Motorcycling in his blood: First European

First European owner Andy Burchall built his first motorcycle when he was 15 years old, using a box of old parts he bought.

“Mum and dad were pretty convinced I would never get it going, but I put it together and it worked,” he says. “And then I used to sneak out to ride it.” Motorcycling is in his blood. “It’s addictive – it’s like a disease that you either have or you don’t – and if you’ve got it, you can’t get rid of it.”

With 25 years in the motor trade, Andy is an engineer by profession. His passion for the industry is reflected in First European, which he took over five years ago with his wife, Teresa. Transforming it into a centric hub for motorcycle enthusiasts, they added Throttlestop Coffee Club upstairs to create a social space for customers, offering fresh barista-made coffees, food and comfortable seating.

“We wanted to provide more of a community atmosphere, rather than just a bike shop – have a coffee and chat while your bike is being serviced. Many of our regulars have made friends here and we also often provide a range of events for our customers, including ‘shop rides’ every third Saturday of the month.” The expert team are the official sales and servicing agents for Royal Enfield, MV Agusta, Benelli, and SWM motorcycles. From customised, retro and classic bikes, to used bikes, scooters and superbikes, First European also offers a wide range of clothing and accessories.

Visit www.firsteuropean.co.nz for more information.