North East Dealer ?

Do you *need* an official dealer? Or would a good independent do?

 

I wonder if this is anything to do with M&S having effectively not re-opened it's doors for anything other than pre-arranged appointments since the first lockdown?. Westgate road is a Miserable place now, you can't get parked, what were once all bike shops are now turkish barbers or mini-mart type shops selling goods from all corners of the globe, last time I went into M&S there were a group of incredibly rough looking junkies outside sat on the street loudly talking about where they were going to 'score' . I doubt that fits in with the corporate image the OEM want to portray.

a small single brand showroom like Triumph have on Scotswood road would be much nicer...

 

I don't know what M&S are like to buy a new bike from, I've bought helmets/clothing from them before but wouldn't again as even with a bit of haggling their prices can't beat online retailers (sportsbikeshop) or Proto at the top of the road for physical shops.

Their second hand stock is always priced at the very top of the market, and often are very poor examples. I looked at a Laverda 650S they had who's kevlar fairings were full of really badly sanded body filler where it had been dropped - they had that in stock for a couple of years nearly, and a NC30 VFR400 that was top money, had poorly fitting chinese fairings in the wrong colour scheme and wouldn't start.

 

I've had over 30 new bikes from them since the mid 90's and have been looked after very well by them, even in the 7 years
I was in Scandinavia. I've made a lot of friends there over all that time, taking organised euro bike holidays with the shop
a couple of times, as well as enjoying multiple trackday jaunts.
It's a real shame to see what looks like them winding down after decades in the business. I for one will miss them, if this is the
end of it all.

 

From what I’d heard, Ian was looking to sell the premises, move to smaller and concentrate on used bikes. Agreed about their pricing, and clothing. Location is not what it used to be.

 

Many years ago I enquired about an 1199 Tricolore they had in the showroom, about a year old apparently mint condition. I drove all the way from Staffordshire to take a look, clearly been tracked, not a problem but would have been nice to be told ahead of a long journey. Being tracked whoever was swapping bodywork over had managed to break a few brackets in the process, again a mint bike but not quite.

Salesman was happy to rectify all of the issues, then pointed me towards their 1199S demo that was coming up for sale, filthy, tyres on their last legs and a chain that was covered in rust, how it was that bad was beyond me. Needless to say I didn't buy a bike.

Picked up the phone to JHP on the way home (hands free of course) and negotiated a deal on a new Tricolore and collected 2 weeks later.

I actually did like the shop and the D-Store, but I can see from my small experience why it's struggled.

 

I agree, great memories, but the place has changed...bah humbug!

Lasting memory from when I was a tad younger was a guy who, on an Exup, pulled a vertical wheelie from a standing start whilst parked at 90° from the traffic flow..and then wheelied up the entire hill. Unbelievable skills.. (officer)!

 

Haha I was one of those local idiots! Don’t know how many times I nearly stacked it on the hill on my 750 SRAD !!

 

Haha no. Very close a few times though. My enthusiasm always outweighed my ability if there was a crowd !

 

Sad story but inevitable Westgate Rd has been dying on its feet for years. Have also been well looked after by Shaun and Dave two nice guys.
Custom Lids area of operations might be a location to rejuvenate the bike scene ?

 

I’ve been buying bikes from M&S ( among others) since the early 90s
This early 851 first…

Then followed pretty quickly by one of the early round headlamp Blades..


I bought my 899 new from them also and had all its servicing done there, so I’ll be looking for a good independent now.
Was always looked after by the guys up there, Ian and Gary in sales, Dave in the service department and Shaun and Dave in clothing, that’s probably why all my kit is Dainese, I was in there regular so Shaun always did me some cracking deals.
It’s a bit sad, but I can’t say I’m surprised, the last two years has killed a lot of small businesses off, although I do think Ian’s choice in second hand stock is a bit “ weird “ and I also agree that about 25 years ago “ the Hill” was a magical place to go, we used to go up on Saturdays just to watch everyone wheeling up the Hill, great entertainment with the near misses, I also remember wandering into Ken’s motorcycles at the top of the Hill and just standing and staring in wanton lust at one of these…



954 Honda Fireblade, I think the colour was called Miami blue? I thought it was the most gorgeous thing I’d ever seen ( the Panigale wasn’t out then ). I couldn’t afford one at the time as I was a penniless apprentice , but I did get this one later, went all over on it and I would happily have another one but the second hand prices are shooting up !
I think that era ( about 94 ish? ) was the pinnacle for motorcycles in my eyes, they were realistically priced, fast enough, didn’t cost you £25k, speed cameras weren’t about then, no Euro 5 stuff clogging up the bikes and more people seemed to be interested in bikes , whereas now the target market is getting a lot older and anyone who can afford the pcp payments just goes out and buys a GS with the full “ twat” suit, mounts 3 aluminium storage containers on it with Dakar stickers and then does a twenty mile round trip for a scone and a cuppa tea

I would like to see M&S survive in some shape or form, @nodrog I can see where you’re coming from suggesting that they relocate near Custom Lids to get the bike scene going again, but to be honest, Team Valley is the last place I’d want to go to, having worked on “ the Valley “ for 19 years it’s an utter pain in the arse to get on and off it, just so busy all the time it actually puts me off visiting Custom Lids.

I get the feeling that motorcycling is a dying industry, we’re all getting older and not many young guys are coming through and somehow, I just can’t get excited about electric bikes ,..they won’t sound like my Panigale when you’re honking into a corner and shut the throttle and it’s bellowing on the overrun, they won’t smell of petrol and hot oil like some of the older bikes I had when I was younger and don’t even go there about the smell of a “ring-ding” two stroke
I imagine riding an electric bike down the road will be similar to sitting on top of your Zanussi or Bosch on spin cycle,..don’t think it will give you the same sensations somehow ?

Anyhow, I digress,..M&S motorcycles, good luck to them for whatever they do in the future

 

I agree re Team Valley and I never go there just can’t think of anywhere else .
Having seen the Audi influence recently at Ducati Glasgow and Leeds pre the latest move it was only a matter of time before the area became a no go for a big manufacturer.
The points you make re the industry are spot on.If you ever catch a ferry to Europe and look down the bike queue it’s like a Saga away day , not much sign of the next generation which is such a shame.
And yes good luck M and S , good guys

 

any bike show or even track day; pensioners day out. will be dead and gone in the UK in 15 years

 

Eeeeh by gum lads take it easy, nowt that wrong wi't scene. Plenty of us yung'uns still abahht.

Less than 50 is still young right? Young at heart certainly