History of Harley-Davidson - Iron City Motorcycles

Welcome to Iron City Motorcycles, part of Opus Motor Group.

Opus Motor Group has a heritage of selling new and used quality cars and motorcycles to customers for over 100 years. We take pride in providing customers with quality products, competitive prices and an unbeatable customer service.

About Iron City Motorcycles - Leeds Harley-Davidson

Iron City Motorcycles is an authorised Harley-Davidson® dealership in the UK, proudly serving riders across Yorkshire, the North East and the rest of the country both in-store and online. We have available a range of new and used bikes, Genuine Harley-Davidson parts, official MotorClothes®, riding gear and accessories - all available to order in the UK, EU and internationally.

Leeds Harley-Davidson is an approved Harley-Davidson UK dealer, this gives you the confidence that purchasing from Iron City Motorcycles you are guarenteed Genuine Harley-Davidson products, also a team of Harley-Davidson trained experts to advise you. Whether you are looking for a new Harley-Davidson bikes, H-D Certified Approved Used, Servicing, MOTs, Genuine Parts and Accessories or motorclothes, our team delivers the same high standards expected from an official Harley-Davidson dealership.

Established in the North of England, Iron City Motorcycles has built a reputation as one of the UK’s leading motorcycle dealers. From our Harley-Davidson 15,000 square foot showroom in Leeds city centre, we are committed to supporting the riding community with expert advice, professional servicing and access to the latest motorcycles, clothing and accessories from one of the world’s most recognised brands.

Our online store allows customers across the UK, Europe and the rest of the world to shop genuine Harley-Davidson products - all available with competitive shipping and hassle free returns. 

Genuine Harley-Davidson Parts and Accessories

If you are looking for Harley-Davidson Parts and Accessories, explore our collection of genuine Harley-Davidson Parts & Accessories, we offer a wide range of genuine HD parts from Harley Davidson Spark Plugs to saddlebag and luggage accessories. Not sure what you need or needing to find that specific part for your model - use our Harley Davidson Parts Finder. This official Harley-Davidson Parts Fiche allows you to search by make/model or part number for any Harley-Davidson model so you can find that part for your bike quick and easy.

Genuine Harley-Davidson Motorclothes and Riding Gear

If you are looking for Genuine Harley-Davidson Motorclothes then you are at the right place, we stock a wide range of the latest styles, classic looks and must haves from Harley. Check our all our Harley-Davidson Clothing here.

Looking for something else?

If you have a question about Iron City Motorcycles, have a technical query regarding the correct parts for your bike or need to know how H-D sizing works - contact us.

Alternatively, check out our FAQs for previously asked questions that you may be needing an answer to.

Sohail Khan - Harley-Davidson Iron City Motorcycles

Find out about our managing director, Sohail Khan. 

History of Opus Motor Group - Jennings to OMG

The Opus Motor Group previous owners of Jennings Motor Groups journey begins with Mr Septimus Jennings in 1890 as he starts repairing bicycles as a hobby in his garden shed. By 1911 Septimus Jennings purchases his first business premises in Morpeth, Northumberland and starts selling bicycles and motor cars.

The Jennings Motorbike and Bike Shop in Morpeth

In 1912 Septimus Jennings registers with Companies House and becomes a Limited Company known as S Jennings Ltd later this evolves into Jennings Motor Group.

Jennings Motor Group

For the next 80 years The Jennings family with S Jennings Ltd become one of the first dealers in the country to be appointed by Ford Motor Company to sell its cars and even huge LWB Ford Transit vans directly under the brand Ford Transit Direct sub brand. The company grows from strength to strength and expands into Teesside with the purchase of a Ford dealership on Yarm Road in Stockton-on-Tees.

In 1992 the Septimus Jennings family sell the company and a new era starts. Over the next 13 years, S Jennings Ltd win a staggering fourteen Chairman’s Awards for outstanding customer service. The award is a result of customers providing feedback about the service they receive. The motor group then expands into Ford South Shields, Ford Gateshead and Ford Middlesbrough to become a powerful force in the North East. The multi-franchise status comes in 2003 when we see the introduction of Mazda, Subaru, Ford Transit Direct and not long after, SEAT.

Ford Transit Direct

Offering Ford vans in all shapes and sizes that can be tailored to individual business requirements including the latest new Ford Transit and the smaller Ford Transit Connect, Ford Transit Direct had fantastic offers available across the new Ford van range.

Jennings Ford Direct

Jennings ford Direct was a similar model to Ford Transit Direct offering new and used fords to customers across the UK. Vehicles were provided with a unique warranty called the Jennings gold seal.

In 2005 Nas Khan OBE, who has been Group Sales Director for 13 years, takes over as Director following a buyout. S Jennings Ltd continue to win awards for outstanding customer service.

In 2010, Nas Khan launches his own charity, ‘The Emaan Foundation’ to raise an unbelievable £120k following floods in Pakistan. The company then expand further into Ford Washington, Tyne and Wear selling Kia vehicles. 2013 sees Britain’s biggest Kia Dealership open it’s doors on Teesside, Stockton Kia was born. Stockton Kia is officially opened by Paul Philpott, CEO and President of Kia Motors (UK) Ltd.

In 2015 Jennings Motor Group announce their first branch outside of the North East with the takeover of Leeds Harley-Davidson®. The store, located in Leeds City Centre, provides a customer experience like no other. Providing a place for Motorcycle enthusiast to hangout, buy clothing, parts and accessories.

After such a successful takeover of Leeds Harley-Davidson, Jennings Motor Group opens a second and brand new Harley-Davidson dealership in Gateshead. Gateshead Harley-Davidson becomes the main authorised dealer in the North of England. S Jennings Ltd is brought back to its roots in two-wheeled transport.

In 2018 part of S Jennings Ltd is sold to Lookers PLC. The remaining dealerships are Stockton Kia along with Leeds, Gateshead and Iron City Motorcycles. These remain within the Nas Khan family.

The three dealerships formed Opus Motor Group. Sohail Khan, son of Nas Khan, is now managing director after the passing of his father. Opus Motor Group still boasts the same core family values, providing customers quality products, competitive prices and excellent customer service. The company rather than trading under the Jennings which was sold to Lookers the company now trades under SK motorcycles Ltd, Stockton Kia Ltd and NAK holdings Ltd as the parent company. In 2023, Iron City Motorcycles won the Motorcycle News Dealer of the year award - read more about that here. After moving from Gateshead and South Shields, Iron City Motorcycles operates from the prestigious Leeds Harley-Davidson dealership serving the whole of the North of England.

Iron City Motorcycles is the latest addition to the business offering a wide selection of genuine Harley-Davidson Clothing, Genuine H-D Parts and Accessories via our eccommerce store or instore at Leeds Harley-Davidson.