HARRIS PIPES RETURN!

We love it when old names resurface, so we were very excited to hear that the Harris name will be seen once more on motorcycle end cans. Many of us will remember Harris cans appearing on our bikes in the 1970s and 1980s and the name has been reborn as Harris Works Collection. Current fitments (48 and counting) include some modern classics in there, check out: www.normanhyde.co.uk for more info.

Q: So, what happened with the Harris Works Collection name before you acquired it? A: For the last few years Norman Hyde has been having the original 4-1 full systems made on the original jigs. However the quality had declined, so since I took over we have decided to stop supplying them until we have a new supplier. That’s well under way and we expect to have them available later this year: this time in stainless steel and ceramic black as an option.

Q: How did you get hold of the name? A: The rights to the name Harris Works Collection belong to Norman Hyde Ltd, which we now own. Norman acquired the name from Harris Performance when they went in a more bespoke direction.

Q: Why do you see the Harris Works Collection name as important? History? A: Yes. We all know that there are plenty of bikes still out there from the 70s, 80s and 90s that are very usable and still capable machines but of course that does not necessarily make them valuable. The purpose of this exercise is to offer something at a budget price that adds to and enhances the bike with a period name rather than detracts from it in the way a modern cheap badge would. I think the Harris name can carry that off! We may face criticism from some as they are not the genuine originals, but we are not trying to pull the wool over anyone's eyes.

Q: Are these just slip-ons? No full systems? A: To achieve the price point that we have, we are working with existing jigs. If demand leads us towards full systems we will explore that further as and when the time comes.

Q: Why are they made in Italy and not the UK? A: Because we have an existing relationship there that can guarantee us the quality and the price. Also it enables us to offer these as E-marked, which is something that we would not have been able to do in the UK.