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Brill. I'd forgotten about the finance garentor arrangements of the day. Oak is my choice of brake pad, asbestos free but the splinters are an issue. 😅

In this story, the kid appears foolish. You say he was spoiled, but I think this is just a way of saying you didn't like him. I think he didn't like you, because you were a salesman (how quickly people forget what salesmen were like in those days) and didn't want to be seen as inexperienced among all the adults there. He wanted to be like a man, and as he was young, I'd give him a pass on this occasion. Obviously, parents have problems with their kids and they don't always get on, and they argue. But that's not uncommon. Weren't you the same.

Thanks for sharing, nowt as queer as folk.

Your T140 there, when on centre stand is the rear wheel in air so you can spin it .

Nice tale mate,.

Another good tale. The issue is, at 16, myself included, only ridden cycles. With little or no knowledge of the mechanical side of things, admittedly no excuse, it’s not too difficult for what becomes abuse of the machine to occur, sadly. I remember completing the RAC/ACU training course & the tutor did classroom work covering things like basic servicing, along with rider training. It was really useful, although at that point, I had been riding approx 18 months.

Great story the boy was definitely a fool to try do something with the bike during warranty period if I was his step father I would washed my hands of him if he didn’t after that perhaps that’s why he never came in the shop again you don’t need them sort of customers do you carry on the good work interesting listening take care and happy new year

Brilliant, it must have been like something from the flintstones. 🤣🤣🤣

Incredibly insightful comments

Nice work. Thank you

An interesting chat. I have to admit many of them hadn’t even heard of!😱. Certainly Quadraphinia is the only one I’ve seen at the cinema,(Majestic in Mexborough, if my memory is correct). Will probably have a look for the book on The Bike Rider, sounds a good read. Have a good Xmas.

Id like to add the cost of second hand bikes being sold by dealerships. A car after ten to fifteen years is worth a fraction of its retail price where bikes are being advertised at about 75% of its original cost.

In the UK there is a mentality issue towards bikes and bikers which has led us to this point regarding sales. Bikes are seen as death machines essentially and I think this started with the reputation of the Ton up boys. The UK uses less motorbikes in city centres than most European countries who have embraced small capacity bikes and scooters as efficient commuters. People in the UK would rather spend their morning commute sat in traffic in the warmth of their car with a haze of brain fog and a coffee over getting their mind active in the morning and embracing the invigorating cold. Moreover you only have one practical test in a car and the manoeuvres are easier to perform, slow speed on a bike requires a lot more discipline. I think we as a nation should embrace bikes more as commuters, I think that the process of learning to drive should include having to do a CBT. There is also a certain element regarding the industry waiting with bated breath to see what happens with the electric segment.

Hey that looks almost exactly like 'Little Switzerland'. Grrreat roads. Miles of Smiles....

Great stories👍

Cracking stories👍 I love them.

I was thinking I don't remember two Chinese chaps 😂 I'm amazed that jacket is still with us. Mine had the pattered material on one shoulder

Great stories I LOVE these stories I hope you’ve got plenty more good or bad great stuff have a great Christmas

A couple of great stories. Carnell, now, that’s going back a few years. If you were at the store when they owned it, you will have seen a few owner changes! Would be interesting to hear your take on what it was like to work under them. Talking of discounts, as an insider, do you have any advice to give when attempting to negotiate one? Or in today’s economic climate is it virtually not happening? Be interesting to hear your view/opinion as you have recently purchased new from a local dealer.

I imagine this was Carnells or J&S cant be Cusworths as there wasnt really a car park as far as I can remember unless its the one over the road

I couldn’t agree with you more. I’ve driven cars and ridden a bike for 50 years . Even now I still run both together but I’m finding it increasingly difficult to do so . The cost before was manageable but now we’re hit from all sides by stealth charging and costs and unfortunately one or even both will have to go in the near future. Motorcycling keeps me alert and youthful and gives me an inner strength, I don’t want to loose that but I fear its inevitable.🥲

A great story. Exactly the reason dealing with the public is not a good idea. Would love to hear more, especially as Donny is my local store, so will be great to hear some tales from the trade.

An interesting tale. As they say: a bad workman blames his tools... Having worked in retail it doesn't surprise me. I'm sure you have lots more tales. Wonder if he ever caught his mate up...

Probably thought the power band had snapped.

Stupid is as stupid does 😆 - great story and when the penny drops - 😆

I remember my younger days riding my old Honda CD 200 to work every day, one day after days of rain the water in Ullswater was way up onto the road, to cut a long story short, it was night time in winter and I never spotted the water which looked just like the road until I hit it, the water came right up to the bottom of the tank; Luckily the engine had stopped by the time it was fully under, so I took out the plugs and hit the starter button, cleaned out the air filter and cylinders, put the plugs back in a up she fired agin and I was on my merry way again, just imagine doing that today on a modern bike, LOL.

Great tale, motorbike stories that are authentic, if that muppet had kept his rg500 maybe he did it would be worth in excess of £20k today, one on auto trader at this moment for crazy money.

I remember some of the customers at Doncaster, made me realise that I like all sorts of bikes but not all the bikers. Keep up the yarns Mark, very amusing.

I took delivery of my new blue and white RG 500 from White Bros in Darlington in 86, where a few years later I worked as a bike tech until they closed in 2010, it was a hand full at first and needed coaxing to get the best out of it, she drank fuel like a seasoned alcoholic no problem at all, about a hundred miles to the tank. She failed in the gearbox avenue and cracked the rear shock mount on the swing arm, one could be outridden by a good rider on the newer RGV 250. I parted way with her for the more sensible GPZ 750 which was a much better ride and better on fuel, I made some savings thereafter.

A story well told and I enjoyed it greatly. Keep them coming 👍

Great story I,m looking forward to some more..I remember here in Ireland in late 1960,s....Husband coming home from the pub drunk on his Honda 90 to discover the wife had locked him out and wouldn,t open the door,he started the bike took a run at the door.The locks on the door held firm but the door frame gave way.the husband the bike,the door and frame ended up on the kitchen floor.The wife stepped across the carnage and went home to her mother, but she came back when the door was fixed..They both lived into their 80,s

Morning perhaps his mate should of told him well your not as good a rider as me before starting all this trouble and explained to him there’s nothing wrong with the bike would of saved the trouble he’d caused but to get irate like that is stupid you need to be calm and sociable like you salesman are although hits hard for salesman to keep there cool I would imagine sometimes yes make these videos for interest to hear what you salesman have gone through in your life take care

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Relative affordability & theft.

Only 10 years left till new internal combustion bikes are gone remember, slow decline is inevitable as dealers and manufacturers disengage from the UK, the Chinese bikes will probably be the last to go as 2035 approaches

Great video. People will spend a few thousand on a leisure / lifestyle purchase but as the cost soars above £10k-£15k that's a really hard decision to take home to your partner! For the youngsters, there's super accessible subscription finance to have a brand new car, something beyond dreams when I was younger. If they've got a job they can get a brand new car for £149 a month or less

Amazing!

In the last four years the number of Harley Davidson dealerships in the mainland UK has gone from 30 down to 19 but the number of Harley Davidson bikes registered every year has remained constant at around 52 000. Weird?

Excellent, thoughtful video 👍

THE BIGGEST PROBLEM IS THE GOVERMENT !!! THEY DON'T WANT US THEY ONLY WANT CARS !!

Its demographics in a nutshell. Baby boomers drove the economy up. In the 70s and 80s, we had money, and bikes were affordable. I started on L plates on a 250cc bike. Then came the 125cc restrictions. By then, I'd passed my test and moved onto a 650cc bike. But inevitably, i needed a car, and that was that. Today, im heading towards retirement and bikes. Although i still love them, i wouldn't want one with all the problems we have in society. So baby boomers are now driving the economy down. I think a lot of baby boomers who get to 70 might even decide, since they have had a diet of petrol and diesel-powered vehicles, will give up on their licences and not have a car. I certainly dont want an EV .. ever. Youngsters at work, think us older guys are nuts hearing stories of us riding in the rain, and worse the snow on a motorcycle. They are happy with their expensive (high financed) german diesel car and wouldn't even consider a motorcycle as the means to get the license and insurance is crippling!

At last somebody talking sense about what’s going on. So many comments on other channels claiming bikes are so expensive. Simple fact is, in real terms, they’ve never been cheaper. There just isn’t the interest there once was and youngsters have very high costs in getting their licence

I dont care about the industry and i dont care about societys views on it. I will find a way to ride regardless of the BS of the real world. The fun of motorcycling is lone wolf. You cant take that away until we are all dead.

An excellent overview of the past and current state of the market. I've been on motorcycles since the mid 1960s so saw the steady decline you describe. I wasn't able to go to the NEC this year but went last year and was surprised at the range and quality of the Chinese bikes on show and at prices that yer average bloke could afford. It'll be interesting to see what effect, these well speced and affordable Chinese machines will have along side the already established Indian brands. I'm sure it can only be good for motorcycling in general and hopefully attract a younger audience.

at least you have a show, here in the states? they've stopped them, used to be at the jacob javits center in NYC, but its been gone for a few years now probably due to Covid? and never restarted it. But yes, i remember going to the show and it was getting smaller and smaller.

Theres no crisis. Some commentators on here state that motorcycles have become too expensive with prices if £15K to £20K and only the wealthy can afford a motorcycle. If a motorcycle to someone means minimum of 100 bhp and electronic gagetry, fine. Dealerships and manufacturers arnt in the driving seat here, we are, the consumer. I passec my motorcycle test in 1978 on a Honda cb125. Very reliable and economical with a top whack of 68 mph, after 4 months i bought a Honda cb500T, it had top whack of about 98 mph. i thought it was great, to a 17 year old it was. Fast foreward to today im loking at returning to motorcycling. For around £4.5K i can get pre reg, honda, cb300r, honda cl500, ktm 390 duke or rc390, triumph speed 400, bmw 310, BSA gold star 650, royal enfield 650 twin. All restricted to i believe 47 bhp. Most of these bike will top 100 mph. For those complaining about depreciation especially the beezer, id say get the bike of your choice, and keep it for minimum of 5 years. Why do i see bikes with 500 mile or less for sale and the owner bellyaching about depreciation. You did it to yourseves.

Absolutely bang on Sir👍

A sensible, articulate and grounded narrative that encompasses the decline in the motorcycle industry. I think the future is the Chinese market for quality affordable machines. You’ve got a new subscriber 👍

Chinese bikes may well look the part from 5 feet away, and stay that way for a few months, but, look closer and you see the reasons for the low purchase price, then take another look after a few rounds of rain and road grime, that shine has now worn off. The argument against those facts is not there as yet, maybe time will change this, but i don't think so. Price can only be driven down by cheap labour or cheap materials...and sometimes both.

Some great points there - I would add that in my opinion the crazy licensing laws that we have to go through just to ride in the first place must be putting youngsters and new riders off. I started in the late 80’s early 90’s when they just introduced the two part test and thought that was onerous enough! I can only imagine what a palaver it is these days - you really have to want to ride desperately to go through all that! You’re right that manufacturers have to make motorcycling almost irresistible as a lifestyle choice to raise its profile again and maybe appeal to those who hadn’t even considered it before. I’ll admit all those biker movies we grew up with helped - Quadrophenia, Easy Rider and On Any Sunday did it for me!