British bike builder Mutt falls victim to struggling market and enters administration
Birmingham-based Mutt Motorcycles have entered administration following a struggle in demand, leaving many of the brand’s employees redundant.
Known for their small-capacity, retro-styled bikes, the firm appointed David Shambrook and Matthew Haw of RSM UK Restructuring Advisory LLP as joint administrators on March 3.
They are reportedly talking to a number of interested parties considering buying the bike and parts stock of the business together with the Mutt brand, although specific details could not be shared. Further announcements are expected in due course if a sale is completed.
In the meantime, the company’s premises are closed. Mutt is now unable to complete any sales to customers or undertake any warranty or repair work.
MCN contacted RSM UK for comment, who said: “The company experienced a period of difficult trading due to a decline in market demand.
“As a result, the business faced significant financial pressures and was unable to secure the necessary funding to continue operating.
“Following the appointment of the joint administrators, the business has ceased trading, and the majority of the company’s 18 employees were made redundant.”
Bosses from the company were also approached for comment, but stated that they were unable to discuss matters openly for legal reasons.
Mutt is not the only British brand to face trading difficulties in the last 12 months, with boutique firm CCM also recently confirming the decision to make several strategic redundancies after their production dropped by half in 2024.
Mutt was co-founded in 2013 by Will Rigg and Benny Thomas. They primarily focused on “small, lightweight, cool commuters,” according to Thomas, creating a range of low-cost, air-cooled machines aimed at the learner market, utilising the simplistic, air-cooled Suzuki GN125 motor as their base.
The firm established themselves in premises in King’s Norton, in part of an old Victorian mill, renovating the site to contain a showroom, store, workshops, R&D lab, coffee shop, and whiskey bar.
“We like to think we’ve brought motorcycle manufacturing back to its Birmingham roots. Our bikes are created with a similar vibe to how bikes were built around here in the early days of BSA, Triumph, Enfield, and New Imperial,” a statement on the brand’s website added.
Ten years after their introduction, Mutt revealed plans to branch out into the middleweight market, telling MCN that both twin- and single-cylinder designs were on the cards at the time, ranging from 400 to 650cc.
The firm debuted their first liquid-cooled models at the EICMA trade show in Milan in 2022, called the DRK-01 125 and 250, which hit showrooms the following year.
Mutt also recently expanded into the adventure bike world, introducing the keenly priced Stravaig 125 – available from £3495 (+OTR) last year, alongside a larger 35.5bhp 401 sister model, which was available for an additional £1500, despite coming with full luggage, a TFT dash, tyre pressure monitoring, twin front disc brakes, an adjustable windscreen, and tubeless spoked wheels.
Despite the moves to capture new audiences, Mutt’s future remains uncertain.
