2024 has been a very busy year for us. We have brought together a review of 2024 exploring some of the highlights of our year.

Our diary has been full of a multitude of different motorcycles this year. From adventure bikes to sports bikes, from naked bikes to fully faired and everything in between.

We have welcomed BMW’s, CCM’s, Yamaha’s, Suzuki’s, Honda’s, Kawasaki’s, Piaggio’s, KTM’s, Ducati’s, Triumph’s, Benelli’s, Herald’s, Husqvarna’s, Aprilia’s, Royal Enfield’s and even a Brough Superior through our doors. 

From road bikes to race bikes, from off road bikes to commuter bikes we have welcomed them all. 

We have completed hundreds of services and repairs. We have completed a few full regenerations and recommissions, and we have completed 125 MOTs to date. 

Readers of our regular blogs and followers of our social feeds will have got to know a lot more about the motorcycles we have worked on this year. This review however is a snapshot of the other part of the business, our growth, events and the changes that we have made. 

January 2024 – Unit 3 – MOT. 

In January 2024 fate played her first card of the year. We had been talking about setting up an MOT testing centre for some years but have never had the finance to do so. In January the unit next door became available. As Danny from DJK Motorcycles moved into Unit 1-2 New Barn Offices as he expanded, we took on Unit 3 with the intention of opening an MOT testing centre.

January/February – Crowd funding MOT.

The cumulative funding needed to open the MOT testing centre was £20k. We did not want to take out another loan, so Daniel said we should try crowd funding. Crowd funding for business is a great way for communities to come together to support small businesses and our crowd fund was no different. Within a couple of weeks our generous supporters had already raised £2k.

February 2024 – Appendicitis. 

Just as the year was ramping up, unfortunately Katy ended up in hospital for a week when her appendix burst, and she got sepsis.

It was a very challenging time for us as Katy was subsequently out of the business for a month whilst recovering and Daniel had to take over the entire business function by himself.

Katy’s parents came down from Gloucester to support Daniel while Katy was in hospital and friends rallied around while she was recovering.

February 2024 – a very generous donation.

With the crowd funding underway, we were still a long way off having the funding to support the MOT testing centre. We sold our caravan and some other bits and pieces to raise some of the money, but we were still short.

Therefore, it was such a huge surprise when one of our incredible customers showed up one day, advised he had come into some money from and inheritance and that he wanted to help up with the MOT process.

We agreed a sum, got documents drawn up with our accountant and it was agreed for the £9k to be paid back over an agreed period. We were both blown away by the generosity and very humbled in the belief our customer had in us.

09.03.24 – Marriage.

On Saturday the 9^th March 2024 Daniel and Katy got married. It was a very private affair with only Katy’s parents in attendance and was the perfect day for us both.

We went away for a short honey-break and when we returned, we found a very interesting message on our answer machine.

March 2024 – CCM approval.

Upon our return we had a call from Phil Collier of CCM Motorcycles. It transpired that one of our lovely customers had recommended us to CCM to become part of their approved service network.

We were both very humbled by the recommendation in the first instance and subsequently honoured when we had a visit from the CCM Managing Director.

Within a couple of weeks of the first conversation, Ben Lightbown came to our workshop and trained Daniel and Oaklie how to service the CCMs and the various needs the bikes have on each service.

Sunday 24^th March 2024 – Open Day – mono motorcycles/DJK Motorcycles reveal.

To celebrate our planned expansion and to celebrate Danny from DJK Motorcycles expansion, we held an Open Day. The sun shone and we had a good few hundred people attend, sharing their support and finding out more about both businesses.

It was an absolutely fantastic day with people travelling long distances to support the event.

May – MOT training.

With the MOT funding in place at the end of March, we were able to book the company to sort the equipment and project manage the application. We were also able to book our MOT training.

To run an MOT testing centre you need an AEDM – Authorised Examiner Designated Manager and an MOT Tester. Therefore, Katy took on the training for the AEDM and Daniel the MOT Tester.

We travelled off to Kent to the testing centre and spent two very intense days filling our heads with legislation. We then had to sit and exam which we both passed.

With the training in place, the application to the DVSA could then be completed.

May 2024 – DGR Chichester. 

One of the events we attended as mono motorcycle this year was the Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride. Chichester Council host the final destination in the centre of Chichester, and we were invited to have a trade stand and to promote our business.

It was a fantastic day with hundreds of stunning motorcycles lining the streets and plenty of people chatting to us about what we do and how we could support them.

June 2024 – New work van and wrapping.

One of the other investments we had to make this year was a new work van. Our old van was becoming beyond economical repair and we therefore invested in a 2017 Ford Transit.

To really make the van look professional, we had the back and side panels wrapped.

July 2024 – Helmet City Open Day. 

We were really pleased to be invited to the Helmet City, Chichester Open Day. What a great event they put on with plenty of apparel and helmet companies in attendance. The sun shone all day and there was never a quiet moment.

July 2024 – MOT Grand opening.

We finally got our MOT testing centre sign off in late June. We therefore decided to use our July breakfast club as an official Grand Opening.

The morning was really well attended, and we even had a speech and cutting of the ribbon ceremony.

July 2024 – MCN. 

Off the back of the Grand Opening, we had a fabulous feature in Motorcycle News (MCN) which was fantastic exposure for us as a business and proper recognition of the generosity of our supporters.

August 2024 – CCM demo/test ride breakfast. 

We were really honoured to welcome CCM Motorcycles to our August Breakfast Club. Managing Director Jason Broome brought the CCM promotional gazebo and four CCM motorcycles.

It was an incredible morning with dozens of people taking advantage of the test ride opportunities. It was also a great opportunity for attendees to find out more about the CCM brand and how we could support those in the CCM community.

September 2024 – Kickback – Sammy Millers.

Early in September we headed over to The Sammy Miller Museum as we took part in the Kickback Custom show.

We had modified a CCM Tracker – on loan from CCM – and Daniel had installed a full motogadget wiring system into the bike, including a motogadget motoscope mini dash and motogadget mo.blaze bar end indicators.

While we were at Kickback, Lorne (who runs Kickback) introduced us to Axel Joost. Axel is the designer and engineer behind the Axel Joost brand of electronic components designed to modify and improve wiring for the custom bike scene and for those uprating/upgrading their motorcycles electronics.

Axel was very interested in how much Daniel knew about motorcycle electronics and let us know that he was looking for a new importer/distributor in the UK.

Following further conversations, it was agreed that from the beginning of 2025 mono motorcycles would become the distributor for the Axel Joost range in the UK.

Therefore, when we got back from Kickback we instructed our Web Designer to start building an e-commerce site. At the time of writing this is still in production with a launch date of early January 2025.

September 2024 – Spain.

On the 15^th of September we flew out to Spain for a week of rest in the Spanish sunshine. Katy’s cousin had an apartment booked and she invited us to stay with her.

It was a wonderful week of relaxation and rest in the Spanish sun, a much-needed tonic after an already busy year.

October 2024 – Last breakfast of 2024.

From April to October, we run a breakfast club at the mono motorcycles workshop. Our last one of the year was on Sunday 27^th October. The sun shone and it was so busy that our fabulous caterer Cattle Box Kitchen actually ran out of food! What a fantastic way to end this year’s breakfast club season.

October 2024 – Dunlop Pro Dealer.

We have been lucky to get to know a few people across the industry and in October we were really lucky to be offered a Pro Dealer opportunity with Dunlop Tyres.

This means we have direct access to the Dunlop and Avon tyre range and can source a full suite of tyres for every motorcycle and every riding condition.

October 2024 – Motocross of Nations. 

In October we had wanted to attend Motocross of Nations (MXoN) at Matterley Basin, but the tickets were really out of our price range.

However, having had a conversation with Jason Broome (MD CCM Motorcycles) earlier in August about MXoN, he offered for us to cover a CCM trade stand at the event, which would allow to catch all of the MXoN action for free.

We were both really honoured to be asked to represent CCM Motorcycles at this prestigious event.

November 2024 – MCL24 CCM stand.

Off the back of MXoN we offered to support CCM at Motorcycle Live (MCL24) at the NEC in Birmingham.

We were so proud to be part of the CCM team on the CCM stand at MCL24 on the opening weekend of the show.

On the Monday of MCL24 we were in attendance as mono motorcycles as part of the MCL24 trade day.

It was a great opportunity to catch up with some of our other trade partners and discuss new opportunities with potential new trade partners.

December 2024 – CCM sales. 

As part of our connection in the CCM network, we have now started to sell a small selection of ex-demo CCM Motorcycles directly from CCM which is a great opportunity for us as a business.

This has already been a fantastic year for us here at mono motorcycles, but there is no time to sit back on our laurels as the work continues ready for 2025.

What’s new for 2025.

Axel Joost. 

We are forging ahead with our e-commerce site and will be the importer and distributor of Axel Joost electronics from 2025.

23.03.25 Joint mono motorcycles/DJK Motorcycles Open Day.

On Sunday 23^rd March 2025, we will have the first Open Day of the year. We look forward to welcoming CCM Motorcycles and Dunlop Tyres and Our Little Place and Hunger Busters.

April – Oct 2025 – breakfast club – new caterer.

As Cattle Box Kitchen are unable to support our breakfast club into 2025, we will be welcoming The George and Dragon, Chichester food truck for our breakfast club season.

April 2025 – Kickback Three Counties. 

On Saturday 12^th and Sunday 13^th April we will be showcasing mono motorcycles at Kickback Custom Bike Show at The Three Counties Showground in the Malverns.

May 2025 – Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride.

We look forward to joining the DGR crowd in May 2025.

August  2025 – Joint mono motorcycles/DJK Motorcycles Open Day.

On Sunday 24^th August 2025, we will have the second Open Day of the year. We look forward to welcoming CCM Motorcycles and Dunlop Tyres and Our Little Place and Hunger Busters.

September 2025 – Kickback  – Sammy Millers. 

We look forward to our second year at Kickback at the Sammy Miller Museum, Hampshire.

29^th November 2025 – Charity gig. 

Join us on Saturday 29th November 2025 for a Charity Gig in aid of SERV Wessex.
Celebrate Christmas 2025 with a fantastic night of live music, an incredible raffle, licensed bar and hot food.
Tickets cost £10.00 and will be on sale from August 2025 and can be purchased over the telephone or at our workshop in Funtington, Chichester, PO18 9DA
Location: The gig takes place at The Pallant Centre, Havant.

Thank You’s.

We would like to say a huge Thank You to Oaklie who has now been working with us for over 2 years. We are so very grateful for all his hard work and his dedication to the business and we look forward to working with him for many many years to come.

We are always and forever grateful for the support surrounding us. But this year has really shown us the power of community and the incredible kindness of those around us.

We would like to thank all of our supporters, customers, family and friends who constantly support and believe in us here at mono motorcycles.

We would like to thank CCM Motorcycles, Dunlop Tyres and Axel Joost for recognising the hard work we have put in over the years and have entrusted us with their brand and products.

We would like to thank Lynn, Douglas, Neil, Serena and Doug, Adrian, Denise, Kirstie, Barry, Teresa, Laurence, David, Anonymous, Graham, James, Dave, Enda, Kev, Ken, Jude, Marianne, Alan, Ben and Simon Pete and Jane for helping us crowd fund for the MOT testing station.

We would also like to very publicly thank Neil R for his large investment loan to get us over the final hurdle for the costs of the MOT equipment.

Everyone’s generosity has been immensely humbling.

We would also like to thank our good friend Glen and Katy’s Dad and Mum for all of their input into the business as a whole. So very much of our physical infrastructure has been built by Glen and Katy’s Dad and their enormous body of work over the years has helped us grow.

Katy’s parents Pip and Carole are our biggest ‘Cheerleaders’ and we would like to recognise the support, encouragement and belief they have in us 24/7.

We are so grateful for everyone’s support and belief in what we do here at mono motorcycles, and we look forward to working with you all again in 2025 and beyond.

Merry Christmas all and a Peaceful and Prosperous New Year to you all.

All the best, Daniel and Katy.