On bike shops, bikes and Bonneville test rides

One of the reasons working at Street and Sport is so satisfying is because it’s like working at the kind of bike shops that I used to hang around at when I was a youth. They were often a little scruffy, packed with all kinds of bikes and staffed by guys who loved bikes as much as we did, and they were a hub for the motorcycling community. On a Friday night or Saturday morning that’s where you went, and odds were good you’d run into your mates there too.

Our letterhead carries the byline “Supplying the motorcycling community of Canterbury and Westland with what they need to live their dreams”, and that’s what we’re about. We are immensely proud of being Triumph agents, and while we know that not everyone wants to own a Triumph (there are lots of other great bikes out there and there isn’t a shed big enough for them all), we are making a point of stocking the stuff bikers of all types need to enjoy riding. It doesn’t matter whether you’re a commuter on a scooter, a cruiser on a Harley or a racer on a Daytona; we want to supply you with everything you need to enjoy your bike. A few months ago I ran a survey, and the information I got from that was very valuable and is having a major influence on our ongoing business planning on what we stock and what we sell, but I’d value more input. If there is anything you want us to stock that we don’t, please let us know.

But motorcycling is more than just stuff, even cool stuff that’s shiny and new; a huge part of motorcycling is the community. I’ve already talked about waving to the rider going the other way, but there’s more to it. We’re building a community of like minded people who share our passion, and we’re using events and activities to do that. In just over 3 weeks a seething mass of scooters and bikes will terrorise Christchurch for the Mods and Rockers Winter Rumble, and we’re doing that because it’s an excuse to gather a bunch of like minded loonies in one place to talk about our bikes and scooters.

A group of us are riding over to Greymouth in Labour Weekend for the Street Races, and have booked out most of a motel. If you’re planning to ride across and would like some company, we’d love you to join us, and if you’d like to catch up for a couple of cold ones once you’re there, I hear tell they sell good beer in Greymouth. Of course I’m planning to confirm that rumour with careful and extensive experimentation, and will need help.

On Sunday we’re having our monthly RAT run. I don’t know what the weather is going to be, but I do know that I am hanging out for a ride. Meet me behind the shop at 10.30 on Sunday and we’ll leave at 11.00 am. If it’s a nice day we’ll have a longer ride, if it’s not we won’t, but no matter what happens a bunch of us will hang out together. This summer riding season I want to make RAT a bigger part of what we do, and would value input into how to do that. In the not too distant future I’ll set up a time to meet with you guys and pick your brains, but in the meantime if you have any ideas, they will be welcomed.