Engineering excellence!

If you’re frustrated that you can’t find the bits you want for love nor money, you could try any number of small, ‘Best of British’ engineering firms that can help you. Phil Denton Engineering is one of the best…

Sometimes there’s really no other place to go… If you’re blessed with even a modest workshop and some decent manufacturing tools then you may be able to produce parts for your classic by yourself, but, if not, then you can contact one of the many thousands of small engineering firms that dot our country.

Phil Denton Engineering is one such place. Phil has been an engineer all his life and a bike lover since his dad gave him his first bike in 1962. Phil would later work for Honda UK and become a car dealer for the big H before being out of a job in 1999.

Not being the sort to sit around, he restored his own CB77 using his own stainless parts. Soon the word spread and people wanted to buy such parts. Realising that no one made quality parts and fixings for Japanese bikes – be they on or off-road – he took the plunge to form his company in 2001 to be joined later by equally talented son Steve, who started his engineering trade building guitars!

The company specialises in small-batch manufacturing using an impressive array of automated manufacturing equipment as well as the skills they’ve learned themselves to hand-finish some items.

The decision to concentrate on Japanese and, let’s be honest, some Honda items, was an inspired one, even if it led to some changes of expectation and pace from the customer! Steve says: “In comparison to the British bike side of things, the restoration of Japanese stuff was still in its infancy even a decade or so back.

“British bike customers were used to long lead times – it was the mentality of the British scene. Customers of Japanese restorations are younger; they’re used to better and quicker service. They know the internet so they want almost next-day service, so the difference is also in the mentality of the customer.”

Denton manufactures aluminium components in either Grade 6082 or where maximum strength is required, Grade 7075. They are anodised to give a brighter and more durable finish.

Today, much of their business is aimed more at the off-road market, but, being a small and efficient team, if you need something that you don’t see on the company’s website, just ask!

And, with that in mind, let us now begin our parts directory…