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Motorcycle Monopoly?
Blog Date - 09 April 2013
It's amazing what you learn when you trawl the tinterweb. I've just read an announcement that MotoGB are to become the UK distributor for Royal Enfield. That's good news as Watsonian Squire were pulling out leaving the UK, where Royal Enfield originated, without any Royal Enfields.
What I then learnt is that MotoGB distribute a fair number of marques including MV Augusta, Benelli, Sym and a couple of other far eastern names. Then I learned that MotoGB are based in the Chorley area, near my home town. So I looked at the MotoGB website, www.motogb.co.uk.
Sure enough their address is in Adlington, near Chorley. I know the massive warehouse with stacks of crates outside marked up with juicy brands like Kawasaki and Yamaha. I also believe this facility is part of the KJM group who have been busily taking over all the local bike shops. Apart from Honda it's nigh-on impossible to purchase a motorcycle in this area without further lining the pockets of Keith Mason, aka KJM.
I'm unsure how I feel about the KJM Empire, for that is what it is. Mr Mason has a "chequered" history, a cursory search on Google will reveal he had a brush with the law and dubious sales when he was but a small businessman. I also fear there may be a monopoly, certainly in the North-West, where almost any motorcycle sales will be lining the pockets of Mr Mason. To learn he is also a major distributor of bikes to dealers means he controls a very sizable chunk of the motorcycle industry within the UK. How long before he can decide what price we all pay?
But then I also know his group of shops in the North West are very much in competition with each other. If you spot a bike in Wigan Kawasaki you like, be sure to visit Bolton Motorcycles and they'll desperately haggle a deal against the deal offered in Wigan. I'm also aware that the KJM group is a success, we should embrace success not fear it and be jealous. A group of this size is more than just one man. Is it not a good thing that my little part of the world is a major hub for the motorcycle industry?
I suppose the point is to just be aware of what is going on. I wish all the staff within the KJM Empire success and good health and long may they serve motorcyclists well with good service and excellent machinery at competitive prices. I'd also like to think that some people will keep abreast of the situation, watching what this growing behemoth is doing. There is good and bad in everything, lets hope there's more good than bad at KJM HQ.
Reader's Comments
Ray F Walton said :-
Great write up on a very interesting subject.
Enjoyed the read.
01/01/2000 00:00:00 UTC
said :-
I certainly know how I feel about KJM!!
Lancashire-based KJM Superbikes has taken a major SIX FIGURE spanking from Bristol City Council Trading Standards after they used new financial investigation powers under the Proceeds of CrimeAct 2002 to target KJM. A customer had complained a Yamaha Virago bought from that company was in fact a Chinese-built counterfeit!!!
Trading Standards then discovered the fake bike (one of a shipment of more than 200), had been imported and supplied by KJM. Following guilty pleas before Bristol Magistrates Court, a confiscation order of £174,513 was raised against KJM and they were forced to pay costs of £25,000 to the council. The court also imposed a fine of £3000 and required KJM to pay £2000 compensation to the guy who'd bought the dodgy counterfeit bike from Mason's empire.
More? www.mcqart.com/mco
01/01/2000 00:00:00 UTC
Anon said :-
I currently work for one of KJM's stores and I can honestly say that the staff the Mason's have, they don't deserve. They have dominated the North West in regards to motorcycles and given that they care very little for customer satisfaction and after sales and more interested in the profit, I say they don't deserve your best wishes for the future. But just because the Mason's don't care, don't think that the staff don't.
The stores that fall under the KJM umbrella are as follows:
Motorcycle Centre Orrell - MCO
Bolton Kawasaki
Wigan Yamaha
Walkdens of Chorley
In2Moto
Millenium Motorcycles
Preston Superbikes
Chorley Yamaha
Robinsons of Rochdale
KJM Superbike (duh)
01/01/2000 00:00:00 UTC
said :-
You can now add Keith Dixon Motorcycles of Accrington to that list
01/01/2000 00:00:00 UTC
Ren - The Ed said :-
It does seem to be the case that Keith Dixon Motorcycles are now owned by MotoGB, or KJM in other words. I've found a job post on Facebook that connects them... See the link below.
www.facebook.com/permalink.php?id=382304308596398&story_fbid=412338575592971...
01/01/2000 00:00:00 UTC
Andrew Lambert said :-
ive just bought a new Yamaha mt09 from the shop in Accrington and you couldn't meet a more helpful bunch
01/01/2000 00:00:00 UTC
Ren - The Ed said :-
Hi Andrew. MT09, good choice. I'm glad to hear the folks at Accrington are looking after you. I don't think becoming part of a group has to ruin a shop, it's the people in the shop that matter and make the difference.
Enjoy your new bike! I'd love to hear what you think of it.
01/01/2000 00:00:00 UTC
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