Haldane's Motorcycles

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tatts2, Feb 18, 8:09am
Does anyone know what happen to Haldane's Motorcycles seems to have shut shop.
peril787b1, Feb 18, 9:07pm
Yep, closed down a couple of weeks back
meathead_timaru, Feb 18, 10:09pm
Good job. It went to the pack after Chris started running it.
whqqsh, Feb 19, 2:55am
Pack of stuck up a-holes! Although I dont like anyone losing jobs, going out of business etc these guys probably brought it on themselves.
If you didnt go in with, or wanting to buy, the latest Ducati it was a struggle to get served or even acknowledged.
I took my dollars elsewhere eventhough they were closest to home by far.
meathead_timaru, Feb 19, 5:51am
I have to agree. Pretentious tosswads who only wanted customers that grovel.
slarty45, Feb 19, 7:47am
Yes, I noticed that too.
Bob was genuine.
therafter1, Feb 19, 7:51am
x1
I remember Bob from when he opened his first shop on Manukau Rd and was a little one man band. He was a nice easy going dude that was quite happy to assist with any problems etc and would even allow you to tinker with your bike in his workshop under his guidance and using his tools.

I have met him the odd time or two since at the odd race meet and he doesn??
dr.doolittle, Feb 19, 8:00am
From their web site.

MISSION STATEMENTS

???To treat our customer??
meathead_timaru, Feb 19, 9:15am
Bob Haldane is a good genuine bast'd. I bought all my tyres from him in the early to mid-90s.
Hahahaha what meaningless tripe!
ian86, Feb 19, 1:47pm
I had most of my dealings with Haldanes when the shop was in Mt Eden rd, and they seemed ok then. mind you that was a while ago now.
I don't ride that much now and have only been to the Penrose shop a couple of times.
Maybe they got too big/ too flashy/ too fast!, probably got pushed by the brands they sold to meet a certain standard!, I'm guessing the motorcycle selling industry is a tough one to be in at the moment., maybe the start of things to come!. bike shops shutting down.
Question is now., where do you take your Duke in Auckland to get work done on it now.
trogedon, Feb 19, 5:09pm
You could sell it here.
whqqsh, Feb 19, 5:19pm
Funniest thing is watch the Ducati owners that have the all the gear, branded jacket etc etc when you walk up & say 'Nice Duck, Mate'
desmodave, Feb 19, 5:59pm
May be they thought you said dick
akaniva, Feb 19, 7:05pm
I remember when they were in Manukau Road in the mid-70's. They fixed my SC500 when it wouldn't start and then when the crank seals needed replacing and a cylinder rebore due to the piston clanging and in fact having a cracked piston skirt. Did a good job at a reasonable price. Bob was good, always time to talk. I recall Bob racing his TZ750 or was it a TZ700 around Puke.

Always sorry to hear of a bike shop closing.
turfmech, Feb 19, 7:18pm
I believe they have gone into receivership. Guess losing the Suzuki franchise was the final straw plus the fact that they were the most UNHELPFUL dealer in Auckland, Their spares guy was an absolute w##ker!
waythe, Feb 20, 6:24am
I feel sorry for them not just Haldines, but it's hard to make a buck in the motorcycle industry at the best of time's nowdays with the likes of trademe,overseas suppliers,and the resession,you have to be pretty good at bussiness to still have a big shop open,when I can get parts from the states in less time andless then half the price how can they still compete.
pzkpfw, Feb 20, 6:55am
So they need to use what they've got by being here in person - service.
whqqsh, Feb 20, 2:28pm
most people wouldnt make that mistake or have that in their mind in the first place. unles they were Ducati owners
desmodave, Feb 20, 3:09pm
Sounds like you have some sort of hang up. Have you been traumatised by a Ducati at some stage in your life.
whqqsh, Feb 20, 4:16pm
no, funnily enough my first 2 encounters (many years ago on my old Katana) with earlier Ducks I was left totally unimpressed, the later versions are impressive but then the egos of the riders eliminate any respect for the brand, they act more like Harley boys on red plastic (Ive worked & ridden with several)
desmodave, Feb 20, 4:26pm
Sounding like its a Ego problem rather than a Ducati problem your having problems with.
gunhand, Feb 20, 4:34pm
Katanas came in 6 variaties 7 if you count the wire wheeled one, and even now they bandy the name about on soft looking bikes that shouldn't wear the name. Im assuming it wasn't a 550 or 650 or god forbid a 250 you were having the Ducati encounter with!
ljs, Feb 20, 5:54pm
I have been traumatised by a ducati back in about1969 I fell in love with a nice red 350 desmo but I got engaged instead been regretting it ever since but being youg and silly I probably would have wrecked it I only knew 1 speed.
budgel, Feb 20, 8:29pm
Haldanes still have bikes on trademe.
sandypheet, Feb 21, 3:57pm
See the recievership notice in todays herald.