Destination Motorcycle is ready to fill a big two wheeled niche in Lismore. The new motorbike dealer is opening this Saturday, November 21, and is ready to sell, service and fix motorcycles.

Tony Williams, the shop’s sales and parts manager said the shop will specialise in Triumph and Kawasaki bikes – and he’s passionate about both brands, having owned six Kawasakis and seven Triumphs over the years.

“I ride a Triumph now and love it,” Tony said. “Triumph have a good resurrection story because the company got wiped out by the Japanese in the mid-70s and ceased to exist - but a clever English man resurrected the company.

“I used to work for Harley Davidson and we always kept our eye on Triumph and now they have passed Harley Davidson in sales. They are a reliable and value for money product.

“I also used to race Kawasakis - you can’t kill them with a stick.

Authorised dealership

Tony said the business was currently in the process of getting approval to be an authorised dealership for new Triumph and Kawasaki bikes and would be an upmarket modern dealership.

“We are preparing the showroom for it, and will sell adventure tourers to sports bikes,” he said. “Both brands have particular expectations for a showroom – Triumph demands we have tiled floor for the bikes because it is a high-end product.

“When we open this week, we will start by selling quality second hand motorcycles, apparel, and parts.”

Vintage and classic

In the store, there is currently an un-restored ex-RAAF despatch bike from the second world war.

“It’s from the African campaign, so it’s in desert colours,” Tony said. “The allied troupes were big on dispatches because radio was unreliable – that made dispatch riders highly regarded.

Workshop

Out the back of the showroom, there’s a service department with a modern workshop fitted out with new gear – from tyre machines to welding and grinding machinery.

There’s also a collection of second hand and classic bikes – including Harley Davidsons.

Tony said the shop’s owners Andrew and Vicki Lawson have a collection of vintage and classic motorbikes, so it was natural for them to open a motorbike business.

“They are the ones who enticed me to come here,” Tony said. “The shop is going to fill an important niche market in the area.

“It’s a rural area so there’s a big dirt bike community here as well as a big market for touring and off road riders here – we cover it all.”

Destination Motorcycle is opening in the same location as City Bikeworx - a previous motorbike business that closed down earlier this year.

It’s located next to Marques Automotive Repairs at 232 Union St, South Lismore.

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