History

For the love of riding, since 1973

At Eurobike Wholesale, we've been importing quality motorcycle products since 1973. Let's be honest, the whole idea has always been (and still is) to import parts and accessories we use ourselves. Being able to sell these products for others to use as well is the bonus that keeps us going. The bottom line is, if we wouldn’t use it, we don’t sell it.

1970s

This whole endeavour started in 1973, the age of flared trousers and tight jackets. When Don O’Connor needed some quality aftermarket shock absorbers he started importing Koni motorcycle dampers from Holland. Together with his wife, Glenys, the couple distributed and serviced shock absorbers for many makes and models, from a mezzanine floor above the offices of their retail business, Callender Motorcycles, opposite the rail yards in New Plymouth. Not long after this, Don's love of Italian bikes helped them secure the distribution rights for Ducati Motorcycles in New Zealand and the history books were written.

1980s

In 1982, while Joan Jett was loving rock 'n' roll and Michael Knight was getting to grips with his new car, Don and Glenys sold out of the retail shop and changed the name of their import business to Eurobike Wholesale Ltd. The company moved into a small warehouse, adjacent to the iconic White Heart Hotel, the unofficial home of the Magog Motorcycle Club on New Plymouth’s Queen Street. The larger space allowed them the freedom to seek out even more exciting products and it was during this time brands like Givi, Regina and Nolan first started appearing in bike shops across the country, thanks to Eurobike Wholesale. By the end of the ‘80s, Eurobike had grown enough to move again. This time the location was in the basement of New Plymouth Motorcycles' current premises on Leach Street.

1990s

By the 1990s Ducati had grown from a boutique, Italian motorcycle brand into a major player in the sportsbike arena. To capitalise on Ducati’s domination of the newly formed world superbike championship and to fuel the O’Connor family’s own passion for racing, Don and Glenys started the New Zealand Ducati Dealer team, supporting Robert Holden both in New Zealand and abroad. It was during this time that the couples’ own son, Rodney started road racing as well. The tragic death of Robert at the Isle of Mann TT in 1996 was a massive blow which broke all our hearts, but between Robert and Rodney, the Eurobike family enjoyed many successes and made many great memories during this decade.

2000s

In 2002 the world was changing with the global marketplace becoming a stark reality for many industries. New management at Ducati made the decision to amalgamate NZ distribution with Australia and no longer needed a local representative for the Italian marque. Not to be deterred, Don painted the Supermono race bike blue and knuckled down to carry on. By this stage Eurobike had grown strong enough to support itself purely with the accessories side of the business, mostly thanks to the amazing success of Givi. We were able to continue providing New Zealand motorcyclists with quality parts and accessories, like Stylmartin, Scottoiler, Tommaselli, and Athena, without a glitch. In 2004, Eurobike relocated again to an even larger warehouse at its current location in a New Plymouth industrial estate.

Present Day

In 2016 Rodney and Jessie O’Connor made the move to New Plymouth so Don and Glenys could hand over the business and settle into a well-earned (semi)-retirement. As qualified professionals in their own right, the move for Rodney and Jessie was a lifestyle choice. With children of their own and an increasingly busy schedule, they longed to work in an industry they both loved and to raise their children in a family environment. Now, with the lifetime of experience passed on from Don and Glenys and the youthful energy of Rodney and Jessie, Eurobike has taken on a new lease of life, without losing focus on its core values. To this day, Eurobike Wholesale remains a family-run business with a focus on helping New Zealand’s motorcyclists (and themselves) find the products and service they need to make the most out of their passion.

Join our mailing list

All the latest tips, info & product updates direct to your inbox.