Chainstore deals, individual service

Wide choice and the kind of great deals we demand from a bike superstore, is one thing. Combining that with the sort of service and knowledgeable staff you expect from your local friendly bike shop is quite another. But it’s exactly that which Riverside Motorcycles, which opened in Northampton this week, is aiming to deliver.

” The tide is turning away from the major chain stores and towards the independent bike shop again, ” says Riverside boss Rob Zelazny. ” But to compete, independents like us need not only a wide range of bikes, but also parts, accessories and clothing. And, most importantly, staff that know what they’re talking about.

” Switched-on bike retailers have also learned that motorcyclists need other attractions to bring them to the shop, such as a café, big-screen TVs showing bike action and even video games. It has to be a meeting point. ”

Riverside’s airy and modern shop is the last of the former M&P Superstores to be sold off – this time to a management buy-out led by ex-M&P manager Zelazny and a team of investors.

Along with their current Yamaha and Suzuki franchises, the firm is close to a deal to take on Ducati and is aiming to specialise in road racing and supermoto.

But the good news for bargain hunters right now is that the firm also took on lots of ex-M&P stock – parts and clothing as well as bikes – and is offering fantastic deals as it clears the decks for 2002 ranges.

There are piles of BMW and Triumph-branded clothing at cost price, plus a whopping 30% off all the sexy riding kit from Dainese. And there are huge bargain bins filled with gorgeous carbon-fibre bits and other exotic bolt-ons from the Ducati Performance range of bolt-on bits.

l Riverside Motorcycles is at 2 Museum Way, Riverside Industrial Park, Northampton. Tel: 01604-417000 for parts and accessories, and 01604-417010 for bike sales.

Here’s some hot bargains at Riverside this week:

1. 2001 Ducati Monster Cromo 900 S4, down £1000 to £6995.

2. 2001 Ducati 996R, down from £17,000 to £15,950…or £15,500 if you mention MCN.

3. 50mm Termignoni carbon fibre exhausts with balance pipe to fit 916/996, down from £1000 to £400.