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For youse blokes that don't know Melbourne here in Oz, Elizabeth Street is one of the main drags in the centre of the city.
For decades, the middle to top end of Elizabeth St has been motorcycle mecca for Victorians with bike shops galore, most brands represented.
Over the years they've become big and glitzy, as one might expect. As rents have soared, some have moved out, so it's not quite the centre it once was, but the presence is still there.
Still there, amongst them all is this tiny shop, continuing to trade successfully.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-10-28/m ... de/5050290

Thanks for that Steve.
I grew up in Sydney, which also had a bunch of motorbike shops in Elizabeth Street. Seeing that vid brought back memories of similar shops, where you could buy new or used parts, get useful advice, use their sandblaster and so on. I bought my 1951 Matchless for $130 in 1968 from a very similar looking shop. The guys delivered it for free and wished me luck. Around 1965 there were lines of ex-police Triumphs lined up outside one of the shops with price tags ranging from 50 to 70 quid.

I want that pristine BSA Bantam tank. My first bike was a Bantam, and I stupidly re-painted it to get rid of the chook. Bloody idiot. (Old fool looks wistfully into the distant past).

Went in there lots of times in my twenties, as well as many of the other bike shops.
There was even a bmw dealer there too. I think they've gone tho.

ME 109 wrote:Went in there lots of times in my twenties, as well as many of the other bike shops.
There was even a bmw dealer there too. I think they've gone tho.

I think it was Peter Stevens who was the BMW dealer way back then, then sometime later, but maybe not directly after, it went to Melbourne Suzuki who was just up the street.

I haven't seen a shop like that in years ! They're all bloody supermarkets now .

I can relate to that business.

Chuey

Good 'ol Modak, been there pretty much as is forever (at least forever for me).
I always stop and have a look in when i pass by... bought a pair of aviator's goggles from them back in the 70's.
My mate Glyn probably kept them afloat with his 850 Norton reso a couple of years ago.
I bought a Darmah from Peter Stevens, just a few doors up the street, also in the 70's if i remember correctly.
Modak ain't changed much since...

Hey, you guys even have a "flatiron" building, like the one in NYC. Is this in the area you are talking about? https://maps.google.com/maps?q=Elizabet ... 3,,0,-3.62

Turn around 180 degrees and go down Elizabeth St about half a mile.

Elizabeth St used to be a creek back about 1850. Someone even drowned in it during a flood iirc.