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Bennetts Build Custom Mean Machine

Immediate release: 13 May 2008

Left - Mike Howkins, Head of Site, Fusion Coventry Right - Peter Winslow, Chief Executive, BGL Group

Bennetts, the nation's favourite bike insurance provider, has unveiled a bespoke, custom-built bike which is already being hailed as one of the most impressive pieces of design and engineering the motorbike industry has ever seen. The bike has been installed in the entrance of the Fusion Contact Centre, where it will be housed permanently, in Parkside, Mile Lane Technology Park, Coventry - home of the Bennetts insurance specialist.

Bennetts commissioned world-renowned bike builder Roger Allmond to create the unique machine in a project that has taken over a year from conception to creation. Harbouring the highest standard of technology and motorcycle materials available, the entirely hand-built bike is set to re-establish the boundaries of motorcycle engineering.

Commissioned to undertake his dream project, Roger has spent over 2,000 hours working on the bike and used two Computer Aided Design (CAD) systems - a first for the bike builder. Currently unnamed, the bike has a powerful 2.3l Triumph Rocket 3 engine, nestled amongst aircraft quality aluminium. With the same core and fabrication techniques that would be used in the production of a Formula 1, Bennetts' creation is a beast of a bike.

Mark Fells, Bennetts' Marketing Director said, "We wanted to build a world class bike which is a talking point in itself, and we chose one of the world's best builders to complete the project. We were all blown away by the end result - this bike is an amazing piece of engineering which is as impressive technically as it is visually."

Hailing from Oxfordshire, Roger is now recognised as one of the world's best custom motorcycle designers, and was committed to designing and building the best custom bike throughout the project. Roger says: "Once Bennetts invited me to design the bike, I put everything I've learnt from my years of experience, as well as my heart and soul, into it. I've been committed to designing and building the Bennetts bike for the last year and I believe I have created a piece of motorcycle history, for a company that's as passionate about motorcycles as I am."

Roger has confirmed the following features on the bike:

  • Handmade tank and seat
  • Carbon rims with CNC billet Aero spec aluminium spokes and hubs
  • Single sided swing arm
  • Single sided front fork
  • Rear wheels 300mm wide
  • Front wheels 180mm wide
  • Aluminium chassis that will be a combination of CNC'd parts and handmade sheet sections Radiator with core taken from a Formula 1 car with side panels that follow the lines of the chassis

A champagne breakfast was held at Fusion Contact Centre on Thursday (May 8) where Chief Executive of Fusion's parent company BGL Group, Peter Winslow made the official presentation of the spectacular bike.

Fusion directors and head of site Mike Howkins were invited to the presentation along with team leaders. Afterwards employees had the opportunity to have a souvenir photograph taken of themselves with the bike.

BGL Group is one of the UK's largest privately-owned personal lines insurance intermediaries. Fusion is its call centre division handling sales, customer services and administration support to the Group's own brands and those of its partners.