A motorcycle dealer has found his business inadvertently linked to an anti-social biking group whose activities are damaging the motorcycle industry.
The group is call Bike Life, which started in the US and glorifies the activities of riders causing mayhem in major towns by racing and pulling stunts on motocross bikes and quads.
As last night’s BBC3 programme, Britain’s Most Wanted Motorbike Gangs, revealed, the sub-culture is rapidly growing here, gaining considerable online publicity.
Thamesmead in south-east London and Birmingham are seen suffering the worst possible kinds of helmet-less idiotic riding in traffic and one video nasty alone had received 675,300 hits when viewed.
The group’s mission statement cites the activity as being suitable for all ethnic groups and that it’s “knives down and wheels up”.
Meanwhile, Honda dealer and Wiseco piston importer Vic Eastwood Racing of Swanley, Kent, has innocently found his business linked to Bike Life. The dealership was established 40 years ago and is one of the most famous names in motocross, with Eastwood and then son Mark racing at world level.
Co-founder Anne Eastwood said: “It all seemed so harmless at the time. About a year ago we were approached by someone who said he was starting a website for young riders and the ad’ would be free for the first year. We had no idea it would turn out like this. We just don’t want to be associated in any way but we can’t find those responsible to get the ad’ taken down.”
The unwelcome connection was brought to BDN’s attention by Dave Plummer, who runs bike security firm Datatool, a member of the MCIA crime reduction group. He said: “It is not all jobless kids on stolen bikes. Many are in work with money and vans buying motocross bikes, quads, clothing and spares. To put this into perspective, this is not random off-road riding on remote moorland but somebody’s customers riding illegally in city traffic setting out to shock and court publicity for the world to see.
“There could be far-reaching consequences for motorcycling and the industry as a whole.”