Oldest bike shop in Dublin..still going

Zebbedee

dubal2008 wrote: »

And nobody has thought of LME up in Windy Arbour, Dundrum, Liam helped me out so many times as a young lad. Even loaning me bikes when mine was off the road...He had a great Seca 750 at the time

Liam is still there.

Pythagorean

I am old enough to remember City Spares in Handkerchief Alley, the bikes they had in for breaking would be restored as classics today. M and B motorcycles, Prices Place, Ranelagh, run by the late Eamonn Waldron, was a regular stop for me in the 70s, later morphed into the Kawasaki Centre, I think.
Another long gone bike shop was Hanans on Stephens Green, near the Green cinema. I used to go in there in the 60s and admire the gleaming BSA bantams, and Tiger cubs. Another place I recall was Aidan O'Keefe on Parkgate St.

UrbanFret

Nodster wrote: »

Was the name Elliott's M/cycles - think they imported Moto Guzzi

I went with a mate to collect a brand new RG125 back in the day. was it elliotts? the names not really ringing a bell but you could well be right.Thanks

Max Headroom

Am i wrong or was there another bike shop nearly opposite Jack Nolans in the Coombe...??

vektarman

Max Headroom wrote: »

Am i wrong or was there another bike shop nearly opposite Jack Nolans in the Coombe...??

I don't remember one. Plenty of bikes parked across the road from Jack Nolans back in the day though as we were always told to park on the path opposite Jack Nolans.

Max Headroom

vektarman wrote: »

I don't remember one. Plenty of bikes parked across the road from Jack Nolans back in the day though as we were always told to park on the path opposite Jack Nolans.

..yeah i remember that...the number 50 bus was responsible for a few broken mirrors...

rock22

Does anyone remember a motorcycle shop in Pearse St. Near railway bridge on the TCD(North) side of the street? Talking about late 60's early 70's although it might have survived after that.

WestWicklow1

Pythagorean wrote: »

I am old enough to remember City Spares in Handkerchief Alley, the bikes they had in for breaking would be restored as classics today. M and B motorcycles, Prices Place, Ranelagh, run by the late Eamonn Waldron, was a regular stop for me in the 70s, later morphed into the Kawasaki Centre, I think.

I bought all my Triumph parts from Eamonn and Gerry in Ranelagh. Lately I bought a new RE Himalayan from Gerry's son in Bikeworld!!

Pythagorean wrote: »

Another long gone bike shop was Hanans on Stephens Green, near the Green cinema. I used to go in there in the 60s and admire the gleaming BSA bantams, and Tiger cubs.

I was about to post and ask what the name of that place on the Green was

I bought a new Honda SS125 there in the late 60s on the never, never and it never got fully paid

Edit: Was it Hanans or Hanas or Hannas?

Max Headroom

rock22 wrote: »

Does anyone remember a motorcycle shop in Pearse St. Near railway bridge on the TCD(North) side of the street? Talking about late 60's early 70's although it might have survived after that.

Vague memories on that...remember walking past it..but it could as easily have been Mc'Hugh's in Talbot St... ...on in Blackrock that i just cant remember much about...anyone,,.??

KT10

Just to add to the list of shops no longer around, the Italian Shop run by John Elliot. An old school mechanic who helped me out more times than I dare try to count. I was not long after starting out on bikes, and he dealt with all of my stupid questions or poor attempts at self-maintenance with a quick quip, usually spoken around a cigar he's just lit off a butane torch.

A true gentleman who sadly passed away a few years ago.

Pythagorean

Edit: Was it Hanans or Hanas or Hannas?[/QUOTE]

Pretty sure it was Hanans ; Fred Hanna was a bookseller

H_Lime

The New Gem was always a cool place to visit for me as a newb. They always had something "exotic", got my first aprilia off em. They had an eccentric but good mech (Dessie iirc?) who showed me his rc30 and explained some facts of life relating to bikes and engines.

Max Headroom

H_Lime wrote: »

The New Gem was always a cool place to visit for me as a newb. They always had something "exotic", got my first aprilia off em. They had an eccentric but good mech (Dessie iirc?) who showed me his rc30 and explained some facts of life relating to bikes and engines.

I know The Gem was around in the 50's..did they sell m/bikes then or just bicycles...??

H_Lime

Max Headroom wrote: »

I know The Gem was around in the 50's..did they sell m/bikes then or just bicycles...??

Im in my forties so couldn't tell ya Max. Was is the gem was christened the new gem when it moved? This was all over 20 yrs ago and I have trouble remembering last week:pac:

Max Headroom

H_Lime wrote: »

Im in my forties so couldn't tell ya Max. Was is the gem was christened the new gem when it moved? This was all over 20 yrs ago and I have trouble remembering last week:pac:

There long before me too...Think it was renamed in the 80's .....but it was still on Chelmsford road...till they moved down the road to Donnybrook..
Funny it was never a shop i liked....

spiggotpaddy

Remember the one at the end of the malahide rd in fairview, Peter Stuart's shop, can't recall what it was called. And the one across from M/joy motorcycles Dave Fitzsimmons shop, top notch mechanic, can't remember what that was called either.

Max Headroom

Two wheels was across from MJ..there was another around the corner tho..can't remember the name...

Nodster

Max Headroom wrote: »

There long before me too...Think it was renamed in the 80's .....but it was still on Chelmsford road...till they moved down the road to Donnybrook..
Funny it was never a shop i liked....

I know my sister bought a Honda C50 in 1973 from the Gem, back then I think the Fagans owned it, they sold it on to the Ruttle brothers (one who ran the Kawasaki Centre before it was taken over by Megabikes). Not sure if they renamed it The New Gem?

Two Wheels on Blessington Street was run by the Galbraith brothers, I think they went on to take over the Honda M/cycles imports in Honda M50

Pythagorean

H_Lime wrote: »

The New Gem was always a cool place to visit for me as a newb. They always had something "exotic", got my first aprilia off em. They had an eccentric but good mech (Dessie iirc?) who showed me his rc30 and explained some facts of life relating to bikes and engines.

Likely was Dessie Shiels, (RIP), founder of the Japanese Classics Owners Club Ireland, subsequently merged with the IVVMCC.

Hotblack Desiato

KT10 wrote: »

Just to add to the list of shops no longer around, the Italian Shop run by John Elliot. An old school mechanic who helped me out more times than I dare try to count. I was not long after starting out on bikes, and he dealt with all of my stupid questions or poor attempts at self-maintenance with a quick quip, usually spoken around a cigar he's just lit off a butane torch.

A true gentleman who sadly passed away a few years ago.

The Italian Centre. Ah jaysus, didn't know that. Only had work done by him once about 15 years ago but a very nice guy.

Hotblack Desiato

Nodster wrote: »

I know my sister bought a Honda C50 in 1973 from the Gem, back then I think the Fagans owned it, they sold it on to the Ruttle brothers (one who ran the Kawasaki Centre before it was taken over by Megabikes). Not sure if they renamed it The New Gem?

Yeah he did, anyone else have... interesting... dealings back in the day with the owner of TNG? I've stood in things with more personality

Tarmac_Diva

K.Flyer wrote: »

Well done, I was only short of dropping into M&A during the week to work out which way around it was.

M&A were at the top of the lane where the old DMG was alright,
It was owned by two brothers
Michael and Alan Meaney, their father had the small bike shop across on the opposite side of the junction.

Down the lane beside the shop was GP motorcycles.

KT10

Hotblack Desiato wrote: »

The Italian Centre. Ah jaysus, didn't know that. Only had work done by him once about 15 years ago but a very nice guy.

Yes, the Italian Centre, can't believe I got that wrong!

H_Lime

Pythagorean wrote: »

Likely was Dessie Shiels, (RIP), founder of the Japanese Classics Owners Club Ireland, subsequently merged with the IVVMCC.

Seemed a nice fella, took time to redirect me on my creative servicing techniques:pac: Think he had a yammy bulldog in later yrs, remember chatting to him on some Wicklow spins.

Hotblack Desiato

Maybe we should have a "Stupid things I did to (or on) my bike when I didn't know any better" thread

H_Lime

Tightening the chain on the loose spot was an early fave:pac::eek:

gramp

The MB Motorcycles shop was either where the NCBI charity shop is now or next door to it. I bought two bikes there, including a new GT 500 Suzuki in August 1977. MB (Gerry Stephens and Eamonn Waldron, who died a long time ago) also had a bike shop in Prices Place Ranelagh and I bought two Triumph bikes from them there.

They later opened a big shop off Whitefriar St. During the boom in the nineties they got an offer they couldn't refuse and finance Bikeworld with some of the proceeds. Alas, Eamonn was dead quite a while at that stage.

gramp

That is, the MB shop on Crumlin Road.

Hotblack Desiato

The place off Whitefriar St. was K.D.I. - Kawasaki Distributors Ireland - they used to have a sectioned Z1300 (inline six) engine and transmission on display... bought my first Dainese leathers in there in '99 or '00 not long before they moved to Bikeworld.

burtner

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118407297#Comment_118407297

That was run by Arthur Stephens and the young lad Paul Clifford !

Esel

Anyone remember Eamon Waldron and Vinnie Farrell racing Z1s in the '70s?

hamburgham

And Charlie’s in Ballybough?

01Surveyor

Some memories from the 70s

MnB in prices Lane Ranelagh run by Gerry Stephens and Eamon Waldron (RIP) a gentleman. Eamon had a Vincent Black Shadow and his wife/partner rode a 500c vincent as far as I can remember.

The Gem Chelmsford Road run by Brendan Fagan, Brendan was more interested in rallying cars than he was in Motorbikes

Bob Sheeran, who was Chas Mortimer's mechanic, had his workshop in a lane off sandford road opposite T.Humphreys, he later moved to Rathgar and was the best 2 stroke mechanic in ireland IMO

DMG the Five Lamps run by Derek McGuire, another gentleman

John Elliot (Italian Centre) ended his years running a workshop in Phibsborough just off the NCR/Rathdown road

????? Capel St/Bolton St Ducati Agent - not much interested in selling anything in my day though I have a 100cc Ducati Cadet (2 stroke)bought there.

Bohemiam Motors _ I think this was Mountjoy Mororcycles workshop(?) and was located in phibsborough in the lane behind McDonalds

Speedwell Motorcycles located in a Lane of Mounjoy St was run by Ivor Shire and Simon Fraser-Casey who rode a 750/4 with great gusto until he hit a morris minor in Raheny poor guy never really recovered.

Francis st. Spares - great spot.

Reg Armstrong pearse street/Ringend Road the source of all things Honda

Mountjoy Motorcycles - the university of mtorcycling!

DanFay run by Danny Keany and located in Stephen St (I think?) source of all things yamaha

Priory Motorcycles NCR (near croker) -source of all things Suzuki

Louis Carter Mount Street Crescent the cleanest workshop in ireland

I'll leave it at that for now.

Hotblack Desiato

The Suzuki distributor place on NCR was called Priory by my time (mid 90s), they were great for saying they had a part in stock and then not having it when you got there. Knocked down a few years ago.

01Surveyor

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121101154#Comment_121101154

I think youre right it was Priory not Capital, I never knew anyone who bought anything there?

goblin59

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121102629#Comment_121102629

Priory are still around, up in Cabra.

Took a month to get a part from them,

Pat Dunne

Huet Bros 7-8 Batchelor’s Walk, BSA importers, closed in 1974.

Lindsay Motorcycles 25-27 Great Ship St, closed in 1985.

Esel

Bohemiam Motors was run by 'Ginger' O'Beirne. I think Mountjoy used them before they set up their own workshop.

Aidan O'Keefe in Parkgate St - a small old-fashioned shop.

dubdamo

There was Ace motorcycles , around the corner from Mountjoy Motors, Denis was the name of the mechanic there, top bloke, mostly did servicing but sold the odd hack as well.

listermint

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121106184#Comment_121106184

Finglas.

Cienciano

I was at Paul Ryan's shop in the JFK ind est recently. Not the oldest but a guy who was in the trade for a long time. Would definitely recommend if anyone is in the area btw

Marki

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121146608#Comment_121146608

Remember him riding around on a Maico motocross bike with a Bros 400 engine fitted!

Marki

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121195519#Comment_121195519

He served his time in KDI along with Ger Byrne

Marki

Memory is a bit foggy but from what I remember - and correct me if I'm wrong -

Go Far-Skyway couriers got GS125's and GN250's from Jack Nolans. Then Speedway got GN125's some time after.

Gerry and Arthur Stephens (M&B) Crumlin rd had a falling out and Gerry opened the Kawasaki Center, later setting up KDI with Eamon Waldron.

Graham and Stuart Ruttle (twins) took over the Kawasaki shop and The Gem, calling them the 'New' shops.

Stateside in Harolds Cross was Mick Doherty and Pete. Mick went on to open the Harley shop at the Mountjoy triangle. Pete went to work for KDI with Mick Gillan.

Tony Bannon took over Stateside and called it Capital Motorcycles, where Ciaran Hayes cut his cloth before moving into Wexford st (Mega Bikes). Stephan runs Scotts Bikes there now. Tony got into bed with Honda then moved to Sundrive rd (Capital Honda). Kileen Motorcycles was also on Sundrive rd. Sundrive Motorcycles was there before them up the lane, fixed all the courier bikes. Tony and Honda had a falling out and Tony moved to a workshop in Rathgar, now Moto Pitstop.

Damien and Hugh ran City Spares on Francis st beside their da's antique shop, Peter that worked there at the time was some character LOL. At the end of Francis st somewhere around Newmarket, there was Alpha Spares?

Steve Whelan used to fix bikes down the lane behind Motorcycle City.

John Elliot was The Italian Center on Dorset st, his son Steve works in Cotters now. Another shop on Dorset st was Celtic Motorcycles.

There is more to add but that's all for now

Hotblack Desiato

Janey mac that's a trip down memory lane!

Mountjoy was amazing, you could get anything. A very sad day when it closed. My first bike was so crap I'd be in there practically every Saturday morning looking for some bit or other 😁

They only let me down the once. There were two types of clutch cable for a CBR600 and they sold me the wrong one. It snapped on a Friday evening just as I was leaving work. The following morning I rode in there clutchless, rode home, rode back in again but this time I brought a couple of spanners with me so I could fit the feckin' thing on the side of the road outside 😉

It's not a bad skill to develop though. Slow down well in advance so the hope is that the light will turn green before you get there 😁

mikemac2

My favourite bike shop in Dublin who did me much good service was a tiny shop named GP Motorcycles on Amiens Street. They had a lease of a part of Connolly Station and I do believe it was the old entrance up to the platforms but Irish Rail in their wisdom closed that area so passengers must take a loooooonger walk to get there. Why Irish Rail? Just cause I guess

Two lads in the shop and they were sound as could be. Serviced my piece of junk Peugeot Vivacity 50cc that had never ending issues and serviced my 125cc Honda Varadero. I bought new a 100cc Honda Lead scooter from them. They are long gone and I was quite sad to see them go.

I bought my 50cc Peugeot scooter from Planet Fun on Ballyogen Road (near Broombridge rail station). A quite dodgy shower, I never even received my proof of ownership from Shannon. Cowboys they were but long since gone from that area.

Hotblack Desiato

I do find it a bit funny that a scooter was called Lead, maybe Mr Honda was thinking 'out in front' rather than 'heavy and slow'

Cienciano

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121252154#Comment_121252154

Sean from there was with Joe Duffy for a few years but recently retired. A gent. Dave has a place in Finglas, across from Aldi on St Margaret's road called DB motos. Very good to deal with, I'd recommend if you're in the area.

Breezin

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121117114#Comment_121117114

I remember Ginger well. Lovely, decent guy. Straightened my forks for me after I crashed my GSX 250 (into a Waterford Crystal van!).

euroserf

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121203857#Comment_121203857

Paul also ran " The Honda 50 Centre" on North Circular Road, he took it over from Jim Casey who had set it up back in the 1970's.