▲ 2020 Ducati Diavel 1260. We might well have posted a Harley-Davidson image in this slot because the two firms share a common woe, at least as far as April 2020 UK motorcycle sales are concerned. The numbers have just landed on the mat, and it seems that just 1,623 bikes were shifted during that month. That's all bikes from all manufacturers, note. And that's a whopping drop of 83% compared to April 2019 when 9,820 machines (of all types) were shifted. The coronavirus lockdown is responsible for much of the malaise, if not all of it. And yet, whilst the numbers are terrible, we're equally surprised that so many bikes were shifted. Adventure sports motorcycles took the biggest hit at 93% down; that's slightly worse than the general decline in big bike sales. Honda sales were down around 81%. But as usual, the firm shifted more metal than anyone else. Triumph sales were a little over 90% down. The rest of the best were also hurting to varying degrees. But Ducati and Harley-Davidson failed to sell even 30 units and so failed to meet the minimum threshold required to stay on the sales list.

In short, April 2020 is said to be the worst year ever for UK motorcycle sales. Ouch. And May 2020 isn't shaping up well either...

MOTORCYCLE NEWS

May 2020

Biking news | Motor bike stories | New bikes | Motorcycle products

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007 Triumph Scrambler

We're advertising these Sump biker hoodies elsewhere on Sump, so you might stumble across them on your travels through our pages. But we figure they deserve another mention, not least because the products we design and market help pay the bills for our free pages (half a million incisive and entertaining words and counting, folks). Took us a while to add hoodies to our collection. That's because none of around here ever wore them, so they were ... well, just not on the radar. But we were asked a number of times if we had any hoodies in the box, and finally we saw a demand and knuckled under and started producing them. And we're glad we did. They sell. [More...]

MV Agusta Rush 1000

In case you didn't catch the headline, this is the 2020 MV Agusta Rush 1000 model; a limited edition fairground extravaganza aimed at the kind of crotch-itching, gum-chewing guys and gals who can never have enough speed, enough power, enough toys and enough bling; guys and gals who are also willing to pay disproportionately for the relative exclusivity of limited edition hardware. And that's cool enough if that's you. Different strokes, etc. Eat it while it's hot. But for us, this bike—despite no doubt being exquisitely engineered—is just more ho-hum, and expensive ho-hum at that.

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Royal Enfield brake recall

"Certain types of road salt". That's said to be the reason why Royal Enfield Motorcycles is recalling 15,200 machines in order to replace the brake calipers. Owners or operators of these bikes might experience "unusual [sounds] and in more severe cases [it] can increase brake drag and action."The bikes affected are in the UK, European and Korean markets. And although the RE press release doesn't make it absolutely clear that front and both rear calipers are likely to be affected, the wording of the statement suggests that that is in fact the case. And when we checked with importer Moto GB, they confirmed that that was indeed the case.

[More...]

Click the link for: April 2020 motorcycle news from Sump

Sump workshirt £26.99

All purpose street & garage wear

We spend much of our miserable lives in the garage. Usually we're fixing bikes and stuff, and all too often we're re-fixing the stuff we ought to have fixed properly the first time around.

So it goes.

Anyway, we wanted to increase our product range (that's partly how we fund Sump) and we've been thinking for some time about introducing workshirts and general shirts that we might want to wear when the weather closes in—which is most of the time in the UK. Anyway, this is the result; our first Sump branded garage/all purpose shirt.

The Sump logo is featured above the left-side pocket only (notice how we cunningly avoided saying "breast"?). The image quality is very good and will last the life of the shirt.

We think these are pretty good quality and worth the money. First come, first served, etc.

Hit the button below, baby...

BSA M20/M21

workshirt £26.99

All purpose street & garage wear

Seems that plenty of folk love our BSA M20/M21 T-shirt design which features the above roundel. So, to widen the appea we decided to reproduce it on a more formal shirt that you might want to wear in the garage or in the magistrate's court.

The shirts are 100% cotton twill, which means they're tougher than ordinary cotton. We wear these ourselves, and we're perfectly happy with them—and we're nothing if not hard to please. Follow the links and see if they're right for you (Hint: they probably are).

The BSA M20/M21 roundel is featured above the left-side pocket only. And when you wear this, other BSA folk will notice and might even become your friend and take you out for walks and stuff. It happens.

The image quality is very good and will last the life of the shirt. You know you want it, and you know we've got it.

New motorcycle launches and reviews

Motorcycle news

There's news, and then there's Sump news, and we usually see it differently from the rest of the world. Come check it with us...

Latest motorcycling products and accessories

Biking product news

In a world of plenty, there's plenty more coming down the pike. Stay with us for new motorcycle gear.

Motorcycle industry news

Bike industry news

Without industry, the wheels won't turn. We're keeping an eye on the guys who grease your spindles.

New motorcycling laws

Motorcycle legal news

Fortunately, in the UK we have the rule of law. Unfortunately, few know what all those laws are, and the government keeps changing them anyway. But if it affects you, we'll tip you the wink...

Safety news for bikers