IKBA.co.uk Messages

Home

IKBA Messages | Contact IKBA | Bikes on RealClassic.co.uk | Classic Bike Stuff on Amazon.co.uk
Back to the Message Board

Click here to search eBay using an item number or text description...

Where I bought most of my bikes

Posted by JERRY <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/classicbikemart/info/user=JERRY' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on May 15, 2025, 11:11 am

From the 60's through to the 80's I bought a lot of bikes from Commerfords in Thames Ditton, Surrey. Proper old school bike shops that we had in the good old days. Remember the excitement of riding out of the workshop with my brand new Ariel Arrow. I must have bought around 8 bikes from them and even my first cat a Ford Anglia 100e.I Remember spending many a Saturday wandering round the rows of second hand bikes. If the saleman thought you were interested he just got the bike out started it and just said go for a test ride. Happy daze.

The oldest rocker in town!

Re: Where I bought most of my bikes

Posted by geoff the bonnie <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/classicbikemart/info/user=geoff+the+bonnie' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on May 15, 2025, 11:26 am, in reply to "Where I bought most of my bikes"

Interesting they also sold cats Jerry. I suppose they were expanding into pet ownership back then too

Re: Where I bought most of my bikes

Posted by Dennis M <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/classicbikemart/info/user=Dennis+M' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on May 15, 2025, 11:44 am, in reply to "Re: Where I bought most of my bikes"

But no Squirrel's for sale

Re: Where I bought most of my bikes

Posted by laverdabru <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/classicbikemart/info/user=laverdabru' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on May 15, 2025, 11:55 am, in reply to "Re: Where I bought most of my bikes"

I've only bought two bikes from a dealer, thinking about it. A POS 400-4 from one that soon went tits up, & the Blackbird from one that was about to, & clearing stock, hence 25% off the ticket price.

Re: Where I bought most of my bikes

Posted by Lannis <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/classicbikemart/info/user=Lannis' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on May 15, 2025, 12:04 pm, in reply to "Re: Where I bought most of my bikes"

Nine out of my 34 bikes were from dealers.

Yamahas: new 200 twin, R5 350 twin, CT3 175 single, and RD400 from Yamaha dealer "Williams Electric", an old 1966 Bonneville from Triumph dealer John Wright, and a new 1984 Electra Glide from a crooked Harley dealer, all in Lynchburg, Virginia.

A new 1981 BMW R65 in Roanoke, Virginia from Gio's Cycle. My 2009 Guzzi Stelvio from Steelhorse Cycle in Williamsburg, Virginia, and my 2014 Triumph Trophy triple from Moto Richmond....

All out of business except the last now.

Lannis

I don't take health advice from people who think the world is overpopulated.

Re: Where I bought most of my bikes

Posted by Tonupdave <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/classicbikemart/info/user=Tonupdave' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on May 15, 2025, 12:10 pm, in reply to "Re: Where I bought most of my bikes"

Always a place to visit ...anyone remember Blays of Twickenham you could almost get any bit for a motorcycle I waswell known and if I needed anything the just said go and have a look see what you can find they had drawers with rope handles an bits hanging from the ceiling they also sold bikes and did MOTs as well

Tonupdave..T.U.D.

Re: Where I bought most of my bikes

Posted by Nigel B <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/classicbikemart/info/user=Nigel+B' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on May 15, 2025, 1:55 pm, in reply to "Re: Where I bought most of my bikes"

anyone remember Blays of Twickenham

Strangely enough, yes.

Strangely because a dealer some 200 miles south of home would not normally be of interest. But I happened to be working on site at the National Physical Laboratory at the time I bought a low mileage accident damaged CX500. The original owner had fitted a Rickman Polaris fairing before he dumped it on an icy road - fairing scrapped & he had removed and disposed of the original headlight bits. CXs were fairly new at the time & not many in breakers, but I had noticed Blays while staying in the area & called in on the off-chance on my way home.

"Do you have any headlight bits for a CX500, or maybe a Rickman Polaris fairing for one ?"

"Well as it happens ..."

They had a complete s/h Rickman fairing, with brackets & leg shields for a CX500 sat in a back room. It was bit tatty, was the same colour as my bike (black), and I got the lot for £60 cash. Cleaned up a treat & got the bike back OTR with minimal effort. Helped that I was in an empty Astra van, so just a case of pay up & load up.

My one and only interaction with Blays, but very much a case of "right place at the right time".

Too many interactions with a large number of local dealers over the last 49 years to list. Some still around, some still around in name only (different owners, different marques), most gone (some missed, some well rid of ! ).

Nigel B.

Re: Where I bought most of my bikes

Posted by JERRY <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/classicbikemart/info/user=JERRY' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on May 15, 2025, 4:50 pm, in reply to "Re: Where I bought most of my bikes"

I remember Blays well Dave and Dennis Heath the bike breakers in Forth Cross Road.

The oldest rocker in town!

Re: Where I bought most of my bikes

Posted by Andy C <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/classicbikemart/info/user=Andy+C' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on May 15, 2025, 12:13 pm, in reply to "Where I bought most of my bikes"

Very few dealer bought bikes for me:

FS1E Came from Fran Ridewoods in Wells - now gone

KH 250 Bath Kawasaki Centre - now gone

660 Trident Total Triumph near Taunton

1200 Speedmaster from Total Triumph Plymouth - now gone

All the rest have been from private sellers or very small bike shops which are now long gone.

Who needs a signature anyway......

Re: Where I bought most of my bikes

Posted by calidavid <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/classicbikemart/info/user=calidavid' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on May 15, 2025, 12:50 pm, in reply to "Where I bought most of my bikes"

I lusted over a T100ss at Pride and Clarke around 1968. But it took me twenty years to get one and restore it. A case of where the restoration was far more exciting than the riding experience.

Re: Where I bought most of my bikes

Posted by DBDBrian <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/classicbikemart/info/user=DBDBrian' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on May 15, 2025, 2:18 pm, in reply to "Re: Where I bought most of my bikes"

I'm afraid I did not have a very good experience with Comerfords in the early sixties. They advertised a 350 Goldie in MCN, I made a phone call on the Saturday morning, salesman said it was still available. Travelled all the way from Norfolk on my 175 Mondial, thought I had gone to the other side of the world.
When I arrived I was told it had been sold, no apology just said have a look and see if there is something else you are interested in, my reply being NO I want a 350 Goldie.
The next week it was advertised in MCN again, my brother gave them a call, and they said they "still" had it in stock, when ask why they would not sell it to me last week , the salesman said he would check. Then said it had been sold. I personally don't think it ever existed, just a ploy to draw you in.

Brian
Made In England

Re: Where I bought most of my bikes

Posted by Andy C <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/classicbikemart/info/user=Andy+C' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on May 15, 2025, 3:26 pm, in reply to "Re: Where I bought most of my bikes"

I had a similar situation with a car when we were looking for one for my other half.

It was quite some way away, we called the garage and said give us first refusal please, they said yes they would hold onto it.

After 2 hours travelling we arrived only to be told it had been sold - I was not happy.

Who needs a signature anyway......

Re: Where I bought most of my bikes

Posted by calidavid <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/classicbikemart/info/user=calidavid' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on May 15, 2025, 4:02 pm, in reply to "Re: Where I bought most of my bikes"

Me too. Found a very fair priced VW Golf at our local dealer and reserved it for a test drive the next day. Obviously too much of a fair price and a mistake had been made with the amount, as they hid it somewhere and denied all knowledge.

Re: Where I bought most of my bikes

Posted by geoff the bonnie <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/classicbikemart/info/user=geoff+the+bonnie' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on May 15, 2025, 10:22 pm, in reply to "Re: Where I bought most of my bikes"

Some new car dealers are a bit odd. I always just turn up to buy a car and usually know what i am going to order. At BMW Exeter, i turned up to buy a new car and they told me i needed an appointment. So, i told him i was buying a new car Today and now it will not be a BMW.
Most are pretty good now but there are exceptions in the Exeter estate. VW, Renault, Honda have no interest in customers turning up to order a car at all. The salesmen ignore you and continue to play on their computers.
All the others welcome you, make tea or coffee and offer a test drive in the car you are asking about. Audi were excellent last year but the car was inferior to a Toyota this time around. Its great fun to buy a new car and be the first owner.
I have bought quite a few brand new bikes mostly from local dealers but the last one came from Taunton triumph dealer who gave a 1200 pound discount. Exeter dealer wanted retail price

« Back to index

[ IKBA.co.uk Messages ]

IKBA Messages | Contact IKBA | Bikes on RealClassic.co.uk | Classic Bike Stuff on Amazon.co.uk

Thank you for your support...