From A to B: Inside the scooter courier service keeping the scene moving

Getting scooters moved across the country can be a logistical nightmare, but one company has come up with a practical solution to the problem. Stu Owen explains…

I can always remember that, because my dad owned a van, other members of the scooter club thought I had some sort of breakdown recovery service. It was a nightmare; once someone had the audacity to ring the landlord of the pub I was drinking in to ask if I could recover their broken-down scooter. It didn’t stop there, because there were times when someone wanted a scooter picked up or dropped off, often hundreds of miles away. The problem is that getting a scooter transported can be challenging, not only because of the cost but also because of the difficulty of finding someone to do it.

Couriers are available, but sometimes they are better equipped to handle motorcycles and are not used to dealing with the different scenarios a scooter throws up. Having a dedicated scooterist who understands what is required is what’s required, and a business that formed a few years back has approached scooter logistics in a clever way. Not only moving scooters from A to B, but also offering many services that are more important to the scene as a whole. Step forward, Ben Payne of Two-Stroke Couriers Ltd.

Realisation

Ben has been involved with scooters ever since his youth, when he would thrash around on his dad’s Honda C90. The natural progression to scooters came from owning both Vespas and Lambrettas, which gave him a vital understanding of them. Despite having a love of traditional scooters in recent times, he found himself buying autos and stripping them down to sell spares on eBay. Problems soon arose when he sold complete ones and had to pay a courier to deliver them, with issues getting them delivered on time and without damage.

Ben soon realised there was a gap in the market and decided to do something about it. His father had a small transport business and had often travelled with him on jobs, so he was used to being out on the road. He always liked the idea of delivering goods as a service, but it was a big decision to make, quitting a full-time job to take on something that wasn’t proven. In 2020, Two-Stroke Couriers was formed, and he hasn’t looked back since. All businesses take time to establish, and he was well aware of that, but through hard work and dedication, it has been built up to quite a remarkable level.

One advantage is that the business is centrally located in Burton upon Trent, which makes it easier to get around the whole country. This is important because the business provides a nationwide service regardless of the customer’s location. It has been extended further to include Ireland and, if required, to Europe. To give some idea of the volume of machines moved, it is currently between 30-40 per week, which is some going. There will probably be more than one machine in the van at a time, but even then, that means operating Monday to Friday and including weekends if need be. That is the dedication required to meet the needs of scooter owners who require this service, and recently, a second van and driver have been introduced to keep up with demand.

Contract

There is far more to the business than just transporting scooters for private individuals. In recent times, agreements have been made with several businesses that frequently need scooters moved around. This includes PM Tuning, Swiss Tony’s, Italjet UK, H&H Auctions, and many others. It’s only when you read this that you realise how important couriering scooters is to the industry, helping it to flow. Also, for individuals who have sold or bought machines and require them to be moved on to the new owner.

Ben admits he likes the privateer work because he often gets to meet an eclectic mix of scooter owners who he finds are really down to earth. Many of them have large collections, and he enjoys being given a tour of them and commenting on the amazing scooters he has seen. Another service offered is the transport of scooters to rallies. It may be controversial to some, but some owners only want to ride them at rallies, and some have ailments that mean they can’t do long journeys anymore. There is also the service of a backup van for clubs travelling to rallies, especially if there is a breakdown, as some well-known recovery companies can take hours to arrive.

Evaluation

The courier work for H&H Auctions escalated into a much bigger deal when they offered Ben a role to work with them. It started with evaluating scooters that owners wanted to put up for auction. This includes taking photographs and checking that all the paperwork is correct so that it can be legally sold. Once approved, Ben will then take the scooter to a storage depot, ready for the auction. Upon sale, scooters can be moved on again, which can be a big problem when purchasing, or if they haven’t sold, making it hard to get them back to the owner, as auction houses want them shipped on straight away.

The cost of the service Ben offers depends on several factors, including distance, quantity, and whether a ferry is required. A lot of it is down to timing; for instance, if dropping off in a certain area, a pickup might be nearby, which helps reduce costs. Expenses are discussed beforehand, keeping in mind that no two jobs are the same. It’s not about competition; there are other good couriers out there who can offer competitive quotes. To him, it’s about being as fair as possible to the customer while still making a living.

There is one problem with being a scooter courier, and that is not having time to ride on one’s own machine. He admits this; his Vespa is ridden nowhere near as often as it should be or as he likes. This is common, though, for those who have turned their passion into a business: in that you don’t get to enjoy so much from a personal perspective purely because of time constraints and commitments. When he does get the chance, rest assured, he is out enjoying the scootering lifestyle, even though at times it must feel like a busman’s holiday.

Having spoken to him in detail about the business, one thing that comes across is that he gets good job satisfaction from what he is doing, which is rare these days. It also means he is dedicated to what he is doing, which can only be a good thing. When I first looked into his business, I must admit I was a bit ignorant about how much work a scooter courier actually does, but now I realise it’s a vital part of the scene, both for scooterists and for the businesses that support them. So, whether it’s Ben Payne of Two Stroke Couriers Ltd or all the others out there who do the same job, keep up the good work; you are appreciated.

Words: Stuart Owen
Images: Ben Payne