I had a ride to Lincoln today as the weather was nice and itching to get out on the bike. I hadn't been past Italia since they closed so stopped to look what was happening. I thought I heard someone was taking over the premises but obviously not, quite sad. Loved buying and getting my 899 serviced here, although thats long gone from my ownership too. Seasons greetings to all ! RBW.
Very sad...nearest official Ducati dealer to me now is Chris Walker at Grantham, not a patch on what Italia used to be IMO. Some of the guys at B and B in Lincoln are ex-Italia and seem to be doing a good job at carrying the torch by continuing to service dukes
The demise of Italia Moto in Lincoln is very sad. I always had my Ducatis serviced there. Adam who used to be with Italia now runs V Duo on the Lincoln High Street knows his stuff too although he is not an official Ducati dealer.
Adam has a reputation as being pretty good it seems, perhaps increasingly more interested in growing the sales than servicing side of his business, or maybe didn't like the look of me? Jonny (who is on here) and Gaz are working up at B&B, which seems to be growing nicely. B&B has been a reputable Suzuki dealer for many years and now with "Moto Veloce" as the Ducati independent specialist part of the business there's a possibility for Italia customers to maintain continuity on both sales and service side. They've had some great stock through the business and Gaz knows Ducati very thoroughly on the technical side (and also works as a TT and BSB spannerman).
I remember Adam from when Italia was down Bargate in Lincoln, and i've taken various bikes to him at Vduo for servicing, 999S,1198S etc, and he is meticulous, i note that he seems to concentrate on pre Pani stuff though, when a mate enquired about service work on his 1299S he was politely advised to take it elsewhere, can only guess why?
I hadn't heard of B&B before, will have a ride out there sometime to have a look around (just googled to see where it is). Be nice to go and say Hi to Jonny at B&B. I had a go on a ST3 when Italia Moto were at Bar Gate, but purchased a Yamaha FZS1000 instead in 2002 (doh!). It was my first bike and if memory serves and there was a Yamaha Insurance deal on the FZS which made it super cheap to insure. I think for the desmo service the book quote 11 hours for a 899 Pani, and they said they struggled to get it done in that time. Some happy memories going to Italia Moto, and I can't say that about many bike dealers. RBW.
Yes I liked the old Bargate days and I bought new Ducatis from there including My ST3 in 2005, it was a great bike to ride but the sales' volumes were low unfortunately and now I feel I should have kept it.
Yes it was like an Aladdins cave at Bargate, not just Ducatis, Phil had all sorts of Italian stuff in dark corners of the showroom, I bought an old Laverda Jota from him 20 years ago, then sold it just before their prices went stratospheric...doh.
I miss the guys at Italia. Bargate was a great place. A proper old school bike shop. Plenty of banter. Phil was the oracle and always pleased to see you, but he had had enough and it was time to move on.
I bought my Multistrada from Italia Moto. Had not noticed they had gone although i knew they gave up the Franchise. What happened to them?
Phil retired, Jonny and Gaz have moved to B&B Suzuki and Pete (owner of B&B) has established a bit of an independent Ducati specialist within B&B that's developing a great reputation locally.
I remember Italia Moto when it was a car garage before that. Compton & Holt selling BMW a long way back (my dad worked there)
Yes i remember when it was a BMW garage, i also remember when Phil Worth first started out with the Italian stuff ,he had a place on Monks road in Lincoln in the mid/late 80's IIRC, before he moved to Bargate.
[QUOTE="yellowducmaniac, i also remember when Phil Worth first started out with the Italian stuff ,he had a place on Monks road in Lincoln in the mid/late 80's IIRC, before he moved to Bargate.[/QUOTE] Phil was well into Italian stuff before the Monks Road site was open, I remember visiting a house in a village near Lincoln with a friend who had arranged a test ride on a Black Darmah, Phil made me and the mate's Mrs a brew while John went for a spin on the Darmah. We also had a tour of the Conservatory full of Italian exotica including a green and yellow KB1. There was also a Bimota HB ? undergoing a nut and bolt rebuild in one of the rooms in the house!
