Unit 56 Motorcycles is an unassuming industrial unit on a sleepy village business park. There are no real clues as to what awaits inside, a real treasure trove of motor history.
Historic road and race bikes line the unit, surrounded by memorabilia from motorcycle and car racing over the last 100 years. Quirky furniture and accessories make this a very sexy place to be. Unit 56 is a workshop you just want to go to and soak in the atmosphere.
Unit 56 is operated by Larry and Mike, and they provide the full spectrum of services associated with historic motorcycles and cars. Their wealth of knowledge and resourcefulness enable them to undertake any project a client desires, and they even source rare and unique motorbikes and cars.
As I talk with Larry, while wandering around the workshop, he casually mentions that standing opposite the 1959 Cooper T51 Climax that was driven by Stirling Moss is the 1970 Husqvarna 400 Cross ridden by Steve McQueen in the cult motorbike racing documentary On Any Sunday. The Husqvarna also won the BAJA 1000 and the MEXICAN 1000 with Malcolm Smith riding. Larry received a call from a contact in the US telling them that it was available in Oxford, UK.
They also have an extensive network of complementary businesses that can undertake specialist work that they can’t do in house. What they can do in house is staggering though. Larry is currently preparing a pair of BMW K100 bikes to compete in the resurrected Bears Classic Championship
Among the race preparation he has custom fitted Ducati Brembo twin piston brakes to the BMWs. Larry believes that anything is possible, there are no limits except your imagination. This kind of ‘can do’ attitude and ability to rise to a challenge will translate into many interesting and unique projects in the future at Unit 56.
