We all welcomed it with some enthusiasm. At EICMA 2022, the Brixton Storr was a very interesting prototype: very rugged adventure looks, lots of practical functionality, an engine with role-centric performance and the promise of an attractive price. In short, the ingredients were all there to create an attractive and affordable adventure bike. Then, however, it disappeared off the radar. Well, at least until today.
Adventure and financial misadventures
According to our American colleagues at Cycle World, the marketing of the Storr abroad may be imminent. We therefore hope that it could also happen in Europe, since we’re basically talking about an Austrian brand with production in China. However, we have to take a small step back to understand what has actually happened in the last year and a half. The Brixton brand, whose name is clearly inspired by a London neighborhood and whose bikes are themselves inspired by British tradition, is part of the KSR group and uses European designs and Chinese production.
However, in 2023, the group was faced with a financial emergency and filed for judicial restructuring without receivership, precisely to try to protect itself from imminent insolvency and continue its activities. The situation was caused by a combination of factors, including the high costs of materials due to the pandemic, the conflict in Ukraine, exchange rate fluctuations and inflation, along with a decrease in sales. According to the latest news, the company is committed to overcoming its financial difficulties and continuing to offer high-quality products and services to its customers. Knowing that a new model is on the way is therefore great news and rekindles hope.
US homologation certificate presented
As we said, Brixton presented the Storr prototype at EICMA in 2022. It’s a 500 adventure bike with a 47 hp twin-cylinder engine, the same one already used in the Crossfire 500. The engine is manufactured in China by Gaokin and is very similar to that of the Honda NX500, for example. The suspension is KYB and the frame is made of steel tubing. The bike has a wheelbase of 144 cm and a weight of 209 kg. The bike has an X-shaped windshield and a tank with side compartments for mounting carrying bags, which seemed like a brilliant idea to many. The TFT instrument panel is vertically oriented and the auxiliary lights are integrated into the lower part of the front. The bike is distinguished by its robust and durable design, which is somewhere between that of the Husqvarna Norden 901 and its direct competitor, the Royal Enfield Himalayan. The high front mudguard and side engine guards give the idea that it’s ready for anything.
Although the Brixton is already well known in Europe, it is not yet present in the United States. However, according to our North American colleagues, the homologation form has been submitted for the Storr, which could thus become the brand’s first motorcycle to land in the United States.
The Storr could appeal to adventure enthusiasts looking for a machine that is reliable, affordable and fun to ride, characteristics that have already made other models successful in Europe. There is therefore great anticipation for this bike and we hope that the brand is really getting back to work and completing its projects