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Trying to remember all the Motorcycle shops around Nottingham in the 1960's. I remember ogling the futuristic looking Ariel Arrow in the showroom of Breffit's on Nuthall Road.

There was Andy Bone and Blacknell's on Arkwright Street. Can anyone remind me of the others?

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Philmayfield. I've got a photo of Campion's shop on Wheeler gate,the window is full of pushbikes and there's a early Campion motor bike outside. Google Campions Wheeler Gate Nottingham.

#46. I remember Bob's Spares. I once went there for someone and bought a bronze cylinder head for a 500cc Excelsior Manxman. Cost was five pounds, in late 1950s. The chap (Stu Slater, lived on Minver

As a 16 year old I had a bsa 650. I managed to seize it up due to stupidity, lack of knowledge and oil and I swapped it for a Norton es2 and 30 quid (my way) from one of the designers at Raleigh. At o

Last time I was down Alfreton Road I was surprised to see Gagg and sons still trading.

Way back in the 1980s, I used to buy spares from them for my 1970s Triumph american Bonniville , that I brought from the American PX in Berlin. A fantastic bike...................

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My old mums next door neighbour was a salesman at Kingstons,his name was Ken, my dad was a builder and did a heap of work for them when they moved into the "new" premises on canal street.

Always remember as I used to go and help him then and we had to cut doorways in 2' (two feet) thick walls, all done with a hammer and chisel ! no power tools then !

In later years got a couple of my bikes from them as Ken used to do me specials. He also gave me my first real sheepskin flying jacket, not a copy, the real mccoy as he was ex RAF flight crew from the war.

I cherished that jacket but the leather cracked up and gradually fell apart.

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Needham's it was. Others that come to mind are Rex Robinson, t'other side of Carlton Hill, who sold Puch mopeds as well as bicycles; there was another motorbike shop on the city side, on the left before you got to TMS. Was it Clarkes'?

And this thread would not be complete without mention Dennis Rogers and his bike breakers yard at the top of Carlton Hill; Lowater Street Motors IIRC, where you could get anything for just about anything.

Fox's on Woodborough Road, or perhaps it was Mapperley Top, were Kawasaki dealers; Extons in Bulwell I think still exist but I stand to be corrected there, it's many years since I passed that way.

Mention of Gaggs' reminds me of an occasion when I was in there buying some silencers for my old Honda 250. The old man was alive then, and a rather posh customer came to the counter to collect some bits for a 1920's Levis which he'd rung up about. On being told the price, he quibbled about it; whereupon "Old Man" Gagg took the parts back behind the counter and effectively told him where to go! He was a great old boy and a fount of knowledge but you did not argue with him.

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There was Kings around where the Nottingham Post is now. TMS on Carlton rd i think it is still there. Dawsons in Netherfield.

Must be some more.

TMS are still there, bought a 3TA Triumph from there in Nov 68 for £79 !
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dawsons been gon a while now motorist discount shop gaggs sadly gone too this year tms still there but by appointment only doors kept locked you carnt just walk in and look round now like you could

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There is a mention of Needhams. James (Jim) Needham ran this. The shop was started by his dad and they did well as it was next to John Players so bikes would be left in the morning. Jim had been a metorologist but joined his dad at the shop. Aftrer retiring from boxing David joined the shop but in later years with his drinking problems drifted away. Jim still has the shop which is now on Wollaton Road opposite the end of Triumph Road. I knew both David and Jim well and used to go out occaisionally with them. Gaggs are still trading sort of and have sold all their spares and moved to an industrial unit in Netherfield where they service Smiths speedo's from all over the world. As to the bikes in TMS goodness knows how long they have been there. One was a Norton Commando and the other a unique prototype Triumph which is a single cylinder machine. Don't forget Extons at Bulwell that has been there since the sixties albeit changing location when much of old Bulwell was re developed.

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Jimmy Needham was known as Noddy when he was a member of the Aces motorcycle club, he had a Ducati/Honda cafe racer at one time.

Dave was breathalysed after leaving the White Hart one night, it was thought that his manager, who will be nameless, grassed him up. The motive being that a crash would finish his career. The subsequent ban had consequences much later on. He was caught again in the late 80's, this time he was jailed. Dave was the nicest person you could wish to meet, even when he'd had a drink.

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There was also Clark's Industries at the Carlton Road end of Handel Street.

I think before that they were at the bottom of Alfred St Central, junction with St Anna Well Rd.

They were more in to cycles & only Raleigh Mopeds, not many M/Bikes.

My brother bought a Raliegh racing cycle from there, about 1966 !

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They were more in to cycles & only Raleigh Mopeds, not many M/Bikes.

They did sell larger bikes but ISTR only second-hand, at least in the late 70's/early 80's when I was regularly round that area. Pal of mine in Oxford owns a Puch VZ50 which originated from Clarke's, still has the dealer sticker on it. In later years, they either closed or sub-let the showroom facing onto Carlton Road and traded from another place round the back; I can't remember if it was in fact part of the original building or a different premises.

late 70s or early 80s, there was Twistgrip motorcycles bottom end of Alfreton Road near the old players factory.

Did they not move to (or from) Hyson Green? Whilst we're on the subject of bike shops in that particular area, Nottingham Custom Cycles was somewhere round there weren't they? Not strictly speaking a motorbike shop but very well respected on the custom and chopper scene.

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Twistgrip M/cs was ran by a bloke across the road from where I used to live in Carlton, he ran it with his son, mainly Kawazaki dealer I think.

Had a Fox thingy along the side of his big van. I bought a dirt bike from him once. Right miserable barsteward he was, always moaning about my kids playing in front of his house, or anything else that he decided was wrong in his eyes.

I used to park my work van top of my drive on the road, and he even complained about that ! said he couldn't get his big van in and out of his drive when I was parked there.

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Ralph Holmes had two shops, one on Radford Road which was demolished to make way for the new police station along with the old Valve Shop which was also demolished.

They were Raleigh moped dealers & Raleigh cycle delers as well. For the life of me I can't remember where the second shop was situated.

A cousin of mine bought a moped from there about 1966, reg number GAU 82 D, funny how some things stick in your mind.

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Hmmm.. Right here goes, As I came from Gedling and owned bikes from the mid 70s onwards, There were a number of shops I remember... Dawsons in Netherfield, Rex Robbo on Carlton Hill ( for my Puch Grand Prix ), a few doors up from that for a time was 'Crosslands' who later moved down to the shops facing Carlton precinct, Lowater St motors of course, many hours spent searching the yard for that ilusive spare part. the owner Dennis Rogers used to have a three wheel Morgan car, going down into town was TMS and Clarkes the Honda dealer.

Roy Wharton had a shop on Radford Road ( I knew his son John ) and he specialised in Scooters, not really motorbikes. further up Radford Road was Joselyns ( Suzuki Dealer ) with went on to be Granby Motors.

There was a little seconhand bike shop on the small street near the main Post office on Huntingdon St... I remember them having a 'Malaguti Monte' 50cc moped in there... I could'nt afford it at the time.

The big Yamaha/Honda place at Daybrook Square was always a good place to browse, as was Colin Gregory's ( Suzuki )at Thackerays Lane, and later upstairs at the big garage at daybrook ( now Kwik Fit).

Ahhhh... those were the days....

I rembember Bunneys on Wilford Lane and E Kingston just around the corner

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Hmmm.. Right here goes, As I came from Gedling and owned bikes from the mid 70s onwards, There were a number of shops I remember... Dawsons in Netherfield, Rex Robbo on Carlton Hill ( for my Puch Grand Prix ), a few doors up from that for a time was 'Crosslands' who later moved down to the shops facing Carlton precinct, Lowater St motors of course, many hours spent searching the yard for that ilusive spare part. the owner Dennis Rogers used to have a three wheel Morgan car, going down into town was TMS and Clarkes the Honda dealer.

Roy Wharton had a shop on Radford Road ( I knew his son John ) and he specialised in Scooters, not really motorbikes. further up Radford Road was Joselyns ( Suzuki Dealer ) with went on to be Granby Motors.

There was a little seconhand bike shop on the small street near the main Post office on Huntingdon St... I remember them having a 'Malaguti Monte' 50cc moped in there... I could'nt afford it at the time.

The big Yamaha/Honda place at Daybrook Square was always a good place to browse, as was Colin Gregory's ( Suzuki )at Thackerays Lane, and later upstairs at the big garage at daybrook ( now Kwik Fit).

Ahhhh... those were the days....

I rembember Bunneys on Wilford Lane and E Kingston just around the corner

Our paths may have crossed then; you'll no doubt remember the biker nights at Gedling Miners Welfare? And later, of course, the Grey Goose.

Crosslands eventually took over Dawsons' shop, as well as having the shop on the precinct. I've no doubt many will remember my old mate "Bollocky" Bill Smith who worked there. Nice guy, if a little mixed up.

I knew Dennis Rodgers a bit as well. He kept that Morgan going till shortly before his death, I think his son still has it.

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