\The Marseille based 2Ride Group (Trophy Group - Shark, Nolan, Segura, Bering, Bagster etc) has taken over the distribution of its Nolan and Shark helmets brands centrally, for the entire DACH region, including Switzerland. The move sees the brand owner taking over from Hostettler and Motoactive GmbH. Owned since 2018 by French investor Eurazeo, 2Ride was in the news three years ago for buying the Californian Troy Lee designs business (from SBJ Capital), and again last year for selling it back to Troy Lee himself in July 2024; www.shark-helmets.com
Having relinquished distribution of Nolan and Shark helmets and the apparel ranges owned by 2Ride Group, Sumiswald, Switzerland based Motoactive GmbH has added KYT and the Suomy brands of helmets, Xpd boots and its owner Spidi's apparel programs, and the French owned BS Battery range of batteries and chargers - effective January 2025. The company also sells Moto Eleven, a mid-price own brand of motorcycle apparel; www.motoactive.ch
The cult Czech designed (and Mahindra, India manufactured) JAWA brand is back on the market in Germany with two industry newcomers setting up as the importer. Bischofswerda, Saxony based KLIC Handelsgesellschaft GbR (André Hausmann and Danilo Walch) is a start-up and will be responsible for the distribution of the contemporary classic range of 350 to 650 cc models including café racers, bobbers, scramblers and adventure bikes. There are currently importers in Austria, Switzerland, Poland and Italy with the new German importer also serving the Hungarian market; www.jawa.eu
Miami, FL based Star8 Corp. (OTC: STRH) has merged with Abruzzo, Italy based electric motorcycle manufacturer TOMAHAWK SRL. Founded in 2019 by brothers Gianluca and Denis Scarponi, it had developed three models under the Scarponi Motorcycles brand during 2020. In 2021 it established a manufacturing and R&D facility in Italy with homologation of all three models for all EU countries achieved in May 2023, followed by production in June 2023. "The merger with Star8 Corp. will allow us with not only access to the capital markets for funding, but also to new distribution channels into the America's and beyond." The company says it plans to expand productions levels and begin marketing of its EV Motorcycles to the rest of Europe, Americas and Asia; www.scarponimotorcycles.com
Chennai, India based Royal Enfield reportedly sold 944,000 motorcycles in 2024, a +4.7% increase over 2023, making it the tenth largest motorcycle manufacturer in the world by unit volume. Originally a small arms manufacturer in 1893, Royal Enfield started making motorcycles at Redditch, England in 1901. Production ceased there in 1967, ending in England completely four years later but continuing as a manufacturer in India. Present owner Eicher acquired the brand in 1994.
Finally, some good news. The decade-long saga of the demise of the ill-starred Stuart Garland Norton motorcycles era has continued to cause ripples in the UK. However, BDN has reported that pensioners who lost money from the Norton pension schemes have finally been compensated. More than 200 people who had been defrauded after former Norton brand owner Garner illegally invested their pension assets in Norton Motorcycle Holdings have had their money refunded by the UK's Pension Protection Fund, with more that £9.4m refunded.
Honda's motorcycle production and sales subsidiary in India is to build a fourth production line at its fourth plant. Set to start operations in 2027, the new line will have an annual production capacity of 650,000 units, bringing the total capacity of the fourth plant to 2.61 million. This will make it Honda's largest motorcycle assembly plant. Honda's four production plants in India total an annual production capacity of 6.14 million units. Since it started production there in 2001, their cumulative production volume has reached more than 70 million units.
