Founded 1999 Area served Worldwide | Headquarters Alton, Hampshire Number of employees 22 | |
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Industry Motorcycle Crash Protection Founders Richard Taylor, Gene Marola | ||
R&G is a British Company active in the design, marketing and distribution of motorcycle accessories and crash protection products. Previously known as ‘R&G Racing’, it was formed in 1999 and is located near Alton, Hampshire, England. Its products are available on every continent via a global network of importers and distributors,.
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R&G is an official sponsor of the MCE British Superbike Championship and its products have been used across British Superbikes, British Supersport, National Superstock 1000, National Superstock 600, North West 200, Isle of Man TT, Ulster Grand Prix, Endurance FIM World Championship, Australian Superbike Championship, MotoAmerica and American Motorcyclist Association sanctioned events. R&G products have also been used in Supermoto and Enduro racing.
R&G products are available for a variety of motorcycle types, including Sport bikes, Mopeds, Dual-sport motorcycles, Enduro, Supermoto and naked.
History
R&G stands for Richard & Gene, but only Richard Taylor remains with the Company, as its Chairman. Formed in the 1990s as a precision engineering company, R&G made components for the aerospace industry and Formula One before moving into producing motorcycle crash protection in 1999, forming R&G Racing.
R&G now solely focuses on the design, manufacture and distribution of motorcycle accessories and is currently led by Managing Director, Simon Hughes, who was promoted in 2013, having previously been R&G Sales & Marketing Director, and Parts & Accessories Marketing Manager at Yamaha Motor Europe prior to that. Rebranding as ‘R&G’ in 2014, the Company is a member of the Motorcycle Industry Association (MCIA).
The Company currently employs 24 people and a further six field-based agents. It is based in a 16,000 sq. ft. main premises in Hampshire, England, which includes warehousing, offices, product development and design as well as a photography studio. There are 1,000 active UK trade accounts, while R&G is represented globally in more than 50 countries, on every continent through a network of importers and distributors.
Alongside the design and production of motorcycle products, in 2014 R&G moved into distribution. Beginning with Denali electronics, R&G now also distributes WD-40, BMC filters, SpeedAngle dataloggers, Scorpion exhausts, Barkbusters handguards and KAOKO Throttle Stabilizers.
R&G won the Motorcycle Trader Magazine “Accessory Brand of the Year” award (2015) and was runner-up in the British Dealer News Industry Awards “Motorcycle Product Brand of the Year” category (2014 & 2016).
Racing
Motorcycle racing is a key area of development and promotion for R&G. In 2009, R&G was title sponsor to the ACU R&G Suzuki GSX-R Trophy and co-title sponsor of the TriStar R&G Triple Challenge in 2014. In 2015, and again in 2016, it partnered with KTM to provide Engine Case Covers and Toe Chain Guards to all riders competing in the Santander Consumer Finance KTM British Junior Cup. For 2017, R&G will partner the Ducati TriOptions Cup series.
In 2013 R&G’s Engine Case Covers were approved by the American Motorcycling Association (AMA) for use in any competition sanctioned by the Organisation. In 2014 MotorSport Vision Racing (MSVR) approved R&G’s Engine Case Covers for use in any class competing within the British Superbike championship, and in 2015 it became the ‘Official Crash Protection Supplier’ to the MCE British Superbike Championship In 2017, MotoAmerica approved the R&G Engine Case Covers for use in the series.
R&G products have featured in all classes of the MCE British Superbike Championship, Malaysian Super Series, Australian Superbikes, North West 200, Isle of Man TT, Ulster Grand Prix, Yamaha R3 Cup and World Endurance.
Teams who have used R&G products include TAS Racing, V&M Yamaha, Crescent Racing, TAG Racing, Quattro Plant Bournemouth Kawasaki., GR Motorsport, Phase One Endurance, Moto Rapido Ducati and AG Motorsport Italia. Riders include John McGuinness, David Jefferies, Adrian Archibald, Tommy Hill, Yukio Kagayama, John Hopkins, Simon Andrews, Michael Dunlop, Ryan Farquhar, Chris Walker, Ian Lougher, Conor Cummins, Karl Harris, Peter Hickman, James Hillier, Josh Brookes, Tommy Bridewell, Alastair Seeley and Dan Linfoot
Products
The first product created was for Suzuki’s GSX-R750, when R&G developed a round-shaped protector constructed from high-density Polyethylene (HDPE). It was designed to wear and not shatter in the event of a crash. This initial protector used a thin metal sleeve inside, meaning strength was increased while also allowing the fitter to torque the protector. The bung also used a particular grade of steel bolt that helped absorb an impact by bending, rather than snapping or twisting its mounting point on the bike.
Currently, R&G has hundreds of separate products, comprising largely protective items. The current product range includes “Adventure Bars”, “Aero Crash Protectors”, Bar End Sliders, Boot Guards, Brake Lines, Chain Guards, “Cotton Reels”, “Downpipe Grilles”, Dust Covers, Ear Protectors, “Elevation” Paddock Stand Bobbins, Engine Case Covers, Engine Case Sliders, Exhaust Hangers, Exhaust Protectors, Exhaust Sliders, Fender Extenders, Fork Protectors, Frame Plugs, Gloves, Heated Grips, Helmet Holdalls, Indicator Adaptors, “Kickstand Shoes”, “Lockstop Savers”, Mirror Blanking Plates, Nano Coating Spray, “Offset Cotton Reels”, Oil Cooler Guards, Outdoor Covers, Paddock Stands, Paddock Stand Bobbins, Radiator Guards, Radiator Sliders, Rearsets, Rear Footrest Plates, Rear Huggers, Reservoir Protectors, Rim Tape, Shocktube ®, “Spindle Sliders”, Swingarm Protectors, Tail Tidies, Tail Sliders, Tank Grips, Tank Sliders, Toe Chain Guards and “Underbody Frame Sliders”.
Partnerships
R&G has a long history with the California Superbike School, both in the US and UK, and previously in the Middle East. The School has helped in the testing and development of several of R&G’s current products and also relies on R&G to protect its fleets of School and instructor bikes.
Ducati UK has used R&G products to protect its fleet of demonstrator bikes, whilst the Chris Walker Superbike School used R&G products to protect its fleet of 35 Kawasaki ZX-6Rs in 2012 and 2013.
Stunt rider, Kevin Carmichael, has used R&G products for many years, as has Dave Coates
For the 2016 race season R&G began working with No Limits Racing, becoming the Presenting Sponsor to the series. Also in 2016, R&G was appointed the official Crash Protection Supplier to Silverstone Track Days.