Rocket Centre at Blackburn

[Sylar]

I have not been to the Rocket centre for about six months. On Sunday I was out for a run and thought I'd call in and get a cuppa. What a surprise! Building completely empty. At the entrance were some bollards but a bike could get past. I parked up in the car park and had a breather. The sign said property belonged to the B M W dealership opposite. When I got home I looked it up on Google. Went out of business in November, not moved somewhere else, just finished trading. Very surprised as it always seemed busy.

[newscooter]

Was up for sale according to the local press but seemingly didn't find a buyer.

[Symcity]

Sign of the times I’m afraid - personally I don’t think the outlook is good for the U.K. - maximuppets could do a better job steering the ship

[Bluebottle]

I heard Rocket Centre was a bit of a labour of love for the owner and not really profitable for a long while.

I bought from there, it was a nice short run from where I am in Bury and carried a good range of stock.

There isn't really a large stockist near me anymore since they went.

Race Leathers in Darwin some Halvarssons stock. Dainese Manchester is good for a single brand.
Nearest big store is probably GetGeared in Leeds or J&S Northwich

[Bluebottle]

..and a butty shop with a decent coffee on the next street making the side of the block away from the car park access.

[wozza]

Yes thing's don't look so good in the UK for a few dealers.
I did like the Rocket Centre.

[MrGrumpy]

I guess the snag is that in most cases, profitable extra sales of helmets, gear and other accessories have dried up as we all now buy stuff online instead of our friendly local (expensive) bike dealer. If you can't make a living on selling bikes and servicing, I guess you will be up shite creek.

[Globs]

I don't think it's online sales, I think it's because this industry and governments makes it a Sports Bike game which an expensive, dangerous luxury that people can no longer afford.

The wave of thefts are also not helping.

£9k gets you into a fantastic new small car with no or low tax, cheap insurance and you can even drive the car before you order it. Running costs are ridiculously low. MPG is often better than many bikes too..

Running a bike is no longer a cheaper easier mode of transport, bicycles and cars are king and there is absolutely no incentive for anyone to buy or run a bike apart from the negative 'beat the jam' argument. So why would people buy bike stuff? The middle class power rangers are now paying their rent/mortgage/fuel/bills etc. - and without the middle class toy market biking is dead because the industry is focussed that way and totally ignores the commuting angle.

In Taiwan they have scooter lanes, scooter 'car' parks and a seriously huge number of people get around very efficiently as a result: here we're going to bigger cars and bicycle and bus lanes that cut out filtering opportunities and further make the bike pointless.

The industry had been riding the Adventure Bike wave that Charlie and Ewan handed it a few years back and that's receding now, MotoGP is not broadcast anywhere so the industry has only got commuters left - which fail due to lack of interest, theft and costs.

It's easy to blame online sales, but in reality it's because biking is an expensive middle class hobby that's declining along with it's customers increasingly empty wallets and for most people a new car is far more practical, cheaper alternate. Then of course there's the test - so the real question is 'Why would anyone buy a bike'?

[Sylar]

I did visit Rocket Centre occasionally, but usually on my way to or from somewhere else, they went from average bikes and scooters to more specialised vehicles, like quad bikes and the more expensive KTM range. I must admit I was guilty of trying on some boots once that were £30 cheaper on line, and usually the "odds and sods" were cheaper on line as well.