SCOOPERMAN!
The sunny side of the classic world, with the VJMC’S Steve Cooper
The ongoing Covid-19 situation has certainly royally screwed around with everyone’s plans as countless shows and events have been cancelled.
That we are living through strange times and in strained circumstances is a given, but at least we are now allowed to ride our bikes – kind of.
Through the grimmest days of
March and April social media was alight with debates as to whether we were even being responsible by using our bikes for ‘essential travel’. Protecting the NHS was the pivotal point, but hopefully we are over the worst. At its simplest level motorcycle riding is a singularly insular pursuit and if all we can manage is a solo ride out and back home then at least that’s something to feel positive about.
One thing lockdown has catalysed is the fettling, overhauling, repairing and renovation of old classics. Industry contacts report a really substantial increase in sales of parts and enquiries for repair services. If you need something chrome plated or painted, good luck because the lead times are phenomenal. The amount of engine rebuilds being offloaded at two metres to already overloaded specialists has gone through the roof and it’s not just your normal service items that are in demand by ‘Fred in the Shed’ either. One dealer reports he’s sold more rattle cans of chassis paint from late March to early June than he’s sold in his entire trading history!
Spares parts are an essential to our hobby and this column has been searching for a key component for an ongoing project. Sadly, with nothing viable in Blighty it’s been to America that the search has turned via ebay and there’s something fishy going on. I know this because the smell of its rotting corpse has made it to this side of the pond! Shipping to the UK isn’t cheap these days admittedly, but how can the same part from two sellers differ so much please? One vendor quotes a slightly disconcerting $34.99 to Blighty, yet the other is asking a frankly noxious and nauseous $65.99 for the same item and the same service. Now add in HMRC’S daylight robbery and the comedic UK ‘handling fee’ and there’s a sizeable wedge gone in the blink of an eye. Is someone possibly profiteering as demand increases? Many have written off 2020 and if we get out to shows and events by the end of the year it will be a bonus. Whatever happens stay safe, ride safe, keep positive and, if all else fails, go into the shed and pick up a spanner.