Sandiford Offroad
It seems like only a few months ago that we visited Martin Sandiford and his new shop premises, but in reality it’s three whole years ago. With the enthusiasm from Martin and the support in the workshop from Geoff Brandwood the business has grown at a steady rate, with a good regular supply of customers old and new. Taking the next step to larger premises was a natural progression of going forward to meet customer demand, and they made the decision to expand during autumn 2016.
MARTIN SANDIFORD: “Since we first opened the doors of our present location just over three years ago we have built up a very good customer base, situated not just locally but throughout the UK. The idea to expand came after both Geoff and I talked about which direction to take the growing business in. The idea is to make it very much a ‘one-stop shop’ where the competition rider knows that when he visits he can talk about his chosen off-road discipline from people who know about the sport. With a good wide choice of products on display and in stock they can visit us with their machine for Geoff to carry out any upgrades or maintenance on, knowing it’s in a good pair of off-road hands. They can talk with me concerning all the latest kit and upgrade parts as I am actually out competing most weekends.
“I have ridden most off-road sports disciplines over the years, including British championship motocross in my younger days and enduros in more recent times. I cannot race as much as I want to now, as I have a commitment to my young family, and in truth I have picked up various injuries over the years which have taken their toll on my body. It’s the usual knees, elbows and various other body parts which have been abused over the years and I now find myself holding the handlebars of a trials machine most weekends as time permits. I believe that touching base with trials riders whilst sat in a queue at a hazard is the best way to find out what the customers’ requirements are. They will soon tell you what’s good and what’s not, which is important to know when you are stocking products!”
“We focus our energy on four major brands of motorcycle which are Beta, Gas Gas, Scorpa and TRS for both enduro and trials. We have worked with the Beta and Gas Gas importers for many years, as they both offer excellent parts and mechanical support and they are currently the best-selling models in the UK. The decision to take on both Scorpa and TRS was made to give the public a wider choice of models and it seems to be working very well. With Geoff having a very wide spectrum of off-road mechanical knowledge we can also offer a workshop facility to the other brands as we take most models in part-exchange against new ones. Riding kit and parts wise we carry a very good stock of the best of what’s available. If it’s not in stock we can usually supply parts, accessories and clothing within 24 hours.”
GEOFF BRANDWOOD: “Off-road motorcycling is in my blood, as anyone who knows me will tell you. My father Bill worked at the old Jim Sandiford Motorcycles in Bury for many years before he retired. If you mention his name to any of the top riders during their Montesa days in the seventies and eighties they will remember him as a superb, dedicated motorcycle mechanic who specialised in the Spanish Montesa brand. It’s quite funny that we still get asked if he still works with us! We do still call on him for his many mechanical talents when needed for the old twin-shock machines. As I am sure you are aware, we have a massive background of knowledge on the two-stroke Montesa 315 and the four-stroke Cota 4RT models from when the Sandiford family were the original importers.
“In my opinion the Cota 315 models were the best trials machines ever built in the modern era as they are so bullet proof. Results wise you only have to have a look at its success story at all the trials events, including the world championship and the Scottish Six Days Trial. I am a time-served Jaguar mechanic, and when Martin tells me he has taken a Cota 315 as a trade-in I am more than happy to service it and bring it up to scratch. I have vast experience of both two- and four-stroke engines in all off-road areas, so if you need any workshop work please be aware that we offer this service to all customers. Upgrade parts can also be purchased in the shop and left in the workshop with your machine to be fitted.”
MARTIN SANDIFORD: “Going forward into 2017 offers its new challenges but we pride ourselves on a complete offroad service. We are based very close to the busy motorway system around Greater Manchester, making for easy access for all our customers. The sport is evolving all the time, which we have embraced with a stock of electric machines for getting the rider into the sport right through to the modern range of machines available. Remember if it’s a chat with a pure off-road motorcycling enthusiast you want before you purchase your next set of riding kit, accessories or machines please give me a call.”