Mickey Oates Motorcycles
Meeting the dealers who advertise with our publications is always a pleasure, as I know most of them also as friends. Our annual trip to the Scottish Six Days Trial is where we meet many friends old and new, and this was the case with Mickey Oates Motorcycles. I knew of the dealership based in Glasgow as they have a strong sporting heritage, with the business having been involved in sponsorship in the off-road world and especially in motocross. With a very strong connection with Honda it was announced in October 2013 that they would be taking on the Montesa trials franchise in order to make a move into the trials sector to expand their successful business. We made contact at the annual Dirt Bike Show in late 2013 where they introduced themselves and we sat and talked trials. I came away from meeting the two Ferguson brothers, Gordon and Graham, full of enthusiasm for their future plans with the Honda/Montesa association and with two new friends.
After the show we made contact again in early 2014, when they announced that they would be running the support for all Montesa riders at the Scottish Six Days Trial in association with the Spanish manufacturer. As enthusiastic as ever, they offered me the use of a Repsol Montesa as a press machine for the week, which I duly accepted. Wind the clock forward to 2017 and they are now well established in the trials world as a leading Montesa dealership. After some uncertain years at the ‘Scottish’ for Montesa they have now restored faith in the riders that they can provide an excellent support service, which was reflected in the fact that just over sixty of the four-stroke Cota 4RT machines were entered in the event. They also made a Cota 4Ride model available for me once again as a press machine!
EARLY DAYS
The business was originally established in 1961 at Cromwell Street in Glasgow by Mickey Oates, who owned and ran his dealership selling and mainly specialising in Vespa and Lambretta Scooters, as well as a wide selection of parts and accessories. Proudly titled Mickey Oates Motorcycles the business then moved to York Street, Glasgow as they started to expand.
In 1982, Mickey Oates decided that he wanted to retire and it was sold into the safe hands of another motorcycle trader Jim Ferguson, who had been working with Ross Motors — Motorcycles — in Glasgow. Jim knew the motorcycle trade inside out having formerly worked at another dealership, Bill Fleming Motors. Jim along with his three sons Gordon, Graham and Kenneth reopened the business, but they decided to keep the already established trading name of Mickey Oates Motorcycles. It made good business sense; why change a trading name that is already well established for a new, ‘virgin’ one? They opened the doors initially selling scooters and used road motorcycles, which proved a success, but to secure the future of the company they knew that they would have to become franchised dealers for manufacturers. Off-road franchises were secured for Kawasaki, Suzuki, Yamaha, Cagiva and Maico.
NEW PREMISES
In the ‘80s Glasgow started to be redeveloped, and Jim Ferguson sold the business premises in 1986 to property developers and relocated to their present address at 19 North Canalbank Street, still in Glasgow. With the new premises it opened the door for company to expand its opportunities, and in 1990 the Suzuki Road-machine franchise was taken on — a brand which they still have to this day.
Their sister Val started working in the family business in 1993, putting her knowledge to good use in the busy Parts Department.
In the off-road world they retain franchises for both Honda and Kawasaki, which they have maintained for over 30 years, selling thousands of motorcycles through the showroom doors to their customers in the process. Putting their money back into the sport has seen a host of riders receive sponsorship including riders such as: William Feeney; Billy MacKenzie; Mark Fulton; David Campbell; George Noble; Simon Graham; Ally Graham; Alastair Dick; Alastair Henderson Jnr; Dennis McGarrie; Roy Black Jnr; John Fleming; Kevin Carmichael; Iain Shankie; Graeme Naismith; Simon Downing; Tom Grant; Tony Whitelaw; Richard Devine; Tony Craig; Ross Rutherford; Neil Chatham; James Mowat — to name but a few.
VIVA MONTESA
The introduction of the Scottish Montesa dealer franchise was a new area of development for the brothers, but they both knew that with hard work and dedication and faith in the product they could make a success of the Spanish brand.
The easily accessible showroom now houses the full range of the Montesa Cota trials models, including the 4Ride which was made available to the Edinburgh and District Motor Club for the officials to use at the event. This offer was gratefully accepted and is an association which Mickey Oates Motorcycles hope can be further developed over the following years.
Along with the Montesa machinery a good stock of second-hand models is always carried, along with all the clothing and hard parts from the various brands and suppliers. Excellent workshop facilities are on site to have any up-grade or service work carried out to a very high standard.
MICKEY OATES MOTORCYCLES
GORDON: “We are a family business, and a small one at that, but we pride ourselves on the fact that we have been trading for more than 35 years, which in our opinion is a huge accolade in the current climate.
“What’s our success story based on, you may ask? We treat every customer like they are our first customer, giving them the respect they deserve, and they return year after year. We have sold motorcycles on occasion to three generations of the same family. We work hard at what we do, our shop is open six days a week from 8.30am ‘till 6pm, 7pm on a Thursday, and on a Sunday you will find us selling spares from our van at various Motocross meetings. When there are no events on we will be out riding our machines, road or off-road, with our friends and customers.
“We owe a lot to our Dad who started the business many years ago, himself competing in Trials and Motocross. Dad has been in the motorcycle trade for more than 50 years and there isn’t much he doesn’t know about a motorcycle even now at the ripe old age of 79. John also talks about our introduction to Montesa. We are now in our fourth year selling what is considered one of the best trials models available and we are very much enjoying it.
“At the beginning of January 2014, we were asked by Honda UK to attend the SSDT in Fort William offering a spares back-up for all the riders who had entered on a Montesa. We have returned year after year to this fantastic event where we have been privileged to meet some wonderful people.
“Grahame, Val and I would just like to say a big thanks to all the Montesa Team who help us out at the SSDT: Graham Foster-Vigors, Miguel Cirera, and Carlos Lacasa, and to the team mechanics Joan Marin, Jordi Riera and Arnau Rafat.
“If you are thinking of a new motorcycle, parts, clothing or accessories give us a call, send us an email or perhaps come and see us in Fort William at the SSDT.” We would like to acknowledge the help from John Moffat the ‘Trials Guru’ for his help with this article.