Damon Motorcycles Seems Unable to Build a Bike, so it's Building Ai Instead

Damon Motorcycles seems to be in a bit of a pickle, as it can’t seem to decide whether or not it wants to be a motorcycle maker or a tech company! Nevertheless, it has announced a move into the tech segment, launching Damon I/O, and just like the claims it made about its (non-existent) bikes, it thinks this is going to be the next big thing.

Exactly what Damon I/O actually does isn’t 100 per cent clear, although Damon claims it can hoover up a lot of lolly through the system by collecting data from users while they ride about their daily business. And with so many last-mile delivery riders out there (think Uber, Deliveroo, and so forth), Damon is banking on a big payday from the technology.

The press release notes that the last-mile delivery sector is worth an estimated $100 billion globally, going on to say that its connected vehicle platform enables real-time diagnostics, over-the-air updates, predictive maintenance alerts,  and fleet management dashboards. What it's planning on doing now is white-labelling the tech and flogging it to bike makers so they can integrate it into their new bikes. It also says that the system will allow delivery drivers to pivot “seamlessly into mission-critical roles – such as transporting blood supplies or medical equipment”. And I can already hear the complaints… “Listen mate, I don’t care if they are attaching a broken leg: where’s my f*****g stuffed crust pepperoni?!”

Speaking about the launch, Dom Kwong, CEO of Damon, said:

"The personal mobility industry is at an inflection point where digital experiences define brand differentiation … Damon I/O is purpose-built mobility infrastructure that can turn any personal mobility brand into a data-driven company overnight. We're offering manufacturers the tools to compete with the most advanced connected vehicle platforms in the world. Data by itself means nothing – it's contextual information that creates monetizable value."

Any clearer? No, neither are we.

Damon does go on to state that the shift from electric bike maker to tech company won’t hold back the development of its motorcycles. Although it’s not quite clear to me how much slower you can go - is there another speed below snail pace? That said, in an earlier release, Damon does advise it is making excellent progress with its HyperSport Race program - although quite how that helps all the customers who placed hefty deposits for road-legal bikes is beyond me.

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