My passion for V-Twin motorcycles started when I was a teenager. I remember leaving a picture theatre in Gloucester, my home town, and one of the local lads had his new Ducati 750GT parked at the front doors of the theatre. As my friends and I were leaving the GT burst into life with both booming Conti Mufflers shooting there magnificent note straight up the stairs to where we were standing leaving an impression on my soul only a musician would understand.

30 Years is just shy of my life time. In that time my parents and their ever-growing incredible team of staff have built a name that has been etched into the Australian motorcycle industry.

I started working for my family in 2001. Forced into the role by being young, unemployed and undecided with what I wanted to do, Ashley (who I occasionally refer to as Dad) gave me no choice but to start answering phones for him.

I started working for North Coast Ducati in 1992, the business had 3 owners , Ashley Beaton, Don Adams and Rob McLauchlan. It was situated in the back of Beatons Home Appliances (which is now the spare parts area). At that point I was the only full time employee and the stock level consisted of a, second hand Ducati Darmah, a couple of helmets and around $2000- worth of spare parts.

I was a customer of North Coast Ducati before it became North Coast V-twins with addition of the Harley-Davidson Brand . On Friday nights afterwork customers and Ash would work out where we were riding that weekend.

I celebrated 10 years at V-twins in October 2018 and I got the job there shortly after arriving in Australia from the UK. I approached them looking for work in the Coffs area and the then Service Manager Wayne Graham interviewed me and referred me to Ashley and they gave me a start as a mechanic. 

I started road racing 30 years ago and have raced every year since and on a Ducati every one of those years. It was very shortly after I began racing when I came across a fast D grader on a White 600 Ducati Pantah. It was Ashley. It was going to be the first of many of our track battles but also the start of a friendship that has had plenty of adventures with many Ducati’s involved.

All of my Ducati’s (that have come directly through V-TWINS) were bought new and became winning race bikes with a lot of help from Doc Downie and Ashley. 

It’s been a hell of a ride these last 30 years with Ashley 

2002, I was riding my Honda blackbird past v-twins on a Saturday afternoon and notice the shop was open so I stopped in and met this guy called Ashley. Got talking and mentioned that I had seen a nice blue Harley at Morgan and Wicker on the Gold Coast a couple of weeks earlier. Jokingly I said it would be nice to own one.

A couple of weeks later I receive a call from this Ashley fellow telling me that THE BLUE HARLEY was now at the shop awaiting its new owner me. I stutter and splutter 'for me?', I explained I still had payment on the other bike. No problems, we take care of that, come on down and we can talk. And so began a fantastic relationship between this fellow called Ashley and his lovely family, V-Twins, and the HOG CLUB

Happy 30th North Coast V-Twins! A superb shop with so much knowledge. From spare parts and riding gear to sales the staff here are the smartest in the land. After customer care is 2nd to none as well. Once you purchase a bike you feel like you are in the family because it is a family! I’ve purchased 3 different bikes through V-twins and have been extremely happy with every one. Looking forward to the next 30 years! Cheers