New bike shop in the Hutt - Valley Yamaha

[F5 Dave]

Well I have to say in these recession hit times opening a new bike shop is a bold move, but there it was all written over the building.

I only had a small glimpse as I drove by (it's ok -I had my racebike in the back of the van), but it's where the Sally Army outlet store used to be over the roundabout from Hog's breath.

They didn't seem to have any stock there yet, it may have been a reflection trick of the light, -but I could have sworn I saw an IT175:eek5:

[StoneY]

They didn't seem to have any stock there yet, it may have been a reflection trick of the light, -but I could have sworn I saw an IT175:eek5:

Shit hot those thing were fucking legends!
TSS wont be happy tho

[James Deuce]

I hope TSS haven't lost Yamaha! Though I did see that Red Baron Auckland have picked up Kawasaki. Hmmmm.

[Azi Dahaka]

thats just down the road and i agree very bold expecally with the whole acc thing

[James Deuce]

ACC levies will have less of an impact on bike sales than people think, including ACC. Recession on the other hand.

[scott411]

I hope TSS haven't lost Yamaha! Though I did see that Red Baron Auckland have picked up Kawasaki. Hmmmm.

Red baron have been kawasaki for a long time, back to the Crosbies days,

[Crasherfromwayback]

Hope it works out for whoever is behind it

[F5 Dave]

Hmm, where's Merv or someone oldish when you need them?

. . . can never tell with Jim

[James Deuce]

Red baron have been kawasaki for a long time, back to the Crosbies days,

TSS are Red Baron affiliated and I noticed that Yamaha dropped out of the equation in Auckland and new Kawasakis started featuring prominently where they hadn't before.

[Deano]

ROFLMAO - its old signage from when it used to be Valley Yamaha.....years ago.

The Salvation Army have removed their signage, revealing the old...

[James Deuce]

I remember that place. That's oooooold.

[merv]

Hmm, where's Merv or someone oldish when you need them?

. . . can never tell with Jim

Don't know what my age has got to do with this story other than yes I do remember the IT175 and I do remember the Yamaha shop being there. In fact I remember the Suzuki shop in Lower Hutt back about 1970 - Boyles were involved then I think.

[F5 Dave]

And we have a winner!!! Thank you Deano:rockon:

Any idea when they were in business? Before my time in the hutt. I just guessed with the IT175 reference. Should have had my camera.

[edit], & Merv has some answers. Good one guys.

erm. . . the suzi shop near where Big save was Wgtn Motorcycles (hutt)

[Deano]

I think I remember it very vaguely from my childhood.

I ran it past Stew at TSS who confirmed it.

[Deano]

And we have a winner!!! Thank you Deano:rockon:

Any idea when they were in business? Before my time in the hutt. I just guessed with the IT175 reference. Should have had my camera.

[edit], & Merv has some answers. Good one guys.

erm. . . the suzi shop near where Big save was Wgtn Motorcycles (hutt)

I remember Wgtn Motorcycles very fondly from when I was about 10. I spent many hours in there drooling. Full floater suspension (mono shocks) had just 'been invented' for motocross bikes.

I'm sure Valley were there in the late seventies/early eighties.

[merv]

The Suzi shop I'm mumbling about I think was the original Lawton & Boyle and was on the East side of High Street and its where I drooled over the first TS250 I ever saw. WM Hutt came after that as did Honda City and Valley Yamaha, but then I'm old enough to remember Sawyer Honda in Cuba Street Wgtn before it moved to Cambridge Terrace, before it moved to Adelaide Road, before it moved to Motorad in Vivian Street. I drooled over the first CBX1000 in Cuba street :drool:

[pete376403]

Not quite - twas Frank Boyle. He was on high street about where the IRD building is now, then moved to the shop which became the Sallies. Frank was an ex-speedway rider (rode at Taita during the 50's) His shop had agencies for BSA and most of the other Brits, then picked up Suzuki.

Frank is (was) a brother or other rellie to the Boyle of Lawton & Boyle (adelaide road). Dickie Lawton was a well known tuner of speedway bikes long before become renowned as a tuner of Suzukis.
( I recall going to Lawton & Boyle to lust over the very first CB750. Priced at $1999, made every other bike in the shop look primitive.)

Other Lower Hutt bike shops - Wgtn Motorcycles had a place next to the Melling bridge (where the pet centre is now) didn't last very long, Honda city were on high street near the Ford dealership, then moved to the old SM motors building on the corner of pretoria street. Over the road there was a little hole in the wall bike shop that had Yamaha as their main line.

And if you're REALLY old you might remember the Tolley and Spence shop in Upper Hutt. Nothing but brits, because thats all there was.
then there was W White in Bond Street, where Steve Dundon and gary Gill used to be mechanic and saleman, before they started Wgtn motorcycles
(fuck I'm old)

[BMWST?]

Not quite - twas Frank Boyle. He was on high street about where the IRD building is now, then moved to the shop which became the Sallies. Frank was an ex-speedway rider (rode at Taita during the 50's) His shop had agencies for BSA and most of the other Brits, then picked up Suzuki.

Frank is (was) a brother or other rellie to the Boyle of Lawton & Boyle (adelaide road). Dickie Lawton was a well known tuner of speedway bikes long before become renowned as a tuner of Suzukis.
( I recall going to Lawton & Boyle to lust over the very first CB750. Priced at $1999, made every other bike in the shop look primitive.)

Other Lower Hutt bike shops - Wgtn Motorcycles had a place next to the Melling bridge (where the pet centre is now) didn't last very long, Honda city were on high street near the Ford dealership, then moved to the old SM motors building on the corner of pretoria street. Over the road there was a little hole in the wall bike shop that had Yamaha as their main line.

And if you're REALLY old you might remember the Tolley and Spence shop in Upper Hutt. Nothing but brits, because thats all there was.
then there was W White in Bond Street, where Steve Dundon and gary Gill used to be mechanic and saleman, before they started Wgtn motorcycles
(fuck I'm old)

this is correct....no one has mentioned Whites in Dixon Street.i bought a sr500 and a xs750e from them...Honda city were in their high street shop near the ford dealer in 1972 cos i bought my very first bike from them...

[pete376403]

this is correct....no one has mentioned Whites in Dixon Street.i bought a sr500 and a xs750e from them...Honda city were in their high street shop near the ford dealer in 1972 cos i bought my very first bike from them...
You're right, whites was in dixon street in the building where Lone Star is now (or really close) dunno why I thought of bond st. was a two storey place, with the s/hand sales bikes up on the second floor. I went up there looking one time - could have had just about any early 60s brit twin for about $250

Also there was another bike shop in a side street off molesworth st, somewhere near the vogel building. Anyone else recall that one? Only ever went there once.

[BMWST?]

You're right, whites was in dixon street in the building where Lone Star is now (or really close) dunno why I thought of bond st. was a two storey place, with the s/hand sales bikes up on the second floor. I went up there looking one time - could have had just about any early 60s brit twin for about $250

Also there was another bike shop in a side street off molesworth st, somewhere near the vogel building. Anyone else recall that one? Only ever went there once.

whites was on the right hand side heading towards willis,just after victoria stnot sure if it was right on the corner or the next one...

[Trudes]

"And thus, that concludes The History of Bike Shops for this week, tune in next week when we'll look at old bike shops in Ekatahuna."
;)

[cxy]

You're right, whites was in dixon street in the building where Lone Star is now (or really close) dunno why I thought of bond st. was a two storey place, with the s/hand sales bikes up on the second floor. I went up there looking one time - could have had just about any early 60s brit twin for about $250

Also there was another bike shop in a side street off molesworth st, somewhere near the vogel building. Anyone else recall that one? Only ever went there once.

Tolley and Spence...

[wingrider]

Original Suzuki shop was Boyle and Fergusson. Think Willy Flowers was head spanner man.
Just down the road was Honda City owned by Mike Harris. They shifted later on and Chris took over.

Whites yamaha also had a shop but i think it was for only a short time.

[Madness]

Man, you guys are old. The farthest back I can remember was the Bike Spot, straight across the road from Honduh City. They were the place to buy tyres back in the day, I can remember taking my rims down to them on a Thursday night on the bus. They seemed to hate Thursday nights too from memory, the place was always uber-busy.

[bungbung]

What was the name of the place in Hutt road, south of the Parrot and Jigger that sold used bikes? was it a wrecker too?

[F5 Dave]

That was where Bikespot moved to. Alistair was a good dude but no business man & got burnt out (but apparently now a mountainbike sort of dude). The tyre side of the business at first I think was somewhat associated with Yokohama (or that's how it appeared) & at some stage that is where Mac was involved I think (now Maidstone).

But Trude's right, we have perhaps spanked this pony a bit far.

[Hailwood]

Sawyers was in Taranaki Street before they moved to Cambridge Tce.

Bike Clinic was another shop located in Tory Street with the superbly talented Dallas Rankine working his magic on all manner of Ducatis.

[Insanity_rules]

Man, you guys are old. The farthest back I can remember was the Bike Spot, straight across the road from Honduh City. They were the place to buy tyres back in the day, I can remember taking my rims down to them on a Thursday night on the bus. They seemed to hate Thursday nights too from memory, the place was always uber-busy.

Jesus I remember that too. Bought an old V50 off em, an IT175 and a CB100. They had the odd bike, lots of parts and pretty good service.

[roogazza]

Not quite - twas Frank Boyle. He was on high street about where the IRD building is now, then moved to the shop which became the Sallies. Frank was an ex-speedway rider (rode at Taita during the 50's) His shop had agencies for BSA and most of the other Brits, then picked up Suzuki.

Frank is (was) a brother or other rellie to the Boyle of Lawton & Boyle (adelaide road). Dickie Lawton was a well known tuner of speedway bikes long before become renowned as a tuner of Suzukis.
( I recall going to Lawton & Boyle to lust over the very first CB750. Priced at $1999, made every other bike in the shop look primitive.)

Other Lower Hutt bike shops - Wgtn Motorcycles had a place next to the Melling bridge (where the pet centre is now) didn't last very long, Honda city were on high street near the Ford dealership, then moved to the old SM motors building on the corner of pretoria street. Over the road there was a little hole in the wall bike shop that had Yamaha as their main line.

And if you're REALLY old you might remember the Tolley and Spence shop in Upper Hutt. Nothing but brits, because thats all there was.
then there was W White in Bond Street, where Steve Dundon and gary Gill used to be mechanic and saleman, before they started Wgtn motorcycles
(fuck I'm old)

Jesus you're old ! heh, As a 16 yr old I used to sniff the two stroke fumes in Bond St. W.Whites. Steve and Gary Started out there with WMCC. Always remember my YDS3s' fondly. G.

[Billy]

I remember Wgtn Motorcycles very fondly from when I was about 10. I spent many hours in there drooling. Full floater suspension (mono shocks) had just 'been invented' for motocross bikes.

I'm sure Valley were there in the late seventies/early eighties.

Yip,Hutt Yamaha were there in 79,Bob Toomey and Joanne Mieklejohn(Holden) rode RD 400Fs for them.The Suzuki shop mentioned was in fact Frank Boyle Suzuki,Frank was Don Boyles brother but the shops were run seperately

[BMWST?]

Sawyers was in Taranaki Street before they moved to Cambridge Tce.

Bike Clinic was another shop located in Tory Street with the superbly talented Dallas Rankine working his magic on all manner of Ducatis.

bike clinic (http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showpost.php?p=1129550552&postcount=7649)

[jared]

nah it's just a really old sign from before the building was bought by the salvation army and now they're strippin it back for something else.

or, like, you know, whatever

[Hailwood]

bike clinic (http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showpost.php?p=1129550552&postcount=7649)

Didnt know they were there..I remember them in Tory Street almost opposite where Harvey Norman is now. Used to get my Darmah serviced there.

[Crasherfromwayback]

Didnt know they were there..I remember them in Tory Street almost opposite where Harvey Norman is now. Used to get my Darmah serviced there.

I used to work for Pete when he was on the cnr of Ebor St.

He also used to have a shop in Upper Hutt. I wrote a Z1R off that he gave me for a test ride.

[BMWST?]

Didnt know they were there..I remember them in Tory Street almost opposite where Harvey Norman is now. Used to get my Darmah serviced there.

yep they moved to Taranaki st from Tory.I am pretty sure my S2 was from Tory Street,but about a year later they were at Taranaki Street.

[gammaguy]

Bought my first bike from Lawton Boyle Suzuki in Adelaide road,1977.:sleep:

a Suzuki GT250,GoldCandy Metallic.I was gonna get a GT 185 but it wouldnt start so i bought the bigger one!

fun times:niceone:

[Hailwood]

I bought a GS450S (black of course) from Lawton Boyles in 1981..just useless info really....

[Hailwood]

I used to work for Pete when he was on the cnr of Ebor St.

He also used to have a shop in Upper Hutt. I wrote a Z1R off that he gave me for a test ride.

Some things dont change write off Z1R, crash a shop bike with steering lock on...:whistle:

[Crasherfromwayback]

Some things dont change write off Z1R, crash a shop bike with steering lock on...:whistle:

And that's just for starters mate!

[cb750kz]

I worked at Bike spot corner of high street and pretoria street in the mid 80's Alaster hiene owned He was a good boss really out there but knew a lot I learnt a lot from him didn't realise for a few years though.There where only three shops in the hutt at the time

[240]

Bought my first bike from Lawton Boyle Suzuki in Adelaide road,1977.:sleep:

a Suzuki GT250,GoldCandy Metallic.I was gonna get a GT 185 but it wouldnt start so i bought the bigger one!

fun times:niceone:

Aaaah the mighty gt 185 i rode my one from Welly to Tauranga took about 12 hours each way from memory.Great fun but fucked if i would do it again!!:shit:

[calmone]

Just to take you all back in time a little more, I got my first Bike from Tolley & Spence on Jackson St Petone in 1964. A nice red 1961 175cc BSA Bantam.

[blackdog]

What was the name of the place in Hutt road, south of the Parrot and Jigger that sold used bikes? was it a wrecker too?

bikes n' bits?

[blackdog]

cloggy tagged it for us:)

[jellywrestler]

from memory Chris Dawes use to run this shop at one stage.
Crhis died in a racing incident at manfeild a few years back, long after he moved to wanganui so wasn't involved with this at the time