keep the cash registers ringing, but our experience of these more sensational headlines is that we're really looking at just a few isolated instances scattered across the entire country, and it's important to keep a sense of proportion. The mainstream media is always going to sensationalise whatever events come into their dubious spotlights be it Mods & Rockers or Coffee Bar Cowboys or a bunch of blokes in their 40s, 50s and 60s hanging around a car park chatting and/or ripping up a little empty tarmac and pretending they're Barry Sheen or whoever. It goes with the biking territory. That said, the comment about hospital beds is indeed something to keep in mind. As we all know, health workers are under huge stress at the moment, so anything we can do to lighten their load is a good thing. But we ain't about to lecture anyone on this matter. Most bikers are pretty sensible, self-disciplined, reasonable and cautious people—notwithstanding the fact that we frequently choose a more risky mode of transport over the other available options. That said, maybe we could all back off, slow down and generally send out slightly more socially responsible/acceptable signals at least until the country's got a better grip on the current crisis. These are, after all, far more dangerous roads that we're all travelling these days. Extra casualties are inevitable.
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