The working week was over. Saturday rolled around and the sun shone brightly, neccesitating biking jeans only (well, not only…). Taking the bikes out was the only sensible thing to do with the day. All we required was a direction, which was supplied by Steel City Classics,who were having an open day to celebrate taking on Indian as a brand.
Familiar as we are with many of the local motorcycle purveyors, we headed out with confidence to SMC in Sheffield, where we knew Steel City Classics were located. And so we arrived to a general lack of festivities and a distinct lack of Indians.
Even more suspiciously, the door to the the upper floor where we’d perused the Classics on a previous visit was noticably shut. No bunting, no buzz, no bikes. Perhaps we had the wrong day? No. We had the wrong place. Steel City Classics has relocated to Chesterfield. There was nothing for it but to jump back on the bikes and ride south for another 15 miles in the warm, still air. How awful.
I don’t know Chesterfield but fortunately the satnav does. Half an hour later, we parked up in a somewhat more vibrant atmosphere. The likes of Asia and Kansas playing loudly and people milling about chatting and scoffing hot dogs.
Apparently we’d missed the larger crowd. At one point they were having to direct people in and out of the car, er, bike park as it was so packed.
The Indians were the stars of the show…
…but there was plenty more to point at and ponder missed ownership opportunities. Or maybe new ownership opportunities.
If you like your retro, inline-four Hondas, there were several to choose from.
Not to mention a couple of Triumphs.
There was even a Buell, for people who only like the middle bit of a Harley.
It’s not a big place but definitely an interesting one to look around. The staff seem very friendly, too.
Test rides were available but only for 15 minutes. I want to try an FTR but you can’t figure much out in such a short time. Chatting to the sales chap, he agreed and said to come back another day when I can take their demonstrator out for a proper run around the Derbyshire countryside.
From Chesterfield it’s a fairly short run over to Matlock Bath, so we did. Not too many bikes there, surprisingly. I suspect it was a different story on Sunday.
One cool (non-alcoholic) beer later we took our familiar route home, up the A6 and through Buxton and Glossop, where there are some good places to stretch your legs, as it were. A grand day out indeed.
) a couple of Honda 550 fours wasn’t it. They’ve had some good looking projects over the last few months 750Ks Z900s H750s. I must admit to being tempted to get a Rising Sun bike on the go. No idea on spares availablity and costs though.