BILLY'S MOTORCYCLES IN PULBOROUGH
Published on 1st June 2024
After a long, miserable winter, motorcyclists are dusting down their leathers and hitting the roads again. This is good news for Billy’s Motorcycles, a locally-owned, independent business in Pulborough.
Ashley Brunt, who co-owns the business with Charlie Sheppard, said: ‘It has been tough, as many riders only venture out when the sun is shining. Recent months have seen the closure of a well-established dealership in Chichester, while another motorcycle shop in Horsham has moved premises. We’ve survived, but have learned a thing or two about business in these past six months which hopefully will hold us in good stead in years to come.’
‘Over the course of one sunny weekend, the phone started ringing again and riders began turning up for a service. We’ve been established for four years now and our workshop is a very important part of the business. Riders need to trust the mechanics working on their bike and we have vast experience when it comes to repairs. That trust impacts sales too, as customers know that our bikes will be safe and reliable.
RIDE ON TIME
Billy’s Motorcycles was founded in November 2019 by childhood friends Charlie and Ash. Having both moved to Billingshurst, they were soon indulging in their passion by buying used bikes, repairing them and selling them on. With his dad having raced in a national series, Ash grew up around bikes and inherited his interest, working as a mechanic at Fins Motorcycles in Redhill. Charlie’s career prior to Billy’s has been more IT-focused and his talent for sales complements Ash’s engineering skill.
Charlie said: ‘We initially ran a workshop from a shed in Ash’s garden and began trading bikes for a bit of fun. Every bike we bought was sold on quickly, as we had very little space, and it wasn’t long before people asked us about servicing too, as there’s nothing Ash can’t fix. So, we discussed the idea of finding a premises to run the business and called ourselves Billy’s Motorcycles, as we both live in the village.’
‘This area has some well-known biker spots, such as Ryka’s Café in Boxhill and Whiteways at Bury Hill, yet there were very few places offering bike sales, repairs and MOTs. We felt there was an opportunity to base ourselves in the south of the Horsham District, between Boxhill and Bury Hill. We found a unit on an industrial estate and although it was a risk for us financially, it was one was worth taking.’
The business took off, thanks partly to support from Facebook groups such as Sussex Motorbike Riders, Bury Hill Bikers and Horsham Motorcycle Group, which helped spread word of the new venture. Billy’s also utilises social media to sell its bikes and makes videos to advertise them through outlets such as Auto Trader. They sell used motorcycles of every shape and size, including 125cc bikes (ideal for those who have passed a CBT or are at the start of their riding journey), sports bikes, scramblers, adventure bikes, tourers, roadsters and customised cruisers such as Harley Davidsons, as well as a selection of Viper helmets and clothing. As the stock has increased alongside demand for servicing, Billy’s has expanded, taking on an adjacent unit to create extra space for its workshop and showroom.
Charlie said: ‘When we started out, we had very little space. There was one ramp for servicing, with the rest of the space devoted to sales. When a second unit came up on the industrial estate, we were keen to take it on and offer MOTs too. The problem was that there was another business in-between our unit and the one available!
Fortunately, the other business kindly offered to move into the free space and that gave us two adjacent units. Our landlord was supportive, building us a new roof and knocking through a wall so that we could easily move between the workshop and showroom. This helped transform the business and we now have three ramps in a spacious workshop, offering all aspects of servicing, with three accredited MOT testers and an apprentice well on his way to becoming a good mechanical engineer.’
SAFETY FIRST
The youngest member of the team is 19-year-old Angus Acton. His love of motorcycling also stems from a young age, as Angus would help his dad fix his bike. Angus had a Mini Moto bike of his own, although his mum sensibly put a stop to all that after he crashed it. He later pursued his interest by taking a motorcycle maintenance course at Chichester College, although he discovered he learned more by working at Billy’s.
With safety being so important, the workshop team hosts free bike maintenance courses for customers too. Lorne Wright, an experienced mechanic, said: ‘Every few months, we offer basic training to groups of about 20 people, passing on information and advice. We teach the basic checks, such as gauging tyre pressures, checking brake pads and how to ensure a chain is working properly. All things most people take for granted. Many people who pass their motorcycle test don’t know the first thing about looking after a bike, as they’re not mechanics. So, we give them a fun day and they ride away with knowledge that will help them be better, safer riders. Sometimes, people say that we’re costing ourselves work, as people won’t need us if they can fix a bike themselves. But these workshops have more positives than negatives, as they help us build relationships with customers and hopefully when the time comes for them to get an MOT or to buy their next bike, they’ll come back to us.’
Further information:
Billy’s Motorcycles at Unit 1, Stane Farm, Stane Street, Codmore Hill, Pulborough, RH20 1BL.
(01798) 368090
