Philip Youles Motorcycles

 Wow its April since I last updated the Blogg things have just been frantic round here the workshop has been flat out with both pre delivery inspections and retail work. A big thanks to all the lads in Blackburn and Manchester for keeping up those high standards and working so hard. The bad weather earlier in the year created a back log of servicing we seem to have just about held our head above water and kept it to a maximum two week lead time which although not as short as we would like is just about acceptable. Makes sense for anyone who can ,to take advantage of any winter servicing offers that will start November and run till the end of January.

Well big news in Manchester as our current site is obviously only a temporary site we have now exchanged contracts on our new site further up the road. This is to be a purpose built flagship Triumph store of the magnitude that both Triumph and a city the size of Manchester would expect . In the design process we have set the global standard for the Triumph new builds and are very excited about the concept. I will keep you up to speed on the progress of the build and the grand opening early in 2011. We will be recruiting several positions nearer the time so its worth making contact if you are intrested in being involved.

Visited the the Nabbs Head vintage classic bike show in May this is a well attended local show and brings back so many memories all those bikes we broke in the early days. Talking of which have Frank has got all enthusistic about  restoring an ETS250 MZ that I have had languishing around at the back of the shed for some time. Now I never actually sold that model new we started with the very first ETZ 250 they were available in both drum and disc brake options disc brake if I remember rightly was £999 in ninteen eighty nine. Have to say they were actually very reliable cheap transport in fact I went to the factory in the GDR and back just after the Berlin wall fell down.

Riding the new Sprint GT just emphasises how bikes have developed now a trip to the former GDR on that would be a dodle. Those panniers would take everything you could possibly need. Am very impressed by where the bike sits and how its functionality has been enhanced with this makeover.

Thats all for now ride safetly and enjoy the sun

Cheers Philip

Thought its about time I updated the old blogg well theres been loads happening been on a family holliday during which I read Allan Wheelans BREW HA HA . Seems funny reading about yourself sort of surreal. Thinking I dont say things like ”Itl be reight” then hearing yourself saying it moments latter. But what a good book really well written and one of those that I couldnt put down. All about his journey from Lancashire to the Southern Cape of Africa and the amazing people he met. Well done Allan I hope it sells well and at £7.99 available on Amazon and in W H Smiths it should be reight.

As the Manchester show was cancelled due to the snow the re schedualed date was now over the easter weekend. Peter and the team did a stirling job paticularly as the Triumph Trailer had been pre booked for the BSB. This makes the job even harder but judjing by the leads generated and the general reaction the event was a rip roaring success.

Had the big ride out my mate Mick videoed the start and I will be posting that on the webb site soon. Have counted  142 setting off all enjoying the glorious weather. Certainly the hot pot went down well for all those who retuned to the shop. We ordered 100 portions expecting that to be more than sufficient but I think we let down about four people to whom I am sorry. But all in all it wasnt a bad bit of mass catering and good to see so many regular faces.

This weekend coming thats Sunday the 25th is the ride safe back safe event on central car park Blackpool hoping this good weather holds and another event should be under way. I am an avid supoter of the Ride Safe back safe thing and advocate reponsible riding within the law. This is the first time we have attended this event and am keen to see how they get the message accross. Doing many miles on all sorts of bike every year I am a firm believer that observation is the key to staying alive. This is obviously difficult to train and police. Where as speeding noisy cans and reg plates that fall outside the letter of the law are easy targets.  Unfortunatly when being stopped for speeding and I was in Mrs Youlses car ( you can imagine the stick ) years of accident free motoring were’nt taken into consideration. 

Anyway please come along enjoy and above all be safe.

Wendy and Andrew have decided to close Pass Time the motorcycle training facility that they operate to the rear of our Blackburn showrooms. Speaking to them I think they have missed the work / life balance and decided they need a change. They rented the enclosed yard from Philip Youles and had the use of our toilets and facilities. Obviously we are looking for a new tennant and think this could be a great opportunity for someone I received three test enquiries on Saturday alone. Anyone intrested in this please either call into Pendle St. or give us a call.
 
The snows now gone and I hope not going to return till next year, lovely though it was most years there are only one or max two weeks when using a bike as daily transport is out of the question. But this year it was nearer eight. However ther seems to have been a big uplift in activity now  that we are experiencing normal February weather. Its good to see so many bikes out and about with the very first signs of spring.
 
Just been to the Triumph spring conference where Triumphs plans for the next season were unveiled, Special edition Bonneville Speed Triple and Thruxton are all due soon. As soon as the secrecy embargo has been lifted on new models then I will tell you what they are, all I can say at this stage is that they don’t take anything away from the current range. All will be launched in new segments of the market and represent a big growth in the Triumph range..

the-team.jpgthe-team.jpg Hi all avid blogg readers and any that may be reading for the first time ,well happy new year and all that . Lets hope 2010 brings some good biking with plenty of hot lazy days .the smell of summer is just around the corner.  On a more immediate note :the Manchester bike show has been cancelled!  We had planned to attend the Manchester bike show held at Manchester central exhibition centre or  GMEX as was.as the show has been cancelled we have decided to have our own show at both the Manchester and Blackburn branches. Subject to no more pesky drops of snow then we should have a Rocket Roadster and the new Street Triple R in black on display at the Manchester showroom. We have also secured a large quantity of clothing at some megga prices they really have to be seen to be believed. These will be available at both branches over the weekend 9th and 10th January ( manchester branch is only open on the saturday).on top of that every customer that makes a purchase will be given a 10% discount voucher , this can be used against anything in either store except motorcycles until 28/02/2010.   David Eckersall has just joined the Blackburn sales team and we wish him a long and happy career within what must be one of the most enjoyable industries to work. Dave is a motorcyclist and holds the same strong customer focussed values as the rest of the team. He has been surprised by just how friendly our customers are and the lengths everyone goes to to keep the business running smoothly.   Well its Jan the 5th and there’s been a good 5 ” of snow so we thought a team picture might be in order. Its usually impossible to do as different people have different days off and there’s nearly always someone in the shop. Even Rob is missing off this one as the phone was ringing and a big thanks to one of the ATS lads who quickly nipped round to take a piccy. Sorry about the snow balls over the fence afterwards. Picture of the Blackburn team attached.  Peter Jon and Adam opened Manchester and some sales were made. So a big thanks to all who made that extra effort paticularly Julie who walked from Gt Harwood.   Now I am sure 2010 is going to be great for Triumph having inside knowledge makes me so confident that this year is going to be one of there best. The brand is just going from strength to strength and with the current model range there seems to be no stopping us. So as soon as the snow has gone and the days start to peak out lets get riding.

Well where has the year gone it cant be twelve months since that little fat man came down the chimney, surely not. As is tradition the motorcycle trade gets a little quieter during the month of December giving us time to do a little house keeping. To be honest a well earned break becons and I must say we are all ready for it. However the years not over till its over and we are busy preparing for next season. On the weekend of January the 9th and 10th we will be exhibiting at the GMEX ( Manchester Central as it is now called ). We will have the Triumph exhibition trailer a good range of bikes, including hopefully some specials to be confirmed. The clothing department will also have some real bargins leather jackets, fabrics and merchandise.  More imediatly we are in the process of errecting a bike shed structure at the rear of the Pendle St showroom of the type you had a snifty fag behind or the first taste of the opposite sex. 

Most manufacturers will be showing price increases in the new year and some of the Japaneese look very heavy . Although Triumph and Piaggio are indicating small increases even with the additional VAT rise. They are going to look extremely competative next season. This can only help and allow us to grow our market share even further. We have invoiced a lot of bikes in December to fix the vat and current price obviously time is running out and anyone who is poised to do a deal would be wise to make it sooner rather than later. 

You may have noticed some subtle chages to the website. We have tried to represent both branches equally and given the scooters a separate site. On this we have information on first owning a scooter and riding one. Hopefully by setting up a separate site we can encourage each segment and give it the attention required. Owning a scooter id often the first forray that customers have into two wheels and the more we can encourage this the better. Maybe at sixteen it seems a long way from an NRG50 to a Rocket Three but mark my words it comes round soon enough.

Thats all for 2009 wish everyone the best for 2010 and lets get some riding in EH !

The new clothing is now arriving and the Steve McQueen jacket looks stunning. Cant believe its the first of November today the weather towards the end of October has been fantastic its funny really as I always recon to get more ridding in during the winter, probably have more time. Think getting wrapped up and feeling snug on the bike is more apealling than sweating like a pig in the summer. Those of you who have read our vacancies section at the moment will be aware that we have several vacancies. At Blackburn we require a an administrator and sales person and at Manchester an after sales person based on the service desk. Andrew has left our sales team in Blackburn as he has been offered a place on the 2012 Olympic BMX team and we wish him all the best with that.The other positions are being created as a result of expansion. Selecting new staff is probabaly the hardest part of my job we have some really good people. Looking to complement them whilst possibly bringing some new ideas to the table is extremely difficult especially as ther are often so many applicants. If you know any one who may be intrested then please get them to contact either myself or one of the team and we will forward a full job description and application form.

Next week I will be going to the Millan show with Triumph this is one hell of a show and well worth a visit it really does make the NEC look like a car boot sale. All the major manufacturers attend and Triumph usually have an impressive stand there. Obviously the Italian scooter manufacturers are well represented with the Piaggio group having huge stands. Its intresting seeing the diverse model ranges paticularly the machines that dont make it to our shores.

I know Anna is working on some factory tour dates for next year anyone interested please contact us and we will keep your details on file.

Thats all for now

Philip Youles

How busy. Well we just seem to have been bombed out I suppose a lot of its been with the weather being so good ! Suddenly thought I haven’t done that blogg for a bit so thought I should catch up. Don’t know if anyone remembers but we helped a dead on guy, by the name of Allan Wheelan last year. He decided to do the true long way down on his Tiger. All the way from Blackburn Lancashire to Cape Town South  Africa. The journey was in aid of the African Brew HA HA a business venture in aid of  street children in Capetown . One of Allan’s objectives was to write a book, which on his safe return he has now completed. To both our delight I received a telephone call the other day to say that he has now received a publishing deal. The book will be in the shops from early next year. Having read Allan’s Blogg I am sure the book will be a good read and have already suggested that we have a book signing at the dealership sometime earlier next year.

Just been to the factory to view the spring clothing collection and was very impressed some of the winter lines that we viewed earlier in the year are now starting to arrive.

Mick and myself went down on Triumph’s and were glad we had the M6 was chocker on the way back. I used a Tiger been a while since I’ve done a longish journey on the Tiger but it just reinforced what a good bike they are, effortless spring to mind.

 Gosh blogg time just seems to fly by theres so much happening the first few Thunderbirds have now been delivered to there new owners who all seem made up with them . Manchester store are selling a steady stream of new Triumphs and the initial teething problems are ironing themselves out . The last week or so the showroom traffic has reduced probably due to the holliday season but thats given us a bit of time to look at other things hence the blogg. Warren is organising a trip to the Bonneville 5oth anniversary celebrations now that should be a good bash anyone whoes interested contact either us or Warren and we will link you up. Just about to take delivery of some Osset trials bikes what on earth are they I hear you ask. Well having two young children and always looking at new technologies etc I was recomended these by a good freind of mine who has a couple of shops in London. Basically they are an electric childs trials bike the advantages being they are extremely quiet and light so they can be ridden without the normal complaints from neighbours etc. Even in a moderate bach garden in a built up area. They can be use by four year olds and upwards infact my mate George had a couple in Hyde park and the wardens didnt know what to make of them. Im not condoning these antics just demonstrating there social acceptance. Being electric you dont need to start them believe me theres nothing worse than your kid dissapearing off into the distance then tipling off the bike, not being able to start it then all you here are cries of DAAAD DAAAD . The technology intrests me and they will come weather you like it or not. The electric TT was quite amasingto watch and I have heard rumors of an electric Vespa.  I will keep you up to speed on this and maybe even post a short film of my kids testing them out.

The Triumph clothing sale has got off to an amazing start some of the stuff is just so cheap. We have managed to replenish some stocks so worth a phone call or visist for anyone intrested. Hopefully some good weather on its way for the back end but hey I do more miles in winter than summer love those cold dry days where you can wrap up warm and it wont be long now.

At LASTWe’ve been that busy over the last couple of weeks that I clean forgot about updating the blog – tut tut. The big event was our launch night for The Thunderbird held at the Blackburn showroom. It was just mega! The weather was kind and the place was packed. I recon there must have been neon five hundred people there and what an atmosphere. The look on people’s faces when Firechild started doing her dance, leather clad and angle grinder – yes for anyone who wasn’t there AN ANGLE GRNDER – stuck firmly in her crotch. Sparks everywhere – health and safety stick that in your pipe and smoke it. Just gets harder and harder to think of how to surpass the last launch or event although I am sure by the time the next one comes along we will have thought of something. If anyone has any decent pictures then please forward them, in the excitement and nervous energy required in putting on an event like that I clean omitted to take any. Just email them to philip@youlesmotorcycles.comFollowing on from our launch night I attended the Triumph Dealer ride away in Derbyshire. This is how we collect our demos. It’s a good idea as it brings the whole network together and enables you to be the first to ride the bike. What a bike! I am a fan of anything with two wheels on it – in fact I quite like my unicycle as well – but that might be a bit too much even for me if it had an engine on it! But the Thunderbird rides so well at low speed, the gearbox is like silk, Triumph have certainly spent their time well developing this bike. It just feels right. We have already sold three and the demos are out almost constantly. We have a Thunderbird in both Manchester and Blackburn which brings me onto another point. Staff – we just haven’t got enough, so I thought I might as well put it on the Blogg. We will soon be advertising for a full time sales person to join Rob, Royce and Andrew at Blackburn. We are also looking for someone to help at weekends with clothing and accessories – this is just on Saturday and Sunday to help with busy periods. In Manchester we are looking to recruit an after sales person to help with the whole workshop administration, processing of parts orders and warranty procedures. Staff are absolutely key to our business and we have a very low rate of staff turn, however we won’t get to the next level if we don’t recruit the right people now and train them for the future. Possibly when we get everyone sorted Ill have a little more time for Blogging. If you know anyone who might like to work for us – let them know.

Went for my annual fix of TT mayhem last week took the Supercharged Rocket. Three of us stopped in the Chesterhouse Hotel right on the front in Douglas perfectly located for a bit of liquid refreshment of an evening and a nice sea view in the morning. Left Heysham early Sunday had Mondays racing followed by a quick blast to Ramsey Tuesday and an even quicker run down the sprint in the afternoon. The Rocket put in a respectable time of 7.34 seconds with a terminal speed of 113 mph over the 1/8 mile. Then Wednesday we rose to a beautiful day thinking the race cant possibly be posponed we all dug down in a spot that cant be accessed when the roads are closed . Sure enough as soon as the roads were closed the sky turned grey and it started hail stoneing so big does and little does we missed the ferry. Dont think Louise really believed me however the Steam Ppacket were more than accomodating and returned us safetly on the 11.59 boat. The next big thing is the launch of the Thunderbird at Blackburn something like Thunderbirds are go springs to mind. Please come it will be a cracking night I have secured a fantastic act to help launch the bike and have to say I cant wait.