I thought I might do a thread on Auckland bikes shops,to show younger riders what was here before,and a trip down memory lane for others.I'll start in my year of 1970,it was a turning point - the established bike shops had been there from the '50's and '60's,but a new order was coming.I want interaction,but can we keep it relavent and in cronological order please - don't come butting in about Spectrum while we are talking about Len Perry,too much of that and I'll let it whither and die.This is only my observations as a customer,I'll get things very wrong - please correct me as I want to know too.
Weston-Webb Motorcycles.
I'll start with Weston-Webb first and work my way north into the city.Weston-Webb were my closest bike shop,and the one I became more familiar with.They were in Station Rd Otahuhu,next to the Orphius picture theater....every suburb had their movie theater,I went to every one,but never the Orphius....it would't even register on the Flea Pit status,it was the worst of the worst.Mr Weston-Webb like all these early bike shop owners was an ex racer,I don't know his first name....John I think.You didn't see him much,but he did my WoF's when I went there in my lunch break,a polite and reserved Englishman.They did all the British bikes,and supplied the Traffic Cop's Triumphs and BSA's,and did all their maintenance too.I don't even know if they had a Japanese agency....maybe Suzuki - the Jap bikes weren't their focus....kinda like a Chinese takeaway doing fish and chips.
It was a small shop,they all were then - and behind the counter was the grumpy sod Ray,in his dust coat.The old school didn't like us young guys,we were noisy with long hair and poor dress sense....worst of all was what we were doing to their treasured bikes,chopping them up,stripping them down,we didn't respect nothing...not them or their bikes.So Ray didn't talk to us,just stood at his counter and watched....then you went up to the counter and asked for what you wanted.''No,we don't have one''....'What about that one there?'.....''It won't fit your bike.....or....that's sold,you can't have it'' - and it'd still be there next week.
Bestest thing was their Hepolite piston ring machine.So you asked Ray for some plus 20 rings for a B31,and he went to the end of the counter where the machine was.The wall was wooden pidgeon holed and the holes full of piston rings.He'd pull a piston ring out of a hole and put it into the machine.It had a steel band,and by turning a knob it compressed the ring,closing the gap,a window read out bore size in mm,and oversize in thou.Brilliant,and I've never seen another like it.
Out the back was the workshop,about the size of a single car garage,wooden floor and dark,like maybe a single bulb on a wire stuff,room enough for me to work on a single bike - but there would be 4 mechanics working on half a dozen or more bikes.There was a shambles out in the yard,wrecked bikes lying rusting on the ground.They took over a shop next door at one stage and wrecked bikes there,you weren't allowed in there,but I got to go in a few times to help on a search.
Over the years when it was shown we were dedicated bikers,we loved the machines and worked hard to keep them on the road - they thawed.Ray would now talk to us,and if he heard us out in the shop Brian,the mechanic might walk out to say hello,or help us with a part we were looking for.Or we might just barge straight out the back with a wave to Ray if he was busy.We were getting to be part of the furniture.
By the '80's they were really out on a limb,having not moved with the times - still the same old shop,the same people and a reluctance to work on the Jap stuff.In 1984 and 85 I was working not far away and would often drop in on my way past.Ray was much more talkative now,and I learned what was happening.Ray had married Weston-Webb's daughter at some stage,and with the mechanics Brian and Dave they now owned the shop,the Classic movement had kicked in and they were content to restore and work on the old bikes....a nice retirement fade away for them I suppose.I left Auckland in 1985 and so never went back.
Weston-Webb was an old school shop,and stayed that way to the end.It was the first bike shop I ever went to,I learnt how to get the parts I needed,grew to be familiar with the guys,and them with me.My favorite bike shop of all time - thanks guys.
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Originally Posted by calmone
I remember buying a new set of Triumph header pipes off Whites ($55) and seeing a brand new XS500 (the 8 valve one?) and a Wedding special ?Triumph while there.
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