We’re on a two-wheeler roll

We aim to be a leading dealership in the motorcycle market and are certainly leading the way in encouraging commuters to swap public transport for two wheels.

Our first campaign, on reopening the showroom on 1 June, was to highlight the benefits of the scooter-commuter market – riding in self-isolation rather than sharing space on buses and trains.

Within days, the Motorcycle Industry Association (MCIA) was also encouraging commuters to switch to a motorcycle or scooter to get to and from their work, as the lockdown eased and businesses reopened.

The MCIA ‘Unlock Your Freedom’ campaign seeks to highlight government travel advice – consider all other forms of transport before using public transport – and how powered two-wheelers can play a significant role in reducing the reliance on buses and trains.

Orwell director Dave Willis said: “We’ve had quite a few people, who have had bikes before, coming in to look at new models and go back to motorcycling.

“But it’s more a case of people who’ve done their full motorcycle test, but never got round to buying a bike then, now doing something about it.”

Smaller new and used motorcycles and scooters are proving popular, as well as compact bikes capable of longer trips, such as the Kawasaki Z400 and KTM 390 Adventure (the latter reviewed this month by motoring journalist Andy Russell).