Is Papakura a good spot for a motorcycle workshop?

**Acid** · 28th January 2007, 16:37

id have to say that papakura or manukau would be sweet because the guys from inner auckland and such dont ride around these ways to see the amount of bikes like today i was at beach and saw atleast 30+bikes go thru clevedon when i stopped to have some fish and chips with daughter and misses

**mr me** · 28th January 2007, 16:51

I think it's a great idea there's only 1 other good shop around here,There must be plenty of work out this way every other shop is in town or are no good.Should change tyres do WOF's and every thing esle that you can't get done proply out way good luck with your venture.

**Grahameeboy** · 28th January 2007, 20:19

Originally Posted by McJim

Papakura or Manukau would suit me - they're both right on the motorway so not much difference in terms of ride time to get there.

If you want to prevent the locals from breaking in in Papakura just put a sign up saying "Tresspassers will be shagged by The_Dover" that will sort them out.

Yeah but you may end up financing Dover's new living??

**McJim** · 28th January 2007, 20:28

Originally Posted by Grahameeboy

Yeah but you may end up financing Dover's new living??

Nah man - that's the labour government's job. Where's you bin?

**gijoe1313** · 29th January 2007, 07:01

There is only one motorbike repair facility (as Dai said) - good chap by the name of Colin who runs his business in Tironui Rd off the back of Takanini Straight, he does good work and is constantly busy (so busy in fact, he says at times he has had to refuse work to honour his previous commitments!). The Yamaha outlet is the only other bike shop in Takanini straight.

You offering a different option by doing the modding and bling bits would definitely be a plus. I currently service my own bike, but for bigger jobs I would need to ride out to Botany Honda as my closest servicer! Colin is way too busy with all his current work!

So yeah, purely from my own selfish point of view (and to all other South Auckland riders), another good customer focussed workship would be the bee's knees!

btw, on ya for canvassing KB for some viewpoints (I can't also believe how on topic this thread is!

)

**TerminalAddict** · 29th January 2007, 08:37

I'd come to auckland to get intricate stuff done. (My suspension)
but then I'd come to the naki to do that too

**Will** · 29th January 2007, 08:49

I have a Honda

and the only thing that it goes in for are new tyres or chains etc. So I am no expert on workshops. But there are heaps of bikes in the area. And if any riders north of Papakura want to go out for a ride such as Hwy 22 or the Coro, they gotta pass thru the Papakura/Clevedon area.
On a more serious note, I presume you will do more market research. A lot has all ready been said, though I disagree with the crime being worse in South. Bikes are a major target and I don't think it will matter where you are. Having someone on site will be better security.

**Hellraiser** · 29th January 2007, 09:31

Originally Posted by Nicksta

If it was a shop that was trying to attract as much clientel as they could.. i would say set up out west or central.... then you get everyone from all parts of aucks....

LOL ......... if you go out west get a bigger factory so you can manufacture P as well that way your workshop will fit in well in the P capital of NZ.

**Hellraiser** · 29th January 2007, 09:36

Originally Posted by Ixion

Pros:

More central.
Near the motorway (probably)
Lots of employment near , for the drop it in on way to work, collect that evening folk
Handy to suppliers and special services
Reasonably close to some affluent areas.
No competition that I can think of

Cons

In the middle of a low decile perimeter
Lot of crime, you might want to check effect on insurance. Budget for a few breakins each year.
You were thinking of living over the shop? Might not want to live in Manukau
What Mr Motu said. No-one ever seems to make a go of bike shops south of the Tamaki
Manukau's a warren of cheap car workshops. But cheap is the fundamental word, $20 WoF types of thing. Expect local clientele to be hard to collect money from.
Manukau's like mangere (though not as bad) in that it's a place where people with money consciously choose to keep away from.

Being as you're from the 'naki, you might want to take a trip up and have a wander round Manukau, get the feel of it. It may be something you're not familiar with. So to speak.

Don't Tar everone with the same brush FAG ......... show's how long it has been since you have been to Manukau, you have goodwood heights, flat bush, totara heights and its less than 5 mins from howick & botany and all these areas have people living there with money, so manukau is not a bad idea at all.

The best service you could offer is loaner bikes halfway decent ones.

**zeocen** · 29th January 2007, 09:38

Originally Posted by gijoe1313

There is only one motorbike repair facility (as Dai said) - good chap by the name of Colin who runs his business in Tironui Rd off the back of Takanini Straight, he does good work and is constantly busy (so busy in fact, he says at times he has had to refuse work to honour his previous commitments!).

Yeah, poor Colin has been so busy lately, he always gives 110% from what I've seen.

A bike shop in Manukau would be tits.

**Dai** · 29th January 2007, 09:47

Originally Posted by zeocen

Yeah, poor Colin has been so busy lately, he always gives 110% from what I've seen.

A bike shop in Manukau would be tits.

Thats the shop I was thinking of. I went there to get a new rear tyrethat was munted and he couldnt even fit me in for that. He was very appologetic and genuinely sorry he couldnt help.

I appreciated the sentiments and understood his position but the off shot was that I had to find some other place. Not easy down this way due to the lack of an alternative.

As I have been saying, go for Papakura. I think the trade is here down in the southern part of Auckland.

Keep up with the market research.

**Pixie** · 29th January 2007, 09:48

You could look at Oldrewa with a view to targeting the mobility scooter market

**FROSTY:Me** · 29th January 2007, 09:49

I think it totally depends on the sort of customer base you are aiming for.
In my experience there is a severe lack of KNOWLEDGABLE performance orientated mechanical engineers in New zealand.
Im thinking of people like ray clee,robert taylor etc
If your business is focussed on this type of work you could be located on the moon and people will beat their way to your door.
Personally Id suggest you might want to think of a location near the soon to be -Hampton Downs complex.