- Carbon Garage

NZ Autocar magazine March 2015
DREAM
Words Peter Louisson Photos Tom Gasnier
GARAGE
On a back street in Newmarket is a motorcyclethemed café that is becoming globally
recognized because it offers some of the
world’s most collectable superbikes.
Welcome to Carbon Garage
LEFT - Up in the gods, a tasty
Yamaha YZF 750 from the early 90s.
RIGHT - From a similar period a liquid-cooled
two-stroke V-twin 250 NSR Honda. Both of
these bikes sported aluminium frames and
other high-tech bits, and were ahead of their time.
BELOW - In the background an old late-fifties split
screen VW Kombi pick-up. It’s the shop hack but is,
like everything in the shop, rather collectable
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© Copyright NZ Autocar Magazine 2015. All rights reserved.
ABOVE - A Honda CB77 Superhawk on
high, said to be Honda’s first sport bike.
BELOW RIGHT - Robert chatting about
bikes mainly, in casual CG attire, shirt,
leather trou and riding boots. You never
know when you’re riding next! Aside
from his earlier exploits as a three-time
CEO of major Kiwi businesses, he’s also
an accomplished barefoot water skiier
F
ZR750R OWO1, ZX-7RR,
RVF750R RC45, HP4,
NR750, 900MHR. If these
alphanumericals mean
anything to you, then you
probably already know
about Carbon Garage in Newmarket,
Auckland. Sited just behind the
Broadway shopping strip, at 15 Eden
St, Carbon Garage in one year has
put itself on the global map for those
with an interest in classic and modern
superbikes, and particularly those
chasing the more sought-after examples.
Started, owned and operated by Robert
and Tracy Alloway, the shop is not what
you’d call your run-of-the-mill motorcycle
outlet. There’s no clothing or bike bits but
it is chocker full of top-flight race-bred
motorcycles from the recent past. Moreover,
it incorporates a café where you can buy
a proper coffee – Weka beans, Vibiemme
machine – and food as well if you’re hungry,
thanks to the efforts of Tracy and Victoria.
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NZ Autocar magazine March 2015
NZ Autocar: So how exactly did Carbon
Garage come about?
Rob Alloway: I started to become
keen on classic superbikes five or so years
ago. I’d acquired 10 bikes and figured I
really needed a workshop for storage and
restoration. It was then that my wife and
I came up with the idea of setting up a
motorcycle collectables and restoration
business, incorporating a cafe. So Carbon
Garage was born. It’s now the only remaining
motorcycle-themed food outlet in Auckland.
Like any specialist business, it takes
time to build up a clientele, and that’s
starting to happen. We are relying on our
bike servicing and restoration business
to grow because you don’t sell an exotic
motorcycle every day. The people who buy
iconic bikes don’t make snap decisions.
AC: How did the Carbon Garage name
come about?
RA: Tracy thought of it, and we like the
fact that carbon fibre is dark, mysterious and
exotic, like our motorbikes.
AC: How did your chief mechanic, Neil,
become involved?
RA: Oddly enough, he was walking past
one day and we started chatting. Neil has
a long background in motorcycle repair,
and vehicle restoration. He has worked on
virtually all brands of motorcycle so he is a
great fit with us.
AC: So what’s your average day like?
RA: Each morning we start by discussing
the merits of 10 or so vehicles that are up
for sale, mostly bikes, though we can also
ABOVE - A one-off custom
bike based on a Honda CB750.
RIGHT - A low km ZX-7RR with
adjustable steering head, six-piston
calipers, years ahead of its time.
BOTTOM - Minibike based on the styling
of the 80s GSX-R Suzuki Superbikes.
BELOW RIGHT - Cute wee Honda 50 Solo
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restore cars, like the Honda S600 convertible
out the back. Most of the time is taken up
researching the history of the machine.
Many are from Japan but as Carbon Garage
grows in global recognition, and with our
Facebook and website presence (www.
carbon-garage.com) people from all corners
of the globe are contacting us.
AC: This doesn’t really seem like ‘work’
for you guys.
RA: Well, no, it’s not really. We’re lucky
that our hobby has become our work. We
can’t wait to get here each morning. After
opening, we free up a little space by parking
the bikes out on the street. Ever seen a lineup like that?
AC: Rob is pointing to a trio of Yamaha
FZR750 OWO1s, three Honda RC30s, an
SP1000 and a Ducati Sport 1000 Café Racer,
lined up like moto-dominoes. There’s also
a mint GSX-R 1100, alongside which is a
mini-me pitbike version.
Everywhere you look there’s another
two-wheeled rarity, and with space at a
premium they’re vertically stacked. This
place is a head turner. There’s even a couple
of new bikes, special editions, naturally.
RA: Neil’s getting me interested in Ducatis.
We’re mainly targeting the rarities, like the
early bevel drives, such as the 900MHR
(Mike Hailwood Replica), and R variants of
the 996, 998, 999 and also the 1098. Good
unmolested examples are hard to come by.
Originality is key to these bikes, says
Rob. We try not to buy anything with an
aftermarket exhaust, and we avoid ex-race
machines. Many of the bikes we buy out of
Japan have been in storage for up to
20 years, so we often find them with tanks
full of treacle, carbs gummed up, fork seals
dried out, and no brake or clutch fluid.
These are the gems.
We target limited run homologated
bikes from the 80s and 90s. Some rare bikes
only come up about once every three years,
like the RVF750R RC45. Only 700 were
made, though enthusiasts swear no-one
© Copyright NZ Autocar Magazine 2015. All rights reserved.
TOP - Carbon Garage is not just
about motorbikes. A nice Lotus and
a ready-to-restore Honda S600.
TOP INSET - A line-up of exotics meets
those visiting for coffee or bike talk.
ABOVE - Ducati and BMW
superbikes always sell well
has seen a frame number higher than 300.
The bike was produced from 1994 to 1999
and now sells for between $40k and $60k,
depending on condition.
I believe we have the best collection
of classic Japanese superbikes in the
Southern Hemisphere.
AC: Is there anything in particular that
you lust after?
RA: Ah, the nemesis bikes? Sure, Yamaha’s
YZF R7 OWO2 springs to mind, the company’s
first proper attempt at building a homologated
race winner. Only 500 were made. Also,
Honda’s oval piston NR750. They made only
300 and they are tightly held by collectors. They
cost six figures back in the early 80s and still do
now. Some rare Ducatis are also on the hit list.
AC: I guess you know most of the
committed bike collectors in NZ by now?
RA: You’d be surprised. A bloke came in
here the other day and bought a bike from
us. I asked how many he owned and he said
this is his 28th. Most of the people who buy
a bike from us already own at least a couple,
often more than five.
AC: There’s not much free space left in the
Carbon Garage Rob.
RA: No, we’ve rapidly outgrown this
space, and will have to move at some point,
probably to somewhere that has more foot
traffic, plenty more space and parking, and
other retail businesses nearby.
AC: Any plans for expansion?
RA: Yes, we’ve just bought into a business
in Texas running a similar operation to us.
We plan to import bikes for them and bring
back bikes from the US, which is another
great source of classic Japanese motorcycles.
AC: All the best for the business Rob, and
thanks for your time.
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