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Hi folks, I have one or two leads to follow up previous owners of my 1982 3 1/2 Sport, but I wonder if anyone can recall which dealers sold Morinis in the early eighties in the Glasgow area. My bike has a Glasgow 'GE' prefix but I don't recall who would have had the franchise for them back then. Lloyd Brothers in Hamilton perhaps, or does anyone know any different? Thanks, the Cap'n.

Better Bikes Ltd? They were def in Edinburgh but I'm sure they had a shop in Glasgow for a while?

Hi, the dealer in Glasgow in the 80s was Clyde motorcycle Centre, 335 Cathcart Road, Glasgow.
Gone by the 1988 when I tried to visit them whilst in Glasgow. Perhaps still in business at another location?
Hope of some interest, take care, Ian.

Thanks guys, I've had a friend tell me that the shop was likely Better Bikes in Cathcart Road, so I think that you're both correct there, cheers. I understand the building is still there, it's now a Spar grocery shop set back off the road. That will explain why there is a ramp leading up to the shop as well as the parking area out front. It would seem my 3 1/2 has returned to its home from home in that case, as I live on the Southside. Or should that be Sou'side, Glesga boays?

Do tell if you find anywhere else locally that has experience of Morini's.
NLM may be a font of all MM knowledge but it's over 350 miles away so difficult to visit casually.

Captain B? Merchant navy by any chance?

Both Better Bikes and the smaller Clyde Motorcycle Centre dealt with Morinis, the latter if I recall more "with more enthusiasm" I seem to think the owner helped set up the branch of the club as it were in Glasgow, but to what extent I'm not entirely sure as it was a long time ago.

So many West of Scotland replies! I thought I was alone ,well I was at Kelso bmf Rally last year. I own the red strada in Inverclyde pleased to hear you are out there!

Alone??

We are a reclusive bunch but you don't have to go far in the UK to stumble across Morini owners (I just wish we were all Riders a bit more often!

You may be interested to see the MRC member map on the website. It shows the approximate location of all our current paid up members (UK only currently and postcodes shortened for data protection). I find it really interesting to see the spread of membership, and was surprised to see how many members i never knew were close to me.

I'm hoping the map will act as a catalyst for people to go to local meetings or to set up new sections. Of course we can't distribute people's details without their consent but if you want to meet with members local to you please get in touch with myself or the membership sec and we will try to 'broker' contact.

The map is at the bottom of our membership page:

http://www.morini-riders-club.com/theclub/MRC.html

Tom
MRC webmeastro

Hi chaps, great to get so many replies! Seems there are a good few Morinis tucked away in the west of Scotland, maybe if we had more of a proper summer we'd see more of them. Perhaps this year! Maybe we should arrange a day in the summer, what do you think? Thanks for the information of Better Bikes and also Clyde Motorcycle Centre. I was led to believe that Better Bikes site was at round the 355 Cathcart Road area, which is now a Spar grocery shop. I think they'd gone by the time I was looking for an Italian bike, but I remember them still having a shop in Edinburgh in the mid 90's. Sad there doesn't seem to be anyone still specialising in working on them but that's the trouble with old Italian bikes when you live up here. I've had Guzzis for the last 17 years so it's a similar story.

Broadbandylegs wrote:Captain B? Merchant navy by any chance?

- sorry no, just an old nickname once and the only nom de plume I could think of for website. My greatest seafaring adventure was a trip on the Waverley...

I'll also be posting this under "events"

The MRC will be having a stand at the Scottish M/C show this coming March - if any of you fancy showing your bike over the weekend of 10 / 11th March 2012 then please send me a PM; ideally I'd like a 350 and 500 plus a single. I'm bringing the Club boards and some regalia northwards, and I'd rather not have to transport a bike as well!

Hope to hear from some of you - we can sort out a meeting later in the Spring at the stand. Oh, and the ones showing bikes get in for free!

Good riding,

CC

Hi.i bought my moto morini in dec 1982 from clyde motorcycles in butterbiggins rd...it was run by a father & son...the son having been given the push from bill fleming motors in springburn....i found out why after he carried out my 500mile [service].....

Hi.i bought my moto morini in dec 1982 from clyde motorcycles in butterbiggins rd...it was run by a father & son...the son having been given the push from bill fleming motors in springburn....i found out why after he carried out my 500mile [service].....

That's really interesting to hear, as I found an old magazine where Clyde Motorcycle Centre was listed as Morini dealer for the area. And from the PM you sent me, we are talking about the same bike. It's travelled around the north of the country, crossing the border in the process, but is now back on home ground. I've taken it to visit the Jimmy Guthrie run in the Borders, Italian day at Hopetoun House and a great run up the west coast for a camping weekend in June last year. An ignition problem reared it's head of late, but should be back on road in time for Classic TT this August.

Great to hear "my" morini is still going strong....im in scotstoun so its making its way back home ...peter