“You don’t know what hard times are, daddy,” Dusty Rhodes famously declared 30 years ago. But increasingly, with the cost of living high and inflation seemingly set to rise again, many of us are learning. And as a result, not nearly as many riders are willing to shell out £4,000+ for 125cc and 250cc motorcycles with decades-old engines made in China.
Which means hard times for Birmingham-based Mutt Motorcycles. According to British Dealer News, the brand has filed for bankruptcy.
This is news that seems to have flown under the radar of other UK motorcycle outlets, which, in and of itself, may be indicative of the situation that Mutt was in. It’s hard times when no one notices that your house is on fire.
“On Friday, 28 February, the London law firm Addleshaw Goddard submitted an application to the High Court, signalling their intention to appoint an administrator to oversee (Mutt’s) affairs,” reported BDN.
Whether that means completely going under or simply restructuring remains to be seen. As I can affirm from my own unpleasant experience of bankruptcy, it’s a long and uncomfortable process, with a lot of it riding on the administrator’s assessment of your situation. I mean that in several senses of the word. Assessment from a financial/mathematical perspective, but also assessment in a more Anubis sense: a weighing of your heart.
In my own experience, I very much got the feeling that the administrator was taking pity on me and giving me the benefit of the doubt. My situation was personal bankruptcy, though. The business process is probably less considerate/human and, as a result, a lot less fun.
“RSM UK Group, an audit, tax and consulting service, has been appointed as the administrator of the Birmingham-based firm,” reports BDN. “No other information has been released, and its official digital channels are silent on the matter.”
Mutt has about 20 employees and you have to feel bad for them; now is a pretty sucky time to be out of work.
Customers, however, probably shouldn’t be too worried. Mutt bikes are driven by Chinese-made Suzuki GN engines, manufactured under license by Jinan Qinjqqi Motorcycles (aka QM). Odds are good that the engines are used in all kinds of other bikes. Even if they’re not, these engines have been used around the world for decades. So finding replacement parts shouldn’t be difficult. Although, why bother with just parts? You can buy a whole engine on eBay for just £250.
I can’t really identify exactly why I’m interested in this news. I mean, Mutt’s not a brand that has ever been on my ‘What I Want‘ list. Personally, if I was inclined to pay too much for a 125 I’d be throwing my money at a Fantic Caballero Scrambler.
But, I suppose that being armed with all this knowledge might help you negotiate a good deal on a Mutt. The brand has some three dozen dealerships in the UK. Now’s your chance to capitalize on someone else’s misfortune.
Leave a Reply