NEW PLANS WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS???? by MB (Serious Outdoors Ltd) on Sunday, November 11, 2012 at 9:47am · Ok we're well into winter, the rallies have finished and it's a long long drag into the new year. Times are still hard, but we're surviving and most dealers tell us the same. When the new Big Bore Clubmans, RT 195 and 225 cylinder kits and flywheels turn up in the new year these on their own should put us back to where we need to be with cash flow. We have enough pre orders to tell what turn over will be and it will allow us to expand our new product range of which there are lots of new parts at our finger tips! Some of the new products have already turned up, others are at design stages and others are in manufacturing, for me all this is very exciting and I'm sure there will be parts interesting for most Lambretta and Vespa rider. In the mean time we're wanting some feed back, I touched on selling off the Outdoor Biking gear, we're well on with that, but this will take time. We have to sell this off to move into our next ideas to use up the space in the shop. For those who's visited or have seen photos we have a cracking well planned out shop, stores and building. It was something I designed if the shop failed then we had a back up plan, you should always have a back up plan and here it is;
I had a visit from Cic Cicutti early on in the year, in his words to mend a few bridges which we did, in conversation I offered our shop as a permanent housing for the LCGB Scooter collection. This is not as simple as it sounds, committees, money, logistics etc etc. I'm not into cloak and dagger leg lifting in secret so it's no secret from my point of view that I have this idea. The offer was discussed and we bashed a few ideas around. Me and Ian will be writing to the LCGB for the AGM coming up and make a proposal.
The proposal will be on these lines
1) Offer our shop as a permanent base for the LCGB bike collection (what that is I don't know) but it could be a start, as Imagine private owners would like to also contribute to a vintage / custom scooter collection
2) Offer our land and ample parking as a centrally based site for open days/parts fairs
That's the basics, from our point of view we have so many positives.
If this idea falls flat on it's face then I'm open to ideas if private people would like to supply their own bikes from individual collections to do the same thing. Where our space can be used to show off your own projects, custom, vintage or classic, part rebuilds or bikes just for sale.
I've been asked many times if I will run an open workshop or do one to one engineering days with people who just want that little bit more to help and show people how it's really done, other than reading books and asking forums advice. We think this will go ahead any way. If we don't build a Scooter collection the space is already designed to do a small stage where I can permanently set up a workshop that people can stand or sit around and listen to me dribbling on about what I do. This could be never ending, we could only cope with a small amount of people say 10 - 15 to keep it a personal affair. I've already done a video workshop and talk in the 90's for the LCGB 50th anniversary where I talked over a video to 300 seated guests on how to assemble and check a crankshaft so I'm sure I can cope with this idea.
These are the basics
What we can talk about is unlimited, if I do one talk to one bunch of people I'm sure the same talk can be expanded a week later to another set of people. With been in business for 20+ years we know all the silly questions constantly asked so it would be quiet simple to compile a list of workshop talks
Let us know.................
I had a visit from Cic Cicutti early on in the year, in his words to mend a few bridges which we did, in conversation I offered our shop as a permanent housing for the LCGB Scooter collection. This is not as simple as it sounds, committees, money, logistics etc etc. I'm not into cloak and dagger leg lifting in secret so it's no secret from my point of view that I have this idea. The offer was discussed and we bashed a few ideas around. Me and Ian will be writing to the LCGB for the AGM coming up and make a proposal.
The proposal will be on these lines
1) Offer our shop as a permanent base for the LCGB bike collection (what that is I don't know) but it could be a start, as Imagine private owners would like to also contribute to a vintage / custom scooter collection
2) Offer our land and ample parking as a centrally based site for open days/parts fairs
That's the basics, from our point of view we have so many positives.
- Our shop is centrally based
- Our location has many Scooter shops to visit on route
- We have loads of Scooter clubs within a 20 mile radius who put do's on
- The AGM has been here for many years
- It's easy to get to off a motorway system
- There's no hassle with parking we have loads of room
- The shop is big enough
- We have enough toilets
- We have undercover areas for bad weather
- There is a pub 2 miles away in the country which is a camp site as well, only one road away from us
- There is a Pub and great Western hotel only 1 mile away
- There are 2 petrol stations within 1 mile
- Obviously we have a full parts department
- If need be we have a perfect workshop for on the spot repairs
- House the Scooter collection, allow a constant turnover of classic, vintage and custom Scooters to come and go
- Keep doors open 6 days a week and on special occasions open on Sundays
- Allow any number of open day type events
- Run a parts fair with indoor and out door areas
- Run open workshops, talks, discussions
- Invite special guests to stand and tell there stories or talk on a specialist subject
- Run off road trails or gymkhana
If this idea falls flat on it's face then I'm open to ideas if private people would like to supply their own bikes from individual collections to do the same thing. Where our space can be used to show off your own projects, custom, vintage or classic, part rebuilds or bikes just for sale.
I've been asked many times if I will run an open workshop or do one to one engineering days with people who just want that little bit more to help and show people how it's really done, other than reading books and asking forums advice. We think this will go ahead any way. If we don't build a Scooter collection the space is already designed to do a small stage where I can permanently set up a workshop that people can stand or sit around and listen to me dribbling on about what I do. This could be never ending, we could only cope with a small amount of people say 10 - 15 to keep it a personal affair. I've already done a video workshop and talk in the 90's for the LCGB 50th anniversary where I talked over a video to 300 seated guests on how to assemble and check a crankshaft so I'm sure I can cope with this idea.
These are the basics
- 10 - 15 people with pre booked tickets
- £10 per hour per person
- Arrive at 2 pm on a Saturday for a 3pm start to end around 6pm
- Do a session every 3 - 4 weeks
- Offer it to Clubs as well as individuals
- We can offer tea, coffee, biscuits, sweets, beer throughout the session
- Do the open workshop/talk/lesson for say 2 - 3 hours, with banter and discussions
- Video it for U tube for other to see
- We all go for a meal at the pub and carry on socialising or go home as you like
What we can talk about is unlimited, if I do one talk to one bunch of people I'm sure the same talk can be expanded a week later to another set of people. With been in business for 20+ years we know all the silly questions constantly asked so it would be quiet simple to compile a list of workshop talks
- Fork over hauls
- Hub rebuilds
- Setting up port timings
- Setting up ignition timings
- Assembly of gears
- Assembly of the clutch
- Checking chain alignment
- Fitting bearings and seals
- Fitting a crank
- Open to suggestions etc etc
- is it a good idea?
- Is it worth doing?
- Could these ideas be part of an open day or parts fair with say 30minute varying talks throughout the day
- Is there other combined ideas?
- What do you want to learn about?
Let us know.................