Motorcycle shops in 70's Sheffield

[Lorisue]

I worked in the office upstairs but I was on the shop floor quite frequently as Mr. Roper's office was downstairs.

There was a spares department further up London Road too. 

I was 16 at that time and remember when they started selling the Bond Bug. 

 

 

 

[Crumpy76]

Handsworth Motorcycles was in Wilf Greens old shop on Abbeydale Rd. My dad took the shop on when Wilf left to take his new unit over at Halfway. When Handsworth motorcycles closed in the early 80's Jack Woods took the shop on.

[stephen peace]

On 21/12/2009 at 14:45, Beesa rider said:

Backtracking on this thread I note the comment about Charlie Freeman's Banner Cross shop. It was on the opposite side to The Banner Cross pub and if my memory serves me right had bikes in the window at street level and some stairs down to a lower floor - but I have no idea whether there were bikes down their or spares.

I think it was more about scooters/small Hondas etc and was open maybe 1965 - '67 ?

 

I purchased my first "proper bike" from Grays in 1968, a '64 C15 which cost me 99 Guineas. Riding it home I noticed a horrible noise coupled with poor acceleration when I gave it some throttle . This turned out to be the rear sprocket which had virtually no teeth allowing the chain to just spin round it.

Grays did replace the sprocket at no charge but fancy putting it out to a customer like that !

Yes everything in Grays was in Guineas my dad was constantly reminding me how much more than in pounds that was. Remember seeing a very early Yamaha YDS series in there without Autolube and every bike other than the Japanese models had a oil tray underneath.

[bullerboY]

gaz 786 What a clever fellow you are do you speak to him via a ouija board???

[bullerboY]

Gaz786 It takes one to know one  Phil Vincent Eh only thirty whats that about village idiots?.

 

[MICK BADGER]

Iin 1970/71 there was a bloke selling mainly 2 strokes on John street off london rd he then moved to west bardoes anybody remember his name

[gaz678]

On 19/01/2021 at 14:44, bullerboY said:

Hibbsy,George Pollard is buried 100yrds from my house,i went to his funeral as did quite a few racers Chris Vincent being one of them.Ive known Tony Dawson for years and also knew Terry Windle,if I remember right i think Jack Woods had Handsworth Motorcycles.

 

Phil Vincent-day great grandson stops at our house now and then when he's visiting sheffield 😀 

[MICK BADGER]

On 29/03/2024 at 01:11, MICK BADGER said:

Iin 1970/71 there was a bloke selling mainly 2 strokes on John street off london rd he then moved to west bardoes anybody remember his name

I found it Doug Peacock

[Top4719]

Not in Sheffield but Charlie Freemans in Eckington has to be one of the most famous bike shops.

[classicfan]

Bought my 1966 BSA Bantam KRB 725 D from Charlie in 1967, cost me £100.00. Passed my test on it, as did my brother and a load of mates. Traded it in for a 1961 Norton 99SS,  905 UPK that cost me  £145.00 in 1967. Had it until 1971 when I sold it to get married.  The bike doesn't seem to be around any more, but the wife is!