Honda-SOHC
General => New Member Introductions => Topic started by: Samz on May 23, 2019, 06:34:08 PM
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Greetings.
I’ve just discovered this site and saying hello.
My first bike after borrowing a friends 250 super dream to take my test was a maroon 400/4 in 1980. Managed to get more than I paid for it in PX when I mistakenly traded it in for a xj650 yam.
My second one (same colour) I bought in the late 80’s. It took myself and girl friend to the 1990 TT.
Today, whilst clearing out some old draws I found a receipt belonging to my late father. It was for the purchase of a new Honda 400/4, in red, dated August 1st 1975. He bought it from his good friend and Honda dealer, Alan Mountain (Mountain’s motorcycles) here in York. Price, £660.
I remember the bike well, riding pillion with him all over. I was aged 12 at the time. Great memories.
The reg no. was MVY 673P. Long shot I know, but does anyone on the forum know of it’s ware abouts? Seems it was last taxed in 1982, so I doubt it has survived, but any info would be greatly appreciated.
Sam.
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Welcome Sam
enjoy being here.lots of help and advice
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Welcome .. my 1st 400/4 XDN128R came from Alan Mountains as did my CB750K0 (14th into UK) Evidently he sold so many Honda 50's etc to Rowntrees / Terry's and BR workers that he won free trips to Japan and that's probably why he got his hands on one of the 1st UK 750's. My mate Woody now has his 2nd shop (think it was Honda city) in Haleys Terrace and his mechanic Dave worked at Mountains originally.
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Yeah, Alan set his son Charlie up at Honda city. Great Guy was Alan, always a good laugh and liked an ale in the Fox inn in Poppleton. Was never late in opening his shop on holgate road in the morning no matter how blitzed he got the night before. And as for his trips to the Far East with Honda? The less said the better! Top man. 8)
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Welcome to the forum Sam :)
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You never know with old bikes lurking in sheds, I have 2 500/4's that were last taxed in the 80's so it may be out there lurking in a shed. It may just have an age related plate too, you simply never know.
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Great to see that pic Ashimoto. Guessing from around 1975-77? I noted the Goldwing, my dad bought one of those off Alan after the 400/4. Happy days. ;D
Be good to see any more pics forum members may have of past dealers in York. (Mountains, Suzuki centre, Shearsmiths, Reghams, Chapmans, Coopers). We had all the jap stuff covered back then!
Hopefully MVY 673P is hiding somewhere, fingers crossed.
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Welcome to the forum and have fun.
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Great to see that pic Ashimoto. Guessing from around 1975-77? I noted the Goldwing, my dad bought one of those off Alan after the 400/4. Happy days. ;D
Be good to see any more pics forum members may have of past dealers in York. (Mountains, Suzuki centre, Shearsmiths, Reghams, Chapmans, Coopers). We had all the jap stuff covered back then!
Hopefully MVY 673P is hiding somewhere, fingers crossed.
t
My mate Chris had Acomb Motorcycles, which he took over from Mick Butfield when he started up York Suzuki Centre. Acomb M/Cy then passed on to my other mate Dave Wood who now has the old Honda City shop. That Acomb shop was a tiny affair but both my own 750K0 and 'UTTxxxH the very 1st UK registered CB750 both passed through there as used sales bikes in the mid 1970's .. so that was two bikes from the first batch of approx. 20 imported.
Don't despair there are loads of bikes not taxed since the 80's that come out of the woodwork. .. My CD175A sloper I bought last year was last taxed in 1981 !
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The “Acomb shop”, was that on Viking road? If so I believe Alan Mountain started out there before moving to Holgate road. Small world as they say.
I recall Alan calling round to our house when we lived Poppleton on an MV Augusta he’d taken in in part ex, seeing if my dad wanted to buy it. He knocked it back! ::)
Unsurprisingly my first 3 bikes were Hondas, XR75, TL125 (150 kit in it) and a CB50J my first road “bike”. Then got into trialing bit more “seriously” with a TY 250 YAM. That was followed by my first 400/4. 8)
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Yes Viking Road and I am not 100% sure but I think Alan Mountain started there.
Here are a couple of your requested pics plus a couple from Hull.
York
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Hull
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Jordans Hull.
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Welcome to the forum Sam, you are already stirring memories. I wonder where that MV is now?
Great photos :).
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Welcome Sam from a Hullite!
These are great pics Ash and bring back happy memories for me too. A relative of mine, Nev Waters worked for some time in the parts department of Jordan’s which was right on the top floor. Heck, they had some stuff! I bought a plexiglas head gasket for a KM24 Gold Star from him in the mid 60’s for an engine I got for £5 dismantled in a hessian sack. My Dad bought a new gold Canterbury Venom sidecar, colour matched to our plunger BSA Golden Flash from them in Storey St. That store became Grattans catalogue shop and offices. Nev went on to manage ‘Sellit and Soon’ in East Hull - a secondhand emporium of mostly crap that they sold on your behalf for commission.
I love the fact that the early Jordan’s pic has used different colour capital letters which makes it look like ‘Ull - which is how most folk know it!
Ian
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Welcome Sam from a Hullite!
These are great pics Ash and bring back happy memories for me too. A relative of mine, Nev Waters worked for some time in the parts department of Jordan’s which was right on the top floor. Heck, they had some stuff! I bought a plexiglas head gasket for a KM24 Gold Star from him in the mid 60’s for an engine I got for £5 dismantled in a hessian sack. My Dad bought a new gold Canterbury Venom sidecar, colour matched to our plunger BSA Golden Flash from them in Storey St. That store became Grattans catalogue shop and offices. Nev went on to manage ‘Sellit and Soon’ in East Hull - a secondhand emporium of mostly crap that they sold on your behalf for commission.
I love the fact that the early Jordan’s pic has used different colour capital letters which makes it look like ‘Ull - which is how most folk know it!
Ian
Even though I an old b*gger Ian I never went in Jordans . When did it close? This place 'Miles' and 'Peters of Hull' were my stomping grounds plus the Richies scrap yard of course
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Sorry to hijack Sam’s thread - you’ll get used to folk doing that Sam! Especially old folk reminiscing!
Ash,
I can’t remember exactly when it closed in Storey Street but they moved to Witham and sold cars for years. Miles were along Anlaby Road (Selby Street corner) weren’t they? Peters would have been Beverley Road - not far from Ritchies. Was Ken Wasling (Lucas and Wasling) still going when you were a nipper? Also had dealings with Don Law. I bought a new Super Dream from Hull Motorcycle Centre (RAT 300W) when Stuart Myers was manager - he went to Riley too.
Ee, them were’t days!
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Welcome Sam
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Welcome Sam from a Hullite!
These are great pics Ash and bring back happy memories for me too. A relative of mine, Nev Waters worked for some time in the parts department of Jordan’s which was right on the top floor. Heck, they had some stuff! I bought a plexiglas head gasket for a KM24 Gold Star from him in the mid 60’s for an engine I got for £5 dismantled in a hessian sack. My Dad bought a new gold Canterbury Venom sidecar, colour matched to our plunger BSA Golden Flash from them in Storey St. That store became Grattans catalogue shop and offices. Nev went on to manage ‘Sellit and Soon’ in East Hull - a secondhand emporium of mostly crap that they sold on your behalf for commission.
I love the fact that the early Jordan’s pic has used different colour capital letters which makes it look like ‘Ull - which is how most folk know it!
Ian
Sellit and Soon doesn't sell crap - at least not the one in Beverley! It's still going strong there having moved from the old swimming baths, to Old Walkergate. If you are in the market for an ornamental china horse pulling a wagon full of beer barrels, or an unwantd video player, then that's the place!
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One for Orcadian (Ian)
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There was a similar shop to 'Sellit and Soon' called 'Pools Corner' that sold stuff on commission on Newland Avenue Hull plus cheapo tools new ... Somebody bought me a set of new screwdrivers from there for my 21st made by Vessel in Japan and included JIS crossheads too. Still have most of them today .. they have square shafts and are top notch... wish you could still get them today.. Strange that a shop which sold cheapo tools new would stock such good stuff.