I always enjoy revisiting memories with old photos, and when it has motorcycles in it, it’s even better! This tatty old picture took me back to 1992 quicker than riding a Yamaha FZR1000 with seized brakes.
This was taken outside my very first workshop in Romford. The space itself was snug, so by day the bikes sat outside on my unofficial forecourt, which was actually a parking space. I have to admit the terms of my tenancy were severely flouted, with the storage of anything flammable being the most obvious rule I bent.
This selection were the complete bikes we had for sale. Considering the Romford Breakers trade name, I can see how people were a bit confused and suspicious about parting with a few grand for shiny motorcycle from an Essex breakers yard. Although our prices normally solved things, as we stacked them high and sold them cheap.
It looks like I’d subconsciously ranked the motorcycles in price order, with the Kawasaki ZXR750H1 being the most expensive that day. Oddly enough, the pink Yamaha LC with the Pro Am fairing came across my path again later – twice! I bought it back and then sold it on to Rescogs contributor Tall Tom. Meanwhile the candy blue Yamaha LC was sold to Tony Greenslade who now owns Gibson exhausts. He had the bike just a few days before crashing it! But it was OK though – I had plenty of LCs breaking at the time for replacement parts.
Just out of shot at the end is a British bike of some description, but I’ve got no idea why. What I do remember is how much things have changed since business relied on an advert in MCN. About the only thing that remains is that we all still like a good deal!
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