SOS Motorcycle Recovery

What SOS Motorcycle Recovery does

SOS Motorcycle Recovery, legally Motorcycle Transport Ltd (company number 7519883), is a UK-based specialist logistics and roadside services company focused exclusively on motorcycles, scooters, and mopeds. Founded in 1992 by Managing Director Gary Bravo and headquartered in Great Ponton, Grantham, the company operates a fleet of 60-80+ custom long wheelbase vans purpose-built for motorcycle transport, with rear-loading ramps, winches for non-rolling vehicles, wheel chocks, and 24/7 live CCTV. The core technology is therefore largely physical — vehicle design and specialized loading equipment — paired with a self-service admin portal for bookings and account management.

The service portfolio comprises five interconnected offerings: motorcycle collection/delivery (from £150+VAT, with 7-working-day nationwide coverage), 24/7 breakdown cover with trained mechanics and an average 60-minute response, 120-point pre-purchase inspections, secure monthly motorcycle storage (from £50/month), and urgent recovery. Goods-in-transit and motor insurance through Allianz covers up to £100,000 per vehicle, which is a structural enabler for serving high-value motorcycles.

The business model combines one-time transactional fees (delivery, inspections) with recurring subscription revenue (storage, breakdown cover). Go-to-market is direct-to-consumer via the company website, telephone, and a dedicated Trade Partner Program serving dealerships, bike shops, courier companies, motorcycle hire shops, and OEM breakdown agencies — including BMW UK, Piaggio, and Aprilia (relationships dating to 1992) plus Honda, Kawasaki, Yamaha, Motomine, and Firefox Racing. Coverage spans UK mainland excluding the Scottish Highlands. The company is privately held and entirely founder-owned with no disclosed external funding.

Name

SOS Motorcycle Recovery

Legal name

Motorcycle Transport Ltd

Website

https://sosmotorcycletransport.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Short description

SOS Motorcycle Recovery is a UK motorcycle specialist providing nationwide transport, breakdown cover, recovery, pre-purchase inspections, and secure storage via a fleet of 60-80+ custom-built vans, serving private owners, dealerships, and OEM breakdown agency partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Motorcycle Transport and Recovery Services

NAICS

Motor Vehicle Towing (488410)

akta.pro primary industry

Motorcycle Transport Services (HSAKAFAF)

Keywords

• Motorcycle transport services
• Motorcycle recovery services
• Motorcycle breakdown cover
• Motorcycle storage solutions
• Motorcycle inspection services

Headquarters

HQ city

Great Ponton

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Motorcycle Delivery/Collection Services: One-time service fees for motorcycle collection and delivery across the UK. Pricing from £150-180+VAT depending on service level. Includes 7 working day standard delivery and urgent/next-day options.
2. Motorcycle Storage Services: Monthly recurring storage service for motorcycles in secure units. Priced from £50 per month. Available for 24 hours to indefinite timescales with collection and delivery options.
3. Motorcycle Breakdown Cover: Breakdown cover policy providing roadside assistance and vehicle transport to nearest dealer when recovery is not possible.
4. Motorcycle Inspections: 120-point inspection service for motorcycle purchases, working with dealers and private buyers throughout the UK.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

SOS Motorcycle Recovery provides UK-wide motorcycle collection and delivery, roadside breakdown cover, urgent recovery, 120-point pre-purchase inspections, and secure storage. The company uses a custom-built fleet of long wheelbase vans with covered transport, low-loading rear ramps, winches, and 24/7 CCTV to move and store motorcycles safely. Services are available to private owners and trade partners (dealerships, bike shops, courier and hire companies, OEMs).

Product overview

SOS Motorcycle Recovery operates as a single unified service offering multiple motorcycle transport solutions. The core portfolio consists of five interconnected services: Motorcycle Collection/Delivery Service (for transporting bikes across the UK), Motorcycle Breakdown Cover (roadside assistance with mechanics), Motorcycle Inspections (120-point checks for purchases), Motorcycle Recovery (urgent recovery with 60-minute average response), and Motorcycle Storage (secure facilities from £50/month). The services share common infrastructure including a fleet of over 60 customised long wheelbase vans, trained motorcycle mechanics, and insurance coverage up to £100,000 per vehicle. Customers can book individual services or combine them (e.g., inspection + delivery to storage).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Motorcycle Collection/Delivery Service UK-wide motorcycle collection and delivery service using custom covered long wheelbase vans, with delivery within 7 working days to any UK location from £150+VAT. Targeted at private owners, dealerships, and trade customers needing safe transport.
• Motorcycle Breakdown Cover Breakdown cover policy providing roadside assistance with trained mechanics in customized vehicles, including the ability to transport the motorcycle to the nearest dealer if it cannot be repaired roadside.
• Motorcycle Inspections 120-point inspection service for motorcycle purchases, available to dealers and private buyers, with collections arranged within 24 hours and full insurance coverage during inspection.
• Motorcycle Recovery Immediate motorcycle recovery service with an average response time of 60 minutes, using 80+ fleet vehicles and trained motorcycle mechanics, with the option to drop the bike at a local dealer.
• Motorcycle Storage

Quantifiable outcome

• 400,000+ motorcycles transported successfully
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• BMW UKcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 1992BMW UK breakdown agency partner since company founding in 1992. SOS provides specialist motorcycle breakdown recovery and transport services for BMW motorcycle customers across the UK.
• PiaggiocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 1992Piaggio breakdown agency partner since company founding in 1992. SOS provides specialist motorcycle breakdown recovery and transport services for Piaggio scooter and motorcycle customers.
• ApriliacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 1992Aprilia breakdown agency partner since company founding in 1992. SOS provides specialist motorcycle breakdown recovery and transport services for Aprilia motorcycle customers.
• AllianzcoreOthersAllianz, one of Europe's largest insurers, provides SOS's goods in transit and motor insurance coverage up to £100,000 per vehicle. Allianz handles all insurance claims for the company.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Shiply: UK transport marketplace that allows customers to list motorcycles and other items for transport quotes from carriers. Comparable to SOS as a competing motorcycle transport channel, but operates on a marketplace rather than owned-fleet basis.
• AnyVan: UK-based online transport marketplace that matches customers with vehicle, furniture, and motorcycle delivery providers. Overlaps with SOS on motorcycle transport but competes via a marketplace/aggregator model rather than a dedicated specialist fleet.

Direct peers

• Relaymotorbike.com: UK motorcycle courier and transport service for documents and parts. Partially comparable to SOS in motorcycle logistics, though primarily focused on same-day courier work rather than full vehicle transport.
• Motorcycle Movers UK: UK specialist motorcycle transport company offering collection and delivery services for motorcycles. A direct competitor to SOS in the same motorcycle-only transport niche, though smaller in scale and fleet size.
• MoveMyMotorbike: UK motorcycle transport comparison service connecting customers with motorcycle transport providers. Comparable to SOS as a motorcycle transport channel, operating with a comparison/aggregator angle rather than owned fleet.
• MCD (Motorcycle Delivery): UK-based motorcycle transport specialist providing delivery and collection services. Directly comparable to SOS Motorcycle Recovery as a focused motorcycle-only transport operator with similar service offering.

Regional players

• Webbs Motorcycles (transport arm): UK motorcycle dealership offering national delivery of purchased bikes. Comparable to SOS on the dealer fulfillment and trade delivery side, though region-focused and integrated with a dealership rather than a standalone specialist.

Broad incumbents

• Green Flag: UK breakdown and vehicle recovery provider offering motorcycle cover. Comparable to SOS on the recovery/breakdown service line but as a generalist insurer-backed operator with national scale rather than motorcycle-specialist fleet.
• AA (Automobile Association): UK breakdown and recovery provider with national coverage and motorcycle-specific policies. Comparable to SOS on motorcycle breakdown/recovery but operates as a broad incumbent across all vehicle types with significantly larger scale and brand recognition.
• RAC (Royal Automobile Club): UK-wide motoring services organization providing breakdown cover, recovery, and vehicle transport. Comparable to SOS for breakdown/recovery services but serves all vehicles, not motorcycle specialists; represents a major generalist competitor with significant membership scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about SOS Motorcycle Recovery