Christchurch motorcycle shop nostalgia

**T.W.R** · 18th November 2015, 22:43

Originally Posted by Kickaha

Sure it wasn't Ferry rd? he was down there near the corner of Lancaster street, then he moved down next to Blue Star out the back of the Shell Station

Nah prior Ferry rd. I applied for a workshop apprenticeship and was short listed and had to go there a couple of times; was further over from Ferry rd.

**T.W.R** · 18th November 2015, 22:54

Originally Posted by neels

Yep. Same bodywork as the fuel injected XJ750 if I remember correctly....was very space agey for it's time.

Pretty much identical the 750D had a full digital dash and a more complexed management system; the fairing & bodywork were different but damn efficient & air assisted suspension front and rear made for a pretty comfy ride.

**dangerous** · 19th November 2015, 05:18

Originally Posted by HenryDorsetCase

So Honda had the CX500 Turbo and the CX650 Turbo. Kawasaki GPz750 Turbo. Suzuki XN85.. was there a Yamaha? there must have been right? XJ650 Turbo or something?

The XJ differed to the others with blow through carburetors, one exhaust pipe altho it had two the other was from the wast gate only...
Now there is one other turbo, built by USA Kawasaki, they needed to move excess Z1000's so on went a single blow through carb and turbo.
http://www.turbomotorcycles.org/TMIO...aki_Z1RTC.html
http://www.turbomotorcycles.org/TMIO...a_CX500Tc.html
http://www.turbomotorcycles.org/TMIO...aha_XJ650.html
http://www.turbomotorcycles.org/TMIO...a_CX650Td.html
http://www.turbomotorcycles.org/TMIO...uki_XN85D.html
http://www.turbomotorcycles.org/TMIO...aki_ZX750.html

**Grumph** · 19th November 2015, 05:39

Originally Posted by T.W.R

When Trevor Pierce started up in the warehouse on Tuam or St Asaph east of Fitzgerald Ave.

That wasn't TP - that was trev and me at Budget in St Asaph st opposite Wormalds. can't remember where TP was - but he bought a lot through trev...

Anyone ever experience upstairs at McCleary's Tuam/Durham corner

that was wall to wall bits spread all over the floor. Tommy gave the old man two CZ360 mx bikes in bits, we had a great time putting them together

If you think there was some stuff there, you should have seen old Tom's home - that was where the stuff went which wouldn't go upstairs...

One place that used to pop up the odd gem was Bland brothers between Riccarton High & the Cable factory.

Alan Bland is still going - and has an immense stock of parts scored from buying up dealers in the US going out of brit bikes.

I remember when Paul Walton got Pacific Motorcycles up and running and started pumping grey imports into the area, wonder how GSXR750s he moved? once I walked into the show at Brighton and there must have been 8 of them lined up for sale.

I did quite a bit for pacific. One funny bit, they used to repaint XR/XL Hondas white & sell them as the rare "canadian model". Paul brought in some of the first off road 3 wheelers we'd seen in ChCh - so the vacant section next door got a hammering as we all tried riding them. At least two guys limping after running over their own legs...
Darcy Watson had a Yamaha agency in the main drag of Brighton for quite a while too.

plus 10 characters

**Stylo** · 19th November 2015, 17:26

Originally Posted by MVnut

Yeah, Carmen Road, just up from Hornby Hub shopping centre. I think they still may do Aprilia and Guzzi tho Honda is their main brand.

Saw my first Hayabusa at Hornby Suzuki, 1999 just after they moved there from the Branston buildings.

Never seen anything so ugly but so captivating, copper coloured and a 300kmh speedo. I just stood there, agog, for the 20 minutes while my DT400 was getting a warrant. Neville Hampton, the old man was always floating around saying Hi and having a chat. Think they had BMW on the floor as well. Robin Hampton back then was still in the workshop from memory ...

**AllanB** · 19th November 2015, 17:38

Oddly I have absolutely no recall of a Hornby Suzuki. Creswells in town yes. First Katana 1100 wire wheel version. Instant stiffy.

Yammy turbo was the last one from the big 4 Jap builders. Possibly the best mannered but to late to the party and oddly advanced with freaky (for the time) electronic instrument cluster. We were still getting over the opposing direction the Katanas dials spun in.

At the same time there was nothing of interest from Europe as they struggled to keep up with Japan and produce even remotely reliable rides. Apart from the Jotta - shit that bike was the horn and only 'real men' could apply.

Times have truly changed.

**husaberg** · 19th November 2015, 17:42

Originally Posted by Stylo

Saw my first Hayabusa at Hornby Suzuki, 1999 just after they moved there from the Branston buildings.

Never seen anything so ugly but so captivating, copper coloured and a 300kmh speedo. I just stood there, agog, for the 20 minutes while my DT400 was getting a warrant. Neville Hampton, the old man was always floating around saying Hi and having a chat. Think they had BMW on the floor as well. Robin Hampton back then was still in the workshop from memory ...

So the same dealership was, Hornby Honda then Hornby Yamaha then Hornby Suzuki..................

**AllanB** · 19th November 2015, 17:45

Originally Posted by husaberg

So the same dealership was, Hornby Honda then Hornby Yamaha then Hornby Suzuki..................

They have had many, many brands ...... brand sluts really. Which in itself is not bad - at least they know them all

I have no idea of the process of either being dumped or dumping a brand of motorcycle in your shop. I do know they were landed with all the Guzzis they had in the shop when changing to their next brand. Guzzi importers would not take them back. Same happened when the HD dealer had Guzi and was going exclusively Guzzi - shit they had good deals getting them off the shop floor. Should have purchased one!

**dangerous** · 19th November 2015, 17:47

Originally Posted by AllanB

Oddly I have absolutely no recall of a Hornby Suzuki. Creswells in town yes. First Katana 1100 wire wheel version. Instant stiffy.

Yammy turbo was the last one from the big 4 Jap builders. Possibly the best mannered but to late to the party and oddly advanced with freaky (for the time) electronic instrument cluster. We were still getting over the opposing direction the Katanas dials spun in.

LMFAO instant indeed...
hampton zookie was 90's well after creswells etc were about
re yamie comments... well manered.. it was the least powerfull, electronic instrument cluster??? na just the usual diles and idiot lights... ya not thinking of the XJ750 like the coppers used?

**AllanB** · 19th November 2015, 17:54

Well mannered - that's bike speak for least powerful!

Years may be blurring the memory - a Google shows a fugly instrument consul. Maybe Honda had the first fancy electronic one was it the VFR that had the graphic rev counter?

The last CX turbo was a 650. But I do not remember a standard CX of that capacity.

What's a tidy CX turbo worth today?

**dangerous** · 19th November 2015, 18:46

Originally Posted by AllanB

Maybe Honda had the first fancy electronic one was it the VFR that had the graphic rev counter?

The last CX turbo was a 650. But I do not remember a standard CX of that capacity.

What's a tidy CX turbo worth today?

the VF750 Saber had a fancy dash...
yeah the 650 ED same as the 500EC (euro sport) also availble in custom form.
7-8k I know were mine is and when I have the funds it will be mine again, got about 30k on it and open replica mufflers that I had made up in Brissie buy the guy that built replica mufflers in chch back in the day, farked if I can remember his name.

**Grumph** · 19th November 2015, 18:52

Originally Posted by dangerous

the VF750 Saber had a fancy dash...
yeah the 650 ED same as the 500EC (euro sport) also availble in custom form.
7-8k I know were mine is and when I have the funds it will be mine again, got about 30k on it and open replica mufflers that I had made up in Brissie buy the guy that built replica mufflers in chch back in the day, farked if I can remember his name.

Dennis Foran ? He's back in ChCh.