1957 Norton Manx
These motorbikes were built for only one reason - to race the Isle of Man TT
1956 Norton Manx
These motorbikes were built for only one reason - to race the Isle of Man TT
1955 Norton Manx
These motorbikes were built for only one reason - to race the Isle of Man TT
Old Skool Motorcycles is known the world over as one of the strongest motorcycle building businesses at work today. Based in Bray, Co. Wicklow the motorcycle building business provides services from custom motorcycle building to maintenance and repairs. Owner of Old Skool Motorcycles, John Murphy, is a force to be reckoned with in the motorcycle industry. He has created some of the most awe inspiring motorcycles and turned traditional motorcycle engineering on its head through his vision and talent.
The Old Skool Motorcycles team includes skilled motorcycle builder Andy Pagan and Business Development Manager Gemma Kinsella, who support John in winning numerous well deserved international motorcycle building awards. Murphy, has built up a world renowned motorcycle building business, that has seen some of the most prominent figures in the music and corporate world enter the doors of the famed Old Skool Motorcycles workshop.
Custom motorcycle builds are only part of what the Old Skool Motorcycle team are capable of. They revamp and rebuild existing machines, turning them into the original motorcycles of their owners dreams. Motorcycle maintenance is a service the team provides that is always carried out to the highest specifications.
Knowing motorcycles to the point that they are building some of the best in existence means maintenance and repairs are done as efficiently as possible. Customised helmets and paint work are other services available to clients, giving their biking experience a whole new meaning. Old School Motorcycles specialised customised bike parts are also available to bring motorcycles to a whole new level.
Old Skool Motorcycles stock a number of, new and used bikes, endeavouring to match a rider with the bike of their dreams. If a client’s dream ride can’t be located in Ireland, Old Skool Motorcycles will be happy to source it from the UK and have it picked up for you. To complete the Old Skool Motorcycles experience, merchandise including Old Skool Motorcycles jackets, trousers, boots, accessories and jewellery are available both at the workshop and online, giving extra edge to biker gear.
John’s team is as strong in experience and dedication as it is in vision and passion. Speaking on the famed work of Old Skool Motorcycles John Murphy says “Old Skool Motorcycles was created to meet the needs of the biking, corporate and entertainment communities. There was a gap in the motorcycle market for true custom building without limitations. We are a tight knit, family run business, giving customers what they need and what they want. For example, a client came to me recently looking to change his Harley Davidson with modifications which seemed too difficult for other bike shops to complete. Old Skool Motorcycles made some customer required modifications and lowered the bike to meet the customer’s needs. – we had this done for him within a week. Old Skool Motorcycles is built on respect, hard work and honesty. We always strive to give our clients the best value possible and work solidly to give this to them. There are no days off with Old Skool Motorcycles as our business is driven by passion and vision.”
John continues, “When a client comes to us we work with them to turn their motorcycle dream into a reality. If they only have a general idea of what they want we work with them until we come up with the perfect design. At any one time I have hundreds of motorcycle designs in my head. We only use the best motorcycle parts and materials as well as the most talented customising painter, Filip Servit.”
One of the most recent additions to the motorcycle building portfolio of Old Skool Motorcycles is The Quest. The medieval theme of the motorcycle is carried right through. The Quest breaks with conventional motorcycle engineering, having a revolutionary breaking system for which Old Skool Motorcycles are the sole Irish Distributors. The Quest also features a 300 rear section – in other words the rear tyre measures one foot in width. Ordinarily Harley Davidsons are run with a left side drive, The Quest was modified to run with a right side drive section in order to display the workings of the machine to its greatest potential. The Quest has toured international motor exhibitions with the build recorded in detail on the Old Skool Motorcycles website.
The legendary Old Skool Motorcycles workshop is located in Rear Unit 14, Quinnsborough Road, Bray, Co. Wicklow. For further information on Old Skool Motorcycles, please contact 087 253 3754 or log onto www.OldSkoolMotorcycles.com.
“Our Only Limit is your Imagination”
Notes to Editor:
About Old Skool Motorcycles:
Old Skool Motorcycles was established in 2005 by John Murphy. His partner Gemma Kinsella joined his team in 2007 as Business Development Manager to help build the business into the well respected and recognised customised motorcycle building and maintenance company it is today.
John Murphy’s Biography
John has had a passion for motorbikes before he was even legally able to ride. Over the years he has gone through almost every bike range, riding everything from SR 80s to sports bikes and now choppers. No bike John has owned has escaped modification!
John gained his initial mechanical experience through the military in Ireland and proceeded to work at executive level in the security industry, all the time still altering and adapting bikes. While living in the United States John saw how American motorcycle builders and traders approached their customers, giving them in depth solutions to faults, and the laid back atmosphere present within the shops. This was an approach not used in Ireland and was an angle John knew would work. From this Old Skool Motorcycles was born in partnership with Business Development Manager Gemma Kinsella and has grown immensely since.
John builds bikes that are visually mind blowing but also exhilarating to ride. John builds each bike with a unique vision and attitude. Once a bike is built by Old Skool Motorcycles it will never be repeated. All Old Skool Motorcycles custom bike builds have rubber tires on them to ride out on the road, not just to be rolled in and out of a trailer. John, who is a member of the I.M.B.B.A. (International Master Bike Builders Association), takes great pride in building and making a customer’s dream bike a reality. John’s reputation precedes him due to the pure passion he puts into each bike, treating it like it is his own with the utmost attention given to every element down to the finest detail, some so finite they are not seen until careful examination.
Working within the bike building world has enabled John to work with and meet some of the big dogs of the international motorcycle industry such as Hank Young of Young’s Choppers in Georgia, winner of the World Biker Build-Off. John also got to work with H and Dave of B&H motorcycles in the UK, one of the biggest motorcycle building businesses in the UK.
Materials used in Old Skool Motorcycle custom motorcycle builds are the best you can possibly get, down to features such as a python skin driving seat. John has hundreds of new motorcycles in his head at any one time, meaning he can make any motorcycle dream a reality. This driving passion keeps John miles ahead of his competition. He works every detail of a build around a client and out of this coupled with his skilled, infinite bike designs the motto of Old Skool Motorcycles came to light “Our only limit is your imagination.”
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John was born in Cork, his first memory of motorbikes at a tender age of 6 whenhe was placed on the saddle of a Harley Davidson, (a huge one as far as he can recollect) in a small seaside town in West Cork. From then on, as he would describe it, "I was bitten" his interest in bikes grew and grew, particularly custom bikes. John bought and rode his, first bike at the slightly illegal age of 15 (don't tell the Gardai). It was a SR80, and he straight away started making it into his dream bike by doing some custom work, looking back on it now, all he can say is "well I was young and naïve" He bought his first Harley at 18, through his life he progressed through different models and sizes. John temporally moved to the US in 2003, he saw how the other half live, or more to the point ride. In 2003 he did Route 66 from Niagra falls Canada Albuquerque New Mexico, the old 66 as John says, taking in old tombstone, sleeping rough by his Harley at night. (anyone who has information on the whereabouts and arrest of the rattlesnake who decided to cuddle up to John one night, can they please contact the shop for a reward). |
The final stage to building the award winning bike 'Nightmare' In September 2005 Oldskool Motorcycles was formed. In 2007 "Nightmare" was entered into the 'Amd' custom motorcycle competition at the Motorcycle and Scooter show at the RDS. John was awarded with the much coveted "Best Old School Chopper". John has always believed in dealing with customers, as he would wish to be dealt with, helped and advised. |
Happy times in England
I love this photo...
1959 and 2009 Triumph Bonneville motorcycles
BSA
The Birmingham Small Arms Company (BSA) was a British manufacturer of vehicles, firearms, and military equipment, and still exists as an airgun sport manufacturer and distributor.
At its peak, BSA was the largest motorcycle producer in the world. Loss of sales and poor investments in new products in the motorcycle division, which included Triumph Motorcycles, led to problems for the whole group.
The first wholly BSA motorcycles were built in 1910, before then engines had come from other manufacturers. BSA Motorcycles Ltd was set up as a subsidiary in 1919.
BSA motorcycles were sold as affordable motorcycles with reasonable performance for the average user. BSA stressed the reliability of their machines, the availability of spares and dealer support. The motorcycles were a mixture of side valve and OHV engines offering different performance for different roles, e.g. hauling a sidecar. The bulk of use would be for commuting. BSA motorcycles were also popular with "fleet buyers" in Britain, who (for example) used the Bantams for telegram delivery for the Post Office or motorcycle/sidecar combinations for AA patrols Automobile Association (AA) breakdown help services. This mass market appeal meant they could claim "one in four is a BSA" on advertising.
Machines with better specifications were available for those who wanted more performance or for competition work.
Initially, after World War II, BSA motorcycles were not generally seen as racing machines, compared to the likes of Norton. In the immediate post war period few were entered in races such as the TT races, though this changed dramatically in the Junior Clubman event (smaller engine motorcycles racing over some 3 or 4 laps around one of the Isle of Man courses). In 1947 there were a handful of BSA mounted riders, but by 1952 BSA were in the majority and in 1956 the makeup was 53 BSA, 1 Norton and 1 Velocette.
To improve US sales, in 1954, for example, BSA entered a team of riders in the 200 mile Daytona beach race with a mixture of single cylinder Gold Stars and twin cylinder Shooting Stars assembled by Roland Pike. The BSA team riders amazingly took first, second, third, fourth, and fifth places with two more riders finishing at 8th and 16th. This was the first case of a one brand sweep.
The BSA factory experienced success in the sport of motocross with Jeff Smith riding a B40 to capture the 1964 and 1965 FIM 500 cc Motocross World Championships. It would be the last year the title would be won by a four-stroke machine until the mid-1990s. A BSA motocross machine was often colloquially known as a "Beezer."
Birmingham rocker Steve Gibbons released a song "BSA" on his 1980 album "Saints & Sinners" as a tribute to the Gold Star. He still pays this song with his band and often performs on the Isle of Man at the TT races.
The 33rd ANNUAL EL CAMINO COLLEGE VINTAGE MOTORCYCLE SHOW & PARTS EXCHANGE - SEPTEMBER 20, 2008
The 33rd ANNUAL EL CAMINO COLLEGE VINTAGE MOTORCYCLE SHOW & PARTS EXCHANGE - SEPTEMBER 20, 2008
Thanks to Carrick Watson for this photo taken in 1947 showing his father, Jimmy Watson on a 1936 Excelsior Manxman and his Uncle Bill Watson on a new Trials AJS. They were Main Agents for AJS and Matchless for Lanarkshire in Scotland, taken at the garage in High Street Airdrie.
motorcycle poster
motorcycle poster
motorcycle poster