The Strange Death of the Motorcycle Industry

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The Strange Death of the Motorcycle Industry – Steve Koerner

The British motor cycle industry once stood at the top level of world production. BSA, Ariel, Norton, Triumph, Matchless and Vincent led the world in design, technology, and popularity. After 1945 when the German industry failed to develop, British bikes continued to be untouchable both on the racetrack and in the showroom.

Then it all began to go horribly wrong. Lucrative overseas markets began to decline, and foreign scooters tore into the UK market. At the same time, rates of motorcycles accidents rose and British consumers were deciding to buy cars instead of two-wheelers.

Finally there came a whirlwind from the East, as fierce competition arrived from innovative, sophisticated and more mechanically reliable Japanese machines. By the early 1970s, with alarming rapidity, the British motor cycle industry had all but disappeared.

At long last, Steve Koerner presents an original and in-depth analysis, based on hitherto unused source, of what really happened. Fascinating, detailed and totally convincing, this book provides the first through explanation of the strange death of the British motor cycle industry.

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