On Monday afternoon after having a great lunch and coffee at the Rail Side Cafe in San Dimas, CA, I was packing up when a gentleman approached me and started talking about motorcycles. Flip turned out to be a very interesting fella. Back in the late 70’s early 80’s he worked for Suzuki USA as a factory mechanic in R&D. Basically as he said, “I was that s.o.b that had to destroy the prototypes here in the states.” As he explained since the prototype bikes where here duty-free they either had to get sent back to Japan at a big cost for the company or destroyed here at the headquarters. So most of those really cool bikes from that era, yeah he put them to rest with a sledgehammer and plasma torch…… Great guy loved by everyone who collects those bikes nowadays….. Anyhow he asked if I had heard of Century Motorcycles in San Pedro, CA. I told him I had not, well here is where he got serious. He gave me the address and told me to go pronto!
The next day I headed down. Boy was Flip right! What a place! Rolling up I could just tell it was going to be cool. After degearing I waked in to be greeted (quite warmly I might add) by Tim. Turns out that Tim’s Grandfather opened the shop in 1953 and it’s been open ever since. It’s most likely the oldest motorcycle shop here in the U.S.! Tim truly rolled out the red carpet for me. He gave me the grand tour of the place including the shop and told me all the amazing history behind some of his personal bikes. Tim said something in conversation that really shows who he his as a person and business man, he said, “I treat every customers bike like my own, I want them to enjoy riding and be as safe as they can be.” Talk about a business motto! Seeing him with his mechanics was equally awesome. He had only good things to say about them, and seeing some of their work I totally agree! Being in the back of the shop is like being in a parts museum. Some the stuff hanging in the rafters is just dang cool!
The workshop!
The showroom of the shop is mind blowing as well! There is not one but three Vincent Motorcycles on display! You know how rare that is? It’s super rare, your lucky to even see one in a museum.
Some of Tim’s family bikes. (Including the three Vincent bikes!)
Beautiful Triumph 650!
A 1952 Triumph Trophy…. Totally a dream bike of mine!
A stunning Indian! Totally a sucker for these bikes!
So long story short if you’re ever in the Los Angeles area you have to make a trip to this incredible Gem of a shop! Between the cool things to see and the hospitality of Tim and his crew you can’t go wrong!
(Tim, Thank you again for your kindness. Your child like excitement for everything motorcycles truly has rubbed off! I can’t wait to stop by again!)